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Internet
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has had with other Government and law enforcement agencies on the need to regulate illegal and harmful matter on the Internet; and if she will make a statement. [5868]
Mrs. Roche: My Department has worked in close co-operation with the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs), to facilitate the development of a system for dealing with illegal content on the Internet, using existing law and the existing penalties. This framework is known as Internet Watch.
As a general rule, existing law applies to the Internet exactly as it does in the "physical" world. This means that ISPs have a clear liability for any illegal content which they host on their servers, but only once they have been made aware of it, and if they have then failed to take reasonable steps to remove it. Internet Watch offers ISPs a service, facilitating their compliance with existing law. An ISP who chose not to co-operate within the framework would risk prosecution and the full force of the criminal law. Internet Watch has already proved successful in bringing about the removal of illegal material, and in passing details to the police.
VAT (Fuel)
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will estimate the effect on domestic energy consumption of a reduction in VAT on domestic fuel and power to 5 per cent. [6262]
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Mr. Battle
[holding answer 1 July 1997]: Since the announcement of this cut in the budget we have had the opportunity to fine tune the modelling of this VAT reduction. As a result, it is estimated that reducing VAT on domestic fuel will increase domestic sector energy consumption by around 0.7 per cent.
Mr. Todd:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will review the process of granting permission for new gas-fired power generation; and if she will make a statement. [7215]
Mr. Battle:
We are currently considering a number of applications for consent for new power stations and will examine these on a case by case basis.
Mr. Healey:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action Her Majesty's Government have taken in support of the European Commission's appeal against the World Trade Organisation's ruling on the EU banana import regime; what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the import of bananas from the West Indies to Europe; what assessment he has made of the impact of United Kingdom policy on the Caribbean banana industry; and if he will make a statement. [7476]
Mrs. Roche:
The UK has supported the European Commission's robust defence of the EU banana regime in the World Trade Organisation. We are continuing that support during the appeal to the Appellate Body. The EU policy of offering preferential access for bananas from the West Indies and other traditional ACP suppliers is one that the UK supports. The Government is well aware of the importance to the West Indies of continuing access, given the dependence of their economies on banana exports.
Fiona Mactaggart:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what instructions she plans to give to the United Kingdom representatives at the European Commission meeting on 8 July to discuss guidelines for implementation of the low voltage directive; and if she will make a statement; [7163]
(3) what factors underlay her Department's decision in 1995 that cable management products should not remain within the scope of the low voltage directive; and if she has plans to review this decision. [7165]
Mr. Battle:
My officials sought to establish a clear understanding of the position on the guidance on issues such as the application of the Directive to cable management products, components and the CE marking requirements.
The scope of the Directive has not changed since its adoption in 1973 and I have no plans to consult on this particular issue. However, the Department's Standards and Technical Regulations Directorate recently consulted
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with interested parties and met with industry representatives, on a draft European Commission guidance document about the Low Voltage Directive.
The Department also plans a further meeting with industry representatives to discuss the proposed Commission guidance at the earliest mutually convenient time.
Although the Directive was adopted in 1973, it was only after the adoption of the CE Marking Directive in 1993, that an approach was first made to the Department by a manufacturer of plastic conduit, for an opinion as to whether the Directive covered such items.
Cable management products, such as plastic conduit, will fall within the scope of the Low Voltage Directive only if they are items of electrical equipment as described within the meaning of Article 2 of the Directive. In order to answer the enquiry a detailed analysis was undertaken by my Department to clarify the meaning of electrical equipment. As the Directive does not define what is meant by electrical equipment it is necessary to base this on the ordinary English language usage of the term in the context in which it appears in the Directive. The natural meaning of these words and hence the scope of the Directive, implies a product which operates between the voltage limits set, is not an electrically passive product and has the potential to generate electrical, mechanical, thermal or other hazards, all arising from its electrical, nature which must be protected against, as required by Article 2 of the Directive.
At a meeting of member States on 8 and 9 July to discuss a proposed European Commission guidance document on the Directive, the European Commission requested that the Department review its position. My officials are presently carrying out a further review and I hope that a mutually acceptable form of wording can be found for inclusion in the guidance.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will place in the Library copies of her letter to potential sponsors of trade fair seminar support programmes. [7679]
Mrs. Roche
[holding answer 10 July 1997]: Officials wrote to potential sponsors and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the sample companies exhibiting overseas with a DTI supported group in the last two years who have been sent the Support for Overseas Trade Fairs and Seminars consultation document. [8145]
Mrs. Roche
[holding answer 11 July 1997]: A list of the sample of companies exhibiting overseas with a DTI supported group in the last two years, which have been sent a copy of the DTI's consultation paper "Support for Overseas Trade Fairs and Seminars--The Way Forward" is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
To enable the paper to reach as many exporters as possible it has also been sent to a wide range of business intermediary organisations and has been publicised so that as many organisations, firms, or individuals wishing to participate in the consultation can do so.
15 Jul 1997 : Column: 139
Mr. Forth:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will give for the review of international obligations under the International Nuclear Safety convention (a) the expected completion date and (b) the cost of conducting the review. [8248]
Mr. Battle:
The United Kingdom's report on its implementation of obligations under the Convention on Nuclear Safety will be submitted to the Convention's Secretariat by 29 September 1998, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure for the Convention. This report and those of all other Contracting Parties to the Convention will be reviewed at a meeting at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) starting in Vienna on 12 April 1999 and expected to last two to three weeks. At this early stage, costs of conducting the review are unclear.
Mr. Lansley:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will provide a detailed breakdown of the savings expected to be made as a result of the closure of the Royal Greenwich Observatory. [7588]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 10 July 1997]: The Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council's proposals to restructure and co-locate its operations will lead to savings of at least £3 million per annum in salary costs full details are set out in Annex E of PPARC's report "The Future Management of the Royal Observatories", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. In addition, approximately £1 million per annum savings will be made in overhead costs.
Mr. Lansley:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will estimate the market value of the Royal Greenwich Observatory at Cambridge. [7589]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 10 July 1997]: The value of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council's assets is routinely recorded for accounting purposes but because of the uncertain effect of restrictions in the lease, a true market value for the RGO could be established only by a full market test.
(2) what consultations she plans to have with industry about changing the scope of the low voltage directive; [7164]
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