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Miners Pension Rights

Mr. Eric Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress in reinstating pension rights for those miners sacked as a result of the 1984 industrial dispute. [139094]

Mrs. Liddell: In May I circulated a consultation document concerning the issue of dismissals by British Coal in the course of the 1984-85 miners dispute. In the absence of evidence that dismissed men had been deprived of any pension rights to which they had been entitled prior to their dismissal, the document made proposals aimed at addressing injustices which might have occurred at that time while endeavouring not to re-open old wounds or create new anomalies.

The consultation exercise elicited some starkly conflicting views, and I am in the process of considering how these might be reconciled and the matter satisfactorily resolved.

Digital Radio

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the changeover period from analogue to digital radio will vary according to regions; and what special factors affect East Anglia. [139579]

Ms Hewitt: There are no plans as yet in place for the timing of changeover from analogue to digital radio. Among the factors that we will need to consider, before changeover, will be the take up and coverage of digital radio. Although circumstances in each region may influence the exact pattern of migration from analogue to digital radio, I am not aware of any special factors affecting East Anglia.

Research Council

Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the Research Council held in Brussels on 16 November; and if he will make a statement. [139508]

Ms Hewitt: I am pleased to report that the Council of 16 November:

Received presentations from the Commission on its recent Innovation and European Research Area Communications, and after an exchange of views adopted a Resolution which endorses the approach outlined in the latter.

Adopted a Resolution on the Commission Communication "Europe and Space: turning to a new chapter".

Approved a negotiating mandate for the Commission, on a legal entity for the construction of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), subject to any future decision to build one.

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Discussed the links between Science and Society.

Under Other Business, the Council received information from the Presidency on a mechanism for independent scientific advice to the European Institutions, policy for a European approach to therapeutic trials concerning AIDS, and Alpha Galileo, an internet-based press centre for European science, engineering and technology.

World Commission on Dams

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the World Commission on Dams report published on 16 November. [139488]

Mr. Caborn: The Government welcome the aim of the report by the World Commission on Dams to provide guidance internationally on the role which dam construction and operation should play in sustainable development. We are carefully studying the report and will be discussing the conclusions with colleagues in other interested Departments (the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and the Department for International Development).

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment the Government have made of the World Commission on Dams report; and what account will be taken of the report's findings in deciding on granting export credit support for the Ilisu dam. [139519]

Mr. Caborn: The Government welcome the aim of Report by the World Commission on Dams to provide guidance internationally on the role which dam construction and operation should play in sustainable development. We are carefully studying the report and will be discussing the conclusions with colleagues in other interested Departments (the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and the Department of International Development).

No decision has been taken on Ilisu. ECGD support will not be given unless my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is fully satisfied on the four conditions he has set on resettlement; water quality; preservation of the water supply to Syria and Iraq at all times; and preservation of the architectural heritage.

All of these conditions reflect the Department's concerns about sustainable development which are addressed in the report of the World Commission on Dams.

Overseas Trade Fairs

Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the overseas trade fairs, seminars and outward missions to be supported by his Department in the year 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002. [139830]

Mr. Caborn: Details of a £20 million Trade Partners UK programme of support for participating in overseas trade fairs, seminars and missions, in the form of lists of supported groups, will be placed in the Library of the House. Organisations that bid for support have already been informed.

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HOUSE OF COMMONS

Expenditure (Parliamentary Estate)

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee what the total expenditure was on (a) refurbishment and (b) new works and maintenance on the parliamentary estate, indicating the main items of expenditure, for each of the last two years. [139323]

Mr. Stuart Bell: Expenditure on Works services is categorised as Capital (new works and refurbishment) and Current (planned preventative maintenance and day to day expenditure). In the last two years approximate total expenditure has been as follows:

	£ million
1998-99
Capital	14
Current	8
1999-2000
Capital	19
Current	6

In each of the last two years, the main items of expenditure were the Refreshment Department modernisation scheme, the installation of the PDVN and associated works on automatic fire detection, telephone cabling, electrical rewiring, asbestos removal, fire compartmentation, stone restoration, air conditioning and restoration of Committee Rooms, lift refurbishment and roof repairs. In 1999-2000 the Grand Committee Room was converted for sittings at Westminster Hall and planning began for the restoration of Norman Shaw South. The figures exclude the cost of Portcullis House.

Library Staff

Mr. Baker: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will increase the complement of staff in the Library. [139158]

Mr. Kirkwood [holding answer 20 November 2000]: Numbers of staff in departments of the House are no longer controlled centrally by staff complements. Budgets for staff costs, based upon the business plans prepared by departments, are approved each year by the Commission as part of the Estimates cycle. Once the budgets have been set, authority is delegated to departments to vary the grade levels and the total number of posts, within the limit of the budget.

As a result of this year's three-year planning exercise the Library will receive funding for modest increases in permanent staffing this year and next. The Library is, of course, free to make a new submission for consideration in next year's planning exercise.

Temporary Secretarial Allowance

Mr. Miller: To ask the President of the Council, what progress she has made in reforming temporary secretarial allowance; and if she will make a statement. [139795]

Mrs. Beckett: The temporary secretarial allowance has been reformed to make it more flexible, after representations from a number of hon. Members. The

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Speaker has approved the new arrangements. The Fees Office is writing to all hon. Members with details of the modifications.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Volunteers

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will mark next year's International Year of Volunteers by spending a day working as a volunteer. [137431]

Clare Short: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 13 November 2000, Official Report, column 531W.

Volunteers both in this country and overseas make tremendous contribution to international development. I admire the dedication of the many thousands of people who give their time and skills in this way. I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Malawi

Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of Malawi's requirement for teaching staff in the next four years; and how she expects that need to be met. [137943]

Mr. Foulkes: There are about 40,000 primary teachers in Malawi. 50,000 teachers are needed for an average ratio of one teacher per 60 pupils. We recently approved a seven-year programme which includes a teacher education component training 6,000 new teachers per year; though, because of high attrition rates (particularly through HIV/AIDS), it will take several years to reach the target. Malawi is also exploring the scope for increased efficiency through ideas such as multi-grade teaching.

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