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Euro
Mr. Portillo: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been spent by his Department to date in connection with the National Changeover Plan; on what headings this money has been spent; and how much his Department plans to spend on implementing the plan over the next 12 months; and what steps his Department has taken to encourage businesses to make preparations for the introduction of the euro. [112149]
Mr. Byers [holding answer 29 February 2000]: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer which the Economic Secretary gave to him on 29 February 2000, Official Report, column 233W.
Arms Exports
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what export credit support is (a) currently allocated and (b) under consideration, in respect of arms export decisions. [112411]
Mr. Caborn: As at the end of January 2000, guarantees in respect of defence-related exports accounted for £3,875 million of ECGD's amounts at risk, representing 22.3 per cent. of ECGD's total amounts at risk.
Information relating to business under consideration is commercial in confidence.
Zero Hours Contracts
Mr. Pearson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on (a) his Department's policy in respect of the House of Lords decision in the case of Carmichael and another v. National Power and (b) zero hours contracts. [112675]
Mr. Alan Johnson: The House of Lords decided the case of "Carmichael and another v. National Power" in the light of its own particular facts. Whether a particular contract between a worker and a work provider is one of service or for services, or some other type, remains a common law question of mixed fact and law to be assessed on a case by case basis.
The Government consider that zero hours contracts can contribute to the flexibility necessary for a modern labour market, provided there are mutual benefits for employers and employees. The National Minimum Wage and the Working Time Regulations have significantly reduced
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the scope for abuse of zero hours contracts, as will the regulations implementing the Part Time Work Directive when they come into force.
Mr. Cotter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme. [111539]
Ms Hewitt:
The Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme is a very successful scheme which, since its introduction in 1981, has guaranteed over 70,000 loans valued at around £2.5 billion.
It is now one of the component parts of the new Enterprise Fund and continues to play an important role in the Government's support for small businesses.
Dr. Godman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what matters he discussed relating to domestic and international shipbuilding markets at his last meeting with representatives of management and trade unions in the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry. [111542]
Mr. Alan Johnson:
On 13 October 1998, I attended the most recent meeting of the Shipbuilding Forum which comprises representatives of management and trade unionists in the shipbuilding industry, its suppliers and customers, as well as key Government Departments. At the Forum, I discussed a wide range of topics including the domestic and international ship market, UK competitiveness, productivity and employment, improvements the Department had made to the Shipbuilding Intervention Fund and the Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme and individual prospective orders. I also received reports on the projects which my Department is supporting to enhance the competitiveness of the industry.
Since that formal meeting, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have had other meetings with industry representatives--management and unions--as well as interested hon. Members. Again, discussion has included the wide range of topics I have just outlined.
ECOFIN
Mr. Hood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the ECOFIN Council held in Brussels on 28 February; and if he will make a statement. [111885]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Chancellor of the Exchequer attended the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers.
The Council agreed to publish the Code of Conduct Group (Business Taxation) Report of 23 November.
The UK and Danish Convergence programmes and the Stability programmes of Italy, Germany, Belgium and Spain were agreed. The UK Convergence programme was commended. The Council thought it appropriate that the programme stresses the securing of macro-economic stability supported by a sound budgetary position and
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continued structural reform. The Council noted that the monetary framework of inflation targeting has been an important condition for securing low inflation expectations. The Council further noted that the UK convergence programme was fully in line with the Broad Economic Guidelines.
Discussion on the Broad Economic Guidelines and the Lisbon European Council showed general agreement on the need to push ahead with structural reforms, particularly in the labour market. The Chancellor's proposal to include timetables and benchmarking in Lisbon conclusions received wide support.
The Commission presented their report on the Functioning of Product and Capital Markets (the Cardiff Process). The Presidency concluded that this report was an important contribution to the Lisbon European Council.
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the impact on tax revenue of giving bio-diesel produced through recycling waste edible oils parity with fossil-based low petroleum gas; and if he will make a statement. [112452]
Mr. Timms
[holding answer 1 March 2000]: A reduction of duty on bio-diesel produced through recycling waste edible oils, from the current diesel duty rate to the rate applicable to road fuel gas, would cost £35 million in a full year if 90,000,000 litres were to be produced. This is the maximum estimated UK production capacity, and does not take account of any possible imports. There is little information available to support the case for a duty reduction to the same level as road fuel gas.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each year since 1978 the number of women who have exercised their right for the married women's option in national insurance. [112162]
Dawn Primarolo:
The numbers of women in Great Britain who paid class 1 National Insurance Contributions at the reduced rate for each year since 1978-89 are given in Table 11 of "Contributions and Qualifying Years for Retirement Pension 1995/96--Volume 2", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in work have been with their present employer for (a) three, (b) four, (c) five and (d) six or more years. [112153]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Frank Field, dated 2 March 2000:
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The Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has been asked to reply to your parliamentary question about the length of time people have been with their present employer. I am replying in Dr Holt's absence.
The Labour Force Survey (LFS) is the ONS's major source of labour market data on individuals. Estimates from the LFS of the number of employees who had worked for their current employer for three, four, five or six or more years are given in the table below. The figures are for the United Kingdom and for the autumn (September to November) 1999 quarter, and are not seasonally adjusted.
| Thousand | |
|---|---|
| Less than 3 years | 10,066 |
| 3 years, but less than 4 | 1,616 |
| 4 years, but less than 5 | 1,283 |
| 5 years, but less than 6 | 1,117 |
| 6 or more years | 10,002 |
| All employees(5) | 24,144 |
(5) Includes some employees who did not state how long they had worked for their current employer
Source:
ONS, Labour Force Survey
Earnings
Mr. Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the (i) number and (ii) proportion of people in work who were below the (a) lower earnings limit and (b) the tax threshold for each of the last 30 years. [112154]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
(6) LFS earnings are based on those employees earning less than £100 per hour
(7) Bases for calculation of percentages exclude employees who did not give a valid response regarding their hourly or weekly earnings
(8) Single persons tax threshold
Source:
ONS, Labour Force Survey
2 Mar 2000 : Column: 347W
Mr. Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the numbers and proportions for full-time men and women workers who earned below two-thirds of average earnings for each of the last 30 years. [112157]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Director of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to reply.
| Males | Females | |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 23.0 | 19.6 |
| 1987 | 24.4 | 20.8 |
| 1988 | 25.7 | 22.8 |
| 1989 | 26.1 | 23.7 |
| 1990 | 26.4 | 24.0 |
| 1991 | 27.2 | 23.8 |
| 1992 | 27.5 | 24.8 |
| 1993 | 28.4 | 25.3 |
| 1994 | 29.0 | 25.4 |
| 1995 | 29.2 | 25.5 |
| 1996 | 29.8 | 25.7 |
| 1997 | 29.5 | 25.7 |
| 1998 | 30.4 | 26.1 |
| 1999 | 30.3 | 26.7 |
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