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TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Roslin Institute
Mr. Cash: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will place in the Library the patents granted solely or jointly to the Roslin Institute; [18966]
- (2) if he will list the patents granted to the Roslin Institute since its inception and the dates on which they were granted indicating (a) which were granted to the Roslin Institute, (i) alone and (ii) jointly with another body, and giving the name of such other bodies and (b) indicating which have been transferred to other bodies and the names of those bodies; and if he will place copies of the transfer instruments in the Library. [18965]
Mr. Ian Taylor: I understand that, since Roslin was formed as a self-standing institute in 1993, a number of applications for patents have been filed, but none yet granted. Between 1993 and 1995--when Roslin became a company limited by guarantee--the applications were made in the name of "BBSRC (or AFRC) Roslin Institute". Since 1995 applications will have been in the name of the Roslin Institute itself. Once granted, any patents applied for since 1993 would be published in the normal way. In addition, in 1995, BBSRC transferred to Roslin, as part of the process of forming the limited company, the rights to some published patents which dated from before 1993, when Roslin was part of the larger Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research.
Saudi Arabia (Ministerial Visits)
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the official visits to Saudi Arabia made by Ministers in his Department since May 1979, stating in each case the dates and purpose of the visit. [19558]
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Mr. Nelson:
Details of visits to Saudi Arabia undertaken by DTI Ministers between January 1992 to present can be found in a list which is available in the Library of the House.
Recovery of data for the years 1979-91 would incur disproportionate costs.
Mr. Barron:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many (a) discretionary depreciation payments and (b) obligatory depreciation payments have been made in each year for which information is available since the passage of the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991 by region; and what has been the (i) total and (ii) average value of such payments in each year, by region. [19551]
Mr. Page:
This is a matter for the Coal Authority or other "responsible persons" as defined by the Coal Mining Subsidence Act 1991 (as amended by the Coal Industry Act 1994). However I understand from the Coal Authority that the information requested is not readily available.
Sir Michael Grylls:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of whether the participating lenders under the small firms loan guarantee scheme are fully informing unsuccessful applicants of the reason for rejection, differentiating between ineligibility, lack of a viable business proposal and lack of credibility of the applicant. [19752]
Mr. Page:
No assessment has been made of the information given to an applicant where their loan application has been rejected. The scheme is appropriate only when a lender considers the business proposal for a loan to be viable and would be prepared to lend but for the lack of collateral to use as security against a conventional loan or overdraft. If the loan application fails to meet the lender's normal commercial appraisal criteria the scheme should not even be considered and the notification of rejection should be subject to the lenders standard practice.
Any complaints received by the Department are investigated and, where appropriate, the matter is taken up with the lender concerned.
Mr. Porter:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the accreditation of ISO 9000 certification bodies. [20306]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
In the context of ISO 9000, accreditation is the recognition by an authoritative body that certification bodies are competent to carry out specified tasks. In the UK the Government have granted that authority solely to UKAS (the United Kingdom Accreditation Service). A memorandum of understanding between my Department and UKAS sets out those activities for which UKAS is recognised by Government and gives UKAS certain rights and obligations. A separate licensing agreement gives UKAS the right to use and confer the DTI's National Accreditation Mark (the "Tick and Crown") which signifies Government recognition.
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Accreditation by UKAS ensures that certification bodies have been independently assessed to agreed international standards of competence and impartiality by a body which is itself subject to regular assessment and to oversight by Government. The Government therefore encourage certification bodies to become accredited by UKAS. We also encourage companies and other organisations seeking certification to ISO 9000 to use the services of UKAS accredited certification bodies where these are an option. Only certification by a UKAS accredited body allows companies to be entered into the United Kingdom Register of Quality Assessed Companies and to display the national accreditation mark as an internationally acknowledged symbol of Government recognition.
As in most other commercial matters, it is for each certification body to decide whether to become accredited by UKAS. It is also for individual companies to decide whether to use the services of UKAS accredited certification bodies. This freedom of choice does not imply Government recognition of or support for the activities of certification bodies not accredited by UKAS. Equally, it does not imply any Government authority, recognition or support for the activities of any other UK organisation which may claim to act as an accreditation body in the context of ISO 9000.
Where UKAS accredited certification is available as an option, some purchasers will not accept certificates issued by bodies which are not accredited by UKAS because they have no assurance of the competence of those bodies. This can lead to additional cost for companies as purchasers ask for other evidence of compliance with ISO 9000. UKAS accreditation can, therefore, help to minimise industry's costs. It also helps to remove technical barriers to international trade because the Government have granted UKAS the sole right to negotiate mutual recognition agreements with other national accreditation bodies on behalf of the United Kingdom.
Accordingly, the Government advise all companies to look for the national accreditation mark when selecting a certification body. In the absence of the mark, companies should make detailed enquiries about the relationship between the certification body and UKAS before entering into any commitment.
Mr. Porter:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made by the pilot scheme for research masters, announced by the Government in October 1994; and if he will make a statement. [20305]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
Four of the research councils have been supporting some 250 students a year on the research master's, or MRes, courses on a pilot basis since autumn 1995. The councils involved are the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Medical Research Council and the Natural Environment Research Council. The first year has been completed, and the second is now well into its stride.
It is still too early to draw firm conclusions about the success of the MRes in preparing students directly for employment or for a PhD. Experience with the pilot also
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varies, to some extent, between the councils. However, there are encouraging signs. Students appear very satisfied. The courses are offering them an opportunity to broaden their horizons--including the attractions and possibilities of a career in industry--whilst also acquiring a greater degree of research expertise and experience. There is strong interest and involvement from employers.
Overall, the MRes continues to show much promise as a contributor to the diversity and quality of higher education provision in the UK. I am grateful to all those in academia, industry, and elsewhere who are working to make it a success.
The Director-General of Research Councils is today writing to universities and colleges and other interested parties, including the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education, with further details of experience to date. I am placing a copy of that letter and a related press release in the Library of the House. Further reports on the pilot will be published as data and experience accumulate.
Mr. Porter:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the Government's chief scientific adviser has reviewed the Inter-agency Committee on Global Environmental Change; and if he will make a statement. [20307]
Mr. Ian Taylor:
The review concluded that the Inter-agency Committee on Global Environmental Change had been an effective mechanism in the past and that it should continue to provide UK agencies funding global environmental change research with a senior-level forum for discussion of relevant science and policy developments.
I am pleased to announce that Sir Richard Southwood has been appointed chairman for the next three years.
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