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Alternative Energy Research

Mr. Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much Government funding was given for research and development in (a) nuclear energy, (b) wind power and (c) wave energy in each of the last 20 years. [140475]

Mrs. Liddell: The funding for nuclear research and development given by the Department of Trade and Industry (and by the Department of Energy prior to amalgamation) for each of the financial years since 1980-81 to 1999-2000 and the anticipated expenditure for 2000-01 is as follows:

	£ million cash outturn figures
1980-81	188
1981-82	206
1982-83	215
1983-84	204
1984-85	166
1985-86	169
1986-87	163
1987-88	148
1988-89	247
1989-90	163.8
1990-91	126.4
1991-92	93.6
1992-93	85.3
1993-94	76.9
1994-95	28.4
1995-96	21.7
1996-97	21.4
1997-98	17.6
1998-99	14.2
1999-2000	16.8
2000-01	16.5

Note:

For figures prior to 1989-90, contributions include expenditure on decommissioning and waste management operations carried out by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

Sources:

For years 1980-81 to 1983-84: The Government's Expenditure Plans for 1986-87 to 1988-89.

For years 1984-85 to 1988-89: The Government's Expenditure Plans for 1990-91 to 1992-93

The Government expenditure on research and development for (b) wind power and (c) wave power is given in the table.

27 Nov 2000 : Column: 384W

	Net expenditure £ million
Year	Wind	Wave(1)
1999-2000	0.9	0.15
1998-99	1.0	0.17
1997-98	1.2	0.06
1996-97	2.5	0.14
1995-96	3.4	0.08
1994-95	2.7	0.11
1993-94	7.3	0.20
1992-93	8.69	0.32
1991-92	6.67	0.47
1990-91	4.53	0.39
1989-90	4.84	0.14
1988-89	3.91	0.14
1987-88	3.79	0.19
1986-87	3.82	0.07
1985-86	5.42	0.26
1984-85	4.61	0.43
1983-84	2.32	0.71
1982-83	2.26	2.82
1981-82	0.86	3.95
1980-81	0.68	3.04

⁽¹⁾ Historically data are not broken down between wave and other forms of hydro-technology since 1995.

Ukraine (Export Credit)

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to provide export credit for the completion and upgrade of the Khmelnitsky Unit 2 and Rovno Unit 4 nuclear plants in the Ukraine. [140367]

Mr. Caborn: The financing plan for this project envisages various sources of finance, including $348.3 million of export credits of which up to $28 million come from the UK. The Government are considering the provision of ECGD cover in support of possible UK exports to the project. A decision is likely to be announced by 7 December when the EBRD is expected to decide whether to provide finance for the project.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the UK companies that have sought export credit support for the completion and upgrade of the Khmelnitsky Unit 2 and Rovno Unit 4 nuclear plants in the Ukraine. [140365]

Mr. Caborn: No UK companies have approached ECGD for export credit support for this project.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the provision of UK export credit to the Ukraine. [140368]

Mr. Caborn: Following the withdrawal of cover in 1998 because of a deterioration in Ukraine's risk outlook, ECGD backed export credits are not generally available.

Amateur Radio Stations

Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints of interference to domestic apparatus caused by amateur radio stations there were in (a) 1997, (b) 1998 and (c) 1999. [140516]

Ms Hewitt: The answer is as follows:

(a) 147

(b) 114

(c) 103.

27 Nov 2000 : Column: 385W

Small Firms

Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to help small firms prepare for new legislation proposals. [140783]

Mr. Byers: The Small Business Service has today issued guidance to all departments on implementation periods for new legislation. This sets out a general requirement, with some necessary exceptions, that guidance on new legislation likely to impact on business should be issued at least 12 weeks before the new legislation comes into force. This implements a recommendation by the Better Regulation Task Force and will give businesses, particularly small firms, time to prepare for the implementation of new legislation. The new procedures take effect from 1 January 2001. Copies of the guidance have been placed in the House Libraries and on the Small Business Service's website at www.businessadviceonline.org/content/ pdf/implementationguidlines.pdf.

I believe the guidance, together with the Code of Practice on Written Consultations being published today by the Cabinet Office, is a real advance in giving business more time to feed in views and prepare for new legislation.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Political Leadership

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what her Department's priorities are for assisting the development of political leadership in developing countries. [140112]

Clare Short: The selection of political leaders in developing countries belongs to the peoples of those countries. We provide support for the development of democratic institutions, including elections, parliaments, civil society and the media, in order to help develop systems which reflect the will of the people. We are playing a part in the development of democratic institutions in countries such as Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan and the Republics of the former Yugoslavia.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Departmental Employees (HIV)

Mr. Wigley: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will take steps to ensure that people who are HIV-positive do not suffer discrimination as a result of employment practices followed by his Department. [137793]

The Solicitor-General: The Law Officers' Departments, that is the Treasury Solicitor's Department, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office, are all committed to the policy that all eligible persons shall have equal opportunity for employment and advancement on the basis of their ability and qualifications, free from discrimination of all kinds, including that attaching to HIV carriers. Each Department has taken action to promote this message as part of their programmes to promote diversity and equal opportunity. The Crown Prosecution Service also gives specific guidance in its Personnel Manual for dealing with those carrying the HIV virus.

27 Nov 2000 : Column: 386W

Mr. Mikhail Karacostas

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Solicitor-General for what reasons the trial of Mr. Mikhail Karacostas and his associates was not proceeded with. [138759]

The Solicitor-General: At a pre-trial hearing in May 1999, new evidence emerged which showed that some of the evidence upon which the prosecution relied was suspect. In particular, it emerged for the first time that an informant had had a closer association with one of Mr. Karocostas's fellow defendants than had been previously realised. Further, it soon became apparent that this informant, together with a journalist, may have incited this defendant to take part in the alleged crimes with a view to entrapping him. In the light of these revelations, prosecuting Counsel advised the Crown Prosecution Service that it would be difficult for the prosecution to succeed as the credibility of the prosecution case had been severely damaged. The Crown Prosecution Service accepted this advice and the prosecution was discontinued.

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Solicitor-General how long Mr. Mikhail Karacostas and his associates were held in detention in (a) Germany and (b) the United Kingdom before trial and consequent upon the United Kingdom's extradition request; and if he will make a statement. [138754]

The Solicitor-General: Mikhail Karacostas and his associates, Christos Ieronymides, Pierre Daskas and Fotios Platanides, were held by the German authorities from 22 March 1998 until they were surrendered to the United Kingdom authorities on 28 August 1998. They were then remanded in custody awaiting trial. They were released on 27 May 1999 at the end of the trial.

Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement on the factors which led the United Kingdom to request the German authorities to extradite Mr. Mikhail Karacostas and his associates to the United Kingdom. [138758]

The Solicitor-General: Mr. Karacostas and associates (Christos Ieronymides, Fotios Platanides and Pierre Daskas) were accused of being involved in serious criminal activities in the UK. If the Crown Prosecution Service is satisfied that there is a realistic prospect of conviction (acting in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors), and the accused is in a foreign state, extradition proceedings will be commenced in accordance with that foreign state. In the case of Germany, Mr. Karacostas's extradition was sought under the provisions of the European Convention on Extradition.

At the time the request was submitted to the German authorities, the Crown Prosecution Service was satisfied that there was a realistic prospect of conviction against Mr. Karacostas and his associates, and accordingly a request for extradition was submitted through the appropriate channels in accordance with the Convention.

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