---

Textile Industry

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact of imported textiles and clothes on the UK textile industry. [127460]

Mr. Alan Johnson: The increased level of imports of textiles and clothing has presented a significant challenge for domestic producers, which has been met in a variety of ways. Some UK companies have looked at the opportunities for manufacturing overseas to take advantage of lower wage rates; most have looked at their existing operations and worked to increase their competitiveness.

Most encouragingly the industry itself set up the Textiles and Clothing Strategy Group, and its Final report, "A National Strategy for the UK Textile and Clothing Industry" was launched last month. My Department responded rapidly and positively to the report's recommendations and we are considering what further action we can take to help the industry compete internationally in the future.

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much of his recently announced support for the textile industry will go to firms based in (a) the Coventry area and (b) the West Midlands. [127461]

Mr. Alan Johnson: All of the Government's 'announceables' outlined in its 12-point plan are applicable to (a) Coventry and (b) the West Midlands.

The DTI and DfEE are currently liaising to carry through the initiatives announced in the 12-point plan, and how much support a region is allocated very much depends on the 'take-up' from the textile and clothing industry in that locality.

27 Jun 2000 : Column: 464W

Research Council (Luxembourg)

Mr. Casale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Research Council held in Luxembourg on 15 June; and if he will make a statement. [127183]

Mr. Byers: I am pleased to report that the Council of 15 June:

1. Debated the future of the Information and Knowledge Society, underlining the importance of research policy, social inclusiveness and the interconnection of high speed electronic research networks.

2. Adopted a Resolution on establishing an European area of research and innovation.

3. Adopted Presidency Conclusions concerning funding for life science infrastructures.

4. Received information from the Commission on progress on the joint ESA-EU strategy for space, and from the Presidency and Commission on international co-operation.

5. Under Other Business, the Council received information from the Presidency on discussions regarding marine science, and heard an intervention from Germany on the question of authorisation procedures for the release of genetically modified organisms.

The Council also discussed the future of fusion research spending.

Cannabis

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the licensed clinical trials of cannabis are expected to be concluded; and if he will make a statement. [127861]

Ms Hewitt: The Medical Research Council is supporting a clinical trial to look at the efficacy of cannabis extracts in the treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients. The trial was announced in December 1999 and is being run by Dr. John Zajicek (Derriford Hospital, Plymouth) and the MRC Clinical Trials Unit.

The trial is making good progress; local ethical committee approval has been obtained in principle and an application has been made to the Medicines Control Agency for the appropriate licence. The cannabinoids will be given exclusively in capsule form. Recruitment of patients is planned to start later in the summer. The results will be available in about 2.5 years, after formal scientific assessment of the results has taken place.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Youth Offending Teams

Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of youth offending teams; and if he will make a statement. [126367]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Youth offending teams have been in place across England and Wales since 1 April 2000. They are now operating a range of new interventions for young offenders with support from the Youth Justice Board. The Board will be monitoring their impact and will identify and disseminate good practice.

27 Jun 2000 : Column: 465W

Youth offending teams and the new police and court powers were previously piloted for 18 months and in 10 areas. The interim reports of the evaluation led by Sheffield University are in the Library. They show the practical value of the teams' multi-agency approach. The final evaluation report will be published during the summer.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received concerning the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill; and which organisations have expressed concern about the Bill's provisions. [127459]

Mr. Straw: I have received a number of representations on the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill including from:

The Confederation of British Industry/Alliance for Electronic Business;

Institute of Directors;

British Chambers of Commerce;

London Investment Bankers Association;

British Bankers Association;

Internetforum;

Internet Service Providers Association/London Internet Exchange; and

Vodafone.

The content of representations was described in the reply I gave the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 20 June 2000, Official Report, columns 147-48W.

Family Reunification

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards current EU discussions on (a) rights to family reunification and (b) temporary protection of displaced people. [127195]

Mrs. Roche: The Government have decided not to opt into the European Commission's proposal for a Directive on the right to family reunification. Our decision was based on concern that opting into the proposal would remove the United Kingdom's ability to formulate and adjust policies in relation to family reunification as a matter of domestic law.

However, in remaining outside this proposal, it is not the Government's intention that the United Kingdom should be seriously out of line with our European partners in this important area of immigration policy. For that reason we shall continue to participate fully in discussion of the text.

As to the Commission's recent proposals on temporary protection for displaced persons, negotiations over this text have not yet begun. The Government will participate actively in those discussions.

Cyclists (Fixed Penalties)

Mr. Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cyclists have been issued with fixed penalty notices for (a) pavement cycling and

27 Jun 2000 : Column: 466W

(b) other offences in each police area since August 1999; and if he will make a statement on the impact fixed penalty notices have had. [126314]

Mr. Charles Clarke: I refer to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 26 June 2000, Official Report, columns 383-86W.

Correspondence

Mrs. Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of 21 March and subsequent correspondence from the hon. Member for Broxbourne, concerning her constituents Ms K. Vertigans and Ms L. Coe. [127809]

Mrs. Roche: I wrote to the hon. Member on 26 June in response to her letters on behalf of her constituents, Ms K. Vertigans and Ms L. Coe. I am very sorry that I was unable to do so sooner, and would like, through the hon. Member, to extend my apology to her constituents for the delay.

Onus of Proof

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is on EU draft instruments which seek to alter the onus of proof in court cases. [127483]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government's policy on European Community draft instruments is developed on the merits of each proposal.

If the question is referring to the recent agreement of the European Community Directive on racial discrimination--which includes a provision requiring the respondent, once a prima facie case of discrimination has been made by the complainant and accepted by the court, to demonstrate that there has been no breach of the principle of equal treatment--the Government welcome the agreement of this Directive.

This applies only to civil cases and does not represent a major change in terms of United Kingdom legal practice. Under current United Kingdom law, United Kingdom tribunals can and do, if faced with facts which raise a presumption of discrimination, and where no reasonable explanation is offered, draw an inference that discrimination has occurred.

Interactive Voice Response Systems

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many agencies of his Department use interactive voice response systems when dealing with telephone inquiries from the general public. [127552]

Mr. Straw: An interactive voice response (IVR) system automatically answers telephone calls with a recorded voice which asks the caller to use the telephone keypad to select the required service. There are four executive agencies in my Department. The UK Passport Agency uses an IVR system for inquiries from the public. About 40 per cent. of calls are effectively dealt with by playing recorded information. The others are answered by operators in a call centre, who are able to handle most calls directly and to connect the rest to staff in regional offices. The available information shows that IVR systems are not used in Her

27 Jun 2000 : Column: 467W

Majesty's Prison Service, the Forensic Science Service or the Fire Service College. No central records of IVR systems are kept.

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many departmental telephone lines used by the general public are responded to by interactive voice response systems. [127405]

Mr. Straw: An interactive voice response (IVR) system automatically answers telephone calls with a recorded voice which asks the caller to use the telephone keypad to select the required service. IVR systems are used by the Immigration Service at London (Heathrow) Airport Terminal 3, and at the Port of Dover. The Nationality Directorate and National Asylum Support Services also use IVR. The available information shows that no other IVR systems are used in my Department. No central records of IVR systems are kept.

---