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Cable Operators
Mr. Timms: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will encourage cable operators to offer wireless as well as wired telecommunications services. [13114]
Mrs. Roche: The Broadcasting Act 1990 includes statutory provision for the use of wireless transmission by cable operators, and the licenses now being issued to franchise holders by the Independent Television Commission and my Department both allow this. The Government has allocated the 40.5-42.5 Ghz band for this purpose.
The Government has allocated spectrum within the 2,3,4 and 10 Ghz bands to other wireless telecommunication operators. The ability to deliver broadband services to premises also has considerable potential for improving communications, particularly in rural areas, and the Government is considering the best way forward in further encouraging such networks, including the use of wireless.
India
Mr. Vaz: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the current level of trade between Britain and India. [13922]
Mrs. Roche: In 1996, trade in goods and services between Britain and India was worth £4.1 billion, 7 per cent. higher than a year earlier. The value of UK exports of goods and services increased by 1.5 per cent. to £2.1 billion while UK imports rose by 14 per cent. to £2.0 billion.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she next plans to visit India. [13925]
3 Nov 1997 : Column: 45
Mrs. Beckett:
I shall be visiting India from 16-18 November this year.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current level of staffing at the India desk of her Department. [13923]
Mrs. Roche:
Currently 13 people are allocated to the India desk.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will estimate how many British firms have offices in India. [13924]
Mrs. Roche:
Although no precise information is available, it is estimated that there are at least 300 British firms with offices in India.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the current level of trade between Britain and Pakistan. [13926]
Mrs. Roche:
In 1996, trade in goods and services between Britain and Pakistan was worth £1.1 billion, 7 per cent. higher than a year earlier. The value of UK exports of goods and services increased by 6 per cent. to £590 million while UK imports rose by 8 per cent. to £545 million.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations she has received concerning the selling of Quadrant Catering by the Post Office; and if she will make a statement. [13668]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about the future of Quadrant, the catering business of the Post Office, from members of the Communication Workers Union either directly or through Members of Parliament. Quadrant Catering Limited was established as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Post Office on 29 September. My right hon. Friend's consent is required under the British Telecommunications Act 1981 to the sale of shares in Quadrant Catering Limited to a private sector partner to establish a joint venture operation.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to eliminate the sending of unsolicited faxes from telemarketing companies. [13484]
Mrs. Roche:
The EU Distance Selling Directive, which should be implemented by June 2000, will prohibit suppliers such as telemarketing companies from sending faxes to consumers without their prior consent. I will consult on implementation of this Directive early next year. In the meantime, people can register with the Fax Preference Service (FPS). The companies who subscribe to it undertake that they will not sent unsolicited faxes to any consumer who registers with the FPS.
3 Nov 1997 : Column: 46
Sir Richard Body:
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the costs to public funds of the United Kingdom acceptance of the European Council directive on the harmonisation of the main provisions concerning export credit insurance for transactions with medium and long-term cover. [12513]
Mrs. Beckett:
The ECGD has carried out a full and thorough assessment of the costs associated with implementing this Directive. Taken as a whole, the effects of the Directive as currently drafted are broadly cost neutral for the UK Government and will not result in any additional burden to UK tax payers. A detailed analysis of the costs involved is set out in Explanatory Memorandum 9507/97 COM (97) 264 which was submitted to the House of Commons and House of Lords Scrutiny Committees on 7 October.
Mrs. Gillan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the suppliers to his Department who are owed outstanding amounts, indicating the amounts and the due date on which the account should have been settled. [13544]
Mr. Chisholm
[holding answer 30 October 1997]: All Departments are required to pay all their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is later, where no such terms exist. Such detailed information on payment performance for the current financial year could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Treasury will shortly be publishing a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996-97.
Mr. Dayell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider amending the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Bill to permit a Scottish court to sit overseas to try those accused in respect of Lockerbie. [13213]
Mr. McLeish
[holding answer 30 October 1997]: The Government remain committed to trial of the two Libyan accused in Scotland or the United States and it would therefor be inappropriate and unnecessary to amend the criminal procedure legislation.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cost of prescribing beta interferon in each year since 1995 for each health board. [13477]
Mr. Galbraith:
The information for Scotland for the financial years 1995-96 to 1997-98 is shown in the table.
The costs shown for prescriptions dispensed through community pharmacies are based on the value of ingredients before the addition of dispensing fees or deduction of any discount or patient charges.
3 Nov 1997 : Column: 47
| Cost (£) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 1996-97 | April-August 1997(21) | |
| Cost of prescriptions for beta | |||
| interferon dispensed through | |||
| community pharmacies: | -- | 27,465 | 87,418 |
| Cost of prescriptions for beta | |||
| interferon dispensed in | |||
| hospitals: | 1,894 | 171,462 | 56,890 |
| Scotland | 1,894 | 198,927 | 144,308 |
(21) Provisional.
Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total cost to date of external consultancies associated with the specification of the proposed private finance initiative contract at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS trust; and from which budgets these costs have been met. [12746]
Mr. Galbraith [holding answer 27 October 1997]: The Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust has to date incurred £3.4 million for fees for external advice in connection with the New Royal Infirmary PFI project as detailed in the table. The costs have been met by the Trust from its own resources, including non-recurring revenue grants from The Scottish Office.
| Fees incurred for: | £000 |
|---|---|
| Design | 1,455 |
| Financial | 398 |
| Legal | 1,258 |
| Others | 288 |
| Total | 3,399 |
Community Care
Mr. Doran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy regarding future provision of community care; and if he will make a statement. [12701]
Mr. Galbraith: The successful delivery of community care services depends on effective joint working between health, social work and housing agencies and on their making the best use of resources available to them including, for example, purchasing from the private and voluntary sectors. We are reviewing the various elements of community care funding and the Government are setting up a Royal Commission to review the arrangements for funding the long-term care of the elderly. We are preparing improved guidance on procedures for assessing the needs of older people and will consult later this year on how best to promote and improve joint working.
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