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Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what payments (a) BNFL and (b) UKAEA make to the Government to meet the costs of applying safeguards to the companies' nuclear facilities and operations; and what was the total cost of the application of nuclear safeguards in the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available. [62493]
Mrs. Roche: Nuclear safeguards in the United Kingdom are applied by Euratom and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The activities of the two organisations are funded through the contributions of their member states. Costs to UK nuclear operators do arise however from the requirements placed upon them to maintain nuclear materials accountancy systems and receive safeguards inspections. Neither Euratom nor the IAEA break down the costs of applying safeguards in individual countries. Figures which are available to us show that, in 1996, some 30 per cent. of Euratom and 4 per cent. of IAEA days of safeguards inspection effort were devoted to the UK. However, safeguards inspection days provide only a partial indication of total safeguards costs.
Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the specifications of the wastes to be returned to Germany under the agreement between the German and United Kingdom Governments on the treatment of irradiated German origin spent nuclear fuel by BNFL, dated 21 March 1991, Cm 1639 were agreed to be satisfactory; and if he will place in the Library copies of subsequent exchanges of notes on the repatriation arrangements for radioactive wastes arising from reprocessed German fuel. [62492]
Mr. Battle:
Since 1976, all BNFL's contracts for the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel for overseas customers have been underpinned by inter-governmental exchanges of letters covering such issues as the return of wastes and the assurances over the application of international safeguards. The arrangements for the return of the wastes are a commercial matter between BNFL and its overseas customers, subject to meeting the appropriate regulatory requirements.
7 Dec 1998 : Column: 70
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received regarding the late payment of EU TACIS fund invoices submitted by British companies. [62069]
Mrs. Roche
[holding answer 3 December 1998]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not received any representations regarding the late payment of EU Tacis fund invoices submitted by British companies. This subject was discussed during a meeting between my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade and representatives from the British Consultants Bureau on 1 October. The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, East and Washington, West (Ms Quin), also raised the issue with the Commission in Brussels on 16 November, following up earlier action by senior officials at the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Mr. Pearson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to issue guarantees under the Loan Guarantee Scheme in euros for loans made in euros; and if he will make a statement. [62253]
Mrs. Roche:
At present the Department has no plans to issue guarantees under the Loan Guarantee Scheme in euro for loans made in euro.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make an announcement on the future of regional selective assistance. [62393]
Mrs. Roche:
The Government's approach to regional policy, including Regional Selective Assistance (RSA), will be set out in the forthcoming Competitiveness White Paper.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Minister flew in February from Liverpool to London; how that Minister travelled to Liverpool; what was the purpose of the visit; if he will list the engagements which the Minister undertook; who accompanied the Minister; and what was the cost of the flight to his Department. [60905]
Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 27 November 1998]: My hon. Friend the Minister of State flew from Liverpool to London in February this year.
The Minister travelled to Halewood, Liverpool from his home town of Wigan by Government Car Service. The purpose of the visit was to attend the announcement of the Jaguar X400 to Halewood through provision of £43 million of aid support, both safeguarding and bringing new jobs to Halewood.
The Minister's engagements were to meet Halewood's Production Director, trade union representatives and the media.
The Minister was accompanied by his Assistant Private Secretary.
7 Dec 1998 : Column: 71
A private aircraft was chartered due to the Minister's necessity to return to London for an urgent meeting. Normal scheduled flights from Manchester airport, and travel to the airport, would not have given enough time for the Minister to return to London to attend this meeting. The cost of the flight to the department was £1,368.87.
Scheduled flights were planned to be used had it not been for the urgency of the Minister's return.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the annual United Kingdom production of animal growth promoters in each of the past 10 years; and what percentage was exported. [61817]
Mr. Rooker:
I have been asked to reply.
Annual data on the United Kingdom production and export of growth promoters are not currently compiled. Figures from the trade organisation, the National Office of Animal Health Limited, indicate that throughout the EU growth promoters account for about 15 per cent. of all (human and veterinary) antimicrobials. However, the EU Commission has recently asked member states to collect detailed information on the production and export of antimicrobial growth promoters (and coccidiostats) on an annual basis. It is intended that collection of this information will start on 1 July 1999.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received about financial irregularities at Lifecare NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement. [62780]
Mr. Milburn:
The police are investigating a number of financial irregularities at Lifecare National Health Service Trust. The chairman has resigned and the chief executive and finance director have taken special leave during the continuing police investigation.
South Thames Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive has asked the chairman of Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust to look urgently into the corporate governance and management arrangements within Lifecare NHS Trust.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the rights of grandparents to have access to grandchildren below 18 years of age who are in foster care. [62861]
Mr. Hutton:
We have no plans to review the rights of grandparents to have access to grandchildren below 18 years of age who are in foster care. Current Children Act 1989 regulations and guidance already provide an adequate framework for contact between grandparents and their grandchildren in foster care.
7 Dec 1998 : Column: 72
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what extra funds have been, or are planned to be, made available to Barnet Health Authority since 1 May 1997; for what purposes those funds have been earmarked; and if he will make a statement. [62593]
Mr. Milburn:
My hon. Friend tabled a similar question on 17 November. I have today replied by letter to both questions.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on reducing hospital waiting lists by Barnet Health Authority; and if he will make a statement. [62594]
Mr. Milburn:
Barnet Health Authority is on course to meet its waiting list target of 5,846 by March 1999. The health authority's waiting list fell by 371, or 5.1 per cent., during October 1998, the largest reduction in the North Thames region. At the end of the month the waiting list stood at 6,865, an improvement on the level expected at this stage in the year. The health authority is continuing to work closely with local trusts to ensure that this encouraging progress is maintained.
Sir Norman Fowler:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will inquire into the considerations which have led hospitals in the West Midlands to be unable to take patients carried by the Staffordshire Ambulance Service; and if he will make a statement. [62539]
Mr. Milburn:
Comprehensive arrangements exist for managing escalations in demand for accident and emergency services in Birmingham and Solihull, and the Black Country is working towards such an arrangement. Acute hospitals work together to ensure that sufficient accident and emergency capacity is available to meet the needs of the community at all times.
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