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Office for Civil Nuclear Security
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) where invitations to prospective applicants for the Advisory Board of the Office for Civil Nuclear Security were placed; how many applications were received; and whether applicants were rejected on security grounds; [63848]
(2) who the members of the Advisory Board for the Office for Civil Nuclear Security are; what their qualifications for the post are; and if there are restrictions in place in respect of who may be appointed to the board. [63847]
Mr. Wilson: The members of the OCNS Advisory Board are Joan MacNaughton, the Director General for Energy and Helen Leiser, the Director of Nuclear Industries, Michael Buckland-Smith, the Director of Civil Nuclear Security, all from the Department, Jim Furness,
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a Deputy Chief Inspector in the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive, a representative from the Security Service, and Pat Upson, Technical Managing Director of Urenco Ltd.
These appointments reflect a range of security policy, regulatory and industry experience. The members from the Security Service, and the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive were put forward by their respective organisations, at the Department's invitation. To find a suitable candidate with experience of the nuclear industry, my Department invited the main bodies in the nuclear industry to propose candidates. The five candidates put forward were evaluated and Pat Upson was invited to become a member of the Advisory Board.
All Advisory Board members have appropriate security clearance.
BNFL
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the reply of 10 June 2002, Official Report, column 967W, if (a) BNFL and (b) other public funds were used for the clean-up of B241 at Sellafield; and what estimate BNFL has made of the final cost of remediation of the radioactive pollution. [63908]
Mr. Wilson: As with a number of such legacy facilities at Sellafield, the costs of carrying out the various projects at B241 are met by BNFL with appropriate contributions from relevant customers. In the case of B241 financial responsibility for the liability falls primarily to the Ministry of Defence and the UK Atomic Energy Authority. Work is continuing. It is not yet clear what the final cost of cleaning up B241 will be.
Timeshare Regulations
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans she has to introduce a registration scheme for holiday clubs; and if she will make a statement; [64497]
- (2) what plans she has to revise the Timeshare Regulations 1997 to include floating vessels; and if she will make a statement; [64499]
(3) what plans she has to revise the Timeshare Regulations 1997 to include timeshares of less than three years' duration; and if she will make a statement; [64496]
(4) if she proposes to amend the Timeshare Regulations 1997 to include holiday clubs; and if she will make a statement. [64498]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Changing the Timeshare Regulations 1997 or the Timeshare Act 1992 will not help UK consumers who often buy timeshare and new products while on holiday abroad. The EU Commission is proposing next year to review the Timeshare Directive 1994 and will be considering new products and other related issues. We will therefore work closely with the Commission to ensure that our views are taken into account and are reflected in any potential amendments to the Directive.
The Department is also seeking to tackle rogue traders operating in this area through better enforcement, more effective self-regulation within the industry and to raising consumer awareness about their rights. We are
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currently working in partnership with consumer bodies, enforcement agencies, timeshare trade associations and industry to take this forward.
Foot and Mouth
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which (a) individuals were consulted by and (b) companies were represented on the Foot and Mouth Science Group; and if she will make a statement. [64549]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 26 June 2002]: Individuals on the FMD Science Group, and the Group itself, consulted at various points throughout the outbreak with a number of bodies, including farmers at regional meetings, the NFU, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, British Cattle Veterinary Association, British Veterinary Association, Sheep and Pigs Veterinary Associations and representatives of the food industry. All these meetings and consultations were reported back to the full Group.
The Group was comprised of individuals from a range of disciplines and included Government research scientists, university academics, veterinary practitioners and representatives of Government Departments and agencies. The composition of the Group evolved over time to ensure that relevant expertise was brought in, eg practising vets joined at a later stage to provide a more direct link with events on the ground.
Trawlermen (Compensation)
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures she is taking to increase awareness among potential claimants of the Icelandic water trawlermen's compensation scheme; and if she will make a statement. [64451]
Ms Hewitt: On top of the measures already taken when the scheme was first opened, over the past months my officials have been visiting the various port areas to discuss the scheme with local trawlermen and their representatives. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Firms has also had a number of meetings with my hon. Friends the Members for Hull, Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Fleetwood and Aberdeen, who are highly effective ambassadors for their constituents. In addition, there have been a number of articles about the meetings and the visits, as well as the scheme in general, in the local press. I plan to issue further publicity in the relevant port areas and trade journals to announce the end of the scheme on 1 October 2002.
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will extend the deadline for claims under the Icelandic water trawlermen's compensation scheme to 31 December. [64453]
Ms Hewitt: My predecessor announced when the scheme was set up that it would run for two years—from 2 October 2000 to 1 October 2002. I have no plans to extend the deadline.
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the take-up by potential claimants under the Icelandic water trawlermen's compensation scheme; and if she will make a statement. [64452]
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Ms Hewitt: When the scheme was set up, it was expected that some 4,000 former trawlermen would be eligible to receive a payment. To date we have received some 11,000 claims from former trawlermen or their dependents.
Timber Imports
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what volume of timber from Liberia was imported to the UK (a) in 2001 and (b) in the first five months of 2002; and if she will make a statement. [64353]
Ms Hewitt: The UK imported 6,098 cubic metres of timber from Liberia in 2001, and 2,917 cubic metres in January to March 2002, the latest period for which data are available.
Bhutan
Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much bilateral trade there was between the UK and Bhutan over each of the last two years; and if she will make a statement. [64296]
Ms Hewitt: Information on UK bilateral trade with Bhutan is given in the following table:
| UK exports | UK imports | Total trade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 2.9 |
| 2001 | 1.6 | 2.3 | 4.0 |
Note:
Because of rounding, there may be slight discrepancies between the totals shown and the sums of the constituent parts.
Source:
HM Customs and Excise data
Broadband
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when she expects broadband to be introduced into service to all of England; [64275]
- (2) what percentage of geographical broadband coverage she expects to be available by 2005. [64277]
Mr. Timms: Our target is to have the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005. We have not set a target for percentage coverage of the UK, though broadband via ADSL, Cable and Wireless technologies is already available to around 66 per cent. of the population. Satellite offers the potential for almost total coverage.
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussion she has had with the Director General of Fair Trading about the monopoly provision of broadband. [64278]
Mr. Timms: Under the Telecommunications Act 1984, the Director General of Telecommunications has responsibilities to promote the interests of consumers, and to maintain and promote effective competition in relation to telecommunications.
The Government monitors competition in the telecoms sector in close consultation with Oftel, and will keep the situation under review.
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The UK has arguably one of the most competitive broadband markets in Europe. Around 40 per cent. of the population has a choice between cable and ADSL technologies, with wireless and satellite services also available, while in the ADSL market there are around 40 resellers of BT's wholesale product. In addition Oftel have announced this week that BT will be required to offer ADSL broadband interconnection services to enable operators to connect to BT's network and therefore provide a much wider range of wholesale and retail broadband services in competition with BT.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been made by (a) local authorities, (b) parish councils, (c) town councils and (d) businesses on improving the broadband technology facilities available in the United Kingdom. [62101]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 18 June 2002]: Ministers and officials continue to meet and correspond with a wide range of businesses and councils. As well as bilateral consultation with businesses and the public sector, the Government have established the Broadband Stakeholder Group, which brings together the key players in the public and private sectors. We continue to meet regularly with the Broadband Stakeholder Group to discuss our broadband strategy. The group first reported in November 2001, and the Government response can be found at www.e-envoy.gov.uk. It has produced its second report this week.
In addition, under the £30 million UK Broadband Fund, the regional development agencies and the devolved Administrations are taking forward projects to promote the benefits of broadband.
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