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Non-fossil Fuel Obligation
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what measures would be necessary to extend the scope of the non-fossil fuel obligation to include other forms of energy; [1009]
- (2) what plans she has to review the non-fossil fuel obligation; [1003]
(3) what plans she has to extend the scope of the non-fossil fuel obligation. [1010]
22 May 1997 : Column: 133
John Battle: I anticipate initiating shortly a consultation exercise with the relevant trade bodies of the renewable energy industry, OFFER, and the Regional Electricity Companies on a fifth non-fossil fuel obligation (NFFO) Order for renewable energy in England and Wales, leading to an announcement later in the year. I am currently considering the options for the longer term future of the NFFO, and I will make a further announcement in due course. Extending the scope of NFFO to include other forms of energy will need primary legislation and clearance from the European Commission.
Child Labour
Mr. Vaz: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to introduce measures to ensure that goods imported to Britain have not been produced by child labour. [814]
Mrs. Roche: The Government will use every endeavour to protect and promote human rights in the work place and support the eradication of all forms of exploitative and abusive labour (including child labour) as part of our wider effort to reduce global poverty and promote sustainable human development. We will be meeting the CBI, TUC and the British Retail Consortium on 23 May to discuss practical ways forward and the purpose to meet relevant non-government organisations in the near future to progress these discussions further.
Trade and Investment (South Asia)
Mr. Vaz: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the increased economic co-operation and free trade in the south Asian region and their impact on the United Kingdom's trade and investment with and in the countries concerned. [743]
Mrs. Roche: I believe that the commitment of the countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation to introduce a free trade area by 2001 will give a considerable boost to trade within the region. This should create significant opportunities for UK companies. I will ensure that my Department does all that it can to help UK companies to take advantage of these opportunities.
Trade (Chinese Community)
Mr. Vaz: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps she plans to take to promote further the contribution made by Britain's Chinese community to the balance of payments through enhanced trade with the countries of east and south and east Asia. [710]
Mrs. Roche: Britain's Chinese community already makes an important contribution to the nation's commercial success at home and overseas. I would be happy to consider ways in which the community might be more actively involved in our trade promotion activities.
Trade (China)
Mr. Vaz: To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she plans to lead a trade mission to the People's Republic of China. [279]
Mrs. Beckett:
My forward travel programme is currently under consideration and no plans have yet been made for a visit to China.
22 May 1997 : Column: 134
Mr. Lansley:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research her Department has carried out into the effects of the minimum wage on jobs. [210]
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the effect of a national minimum wage on employment levels. [189]
Ian McCartney:
I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Banbury on 21 May 1997, Official Report, column 65.
Mr. Nicholas Winterton:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on manufacturing exports. [700]
Mrs. Roche:
In 1996 the UK exported manufactured goods worth £139.1 billion and imported manufactured goods worth £146.9 billion.
We are committed to improving the focus of our efforts to back British business selling abroad. We are establishing an export forum that will consider all aspects of our current programmes and activities.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has in respect of the Indo-British Partnership Initiative. [715]
Mrs. Roche:
The Indo-British Partnership has made a significant contribution to the strengthening of bilateral commercial links between the UK and India since its formation in 1993. A number of high-profile events are planned over the coming months to mark the 50th anniversary of India's independence including a major "Indo-British Partnership: Towards 2000" exhibition which will take place in Delhi in the Autumn at the time of the State Visit by HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. This will have a commercial focus but will also highlight scientific, technological, cultural, sporting and other links. A programme of promotional events is also planned in the UK later in the year involving Business Links, trade associations and Chambers of Commerce. I will be providing every possible support for the Indo-British Partnership's future activities and hope personally to be associated with a number of its events.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans her Department has to place proposals before the World Trade Organisation concerning the enforcement of ILO conditions in member states. [501]
Mrs. Roche
[holding answer 20 May 1997]: The Government will use every endeavour to protect and promote human rights in the work place and are considering how best to use international fora. We will be looking closely at the position in the International Labour Organisation and the World Trade Organisation, taking into account the declaration agreed at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Singapore last December.
22 May 1997 : Column: 135
Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what changes he plans to make to the criteria governing the granting of export licences to British companies selling defence equipment overseas; and which countries would be precluded from receiving United Kingdom defence equipment by these criteria; [276]
(3) which countries his Department assesses currently use United Kingdom manufactured defence equipment for the purposes of internal repression. [250]
Mr. Robin Cook:
We have made a firm commitment not to permit the sale of arms to regimes that might use them for internal repression or international aggression. To give effect to that commitment, we have initiated an urgent review of the detailed criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms. We support a strong UK defence industry but must ensure that exports are properly regulated. We are aware of concerns that some defence equipment exported from the UK in the past has been used for internal repression. The review will ensure that the risk of such misuse is fully taken into account, alongside all other relevant factors, in the assessment of all licence applications for the export of conventional arms. The new criteria will be made available to the House when the Review is complete. In the meantime, I have instructed my officials to consult Ministers whenever there are export licence applications which may raise concerns about human rights or international stability.
Mr. Hogg:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost to public funds of producing and distributing the film to be produced by Sir David Puttnam setting out the Foreign Secretary's mission statement. [120]
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he accepts the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 8 July 1996 on the legality of nuclear weapons as a basis of British nuclear policy. [255]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
We strongly support the goal of the global elimination of nuclear weapons. We welcome the Court's recognition of the importance of obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, including the nuclear weapon states' obligation on nuclear disarmament. The Court's Advisory Opinion does not require a change in the United Kingdom's entirely defensive nuclear deterrence policy.
22 May 1997 : Column: 136
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government intend to ratify the 1997 additional protocols to the 1949 Geneva convention. [256]
Mr. Lloyd:
I assume the hon. Member is referring to the 1977 additional protocols. The Government is addressing the issue as a matter of priority.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the distinction between individual and collective defence in respect of the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons, following the opinion of the International Court on nuclear weapons. [254]
Mr. Lloyd:
The International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion does not require a change in the United Kingdom's policy of considering the use of nuclear weapons only in self defence, which includes the defence of our NATO allies, and only in extreme circumstances.
(2) when he expects to publish his revised criteria for the granting of export licences for sales of defence equipment; and if he will publish precise definitions of each; [275]
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