House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 19 Apr 2000 (pt 17)

Beef

Mr. Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Welsh Agriculture Secretary with regard to ensuring that beef which is imported from Europe is not labelled as Welsh Beef. [118438]

Mr. Paul Murphy: My hon. Friend and I meet regularly with our colleagues in the National Assembly to discuss a range of issues including the agriculture sector. The Assembly subscribes to the voluntary Beef Labelling Scheme which operates in implementation of an EC Regulation, and traceability is a key feature. The labels must indicate the location where birth, rearing and slaughter took place and, though labelling itself is voluntary, the rules of the scheme should be adhered to if labelling is done. There are discussions taking place within the EU to finalise the precise structure of a compulsory scheme which it is anticipated will start to operate in September.

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A3XX Project

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has made to the First Secretary and the National Assembly regarding the A3XX project. [118453]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary on a weekly basis and have discussed a range of issues, including BAE and Broughton. I am delighted that BAE have been successful in attracting £530 million of launch investment.

Livestock Industry

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary on the prospects for the Welsh livestock industry. [118442]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet the First Secretary on a regular weekly basis and we discuss a range of issues including the Welsh livestock industry. This was also addressed at the Prime Minister's Agriculture Summit on 30 March which agreed the package of support and measures for the farming industry. In Wales £14.7 million

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goes to the Less Favoured Areas while £10.6 million agrimonetary compensation goes to dairy, beef and sheep farmers.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

BMW/Rover

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list the requests he made for meetings with (a) the Chairman of BMW, (b) the Chairman of Rover, (c) the Chief Executive of BMW and (d) the Chief Executive of Rover between 1 November and 29 March; [117565]

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(3) if he will list the requests his Department made for information to BMW and Rover between 1 November and 29 March, indicating the date in each case. [117556]

Mr. Byers: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 14 April 2000, Official Report, columns 289-90W, to the hon. Member for Tiverton and Honiton (Mrs. Browning).

Regional Selective Assistance

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will be able to award regional selective assistance in Britain under an approved map. [118086]

Mr. Byers [holding answer 7 April 2000]: Payments under offers of regional selective assistance made on or before 31 December 1999 continue to be made. New offers are being made subject to approval of the Assisted Areas Map by the College of Commissioners.

Post Offices

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) Crown post offices, (b) franchised post offices and (c) sub-post offices there were in each constituency in (i) 1989 and (ii) 1999. [118772]

Mr. Alan Johnson: I understand from the Post Office that they do not hold historical data for the types and numbers of post offices by parliamentary constituency. I have obtained from the Post Office a list of the information as at 1 October 1999, the latest date available, and have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

World of Leather

Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of possible job losses as a result of the World of Leather chain going into receivership. [118897]

Dr. Howells: I am deeply concerned about any job losses that may arise as a consequence of the present difficulties of Uno Plc ("World of Leather"). My officials

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have been in contact with the administrators of Uno Plc and trade associations in both the furniture manufacturing and leather tanning sectors.

It is hoped that other furniture retailers will acquire the majority of the stores from which Uno Plc traded, although the number of staff who will be offered continued employment by the businesses acquiring those stores is presently not known.

The furniture manufacturing industry has indicated that the short term effects on employment are likely to be limited, although I understand that there have already been closures of two furniture manufacturers as a direct result of the administration of Uno Plc. Concerns have been expressed about employment in the medium term in the sector, not least arising from the effect any adverse publicity will have on consumer confidence.

The leather tanning industry has indicated that there is unlikely to be an impact upon employment in that sector.

Mr. Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the extent to which the actions of the World of Leather chain towards its customers in the month prior to its going into receivership complied with consumer protection legislation. [118896]

Dr. Howells: Under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986, the joint administrators of the company are obliged to report to me within six months of the administration order on the conduct of the directors of Uno Plc ("World of Leather"). In particular, schedule 1 to that Act requires the administrators, in making their report, to have regard to certain matters including the extent of the directors' responsibility for any failure by the company to supply any goods or services which have been paid for (in whole or in part). The contents of the administrators' report will be given careful consideration by my officials in the Disqualification Unit of the Insolvency Service.

Additionally, my officials continue to be in contact with the joint administrators of Uno Plc in response to specific concerns raised about the affairs leading to the administration of the company.

If there is any evidence that more general consumer protection legislation has been breached it will be for the appropriate authorities to consider whether to undertake an investigation.

BNFL

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many contracts for (a) Thorp and (b) the Sellafield MOX plant have been signed by British Nuclear Fuels for each plant respectively. [119153]

Mrs. Liddell: Contracts and contracted terms between British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) and its customers for the supply of goods and services are commercial matters for the parties concerned.

BNFL has contracts with customers in the UK and Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Canada to reprocess spent nuclear fuel at the Thorp plant.

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As regards contracts for the Sellafield MOX plant, I refer my hon. Friend to the report produced by PA Consulting for the Environment Agency, entitled "Assessment of BNFL's Economic Case for the Sellafield Mox Plant", copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

BNFL is continuing to pursue reprocessing and MOX fuel business opportunities.

Ofgem

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to advise Ofgem to take action against gas suppliers which breach Standard Condition 2 of the Gas Suppliers' Licence; and if he will make a statement. [118931]

Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 13 April 2000]: It is for Ofgem to determine whether enforcement action against suppliers for breach of Standard Condition 2 is necessary. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will bring to the attention of the Director General of Ofgem the matter raised by the hon Member.

Shareholder Remedies

Ms Jenny Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce the results of his Department's consultation on its document, "Shareholder Remedies"; and if he will make a statement on what action he intends to take. [119024]

Dr. Howells: The results of the Department's consultation on "Shareholder Remedies" are being considered in the wider context of the Company Law Review. The Steering Group of the Company Law Review published a further consultation document last month--"Developing the Framework"--which included sections on shareholders and shareholder remedies. A copy of that document was made available to the House: it can also be accessed on the Department's website.

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