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(x) Neuroendocrine regulation of development, puberty and sexual behaviour.(xi) Studies of physiological mechanisms controlling erection in primates.
(xii) Sexuality and well being of women. Relationship of the menstrual cycle, lactation, contraception and disorders thereof. (
(xiii) Prostaglandin biosynthesis in the female reproductive tract. Interactions with steroid hormones and their antagonists. 7. MRC Biostatistics Unit--Cambridge
Project Title
Predictive indices of fertilization capacity.
II. Grant-holders in University Departments, etc.
(a) Dr. C. W. Coen, Department of Anatomy and Human Biology, King's College, London.
Biogenetic amines and the control of luteinizing hormone secretion.
(b) Professor A. P. M. Flint, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London.
Development and reproductive physiology of mammals.
(c) Dr. H. D. M. Moore, MRC/AFRC Comparative Physiology Group, Zoological Society of London, London.
Effects of chemicals on reproduction : sperm function in the rat and rabbit following testicular insult.
(d) Dr. Dorothy C. Wathes, Department of Anatomy, Bristol University.
Control of peptide secretions by the ovary.
(e) Dr. M. J. Hunter, Department of Physiology, University of Edinburgh.
Development of activation of ionic permeability channels in mammalian oocytes.
(f) Professor D. T. Baird, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Edinburgh.
A study of the selection and maturation of the pre-ovulatory graafian follicle and oocyte.
(g) Professor B. T. Pickering, Department of Anatomy, University of Bristol.
(i) Testicular oxytocin : Investigations of its functions and possible role in fertility.
(ii) The control of testicular oxytocin and its influence on fertility.
(h) Dr. W. C. L. Ford, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Bristol.
The regulation of energy metabolism in human spermatozoa. (
(i) Dr. N. L. Poyser, Department of Pharmacology, University of Edinburgh.
Investigations into the intracellular control of Prostaglandin synthesis in the endomentrium.
(j) Dr. Lynn R. Fraser, Department of Anatomy and Human Biology, King's College, London.
Adenosine and cyclic AMP regulation of mamalian sperm fertilising ability.
(k) Dr. L. Hall, Department of Biochemistry, University of Bristol.
An evaluation of hormonally-regulated, epididymal sequences as potential markers of infertility in human males.
(l) Dr. T. Poulton, Department of Pathology, University of Dundee. Characterisation of spermatozoa autoantigens in male autoimmune infertility.
(m) Dr. S. R. Milligan, Department of Physiology, King's College, London.
The endocrine conditions limiting the establishment of pregnancy. (
(n) Dr. A. E. Bolton, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Sheffield Polytechnic.
Characterisation and biological activities of immune cells in semen and cervical mucus in normal and infertile couples.
(o) Dr. R. J. Post, Department of Medical Entomology, School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool.
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Investigation of the effects of repeated doses of ivermectin on onchocera volvulus fertility in Sierra Leone.( Information is not gathered centrally about research into infertility supported by block grants from the Universities Funding Council, by health authorities, or by the private sector.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Advice Centres
Mr. Steel : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government have any plans to establish a national network of advice centres.
Mr. Forth : No. However my Department funds by means of grant-aid the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, and Citizens Advice Scotland which provide administrative, training and other services to the national network of over 1,000 citizens advice bureaux. This funding amounts to nearly £10 million per annum for England and Wales, and some £1 million for Scotland.
My Department has a network of 37 regional offices and sub-offices in England which give advice on its activities, and a number of other Government Departments also have regional networks.
British Overseas Trade Board
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met the chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board ; and what was discussed.
Mr. Redwood : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Trade last met the chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board on 24 October. They discussed a range of issues relating to the work of the board.
Labelling
Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any new plans for the labelling of consumer goods.
Mr. Forth : Additional labelling requirements will come into force over the next year for toys and all-terrain vehicles. The Government have made clear their support for the early introduction of a Community-wide voluntary eco-labelling scheme. In addition my Department is supporting work designed to establish a certification trademark which could be awarded to goods that consistently meet high specifications, although launch of such a scheme would depend on adequate support from industry.
Import Penetration Statistics
Mr. McFall : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the delay in publishing his Department's figures for import penetration.
Mr. Redwood : In 1988 a new commodity coding system was introduced by Customs and Excise resulting in a complete revision and renumbering of the existing Customs tariff codes.
Each of these new codes had to be allocated, whole or in part, to industries of the standard industrial
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classification before import penetration figures could be derived. The size and complexity of this task has resulted in an interruption to the normal publication timetable.Pembridge Investments
Mr. William Powell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the implications for policy on takeovers of the financing arrangements of Pembridge Investments through short-term, high-interest borrowing, for the sale by auction of DRG businesses to market competitors ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : The proposed acquisition of DRG by Pembridge Investments is currently being considered by the Director General of Fair Trading. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will take his decision on the question of reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in the light of the director general's advice and of his own consideration of all the relevant issues.
Mr. Neil Hamilton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to announce his decision on whether or not to refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the Pembridge Investments bid for DRG plc before the next closing date of the offer on Friday 3 November.
Mr. Redwood : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce his decision as soon as possible after he has considered the advice of the Director General of Fair Trading, as is usual.
Recycling
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives from the British Plastics Federation and when he next plans to meet the British Plastics Federation to discuss the implementation of recyclable plastic bottles and containers in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Forth : I met representatives of the British Plastics Federation at the "Plastics Recycling--Future Challenges" conference dinner in September. However, the question of how to achieve optimum recycling levels of plastic bottles and containers is not a matter solely for the British Plastics Federation. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell) on 17 October at column 12 which lists a number of inititatives that are relevant to increasing the proportion of these products which is recycled. The British Plastics Federation is a member of the advisory group referred to in the reply.
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has made any recent study on the benefits to United Kingdom industry of raw materials recycling from commercial, domestic and industrial wastes ; and if he will make a statement on the current status of the United Kingdom national recycling programme.
Mr. Forth : There has been no recent study, but it is estimated that last year our reclamation industries recovered about 27 million tonnes of recyclable materials worth about £2 billion. United Kingdom industry traditionally recycles about 95 per cent. of its process
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scrap, and we also recover more than 80 per cent. of the ferrous metal, 75 per cent. of the copper, 65 per cent. of the lead, and 60 per cent. of the aluminium from our scrap and waste resources. The Department has recently formed an advisory group of individuals with special expertise on, or responsibilities for, recycling, to assist in developing a national recycling strategy.Marine Licensing
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will outline the latest procedures for the enforcement of VHF marine licences.
Mr. Forth : My Department's radio investigation service (RIS) responds to complaints of interference to marine radio channels. The RIS also randomly inspects marine licences and installations to ensure that licence conditions are met and that only approved equipment is used.
Coastal Waters (Digital Selective Calling)
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out the timetable for the introduction of digital selective calling for all United Kingdom coastal waters.
Mr. Forth : The Secretary of State for Transport, who is responsible for maritime distress and safety matters, has established an MF distress and safety digital selective calling (DSC) service at five stations in the United Kingdom. This service, operated by Her Majesty's Coastguard, provides coverage for most of the coastal waters around the United Kingdom. When two further stations are established in the Republic of Ireland in 1992, all United Kingdom coastal waters will be adequately covered by DSC for distress and safety purposes.
A DSC service for commercial purposes would be provided by British Telecom, but it has no plans at present to install either MF or VHF DSC equipment at its coast stations. However, it is evaluating automated MF and VHF radiotelephone systems which have various DSC-based facilities.
Marine Distress Service
Mr. Barry Field : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure British manufacturers are ready to take advantage of the global marine distress service.
Mr. Forth : British manufacturers are aware of the requirements of the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) and the opportunities that it offers through their representation on a number of national and international committees.
Much of the radio equipment which will be needed to operate the GMDSS is already required to be fitted to merchant shipping under an international agreement known as the safety of life at sea convention (SOLAS). Already British industry plays an important role in supplying this equipment to the international shipping community. For certain types of equipment there are still some technical and operational details to be finalised and international discussions are continuing on these outstanding topics. British manufacturers are fully
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involved in decision-making, through the appropriate committees such as the maritime radio technical committee.Broadcasting
Mr. Baldry : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what additional measures are being taken to reduce the burden of licensing requirements under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts.
Mr. Forth : My Department laid on 10 October 1989 a set of regulations under section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 which will further reduce licensing requirements in line with intentions expressed in the White Paper "Releasing Enterprise" (Cm. 512), published in November 1988.
The regulations will exempt the testing or development of radio devices on certain frequency bands under suppressed radiation conditions. This mainly affects those businesses which carry out the development of new radio devices and those that are involved with the servicing and repair of radio devices.
A requirement of the exemption is that no interference is caused to other authorised wireless telegraphy services by the exempted apparatus.
The regulations will affect over 400 current licensees. They are due to come into force on 1 November 1989.
Fan Clubs
Mr. Alton : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what regulations exist to cover the operation of fan clubs, and what action can be taken against the organisers of such bodies when they are found to be bogus.
Mr. Forth : There are no specific regulations that control the operation of fan clubs. The action that can be taken against the organisers of such bodies when they are found to be bogus would depend on the circumstances of each case.
Laboratory of the Government Chemist
Mr. Baldry : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what will be the future status of the laboratory of the Government chemist.
Mr. Ridley : Today the laboratory of the Government chemist is being established as an executie agency of DTI. The freedom and flexibility that the laboratory is to gain will further improve its efficiency and help it to provide a better service to its customers. The LGC is the fourth agency to be created in the DTI under the next steps initiative.
The relationship between the LGC and the DTI will be governed by principles laid down in its policy and resources framework. Management of the agency will be the responsibility of the chief executive, Mr. Alex Williams, the Government chemist. The agency will operate within policies determined by DTI Ministers. It will recover its full economic cost from services rendered through arm's-length customer-contractor relationships with all its customers. From April 1990, the LGC will be exempted from gross cost control. These arrangements will ensure that there will be open competition for analytical services, that the size and shape of the laboratory will depend on the orders it can win from customers and that customers will achieve better value for money.
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In my foreword to the agency framework document, a copy of which has been placed in the library of the House, I undertake as part of the corporate planning process, to set targets that will require the laboratory to achieve demanding incremental improvements in overall efficiency and quality of service.The main link between the LGC and the DTI will be a steering board chaired by Dr. R. Coleman, the chief engineer and scientist of the DTI. In addition to Mr. Williams, the chief executive, the board will include the following members drawn from the private sector :
--------------------------------------------------
Mr. H. B. Berridge
Dr. L. B. Davies
Dr. D. R. Williams
New EC Regulations
Mr. Michael Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many European Community Commission 83/189 cases have been notified since 30 December 1988.
Mr. Redwood : A total of 257 notifications have been received between 1 January and 26 October 1989.
Mr. Michael Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how long it takes Her Majesty's Government to respond to European Community Commission 83/189 cases on average ; and what has been : (a) the shortest and (b) the longest time ;
(2) how many European Community Commission 83/189 notification cases have been received in English ; and how long it takes Her Majesty's Government to have those that were not, translated ; (3) how many times Her Majesty's Government have objected to European Community Commission 83/189 cases ; from which countries, on which subjects and on which grounds ;
(4) how many times Her Majesty's Government have used the Committee procedure provided for in the regulation to raise objections to European Community Commission 83/189 cases ; and what was the reason.
Mr. Redwood : Notifications are received in the language of the notifying member state. The European Commission provides the translation. The other information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Michael Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the mechanism for inter-departmental co-ordination in relation to European Community Commission 83/189 cases involving more than one Government Department.
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Mr. Redwood : The Department with the primary interest in any particular notification is responsible for any necessary consultation and co-ordination with other Departments, using the usual formal and informal mechanisms.
Mr. Michael Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who is responsible for receiving, processing and formally replying to notification by the Commission of 83/189 cases.
Mr. Michael Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what procedure there is, in relation to European Community Commission 83/189 cases, for notifying and consulting the industries affected by these notifications ; how it works ; and how long it is reported to take a Department to notify the affected industry.
Mr. Redwood : My Department, as well as making summaries of notifications available through the Spearhead database, consults the interests falling within its sphere of responsibility that seem likely to be affected and circulates details to other Departments to enable them to do likewise. Information is not held centrally on the time taken to dissemminate that information, and could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.
The Association of British Chambers of Commerce now prints summaries of notifications in its weekly publication "Business Briefing", as does the European Commission in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
Imports
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing (a) the current degree of import penetration and (b) that in December 1978 for (i) radios, (ii) black and white televisions, (iii) video recorders, (iv) colour televisions, (v) telephone receivers, (vi) refrigerators, (vii) passenger motor vehicles, (viii) microwave ovens, (ix) calculators, (x) desk top computers, (xi) computer printers, (xii) word processors, (xiii) microchips, (xiv) irons, (xv) commercial vehicles, (xvi) x-ray machines, (xvii) dental instruments and appliances, (xviii) shoes, (xix) sewing machines, (xx) excavators, (xxi) lawn mowers, (xxii) public transport type motor vehicles, (xxiii) burglar alarms, (xxiv) built-in-ovens, (xxv) hovercraft, (xxvi) lasers, (xxvii) vending machines, (xxviii) dishwashers, (xxix) medical instruments and appliances, (xxx) paper, (xxxi) wallpaper, (xxxii) printed matter and (xxxiii) furniture.
Mr. Redwood : The import penetration ratios given in the table refer to the activity heading to which the individual products are classified. Ratios for the individual products are either not available or not readily available.
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Standard Industrial Classification
Activity Heading Product included in Year to
activity heading
|1978 |1988<2> |1989Q1<2>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3166 Metal furniture and safes |Furniture |15 |27 |27
3254 Construction and earth moving equipment |Excavators |63 |66 |65
3286 Other industrial and Commercial machinery |Sewing machines |41 |64 |63
|Lawn mowers
|Vending machines
3301 Office machinery |Calculators |<1>120 |<1>124 |<1>122
3302 Electronic data processing equipment |Word processors |88 |90 |93
|Computer printers
|Desk top computers
3433 Alarms and signalling equipment |Burglar alarms |12 |31 |31
3441 Telegraph and telephone apparatus and |Telephone receivers |10 |28 |28
equipment
3443 Radio and electronic capital goods |X-Ray apparatus |28 |40 |40
3453 Active components and electronic sub- |Microchips |76 |118 |119
assemblies
3454 Electronic consumer goods and other |Video recorders |46 |72 |74
electronic equipment |Radios
|Black and white television
|Colour television
3460 Domestic-type electric appliances |Irons |30 |42 |43
|Microwave ovens
|Dishwashers
|Built-in ovens
|Refrigerators
3510 Motor vehicles and their parts |Public service |41 |51 |51
|Passenger cars
|Commercial vehicles
3540 Aerospace equipment manufacturing and |Hovercraft |35 |63 |N/A
repairing
3720 Medical and surgical equipment and |Dental instruments and |59 |83 |82
orthopaedic appliances |appliances
|Medical instruments and
|appliances
3732 Optical precision instruments |Lasers |53 |70 |N/A
4510 Footwear |Shoes |30 |48 |49
4671 Wooden and upholstered furniture |Furniture |9 |18 |18
4710 Pulp, paper and board |Paper |53 |63 |64
4721 Wall coverings |Wallpaper |6 |9 |8
4750 Printing and Publishing |Printed matter |6 |7 |7
Source: Business Monitor MQ12
<1>Entrepot trade causes ratio to exceed 100.
<2>Provisional.
Monthly Digest of Statistics
Mr. Austin Mitchell : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the figures in table 15-10 of the monthly digest of statistics have not been updated with the 1988 figures ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood [holding answer 23 October 1989] : The delay has been caused by the introduction in January 1988 of the new harmonised system for overseas transactions, entailing a thorough revision and renumbering of the Customs tariff headings.
All tariff codes had to be reassessed and reallocated, in whole or in part, to the industries of the standard industrial classification before the import penetration and export sales ratios presented in table 15.10 of the monthly digest of statistics could be derived. This classification has proved to be more complex and to have taken longer than expected. The ratios for 1988 will be published in the next edition of the monthly digest of statistics.
ENERGY
Offshore Installations (Safety)
Mr. Flannery : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to ensure that the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988 will be applied to offshore installations.
Mr. Peter Morrison : Requirements for the control of hazardous substances on offshore installations have been
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