Foundries (Hansard, 18 December 2000)

§ Mrs. Organ
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from the foundry industry concerning new(a) domestic and (b) European regulations. [142524]

§ Mr. Alan Johnson
On 23 November I chaired a metals tripartite meeting involving the trades unions and the metals industry trade associations. The foundry industry representatives took the opportunity to draw my attention to their increasing concerns about the burden of domestic and European regulations, particularly in respect of the environment, health and safety, energy and employment. Previous foundry industry representations to Ministers have involved my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade on anti-dumping issues.
In addition the foundry industry and its representative bodies continue to have a good working relationship with DTI officials and matters such as these are discussed.

§ Mrs. Organ
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the compliance cost to the foundry industry of the climate change levy to be implemented in April 2001. [142729]

§ Ms Hewitt
There are no compliance costs associated with payment of the climate change levy, as the sum payable will be added to energy bills. However, there may be some limited compliance costs for those businesses who enter Negotiated Agreements to deliver energy or carbon savings in return for the 80 per cent. discount, depending on the existing level of energy monitoring within individual businesses.

§ Mrs. Organ
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many(a) foundries have closed and (b) jobs have been lost from the foundry industry in the last two years. [142685]

§ Mr. Alan Johnson
We estimate that just over 75 foundries have closed or announced the intention to close over the last two years resulting in some 3,600 job losses.

§ Mrs. Organ
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment has made of the economic situation of the foundry industry. [142522]

§ Mr. Alan Johnson
The Department has recently commissioned a new series of competitiveness analyses of the metals sectors, including the foundry industry. Work is under way and the final reports are due to be completed in spring 2001. The outcome of the research will be shared with the trade associations representing the industry in due course.

§ Mrs. Organ
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what support from(a) central Government and (b) RDAs the foundry industry has received in each of the last two years. [142523]
31W

§ Mr. Alan Johnson
The DTI has provided grant funding of £480,111 (1998–99) and £233,193 (1999–2000) under the Innovation budget (including Sector Challenge) for sectoral competitiveness work in support of the foundry industry. The Department is also supporting other foundry industry projects this financial year as well as the new competitiveness analysis study, but to date only a proportion of the funding has actually been paid (£55,582).
In addition, Regional Selective Assistance grants totalling £465,000 (1998–99), £773,000 (1999–2000) and £169,000 (2000–01 to end November) have been paid to companies in the foundry industry.
It is not possible to separately identify financial support from other DTI (or other Government) schemes that have directly benefited companies in the foundry industry.
Information on specific RDA support to particular industry sectors is also not readily available.