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7 Nov 2002 : Column 740W—continued
Mobile Phone Masts
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research is under-way into the health and safety issues surrounding the siting of mobile telecommunications masts. [79883]
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Mr. Timms: I will write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.
Regulatory Costs
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate her Department has made of the cost to business of the draft regulations to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of (a) sexual orientation and (b) religion. [79073]
Alan Johnson: Unfortunately I have not been able to glean the information necessary to answer before Parliament is prorogued, but I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.
Trade Liberalisation
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role her Department played in the development on the non-paper on trade liberalisation at the recent World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg; and what outcomes emerged from discussions relating to this paper involving her Department. [77568]
Ms Hewitt: At the end of the World Summit on sustainable Development (WSSD) Bali Prepcom in June, the Chair asked Member States for ideas on how to resolve those areas (which included parts other trade text amongst others) of the Plan of Implementation which had yet to be agreed. The European Commission (acting in accordance with its general mandate from EU member states to negotiate trade issues) and the US agreed a non-paper on the trade, finance and globalisation texts which was submitted to the South Africans as an informal contribution in advance of WSSD in Johannesburg. This was not a formal EU position agreed by member states. The formal EU position was adopted in the Development Council conclusions on WSSD agreed in May prior to the WSSD Bali Prepcom.
All discussions on trade liberalisation issues at Johannesburg itself were based on text negotiated at the Bali Prepcom and developed through subsequent drafts produced by the Chair of the Trade Group (the Antiguan Ambassador to the UN) during WSSD itself. I welcome the fact that the final trade sections of the WSSD text strongly reinforce the commitments made at the WTO Ministerial in Doha in November 2001. The text as agreed by consensus is publicly available on the WSSD website (www.johannesburgsummit.org/).
Shipbuilding
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial assistance was provided by the Government to the (a) Shipbuilding Intervention Fund and (b) Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–00, (iv) 2000–01 and (v) 2001–02; what amounts are outstanding under the HSCGS; what amounts have been written off under the HSCGS; what assessment has taken place of (A) the SIF and (B) the HSCGS; and if she will make a statement. [78269]
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Alan Johnson: Unfortunately I have not been able to glean the information necessary to answer before Parliament is prorogued, but I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Libraries of the House.
Broadband
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Totnes (Mr. Steen) of 22 October 2002, Official Report, column 250W, how the #30 million Broadband Fund is being divided amongst the regions and devolved administrations. [80064]
Mr. Timms: The #30 million UK Broadband Fund has been divided amongst the regions and devolved administrations as follows:
| Region/Nation | Total Amount Awarded From Broadband Fund (#million) |
|---|---|
| Scotland | 4.39 |
| Wales | 2.67 |
| Northern Ireland | 1.46 |
| North East | 1.46 |
| North West | 2.68 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 3.10 |
| West Midlands | 2.08 |
| East Midlands | 2.09 |
| East of England | 3.22 |
| South West | 3.78 |
| South East | 2.90 |
| London | 0.11 |
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what assessment she has made of the cost arising from broadband interference caused by powerline telecommunications to high frequency radio transmissions by broadcasters and short range devices used by the police and Government agencies. [78531]
Mr. Timms: The Radiocommunications Agency intends to publish a national consultation later this month to determine the implications, including costs, associated with a number of possible options for limiting emissions from powerline and other wired telecommunication systems that have potential to cause interference to high frequency radio services.
Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps she is taking to minimise broadband interference caused by powerline telecommunications to high frequency radio transmissions by broadcasters and short range devices used by the police and Government agencies. [78530]
Mr. Timms: The Radiocommunications Agency established a Technical Working Group in March 2001 to determine the compatibility of powerline telecommunication and other broadband wireline systems with radio services operating between 1.6 MHz and 30 MHz. Membership of the group was open to all interested parties and its final report will be published later this month as part of a national consultation. The outcome of the consultation is expected in early 2003. It will be used to inform the Government's contribution to work that is underway in the relevant international standards bodies concerned with limiting broadband telecommunication interference.
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Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, if she will make a statement on the Government's policy toward internet access via powerline telecommunications. [78529]
Mr. Timms: The Government has set a target of making the UK the most competitive and extensive broadband market of all the G7 countries. We believe this can best be achieved through deployment of a wide range of competing delivery technologies and this includes powerline telecommunications. This technology has the potential to provide broadband connectivity to isolated communities and is currently undergoing some small project trails in Scotland that are part funded by government.
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many applications were considered and by whom for the position of DTI South West Regional Broadband Advisor; and if she will make a statement on the training and experience held by the incumbent; [78922]
- (2) what the nature is of the relationship between Smart South West and the UK Online for Business Regional Broadband Champion; [78924]
(3) when, by whom and at what cost the appointment of the UK Online for Business Regional Broadband Champion was advertised; [78921]
(4) if she will make a statement on the experience and technical training of the successful candidate selected to be the South West Regional Broadband Unit Broadband Expert; [78923]
(5) if she will make a statement on the competition for the appointment by Smart South West of a UK Online for Business Regional Broadband Champion; and what the remuneration offered was. [78925]
Mr. Timms [holding answers 5 November 2002]: The Department of Trade and Industry is currently setting up a UK Broadband Taskforce, with the aim of extending the availability and take-up of broadband throughout the United Kingdom.
A regional broadband co-ordinator is being appointed in each English region and Devolved Administration. This person will work alongside Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) and Devolved Administrations in order to achieve the unit's overarching aim.
Competition for each of the contracts has been undertaken on an open and transparent basis. Contracts were advertised through the Broadband Stakeholder Group, the Communication Managers' Association and a recruitment agency. In a number of cases RDAs also put forward candidates. The advertising process was run at no cost; the recruitment agency charges a fee if one of their candidates is placed—in line with industry standards. From the candidates put forward a shortlist was compiled in discussion between DTI and the relevant RDA, based on the match between the candidate's CV and the job description. The shortlisted candidates were generally interviewed by a representative of the DTI, the new Head of the UK Broadband Taskforce and a representative of the Regional Development Agency.
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In the case of the South West Regional Development Agency, the long-list consisted of seven candidates of which three were interviewed. The successful candidate was considered by each interviewer, independently, to have the required combination of communication skills, knowledge of broadband and regional understanding to perform the role of regional broadband co-ordinator. The remuneration package for the successful candidate is approximately in line with the total remuneration package offered to a Range 10 Civil Servant in the DTI (up to #46,502 plus superannuation, outside London).
Smart South West is a Public Private Partnership whose purpose is to map IT-related projects in the South West Region. The new regional broadband co-ordinator in the South West Region is a former part-time employee of Smart South West. The broadband co-ordinator will work across the region, including with bodies such as Smart South West in order to extend the availability and take-up of broadband.
As part of the appointment and contract management process, we are putting appropriate measures in place in order to ensure that we avoid or minimise potential conflicts of interest.
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