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Military Equipment Exports

Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the countries to which the UK has allowed the export of military equipment in the last 12 months. [137382]

Dr. Howells: The most recent information is set out in the Government's 1999 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls which was published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Report lists by country of destination the numbers of export licences issued and refused in each equipment category and gives details of the military equipment for which licences have been granted.

ADSL Services

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what actions he intends to take to ensure that suppliers of ADSL services do not dilute contention ratios beyond those quoted in their sales literature; and if he will make a statement. [138329]

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Ms Hewitt [holding answer 14 November 2000]: ADSL service suppliers are expected to specify a number of quality/performance parameters as part of their sales literature. It is likely that the suppliers will specify contention ratio as one of the quality parameters within a service contract and they will be commercially obligated to fulfil their contractual requirements concerning quality of service. Competition in supply of ADSL services will enable customers to select their preferred ADSL supplier based on quality and price. It is therefore for market forces to determine which services consumers are likely to demand and what price consumers are willing to pay for such services based on service quality information.

Milk Marque

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on legal proceedings against his Department in respect of its division of Milk Marque into three separate processing companies. [137974]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 10 November 2000]: Milk Marque and the National Farmers Union started judicial review proceedings last year. Their main argument is that it was unlawful for the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to carry out an investigation under domestic competition law and for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to act on their report. The High Court has referred certain questions to the European Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling. When the ECJ has given its views the proceedings in the High court can continue. This legal process is unlikely to be quick.

TrustUK

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much financial support was given to TrustUK in (a) 1999-2000 and (b) 2000 to date. [137842]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 10 November 2000]: The Government have not provided any funding to TrustUK, which is an organisation led by the private sector. The Government do however strongly support TrustUK; the Minister for Small Business and E-commerce took part in its launch in July. Officials of the Department of Trade and Industry and the Office of Fair Trading have contributed to the development of TrustUK and have taken part in its process of approving codes of practice for e-commerce. The Department of Trade and Industry has hosted meetings of TrustUK and is considering what further assistance it can give.

Newspapers and Magazines

Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer to the Competition Commission the impact on retail newsagents of W.H. Smith's proposal to extend their newspaper and magazine wholesale operation. [138291]

Dr. Howells: Under UK competition legislation, it is for the Director General of Fair Trading to investigate allegations of anti-competitive behaviour and if appropriate make a reference to the Competition Commission under the Fair Trading Act 1973 or take action under the Competition Act 1998.

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The Director General is aware of proposals by W.H. Smith to change distribution arrangements for magazines. He is monitoring developments and will consider any evidence of anti-competitive behaviour.

Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will discuss with the Competition Commission the operation of its proposed code of practice in respect of the relationship between supermarkets and suppliers with regard to newspapers and magazines. [138290]

Dr. Howells: The Competition Commission has no role in implementing any remedies it recommends.

The Director General of Fair Trading has been asked to approach those supermarket chains with 8 per cent. or more of the market to agree a Code of Practice concerning relations between supermarkets and suppliers which would meet the concerns identified by the Competition Commission. This process is ongoing.

Nickel Directive

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further discussions he plans to have with, and representations he plans to make to, the European Commission regarding the Nickel Directive. [138072]

Dr. Howells: The Directive has been implemented by The Dangerous Substances and Preparations (Nickel) (Safety) Regulations 2000.

On 2 May 2000, my officials wrote to the European Commission supporting another member state in its request for a review of the Directive. The Commission replied on 8 June 2000, confirming its intention to review the Directive in the light of technical progress since the Directive's adoption in 1994. Reports are currently being gathered and the findings may be referred to the Scientific Committee on Toxicology, Ecotoxicology and the Environment for an independent assessment. On that basis, the Commission expects to examine an adaptation to the Directive in 2001.

I have also instructed my officials to liaise with Industry now on these issues. This will enable the UK to make cogent and reasoned representations to the Commission and to obtain the optimum solution for Industry and the Consumer.

Climate Change

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what strategic measures he is taking to allow for environmental changes induced by climate change. [137181]

Ms Hewitt: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment gave on 13 November 2000, Official Report, columns 469-70W.

Regional Venture Capital Funds

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the proposed regional venture capital funds will be cleared by the European Commission. [138447]

Mr. Byers: As soon as possible.

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Ministerial Cars

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was in each of the past three years of petrol for his Department's fleet of ministerial cars; and how many vehicles there are in that fleet. [135028]

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was in each of the past three years for petrol for his Department's ministerial cars; and how many cars there are in that fleet. [134579]

Dr. Howells: Six cars are used by Ministers in my Department. On fuel consumption, I refer the hon. Members to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office on 14 November 2000, Official Report, column 552W, for the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Non-departmental Public Bodies (Scotland)

Mr. Alasdair Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the non-departmental public bodies responsible to him which have duties relating to Scotland, indicating their budget and staffing in Scotland, the number of Scottish board members and their emoluments. [137696]

Dr. Howells: The following non-departmental public bodies, sponsored by my Department, have a remit which covers Great Britain or the United Kingdom.



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1 The National Consumer Council has a sub-committee dealing with Scottish issues--The Scottish Consumer Council
2 There is a separate Post Office Users' Council for Scotland
3 The SBITF's remit covers England but advice is made available to the devolved Administrations.

The remaining information is not held centrally in the form requested, but general information on expenditure, staffing, board members and levels of remuneration is published annually in the Cabinet Office publication, "Public Bodies". Copies of "Public Bodies 1999" have been placed in the Libraries of the House and "Public Bodies 2000" is due to be published next month. Information on board membership and remuneration can also be downloaded from the Cabinet Office Public Appointments Directory website www.cabinet-office.gov.uk

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