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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for compensation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have been (a) received and (b) settled in each of the last five years. [134437]

Mrs. Liddell: The Department has received a total of 122,952 claims for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, of which 5,161 have been settled in full and final settlement. In total the Department has made payments totalling £78 million, including 22,292 interim settlement payments.

These are broken down as follows:

	Received	Settled full and final	Interim
Pre 1996	870	--	1
1996	5,548	--	4
1997	3,259	--	--
1998	54,145	7	10,519
1999	29,424	799	5,485
2000	29,706	2,509	6,283

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when the claim of William Farrington (deceased) for compensation for respiratory disease will be dealt with by IRISC Claims Management; [134442]

(2) what action he has taken to deal with the claim of Mr. William Farrington (deceased) for compensation for respiratory disease. [134443]

Mrs. Liddell: On 24 February 2000, in line with the prioritisation procedure agreed with the solicitors representing the claimants, IRISC (the Department's claims handling agents) sent Maddocks Clarke, Mrs. Farrington's solicitor, the necessary Claims Questionnaire, Financial/Other Losses Questionnaire and Mandates which authorise access to the late Mr. Farrington's medical records.

Maddocks Clarke returned the completed forms to IRISC on 22 May. Unfortunately there was conflicting information entered on the Claims Questionnaire and the Financial/Other Losses Questionnaire and IRISC contacted Maddocks Clarke to clarify this. Clarification was received on 23 June and the forms were forwarded to Healthcall, provider of the medical assessments.

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Healthcall had anticipated that they would complete the scanning of all the required medical records by the middle of September. However, due to staff sickness and the unavailability of Health Authority staff this was delayed and the remaining records will now be scanned on 21 November.

All the documentation will then be passed to a respiratory consultant who will assess the disability for which the Department is liable. IRISC will write to Mrs. Farrington's solicitor with an offer of compensation within two weeks of receiving the correctly completed medical report form.

Prior to his death Mr. Farrington received an interim payment of £2,000, and subsequently Mrs. Farrington has received her bereavement award.

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average time take by IRISC Claims Management to deal with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claims in the last 12 months. [134438]

Mrs. Liddell: The processing of COPD claims requires the involvement of many bodies--the Department, its contractors, the Compensation Recovery Unit of the Department of Social Security and the claimants' solicitors. Where IRISC, the Department's claims handling agents, are involved there are time scales at various stages of the process, set out in the Handling Agreement signed by the Department and the solicitors representing the claimants.

Some of the main deadlines include agreeing or contending an Employment History within 56 days of receipt of a completed Claims Questionnaire and making an offer on general damages within 28 days of receipt of a medical assessment process--MAP--report. It should be noted that there are not formal time scales for other parties, including solicitors.

For those claimants who have received a full and final settlement since 1 November 1999 IRISC advise that the targets set out in the Handling Agreement have been met in all cases.

Oil Tankers

Mr. Duncan Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what power the Government have to seize oil tankers owned by (a) private contractors and (b) oil companies. [135944]

Mrs. Liddell: The Energy Act 1976 contains powers which would enable Government to direct both private contractors and oil companies to act in specified ways. The Act contains no specific powers to requisition vehicles.

It would be possible, however, to take powers to requisition vehicles in emergency regulations made under section 2 of the Emergency Powers Act 1920.

Director General of Telecommunications

Mr. Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the appointment of the Director General of Telecommunications. [136103]

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Ms Hewitt: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has today re-appointed David Edmonds as Director General of Telecommunications for a further three years from 1 April 2001. Since his appointment on 1 April 1998, Mr. Edmonds has been successful in stimulating a more competitive, forward looking telecoms regulatory regime.

The Government are committed to creating the most dynamic and competitive communications market possible, giving consumers more choice, lowering prices and encouraging greater innovation. Mr. Edmonds is the right person to make and carry through the tough decisions necessary to achieve that goal.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

British Council

Mr. Donald Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future structure and strategy of the British Council. [135592]

Mr. Hain: The British Council has reviewed its operations over the next five years, to ensure that it continues to make maximum impact in a world of rapid change and to exploit new opportunities to reach wider, younger target audiences.

As a result, and with the encouragement of the FCO, the Council will increase its work in countries in transition to full democracy. It will open up in Armenia, and increase resources for Central and Eastern Europe.

In recognition of the important work the Council does overseas, under this year's Spending Review of 2001-02 to 2003-04 the Council will receive an increase in its grant in aid of £24.8 million. In addition to helping to fund the proposed expansion in the Council's overseas network, particularly in Russia and China, it will assist in the development of new knowledge and learning centres, for the benefit mainly of developing countries.

In Western Europe, where infrastructure costs are particularly high, and new forms of Information Technology widely used, the Council will make a significant shift in resources from fixed costs to activities. It will focus its physical presence in capital cities and use some of the savings to fund investment in new, IT-based programmes and services, exploiting the enormous potential of the new media. This will allow the Council to reach wider audiences, particularly young professional people, while maintaining core programmes.

To reflect changed priorities the Council will close country directorates in Belarus, Ecuador, Lesotho and Swaziland (citizens of some of these countries may still be able to participate in British Council programmes in their region). The Council will also close a small number of offices outside capital cities. Where appropriate, it plans to modify library and information services to match changing patterns of local demand.

The reduction in physical presence will allow overall program expenditure to increase. Arts, science, English language teaching and education training will remain core activities. The Council will expand work on governance and human rights; it will aim work in science, the

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environment, health and technology at wider, younger audiences. Generally, it will move to larger cross-sectoral activities that will attract wider audiences and have greater media impact.

In summary, the Council's new strategy is designed to ensure that it remains in tune with the evolving needs of target audiences as we move into a new century.

Conflict Diamonds

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on dealing in illegal diamonds by the RUF in Sierra Leone of his initiatives on conflict diamonds. [135918]

Mr. Hain: As part of HMG's initiative to tackle the problem of conflict diamonds, the UK played the lead role in promoting UN Security Council resolution 1306(2000) which was adopted on 5 July 2000 and imposed a ban on the direct or indirect import of all rough diamonds from Sierra Leone to the territory of UN member states. The resolution provided for an exemption from the ban for diamonds controlled by the Government of Sierra Leone through a Certificate of Origin regime. This exemption came into effect on 6 October when the UN Sanctions Committee Chairman reported to the President of the Security Council that an effective regime was fully in operation.

We anticipate that the new regime will enhance the capacity of the Government and people of Sierra Leone to benefit from their country's diamond wealth, while limiting the rebels' income from the illicit diamond trade.

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Nigeria concerning allegations about senior Nigerians in the UN force dealing in illegal diamonds. [135920]

Mr. Hain: UN Security Council resolution 1306, adopted on 5 July 2000, prohibits the direct or indirect import of all rough diamonds from Sierra Leone to the territory of UN member states, unless accompanied by a Certificate of Origin issued by the Government of Sierra Leone.

It is for the UN Sanctions Committee to investigate any allegations that this prohibition may have been violated.

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