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Computers (Millennium Compliance)
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will issue guidelines to trading standards departments giving advice on dealing with personal computers which are not millennium-compliant; and if she will make a statement. [5372]
Mr. Battle: The Century Date Change is a particularly serious issue, but I do not believe that issuing specific advice to trading standards departments is necessary.
The DTI is already taking steps to ensure that businesses and the general public are aware of the problem which has been extensively covered in the media. DTI's Information Pack on the problem already sets out general advice and sources of help.
It is for a well informed, individual purchaser to decide for himself what he needs in his own particular case. As for any other hardware or software supply issue, the details of conformability and performance are best covered in a discussion or specification and agreed by commercial negotiation. The law already provides a remedy for the purchaser of defective goods under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 and for services under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, and I see no need for further measures.
Mr. Jones:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to issue a list of millennium-compliant personal computers; and if she will make a statement. [5370]
Mr. Battle:
The Century Date Change problem is a particularly serious issue, but I do not believe that to issue a list of millennium-compliant Personal Computers is the right way forward.
The IT supply industry are already well aware of the problem and many have declared the status of the products through both the media and their trade association, The Computing Services and Software Association, who maintain a "Directory of Organisations with Specialist Year 2000 Services and Products".
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on key escrow. [5114]
Mr. Battle:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Ottaway) on 18 June, Official Report, column 191.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what use she plans to make of the Internet to make Government more open. [5099]
Mr. Battle:
The Department of Trade and Industry has maintained an Internet presence since 1995 to provide a wide range of information about its activities, services and key contact points. The Department also has an Open Government page on the Internet informing the public of their rights of access under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information to information it holds. The Open Government page has a direct Email link to the DTI Open Government Enquiry Point. The Department is
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continually updating and expanding its Internet pages to make its activities and services more accessible to the public.
Mr. Sheerman:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has had with the Internet Service Providers Association to encourage self- certification by content providers. [5086]
Mrs. Roche:
My Department maintains frequent contact with the Internet Services Providers Association. The Department played a key role in the development and launch of a self-regulatory system for Internet content based on existing law, known as the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and continues to maintain contact with this organisation.
As part of its remit to help ensure that the Internet can be a safe place to work, learn and play, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has convened an advisory board comprising representatives of content providers, children's charities, regulators from other media, ISPs and civil liberties groups, to propose a UK-focused system for rating Internet content. This system should be available within the next few months, and will help Internet users determine the nature of their and their children's experience of the Internet. IWF is also engaged in work with partners from Europe, North America and Australia with a view to creating a world forum for Internet content rating.
Mr. Streeter:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has for changes in the regulation of companies manufacturing and selling arms. [982]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 22 May 1997]: On 21 May, Official Report, column 72, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced that we shall implement our manifesto commitment to ban the import, export, transfer and manufacture of anti-personnel mines. On 22 May, Official Report, column 135, my right hon. Friend also announced an urgent review of the detailed criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms. We shall be considering how best to take forward our other export control commitments.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will place in the Library a copy of the Nirex Assessment report DSAT (96) N101 prepared by A. J. Baker and R. Cummings. [1788]
Mr. Battle:
The Department has not seen the report and does not have a copy of it. We understand that it is one of a large number of Nirex internal working documents. Its availability is a matter for Nirex.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals she has for the funding of scientific and medical research. [1483]
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Mr. Battle:
The Government is committed to maintaining existing Departmental spending ceilings until March 1999, and priorities will continue to be reassessed within those ceilings. In the medium term, the overall level of funding of scientific and medical research will be reviewed as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 11 June, Official Report, columns 1143-44.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the adequacy of arrangements to enforce the current regulations on the safety of gas appliances. [5435]
Mr. Battle:
Safety of gas appliances is regulated by the Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1995, S.I. number 1995/1629, which are made under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. Enforcement is the responsibility of weights and measures authorities in Great Britain and district councils in Northern Ireland. Local authorities determine from their own experience the effort required to effectively undertake their enforcement obligations. The powers that are in place are considered to be sufficient to enforce the current regulations, but we will of course keep them under review.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of Seeboard's investment in its local distribution network and fault monitoring system with particular reference to the Sutton and Cheam area. [5389]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 25 June 1997]: The Engineering Inspectorate of the DTI carries out an inspection of each Public Electricity Supplier once a year, which includes a review of developments and new equipment applications in relation to maintaining compliance with the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 as amended. An inspection of installations in the Sutton and Cheam area was conducted in 1992. I am not aware of any change in policy by Seeboard as to the means of satisfying its obligations to comply with the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 as amended.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will seek a report from the chairman of Seeboard on the reasons for the interruptions of supply over the last six months in the Hurstcourt Road and Fairlands Avenue areas of the Sutton and Cheam parliamentary constituency. [5390]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 25 June 1997]: The Engineering Inspectorate of the DTI is aware of several unrelated failures in electricity supply this month in the Sutton and Cheam area, some of which have been due to damage to underground cables caused by other parties, and is investigating the circumstances with Seeboard. The local Office of Electricity Regulation is aware of recent events in the area.
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Mr. Ancram:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure that human cloning will not be allowed to occur in the United Kingdom either directly or through research material obtained from other countries. [4141]
Ms Jowell:
We regard the deliberate cloning of human individuals as ethically unacceptable. Under United Kingdom law, cloning of individual humans cannot take place whatever the origin of the material and whatever technique is used.
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