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On 17 December 2008 new legislation was put in place to enable HM Revenue and Customs to change faster its rates of interest following a movement in market rates. From 7 January 2009 most rates will change 13 working days after the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England. Under previous legislation it took around a month to change most of the rates.

Telephone Prizes

Question

Asked by Lord Steel of Aikwood

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will have discussions with the Office of Fair Trading with a view to banning the circulation of alleged winning prizes which invite the public to spend money on telephone calls to establish their claims to prizes of little real value. [HL257]

12 Jan 2009 : Column WA129

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform & Cabinet Office (Baroness Vadera): This type of prize draw scam has already been banned by the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, which came into force on 26 May 2008.

The regulations prohibit traders in all sectors from using misleading, aggressive and other unfair commercial practices. The regulations also prohibit 31 specific practices outright. These include

“Creating the false impression that the consumer has already won, will win, or on doing a particular act win, a prize or other equivalent benefit, when in fact either: (a) there is no prize or other equivalent benefit, or (b) taking any action in relation to claiming the prize or other equivalent benefit is subject to the consumer paying money or incurring a cost”.

The Office of Fair Trading and local authority trading standards services have a duty to enforce the regulations.

Transport: Heavy Goods Vehicles

Question

Asked by Lord Berkeley

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 24 November (WA 277—78), what are the minimum dimensions and weights of the improved near side mirror systems required under Directive 2007/38 to be fitted to lorries first registered after 2000. [HL78]

The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Lord Adonis): There are no minimum dimensions and weights for the improved mirrors. While the mirror lens must have a minimum radius of curvature, the overall dimensions will depend upon a number of factors including the vehicle design and height of the mirror from the road surface. However, we would expect the overall mirror dimensions to be in the region of 200mm x 200mm and the weight between 1.0 and 1.5kg.

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UK Border Agency

Question

Asked by Baroness Stern

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the reply by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 4 June (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 150), what changes they have introduced to ensure that there is proper monitoring of contractors by the UK Border Agency. [HL230]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The UK Border Agency has increased the number of staff involved in monitoring the contractor's performance in the management of the short term holding facilities at Heathrow Airport. In addition, agency staff make daily visits to the facilities to carry out welfare checks.

Working Time Directive

Question

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated annual cost to the British economy of ending the opt-out from the European Union Working Time Directive. [HL444]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform & Cabinet Office (Baroness Vadera): The UK is one of 14 member states that enables workers to opt out of the maximum 48 hour working week, should they wish to do so. This flexibility is used by over 3 million employees in the UK who choose to work longer hours. Loss of this opt-out would therefore cost the UK billions both in costs to industry and lost earnings. As a result, it could also only have a negative impact on overall employment levels.

The Government remain committed to fight for the continuation of this important flexibility and will be calling on the European Council to reject the damaging amendments on the Working Time Common Position adopted by the European Parliament.

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