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139 Territorial Army 26 OCTOBER 2009 Territorial Army 140 [Bill Rammell] hon. Gentleman’s cursory description of the training that will be available to get that bounty did not bear any relationship to what we propose. I sympathise entirely if those restrictions cause local TA units to review commitments that they have made to public events. I am told that many units are deciding to honour, without payment, commitments such as providing support for remembrance activities, and they are to be applauded for doing so. I hope that as many TA bands as possible will feel able to continue supporting local remembrance events. We are still working on the full details of the savings measures, but at this stage we do not anticipate that any TA centres will close as a result. We are very keen to maintain links with the employers whose invaluable support is so crucial to the TA. Liaison with current and prospective employers will continue via regional reserve forces, cadet associations and the Government’s Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers initiatives. Some regional TA activities will be cancelled, but that will have little, if any, effect on relations with employers. I realise that reductions in normal activity are disappointing for TA members. However, I hope and believe that the majority will understand the reasons behind those reductions and the exceptional circumstances in which they are being applied. On communication, I repeat the regret that I expressed earlier today that members of the TA found out about changes through the press, rather than through the chain of command. There has been an historic practice in the armed forces, under successive Governments, that such changes are communicated and cascaded through the chain of command. In this day and age—in the media environment in which we operate, with the 24/7 media—I do not think that is good enough. We need to reflect on that issue and to make improvements. I also repeat the commitment that I gave earlier today that the changes will be kept under active review. Let me conclude by giving a commitment. I take on board what the hon. Gentleman has said about reassurance for the future, and I think it is incumbent on us in the Ministry of Defence to reach conclusions on the budget for 2010 as quickly as possible in order to give that reassurance. The TA is doing an incredibly good job on all our behalves, and we should support that. I hope that the change that I have announced today will be welcomed right across the House. Question put and agreed to. 10.47 pm House adjourned.
1WS Written Ministerial Statements 26 OCTOBER 2009 Written Ministerial Statements 2WS Written Ministerial Statements Monday 26 October 2009 BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM EU Informal Competitiveness Council The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Ian Lucas): The following statement provides information on the EU Informal Competitiveness Council that took place in Umeå, Sweden on 14 and 16 October. My officials Andrew van der Lem, head of EU strategy (at the industry and internal market sessions on 14 and 15 October) and Professor Adrian Smith, director general of Science and Research (at the Research Council sessions on 15 and 16 October) represented the UK. At the internal market session on 14 October, priorities for future EU single market policy were discussed. The Commission is planning to make proposals by 2012 on a new single market package. In discussion, member states prioritised recovery from the economic crisis and financial stability, focusing on external (i.e. outside EU) competitiveness, improving the business environment and boosting consumer confidence. The importance of implementation of the EU services directive was also stressed. The UK emphasised the need for a joined up approach to EU single market, industry and research policy, with a focus on outcomes, the evidence base and external competitiveness. The UK also stressed the need to make the EU single market more accessible. The presidency concluded there was broad support for a new Commission package on the single market. At the industry session on 15 October, the presidency hosted a discussion on eco-efficiency from a competitiveness perspective, which included presentations by two businesses and a policy think-tank. The EU presidency suggested that EU member states should take a global lead in promoting growth and jobs through an eco-efficient economy. There was general support among member states that economic growth and environmental protection can be mutually reinforcing, not conflicting. However member states also stressed the need for a global “level playing field” and the importance of agreeing a global deal at the United Nations climate change conference at Copenhagen in December. In the informal breakout sessions, the UK stressed the need for the EU to be a good place to do business, for EU companies to have access to global markets, for a global carbon price to be agreed and for targeted EU funding and EU public procurement to help develop a low carbon economy. At the research Council sessions on 15 and 16 October, on the afternoon of the first day research ministers held discussions in break out groups on the future governance structures of the European Research Area (ERA); the outcome of these discussions was considered in a plenary session in the morning of the second day. While there was little support for the idea of establishing regular “ERA Ministerial” meetings, there was agreement that links between research, innovation and education policies needed to be strengthened and that the mandate of the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST) advisory committee needed to give that body a more strategic role. Ministers also discussed expected cost overruns on the international ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) nuclear fusion facility. The UK stressed the need to find an acceptable solution to the funding issue. Correction to Response to Parliamentary Question The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Ian Lucas): I would like to inform the House that a written answer I gave on 6 July 2009, Official Report, column 597W, to the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and Poole North (Annette Brooke) was incorrect. To the question Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make provision for the vehicle scrappage scheme to be open to persons who have taken on the registration of a vehicle over 10-years-old which was initially registered in the name of their deceased spouse. [281255] The correct answer was: We have reviewed this issue carefully given that we consider the case of a recently bereaved spouse or civil partner to be particularly compelling and we would want to be as helpful as possible to those in this situation, while still ensuring that the scheme and compliance with the rules can be administered simply and abuse can be minimised. We therefore propose, subject to the agreement of vehicle manufacturers, that where a bereaved spouse or civil partner shares the same address as the person who was the former keeper of the car, that the requirement that the old vehicle must have been registered to the keeper continuously for 12 months before the order date of the new vehicle should be cut to six months (on a rolling basis). In addition to complying with other rules of the scheme, the bereaved would need to produce an original or certified copy of their marriage certificate or certificate of civil partnership and of their spouse/civil partner’s death certificate for the dealer to verify and copy. We have written to the manufacturers to seek their agreement to this change and will put revised guidance on the Department’s website at: http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/sectors/automotive/ scrappage/page51068.html as soon as we are clear which manufacturers have agreed to this change to the scheme. I have written to the hon. Member for Mid-Dorset and Poole North to apologise for the administrative error, and provide the correct answer. I would also like to apologise to the House. The Department’s procedures for dealing with the answering of parliamentary questions have been revised to avoid any future occurrence of this error. CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES Young People’s Information, Advice and Guidance The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (Ed Balls): Today I will be launching a new strategy to transform information, advice and guidance (IAG) for young people.
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