§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current membership of the competitiveness working party on increasing business investment; when it last met; what matters were discussed; and when it will next meet. [54506]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 31 July 1998]: The UK Competitiveness Working Party on Investment last met on Monday 15 June under the Chairmanship of Lord Hollick to discuss the part business might play in implementing various of its earlier recommendations. Current membership is as follows:
No further meetings are currently planned.
- Sir David Barnes: Zeneca plc
- Professor Kumar Bhattacharyya: University of Warwick
- Ronald Cohen: Apax Partners & Co. Ventures Ltd.
- Chris Evans: Merlin Scientific Services Ltd.
- Amelia Fawcett: Morgan Stanley Group (Europe)
- Robert Fleming: Pace Micro Technology plc
- Alan Hughes: University of Cambridge
- Judy Lever: Blooming Marvellous Ltd.
- Roger Lyons: MSF
- John Melbourn: 3i plc
- Magnus Mowat: Allen plc
- Helen Murlis: Hay Management Consultants Ltd.
- Tom O'Neill: Pilkington Optronics Barr Stroud Ltd.
- David Ritchie: DTI West Midlands
- Dominic Shorthouse: Rolls Royce plc
- Malcolm Taylor: Bridgeport Machines Ltd.
- David Watson: BP International Company plc
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current membership of the competitiveness working party on promoting the best of best practice; when it last met; what matters were discussed; and when it will next meet. [54508]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 31 July 1998]: The members of the Competitiveness UK Best Practice Working Party are Alec Daly (CBI), James Dyson (Dyson Domestic Appliances), Sir Tom Farmer (Kwik Fit), Jackie Kernaghan (Forte UK), Tina Mason (Dutton Engineering), Professor Colin New (Cranfield School of Management), Amber Paul (Caparo Industries), Dr. Rosemary Radcliffe (Coopers & Lybrand), John Saunders (Business Link—Hereford and Worcester) Fiona Skinner (RF Brookes), Cob Stenham and Lynn Williams (TUC).
The working party last met on 1 July 1998, to review how its recommendations to the Secretary of State were being taken forward and in particular reviewed progress on the development of the CBI led national best practice campaign "Fit for the Future". No further meetings of the Working Party are currently planned.
§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current membership of the competitiveness working party on making the most of the information age; when it last met and what matters were discussed; and when will it next meet. [54509]
§ Mr. Mandelson[holding answer 31 July 1998]: The membership of the Information Age Competitiveness Working Party is as follows: 869W
- Barbara Roche MP, Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry (Chair)
- Sir Jeremy Beecham, Chairman, Local Government Association
- Alan Calder, Chief Executive, Business Link London City Partners
- Julia Collins, Partner, Coopers & Lybran
- Sue Davidson, Director, BT Business Connections, BT plc
- Brian Davis, Chief Executive, Nationwide Building Society
- Ron Dunn, Chairman and Chief Executive, Ascada Ltd.
- Mike Fischer, President, Research Machines plc
- Balram Gidoomal, Chairman, Winning Communications Ltd.
- Nigel Hartnell, Managing Director, ICL Services
- James Hehir, Chief Executive, Ipswich Borough Council
- Terry Leahy, Chief Executive, Tesco plc
- William Sargent, Joint Managing Director, FrameStore
- Peter Swann, Professor of Economics and Management of Innovation, Manchester Business School
- Suzanna Taverne, Financial Director, Financial Times
- Tony Young, Secretary General, Communication Workers Union
The last meeting was held on 25 June 1998, when Working Party members discussed a range of ideas on ways of promoting the potential Competitiveness Benefits of Information and Communication Technologies for UK business, particularly small firms. No further meetings of the Working Party are currently planned.