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List Brokers

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what requirement there is for list brokers to divulge the source of the names and addresses they store; and if she will make a statement. [113122]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 13 May 2003]: To the extent that they might process personal data, list brokers are subject to the Data Protection Act 1998.

Under this Act, individuals are entitled to be informed by a data controller whether personal data of which they are the subject are being processed by, or on behalf of, that data controller. If so, they are entitled, among other things, to have communicated to them, in an intelligible form, any information available to the data controller as to the source of the data.

Millennium Workspace Initiative

Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when each of the regional development agencies will begin to process applications for the Millennium Workspace Initiative grant; how much will be available under each regional development agency area; how long the grant will be available; and whether the Department will set the terms needed to receive the grant. [115788]

Alan Johnson: The concept of Millennium Workspace is specific to the South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA). It builds on a number of previous initiatives including the Partnership Workspace Programme administered by the Rural Development Commission, before that body was wound up and many of its responsibilities taken over by the RDAs on their creation in 1999. To assist Millennium Workspace applicants, the SWRDA will shortly be issuing broad guidance for applications for funding under the Single Programme. The criteria in the guidance will be asking for regionally significant projects that will have a net impact on the region's economy.

Further information about the Millennium Workspace can be obtained from the South West of England Regional Development Agency www.southwestrda.org.uk.

Ministerial Visits

Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which (a) facilities converting landfill gas into electricity, (b) combined heat and power facilities, (c) energy for waste facilities, (d) pyrolysis facilities and (e) gasification facilities have been visited by the Minister of State for Energy and Construction, and when in the last two years. [113677]

Mr. Wilson: On 31 January 2002, I visited Thetford Power Station, which is fuelled by poultry litter, and Elean Power Station near Ely, which is fuelled by straw. On 25 February 2003, I visited Arjo Wiggins's paper mill at Corpach, near Fort William, where my Department is funding the construction of a wood-fired

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combined heat and power generator. I plan to visit Shanks Group plc's new landfill gas power station at Calvert in Buckinghamshire.

I also regularly have meetings with companies who own such facilities.

National Institute for Medical Research

Diana Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received on the proposal from the Medical Research Council to close the National Institute for Medical Research at Mill Hill and to transfer part of its research to Cambridge; and if she will make a statement. [114753]

Ms Hewitt: No formal decision has been taken regarding the future of NIMR. The Medical Research Council is at present developing a long-term strategy for its major capital investments over the next 10–15 years including the NIMR. This is an issue for the MRC however the Office of Science and Technology has been kept informed.

DTI has received representations on this issue from the following people/groups who are opposed to the proposed changes:

a letter signed by some of NIMR's staff (copies of which were sent to several people within DTI);

a letter from a member of staff at NIMR which was forwarded to my noble Friend, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State by their MP; and

a letter from an academic.

Nuclear Materials

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research into the future long-term management of plutonium has been conducted by her Department; and what representations have been received in the past six months on plutonium disposition options. [115667]

Mr. Wilson: The Department has not conducted any research into the future long-term management of UK-owned civil plutonium, and has received no representations on disposition options for such material in the last six months.

However, in collaboration with other interested Government Departments and Agencies, my Department is currently undertaking a study of the possible options for the future management of UK-owned civil plutonium.

Overseas Investment Insurance

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what claims her Department has paid under Overseas Investment Insurance in connection with the Dabhol-Enron-Power Plant in Dublin. [113944]

Ms Hewitt: ECGD has not paid claims on this case.

PFI (Company Profits)

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to (a) investigate and publish the profits made by participating companies on PFI deals and (b) compare the costs of each PFI with the estimated costs if kept in the public sector after 10 years. [114911]

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Ms Hewitt: PFI is only pursued on the basis of an unambiguous value for money case, including an assessment of the financial cost of both the PFI and non-PFI procurement options over the whole life of the contract, and a rigorous competitive process.

Company profits associated with PFI projects are a matter for the shareholders in each case and annual accounts will be deposited with Companies House where appropriate.

Post Office (PIN Pads)

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assessment she has made of the compliance of Post Office Ltd. with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 regarding PIN pads in Post Office branches; and if she will make a statement; [116151]

(2) what her estimate is of the cost of replacing all PIN pads in Post Office branches which are not compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if she will make a statement; [116117]

(3) what discussions she has had with Post Office Ltd. to ensure that PIN pads were in place in every Post Office branch by 1 April 2003; and whether the issue of compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 was discussed. [116116]

Mr. Timms: The accessibility of the Post Office card account, including issues around the use of PIN pads, is the responsibility for Post Office Ltd. The Department of Trade and Industry has not, therefore, sought its own advice on these issues.

The Post Office is working to ensure their services are as accessible to as many customers as possible. In the short term, the Post Office intends to improve current PIN pads by fitting a guard over the buttons to help guide customers. I understand that this will be done as soon as possible. In the longer term, they intend to look at technological options to provide a secure alternative to PIN pads for people with disabilities. I have asked the Chief Executive of Post office Ltd. to write direct to the hon. Member with further details.

Post Office Account (Disabled People)

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what advice (a) her Department and (b) the Post Office has sought on the difficulties those suffering neurological conditions may have with collecting their benefits through the PIN key pad system; what measures will be taken to ensure that the PIN key pad system is accessible to those suffering neurological conditions; and if she will make a statement; [115107]

(2) what intermediate measures will be taken to ensure that disabled people collecting benefit through Post Office PIN key pads receive their benefit while the key pads are being adapted to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; what compensation will be given to those whose payment is delayed by the PIN key pad adjustments; and if she will make a statement; [115241]

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(3) what estimate has been made of the cost of adapting the Post Office's PIN key pads to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; what adjustments will be necessary to ensure that the system complies with the Act; when the adjustments will be completed; and if she will make a statement; [115243]

(4) what representations she has received from groups that represent disabled people on the use of PIN key pads for people who occasionally ask someone else to collect their benefit; and if she will make a statement; [115242]

(5) what advice was sought on the compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 of the Post Office PIN key pad system for collecting benefit payments; what meetings have taken place with groups that represent disabled people about the suitability of the equipment; what advice the Department will seek on the compliance with the Act of adapted equipment; and if she will make a statement. [115244]

Mr. Timms [holding answer 22 May 2003]:The payment of and access to benefits and pensions is the responsibility of the Department for Work and Pensions. The accessibility of the Post Office card account, including issues around the use of PIN pads, is the responsibility for Post Office Ltd. The Department of Trade and Industry has not, therefore, sought its own advice on these issues.

The Post Office is working to ensure their services are as accessible to as many customers as possible. In the short term the Post Office intends to improve current PIN pads by fitting a guard over the buttons to help guide customers. I understand that this will be done as soon as possible. In the longer term they intend to look at technological options to provide a secure alternative to PIN pads for people with disabilities. I have asked the chief executive of Post Office Ltd to write direct to the hon. Member with further details.

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