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House of Commons

Business and Enterprise Committee

Formal Minutes

Session 2007–08

The Business & Enterprise Committee

The Business & Enterprise Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform.

Current membership

Peter Luff MP (Conservative, Mid Worcestershire) (Chairman) Mr Adrian Bailey MP (Labour, West Bromwich West) Roger Berry MP (Labour, Kingswood) Mr Brian Binley MP (Conservative, Northampton South) Mr Michael Clapham MP (Labour, Barnsley West and Penistone) Mr Lindsay Hoyle MP (Labour, Chorley) Miss Julie Kirkbride MP (Conservative, Bromsgrove) Anne Moffat MP (Labour, East Lothian) Mr Mark Oaten MP (Liberal Democrat, Winchester) Lembit Öpik MP (Liberal Democrat, Montgomeryshire) Mr Anthony Wright MP (Labour, Great Yarmouth)

Powers

The Committee is one of the departmental select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 152. These are available on the Internet via http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/parliamentary_committees

Publications

The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee (including press notices) are on the Internet at http://www.parliament.uk/bec

Committee staff

The current staff of the Committee are: Eve Samson (Clerk), Emma Berry (Second Clerk), Louise Whitley (Inquiry Manager), Janna Jessee (Inquiry Manager) Anita Fuki (Senior Committee Assistant), Eleanor Scarnell (Committee Assistant) and Jim Hudson (Committee Support Assistant).

Contacts

All correspondence should be addressed to the Clerks of the Business and Enterprise Committee, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA. The telephone number for general enquiries is 020 7219 5777; the Committee’s email address is [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.parliament.uk/bec

http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/parliamentary_committees

Formal Minutes – Session 2007-08

[Resolution of the House 25 July 2007: Resolved, …That all proceedings of the Trade and Industry Committee in this Parliament shall be deemed to have been proceedings of the

Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Committee....]

Tuesday 13 November 2007

Members present:

Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Lindsay Hoyle Roger Berry Mark Hunter Mr Brian Binley Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Michael Clapham Peter Luff

Members declared their interests, in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 13 July 1992 (see Annex).

Peter Luff was called to the Chair.

1. Committees on Arms Export Controls

The Committee considered this matter.

2. Working practices


3. Future programme


[Adjourned till Tuesday 20 November at 10.30 am


Members present:

Peter Luff, in the Chair

Mr Adrian Bailey Mark Hunter Roger Berry Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Brian Binley Mr Mike Weir Mr Lindsay Hoyle Mr Anthony Wright

1. Petitions to the House

The Committee considered the following petitions to the House concerning post office and crown post office closures:

From Councillors Stephen Broadhurst, Michael Jarvis and Edwin Watt-Ruffell, who represent the residents of Dane Valley, Thanet.

From customers of Bidborough Post Office and local residents of Bidborough and surrounding villages.

From customers of St John’s Road Post Office and local residents of St John’s Road and surrounding villages.

From Rebbeca Anderson on behalf of the customers of Carrington Post Office, Nottingham.

From Residents of Bingley and the surrounding areas.

From Residents of Bromley and the surrounding areas and visitors to the London Borough of Bromley.

From Residents of the Taunton constituency and others.

From Roger Latchford of Birchington in Kent and residents of Thanet.

From the Community Council and residents of Boat of Garten and vicinity, Inverness-shire, Scotland.

2. House of Lords Select Committee Regulators on Report on UK Economic Regulators


3. Regional Select Committees


4. Future programme


5. The Departmental Annual Report and Resource Accounts of the Department of Trade and Industry 2006–07

Rt Hon John Hutton MP, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, gave oral evidence.



Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mark Hunter Roger Berry Anne Moffat Mr Michael Clapham Mr Mike Weir Mr Lindsay Hoyle Mr Anthony Wright



From residents of the Shipley constituency and the surrounding area;

From users of Woodland Grove Post Office (Nottingham);

From those affected by the closure of the Arundel Drive Post Office (Fareham).

2. Future programme


3. Regional Scrutiny—Letter to the Chairman of the Liaison Committee

Ordered, That the Chairman write to the Chairman of the Liaison Committee expressing the Committee’s concerns about potential overlap in remit between regional select committees and departmental select committees.

4. Strategic export controls

Resolved, That Roger Berry has leave to visit Austria to attend an International Parliamentary Forum for the ban of cluster munitions hosted by the President of the Nationalrat of Austria in relation to the Committee’s inquiry into strategic export controls, in a representative capacity.

5. National Audit Office briefing feedback


6. The UK construction industry

Mr Lindsay Hoyle declared a non-pecuniary interest relating to the Committee’s inquiry into the UK Construction Industry, namely membership of Unite – The Union.

Mr Alan Ritchie, General Secretary, Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians, gave oral evidence.

Sir Michael Latham, Chairman, Mr Peter Lobban, Chief Executive, and Mr Peter Rogerson, Deputy Chairman, ConstructionSkills, gave oral evidence.

Mr Bob Blackman, National Secretary of Building, Construction and Civil Engineering, and Mr Tom Hardacre, National Officer for Construction and Contracting, Unite – the union, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Tuesday 4 December at 10.15 am

Tuesday 4 December 2007

Members present:


Mr Brian Binley Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Michael Clapham Anne Moffat Mr Lindsay Hoyle Mr Mike Weir Mark Hunter Mr Anthony Wright

1. Future programme


2. Estimates

Ordered, That the Clerk have authority to write to the Department seeking further information related to the Estimates.


Mr Don Ward, Chief Executive, Constructing Excellence and Mr Paul Morrell, Deputy Chairman and Commissioner, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, gave oral evidence.

Dr Martin Wyatt, Chief Executive, Building Research Establishment, Mr Andrew Eastwell, Chief Executive, Building Services Research and Information Association, and Mr Bill Healy,

Chief Executive, Construction Industry Research and Information Association, gave oral evidence.

Mr Richard Diment, Director General and Mr Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs, Federation of Master Builders, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Monday 10 December at 3.30 pm

Monday 10 December 2007

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Lindsay Hoyle Mr Mike Weir Mr Mark Hunter



From those affected by the closure of the 221 Preston Road Post Office in Brighton;

From constituents from Glasgow North West and the surrounding areas;

From those affected by the closure of the 13 Preston Road Post Office in Brighton.

2. Future programme

Resolved, That the Committee visit the European Commission in Brussels to inquire into its programme of work for the coming year.

3. Planning Bill



Mr Graham Wren, former President, National Specialist Contractors Council, Mr Trevor Hursthouse, Chairman, Specialist Engineering Contractors’ Group; Mr John Slaughter, Director of External Affairs, and Mr John Stewart, Director of Economic Affairs, Home Builders Federation, gave oral evidence.


Tuesday 11 December 2007

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mark Hunter Roger Berry Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Brian Binley Mr Mike Weir Mr Michael Clapham Mr Anthony Wright

1. Future programme


Resolved, That the Committee visit the of the main Olympic Stadium for the 2012 Olympic Games in Stratford in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into the UK construction industry.

2. Creating a higher value-added economy inquiry

Professor Peter N C Cooke, KPMG Professor of Automotive Management, University of Buckingham, and Mr Eric Wallbank, Automotive Sector Leader, Ernst & Young, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Tuesday 8 January 2008 at 10.15 am

Tuesday 8 January 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Brian Binley Mr Mike Weir Anne Moffat Mr Anthony Wright


The Committee considered the following petitions concerning post office and crown post office closures:

From those affected by the closure of the Elm Grove Post Office in Brighton;

From residents of Little Harrowden, Great Harrowden, Orlngbury, Pytchley and surrounding areas;

From those affected by the closure of the Daleacre Post Office in Bootle;

From those affected by the closure of the Aintree Road Post Office in Bootle;

From Mr Brian Kewley, Postmaster, and the customers of Lower Heswall Post Office, Wirral;

From Mr Temple, Postmaster and the customers of Lancelyn Court Post Office;

From residents of the Southern Cross Neighbourhood;

From the Communication Workers Union, Coventry Area;

From Mr Shah and others.

The Committee also considered a petition concerning the collapse of Farepak from those affected by it.

2. Future of UK manufacturing: public procurement Government response

Draft Special Report (Future of UK Manufacturing: Public Procurement Government Response to the Trade and Industry Committee’s Thirteenth Report of Session 2006–07), proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first time and second time, and agreed to.

The Government’s response to the Thirteenth Report from the Trade and Industry Committee in Session 2006–07 was appended to the Report.

Resolved, That the Report be the First Special Report of the Committee to the House.

Ordered, That the Chairman make the Report to the House.

3. Future programme


4. Recent developments in trade, and trade and investment opportunities with India: one year on inquires

Lord Jones of Birmingham, Minister for Trade and Investment, and Mr Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Consumer Affairs, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Tuesday 15 January at 10.15 am

Wednesday 9 January 2008

The Chairman, Mr Adrian Bailey, Mr Brian Binley, Mr Michael Clapham and Mr Anthony Wright visited the site of the main Olympic Stadium for the 2012 Olympic Games in Stratford in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into the UK construction industry.


Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Lindsay Hoyle Roger Berry Anne Moffat Mr Brian Binley Mr Mike Weir Mr Michael Clapham Mr Anthony Wright



From residents, employees in and visitors to the Borough of Harrogate and Knaresbroough and all those seriously concerned about the decision of the Post Office to review the future of Cold Bath Road Sub-Post Office;

From Councillor Larry Henson and others of like disposition affected by closure of Hawthorn Road Post Office in Kettering;

From Mr Christopher Donnithorne retired and others affected by closure of Bury Cross Post Office in Gosport;

From residents of Cholmondeley and its neighbouring districts;

From residents of Threapwood and its neighbouring districts;

From residents of Tilston and its neighbouring districts;

From residents of Meadowbank and its neighbouring districts;

From Post Office users of Worthing and Adur in West Sussex;

From those affected by closure of Boat of Garten Post Office;

From Councillors Stephen Broadhurst, Michael Jarvis and Edwin Watt-Ruffell who represent the residents of Dane Valley, Thanet;

From Rebecca Anderson on behalf of the customers of Carrington Post Office, Nottingham;

From customers of St John’s Road Post Office and local residents of St John’s Road and surrounding villages;

From customers of Bidborough Post Office and local residents of Bidborough and surrounding villages; and

From residents of the Shipley constituency and the surrounding area.

2. Work of the Committee in 2007

Draft Report (Work of the Committee in 2007), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

(The draft Report was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the First Report of the Committee, Session 2007–08, HC 233.)

3. Europe moves East: the impact of EU enlargement on UK business: Government response


Ordered, That the Chairman write to the Secretary of State asking that the Department revise and resubmit its response to the Trade and Industry Committee’s Eleventh Report of Session 2006-07.



Resolved, That the Committee visit the West Midlands and Scotland in connection with its inquiry into Creating a Higher Value-Added Economy.

Resolved, That the Committee visit the United States of America in connection with its inquiry into Creating a Higher Value-Added Economy and that the Chairman seek the approval of the Liaison Committee for expenditure in connection with the said visit.

5. Future programme



Roger Berry declared a non-pecuniary interest relating to the Committee’s inquiry into the UK Construction Industry, namely membership of Unite – The Union.

Mr Peter Cunningham, Director, Construction Clients’ Group, Mr Andrew Wolstenholme, Director of Capital Projects, BAA; Mr Howard Shiplee, Director of Construction, and Mr Simon Wright, Director of Infrastructure and Utilities, Olympic Delivery Authority, gave oral evidence.


Thursday 17 January 2008

The Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Defence, Foreign Affairs and International Development Committees met concurrently, in accordance with Standing Order No. 137A.

Members present Business, Enterprise and Defence Committee Foreign Affairs International Regulatory Reform Committee Development Committee Committee Mr Adrian Bailey Mr David S Borrow Mr Fabian Hamilton John Battle Roger Berry Linda Gilroy Sir John Stanley Malcolm Bruce Peter Luff Robert Key

1. Chairman Roger Berry was called to the Chair, in accordance with Standing Order No.137A(1)(d).

2. Strategic export controls and review of export control legislation The Committees considered the course of their inquiry and deliberated in accordance with Standing Order No.137A(1)(b).

Ordered, That the following Memoranda be reported to the House for publication on the internet: Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (August 2007), Foreign and Commonwealth Office (August 2007 ),Foreign and Commonwealth Office (October 2007) Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2007) HM Revenue and Customs (November 2007), Foreign and Commonwealth Office (October 2007), Reed Exhibitions Ltd (December 2007), Transparency International (UK) (December 2007), Saferworld (December 2007), Ministry of Defence (December 2007), Campaign Against Arms Trade (December 2007) and Nicholas Gilby (September 2007).

3. Oral evidence

Des Browne MP, the Secretary of State for Defence, Tony Pawson, Head of the Defence Services, and Desmond Bowen, Policy Director, Ministry of Defence, gave oral evidence.



Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Lindsay Hoyle Roger Berry Anne Moffat Mr Michael Clapham Mr Anthony Wright



From residents, employees in and visitors to the Borough of Harrogate and Knaresborough and all those seriously concerned about the decision of the Post Office to review the future of High Harrogate Sub-Post Office; Leeds Road Sub-Post Office, Harrogate; and Stockwell Sub-Post Office, Knaresborough.

From Mr Christopher Donnithorne retired and others affected by the closure of Bury Cross Post Office at Gosport.

2. Future programme



Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Competitiveness, Denis Walker, Director, and Clive Young, Assistant Director, Construction Sector Unit, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform; and Mark Pedlingham, Executive Director of Markets, Suppliers and Skills, Officer of Government Commerce, gave oral evidence.



Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Lindsay Hoyle Roger Berry Mr Mike Weir Mr Michael Clapham Mr Anthony Wright

1. Sub-Committee of the Trade and Industry Committee’s Report on the Implementation of the Report of the Women and Work Commission

Draft Report (Jobs for the Girls: Two Years On), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

(The Report from the Sub-Committee was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Second Report of the Committee, Session 2007-08, HC 291.)

2. Future programme


Resolved, That the Committee inquire into Companies House.



Resolved, That the Chairman, Mr Adrian Bailey and Roger Berry have leave to visit, in a representative capacity, Kiev to meet Members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, officials and members of civil society in relation to the inquiry of the Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Defence, Foreign Affairs and International Development Committees into strategic export controls.

4. Post office closure programme inquiry


Mr George Thompson, General Secretary, and Sally Reeves, Chair, Negotiating Committee and Executive Officer, National Federation of Sub-Postmasters; and Mr Howard Webber, Chief Executive, Postwatch, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 31 January at 1.15 pm

Thursday 31 January 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mark Hunter Roger Berry Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Michael Clapham Mr Mike Weir Mr Lindsay Hoyle Mr Anthony Wright



From the Communication Workers Union, Coventry Area branch;

From Mr Desmond Swayne MP and other customers of Bramshaw Post Office in the New Forest;

From the residents of Little Harrowden, Great Harrowden, Orlingbury, Pytchley and surrounding areas;

From Mr Shah and others regarding the closure of Willowbrook Road Post Office.

The Committee also considered a petition from residents of Castle Point and others to amend the Firework Bill to restrict fireworks to licensed organised displays only at fixed times of the year.

2. Future programme


3. Energy prices and policy

Mr Malcolm Wicks MP, Minister of State for Energy, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Tuesday 5 February at 9.30 am

Tuesday 5 February 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Anne Moffat Roger Berry Mr Mike Weir Mr Michael Clapham Mr Anthony Wright Mr Lindsay Hoyle



From the residents of Threapwood and its neighbouring districts;



From the residents of Cholmondeley and its neighbouring districts;

From the residents of Meadowbank and its neighbouring districts;

From the residents of Tilston and its neighbouring districts.

2. Future programme


3. Post office closure programme inquiry

Mr Billy Hayes, General Secretary, and Mr Andy Furey, Assistant Secretary, Communication Workers Union, Mr Alan Cook CBE, Managing Director, and Ms Paula Vennels, Network Director, Post Office Ltd, and Mr Pat McFadden MP, Minister for Employment Relations & Postal Affairs, Ms Ruth Hannat, Director of Operations Strategy, Shareholder Executive, and Mr Mike Whitehead, Assistant Director for Post Office Network & Urban Reinvention Programme, Postal Service Policy Directorate, Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 7 February at 12.00 pm

Thursday 7 February 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mark Hunter Mr Brian Binley Mr Mike Weir Roger Berry

1. Post Office Closure Programme

Draft Report (Post Office Closure Programme), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

(The draft Report was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Third Report of the Committee, Session 2007–08, HC 292-I.)

[Adjourned till Thursday 21 February at 9.00 am

Monday 18–Tuesday 19 February 2008

The Chairman, Roger Berry, Mr Adrian Bailey, Mr Brian Binley, Mr Mike Weir and Mr Anthony Wright visited the European Commission in Brussels in accordance with the Committee’s Resolution of 10th December 2007.

Thursday 21 February 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Mike Weir Mr Michael Clapham Mr Anthony Wright Mr Lindsay Hoyle

1. Turkey: Trade and EU Accession

The Committee discussed this matter.


Sir John Rose, Chief Executive, Mr Charles Blundell, Head of Public Affairs, and Mike Terrett, Chief Operating Officer, Rolls-Royce Plc, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Tuesday 26 February at 10.15 am

Tuesday 26 February 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Michael Clapham Mr Mike Weir Mr Lindsay Hoyle


The Committee considered the following petition concerning post office closures:

From East Acton residents.

2. The work of the Office of Fair Trading

Draft Special Report (The work of the Office of Fair Trading: Government Response to the Trade and Industry Committee’s Twelfth Report of Session 2006–07), proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first time and second time, and agreed to.

The Government’s response to the Twelfth Report from the Trade and Industry Committee in Session 2006-07 was appended to the Report.

Resolved, That the Report be the Second Special Report of the Committee to the House.


3. Europe moves East: the impact of the ‘new’ EU Members States on UK business

Draft Special Report (Europe moves East: the impact of the ‘new’ EU Member States on UK business: Government Response to the Trade and Industry Committee’s Eleventh Report of Session 2006–07), proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first time and second time, and agreed to.

The Government’s response to the Eleventh Report from the Trade and Industry Committee in Session 2006–07 was appended to the Report.

Resolved, That the Report be the Third Special Report of the Committee to the House.


4. Rover Group: Companies Act Investigation

Ordered, That the Chairman write to the Secretary of State concerning this matter.

5. Future programme



Mr Nick McInnes, Director, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), Mr Peter Dodd, Director of International Economics Team, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and Dianna Melrose, Head of Enlargement and South Eastern Europe Group, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Tuesday 4 March at 10.15 am

Tuesday 4 March 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Brian Binley Mr Mike Weir Mr Michael Clapham Mr Anthony Wright

1. Future programme




3. BERR Spring Supplementary Estimate

Sir Brian Bender KCB, Permanent Secretary, and Mr Mark Clarke, Director General, Finance and Strategy, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and Mr William Roberts, Director of Finance and Resources, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 26 March at 2.00 pm

Sunday 16–Thursday 20 March 2008

The Chairman, Mr Adrian Bailey, Mr Brian Binley, Mr Lindsay Hoyle and Mr Anthony Wright visited Istanbul and Ankara in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into Turkey: Trade and EU Accession, in accordance with the Trade and Industry Committee’s decision of 17 July 2007.

Thursday 20 March 2008

The Business and Enterprise, Defence, Foreign Affairs and International Development Committees met concurrently, in accordance with Standing Order No. 137A.

Members present Business and Enterprise Defence Committee Foreign Affairs International Committee Committee Development Committee Roger Berry Linda Gilroy Mike Gapes Malcolm Bruce Mr Michael Clapham Mr Bernard Jenkin Mr Fabian Hamilton Richard Burden Mr Mike Weir Sir John Stanley


2. Strategic export controls and review of export control legislation The Committees considered the course of their inquiry and deliberated in accordance with Standing Order No.137A(1)(b). Ordered, That the following Memoranda be reported to the House for publication on the internet: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (January 2008), HM Revenue and Customs (January 2008), Campaign Against Arms Trade (January 2008), Ministry of Defence (February 2008), Export Group for Aerospace and Defence (March 2008), Transparency International (UK) (March 2008), Memorandum from UK Working Group on Arms (March 2008) and Amnesty International UK, the Omega Research Foundation and Saferworld (March 2008)

3. Oral evidence

Mr David Hayes, Chairman of Export Group for Aerospace and Defence (EGAD), Mr Brinley Salzmann, Secretary of EGAD, Ms Bernadette Peers, Strategic Shipping Company, and Mr Barry Fletcher, Fletcher International Export Consultancy; and Mr Roy Isbister, Saferworld and UK Working Groups on Arms, Mr Oliver Sprague, Amnesty UK and UK Working Groups on Arms, Ms Marilyn Croser, Oxfam GB and UK Working Groups on Arms, and Mr Mark Pyman, Transparency International UK, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 26 March at 2.00 pm

Wednesday 26 March 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Mike Weir Mr Brian Binley Mr Anthony Wright Mr Michael Clapham



From those concerned about post office closures in the Maidenhead constituency;

From residents of Grimsby;

From the residents of Neithrop;

From those concerned about post office closures in Cumbria;

From customers of the Guildford Avenue Post Office;

From customers of Westcott Place Post Office.

2. UK Trade and Investment Combined Annual Report & Accounts

Resolved, That the Committee respond favourably to any approaches from UK Trade and Investment regarding the proposal to produce a combined Annual Report and Accounts for the previous financial year.

3. Future programme


4. Companies House inquiry

Mr Gareth Jones, Chief Executive, Companies House, and Mr Geoff Dart, Director of Corporate Law and Governance, Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Tuesday 1 April at 9.30 am

Tuesday 1 April 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Anne Moffat Mr Lindsay Hoyle Mr Mike Weir Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Anthony Wright


The Committee considered the following petition concerning post office and crown post office closures:

From residents of Castle Point and others.

2. Funding the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Draft Report (Funding the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

(The draft Report was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Fourth Report of the Committee, Session 2007–08, HC 394.)

3. Waking up to India: Developments in UK-India economic relations

Draft Report (Waking Up to India: Developments in UK-India economic relations), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

(The draft Report was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Fifth Report of the Committee, Session 2007–08, HC 209.)


Pauline Shearman, Head, Europe & Eurasia and Mr Gary Campkin, Head, International Group, Confederation of British Industry, and Sir Julian Horn-Smith, UK Co-Chair, Mr Michael Thomas, Director General, Middle East Association, and Mr Chris Innes-Hopkins, Director Trade & Government Relations, Middle East Association, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till to-morrow at 9.00 am

Wednesday 2 April 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Mike Weir Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Anthony Wright

1. Future programme


2. Creating a higher value-added economy

Mr Richard Halkett, Executive Director, Policy and Research Unit, National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and Mr Will Hutton, Chief Executive, and Mr Ian Brinkley, Director, Knowledge Economy Programme, The Work Foundation, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Tuesday 22 April at 10.15 am


[The Committee met concurrently with the Culture, Media and Sport Committee]

Members present:

Mr Brian Binley Peter Luff Mr Lindsay Hoyle Mr Mike Weir

Mr Anthony Wright

The following members of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee were also present, in accordance with Standing Order No.137A.

Janet Anderson Adam Price Phillip Davies Mr Adrian Sanders Rosemary McKenna Mr John Whittingdale

Mr Peter Luff was called to the Chair, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No.137A (1).



From those concerned about the proposed closure of Derby Road Post Office;

From local residents in constituency of Kingston and Surbiton;

From those concerned about the proposed closure of Brampton Road Post Office;

From Carshalton and Wallington residents;

From residents of Ilford North and others;

From residents, employees in and visitors to the ancient town of Knaresborough and all those seriously concerned about the decision of the Post Office to review the future of Aspin Lane sub-Post Office, Knaresborough;

From those concerned about the proposed closure of Oxbridge Lane Post Office;

From Local residents of Harrow Road, Queen’s Park and neighbouring areas;

From local residents of Little Venice, Maida Vale and neighbouring areas.


Resolved, That Roger Berry and two members of staff have leave to visit the port at Southampton in relation to the Committees on Arms Export Controls' inquiry into strategic export controls in a representative capacity.

3. Ofcom’s Annual Report 2008–09

Lord Currie of Marylebone, Chairman, and Ed Richards, Chief Executive, Office of Communications, gave oral evidence.

Mr John Whittingdale was called to the Chair, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No.137A (1).

Lord Currie of Marylebone, Chairman, and Mr Ed Richards, Chief Executive, Office of Communications, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Monday 28 April at 2.15 pm

Thursday 24 April 2008

Roger Berry, Mr David S Borrow, Linda Gilroy and Sir John Stanley visited the Port of Southampton in accordance with the decisions of the Business and Enterprise Committee on 22 April 2008; the Defence Committee on 22 April 2008; and the Foreign Affairs Committee on 22 April 2008.

Monday 28 April 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Lindsay Hoyle Roger Berry Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Brian Binley Mr Mike Weir


The Committee considered the following petition to the House concerning post office and crown post office closures:

From those concerned about the proposed closures of the sub-Post Offices in the East Londonderry Constituency.

2. Future programme


Resolved, That the Committee visit Cambridge in connection with its inquiry into Creating a Higher Value-Added Economy.

3. Recent developments in trade

Written evidence relating to Recent developments in trade was ordered to be reported to the House for printing.


Lord Jones of Birmingham, Minister for Trade Promotion and Investment, Mr Peter Dodd, Head of International Economics, and Mr Nick McInnes, Head of UK Trade and Investment, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 7 May at 9.15 am


The Chairman, Mr Brian Binley, Mr Michael Clapham and Miss Julie Kirkbride visited Cambridge in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into Creating a higher value-added economy, in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 28 April 2008.

Wednesday 7 May 2008

Members present:


Roger Berry Mr Mark Oaten Mr Brian Binley Mr Mike Weir Mr Lindsay Hoyle Mr Anthony Wright



From people of Acton;

From the people of Hammersmith;

From residents of Romford and surrounding areas;

From residents of Hornchurch and the surrounding areas;

From residents of the Taunton constituency and others.

2. Declaration of interests

Mr Mark Oaten declared his interests, in accordance with the Resolution of the House of 13 July 1992.

3. Committees on Arms Export Control


4. Energy prices


[Adjourned till Monday 12 May at 1.30 pm

Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 May 2008

The Chairman, Mr Adrian Bailey, Roger Berry, Miss Julie Kirkbride, Mr Mark Oaten and Mr Anthony Wright visited the West Midlands in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into Creating a higher value-added economy, in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 15 January 2008.

Monday 12 May 2008

The Committee met at the Technocentre, Coventry University Technology Park

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Mark Oaten Roger Berry Mr Anthony Wright Miss Julie Kirkbride


Professor Michael Clarke, Vice Principal and Dr James Wilkie, Director of Research & Commercial Services, Birmingham University and Professor Madeleine Atkins, Vice Chancellor; Professor Ian Marshall, pro Vice Chancellor for Research; and Professor Keith Popplewell, Director of Future Manufacturing Applied Research Centre, Coventry University gave oral evidence.

Mr Mick Laverty, Chief Executive; Dr Richard Hutchins, Corporate Director for Economic Development and Mr Phil Extance, Director of Innovation, Advantage West Midlands gave evidence


Monday 19 May 2008

The Business and Enterprise, Defence, Foreign Affairs and International Development Committees met concurrently, in accordance with Standing Order No.137A.

Members present Business and Enterprise Defence Committee Foreign Affairs International Committee Committee Development Committee Roger Berry Mr David S. Borrow Mike Gapes John Battle Mr Mark Oaten Linda Gilroy Sir John Stanley Mr Marsha Singh

Mr Bernard Jenkin



Ordered, That the following Memorandum be reported to the House for publication on the internet: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (April 2008).

3. Oral evidence Mr Malcolm Wicks, Minister of State, Mr John Doddrell, Director, Export Control Organisation, and Ms Jayne Carpenter, Assistant Director Export Control Organisation, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, gave oral evidence.


Monday 19 May 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Miss Julie Kirkbride Roger Berry Mr Mike Weir Mr Brian Binley Mr Anthony Wright Mr Lindsay Hoyle

1. Post office closure programme

Draft Report (After the Network Change Programme: the future of the post office network), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

(The draft Report was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Sixth Report of the Committee, Session 2007–08, HC 577.)

2. Meeting on Tuesday 20 May 2008

Resolved, That, in the absence of the Chairman, Roger Berry take the Chair of the Committee at its meeting on Tuesday 20 May 2008.

[Adjourned till Tuesday 20 May at 9.00 am

Tuesday 20 May 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Mark Oaten Roger Berry Mr Mike Weir Mr Brian Binley Mr Anthony Wright Miss Julie Kirkbride

In the absence of the Chairman, Roger Berry was called to the chair for part of the meeting, in accordance with the resolution of 19 May 2008.

1. Future programme


2. Energy prices

Mr Allan Asher, Chief Executive, Energywatch, gave oral evidence

[Adjourned till Tuesday 3 June at 10.00 am

Tuesday 3 June 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Brian Binley Mr Mark Oaten Mr Michael Clapham Mr Mike Weir



From supporters of Hayton Post Office in Penrith and the border constituency

2. ‘Jobs for the Girls: Two years on’

Draft Special report (Jobs for the Girls: Two Years On: Government response to the Committee’s Second Report of Session 2007–08), proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time, and agreed to.

The Government’s response to the Second Report from the Committee was appended to the report.

Resolved, That the Report be the Fourth Special Report of the Committee to the House.


3. Future programme


Resolved, That the Committee inquire into pub companies.

Resolved, That the Committee inquiry into regional development agencies.

Resolved, That the Chairman, Clerk and Second Clerk have leave to visit the British Library Business and Intellectual Property Centre in a representative capacity for the purposes of the Committee’s inquiry into creating a higher value added economy.

Resolved, That the Committee visit the Gulf states in connection with its consideration of energy issues.

Ordered, that the Chairman seek the approval of the Liaison Committee for expenditure in connection with the visit.



5. Energy prices

Mr Hugh Conway, Chairman, MEUC Electricity Group, Major Energy Users’ Group; Mr Jeremy Nicholson, Director, Energy Intensive Users’ Group; and Mr Chris Tane, Chief Executive, INEOS ChlorVinyls, Chemical Industries Association gave oral evidence

Mr Robert Armour, Director of Corporate Affairs, British Energy; Dr Steven Riley, Executive Director, Europe, International Power; and Mr Ian Foy, Head of Energy Management, Drax Power Ltd gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 5 June at 2.15 pm

Thursday 5 June 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Mike Weir Mr Brian Binley Mr Anthony Wright Mr Michael Clapham



From the users of Ditherington Post Office;

From the people of Ceredigion

The Committee also considered observations from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on petitions previously presented on post office closures in Taunton, Brighton, Cumbria, West Sussex, Knaresborough, Kettering, and Chorley

2. Energy prices

Jenny Saunders, Acting Chief Executive, National Energy Action and Lesley Davies, Chair, National Right to Fuel Campaign gave oral evidence

Professor John Chesshire OBE, Acting Chairman, Fuel Poverty Advisory Group and Mr John Clough MBE, Chief Executive, eaga plc gave oral evidence.


Tuesday 10 June 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Michael Clapham Roger Berry Mr Lindsay Hoyle Mr Brian Binley Miss Julie Kirkbride



From ‘Keep Stapenhill Post Office Open’

From supporters of the ‘Keep Marchington Post Office Open’ Campaign;

From ‘Keep Mayfield Post Office Open’.

The Committee also considered observations from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on petitions previously presented on post office closures in Formosa Street in West London, Kingston and Surbiton, and Brampton Road in Kent.

2. Post office network

Mr Alan Cook CBE Managing Director, and Paula Vennells, Network Director, Post Office Ltd and Mr Howard Webber, Chief Executive, Postwatch gave oral evidence.



The Chairman, Mr Adrian Bailey, Roger Berry, Mr Michael Clapham, Mr Mike Weir and Mr Anthony Wright visited Scotland in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into Creating a higher value-added economy, in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 15 January 2008.


Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Miss Julie Kirkbride Roger Berry Anne Moffat Mr Brian Binley Mr Mike Weir Mr Michael Clapham Mr Anthony Wright Mr Lindsay Hoyle



From users of post offices in the Ludlow constituency.

The Committee also considered observations from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on petitions previously presented on post office closures in Teesside, Surrey, Ilford North, and Swindon.

2. Report on the Funding the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (HC 394): Government response


3. Future programme


4. Energy prices

Mr Alistair Buchanan, Chief Executive and Mr Andrew Wright, Managing Director, Market, Ofgem, gave oral evidence.

Mr Nigel Wooley, Supply Director, BP Gas Marketing, BP, Mr Richard Guerrant, Director, Europe, ExxonMobil Gas and Power Marketing, ExxonMobil, and Mr Paul Trimmer, Vice President, NW European Business Operations, Shell,gave oral evidence.


Monday 30 June 2008

The Business and Enterprise, Defence and Foreign Affairs Committees met concurrently, in accordance with Standing Order No.137A.

Members present Business and Enterprise Committee Defence Committee Foreign Affairs Committee Roger Berry Mr David S. Borrow Mr Ken Purchase Peter Luff Mr David Crausby Sir John Stanley Mr Mark Oaten Linda Gilroy

Mr Bernard Jenkin


2. Strategic export controls The Committees deliberated in accordance with Standing Order No.137A(1)(b).

[Business and Enterprise Committee Adjourned till Thursday 3 July at 2.00 pm

Monday 23 June 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Miss Julie Kirkbride Roger Berry Mr Mike Weir



From Residents of the village of Great Bridgeford in the Parish of Seighford and surrounding areas in the county of Stafford against the closure of their rural post office; and

From users of Greenfields Post Office.

Observations from BERR on petitions previously presented on post office closures for Hornchurch in Essex and Romford in Essex were considered.

The Committee considered the following petition concerning the danger of looped operating cords on window blinds:

From Readers of the Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser and others of like disposition.

2 Turkey: Trade and EU Accession

Draft Report (Keeping the door wide open: Turkey and EU accession), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

(The draft Report was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Seventh Report of the Committee, Session 2007–08, HC 367.)



Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mark Oaten Roger Berry Mr Mike Weir Mr Lindsay Hoyle Mr Anthony Wright

1. Pub companies


2. The role of regional development agencies


3. Energy prices

Mr Keith Munday, Commercial Director, BizzEnergy, Mr Graham Paul, Sale and Marketing Director, Electricity4Business and Mr Peter Bennell, Chief Executive, Supply, Welsh Power, gave oral evidence.

Mr Ian Marchant, Chief Executive, Scottish and Southern Energy, Mr Rupert Steele, Director, Regulation, Scottish Power and Mr Sam Laidlaw, Chief Executive, Centrica, gave oral evidence.

Mr Andrew Duff, Chief Executive, RWE npower, Mr Vincent DeRivaz, Chief Executive, EDF Energy and Dr Paul Golby, Chief Executive, E.ON UK, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 26 June at 9.15 am


Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Anthony Wright Mr Brian Binley

1. Energy prices

Mr Ricardo Cardoso, Antitrust Energy and Environment Unit , DG Comp, Mr Phillipe Chauve, Deputy Head of Energy and Environment Unit, Mr Heinz Hilbrecht, Director, Security of Supply and Energy Markets, DG Tren, and Jan Gerrit Westerhof, DG Comp, gave oral evidence (by video conference).

2. Travel in a representative capacity

Resolved, That the Chairman, Mr Mark Oaten and two members of staff have leave to visit the Farnborough air show on Thursday 17 July 2008 in a representative capacity.

[Adjourned till Tuesday 8 July at 10.15 am

Thursday 3 July 2008

The Business and Enterprise, Defence, Foreign Affairs and International Development Committees met concurrently, pursuant to Standing Order No.137A.

Members present Business and Defence Committee Foreign Affairs International Development Enterprise Committee Committee Committee Mr Adrian Bailey Mr James Arbuthnot Mike Gapes John Battle Roger Berry Mr David S Borrow Mr Paul Keetch Malcolm Bruce Peter Luff Linda Gilroy Mr Ken Purchase Richard Burden

Mr Bernard Jenkin Sir John Stanley Robert Key


2. Strategic export controls The Committees deliberated, in accordance with Standing Order No.137A(1)(b).

3. Draft Report: Scrutiny of Arms Export Controls (2008): UK Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2006, Quarterly Reports for 2007, licensing policy and review of export control legislation

Draft Report (Scrutiny of Arms Export Controls (2008): UK Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2006, Quarterly Reports for 2007, licensing policy and review of export control legislation), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

Ordered, That the Chairman’s draft Report be considered concurrently, in accordance with Standing Order No.137A (1)(c).

Ordered, That the Chairman’s draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.

Paragraphs 1 to 153 read and agreed to.

The following Annexes to the Report read and agreed:

(1) Letter from the Chair of the Committees to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

(2) Note on the visit to the Port of Southampton (3) Glossary of acronyms and initials.

BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE COMMITTEE

The Defence, Foreign Affairs and International Development Committees withdrew.


Mr Adrian Bailey Roger Berry

Resolved, That the draft Report (Scrutiny of Arms Export Controls (2008): UK Strategic Export Controls Annual Report 2006, Quarterly Reports for 2007, licensing policy and review of export control legislation), prepared by the Business and Enterprise, Defence, Foreign Affairs and International Development Committees, be the Eighth Report of the Committee to the House.

Ordered, That the provisions of Standing Order No.137A(2) be applied to the Report.

Ordered, That embargoed copies of the Report be made available, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No.134 (Select committees (reports)).

Ordered, The following written evidence be reported to the House for printing with the Report, together with written evidence reported and ordered to be published on 17 January, 20 March and 19 May: Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (May 2008), Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (May 2008), Foreign and Commonwealth Office (June 2008), National Archives (June 2008), HM Revenue and Customs (June 2008) and Foreign and Commonwealth Office (July 2008).

Ordered, That Roger Berry make the Joint Report to the House.

[Business and Enterprise Adjourned till Tuesday 8 July at 10.15 am

Tuesday 8 July 2008

Members present:


Roger Berry Mr Mark Oaten Mr Brian Binley Mr Anthony Wright Mr Michael Clapham



From the citizens of Glamis and surrounding area;

From users of Montford Bridge Post Office, Shrewsbury and Atcham;

From those opposed to the closure of Far Headingley Post Office.

Observations from BERR on petitions previously presented on window blind safety from readers of the Alloa and Hillfoots Advertiser and others of like disposition were considered.

2. UK construction industry

Draft Report (Construction matters), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

(The draft Report was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Ninth Report of the Committee, Session 2007–08, HC 127.)

[Adjourned till Tuesday 15 July at 10.15 am

Tuesday 15 July 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Lindsey Hoyle Roger Berry Ms Anne Moffat Mr Brian Binley Mr Mark Oaten Mr Michael Clapham Mr Anthony Wright


The following observations from BERR on petitions previously presented to the House on post office closures were considered:

Greenfields and Ditherington Post Offices in Shropshire;

Stapenhill, Marchington, and Mayfield Post Offices in Staffordshire; and

Post Offices in Ceredigion

2. Post Office network

The Committee discussed the Chairman’s draft Report.

3. Companies House


4. Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Draft special report (Funding the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Government response to the Committee’s Fourth Report of Session 2007–08), proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time, and agreed to.

The Government’s response to the Fourth Report from the Committee was appended to the report.

Resolved, That the Report be the Fifth Special Report of the Committee to the House.


5. BERR Main estimate 2008-09


Resolved, That the Committee approves the Department’s request for changes to the structure of its Estimate.


Rachel Elnaugh, entrepreneur and former panellist on Dragon’s Den and Mr Doug Richard, entrepreneur, Chair of Conservative Party Small Business Task Force and former panellist on Dragon’s Den, gave oral evidence

[Adjourned till tomorrow at 2.00 pm

Wednesday 16 July 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Ms Anne Moffat Roger Berry Mr Mark Oaten Mr Michael Clapham Mr Anthony Wright Miss Julie Kirkbride


The following observations from BERR on a petition previously presented to the House on post office closures were considered:

Hayton Post Office in Penrith and the Border constituency

2. Post office network

Draft Report (Post Office finance: matters arising from evidence taken on 10 June 2008), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

(The draft Report was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Tenth Report of the Committee, Session 2007-08, HC 662.)

3. Energy prices

Draft Report (Energy prices, fuel poverty and Ofgem), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

(The draft Report was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Eleventh Report of the Committee, Session 2007-08, HC 293.)

4. Companies House


5. Trade with India

Draft special report (Waking up to India: Developments in UK— India economic relations: Government response to the Committee’s Fifth Report of Session 2007–08), proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first and second time, and agreed to.

The Government’s response to the Fifth Report from the Committee was appended to the report.

Resolved, That the Report be the Sixth Special Report of the Committee to the House.


[Adjourned till Tuesday 7 October at 10.00 am

Thursday 17 July 2008

The Chairman and Mr Mark Oaten visited the Farnborough Air Show in a representative capacity in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 26 June 2008.

Sunday 20–Friday 25 June 2008

The Chairman, Mr Adrian Bailey, Roger Berry, Mr Michael Clapham, Anne Moffat, Mr Mark Oaten, Mr Mike Weir and Mr Anthony Wright visited USA in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into Creating a higher value-added economy, in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 15 January 2008.

Tuesday 7 October 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Brian Binley Mr Mark Oaten Mr Michael Clapham Mr Anthony Wright Mr Lindsay Hoyle


The Committee considered the following petitions to the House on post office closures:

From Birkenhead constituents;

From those concerned about the proposed closure of Old Amersham Post Office;

From those concerned about the proposed closure of Hazelmere Post Office;

From those concerned about the proposed closure of Waterside Post Office;

From those concerned about the proposed closure of Botley Stores Post Office;

From those concerned about the proposed closure of Chalfont Common Post Office;

From those concerned about the proposed closure of post offices in South Manchester;

From customers of 553 London Road Post Office, Westcliff-on-Sea and others;

From the customers of Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard Post Office;

From customers of High Street South, Dunstable Post Office;

From customers of Luton Road, Dunstable Post Office;

From customers of Linslade Post Office;

From customers of Easton Bray Post Office;

From those opposed to the decision to close Holmfield Post Office;

From customers of May Bank High Street Post Office;

From Mrs Shelagh Beswick, Manager, Wincham Post Office, and Mr Alastair Carmichael, Sub-Post Master, Barnton Post Office, and others of like disposition.

The Committee considered the following Observations from BERR on petitions previously presented to the House on post office closures :

Sub-Post Offices in the East Londonderry Constituency;

Acton;

The village of Great Bridgeford in Seighford and surrounding areas of Staffordshire;

Maidenhead;

Far Headingley, Bramhope and Newall Post Offices in Leeds;

Orchard Way sub-Post Office in Neithrop, Oxfordshire;

Grimsby sub-Post Office.

2. Committee’s work programme


Ordered, That the following written evidence relating to the Committee’s inquiry into the role and effectiveness of regional development agencies be reported to the House for publication on the internet:

1 BERR 2 Skillfast-uk 3 Campaign for National Parks (CNP) 4 The TaxPayers’ Alliance 5 Ashford Borough Council 6 RAC Foundation for Motoring 7 Dr Paul Benneworth, Newcastle University 8 Historic Houses Association 9 Institution of Economic Development 10 English National Park Authorities Association 11 Environment Agency 12 Groundwork UK 13 Institute of Directors in the East of England 14 Campaign to Protect Rural England 15 London Development Agency 16 Community and Voluntary Forum Eastern Region (COVER) 17 Dr Simon Bennett, QinetiQ 18 Association of Regional Observatories 19 Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) 20 Aston University, Birmingham 21 Graham Pearce, Aston University & Sarah Ayres, Bristol University 22 Regional Studies Association 23 British Library 24 English Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)

25 East Midlands RDA 26 Institute of Historic Building Conservation 27 Neo Products Ltd 28 East of England Regional Assembly 29 Chief Economic Development Officers Society (CEDOS) 30 Centre for Cities 31 West Midlands Business Council 32 Finest 33 ACAS 34 CBI West Midlands 35 Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS) Newcastle University 36 Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) 37 University of Birmingham 38 British Music Rights 39 Leicestershire Asian Business Association 40 Association of Colleges 41 West Midlands Regional Forum of Leaders 42 Cranfield University 43 Yorkshire Forward 44 Country Land & Business Association 45 Cornwall County Council 46 West Midlands Higher Education Association 47 East Midlands Environment Link 48 British Association of Shooting and Conservation (BASC) 49 County Councils Network (CCN) 50 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council 51 South East England Regional Assembly 52 CBI 53 National Housing Federation, Shelter, and Chartered Institute of Housing 54 Institute for Public Policy Research North (ippr north) 55 Northern Business Forum 56 Yorkshire and Humber Assembly 57 Confederation of West Midlands Chambers of Commerce 58 North East Chamber of Commerce 59 Engineering and Machinery Alliance (eama) 60 R&D Society 61 Punjab Link Council 62 Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) 63 1st East – Urban Regeneration Company for Lowestoft & Great Yarmouth 64 Local Government Association (LGA) 65 Ipswich Borough Council 66 Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) 67 British Furniture Confederation 68 East Midlands Regional Assembly 69 One NorthEast 70 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

71 North East Businesses and One NorthEast 72 English Regions Network 73 National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) 74 University of Warwick 75 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) 76 The Wildlife Trusts 77 North East Assembly (NEA) 78 Institute of Physics (IOP) 79 West Midlands Regional Assembly 80 Norwich City Council 81 Arts Council England East 82 East of England Development Agency (EEDA) 83 Ken Wigfield 84 Leeds City Region 85 Semta, the Sector Skills Council 86 East Midlands Principal Authorities (9Cs Partnership) 87 The National Trust 88 Royal Town Planning Institute 89 Essex County Council 90 Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) 91 Advantage West Midlands 92 English Heritage 93 Opportunity Peterborough (OP) URC 94 British Chambers of Commerce 95 Aldeburgh Music 96 Oxford Innovation Ltd 97 Chemical Industries Association 98 Nottinghamshire County Council 99 Birmingham, Coventry and Black Country City Region 100 South West RDA 101 Wychavon District Council 102 North West RDA 103 Wiltshire County Council 104 Lancashire County Council 105 Natural England 106 Goodrich Control Systems Ltd 107 South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) 108 Jaguar Land Rover 109 EEF 110 Hertfordshire Prosperity 111 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce 112 The Woodland Trust 113 Councillor Gerald Dawe

3. Energy prices

Draft Special Report (Energy prices, fuel poverty and Ofgem: Government Response to the Committee’s Eleventh Report of Session 2007-08), proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first time and second time, and agreed to.

The Government’s response to the Eleventh Report from the Committee was appended to the Report.

Resolved, That the Report be the Seventh Special Report of the Committee to the House.


4. Turkey and EU accession

Draft Special Report (Keeping the door wide open: Turkey and EU accession: Government Response to the Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2007-08), proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first time and second time, and agreed to.

The Government’s response to the Seventh Report from the Committee was appended to the Report.

Resolved, That the Report be the Eighth Special Report of the Committee to the House.


5. International Conference on International Humanitarian Law

Resolved, That Roger Berry have leave to visit St Petersburg in November to attend the International Conference on International Humanitarian Law to commemorate the 140th Anniversary of the 1868 St Petersburg Declaration in a representative capacity.


Mr Chris Hannant, Head of Policy, British Chambers of Commerce, Mr Steve Radley, Chief Economist, EEF, and Karen Dee, Head of Infrastructure, CBI, gave oral evidence.

Councillor David Sparks, Chair of the Transport & Regeneration Board, Local Government Association; Councillor Stephen Castle, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Regeneration and London 2012, Essex Council Council, and Mr Sean McGrath, Head of External Relations, Lancashire County Council, gave oral evidence



Members present:


Mr Michael Clapham Mr Mark Oaten Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Mike Weir Anne Moffat Mr Anthony Wright


The Committee considered the following petition to the House:

Against post office closure and specifically against the possible abolition of the Post Office Card Account in 2010 from the Residents of Castle Point and others.

The Committee also considered observations from BERR on petitions previously presented to the House on post office closures:

From users of Post Offices in the Ludlow constituency in Shopshire;

From users of Montford Bridge Post Office in the Shrewsbury & Atcham constituency, Shropshire;

From customers of 553 London Road Post Office, Westcliff-on-Sea in Essex;

From users of Holmfield Post Office in Halifax;

From users of Holt Hill Post Office in the Birkenhead constituency in Merseyside;

From the Communication Workers Union, Coventry Area Branch requesting that Government and the Post Office withdraw its franchise plans for Hertford St Crown Post Office.

2. Post Office network change programme and finance

Draft Special Report (After the Network Change Programme and Post Office finance: Responses to the Committee’s Sixth and Tenth Reports of Session 2007-08), proposed by the Chairman, brought up, read the first time and second time, and agreed to.

The Government’s responses to the Sixth and Tenth Reports from the Committee were appended to the Report.

Ordered, That the progress reports relating to the Post Office Network Change Programme submitted by Postwatch be reported to the House for publication on the internet.

Resolved, That the Report be the Ninth Special Report of the Committee to the House.


3. Future programme



Dr Bryan Jackson, Chair, East Midlands Development Agency and RDA Chair of Chairs; Mr Jeff Moore, Chief Executive, East Midlands Development Agency and Mr Nick Paul, Chair, Advantage West Midlands, gave oral evidence.


Wednesday 15 October 2008

The Business and Enterprise, Defence, Foreign Affairs and International Development Committees met concurrently, in accordance with Standing Order No. 137A.

Members present Business and Enterprise Defence Committee Foreign Affairs International Committee Committee Development Committee Roger Berry Mr David Crausby Mike Gapes John Battle Mr Mark Oaten Linda Gilroy Sir John Stanley Malcolm Bruce



[Business and Enterprise Committee Adjourned till Tuesday 21 October at 10.15 am


Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Miss Julie Kirkbride Roger Berry Mr Mark Oaten Mr Brian Binley Mr Mike Weir Mr Michael Clapham Mr Anthony Wright Mr Lindsay Hoyle

1. Future programme




Resolved, That the Chairman, Mr Anthony Wright and a member of staff have leave to visit One NorthEast Regional Development Agency in Newcastle on Thursday 30 October 2008 in a representative capacity.

3. Departmental Annual Report 2007–08

Rt Hon Lord Mandelson, Secretary of State and Sir Brian Bender, Permanent Secretary, Department of Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, gave oral evidence.


Thursday 30 October 2008

The Chairman and Mr Anthony Wright visited Newcastle in a representative capacity in connection with the Committee’s inquiry into the role of regional development agencies in accordance with the Committee’s decision of 21 October 2008.


Members present:


Mr Brian Binley Mr Mark Oaten Mr Lindsay Hoyle Mr Anthony Wright Miss Julie Kirkbride

1. Petitions

The Committee considered observations from BERR on petitions previously presented to the House on post office closures:

From those concerned about the proposed closures of Old Amersham Post Office, Hazelmere Post Office, Waterside Post Office, Botley Stores Port Office and Chalfont Common Post Office, Bucks.

2. Post Office Card Account


3. Pub companies inquiry

Ordered, That Mr Julian Maitland Walker be appointed a Specialist Adviser to assist the Committee in its inquiry into pub companies.

Mr Maitland-Walker’s interests were declared as follows:

“I have specialized in UK and EU competition law for many years and have been involved in advising on competition issues in the beer sector since 1982. Legal confidentiality prevents me from listing specific clients, but I can confirm that I have acting for clients representing all parts of the UK beer supply sector including pubcos, brewers and individual pub licensees. My firm continues to act for such clients.

However, I can confirm that we have not been instructed to act for any other organization in relation to the forthcoming inquiry.” (31 October 2008)


Frances O’Grady, Deputy General Secretary and Tim Page, Senior Policy Officer, TUC, gave oral evidence.

Mr John Cridland, Deputy Director General, CBI, gave oral evidence.

Mr Andrew Cave, Head of Policy, Federation of Small Businesses, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 5 November at 12.40 pm

Wednesday 5 November 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Anne Moffat Mr Brian Binley

1. Post Office Card Account: successor arrangements

Draft Report (Post Office Card Account: successor arrangements), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

(The draft Report was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Twelfth Report of the Committee, Session 2007–08, HC 1052.)



Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Lindsay Hoyle Roger Berry Mr Mike Weir Mr Brian Binley Mr Anthony Wright

1. Petitions

The Committee considered observations from BERR on petitions previously presented to the House on post office closures:

From those concerned in the Parrs Wood and Ladybarn Post Offices in South Manchester;

From the citizens of Glamis and surrounding area in Angus;

From customers of May Bank High Street Post Office in Staffordshire;

From customers of Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard Post Office; High Street South Dunstable Post Office; Luton Road, Dunstable Post Office; Linslade Post Office and Eaton Bray Post Office, Bedfordshire;

From residents of Castle Point and others in Essex.

2. Consideration of the Chairman’s Draft Report on Companies House

Draft Report (Companies House), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

(The draft Report was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Thirteenth Report of the Committee, Session 2007–08, HC 456.)

3. UK construction industry


4. Future programme


5. Evidence from the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform




7. BERR Winter Supplementary Estimates


8. Consumer Focus

Lord Whitty, Chair and Ed Mayo, Chief Executive, Consumer Focus, gave oral evidence.



Members present:


Roger Berry Mr Mark Oaten Mr Brian Binley Mr Mike Weir Mr Lindsay Hoyle Mr Anthony Wright

1. Departmental Annual Report and Scrutiny of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

Draft Report (Departmental Annual Report and Scrutiny of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

(The draft Report was agreed to; the Minutes of Proceedings relating to the consideration of the Report are published in the Fourteenth Report of the Committee, Session 2007–08, HC 1116.)

2. Pub companies

Brian Jacobs, Fair Pint Campaign, Clive Davenport, Chairman for Trade & Industry, Federation of Small Businesses and Paul Daly, Publican, Zigfrid and Roadtrip, Shoreditch, gave oral evidence.

Martin Willis, Chairman of trading-related Valuations Group, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, David Morgan and Simon Clarke gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Thursday 20 November at 10.45 am

Thursday 20 November 2008

Members present:


Mr Brian Binley Mr Mike Weir Miss Julie Kirkbride Mr Anthony Wright

1. Future work programme

Resolved, That the Committee will take evidence on financial support to small businesses.


Iain Gray, Chief Executive, David Bott, Director of Innovation Programmes, and Graham Hutchins, Director of Operations & Services, Technology Strategy Board, gave oral evidence.

[Adjourned till Monday 24 November at 4.20 pm

Monday 24 November 2008

Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Mike Weir Mr Lindsay Hoyle Mr Anthony Wright

1. Future programme


2. Energy prices follow up

Mike O’Brien, Minister for State, and Neil Feinson, Director of Regulatory Framework, Department of Energy and Climate Change, gave oral evidence.



Members present:


Mr Adrian Bailey Mr Mike Weir Mr Brian Binley Mr Anthony Wright Mr Lindsay Hoyle

1. Future programme


2. Energy prices follow up

Alistair Buchanan, Chief Executive, Ofgem, gave oral evidence.


Annex


Mr Adrian Bailey declared ownership of a cottage in Cornwall from which rental income may be received.

Roger Berry declared that flights, hospitality and accommodation costs during a visit to Syria on the 27 May-2 June 2007 as a member of a UK parliamentary delegation to meet government ministers, parliamentarians and business leaders had been paid for by the British Syrian Society.

Mr Brian Binley declared a remunerated directorship as non-executive Chairman of B.C.C. Marketing Services Ltd, a company which he founded in 1989, and a remunerated office as a member of Northamptonshire County Council. He also declared a registrable shareholding in B.C.C. Marketing Services Ltd.

Mr Lindsay Hoyle declared that flights, accommodation and in-country costs during a visit to Turkey on the 18-22 March 2007 with the All-Party British-Turkish Parliamentary Group had been paid for by the Turkish Government. He also declared rental income received from a commercial leasehold property at Adlington, Chorley and a registerable shareholding in Screen Arts Ltd, a screen printing company.

Miss Julie Kirkbride declared having received remuneration of up to £5,000 for lectures given for the Civil Service College.

Peter Luff declared that on 10 February 2007 he and his wife attended the BAFTA Awards and a dinner as guests of Orange, the mobile phone and broadband operator, and that on the 30 September–6 October 2007 he had visited Hong Kong as a guest of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office to study economic developments there. He also declared a terraced property in Worcester, let on an assured tenancy.

Tuesday 7 May 2008

Mr Mark Oaten declared he provided a weekly digest on parliamentary affairs, occasional advice and speaking at conferences for the British Healthcare Trade Association for which he was unpaid director), who produced equipment for the disabled.; he wrote articles for News International Group; was media and presentation consultant for the Aziz Corporation; he provided a fortnightly parliamentary digest for the Posture and Mobility Group; received broadcasting fees from Sky TV and was consultant to Remarkable Public Relations, providing staff training and advice on parliamentary matters. He also declared a flat in London.

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