§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the Public Service Agreement target on foreign direct investment. [23172]
§ Ms HewittThe latest foreign direct investment (FDI) statistics published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) show that the UK maintained its position as the largest recipient of inward118W FDI stocks in the EU in 2000. The UK percentage share increased slightly from 20.0 per cent. in 1999 to 20.3 per cent. in 2000.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the Public Service Agreement target on support for exporters, quality of service, exports and the business image of the UK. [23173]
§ Ms HewittDetails on the requested PSA targets were published in March 2001 in "British Trade International—The Government's Expenditure Plans 2001–02 to 2003–04 and Main Estimates 2001–02", Cm 5123, a copy of which was placed in the Libraries of the House.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target to operate a zero. [23160]
§ Ms HewittThe Department has reviewed and refined its Fraud Policy Statement and supporting Guidance on Fraud Risk Management within the last year. These have been published on the departmental intranet. Guidance on the topic has also been issued to departmental staff.
As well as operating a general "whistleblowing" scheme through which staff can raise areas of concern (which may include suspicions of fraud) the Department has posted contact details for the Fraud Officer so that concerns may also be raised directly with him.
The Department is represented at a range of ministerial, interdepartmental and treasury working groups on counter fraud measures and liaises with Scotland Yard and others in the wider counter fraud community to ensure that we remain current on issues of best practice in this area.
We are committed to prompt and appropriate response to the occasional instances of suspected fraud that arise.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target on payment of presented bills within 30 days of receipt of goods or a valid invoice. [23159]
§ Ms HewittThe percentage of bills which were paid by my Department within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice has increased from 93 per cent. for the period April to November 2000 to 96 per cent. for the same period in the year 2001.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the public service agreement target on the number of companies spun out from universities. [23170]
§ Ms HewittThe DTI has met the PSA target of increasing by 50 per cent. the 1997–98 number of companies spun out from universities by 2001–02.
A recent survey of exploitation activity in the higher education sector has shown that 199 companies were spun out from universities in the academic year 1999–2000, and a total of 537 university spinouts were created over the period 1994–95 to 1999–2000 inclusive. This compares with the baseline of 26 companies spun out from universities during 1997 against the background of a total population of 223 companies wholly or partially owned by HEIs for the commercial exploitation of their research results in 1997–98.
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§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target on key services on-line. [23156]
§ Ms HewittMy Department has already made 32 of its services (41 per cent. of the planned total) available online. We expect to make a further 28 available online by the end of 2002, a cumulative figure of 60 (76 per cent.), and, subject to the outcome of the 2002 Spending Review, the remaining 19 (100 per cent.) by the end of 2005.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target on unit cost reduction on document registration. [23165]
§ Ms HewittCompanies House has consistently met or exceed its unit cost reduction target for document processing since the target was first set in 1997–98. On the back of record growth in the register in 2000–01, the target was bettered by 100 per cent. in that year. It is not possible to anticipate results for 2001–02 as calculation requires end-year figures. While Companies House believes it is broadly on target, it is unlikely to do more given the increased focus on quality and customer service rather than lower cost per se.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target on measures of efficiency. [23166]
§ Ms HewittProgress against the Department's main target on efficiency will be reported on in its Expenditure Plans Report which is due in to be published in April 2002.
§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress with the target on services and activities as set out in the handbook Better Quality Services. [23158]
§ Ms HewittMy Department is on line to meet its BQS targets which are to review 60 per cent. of its activities by March 2003 and 100 per cent. of its activities by the end of 2004.