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Gas and Electricity Regulation
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's response to consultation on proposals to reform the system of gas and electricity regulation, and on his plans to assess the regulatory, environmental and equal treatment impact of the proposed Utilities Bill as a whole. [95429]
Mrs. Liddell: In October last year, the Government published a consultation paper on their proposals for reforming the system of gas and electricity regulation. After considering the responses, I have published a document which sets out the Government's proposals on the issues raised ("The Future of Gas and Electricity Regulation: The Government's Proposals for Legislation", DTI, 13 October 1999, ref. URN 99/1049). These proposals will form part of the Utilities Bill which the Government intend to introduce when parliamentary time permits.
My Department has also published draft regulatory impact, environmental and equal treatment appraisals of the provisions to be sought in the Utilities Bill, requesting comments by 15 November.
Copies of the documents have been placed in the Library of the House, as has a list of the names of those who responded to the consultation document and who
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were content for their names and views to be made public. The responses themselves, with the exception of those from parties who made a request for confidentiality, have been placed in the library of the Department of Trade and Industry, where they are available for inspection.
Mr. Pickthall:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive the Coal Authority's Fifth report on the administration of the Coal- Mining Subsidence Damage Repair and Compensation scheme. [95431]
Mrs. Liddell:
I have now received this report from the Coal Authority and have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses today.
Mr. Rooney:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which sections of the Employment Relations Act 1999 have been implemented and on what date; and what is the timetable for the remaining sections. [94791]
Mr. Alan Johnson:
The first commencement order (S.I. 1999/2509) for the Act was made on 8 September, bringing sections 38 and 42 into force on 9 September and section 18(6) on 30 September.
The second commencement order (S.I. 1999/2830) was made on 14 October. Under it, sections 2, 3, 13(1) to (3), 18(1) to (5), 19 to 23, 26 to 33, 34(4), 35, 36(1) (in part), 37, 39, 40 and 43, Schedules 2 and 6 and paragraphs 1, 2, 5 (in part), 6 and 8 of Schedule 7 will come into force on 25 October and sections 7 to 9 and Schedule 4 will come into force on 15 December. The corresponding provisions of section 44 and Schedule 9 (repeals) will come into force on 25 October or 15 December as appropriate.
It is intended that the remaining provisions in the Act should be brought into force over the coming year, including, by Easter, new rules on industrial action ballots and notices (section 4 and Schedule 3), new protections for unfairly dismissed strikers (section 16 and Schedule 5) and better access for national security staff to employment tribunals (section 41 and Schedule 8), and, shortly thereafter, the new right to be accompanied in disciplinary and grievance hearings (sections 10 to 15) and the statutory trade union recognition scheme and associated provisions (sections 1, 5, 6 and 25 and Schedule 1).
Mr. Watts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will announce his decision on ABB Energy Development Co Ltd's application to construct and operate a combined cycle gas turbine power station at Raventhorpe, Scunthorpe. [95428]
Mrs. Liddell:
I have today decided to give a direction under section 14(3) of the Energy Act 1976 to prevent the building of a 450 MW generating station to be fuelled by natural gas at Raventhorpe, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.
Copies of the press notice and decision letter are being placed in the Library of the House.
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Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to publish the next analysis in the Households Below Average Income series. [94700]
Angela Eagle:
Results to 1997-98 were published on 14 October and copies have been placed in the Library.
We hope to publish the next edition in the summer of 2000.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the titles of the in-house publications and newsletters which were produced for the staff of his Department, excluding non-departmental public bodies and agencies, in the last five years, specifying the dates on which each title was first produced, the frequency with which each title is produced and the current secrecy classification of each title. [93847]
Mr. Bayley:
The information is as follows:
In addition to those listed, individual branches may, from time to time, issue newsletters to their own staff. These have limited circulation and would not be distributed generally. Letters may also be issued to staff from time to time on an ad hoc basis on issues affecting staff.
Mr. Caplin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects to announce the outcome of the annual review of the cold weather payments scheme; and if he will make a statement. [95495]
Angela Eagle:
Following advice from the Meteorological Office, the annual review of the Cold Weather Payments scheme has now been completed. Amending regulations were laid on 11 October 1999 and will come into force on 1 November, in time for the beginning of the winter period.
Four of the weather stations used in the scheme last winter have been replaced. Abbotsinch (Glasgow Airport), Turnhouse (Edinburgh Airport), Portland and
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Southampton. They will be replaced respectively by the stations at Bishopton, Edinburgh Gogarbank, Isle of Portland and Thorney Island. Thorney Island is an existing weather station which is already used in the scheme. In addition, a station at Lake Vyrnwy in North Wales has been added to the scheme to improve representation in that area. There have also been some changes by Royal Mail to postcodes which have been reflected in the amending regulations.
Cold weather payments are separate from, and in addition to, winter fuel payments which are paid only to pensioners.
I have written to each of the hon. Members affected by the changes.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many authors have received their maximum entitlement from the Public Lending Right. [94457]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
In the last financial year, 1998-99, 100 authors received the maximum entitlement of £6,000 from the Public Lending Right.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the operation of the Public Lending Right. [94455]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are currently considering a range of proposals, following a review of the scheme by the Public Lending Right's Advisory Committee. We will be consulting on our response to the review very shortly. The Department greatly values the Public Lending Right scheme and last year found extra funding to maintain the rate per loan. We have also provided increases in funding for the next three years and are currently consulting on an increase in the rate per loan from £2.07 to £2.18. However, we have no plans at present to raise further the allocation to the Public Lending Right. Any bid for increased funding would need to be considered alongside the Department's other programmes.
"The Quarterly"; forerunner of "DSS News". First produced Autumn 1991, (ceased publication 1998), was issued quarterly.
"DSS News"; information for staff on current Departmental issues--input from Ministers and Permanent Secretary. First produced April 1998 and issued every two months.
"Leisure"; sports and social information on recreational events/activities for DH/DSS staff. First produced pre 1994 and issued monthly.
"The Weekly"; staff vacancies and moves, personnel issues, general issues affecting staff. First produced in current format pre 1994 and issued weekly.
"Cascade"; single information sheet issued by senior officials to inform staff of current policy or personnel issues. First produced 1998 and issued on an ad hoc basis as and when needed.
"Network" (now renamed "Oracle"); update by senior official on policy issues for staff in policy branches. First produced 1997 (ceased publication 1999). Issued monthly.
None of these publications carries a protective security marking.
(2) what plans he has to increase funding of the Public Lending Right. [94456]
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