House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 10 Jun 2003 (pt 13)

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Utilities

Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with (a) gas companies, (b) electricity companies and (c) water companies regarding their expansion in the south-east. [116220]

Mr. Wilson: None recently. However, the main responsibility for these issues is with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the appropriate local authorities. Interested companies would meet with Ministers and officials as necessary. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry may become involved in the issues for which she has regulatory responsibility.

Waste Electrical andElectronic Equipment Directive

Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on whether printer ink and toner cartridges should be classed as consumables for the purposes of the EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. [118041]

Mr. Wilson: The European Commission has already made clear that these goods are considered consumables for the purposes of this Directive.

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations she has received in respect of the implementation of the European Union waste electrical and electronic equipment directive in respect of the re-use of printer ink and toner cartridges; and if she will make a statement; [118079]

(3) what the estimated annual turnover is for companies engaged in the re-use of printer ink and toner cartridges; [118081]

(4) what action she has taken to encourage the manufacture of re-usable printer ink and toner cartridges; and if she will make a statement; [118084]

(5) what estimate she has made of the amount of waste going to landfill sites each year as a result of the implementation of the European Union Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive preventing the re-use of printer ink and toner cartridges; and if she will make a statement. [118078]

Mr. Wilson: Several inkjet cartridge refill businesses have written to express their concern that their operations may be put at risk if the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive scope does not include these goods. I am making clear in my replies that we take these concerns seriously and that I am keen for this sector to continue to flourish. Industry estimates suggest there are over 100 companies that remanufacture ink and toner cartridges for reuse, employing over 2,000 people with another 20 plus

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companies involved in the supply chain. Their combined turnover is said to be in the order of £150 million per annum.

The WEEE Directive does not prevent the reuse or refilling of printer cartridges. The concerns raised by the refill sector relate to existing technology, presently applied to a very small proportion of goods sold. Business estimates that 30 to 40 per cent. of toner and inkjet cartridges are presently reused or recycled equating to 6 to 8,000 tonnes per annum. The WEEE Directive will not affect this.

The European Commission has made clear that printer cartridges do not fall within the scope of the WEEE Directive, but that forthcoming eco-design based EU legislation may pick this issue up. The UK agrees with this assessment. In the mean time, if the spread of new technology preventing reuse starts to significantly impinge on the independent refill market, I will wish to consider what additional action might be necessary.

Welsh Garages

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many rural filling stations and garages there were in Wales in 1991; how many there are now; and if she will make a statement. [117518]

Mr. Wilson: Historical and current data on rural filing stations numbers is not collected.

However, as part of my Downstream Oil Industry Forum initiative I have set up a Rural Task Force, which is currently developing a working definition of a rural filing station in order that numbers can be determined, and appropriate measures agreed.

DEFENCE

Depleted Uranium

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the status of the Ministry of Defence's Depleted Uranium Oversight Board; what its membership is; who they are representing; and if he will place in the Library recent deliberations and statements made by the Board. [117596]

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Dr. Moonie: I am placing a copy of the Depleted Uranium Oversight Board (DUOB) Terms of Reference and the current membership list in the Library of the House. Additionally, all deliberations and decisions made by the board are contained in the minutes of DUOB meetings which are publicly available on the internet at www.duob.org.uk.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the appointment of Dr. Chris Bushy to the Depleted Uranium Oversight Board, and explain the representative purpose of this appointment. [117597]

Dr. Moonie: Dr. Chris Busby was nominated for membership of the Depleted Uranium Oversight Board (DUOB) by a veterans' organisation during the open consultation held by the Ministry of Defence on the introduction of a voluntary screening programme for depleted uranium. MOD subsequently invited Dr. Busby to become a member of the DUOB in September 2001.

Gulf War (Vaccines)

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether members of the armed forces serving in the Gulf will be given similarly-based vaccines to those used in the first Gulf War; and if he will cease the use of depleted uranium shells. [108977]

Dr. Moonie [holding answer 14 April 2003]: United Kingdom Service personnel are offered a range of immunisations to protect against disease. These include standard Service immunisations, immunisations for deployment to areas with specific health hazards, immunisations to help protect personnel against the effects of biological weapons, and immunisations for personnel in specific occupational or 'at risk' groups. The table shows the complete list of vaccines offered for Operation GRANBY (the 1990–1991 Gulf Conflict) and today. Other immunisations may have been and continue to be offered on the basis of clinical need.

we have no plans to cease their use.

Immunisation Position during operation GRANBY Current Position

Poliomyelitis Offered to all non-immune personnel. Administered by mouth. Offered to all non-immune personnel. Administered by mouth.

Tuberculosis Recruits without a BCG immunisation scar and who were not shown to be immune were offered BCG immunisation. Recruits without a BCG immunisation scare and who are not shown to be immune were offered BCG immunisation.

Meningococal meningitis In August 1990, immunisation against meningococcal meningitis strains A and C was recommended for all personnel serving in the Gulf. By 15 September 1990, the immunisation was no longer recommended except for medical personnel and personnel who may be at risk by way of frequent contact with host nation personnel. Immunisation against meningococal meningitis strains A and C involved one vaccination which was effective against both strains. Immunisation against meningogoccal meningitis offered to those deploying to a high risk area, where the length of the deployment, or the activities to be undertaken place them at risk.

Typhoid Offered to all personnel. Administered with tetanus vaccine as one combined immunisation Typhoid vaccine offered to all personnel. May be combined with Hepatitis A as a single combined vaccine if both required. No combined typhoid and tetanus preparation now available.

Tetanus Offered to all personnel, administered with typhoid vaccine as one combined immunisation Offered to all personnel. May be administered with diphtheria vaccine as one combined immunisation if both are required.

Diphtheria Offered to all non-immune personnel Offered to all non-immune personnel. May be administered with tetanus vaccine as one combined immunisation if both required.

Hepatitis A Unavailable. Certain occupational groups, such as those handling food and water supplies, may have been offered a Gamma Globulin immunisation. MOD is aware of one individual who was part of a medical unit that served in Operation GRANBY who is recorded as having received Gamma Globulin Hepatitis A vaccine now available and is offered to all regular personnel and mobilised reservists. It may be given with typhoid as a single combined vaccine if both required.

Yellow Fever Offered routinely to Servicemen Servicewomen were only to be immunised if they were travelling to a region where yellow fever was endemic. However, MOD is aware of records for Servicewomen who served with a unit that deployed to the Gulf as routinely receiving yellow fever immunisation All regular personnel immunised on joining the Armed Forces with re-immunisations every 10 years. Reserve personnel are offered immunisation if mobilised.

Cholera Offered to all personnel deploying Not offered—no longer recommended by World Health Organisation.

Plague Offered to all personnel deploying Not offered.

Anthrax Offered to all personnel deploying Being rolled out as a routine immunisation for all UK personnel.

Pertussis Offered as adjuvant for anthrax vaccine to all personnel deploying Not offered

Rabies Not specifically offered to personnel deploying on Op GRANBY Offered to personnel who work with animals, including dog handlers and veterinarians

Hepatitis B Offered to medical personnel Offered to medical personnel and those at occupational risk of exposure to blood borne viruses.

Rubella Not specifically offered to personnel deploying Op GRANBY Offered to non-immune females to enhance protection and to non-immune health care workers to prevent transmission to patients.

Smallpox Routine vaccination of UK Service personnel against smallpox ceased in the early 1980s. Therefore some Service personnel who participated in Operation GRANBY could have been vaccinated against smallpox earlier in their careers. MOD is aware of one member of the Armed Forces who served in the 1990–1991 Gulf Conflict who was vaccinated against smallpox in January 1991 by private arrangement. Being rolled out to a cohort including Nuclear, Chemical and Biological specialists and certain medical personnel, including some who have deployed to the Gulf region.

Immunisation	Position during operation GRANBY	Current Position
Poliomyelitis	Offered to all non-immune personnel. Administered by mouth.	Offered to all non-immune personnel. Administered by mouth.
Tuberculosis	Recruits without a BCG immunisation scar and who were not shown to be immune were offered BCG immunisation.	Recruits without a BCG immunisation scare and who are not shown to be immune were offered BCG immunisation.
Meningococal meningitis	In August 1990, immunisation against meningococcal meningitis strains A and C was recommended for all personnel serving in the Gulf. By 15 September 1990, the immunisation was no longer recommended except for medical personnel and personnel who may be at risk by way of frequent contact with host nation personnel. Immunisation against meningococal meningitis strains A and C involved one vaccination which was effective against both strains.	Immunisation against meningogoccal meningitis offered to those deploying to a high risk area, where the length of the deployment, or the activities to be undertaken place them at risk.
Typhoid	Offered to all personnel. Administered with tetanus vaccine as one combined immunisation	Typhoid vaccine offered to all personnel. May be combined with Hepatitis A as a single combined vaccine if both required. No combined typhoid and tetanus preparation now available.
Tetanus	Offered to all personnel, administered with typhoid vaccine as one combined immunisation	Offered to all personnel. May be administered with diphtheria vaccine as one combined immunisation if both are required.
Diphtheria	Offered to all non-immune personnel	Offered to all non-immune personnel. May be administered with tetanus vaccine as one combined immunisation if both required.
Hepatitis A	Unavailable. Certain occupational groups, such as those handling food and water supplies, may have been offered a Gamma Globulin immunisation. MOD is aware of one individual who was part of a medical unit that served in Operation GRANBY who is recorded as having received Gamma Globulin	Hepatitis A vaccine now available and is offered to all regular personnel and mobilised reservists. It may be given with typhoid as a single combined vaccine if both required.
Yellow Fever	Offered routinely to Servicemen Servicewomen were only to be immunised if they were travelling to a region where yellow fever was endemic. However, MOD is aware of records for Servicewomen who served with a unit that deployed to the Gulf as routinely receiving yellow fever immunisation	All regular personnel immunised on joining the Armed Forces with re-immunisations every 10 years. Reserve personnel are offered immunisation if mobilised.
Cholera	Offered to all personnel deploying	Not offered—no longer recommended by World Health Organisation.
Plague	Offered to all personnel deploying	Not offered.
Anthrax	Offered to all personnel deploying	Being rolled out as a routine immunisation for all UK personnel.
Pertussis	Offered as adjuvant for anthrax vaccine to all personnel deploying	Not offered
Rabies	Not specifically offered to personnel deploying on Op GRANBY	Offered to personnel who work with animals, including dog handlers and veterinarians
Hepatitis B	Offered to medical personnel	Offered to medical personnel and those at occupational risk of exposure to blood borne viruses.
Rubella	Not specifically offered to personnel deploying Op GRANBY	Offered to non-immune females to enhance protection and to non-immune health care workers to prevent transmission to patients.
Smallpox	Routine vaccination of UK Service personnel against smallpox ceased in the early 1980s. Therefore some Service personnel who participated in Operation GRANBY could have been vaccinated against smallpox earlier in their careers. MOD is aware of one member of the Armed Forces who served in the 1990–1991 Gulf Conflict who was vaccinated against smallpox in January 1991 by private arrangement.	Being rolled out to a cohort including Nuclear, Chemical and Biological specialists and certain medical personnel, including some who have deployed to the Gulf region.

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