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Dogs (Scientific Procedures)

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds an exemption was granted under section 10(3) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to allow the use of non-purpose bred dogs in scientific procedures in 1995. [1740]

Mr. George Howarth: The grounds were that suitable dogs were not available from designated sources.

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the source and breed of the 66 non-purpose bred dogs acquired from non-designated sources in the United Kingdom used in scientific procedures in 1995. [1741]

Mr. Howarth: The dogs were provided by their owners who gave informed consent. A range of crossbred and pedigree animals was used.

Departmental Publications

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what means his Department makes available its publications in (a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print; and how this is publicised. [1683]

Mr. Straw: For all publications, consideration is given at an early stage to the needs of the blind and partially sighted.

My Department has produced the fire safety publication 'Fire Safety in the Home' in Braille, on audio tape and in large print. These are publicised in a catalogue made available to all fire brigades in England and Wales which can order supplies for free distribution to the public. Copies have also been supplied to the Royal National Institute for the Blind for distribution on request.

Audio cassette versions of 'Your Practical Guide to Crime Prevention' and 'Domestic Violence--Don't Stand For It' have been produced. These are publicised in a catalogue sent to all Crime Prevention Officers in England and Wales, through whom copies are made freely available to the public.

Animal Experiments

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspections were carried out by his Department's inspectors under the

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Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 at each of the Ministry of Defence establishments conducting animal experiments under the Act in each year since 1993. [1877]

Mr. George Howarth: Two Ministry of Defence establishments are designated under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. In each respective year since 1993, the Inspectorate has carried out three, two, six and five visits to one establishment and seven, six, 13 and 13 to the other. In the first five months of 1997, one and four visits (respectively) have been carried out.

Mr. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances reports arising from Home Office inspections under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are available to the public. [1878]

Mr. Howarth: The role of the Inspectorate is to advise the Secretary of State. Section 24 of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 prohibits the publication of any information which has been given in confidence. Reports from visits of inspection are not therefore made public.

PRIME MINISTER

National Competitiveness

11. Mr. Boswell: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he will be taking to improve national competitiveness. [557]

The Prime Minister: My right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, has set out today our plans for a competitive economy.


British Telecom

Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 21 May, Official Report, column 706, if his words mean that no one on his behalf gave an indication that British Telecom would not be included in the windfall tax. [1707]

The Prime Minister: No undertakings have been given to any individual company.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

United Nations (Dues in Arrears)

Mr. Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which are currently in arrears with their dues to the United Nations; and if he will make a statement. [1883]

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Mr. Tony Lloyd: On 30 April 1997, 79 Member States owed assessed contributions for prior years to the UN regular budget. These Member States are listed below. We urge all Member States to follow the UK example and pay their UN dues promptly and in full, in accordance with their legal obligation to do so.

Member States with outstanding contributions for prior years to the UN regular budget at 30 April 1997


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TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Competitiveness

Mr. Casale: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her plans to promote competitiveness. [2121]

Mrs. Beckett: As a first step, I intend to publish an audit of the UK's competitiveness to provide an objective benchmark of how well the UK is performing in every factor of competitiveness.

This will be followed by a period of extensive consultation with people who play a leading role in business, beginning with a Competitiveness Summit in July.

I am also setting up an Advisory Group on competitiveness, which I will chair and which will comprise leading business figures, people from small firms and representatives of the workforce. This Group will be assisted by a number of working groups which will examine specific aspects of competitiveness. Its remit will be to report to me on all aspects of the competitiveness agenda, including giving advice on policy development for a White Paper on Competitiveness to be published early next year.

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Minimum Wage

Mr. Colvin: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will publish the representations she has received from the small business sector regarding the implications of a statutory national minimum wage; and if she will make a statement. [846]

Mr. Ian McCartney: A majority of members at the annual conference of the Federation of Small Businesses recently voted for a motion in support of the National Minimum Wage. The independent Low Pay Commission will undertake a wide ranging consultation exercise seeking the views of employers, including small businesses, on the National Minimum Wage and related issues.

Mr. Colvin: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will use the Treasury model to estimate the impact on employment of the introduction of a statutory national minimum wage at (a) £4.00 per hour, (b) £4.25 per hour and (c) £4.60 per hour; and if she will make a statement. [845]

Mr. McCartney: We will ask the independent Low Pay Commission, before it reaches a recommendation on the level at which the National Minimum Wage might be set, to take into account all the economic circumstances, including its likely impact. Any model will be sensitive to the assumptions put into it and I will not speculate about the possible effects of hypothetical levels before the Commission has had a chance to consider the issues.

Mr. Harvey: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to advise the Low Pay Commission to consider a regional element to the minimum wage; and if she will make a statement. [1278]

Mr. McCartney [holding answer 3 June 1997]: The Government has made clear its intention to introduce a National Minimum Wage.

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