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Flag Flying
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) on how many days since May 1997 the St. George’s flag has been flown from his Department’s buildings; [77739]
(2) what his Department’s policy is on flying the (a) St. George’s flag and (b) EU flag from departmental buildings. [77740]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport issue the guidance for flying flags on Government buildings. This includes flying the St. George’s flag or Union flag on St. George’s day 23 April and the European flag on Europe day 9 May on buildings with two or more flag poles provided they are flown alongside the Union flag with the Union flag in the superior position.
The Department for Trade and Industry flies the Union flag and European flag on the specified days and will fly the national flag on St. George’s day in 2007.
GovNet Expo 2006
Mr. Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost is to his Department of supporting GovNet Expo 2006. [79220]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The DTI is not sponsoring GovNet Expo 2006. It is being jointly sponsored by a private sector body and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) which is providing support at a total cost of £21,150. EOC was formerly sponsored by the DTI until its transfer to the Department of Communities and Local Government in May 2006.
Green Energy Sources
Mr. Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what incentives are in place to encourage private homeowners to use green energy sources to power and heat their homes. [79372]
Malcolm Wicks: Grants for the installation of a number of microgeneration technologies producing heat and electricity are available to householders under the new Low Carbon Buildings programme (LCBP). This programme supersedes the previous Clear Skies and Major Photovoltaics Demonstration programmes. Stream one of the LCBP provides grant support for householders and applications are now being taken. The scheme is managed on behalf of the Department by the Energy Savings Trust.
Full details are available on the LCBP website at www.lowcarbonbuiIdings.org.uk.
Microgenerators producing electricity can also benefit from the Renewables Obligation (RO) where they will receive one Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) for every 1MWh of eligible renewable electricity generated. We will also be consulting later this year on changes to the RO, which will allow microgenerators to gain further benefits. This includes allowing agents to act on behalf of microgenerators; amalgamating generation from several microgenerators; and removing the need for a sale and buy-back agreement.
Green Tariffs
Sir Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to establish an accreditation scheme for green tariffs for domestic electricity customers; and if he will make a statement. [79241]
Malcolm Wicks: Ofgem will shortly be publishing a response to its consultation on the “Revision of Guidelines on Green Supply Offerings” and we will consider the introduction of an accreditation scheme for green electricity tariffs in the light of this.
Sir Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with Ofgem concerning claims made by electricity suppliers about their green tariff schemes. [79243]
Sir Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria must be met before an electricity company may market an electricity tariff as a green tariff. [79244]
Malcolm Wicks: Ofgem publishes guidelines for the use of green tariffs and issued a consultation on the revision of these guidelines last year. It advises that it will publish its response shortly.
Harworth Colliery
Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had on the future of Harworth Colliery; and if he will make a statement. [78656]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 20 June 2006]: UK Coal’s recent decision to proceed with the mothballing of Harworth Colliery is a sad one, particularly for the work force, a representative of whom I met yesterday. This is, of course, a commercial decision for the company and I remain hopeful that a commercial solution can still be found. I have asked to be kept closely informed of developments.
HP Sauce
Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with (a) Heinz, (b) unions representing workers at Aston Cross HP Sauce factory and (c) Birmingham city council regarding the Heinz proposal to move production of HP Sauce from the UK to the Netherlands. [80069]
Margaret Hodge: The Government office for the west midlands attended a meeting on Wednesday 24 May which was chaired by Councillor Ken Hardeman (Birmingham city council—cabinet member for regeneration) and included representatives from Birmingham and Solihull Learning and Skills Council, Advantage West Midlands (RDA) and Heinz.
Industrial Strategy (West Midlands)
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans his Department has to review the effect of the Government's industrial strategy on the west midlands. [76999]
Margaret Hodge [holding answer 15 June 2006]: DTI published the Government's manufacturing strategy in 2002 and carried out a review of that strategy with key industry stakeholders across the regions in 2004.
As an outcome of the review, we established the joint industry and Government-led manufacturing forum to drive forward the implementation of the strategy and monitor progress. Regional development agencies are represented on the forum, reflecting their strong involvement in delivering the strategy.
I am meeting the hon. Member and other hon. Members in the near future and will discuss with him the effect of the Government's manufacturing strategy on the west midlands.
Mobile Phones
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what regulations are in place to ensure that staff at points of mobile telephone sales are (a) trained and (b) encouraged to communicate information about handset specific absorption rates. [79586]
Margaret Hodge: Many third party retailers provide this information in their outlets and on their websites, although there are no specific regulations in place.
In addition, the UK’s five Mobile Network Operators, namely Orange, T-Mobile, Hutchison 3G, O2 and Vodafone, have resources within their customer service departments to provide information and advice to users regarding specific absorption rates (SAR) values on handsets.
Muslim Women (Employment)
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent steps he has taken to increase the participation of Muslim women in the labour market; and if he will make a statement. [70927]
Meg Munn: The Ethnic Minority Business Forum was established in 2000 by the DTI as an independent, strategic advisory body to represent the views of ethnic minority business communities. It advises Government on the right help and advice ethnic minority businesses need for growth and success.
Additionally the DTI's Public Service Agreement 10, which is a joint target with the Department for Work and Pensions, is to promote ethnic diversity, co-operative employment relations and greater choice and commitment in the workplace while maintaining a flexible labour market.
The DTI's sub-targets include raising self employment rate of ethnic minorities relative to other groups and reducing incidents of racial discrimination at work reported by ethnic minority employees.
In addition, the Government's Ethnic Minority Employment Task Force brings together Government Departments and key stakeholders to work towards increasing the employment rate of ethnic minorities, including Muslim women.
Non-electrical Light Fittings
Mr. Willis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 875W, on light fittings (hazardous substances), what guidance he has issued on whether the wholesale and retail of existing stock of non-electrical light fittings are within the scope of the Restriction of
the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2005, S.I. 2005, No. 2748. [79868]
Malcolm Wicks: The RoHS Regulations have no impact on any existing stock that has been placed on the EU market. The Government’s non-statutory Guidance Notes make it clear that the regulations only become enforceable from 1 July 2006.
Norfolk Island
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) goods and (b) services were (i) exported to and (ii) imported from Norfolk Island over the last three years. [78960]
Mr. McCartney: Recorded values of UK exports of goods to Norfolk Island were:
| £ | |
No imports of goods were recorded in the same period. Information for trade in services is not available.
Nuclear Power
Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the Prime Minister’s answer of 14 June 2006, Official Report, columns 764-5, on nuclear power, what the source was for his statement (a) that 50 to 60 nuclear power plants are under construction and (b) that the new generation of nuclear power stations generate around one-tenth of the radioactive waste of the previous generation of reactors. [79036]
Malcolm Wicks: The source for the data regarding nuclear power plants under construction is the World Nuclear Association website at http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/reactors.htm
The website illustrates that there are 25 reactors under construction and 38 reactors planned, giving a total of 63 reactors. The definitions given on the website for “construction” and “planned” are:
“Construction: first concrete for reactor poured, or major refurbishment under way”; “Planned: Approvals and funding in place, or construction well advanced but suspended indefinitely”.
On the matter of radioactive waste, details of the calculations and views of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) can be found at www.corwm.org.uk
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department takes to ensure that nuclear decommissioning costs are (a) kept to budget and (b) cost-effective. [78522]
Malcolm Wicks:
The policy intention behind the creation of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), which assumed responsibility for the decommissioning and clean-up of the UK's civil nuclear legacy on 1 April 2005, is to provide national strategic control and direction for decommissioning of those sites previously operated
by United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. and to deliver accelerated clean-up safely, securely, cost-effectively and in ways that safeguard the environment for this and future generations. The DTI has arrangements for the oversight of NDA so as to be sure that it is achieving this task, and like other areas of Government activity the activities of NDA are also subject to review by the National Audit Office.
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any funds provisionally set aside for (a) the decommissioning of nuclear power plants and (b) the disposal of nuclear waste have been used for any other purposes since 1997. [80005]
Malcolm Wicks: We are not aware of any funds set aside for the decommissioning of nuclear power plants or the disposal of nuclear waste that have been used for any other purposes.
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been set aside by (a) the Government and (b) the nuclear industry towards the cost of decommissioning nuclear power plants since 1997. [80006]
Malcolm Wicks: The Government are committed to funding the full costs of the decommissioning and clean-up of the historic civil nuclear liabilities by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The Consolidated Fund is the mechanism for funding this. Under the 2004 Spending Review the NDA received a budget of £2.2 billion for 2005-06—about half of which was to be raised by the NDA’s commercial activities. Following the successful conclusion of the EC State Aid Review on 4 April 2006, financial responsibility for decommissioning BNFL sites has passed to the NDA under the Energy Act 2004. Until this point BNFL held nuclear funding assets of some £17.3 billion on its balance sheet to fund future decommissioning costs. Following the transfer of the nuclear decommissioning liability to the NDA, these assets have been transferred back to the Government.
There are separate arrangements for funding the decommissioning of British Energy nuclear sites. Since privatisation in 1996, British Energy has been making contributions into a segregated decommissioning fund. As a result of the restructuring, which completed in January 2005, British Energy will make enhanced contributions into the fund and Government will underwrite the fund to the extent that its liabilities outweigh its assets. On recent valuation, the assets of the segregated fund total some £8.1 billion, the majority of which relates to the value attributed to the fund’s 64.6 per cent. convertible stake in British Energy.
Oil Companies
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he plans to take to ensure that oil companies are required to offer supply contracts to independent petrol retailers; and what assessment he has made of the compliance of oil companies with Government fair trading and competition policies in respect of their dealings with independent petrol retailers. [79820]
Malcolm Wicks: The Government’s policy is not to intervene in commercial transactions or price setting, as they believe the consumer is best served by open competition between companies.
An assessment has not been made by the DTI of the compliance of oil companies with Government fair trading and competition policies in respect of their dealings with independent petrol retailers. However, the supply of fuel is subject to UK competition law under the Competition Act 1998. Under the Act, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has powers to investigate situations where there are reasonable grounds to suspect anti-competitive agreements or abuse of a dominant market position in the fuel market.
Post Office Network Services
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what services (a) his Department and (b) its associated public bodies (i) make available and (ii) have made available in the last five years through the Post Office network; through how many outlets the service is or was made available; and how many relevant transactions were undertaken in each case in the most recent year for which figures are available. [79197]
Jim Fitzpatrick: None. A number of other Government Departments have contracts with the Post Office for the provision of services through the Post Office network.
Renewable Energy
Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the purchase price is of a kilowatt hour of electricity generated by (a) wind power and (b) incinerators accepting municipal waste; and how this purchase price is reduced by renewable obligation certificates in each case. [80309]
Malcolm Wicks: In the UK's competitive and liberalised energy market, the purchase price of a kilowatt hour of electricity generated, by (a) wind power and (b) incinerators accepting municipal waste, is a commercial matter between generators and suppliers.
Renewable obligation certificates allow accredited renewable generators to receive a premium price for every one megawatt hour of eligible electricity generated. An incinerator accepting municipal mixed waste is not eligible for renewable obligation certificates.
Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what penalties will be imposed on organisations selling goods which do not comply with the restriction of hazardous substances directive; [80532]
(2) what (a) powers, (b) funds and (c) responsibilities have been given to the relevant agencies to ensure that all goods entering the UK after 1 July comply with the restriction of hazardous substances directive; [80533]
(3) what assessment his Department carried out prior to the implementation of the restrictions of hazardous substances directive of the impact of using non-lead solders on the reliability of electronic equipment manufactured; [80535]
(4) what steps are being taken to reduce environmental impact of the compulsory use of non-lead solders following the enactment of the restriction of hazardous substances directive; [80564]
(5) what testing procedures exist to measure whether metals used in electrical apparatus will comply with the restriction of hazardous substances directive; [80565]
(6) what steps have been taken to ensure that the materials being used to replace those banned by the restriction of hazardous substances directive are less damaging to the environment; [80582]
(7) what steps HM Revenue and Customs is taking to ensure that all goods entering the UK after 1 July are compliant with standards imposed by the restriction of hazardous substances directive. [80563]
Malcolm Wicks: The EC restriction of hazardous substances directive (2002/95/EC) has been transposed into UK legislation by the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 (SI 2006 No. 1463), which come into force on 1 July this year. These regulations, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House, contain full details of the powers and responsibilities that the enforcement authority will hold and the details of the penalties that could be imposed on those that do not comply with the requirements. HM Revenue and Customs is not given specific additional powers by these regulations.
Due to the broad scope of the regulations, there are no standard testing procedures but the DTI’s non-statutory Government Guidance Notes offer advice on the UK's overall compliance approach.
Copies of a full regulatory impact assessment were placed in the Libraries of the House at the same time as copies of the regulations.
Rural Post Offices
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to extend support for rural post offices when the Social Network Payment ends in March 2008. [79426]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government are committed to supporting the rural post office network with annual Social Network Payments of £150 million for the next two years. We are carefully considering options for the network beyond 2008 and are not working to a fixed timetable.
Shops
Ms Barlow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of independent retail shops that have (a) opened and (b) closed in Hove constituency since 1997. [76685]
Margaret Hodge:
Value added tax (VAT) registrations and de-registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of business start-ups and closures.
DTI data on the number of VAT retail business registrations and de-registrations in Hove from 1997 to 2004 are shown in the following table.
| VAT registrations and de-registrations in retail( 1) in Hove, 1997-2004 | ||
| Registrations | De-registrations | |
| (1) Standard Industrial Classification 52, retail trade (except of motor vehicles), repair of personal and household goods. Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 for data protection reasons. Source: Small Business Service figures based on data from the ONS Inter Departmental Business Register. | ||
The number of VAT registrations and de-registrations in Hove across all sectors from 1997 to 2004 is shown in the following table. Since 1997 the overall stock of businesses in Hove has risen by 12 per cent.
| VAT registrations and de-registrations and start of year stock in Hove (all sectors), 1997-2004 | |||
| All businesses | |||
| Registrations | De-registrations | Start of year stock | |
| Source: Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994-2004, Small Business Service, available at http://www.sbs.gov.uk/vats | |||
VAT registration and de-registration data do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if their turnover falls below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register may not have closed. In the retail sector 63 per cent of enterprises in the UK (200,000 out of 320,000) were registered for VAT at the start of 2004.
Small Businesses
Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small businesses that began trading since 1997 have subsequently ceased trading in (a) Bury St. Edmunds constituency, (b) Suffolk, (c) the east of England and (d) England. [79366]
Margaret Hodge: Value added tax (VAT) registrations and de-registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of business starts and closures. Latest VAT data on the total number of registrations since 1997 and the number of these registrations that subsequently de-registered, covering up to 2004, are shown in the following table for (a) Bury St. Edmunds constituency, (b) Suffolk, (c) the east of England and (d) England.
| VAT registrations and subsequent de-registrations, 1997 to 2004( 1) | |
| Number of registrations and de-registrations | |
| (1) VAT registration and de-registration data are not available by size of business. However, 98 per cent. of the total stock of VAT registered businesses are small (0-49 employees). Source: Office for National Statistics, UK Business: Activity, Size and Location—2005, available from http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product..asp? .vlnk=933. Source: New analysis of VAT Survival Rates data 1994-2003, Small Business Service, available at http://www.sbs.gov.uk/survival; SBS analysis of ONS Inter Departmental Business Register data. | |
VAT registration and de-registration data do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if their turnover falls below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register may not have closed. Only 1.8 million out of the 4.3 million businesses in the UK (42 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2004.
John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Minister has responsibility for small firms. [80506]
Margaret Hodge: I have overall responsibility for small firms.
Social Enterprises
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what publicly-funded sources of assistance are available to social enterprises that are approaching bankruptcy. [76725]
Edward Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
A social enterprise approaching bankruptcy has access to all publicly-funded sources of assistance that any traditional business can expect to draw upon. This includes their local business link, which as well as offering advice to start-up companies, also helps businesses to deal with problems and challenges they may encounter. Guidance is also available on the businesslink.gov website which offers advice on avoiding insolvency, recovering debt through the courts, and alternatives to bankruptcy.
Supermarkets
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Competition Commission inquiry into supermarkets will include the implications of the international business practices of the largest chains. [78903]
Mr. McCartney: Although the Office of Fair Trading have been specific in the issues they feel could be a problem within the market, the Competition Commission (CC) investigation is not limited to considering only those issues identified in the reference document. It is for the CC to make that decision.
In its statement of issues published on 15 June, the CC has indicated that it has received evidence on a range of issues of public concern associated with grocery retailing which it has no power to investigate or resolve. These issues, and public concern about them, may interact with competition issues and provide background and context for the investigation but the CC has stated that its focus must be on the competition issues. The full statement of issues can be found at:
http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/inquiries/ref2006/grocery/pdf/issues_statement.pdf.
Trade Control Licences
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) standard individual trade control licences and (b) open individual trade control licences have been issued to UK-based companies for the transfer of small arms from Bosnia to (i) Iraq and (ii) other destination countries since June 2003. [79958]
Malcolm Wicks: The Government publish details of trade control licences issued, in their annual and quarterly reports on strategic export controls. The Government's annual reports are available from the Libraries of the House and the DTI export control organisation website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/europeantrade/strategic-export-control/index.html.
Working Time Directive
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether it is the Government's policy
to preserve the UK's opt-out from the working time directive in its entirety; and if he will make a statement; [77668]
(2) what restrictions in (a) scope and (b) permanence relating to the UK's opt-out from the working time directive are under consideration; and if he will make a statement. [77669]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The UK Government, in common with the Governments of several other European member states, have made it clear that they would oppose any proposal for a revised directive that phases out the opt-out, or that prevents individuals from choosing to work longer than 48 hours if they wish to do so.
Zimbabwe
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many export licences were granted for military equipment to Zimbabwe in each quarter of the last three years. [80822]
Malcolm Wicks: The Government publish detailed information on their export licensing decisions, by destination, in their annual and quarterly reports on strategic export controls. The Government’s annual reports are available from the Libraries of the House and the DTI Export Control Organisation website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/europeandtrade/strategic-export-control/index.html.
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assistance the Export Credits Guarantee Department has offered to UK companies seeking to export to Zimbabwe over the past three years. [77687]
Mr. McCartney: The Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) has not provided any support for UK companies exporting to Zimbabwe in the last three years. ECGD withdrew cover for Zimbabwe in 1999.
Culture, Media and Sport
Departmental Websites
Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many websites there are within her responsibilities; and what the total cost of maintaining such websites was in the last year for which figures are available. [79060]
Mr. Lammy: My Department is responsible for 18 websites. The total maintenance costs of these sites for the year 2005-06 was £50,020.
This figure does not include those sites developed through the Culture Online programme.
Digital Radio Multiplex
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to lay orders relating to the amount of data which can be carried on a digital radio multiplex and to change the definition of a digital programme service. [80065]
Tessa Jowell: The Television Licensable Content Services Order 2006 and the Radio Multiplex Services (Required Percentage of Digital Capacity) Order 2006 were laid on 21 June 2006.
Digital Television
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will take steps to ensure an increase to 100 per cent. of the coverage of digital services following digital switchover; and if she will make a statement. [79114]
Mr. Woodward: Currently digital terrestrial television is available to three quarters of the population, and the vast majority of households can receive digital TV services via digital satellite, terrestrial or cable. 70 per cent. of households in the UK have already chosen to take up digital TV.
After switchover, which takes place between 2008 and 2012, UK digital terrestrial television coverage will match the current analogue coverage of 98.5 per cent.
Disability Access
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether any buildings in her Department fall short of disability access regulations. [73014]
Mr. Lammy: As an employer, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is subject to duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 which requires us to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. These may include adjustments to physical features of premises.
The principle of "reasonable adjustment" is fundamental to the Act and factors such as the practicability of making an adjustment and the extent to which it overcomes the difficulties faced by the disabled person may be taken into account in determining what is reasonable. As the Disability Discrimination Act requires adjustments that are reasonable in the individual circumstances, it is not prescriptive about the level of access to buildings which must be provided for disabled people, and there are no disability access regulations made under the Act.
However, Part M of the building regulations aims to ensure that people, regardless of disability, age or gender, should be able to gain access to, and within buildings, and use their facilities, both as visitors and as people who live or work in them. The provisions of Part M apply only to new buildings and those non-domestic buildings undergoing alteration, change of use or which are being extended. Crown-owned or occupied buildings are exempt from the building regulations but it is the Government's policy for their buildings to comply with the regulations where there is no reason not to.
DCMS is currently undertaking a major refurbishment of our main Cockspur Street offices. We have given careful consideration to the needs of staff and visitors and are making many improvements to the building aimed at improving access for all. For example, all workstations will be fully adjustable; primary and secondary circulation routes are being
widened and all will exceed the standards set by British Standard BS8300. There will be accessible signage, toilets and meeting rooms with induction loops on all floors.
Flags
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria the Government used in deciding not to display the flag of (a) Norfolk Island, (b) the British Antarctic Territory, (c) South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, (d) the Turks and Caicos Islands, (e) Montserrat, (f) Bermuda, (g) Anguilla, (h) the Cayman Islands and (i) the British Virgin Islands at this year’s Trooping the Colour. [79962]
Mr. Lammy: Only the flags of the Commonwealth countries are flown at Trooping of the Colour. The countries listed above are Overseas Territories which are not member states of the Commonwealth.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria the Government used in deciding not to display the flag of (a) the Isle of Man and (b) Guernsey at this year’s Trooping the Colour. [79965]
Mr. Lammy: Only the flags of the Commonwealth Countries are flown at Trooping of the Colour. The Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man are Crown dependencies and are not member states of the Commonwealth.
Gaming Machines (Stakes and Prizes)
Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recommendations have been made by the Gaming Board of Great Britain on machine stakes and prize levels since 1976. [79519]
Mr. Caborn: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
I would also refer my hon. Friend to my answer given today to his question number 79594.
Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when gaming machine stake and prize levels were last increased. [79594]
Mr. Caborn: Stakes and prizes were last increased for the various categories of gaming machines, under the provisions of the Gaming Act 1968, on the following basis:
In casinos, stakes and prizes were increased to £2 and to £4,000, respectively, in October 2005.
From October 2005, casinos were also able to offer a new style of machine with a maximum stake of £100 and a maximum prize of £500.
In bingo halls stakes and prizes were increased to 50p and £500, respectively, in October 1998.
In registered clubs stakes and prizes were increased to 50p and £250, respectively, in October 1998.
Amusement with Prizes Machines (AWPs)
The stake on both all cash and coin or token AWPs was increased to 30p in October 1997.
The prize on all cash AWPs was increased to £25 in January 2002.
The prize on coin or token AWPs, where the prize is all cash, was increased to £5 in October 1997.
The prize on coin and token AWPs, where the prize is non-cash, was increased to £8 in October 1995.
Licensing Act
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how her Department is monitoring the extent to which council licensing departments are applying the Licensing Act 2003 consistently and appropriately in respect of charity fund raising functions. [79522]
Mr. Woodward: Under the Scrutiny Council initiative, officials from my Department are working with council officers and through them with local police and other responsible authorities, residents' groups, businesses and other stakeholders, to gather information about how the new regime is working on the ground.
In addition, we are conducting a review of the guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act). A comprehensive formal review of the guidance including a full public consultation will be completed by summer 2006 and a revised version of the guidance will be laid before Parliament by the end of 2006.
However, in the first instance, it is for licensing authorities to interpret the law on the basis of their own legal advice. An appeal mechanism has been built into the 2003 Act to ensure that licensing authority interpretations can be challenged in the courts to ensure that they are reasonable and fair.
Lottery Funding
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications for lottery funding were received from organisations and groups in Bexleyheath and Crayford in each of the last five years. [79957]
Mr. Caborn: This Department has never collected comprehensive information on either the number or value of applications for lottery grants received by the distributing bodies. The information requested could be collected and provided only at disproportionate cost.
Public Libraries
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people visited a public library in each year since 1997. [79900]
Mr. Lammy: The number of visits to public libraries in England from 1997-98 to 2004-05 (the latest available figure) are as follows:
| Visits | |
| Source: Public Library Statistics, published by the Chartered Institute for Finance and Accountancy | |
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many public libraries there were in each local authority in each year since 1997; [79901]
(2) for what average number of hours per week public libraries were open in each local authority in each year since 1997. [79903]
Mr. Lammy: The table shows the number of public libraries in England, by opening hours band, for 1997-98 to 2004-05 (the latest available) and, for context, the comparable figures for 1978-79. This data are drawn from the public library statistics report published for those years by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The reports do not contain averaged hours.
The figures for each of the 149 library authorities in England may be found in the CIPFA reports. Copies are held by the House Library.
| Static libraries in England (by hours open per week) | |||||
| 60+ | 45-59 | 30-44 | 10-29 | <10 | |
| Note: This covers a reply for parliamentary questions 79901 and 79903. | |||||
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which public libraries are proposed for closure, broken down by local authority. [79902]
Mr. Lammy: The following list details proposals where individual libraries have been named by the parent authorities. These proposals are still subject to public consultation, possible deferral or to ratification following a trial period of extended opening hours.
Devon County Council
12 closures proposed at:
Appledore,
Colyton Geneva,
Bideford,
Heavitree,
Exeter Ipplepen,
Kingskerswell,
Kingsteignton Kingswear,
Pinhoe,
Primley,
Sidmouth,
Stoke Fleming,
Shaldon
Dorset County Council
13 proposed closures at:
Burton Bradstock,
Charmouth,
Chickerell,
Colehill,
Corfe Castle,
Corfe Mullen,
Crossways
Lytchett Matravers,
Portland Underbill,
Puddletown,
Stalbridge,
Wool,
Wyke Regis
Hertfordshire County Council
4 Proposed closures
2 in the St Albans area.
We are looking into the status of some other reported closure proposals with the authorities concerned. There have been a number of figures for such proposals in the press and media. However, we believe that some of those figures have not taken account of proposals that have been dropped or scaled down.
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in how many local authorities the future of public libraries is open to public consultation; and how long each consultation is expected to last. [79904]
Mr. Lammy: Information regarding public consultations on library services within the 149 library authorities in England is not held centrally. However, we are aware that a number of consultations are planned or in progress in areas such as Devon and Dorset where library closures are being considered.
We want to see public library services that are responsive to the needs of local people. Individual library authorities are best placed to judge those needs but they should ensure that their judgements are based on soundings from the communities that they serve.
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of public library stock was made up of (a) books, (b) tapes, (c) CDs, (d) videos and (e) DVDs in each year since 1997. [79906]
Mr. Lammy: Percentage figures are not held centrally, nor are actual items figure held precisely in the form requested. However, the table shows the number of books, sound recordings (encompassing music and talking books), and videos/DVDs from 1997-98 to 2004-05 (the latest year available).
| Million | |||
| Books( 1) | Sound recordings( 1) | Video/DVD( 1) | |
| (1) Lending stock only. Source: Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy | |||
Stonehenge
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people have visited Stonehenge in each year since 1997. [79979]
Mr. Lammy: The Stonehenge visitor figures for 1996-97 to 2005-06 are given in the table:
| Visitor numbers | |
Prime Minister
Abortion
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions on abortion he has had with Cardinal Keith O'Brien; and if he will make a statement. [80277]
The Prime Minister: My officials and I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a wide range of subjects. Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
Chequers
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 883W, on Chequers, if he will list those persons who gave oral evidence to the Hutton Inquiry, other than hon. Members and Government officials, whom he met at Chequers in (a) 2003 and (b) 2004. [79819]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 883W.
Departmental Hospitality
David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister if he will keep a separate record of the amount spent annually on alcohol for hospitality purposes in his Office. [77316]
The Prime Minister: For accounting purposes my Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Hilary Armstrong) today.
Hutton Report
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer from the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs of 14 June 2006, Official Report, column 1268W on the Hutton Report, how many final copies of the Hutton Report were obtained by 10 Downing street; at what price per copy; and to whom they were issued. [79808]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Harriet Harman) on 14 June, Official Report, column 1268W.
Mei Eden Mineral Water
Richard Burden: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the purchase and use of Mei Eden mineral water from the Golan Heights at 10 Downing street. [79033]
The Prime Minister: Mineral water supplied by Eden Springs to 10 Downing street is sourced from within the UK.
Ministerial Meetings
Mr. Soames: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he had on defence and security issues when he recently met President Chirac. [80192]
The Prime Minister: I discussed a wide range of issues with President Chirac during our recent meeting, including UK/French defence cooperation and European Security and Defence Policy. I refer the hon. Member to the press conference I held with President Chirac on 9 June 2006. A transcript of this is available on the No. 10 website and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit the Royal Shrewsbury hospital maternity unit to meet nurses and hear their views. [80335]
The Prime Minister: I have no current plans to do so.
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister if he will meet public sector workers in Shrewsbury to discuss Government plans for pension reforms. [80336]
The Prime Minister: I have no current plans to do so.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Amess: To ask the Prime Minister (1) pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2006, Official Report, column 827W, on parliamentary questions, what the reasons were for the time taken to reply to the original question; [80265]
(2) what steps he has (a) taken and (b) plans to take to reduce the length of time taken to answer written parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement. [80266]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave the hon. Member for Monmouth (David T. C. Davies) on 15 February 2006, Official Report, column 2032W.
Sovereign Strategy
Chris Huhne: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2006, Official Report, column 120W, on Sovereign Strategy, on how many occasions his official diary shows that he met a representative of Sovereign Strategy during the last 12 months. [80255]
The Prime Minister: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 5 June 2006, Official Report, column 120W.
Treasury
Biodiesel
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will lower the rate of taxation on biodiesel. [79409]
John Healey: The recent Budget announced the extension of the 20p per litre duty differential for biofuels until 2008-09, and set out a range of announcements about the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, which will begin in 2008-09.
The Chancellor considers relevant economic, social and environmental factors when deciding taxation policy, with any announcements being made in the context of his Budget statement.
Children's Sunglasses
Mr. Davey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on removing VAT on children's sunglasses; and if he will make a statement. [79371]
Dawn Primarolo: Representations are regularly made to Treasury Ministers and officials on a wide range of issues.
Under agreements with our European partners we can keep our existing VAT zero rates, but we may not extend them or introduce new ones. It is therefore not possible to remove VAT from children's sunglasses.
Construction Industry (Registration Cards)
Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2006, Official Report, column 1354W, on construction industry (registration cards), how many temporary construction industry services registration cards (a) have been issued and (b) are in use; and if he will make a statement. [79816]
John Healey: Of the 2.4 million construction industry registration cards (CIS4) issued since the scheme began in 1999, 350,000 are temporary registration cards. This number includes some renewed temporary cards. 240,000 temporary registration cards have been used.
Unused cards are generally attributable to holders of recently issued cards having not yet been paid within CIS or holders that normally work within the domestic sector having applied for a card in case they become involved in CIS work.
Correspondence
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Paymaster General will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 23 May 2006, regarding a constituent. [80143]
Dawn Primarolo: I have done so.
Credit Unions
Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what help his Department has given to the credit union movement in the UK. [79826]
Ed Balls: The Government welcome the role of the credit union movement in helping to promote financial inclusion and contributing to choice and diversity in the financial services sector. The Government aim to encourage credit unions to be sustainable professional bodies so they can more effectively meet their members’ needs and assist the financially excluded on a long-term basis.
Some of the Government action to facilitate this since 1997 includes bringing credit unions under the regulatory supervision of the Financial Services Authority in 2001, and using a regulatory reform order in 2003 to allow credit unions greater operational flexibility. More recently and following consultation with the sector and consumer groups, the Government introduced legislation increasing the maximum permitted interest rate on loans, from 1 per cent. to 2 per cent. per month, in order to provide flexibility to lend to more people on low incomes. In addition, credit unions are now able to offer cash ISAs.
These measures are complemented by a £36 million Growth Fund for credit unions and other community-based lenders announced at PBR 2004, and to be administered by the Department for Work and Pensions from mid-2006.
Data Protection
Mr. Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2006, Official Report, column 177W, on the Data Protection Act, what longest period of time elapsed between HM Revenue and Customs (a) receiving the administration fee and providing the information requested and (b) receiving a request for information and providing the information requested under the Data Protection Act 1998. [77769]
Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs does not charge for access to personal information requested under the subject access provisions afforded by the Data Protection Act 1998.
The average length of time HM Revenue and Customs take to reply to subject access requests is 11 days. However, in an exceptional instance, that involved both an appeal and a subject access request under the Data Protection Act, the entire matter took 341 days to process.
Euro-preparation Group
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2006, Official Report, column 201W, on the Euro-preparation group, what the date of the autumn meeting is; and which local authorities have been invited. [78315]
Ed Balls: The next meeting between central Government officials and local authorities is provisionally scheduled for 21 September 2006. This is part of the regular programme of activities with stakeholders on euro preparations. On the local authorities involved in this work, I refer the hon. Member to the answer he received on 18 April 2006, Official Report, column 512W, from the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Jim Fitzpatrick).
Households (Tamworth)
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) single parent households with children under the age of 16 years and (b) single-person households there were in Tamworth constituency in each of the last 15 years; and what estimate he has made of the number of cohabiting couples living in Tamworth constituency in each of the last 15 years. [80127]
John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 26 June 2006:
As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many (a) single parent households with children under the age of 16 years and (b) single-person households there were in Tamworth constituency in each of the last 15 years; and what the estimate is of the number of cohabiting couples living in Tamworth constituency in each of the last 15 years. (80127)
Estimates of these figures are not produced on an annual basis for local areas. Available figures are from the censuses of 1991 and 2001. These are shown in the table below.
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the average income per person in Tamworth constituency. [80128]
Dawn Primarolo: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 26 June 2006:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about average income per person in the Tamworth constituency. (80128)
The ONS published estimates of household income for regions and local areas of the UK on 9 May 2006. Tamworth is within the NUTS 3 (Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics) area of Staffordshire County Council This is the most detailed level of geography for which estimates are produced.
Table A contains estimates of total incomes per head and gross disposable household income (GDHI) per head for Staffordshire County Council.
| Table A: Staffordshire county council NUTS3 |