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14 Jan 2010 : Column 1104W—continued

Terrorism

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are being detained by UK authorities (a) under suspicion of and (b) charged with terrorist offences in military operational theatres. [306923]

Bill Rammell: Members of the UK armed forces detain personnel only in Afghanistan. As of 31 December 2009, 15 people were held in detention by UK armed forces in Afghanistan. The UK is not responsible for charging detainees; this is the responsibility of the Afghanistan authorities once they are transferred from UK custody.

Business, Innovation and Skills

Low-carbon Technologies

15. Laura Moffatt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions have taken place between his Department and the Department for Energy and Climate Change on policy to support companies developing low-carbon technologies. [310591]

Mr. McFadden: In July last year, together with the Department for Energy and Climate Change, we published the UK Low Carbon Industrial Strategy, which provides a strategic view of Britain's low-carbon strengths and opportunities for UK-based companies. It included the first investments from £405 million allocated at Budget to low-carbon industries. In December's pre-Budget report, we committed a further £150 million for low-carbon investment. This money will go to sectors such as wind and wave power, low-carbon vehicles and green manufacturing.


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Further Education

16. Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps the Government plan to take to encourage mature students and part-time students to undertake courses; and if he will make a statement. [310592]

Mr. Lammy: We continue to support a wide range of flexible provision including foundation degrees, e-learning, Train to Gain and employer co-funding to increase participation among mature and part-time students.

Sony Ericsson: Coventry

17. Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with Sony Ericsson on its decision to close a research and development facility in Coventry. [310593]

Mr. McFadden: I met with local MPs on this issue before Christmas. The Secretary of State has discussed the closure of Ansty Park at the highest level in Ericsson, probed the company's plans, and pressed it to consider any possible collaborations which might preserve at least some employment at the site.

National Minimum Wage

18. Natascha Engel: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy that the standard national minimum wage rate applies to all people of working age. [310594]

Mr. McFadden: The independent Low Pay Commission advises Government on the national minimum wage and in their most recent report they confirmed that youth rates were justified, but in line with the recommendation of the Low Pay Commission we have agreed to bring 21-year-olds on to the adult rate. This will happen from October this year.

Grocery Ombudsman

19. Simon Hughes: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when his Department plans to announce its decision on the Competition Commission's recommendation on a grocery supply chain ombudsman. [310595]

21. Danny Alexander: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when his Department plans to announce its decision on the Competition Commission's recommendation on a grocery supply chain ombudsman. [310597]

Kevin Brennan: My Department published the Government's response to the Competition Commission's recommendation for the creation of a grocery supply chain ombudsman on 13 January.


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Government have accepted the need for independent enforcement of the groceries supply code of practice (GSCOP) and plan to consult in February on who that body might be and the powers that it might have.

Copies of the Government's response have been placed in the Library of the House and it is available on the BIS website.

Horizon

20. Jacqui Smith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received form sub-postmasters on the effects on them of use by the Post Office of the Horizon computer system; and if he will make a statement. [310596]

Mr. McFadden: I have, in recent months, received a small number of representations from hon. Members, and one direct from a sub-postmaster, about the Horizon computer system. Issues relating to the Horizon system are operational matters for Post Office Ltd., which investigates all concerns raised by sub-postmasters about Horizon and will continue to do so if any are raised.

South Devon: Regeneration

22. Mr. Sanders: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on Government policy for economic regeneration in South Devon. [310598]

Ms Rosie Winterton: I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on economic regeneration including that in South Devon. In addition I meet with Regional Development Agencies on a regular basis, including meetings with the Regional Minister for the South West, and I visited the South West in September.

Muireann McLaughlin

23. Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects to respond to the recommendations made by Sheriff Mackie of Alloa Sheriff Court in his judgment on the fatal accident inquiry of Muireann McLaughlin published in May 2009. [310599]

Kevin Brennan: The Department has considered seriously all the recommendations made by Sheriff Mackie. We feel his recommendations regarding regulations and labelling are more than adequately dealt with under the Machinery Directive as well as the General Product Safety Directive. The recommendation relating to raising public awareness about the potential hazards internal blind cords can cause is being taken forward with the blind and shutter industry and others. The Department does not intend to respond formally to the sheriff.

Departmental Legislation

Chris Huhne: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what criminal offences have been (a) created and (b) abolished by secondary legislation sponsored by his Department and its predecessor since 1 May 2008. [307806]


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Mr. McFadden: 229 statutory instruments made by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and its predecessors, have come into force since 1 May 2009. To manually assess these to establish what criminal offences have been created or abolished would involve disproportionate cost.

Mergers

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many mergers of companies have taken place in (a) North Yorkshire and (b) England in each of the last three years. [309524]

Angela E. Smith: I have been asked to reply.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated January 2010:

Number of inward and domestic mergers and acquisitions (over 50 per cent. ordinary shares), United Kingdom, Q1 2007 to Q3 2009
Reference period Number of inward acquisitions Number of domestic acquisitions

2007

Q1

78

291

Q2

105

323

Q3

113

349

Q4

94

295

2007 Q1-4 total

390

1,258

2008

Q1

113

265

Q2

85

298

Q3

84

197

Q4

69

220

2008 Ql-4 total

351

980

2009

Q1

47

209

Q2

37

127

Q3

32

115

2009 Q1-3 total

116

451


Renewable Energy: Employment

Lynne Jones: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people have been employed in the renewable
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energy sector in each year since 2003; and what recent assessment he has made of the potential for the creation of jobs consequent on the Government's steps to encourage the use of renewable energy. [309966]

Mr. Kidney: I have been asked to reply.

The renewable energy sectors are new and emerging sectors that are not explicitly identified within the traditional statistical classifications.

Although there will be some displacement as we restructure our economy, the Renewable Energy Strategy will create significant job opportunities. Based on information in a report produced by Innovas for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in 2009, 'Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services: an industry analysis', we estimate that in 2007/08 up to 390,000 people were employed in the renewable energy sector, including bioenergy employment.

Based on Innovas projections and Labour Force Survey data, we estimate that the Renewable Energy Strategy, combined with a growing market for renewable energy across Europe and globally, could increase UK employment in the renewable energy sector by up to a further 500,000 people by 2020.

Vocational Training

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much has been spent from the public purse on (a) the Skills Pledge and (b) the "Our future. It's in our hands" campaign to date. [307782]

Kevin Brennan: The Department does not hold this information. Geoff Russell, the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC) acting chief executive, will write to the hon. Member with further information.

Letter from Geoff Russell, dated 23 December 2009:


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Work and Pensions

Cold Weather Payments

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which weather stations are used in (a) Orkney and (b) Shetland to determine cold weather payments. [310733]

Helen Goodman: Kirkwall weather station covers Orkney and Lerwick weather station covers Shetland.

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) whether she has had recent discussions with the Met Office on the inclusion of the wind chill factor in the methodology for calculating cold weather payments; and if she will make a statement; [310734]

(2) what recent assessment her Department has made of the merits of taking account of the wind chill factor in the methodology for calculating cold weather payments; and if she will make a statement. [310735]

Helen Goodman: The cold weather payment scheme does not take account of wind chill factors, and there are currently no plans to change this.


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