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Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to reduce smoking in her Department. [105798]
Mr. Foulkes:
Smoking is not permitted in the workplace. However, separate accommodation is available for staff and visitors who wish to smoke occasionally. In addition, we provide staff with information on the health implications of smoking and offer counselling and support to those who want to give up smoking.
19 Jan 2000 : Column: 480W
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department, its agencies and associated public bodies spent in total on extra bonuses above usual payments for staff working over the new year period; what were the (a) maximum and (b) minimum bonuses paid; how many people received the (i) maximum and (ii) minimum payments; and if she will make a statement. [104469]
Clare Short:
The total spent on extra bonuses to civil servants in my Department was £16,900. Twenty-nine people received the maximum payment of £500. Fifteen people received the minimum bonus of £100.
This was mainly to ensure that the Department for International Development's (DFID) information systems world wide were functioning properly and to correct any problems before the resumption of normal business on 4 January.
Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government will publish its response to the consultation document on the Small Business Service. [105978]
Ms Hewitt: I have today placed in the Library of both Houses a document which gives a summary of the replies to the consultation and sets out the Government's response.
We had an excellent response to the consultation to shape the remit of the Small Business Service. We received 700 replies from a wide range of individuals and organisations, including many small businesses. The vast majority warmly welcomed our proposals.
I look forward to the launch of the Small Business Service this April under its Chief Executive, David Irwin.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out the labelling requirements which apply to the presence of (a) Lindane and (b) other pesticides in household products. [104652]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 13 January 2000]: All non-agricultural pesticides supplied to consumers must be approved under the Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986 (as amended), which require, among other things, that manufacturers must name on the product label the active ingredient(s), such as Lindane, present in the product. Under the regulations, a scientific assessment by the relevant Registration Authority (MAFF or HSE) of each individual product is carried out. This evaluation indicates what other labelling information is required, such as the safe use of the product and warnings about precautions that should be taken. Following approval, products are subject to an on-going review programme which ensures that the data on which the product approvals are based meets current safety standards.
19 Jan 2000 : Column: 481W
Mr. Browne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his statement to the House on 9 December 1999, Official Report, column 1024, on the World Trade Organisation, what steps the Director General of the World Trade Organisation has taken to achieve the objective of a five-fold increase in the budget for technical assistance and capacity building for developing countries. [104588]
Mr. Caborn:
The Director General made a plea to all WTO members to increase regular budget funding for technical assistance to which he hoped to secure agreement in Seattle in the context of wider agreement on the launch of the new Round. In the absence of the wider agreement, there is as yet no consensus for enhanced regular budget funding of technical assistance. The UK will pursue this further in the WTO Budget Committee in Geneva and in discussions with EU and other partners.
Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide details of the licences granted (a) for the export of weapons silencers to Turkey since 2 May 1997 and (b) to Law Enforcement International Ltd. for the export of weapons silencers since 2 May 1997. [104156]
Dr. Howells:
The entry in the legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating and most ratings cover a range of goods. Weapons silencers are controlled under entries ML1, ML2, ML6 and PL5018 in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended, commonly known as the Military List.
As regards export licences granted for the export of weapons silencers to Turkey between 2 May 1997 and 31 December 1998, details of export licensing decisions in this period were set out in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; copies are in the Library of the House. As regards licences granted since 1 January 1999, the Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated. Between 1 January 1999 and 3 January 2000, 21 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and no Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued for the export of goods with a relevant rating to consignees or end users in Turkey. The paper records of the 21 SIELs have been examined and none covered the export of weapons silencers.
As regards export licences granted to Law Enforcement International Limited for the export of weapons silencers, inquiries are being made under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Where confidential information is involved, the parties concerned may be asked if they object to disclosure, and this can take some time. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.
This information should be considered in light of the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Berry) on 27 July 1999, Official Report, columns 307-08W.
19 Jan 2000 : Column: 482W
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the salary is of the newly-appointed chairman of the Insolvency Practices Council. [104889]
Dr. Howells:
The Insolvency Practices Council is an independent body which is to be funded by IPR Services Ltd., a company limited by guarantee set up by the insolvency recognised professional bodies. Questions concerning the salary of Mr. Graham Kentfield, the recently appointed chairman of the Council, are a matter for that company.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what initiatives his Department is taking to promote British business abroad. [105268]
Mr. Caborn:
British Trade International brings together DTI and FCO responsibilities for trade development and promotion in a new unified operation. The goals of British Trade International are set out in a National Strategy, which was published on 29 October 1999.
Copies of the Strategy have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance he is giving to truck manufacturing in the north-west. [105263]
Mr. Alan Johnson:
While truck manufacturers based in the north-west of England have received no direct financial assistance from my Department in recent years, officials in London and the Government Office for the north-west in Manchester provide help and advice on a number of issues. In addition, north-west truck manufacturers benefit from wider automotive industry competitiveness and technology initiatives. These include the SMMT Industry Forum, to which the DTI has contributed £6.5 million, and the DTI-led Foresight Vehicle programme, to which the Government are contributing £12 million.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on car pricing in the UK. [105276]
Mr. Alan Johnson:
The Competition Commission is currently investigating the supply of new cars in the United Kingdom. I have no doubt the Commission is looking at car prices as part of its investigation.
The Commission is due to deliver its report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 31 January. The report will be published as soon as practicable.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the effect of the strong pound on UK manufacturing industry in the last 12 months. [105271]
19 Jan 2000 : Column: 483W
Mr. Alan Johnson:
The Government understand the concerns of businesses, and particularly manufacturers trading with Europe, about the value of the pound. However, there are increasing signs that companies are adjusting to the high value of sterling. In the third quarter the volume of exports of goods and services grew at the fastest rate for 20 years. Manufacturing output also increased over the same period by 1.2 per cent., the fastest quarterly rate of growth since 1994, and the CBI's business confidence indicator is also at its highest level since April 1995.
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