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Electricity Generators
Mr. Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many non-fossil fuel obligation electricity generators projects failed to receive planning permissions between 1 May 1997 and 31 December 1999. [107379]
Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 28 January 2000]: On the best available information, out of 129 determinations, 19 Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) projects have been refused planning permission between 1 May 1997 and 30 November 1999, the latest date to which we have planning information.
Aerospace Equipment Manufacturers
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the advantages and disadvantages of extending launch aid to aerospace equipment manufacturers. [107565]
Mr. Alan Johnson: Launch investment is a risk-sharing Government investment in specific civil aerospace projects in the UK, enabled by the provisions of the Civil Aviation Act 1982. It has been used to support the design and development of airframes (or parts of airframes, such as wings), helicopters and aeroengines. The investment is not a grant and is repayable to the Government at a real rate of return, usually via levies on sales of the product developed. Large aerospace projects typically have high costs, pose a high level of risk, and generate a return only in the long-term. This has created a market deficiency in the availability of development funds for such projects. Launch investment remedies this, and also recognises the international mobility of aerospace projects, and the significant financial incentives that are available in other countries.
Any UK aerospace company can apply for launch investment, and each application is considered on its merits against a range of established criteria and also, by the Treasury, against public expenditure constraints. An applicant must demonstrate that the project is technically and commercially viable; that Government investment is essential for the project to proceed in the UK on the scale and in the timescale specified in the application; and that Government will recoup the investment at a real rate of return. Finally, the Government must be persuaded that support for the project will lead to major strategic advantages to the UK economy.
31 Jan 2000 : Column: 417W
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the cost of the report produced by ADD Consultants on the appraisal of options for the site of the proposed new synchrotron radiation facility. [107396]
Ms Hewitt:
The cost of the report produced by ADD Consultants, Investment Appraisal for Options for the Site of the Proposed New Synchrotron Facility, delivered to Office of Science and Technology in June 1999, was £7,203 including VAT.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the objectives of the Asteroid Task Force are; and when it plans to (a) make its first report and (b) complete its work. [107482]
Ms Hewitt:
The objectives of the Near Earth Objects Task Force are to:
I expect to receive the report of the Task Force this summer.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated annual running cost of the Asteroid Task Force. [107485]
Ms Hewitt:
No on-going annual cost for the Near Earth Objects Task Force is envisaged. We expect to receive the Task Force's report this summer.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the average tonnage of coal delivered to eligible ex-miners for the last full year for which figures are available. [107531]
Mrs. Liddell:
The average tonnage of fuel delivered to all beneficiaries under the terms of the National Concessionary Fuel Agreement and BACM Agreement during the year 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 was four tonnes.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2000, Official Report, column 524W, what is the expected life of electricity cabling. [107111]
Mrs. Liddell:
Electricity cables do not have a single age at which they cease to be functional; instead there is a range of ages. As could be seen in my previous answer, it is not uncommon for cables to be installed and functioning for well in excess of 50 years. From information collected at the time of the last review of distribution companies, the "age" at which cables are replaced ranges from about 45 years to over 100 years.
As with all assets, cables are replaced on condition and not just because they reach a certain age.
31 Jan 2000 : Column: 418W
Mr. Stephen Twigg:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the percentage of (a) registered disabled people, (b) women, (c) people from ethnic minorities and (d) people from (i) independent schools, (ii) grammar schools and (iii) other schools that worked for the Post Office in each of the years (i) 1970, (ii) 1979, (iii) 1989 and (iv) 1999. [107011]
Mr. Alan Johnson
[holding answer 27 January 2000]:
The Post Office have supplied the following data on employees in 1999 derived from information voluntarily supplied on application forms:
1. confirm the nature of the hazard and the potential level of risk;
2. identify the current UK contribution to the international efforts;
3. advise HMG on what further action to take in the light of 1 and 2 and on the communication issues to the public.
| Percentage | |
|---|---|
| Registered disabled | 1.5 |
| Women | 20 |
| Ethnic minorities | 8.6 |
These percentages relate only to Post Office employees and do not include sub-postmasters. Historic data for earlier years is not readily available and details of educational establishments attended are not held.
Arms Sales (Zimbabwe)
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many representatives of arms manufacturers have made representations to (a) him, (b) his advisers and (c) officials about arms sales to Zimbabwe over the last 17 months; and if he will list the individuals and companies concerned, indicating the dates on which representations were made; [106939]
- (2) if he will list the (a) people and (b) organisations representing defence manufacturers who have made representations to his Department about arms sales to Zimbabwe over the last 17 months; and when such representations were made. [106949]
Dr. Howells: No such representations have been made to any Minister or special adviser in this Department, or relevant officials in the Export Credit Guarantees Department, the Export Control Organisation or the Engineering Industries Directorate of my Department, or the relevant export promotion directorate of British Trade International.
Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the sale of spare parts for Hawk jets to Zimbabwe will be covered by a loan from the Export Credits Guarantee Department. [108059]
Ilisu Dam
Mr. Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Environmental Impact Assessment on the Ilisu Hydro-Electric project in Turkey will be (a) completed and (b) published. [107014]
Mr. Caborn:
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is expected to be completed in March/April and made publicly available shortly thereafter.
31 Jan 2000 : Column: 419W
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the compliance of the Ilisu Dam project with guidelines of the World Bank for (a) ECGD and (b) developmental support. [107019]
Mr. Caborn:
We are only considering ECGD support for the Ilisu Dam; as this is not a development project, such support, if agreed, will not be conditional on compliance with World Bank guidelines, although we are looking for international guidelines to be reflected in the approach to the project. The statement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry of 21 December outlined four main concerns, which we require to see addressed before a decision is made on ECGD support. These are:
Mr. Worthington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the compliance of the Ilisu Dam project with the criteria of the UN Convention on the Non-Navigational Uses of Transboundary Waterways. [107020]
Mr. Caborn:
The assessment of such compliance is a matter which will need to be addressed. The statement of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry of 21 December, raised as one of our concerns the issue of assuring the maintenance of downstream flows.
resettlement
water quality
downstream water flow
preservation of the archaeological heritage of Hasankeyf
We have published two reports commissioned to assist with the decision making process and await the outcome of further work including a full Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
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