§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the work of his Department since 1990. [38076]
§ Mr. LangThroughout this period, the work of the Department of Trade and Industry has been to help United Kingdom business compete successfully at home and abroad. Since machinery of government changes in July 1995, the DTI also aims, through the Office of Science and Technology, to strengthen the UK's science, engineering and technology capability and to maximise its contribution to national economic performance and quality of life.
The DTI's activities and achievements since 1990 have included:
a continuing dialogue to identify business needs and ensure that these are taken into account by Government and within the European Union;a leading role in the Government's effort to enhance the UK's international competitiveness, described in detail in two White Papers "Competitiveness: Helping Business to Win" in 1994 and "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" in 1995;the promotion of trade liberalisation world-wide. The UK played a major part in the successful conclusion in December 1993 of the Uruguay round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the subsequent establishment of the World Trade Organisation. Estimates from GATT/WTO suggest that potential gains in world income from implementation of the Uruguay round will build to $510 billion in the year 2005 and in each subsequent year. As the world's fifth largest trading nation, the UK is set to be one of the largest beneficiaries;export promotion activities directed at ensuring that UK business is able to take full advantage of overseas market opportunities;the promotion of UK business interests in an expanding EU. The DTI has taken a leading role in the negotiation of market-opening legislation, for example in the insurance and telecommunications sectors, and in maximising the business benefit from the EU;widening choice and stimulating enterprise by promoting competition and privatisation. For example, liberalisation of the telecommunications market has provided a steadily growing range of new services. Some 100 new licences have been issued since the ending of' the BT/Mercury duopoly in domestic services in 1991. Over 4 million homes are now passed by cable companies. Prices have fallen for business and domestic consumers. British Telecom's main prices have fallen by over 35 per cent. since privatisation in 1984;development and delivery of a wide range of programmes to support business, including programmes to promote innovation; to foster small firms, and to respond flexibly to the needs of different regions and areas with special difficulties. A network of business links has been established which bring together all the most important local sources of help for business, particularly small firms;policies directed to ensuring that the nation's energy needs are met cost-effectively. Privatisation and liberalisation of energy markets have brought clear benefits. Average industrial gas prices have fallen by about 25 per cent. in real terms in the last five years, and industrial electricity prices by 6 per cent. Competition for supply in the domestic sector will not begin. until 1998, but prices have already fallen by 13 per cent. in real terms for gas and by 6 per cent. for electricity (excluding VAT in both causes). Further reductions are expected as full competition begins;836Wencouraging inward investment from all over the world. The Invest in Britain Bureau, funded by the DTI, acts as a single point of contact in the UK for potential investors, and markets the UK abroad as an investment location. The UK attracts the highest share of Japanese and US investment in the EU;maintaining confidence in markets by fair, proportionate and effective regulation. The DTI's regulatory responsibilities include competition policy; consumer affairs; company investigations; insurance regulation; management of the radio spectrum; telecommunications regulation and offshore exploration licences.A detailed account of the work of my Department has been published annually since 1990 as part of the White Paper on the Government's Expenditure Plans:
Command Number 1990 The Government's Expenditure Plans Cm 1504 of 1991–92 to 1993–94 February 1991 Trade and Industry 1991 The Government's Expenditure Plans Cm 1904 of 1992–93 to 1994–95 February 1992 Trade and Industry 1992 The Government's Expenditure Plans Cm 2204 of 1993–94 to 1995–96 February 1993 Trade and Industry 1993 Trade and Industry 1994. Cm 2504 of The Government's Expenditure Plans March 1994 1994–95 to 1996–97 1994 Trade and Industry 1995. Cm 2804 of The Government's Expenditure Plans March 1995 1995–96 to 1997–98 March 1995 These reports have been placed in the Library of the House.