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Synchrotron
Mr. Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which physical scientists were consulted and on what dates as part of the decision-making process for the relocation of the synchrotron. [116672]
Mr. Byers: A user consultation for the physical scientists was held on 22-23 January 1999 and on 14 December 1999 that addressed issues relating to the synchrotron location.
Telewest Communications
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will invite the Office of Fair Trading to investigate Microsoft's proposed purchase of a stake in Telewest Communications. [116658]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 28 March 2000]: The size and European dimension of this case mean that it has fallen to the consideration of the EC competition authorities under the EC Merger Regulation (ECMR).
I understand that the European Commission announced on 22 March that it was opening a full investigation into this case and it now has four months within which to come to a final decision. Member states have a formal role in this process.
Zimbabwe
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what military materials have been given approval for delivery to Zimbabwe in (a) 1999 and (b) 2000. [116263]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 27 March 2000]: The entry in the relevant legislation under which the export of goods is controlled is known as their rating. The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been
29 Mar 2000 : Column: 195W
interrogated. Between 1 January 1999 and 17 March 2000, 18 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and six Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued covering the export to consignees or end-users in Zimbabwe of goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, commonly known as the Military List. Individual licences may cover a range of goods with various ratings (and OIELs may also cover a range of countries). Where this is so, the licence is included in the table in the total for all of the relevant ratings.
| No. of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating | No. of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 1999 | 2000 | 1999 | 2000 |
| ML1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| ML2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ML3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ML4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ML5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ML6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| ML7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ML8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ML9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ML10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| ML11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| PL 5002 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| PL 5018 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
This information does not cover any Media OIELs that may have been issued during this period. Media OIELs authorise the export to all destinations of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists, when working in areas of conflict.
Information on export licensing decisions in 1999, including details of the military equipment licensed, will be set out in the 1999 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls, which will be published in due course. Similar details of the military equipment licensed in later years will be set out in the relevant Annual Reports.
This information should be considered in light of the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Berry) on 27 July 1999, Official Report, columns 307-08W.
In addition, Zimbabwe is a permitted destination on certain Open General Export Licences, covering the export of goods on the Military List; copies of all Open General Export Licences valid at any time during the period are in the Library of the House.
Mr. Duncan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what (a) committees and (b) working groups his Department has set up to consider the revision of the Rome Convention; and if he will list the members and meetings scheduled; [116060]
29 Mar 2000 : Column: 196W
(3) if he will list the meetings his Department has held with outside bodies on the revision of the Rome Convention; what conclusions were reached; and if he will deposit these in the Library. [116065]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 24 March 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on 24 March 2000, Official Report, column 691W.
Mr. Duncan:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions have taken place with the Lord Chancellor's Department on the implications of the revision of the Rome Convention for electronic commerce; and if he will make a statement. [116063]
Dr. Howells
[holding answer 24 March 2000]: The Department and the Lord Chancellor's Department have had a number of general discussions about the Rome Convention and electronic commerce. Recently these have concentrated on the timing of the review of the Convention. When the plans for the review are known the Departments will work closely together on the policy issues affecting electronic commerce, in consultation with business and other organisations.
Miss Kirkbride:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representation will be given to Bromsgrove District Authority on the West Midlands Task Force. [116280]
Mr. Alan Johnson:
The Chair of the Longbridge Task Force has invited David Bryant, Chief Executive of Bromsgrove District Council to join the Development SubGroup of the Task Force.
The Task Force will take the work of the SubGroup into account when producing its comprehensive report and supporting recommendations to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports he has received concerning BMW's plans for the location of the production of the new medium saloon. [116215]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 24 March 2000]: BMW are still considering where to locate production of their new medium saloon.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of people employed in BMW dealerships and spares operations in the UK. [116221]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 24 March 2000]: Approximately 5,550 people are employed in BMW dealerships in the UK and about 1,000 more are employed in BMW's parts operations.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of people employed in Rover dealerships in the UK. [116220]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 24 March 2000]: Almost 12,000 people are employed in Rover's 300 franchised dealerships in the UK.
29 Mar 2000 : Column: 197W
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has made to BMW about the sale of the new Mini through Rover dealerships. [116214]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 24 March 2000]: Discussions with representatives of BMW continue. They include the situation faced by Rover dealerships.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial aid packages will be made available and on what timescale to assist workers who lose their jobs following the sale of Rover. [116217]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 24 March 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden) on 28 March 2000, Official Report, columns 109-10W.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that will be lost at Longbridge in the next 12 months. [116219]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 24 March 2000]: Neither BMW nor Alchemy Partners have given an estimate of the number of jobs which might be lost.
Mrs. Fyfe:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what criteria are applied for selecting members for Independent Tribunal Service panels. [116302]
Mr. Lock:
Job descriptions and statements of eligibility and criteria are available for applicants for each office advertised. Copies of the eligibility and criteria for appointment guidance for posts within the Appeals Service have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mrs. Fyfe:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what reasons have been given to former members of the Independent Tribunal Service panels in the past year as to why their services were no longer required. [116301]
Mr. Lock:
All former panel members who satisfied the age and appropriate qualifications criteria were offered interviews. Those who accepted and were unsuccessful at interview were given only this information, but were provided with the panel's reasons for rejection on request.
Mrs. Fyfe:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, what is the process for selecting members of the panels for the Independent Tribunal Service. [116303]
Mr. Lock:
Vacancies are advertised in the national press and professional journals. Appointment is on the basis of interview and of consultation with the relevant professional community. The Lord Chancellor appoints the candidates who best demonstrate that they meet the appropriate criteria.
Mrs. Fyfe:
To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many persons with a trade union background were appointed or re-appointed as members of the panel for hearing appeals by the
29 Mar 2000 : Column: 198W
Independent Tribunal Service for (a) Glasgow and (b) Scotland in 1999; and how many in each category held a position on such panel immediately before panel members were informed that they had to re-apply for their positions. [116555]
Mr. Lock:
There is not, nor ever has been, a formal requirement that any panel members have a trade union background and this information is not accordingly collected. It is not therefore possible to provide a breakdown by category. An independent review of all relevant appointments could be conducted only at disproportionate cost.
(2) what consultation (a) he has undertaken and (b) is planned by his Department on the revision of the Rome Convention; [116062]
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