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Vibration White Finger
Mr. Denis Murphy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total number of claims settled for the industrial disease, vibration white finger, before the new scheme was agreed, indicating the (a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average award. [69841]
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Mr. Battle:
As at 4 February the Department has settled 3,572 claims for vibration white finger. Of these 1,968 have been settled by payment, and the remaining 1,604 have been ruled out. The individual settlement payments have ranged from £3,000 to £200, with an average of £1,900. The total cost of settlements to date is £3,646,349. In addition to this the Department has paid £1,033,979 in costs to plaintiffs' solicitors.
Since November last year Plaintiffs' solicitors have been advised that higher settlement levels were likely to be agreed with the Plaintiffs' Solicitors Group, who represent 60 per cent. of the plaintiffs, and they were asked to advise their clients accordingly.
Following the agreement reached with the plaintiffs' solicitors on 22 January the average award is likely to be in the region of £6,000 for General Damages (within a range of £500 to £18,000). Additional compensation for special damages will be decided on a case by case basis.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish his Department's collation and assessment of responses to all the Government's public consultations. [69769]
Mr. Byers:
I will arrange for a summary of responses to all public consultation exercises carried out by the Department since 1 May 1997 to be placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Levitt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to the (a) European Commission and (b) European Parliament concerning the proposed EC copyright directive. [70113]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 9 February 1999]: The United Kingdom has made clear to all concerned our support for the main aims of the draft copyright Directive. However, we have expressed strong reservations on the over-prescriptive approach on exceptions to rights, many of which exceptions have little or no effect on the internal market. In particular, we remain firmly opposed to a general requirement to impose levies in return for all private copying exceptions, no matter how minor. The Government wish to maintain a fair and reasonable balance between the interests of rights holders and those of users of rights and intermediaries, including network operators and service providers. We have also called for clarification of the provision on technological protection measures, while supporting its general aim, and have welcomed the fact that liability of intermediaries is being considered as a horizontal issue in the draft electronic commerce Directive.
Mr. Levitt:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to ensure that the traditional interests of copyright holders are protected in the context of the electronic media under the proposed EC copyright directive. [70114]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 9 February 1999]: The Government are firmly committed to ensuring that copyright protection across the EU is at least as good as that already in UK law; strong intellectual property rights are fundamental to an innovative economy. Digital
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technology allows data to be more easily disseminated and used or copied, and effective copyright protection for the electronic age is essential. Without the confidence that rights are properly protected worldwide, there would be no incentive for suppliers of information to make works available on-line and therefore no global information society. The Government believe the copyright Directive should prove to be of considerable benefit to UK rights holders in the context of Europe as whole, and we have broadly welcomed it. However, we will also continue to press for more flexibility for member states in the exceptions provisions of the Directive. Rights holders, users of rights and intermediaries are all key players in ensuring the success of the new services of the information age.
Dr. George Turner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what systems are in place for measuring the effectiveness and impact of the major Government chargeable export services. [70941]
Mr. Wilson:
We have received results of independent surveys conducted among a sample of over 1000 businesses who used Overseas Trade Services in 1997. I am delighted that the results show an average overall satisfaction rate of 88 per cent. compared to an average of 83 per cent. in 1995 and 1996. Furthermore, the positive trend was the same for virtually every individual scheme.
Last year we reviewed the way in which DTI and FCO monitors and evaluates customer satisfaction and perceptions of the major export promotion services we deliver. As a result, the Quality Management System (QMS) was significantly revised so as to enable us to obtain more detailed information about customer satisfaction levels on a world-wide basis.
The Quality Management System will be further enhanced in 1999 to take into account comments of the business representatives of the British Overseas Trade Board's Regional Committee, and the tendering process for a new contractor to start work in April is currently underway. The contractor will carry out work to capture data relevant to the new joint FCO/DTI export promotion objectives.
10. Miss Melanie Johnson:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to support the parents of young people who abuse drugs. [68653]
Mr. Kilfoyle:
The Government's anti-drugs strategy includes the provision of information, advice and support to parents. Support is provided day to day through the National Drugs Helpline. Locally, Drug Action Teams were asked to consult and to consider the needs of parents and carers when drawing up plans for local action.
12. Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how he intends to improve co-ordination of anti-drug measures at local level. [68655]
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Mr. Kilfoyle:
Drug Action Teams should take a strategic overview of anti-drugs action including resource allocation and link up with other local and regional partnerships. They have now submitted their provisional local action plans for 1999-2000. These are being assessed.
13. Mr. John Smith:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the incidence of drug misuse among people under the age of 25 years. [68656]
25. Shona McIsaac:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the incidence of drug misuse among people under the age of 25 years. [68669]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
Drugs misuse is most common among people in their teens and early twenties. About half of young people are likely to take drugs at some time in their lives, but only about one-fifth will become regular misusers, with a smaller minority developing the most serious problems.
26. Mrs. Ann Winterton:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what initiatives have been taken by the United Kingdom's anti-drugs co-ordinator to combat new trends in drugs misuse. [68670]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
The Government's anti-drug strategy, "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain", provides a framework for co-ordinated action against the range of drugs problems over ten years. Action is overseen and monitored by Keith Hellawell, to whom the local Drug Action Teams across the country have recently reported with their action plans for 1999/2000. His first annual report and national plan will be produced in the spring.
11. Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many policy areas he has identified to date as suitable for detailed discussions with Liberal Democrat hon. Members using the Joint Consultative Cabinet Committee mechanisms. [68654]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
The review of the work of the Joint Consultative Committee, which I am undertaking with the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) is not yet complete.
14. Mr. Flight:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the cost of ministerial travel for each Minister in his Department since 1 May 1997. [68657]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
The Ministerial Code requires Ministers always to make effective and cost-efficient travel arrangements. Figures on the spend by this Government on Ministers' visits overseas were published by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister today.
19. Mrs. Gorman:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on guidelines within his Department for ministerial travel. [68663]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
The Ministerial Code requires Ministers always to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.
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24. Mr. Gray:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what plans he has to review ministerial travel regulations. [68668]
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
None. Ministers are required under the terms of the Ministerial Code always to make efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. The rules on ministerial travel are the same as those that applied under the previous Administration.
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