HC Deb 27 November 1997 vol 301 cc645-7W
Mr. Paterson

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on ministerial responsibilities in her Department. [16355]

Mrs. Beckett

Ministerial responsibilities in my Department are as follows:

  • MINISTER FOR TRADE AND COMPETITIVENESS IN EUROPE
  • Lord Simon of Highbury
  • Lord Simon is a Minister of State in both Treasury and the DTI.
Responsible for internal EU issues including business preparations for EMU the European single market, enlargement and plans for the UK Presidency of the EU; for the co-ordination of EU issues generally within the DTI; and for insurance. Chairman of the inter-departmental taskforce on competitiveness in Europe. Attends the Internal Market Council. Responsible with Lord Clinton-Davis for DTI issues in the Lords. Responsible jointly with Ian McCartney for corporate governance, corporate affairs and relations with the City of London. Lord Simon has specific responsibility for corporate governance.
  • MINISTER FOR COMPETITION AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS
  • Nigel Griffiths MP
  • Responsible for competition and consumer affairs and investigations. Supports John Battle on environment issues. Responsible with Mr. Battle for the Competition Bill.
  • Responsible for the Insolvency Service.
  • MINISTER FOR SMALL FIRMS, TRADE AND INDUSTRY
  • Barbara Roche MP
Responsible for small firms; Business Links; regional policy; Regional Selective Assistance; Structural Funds; communications and information industries and deregulation within the DTI. Attends the Industry and Telecommunications Council. Supports Ian McCartney on inward investment, and Lord Clinton-Davis on trade and export matters in the Commons.
  • Responsible for the Radiocommunications Agency.
  • PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE AND SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY.
  • The right hon. Margaret Beckett MP
Overall responsibility for the Department of Trade and Industry and the Export Credits Guarantee Department. Special responsibility for competitiveness and science and technology.
  • MINISTER FOR TRADE
  • Lord Clinton-Davis
Responsible for the export promotion of goods and services, including oil and gas projects, and for overseas investment and international trade policy; Projects Export Promotion; export control and non-proliferation issues; and the Export Credits Guarantee Department. Attends the GAC on trade policy matter.
  • Responsible jointly for DTI business in the Lords.
  • MINISTER FOR SCIENCE, ENERGY AND INDUSTRY
  • John Battle MP
Responsible for the Office of Science and Technology; the British National Space Centre; technology and standards; design and innovation. Attends the Research Council. Responsible for the Competition Bill (with Mr. Griffiths); manufacturing and services, including engineering, automotive and metals, consumer goods and services, chemicals and biotechnology, and aerospace. Takes an over-arching view of Information Society issues. Also responsible for energy and energy policy including electricity, nuclear fuels, oil and gas, energy technology, renewables and industry sponsorship aspects of the Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals Supplies Office; and for environment issues. Attends the Energy Council.
  • MINISTER OF STATE
  • Ian McCartney MP
  • Responsible for the labour market; inward investment; and the Post Office. Attends the Social Affairs Council.
  • Responsible jointly with Lord Simon for corporate governance, corporate affairs and relations with the City of London. Mr. McCartney has specific responsibility for corporate affairs.
  • Responsible for the Employment Tribunals Service, Patent Office and Companies House.

Mr. Prior

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the responsibilities of(a) the Minister for Trade and (b) the Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry. [16525]

Mrs. Beckett

The Minister for Trade's responsibilities are for the export promotion of goods and services, including oil and gas projects, and for overseas investment and international trade policy; Projects Export Promotion; export control and non-proliferation issues; and the Export Credits Guarantee Department. He attends the GAC on trade policy matter.

He is responsible jointly for DTI business in the Lords.

The Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry's responsibilities are for small firms; Business Links; regional policy; Regional Selective Assistance; Structural Funds; communications and information industries and deregulation within the DTI. She attends the Industry and Telecommunications Council. She supports the Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney), on inward investment, and Lord Clinton-Davis on trade and export matters in the Commons.

She is responsible for the Radiocommunications Agency.