FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FOLLOWING DECEMBER 13 EVIDENCE

  Please find enclosed answers to the follow up questions arising from Patricia Hewitt's appearance before the Trade and Industry Select Committee on December 13.

(a)  Current and planned staff complement and overall costs of the office of the e-envoy, showing structure of the office, breaking down staff by civil service grade and category

  I have enclosed charts[1] with the Office of the e-Envoy organisational structure and that of the Knowledge Network which joined the office from 1 January. There are also two spreadsheets with the costs of the office and staffing levels, current and projected, broken down by grade. The finance figures quoted may be subject to change and the bids for next year have not yet been approved. (Annex A)

(b)  DTI report on review of Horizontal regulatory regimes

  This is actually an appendix to the UK online implementation plan, so it will be attached to the December report. However, I have enclosed a copy of this.1

(c)  What progress has been made on the UK establishing its own ADR clearing house?

  DTI is in discussion with the National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux (NACAB) about the possibility of NACAB forming the UK Clearing House, with input from the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards (LACOTS). DTI expects to receive a proposal from NACAB in January 2001. The Clearing House should be established shortly thereafter and should be operational by mid-2001.

(d)  Treasury note on the progress on taxation (Q60)

  There are two notes enclosed about this. (Annex B)

(e)  Examples of local content initiatives

  See enclosed note. (Annex C)

(f)  Q46: list transactions to be launched on the gateway

  See enclosed note. (Annex D)

(g)  Confirmation that all departments have submitted e-business strategies

  All departments have now submitted them.

(h)  More information about progress on commitment 19, UK online action report

  See enclosed. This contains an elaboration on the points in the UK online report. (Annex E)

  I hope this answers all the points raised by committee members. Please contact me if you have any further queries.

22 January 2001