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Insolvency
Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has commissioned during the current review of company law into the services provided by insolvency practitioners and their cost; when the results of that research will be published; and if he will make a statement. [91783]
Mr. Ian McCartney: A comprehensive review of company law was announced in March 1998 with the aim of a final report in the Spring of 2001. A consultation document on the strategic framework was published earlier this year with the intention to publish a summary of responses in the autumn.
In February this year a separate review, joint with the Treasury, of company rescue mechanisms was announced which will include consideration of the cost of and access to the service of insolvency practitioners. This review is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Miners (Respiratory Diseases)
Mr. Trickett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what guidelines his Department has set for
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the length of time which former miners suffering 80 per cent. emphysema should expect to wait for a spirometer test. [92121]
Mr. Battle:
This is the longest running personal injury action in the UK and the development of an agreed assessment process, which can handle the 77,000 claims received, has inevitably taken some considerable time. However, as soon as agreement in principle on spirometry testing was reached in March we awarded the contract for the programme of spirometry testing throughout Scotland, England and Wales to Healthcall Services Limited. This is principally to help prioritise claims for the full medical assessment process, but will also enable us to extend offers of interim payments to new categories of miners and, in some cases, make full and final offers. Some 3,300 claimants have already been assessed, and we anticipate that the majority of the remaining existing claimants will be completed by the Autumn, with the most elderly being considered first. This should help ensure that those with severe disabilities are invited to be tested at an early stage.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to receive further evidence from the Director General of Fair Trading about the proposed alliance between American Airlines and British Airways. [91219]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 13 July 1999]: My officials have held a number of discussions with officials from the Office of Fair Trading and I have met the Director-General of Fair Trading three times to discuss this case. I am not yet at a stage at which I can reach a final decision.
Mr. Gorrie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people in Scotland have (a) taken cases alleging gender discrimination to an employment tribunal and (b) had their cases upheld in the last 12 months for which figures are available and in the three previous years. [92129]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
The number of people in Scotland who have taken cases alleging gender discrimination to an Employment Tribunal over the period 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999 was 192 of which 11 were upheld. The following table provides the figures for the last three financial years.
| Year | Applications | Upheld |
|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 196 | 20 |
| 1997-98 | 240 | 28 |
| 1998-99 | 196 | 16 |
Electronic Correspondence
Mr. Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will make it his policy to reply to electronic correspondence electronically; and if he will make a statement. [92028]
Mr. Byers:
It is already my policy to respond to electronic correspondence electronically where practicable.
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Dr. Gibson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to introduce restrictions on the use of genetic testing by employers; and if he will make a statement. [92251]
Mr. Byers:
The Government are considering carefully the Human Genetics Advisory Commission's report on "The Implications of Genetic Testing for Employment", which was published on 14 July 1999. We intend to publish our response in due course.
Mr. Matthew Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Minister for Science has completed his examination of the growth of biotechnology clusters announced on 16 April; and if he plans to publish the report of the findings. [92246]
Mr. Battle:
The study led by my noble Friend the Minister for Science on biotechnology clusters has been completed and the report will be published shortly.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 19 July 1999, Official Report, column 374, on statutory instruments, for what reasons the cost of providing the information would be disproportionate. [92478]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 22 July 1999]: It would have exceeded £500.
Mr. Cohen:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will request from the Swiss Government, their consent to place in the Library their environmental impact assessment into the Ilisu Dam project. [92757]
Mr. Wilson:
The Environmental Impact Appraisal Report (EIAR) is being prepared for the company bidding for this project; supplemental reports are being prepared for the Swiss authorities. We have already asked the company and the Swiss authorities whether they are prepared to allow ECGD to release these documents. They have advised that they are not prepared to agree release at the present time. We understand that they intend to release the reports when they have been finalised.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the value of BNFL's operations in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on future market opportunities for BNFL in the United States. [92815]
Mr. Battle:
In 1997, the turnover of Westinghouse's nuclear business--which BNFL acquired for $900 million along with Morrison Knudsen in March this year--was $1.1 billion. BNFL's US subsidiary, BNFL Inc, earned revenue of $67.6 million. BNFL's current US order book is worth a potential $9 billion if all contract options are exercised. BNFL has been set the target of enhancing its financial performance further through material and progressive growth in profits generated from ordinary
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activities. Its success in winning an increasing share of the US clean-up business will help contribute towards this goal.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what method is being used by BNFL to put a value on its United States contracts for the purpose of Government proposals to sell its stake in the company. [92816]
Mr. Battle:
BNFL has been set the target of increasing the overall contribution made by its US business to BNFL profits, and of increasing towards 15 per cent. the proportion of BNFL profits derived from the US business.
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith) of 29 June 1999, Official Report, column 116, on MOX shipments, if he will list the qualifications and career experience of the technical experts advising on the process of separating plutonium from MOX fuel. [92761]
Mr. Battle
[holding answer 23 July 1999]: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Smith), 7 July 1999, Official Report, column 578. The advice in that reply was given by the Head of the Safeguards Office in the Department of Trade and Industry who has a first class honours degree in chemistry. This official worked initially for the Ministry of Defence at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston, dealing with plutonium chemistry, measurement methods and underground nuclear testing. He then moved to the UKAEA's Harwell Laboratory, where he led work on the development of radiometric instrumentation for the non-destructive measurement of nuclear materials. Before moving to the DTI as Head of the Radiation Dosimetry Branch of the National Physical Laboratory, this official was responsible for the UK's long-term research and development programme concerning the management and disposal of radioactive wastes at the then Department of the Environment. The official has been chairman of the IAEA's Standing Advisory Group on Safeguards Implementation since August 1996.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are his Department's currently preferred indices of competitiveness; and what their levels were in May of each year since 1979. [92561]
Mr. Byers:
The Competitiveness White Paper, published on 16 December 1998, announced the Government's intention to develop a set of competitiveness indicators to measure the UK's progress. This work is in hand and will be published in due course.
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