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Widows' Benefit

Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many widowers have applied for compensation following the recent European Court of Human Rights ruling on Widows' Benefit. [127325]

Angela Eagle: We are aware of 13 such applications including the two cases on which the European Court of Human Rights have published judgments. These two cases have been struck out following acceptance of the Government's offer by way of friendly settlement.

Recycled Waste

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 19 June 2000, Official Report, column 87W, on recycled waste, what plans he has to increase the percentage of paper waste recycled; and what percentage of non-paper waste produced by his Department is (a) re-used and (b) recycled. [127687]

Mr. Bayley: The Department in conjunction with its estates partners is working towards recycling all recyclable paper. Information on non-paper waste is not available but waste baselines are being developed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Administrative Services Vote

Mrs. Roe: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make a statement on the proposal to set up an Audit Committee for the Administrative Services Vote. [127789]

Mr. Kirkwood: Among the conclusions of the Braithwaite Review of Management Services which reported to the Commission in June 1999 was a recommendation (paragraphs 15.69 to 15.75 of the Braithwaite Report) that the House should establish an Audit Committee with the aim of improving the process of internal audit and review, and providing support to the Clerk of the House in his responsibilities as Accounting Officer.

26 Jun 2000 : Column: 350W

As part of their continuing consideration of Braithwaite recommendations, on 15 May 2000 the House of Commons Commission formally constituted the Audit Committee, with the following terms of reference:

to have general oversight of the work of internal audit and review, with particular emphasis on promoting economy, efficiency and effectiveness, on value-for-money studies, and on risk assessment and control assurance;


to receive and consider reports from the Internal Review Service, together with management letters and other external audit material;


to advise the Accounting Officer in the exercise of his responsibilities;

to consider and recommend to the Accounting Officer the internal review programme;


to encourage best financial practice, use of resources and governance in the House administration; and


to report annually, the report to be published with the Commission's Annual Report.

The Commission also appointed members of the Committee, along the lines recommended in the Braithwaite Report, as follows:

Two Members of the Commission:

The right hon. Member for North-West Hampshire (Sir G. Young) (Chairman)

The hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood)

The Clerk of the House:

Mr. William McKay, CB

The Director of Finance and Administration:

Mr. Andrew Walker

A member from outside the House:

Sir Thomas Legg, KCB, QC, formerly Permanent Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department.

The Committee held its first meeting on 20 June. Its annual Report will be published with the Annual Report of the House of Commons Commission.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Police Service

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what contacts he has had with the Quebec authorities on instances of a police service changing its name for operational purposes, but retaining its previous name in the description of the police service. [127662]

Mr. Ingram: None. Neither the Secretary of State nor I have had any contact with the Quebec authorities regarding police name changes. But I have made inquiries through the British High Commission in Ottawa as a result of the contribution made by the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) during the Opposition Day debate on 6 April. A copy of my resulting letter of 9 May to the right hon. and learned Gentleman was placed in the Library of the House.

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TRADE AND INDUSTRY

New Technologies

Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if it is his policy that the legal framework of internet transmission and caching services for new technologies, with particular reference to Wireless Application Protocol and web TV, will be protected in the UK legislation incorporating the EU Electronic Commerce Directive by ensuring that, in addition to the limitations specified in Articles 12 to 15, the intermediary only becomes liable for illegal material selected or modified during the transmission process when the said transmission alters the integrity of the material in question, in line with recital 43 of the Directive. [125365]

Ms Hewitt: National legislation implementing the E-Commerce Directive will ensure that the liability of intermediaries is limited in accordance with Articles 12 to 15 of the Directive, and takes account of the Recitals of the Directive. The Government intend to consult widely on the options for implementing the directive later in 2000.

Mobile Phone Transmitter Masts

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many mobile phone transmitter masts there are in the UK; how many carry equipment from more than one mobile phone company; and how many are used exclusively by one company. [126411]

Ms Hewitt: This information is not held centrally. I shall write once the necessary information has been obtained.

Cryptography

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many times (a) ministers and (b) officials in his Department have held meetings with the United States Special Envoy for Cryptography since 20 October 1999 on (i) encryption and (ii) other issues; what were the dates and locations of each of these meetings; and what other (1) British and (2) United States Government departments took part in each meeting. [127130]

Ms Hewitt: Since October 1999 neither Ministers nor officials have met the United States Special Envoy for Cryptography on encryption or other issues.

Corruption and Bribery

Mr. Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what formal procedures the ECGD has for screening for evidence of corruption when underwriting contracts. [127081]

Mr. Caborn [holding answer 20 June 2000]: ECGD requires applicants for cover to provide details of the amount of commission payable under their contracts including to whom the repayment arrangements are made. Cases are investigated where the level of commission appears excessive for the particular contract or the payment procedures appear unusual. Cover can be refused where the exporter cannot provide proper justification for the levels of commission involved.

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Nuclear Safety (Transfrontier Co-operation)

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what actions he has taken in respect of recommendation 71 (1999) on model agreements on transfrontier co-operation in the field of nuclear safety, agreed by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Europe in November 1999. [127571]

Mrs. Liddell: The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe considered Recommendation 71 (1999), "Model Agreements on Transfrontier Co-operation in the Field of Nuclear Safety", at its meeting on 3 May. It concluded that nuclear power-related issues did not fall within the competence of the Council of Europe and that Model Agreements in this field should therefore not be appended to the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities.

Energy Policy

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will publish a draft of the Renewables Obligation statutory instrument. [127478]

Mrs. Liddell: The Government plan to publish the details of a proposed Order in the autumn, as a basis for consultation.

Internet Access

Miss Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the measures the Telecommunications Regulator has taken to reduce the cost of internet access. [127630]

Ms Hewitt: The Government believe that the best way to ensure sustainable lower costs for internet access is through promoting competition. Through measures such as the introduction of an effective Calls & Access product and Carrier Pre-Selection Oftel is promoting competition to drive down general call charges. For narrow band internet access Oftel has promoted greater flexibility in internet tariffing through the introduction of the Number Translation Service (NTS) formula that allowed the call origination charged to be shared with other operators who also carry the call. Oftel has recently made a determination that requires BT to provide a flat rate internet interconnection product to competing operators. Oftel has negotiated a range of schemes offering reduced price internet access for schools.

For broadband access, Oftel is requiring BT to open up its local loop to other operators so that they can compete in the provision of broadband access. Also, once BT has installed ADSL on local lines, it will be required to give other operators access to its upgraded system on non- discriminatory terms. A recent study produced for Oftel showed that of the five large markets studied the UK had on average the lowest prices for residential access at both peak and off-peak times.

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