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7 Nov 2002 : Column 744W—continued
Nuclear Power Stations
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps will be taken in respect of the decommissioning dismantling and clearance of Nuclear Magnox Reactors in Great Britain. [77598]
Mr. Wilson: BNFL has announced its strategy for the Magnox stations including projected latest dates for their generating lifetimes. As is stated in CM2919 XReview of Radioactive Waste Management Policy—Final Conclusions" published in 1995, the decommissioning strategies of nuclear operators are subject to quinquennial review by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Such a review of the decommissioning strategy for the reactors operated by Magnox Electric plc was completed by HSE in February 2002. Details of the strategy, and the outcome of the review, can be found in HSE's report which is available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/nsd/magdecom.pdf.
As indicated in the recent white paper ''Managing the Nuclear Legacy—A Strategy for Action'', the detailed timing and operational plans for decommissioning the Magnox stations is one of the matters to be considered by the Liabilities Management Authority (LMA) once established. The LMA will operate openly and transparently and its plans will be published.
Parliamentary Questions/Correspondence
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) parliamentary questions and (b) letters to her from hon. Members in this Session remain unanswered, broken down by those which are (i) one month old, (ii) two months old, (iii) three months old, (iv) four months old and (v) over six months old. [79945]
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Ms Hewitt: The Cabinet Office publishes a report to Parliament on an annual basis setting out the volume of Members' correspondence received by Departments. The Report for 2001 was published on Friday 24 May, Official Report column 677W. Copies of previous reports are available in the Library of the House.
The following table shows the number of letters to hon. Members which remain outstanding.
| 1 Month Old | 2 Months | 3 Months | 4 Months | Over 6 Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | 47 | 22 | 8 | — |
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer from the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, of 19 September 2002, Official Report, c.238W, when she will reply to the letter dated 31 January from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan regarding the Johannesburg Earth Summit. [79338]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 5 November 2002]: I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member's letter. A reply has been sent out today.
Consumer Sector
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what percentage of (a) United Kingdom GDP and (b) the United Kingdom work force the consumer goods and business and consumer services sector accounts for; and if she will make a statement. [78109]
Ms Hewitt: Industries covered by the DTI consumer goods and services unit represented about 14 per cent. of UK total Gross Value Added at basic prices in 2000. The estimate has been derived from the ONS Input-Output Analyses and the ONS Annual Business Inquiry.
Estimate of the UK work force involved in the sector are not available in sufficient detail to provide an estimate, but the ONS Annual Business Inquiry shows it provides 18 per cent. of GB employee jobs.
Subscriptions
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how much was spent on the UK's subscription to the (a) WTO, (b) Energy Charter Treaty Secretariat, (c) International Energy Agency, (d) International Atomic Energy Agency, (e) Safeguards Support Programmes and (f) Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–00 and (iv) 2000–01; what the budget is for 2001–02; and if she will make a statement. [78291]
Ms Hewitt: Please see table below.
Note:
(31) These are voluntary contributions, not subscriptions.
7 Nov 2002 : Column 746W
BAE Systems
Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2002 Official Report, column 28W, on BAE Systems, if she will list the meetings she and her ministers have had with BAE Systems since June 2001, stating in each case the date and subject of the meeting. [79878]
Alan Johnson: Since June 2001, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and her Ministers have had meetings with BAE Systems on the following dates:
| 3 July 2001 | 16 July 2002 |
| 13 September 2001 | 25 July 2002 |
| 20 November 2001 | 5 September 2002 |
| 23 May 2002 | 24 September 2002 |
| 12 June 2002 | 23 October 2002 |
| 1 July 2002 | 31 October 2002 |
A range of subjects was discussed at these meetings.
Fireworks
Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the number of domestic animals which received veterinary treatment as a result of an accident involving a firework during October, November and December 2001; and what plans she has to launch an investigation into how the health of domestic animals is affected by fireworks. [76529]
Miss Melanie Johnson: I have no records of accidents to domestic animals involving fireworks. My colleagues at DEFRA are considering amendments to the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and they will look into whether there is scope to take more effective action where the welfare of captive or domestic animals is being endangered through the reckless discharge of fireworks.
Miners Compensation
Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many mining compensation claims resolutions she estimates are being held up by delays in releasing to solicitors the chronic bronchitis and emphysema pensions model on computer disk; [80321]
- (2) what proportion of relevant outstanding mining compensation claims she expects to be speeded by release of the first phase of the chronic bronchitis and emphysema pensions model on computer disk; and what proportion will have to await subsequent phases of the model for speedy resolution. [80320]
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Mr Wilson: I will write to my hon. Friend.
British Energy
Mr Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria British Energy will have to meet in order for them to gain an extension to their loan agreement with the Government. [78987]
Mr Wilson: No decisions have been taken and no commitments given on British Energy's long term future at this time.
Mr Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under what terms the Government loan was agreed with British Energy; and whether these terms are under review. [78988]
Mr Wilson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 15 October 2002, Official Report, c.665W, to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) about the credit facility agreement provided to British Energy.
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what interest rate was attached to the recent loan made to British Energy; and what contingencies have been put in place in the event that British Energy is unable to repay the loans. [80345]
Mr. Wilson: Full details of the credit facility agreement are commercially confidential unless and until it is made public by British Energy. The Government has taken security over British Energy's assets for the facility provided to the company.
Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what communications she has had with the European Commissioner Monti in respect of the loan provided to British Energy. [80383]
Mr. Wilson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry met Commissioner Monti on 10 October to discuss various matters including rescue aid to British Energy.
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