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Regulatory Impact Assessments
Mrs. Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what were the gross costs of the regulatory impact assessment for (a) the Weights and Measures (Intoxicating Liquor) (Amendment) Order 2001 and the Measuring Equipment (Capacity Measures) (Amendment) Regulations 2001, (b) the Unit of Measurement Regulations 2001, (c) the Weights and Measures (Metrication Amendment) Regulations 2001, (d) the Offshore Combustion Installation (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Regulations 2001 and (e) the Company Business Names (Amendment) Regulations 2001; [17696]
- (2) what were the gross costs of the regulatory impact assessment for (a) the Shop Now Orders (EC Directive) Regulations 2001, (b) the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001, (c) the Noise Emission in the Environment by Equipment for Use Outdoors Regulations 2001 and (d) the Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 2001; [17697]
(3) what were the gross cost of the regulatory impact assessment for (a) the Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2001, (b) the Merger (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2001, (c) the Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rule of Procedure) Regulations 2001, (d) the Measuring Equipment (Cold-water Meters) (Amendment) Regulation 2001 and (e) the Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption) (Amendment) Regulations 2001. [17695]
Ms Hewitt: These costs are shown in the published regulatory impact assessments which are in the Libraries of the House.
Miners' Compensation
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made to resolve the potential liability for compensation to those who suffered injury from dust from working in surface areas in the mining industry; and if she will make a statement. [17705]
Mr. Wilson: The Department's initial proposals for handling surface only claims under the Claims Handling Agreement (CHA), put to the Claimants' Solicitors Co-ordinating Group (CG) in July 2000, were rejected.
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To move matters forward, the Department and the CG have carried out a joint study of the impact of surface dust on surface only workers. The Department has proposed that the parties' medical experts should meet in December to discuss their findings. Their conclusions will help to inform the way forward. Offers are already being made to 'mixed' claimants (who worked both underground and in surface dusty occupations) with the agreement of the CG.
World Trade
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with her counterparts in other nations represented at the World Trade Organisation mechanisms on reviewing the delivery of promised improvements to developing countries in (a) previous and (b) the current WTO rounds. [16798]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 22 November 2001]: I refer to my statement to the House, reporting on the successful outcome of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, on 15 November 2001, Official Report, columns 997–1008.
As well as agreeing a Ministerial Declaration launching a development-focused trade round, which we believe offers the best route for the developing world to escape from poverty, the WTO Ministerial Conference also agreed a Decision on Implementation-Related Issues and Concerns addressing many of the concerns raised by developing countries over the operation of existing WTO Agreements and, as part of the Ministerial Declaration itself, agreed that other outstanding concerns should be addressed as a matter of priority.
Fair Trade
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the value of fairly traded (a) tea and (b) coffee used in her Department in each of the last five years. [17546]
Mr. Alexander: I can answer only in respect of coffee supplied to the Department's preferred catering supplier over the last two years; further information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
| Year | Value |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001(28) | 31 |
(28) To date
Nuclear Installations
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate has set up a special group to look at the question of security at nuclear power stations and nuclear installations following the events of 11 September. [16803]
Mr. Wilson [holding answer 22 November 2001]: My officials have consulted the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate as the safety regulator, and are working closely with the industry to review safety and security at civil nuclear facilities in the light of the attacks in the United States on 11 September.
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Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate have received in relation to security at nuclear installations following the events of 11 September. [16802]
Mr. Wilson [holding answer 22 November 2001]: Security at licensed nuclear sites is regulated by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security, the independent security regulator within the Department. The Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate is the independent nuclear safety regulator. All inquiries to Government organisations relating to security at nuclear installations are referred to the DTI. My officials and I have received a number of representations from hon. Members on behalf of their constituents, from the public, and from the nuclear industry in relation to security at nuclear installations.
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she has instructed the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to consider the security at nuclear installations following the incidents on 11 September. [16797]
Mr. Wilson [holding answer 22 November 2001]: Ensuring UK civil nuclear installations comply with security regulations is the responsibility of the Office for Civil Nuclear Security (OCNS), the security regulators. OCNS works closely with the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII), the safety regulator. Both regulators are working together to review all relevant precautions in the light of the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September.
Telecom Services
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has made to (a) Oftel and (b) BT regarding transfer of existing telephone numbers from former customers of Atlantic Telecom to BT lines. [16811]
Mr. Alexander [holding answer 22 November 2001]: I have discussed with the Director General of Telecommunications the issues faced by the customers of Atlantic Telecom. I have also raised this directly with the Chief Executive of BT. A number of options were discussed with the administrators and we are actively pursuing all possible solutions to minimise disruption to Atlantic subscribers. My officials and Oftel are taking these issues forward with BT.
Electricity Generation
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the total cost of electricity generation by (a) gas, (b) coal and (c) nuclear is accounted for by the primary fuel source in the latest year for which figures are available. [17808]
Mr. Wilson: The Department does not publish statistics relating to the cost of fuel as a proportion of the total cost of generating electricity. However, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and International Energy Agency (IEA) periodically undertake comparative studies of the projected costs of baseload electricity generation in different countries. The most recent study was published in 1998, which forecast the generating costs of various technologies and plant types that could be commissioned by 2005–10.
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As a share of the total cost of generation, the latest comparative study estimated the following figures:
| Fuel Type | Percentage share of total cost |
|---|---|
| Gas | 64 |
| Coal | 36 |
| Nuclear | 12 |
Source:
Pages 68–69, table 16, Projected Costs of Generating Electricity—Update 1998 (NEA and IEA). Figures in the table refer to the percentage shares of levelised costs at 10 per cent. discount rate and are averages of least expensive plant options in each country surveyed.
Space Technology Sector
Mr. McWilliam: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment her Department has made of the economic importance of the UK space technology sector in terms of (a) the extent to which it can help the UK's manufacturing industry develop export markets, (b) the extent to which it can help the United Kingdom manufacturing industry create jobs and (c) the impact of her Department's assessment on the United Kingdom's decision to provide funds to support the Galileo project; and if she will make a statement. [17805R]
Ms Hewitt: The United Kingdom's space technology is world class in a number of areas including telecommunications payloads, small satellites and synthetic aperture radar. About two thirds of UK space industry turnover results from export business. Latest published figures show that approximately 6,000 people are employed directly in space activities, without taking into account employment in those sectors which are reliant on satellite based services. The size and health of the UK space industry is currently being surveyed by the British National Space Centre and the results should be published early in 2002.
The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is the lead department on Galileo. My Department has been working closely with them, and others in Whitehall, to develop the United Kingdom's position on Galileo.
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