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Biological Materials (Patents)
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his Department's policy in respect of the forthcoming review of TRIPS clauses on the protection of biological resources. [74848]
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Mr. Battle
[holding answer 5 March 1999]: The current exclusions from patentability for biological materials as set out in Article 27.3(b) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement allow all WTO members sufficient flexibility to implement patent regimes appropriate to their individual circumstances, within internationally agreed boundaries. This provision allows national intellectual property regimes to focus clearly on technical contributions whether they be by genetic modification or traditional plant breeding techniques.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his letter of 26 January to the hon. Member for Linlithgow, if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting between the Department of Health, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries to refine and prioritise an agreed action list. [73411]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 9 March 1999]: The meeting has not yet taken place and is currently being arranged. I will let my hon. Friend know the outcome in due course.
Joan Ruddock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the safety of cosmetics containing genetically modified products into which antibiotic resistance gene markers have been inserted when used by people undergoing antibiotic treatment for skin conditions. [76056]
Dr. Howells:
Under the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 1996, cosmetic products must be assessed by their manufacturers for safety to ensure that they are not harmful to human health.
My Department has made no assessment of the safety of cosmetics containing ingredients which may be derived from a genetically modified source, but we will be supporting the moves proposed by the European Commission Scientific Steering Committee to develop harmonised guidelines for Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) risk assessments for cosmetic products.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answers of 1 February 1999, Official Report, columns 505-06, what assessment he made of the compliance of the licences for the export of military vehicles and electronic equipment specially designed and modified for military use to Rwanda with the terms of UN Resolution 1011 (1995). [75811]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 10 March 1999]: Of the five licences detailed in my answer of 1 February 1999, Official Report, columns 505-06, four covered exports to the Rwandan Government, and details of the other licence were set out in the answer given to the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment, my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke), by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 849-50.
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Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answers of 1 February 1999, Official Report, columns 505-06, what steps he took to ensure that the equipment licensed for export to Angola was supplied in accordance with the embargo imposed by UN Resolution 864 (1993). [75810]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 10 March 1999]: I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible and place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answers of 1 February 1999, Official Report, columns 505-06, what steps he took to ensure that the licences for the export of goods to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia did not breach the embargo on the export of arms to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. [75812]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 10 March 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, North (Dr. Gibson) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 21 May 1998, Official Report, column 532.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 1 February 1999, Official Report, columns 505-06, what steps he took to ensure that the licences for the export of goods to Afghanistan did not conflict with the EU Council Common Position 96/746/CFSP imposing an embargo on the export of arms, munitions and military equipment to Afghanistan. [75813]
Dr. Howells:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wirral, South (Mr. Chapman) by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 26 November 1998, Official Report, column 11.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on British Nuclear Fuel's plans to dispose of nuclear waste in Australia. [75941]
Mr. Battle:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, my hon. Friend the Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove (Mr. Stunell) on 30 November 1998, Official Report, column 48.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the stockpile of nuclear waste at Sellafield contains material of high enough quality to make a nuclear weapon; and if he will make a statement. [76015]
Mr. Battle:
The material contained within nuclear waste currently stored at Sellafield is not of suitable quality to make a nuclear weapon.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the risk to the future of London Fashion Week from fashion houses displaying in New York instead. [76158]
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Mr. Battle:
The success of London Fashion Week in February illustrated that the show is now firmly established as a leading fashion event alongside Milan, Paris and New York. Over 44 designers showed collections, over 140 companies participated in the exhibition and many others remain keen to take part.
There are many and varied reasons why designers decide to show in other cities either instead of, or in addition to London. These are often linked to business expansion and a wish to attach specific overseas opportunities. I expect the new design talent to participate in London Fashion Week, maintaining the Show's position as the leading international showcase for innovative, cutting edge fashion design talent.
Mr. Lansley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what contributions he expects to be made to the Government's science policy initiatives by (a) the Wellcome Trust and (b) the Gatsby Foundation. [76072]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 11 March 1999]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton, South (Ms Moran) on 10 March 1999, Official Report, columns 261-62. The Wellcome Trust is contributing some £18 million and the Gatsby Charitable Foundation £2 million towards the University Challenge Fund. Both organisations have contributed to the arrangements for the Challenge and to the assessment of the entries.
In addition, the Wellcome Trust is contributing £300 million towards the Joint Infrastructure Fund and some £110 million towards the cost of a new synchrotron.
Mr. Lansley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list successful clusters of technology-related developments of the kind described in the Competitiveness White Paper. [76075]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 11 March 1999]: The Competitiveness White Paper said that clusters were a strong source of business development for all types of business, not just technology-related ones. It would not be possible to list all the clusters in the UK, but examples include TV and film post-production in Central London, broadcast technology in Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire, chemicals in Teesside, electronics in and around Cambridge, biotechnology clusters also in and around Cambridge and in Oxfordshire, Guildford and Central Scotland.
Mr. Evans:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to encourage non-fossil fuel energy production in the North-West of England. [76357]
Mr. Battle:
The Government have a Manifesto commitment to
As part of that commitment, the Government will be issuing a consultation document shortly on the status and
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prospects for renewable energy in the UK as a whole and inviting views to help the Government frame future policy.
"a new and strong drive to develop renewable sources of energy".
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