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Coal Industry

Mr. Prior: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the future of the Coal Research and Development Programme. [19330]

Mr. Battle: My Department has undertaken a detailed review of the UK's future clean coal technology requirements in consultation with industry and universities. This review has just been completed and examined what further support the Government should provide to clean coal technology research, development and demonstration. An announcement will be made about the outcome of the review in the New Year.

India

Mr. Vaz: To ask the President of the Board of Trade which Indian-based British firms she visited and how many contracts were signed during her trip to India; and if she will make a statement. [18820]

Mrs. Beckett: I attended a breakfast meeting involving some 30 members of the British Business Group in Delhi and spoke at a lunch hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry for the local business community. I visited Rolls-Royce's premises. I was able to announce the creation of 10 Golden Jubilee Fellowships under the Indo-British Partnership and witnessed the signing of a joint venture agreement between Libra Weighing Machines Ltd., Sheffield, and Giri Brothers P Ltd. based in Chennai. The visit followed on from the successful Towards 2000 exhibition in October and re-emphasised the Government's strong commitment to the Indo-British Partnership.

Energy Consumption

Mr. Chaytor: To ask the President of the Board of Trade what powers she has to require the energy utilities to provide annual figures for energy consumption by postcode area. [18993]

Mr. Battle: Under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947, the President of the Board of Trade has powers to ask for information from any undertakings on questions about matters in the schedule to the Act. This includes consumption by locations. The use of these powers to collect information must be balanced against a clear need for the data and the compliance burden placed on the companies in question.

8 Dec 1997 : Column: 464

Arms Export Licences (Indonesia)

Ann Clwyd: To ask the President of the Board of Trade which companies were awarded a licence to export machine guns to Indonesia in 1995. [14827]

Mrs. Roche: As I stated in my answer to my hon. Friend of 21 July 1997, Official Report, column 451, one such licence was granted during 1995.

Inquiries are being made as regards the release of the identity of the licensee concerned under the non-statutory Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and, since this is confidential information, the consent of the licensee is being sought for its disclosure. I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of that letter in the Library.

Genetic Testing

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the President of the Board of Trade if NHS trusts will have to negotiate their own licences to test with or for a patented gene; and if she will make a statement on the Government's policy in respect of ensuring that genetic testing is equally available throughout the United Kingdom. [16372]

Ms Jowell [holding answer 17 November 1997]: I have been asked to reply.

It is for a patent owner to give permission for someone else to use his invention by granting a licence. The terms of this licence is a matter for the patent owner and the potential licensee. As separate legal entities, trusts, individually or as members of consortia are in a position to negotiate their own patent licences. Genetic testing is usually provided through clinical genetic services purchased by health authorities for their local population.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Eastern Arts Council

9. Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the funding available to the Eastern Arts Council. [17984]

Mr. Fisher: Grant-in-aid, distributed through the Arts Council of England to the Eastern Arts Board during the financial year 1997-98 totalled £4,985,614.

Additional funding from the British Film Institute and the Crafts Council gives an overall total of £5,425,060.

Sports Sponsorship

10. Mr. Prior: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received from sports bodies on business sponsorship; and if he will make a statement. [17985]

Mr. Banks: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, my hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health and I recently met governing bodies of sports in receipt of tobacco sponsorship. We discussed how to end tobacco advertising and sponsorship while minimising any damage to the sports concerned. Agreement has now been reached on the EU Directive and as a result, all sports have five years in which to find alternative sponsors. I am also setting up a task force of sports and business interests to help them do just that.

8 Dec 1997 : Column: 465

24. Mr. Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on sources of sponsorship available to United Kingdom sporting events. [18002]

Mr. Banks: The sports sponsorship market has grown to over £300 million a year. We estimate that it increased by 6 per cent. last year alone. It is flourishing. I congratulated 700 delegates at a sportsmatch sponsorship award ceremony some three weeks ago.

Public Libraries (Information Services)

11. Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to develop information services in public libraries. [17986]

Mr. Fisher: New Technology presents public libraries with the opportunity to enhance their traditional services and provide information to users in new and exciting ways. We are currently considering a report from the Library and Information Commission which recommends the development of IT in public libraries. We will be responding to the report's recommendations early in the New Year.

Cricket

12. Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last met the President of the MCC; and what subjects were discussed. [17987]

Mr. Banks: Neither my right hon. Friend I nor have had the opportunity to date to meet the President of the MCC

Film Industry

13. Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary for State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the future of the British film industry. [17988]

Mr. Tom Clarke: The British film industry is booming. However, we cannot be complacent about its continuing success, which is why I am co-chairing with Stewart Till of PolyGram Filmed Entertainment a comprehensive Film Policy Review. The Review Group will report early next year with an agenda for action by the industry and Government.

Tourism

15. Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to encourage financial institutions to invest in tourism projects. [17990]

Mr. Tom Clarke: A Tourism Forum working group led by Charles Allen of Granada is working on ways of helping investors to reassess the industry. In addition, the need to raise the profile for tourism opportunities in the financial sector was highlighted in the report, "Visitors Welcome", produced by the CBI's Tourism Action Group, on which my Department is represented.

16. Mr. Savidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the work opportunities which the tourism industry can provide for the welfare-to-work programme. [17992]

8 Dec 1997 : Column: 466

Mr. Tom Clarke: At the New Deal Conference which I hosted on 24 November, I was greatly encouraged by the very positive response to the New Deal from almost 160 key industry leaders present. Further, a survey recently conducted by the British Hospitality Association suggests that 86 per cent. of the BHA membership is willing to offer placements under the programme.

22. Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to boost the United Kingdom's income from tourism. [18000]

Mr. Tom Clarke: At a meeting of the new revitalised Tourism Forum on 26 November, I announced that I would be developing a strategy for tourism, for publication next summer, which will specifically address the issue of enabling further growth in tourism.

Football

17. Ms Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his Department's assistance for the bid for the soccer World Cup in 2006. [17993]

Mr. Banks: The Government are committed to attracting major sporting events to the UK, and are giving the fullest possible promotional and diplomatic support to the Football Association's bid to host the 2006 World Cup. I have written to hon. Members asking them to back the bid whenever an opportunity arises.

20. Ms Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to encourage families to support their national soccer team at the 1998 World Cup finals. [17997]

Mr. Banks: I hope that next year's World Cup Finals will be enjoyed by all football supporters both at home, and those fortunate enough to travel to France. The Government are offering the French authorities every assistance so that those genuine supporters from this country attending this celebration of world football can have a safe and memorable time.

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