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Industrial Disease

Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the ratio is of live to posthumous claims for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and how many new claims were received in each of the last 10 weeks, broken down by area. [147266]

Nigel Griffiths: The ratio of claims is 47 per cent. live and 53 per cent. deceased.

The number of claims received is:

W/E	Scotland	England	Wales	Total
2003
2 November	638	6,762	625	8,025
9 November	419	7,039	302	7,760
16 November	471	6,021	977	7,469
23 November	535	7,189	1,322	9,046
30 November	373	5,833	1,506	7,712
7 December	694	6,395	1,715	8,804
14 December	602	5,136	3,509	9,247
21 December	542	5,122	1,495	7,159
28 December	71	1,097	68	1,236
2004
4 January	60	1,890	64	2,014

Investment Rules

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the development of non-discriminatory multilateral rules for investment. [146588]

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Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government remain convinced that there are potential economic and social benefits to be gained from a multilateral rules on investment for both developed and developing countries. However, we must take account of the views of developing countries, many of whom have expressed their strong opposition to taking forward negotiations particularly in the areas of investment and competition.

I, therefore, welcome the fact that EU Trade Ministers agreed on 2 December that the European Community should "unbundle" the four issues and explore alternative, more flexible approaches, including the possibility of removing some, or all, of the Singapore issues from the Doha Round.

Iraq (Contracts)

Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the opportunities for (a) United Kingdom and (b) Iraqi companies to win contracts and sub-contracts from the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq; and if she will make a statement. [147528]

Ms Hewitt: We wish to see UK companies play a substantial role in the reconstruction process in Iraq. The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) maintains an open system for the tendering process and several UK companies have already won contracts to assist in the reconstruction in Iraq. A further request for proposals has recently been released by the CPA Project Management Office which provides additional opportunities for UK companies to bid for contracts and sub-contracts.

Iraqi companies are eligible to bid for both the prime contracts and sub-contracts.

Leak Inquiries

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list occasions on which her Department have conducted an inquiry into alleged leaks from members of staff since 1997; and if she will list the occasions on which the names of those persons accused of leaking information from her Department have been made public (a) by the Government and (b) by way of another source. [147193]

Ms Hewitt: The information is as follows:

1997


The DTI conducted nine leak inquiries and assisted other Government Departments in a further four inquiries.


1998


The DTI conducted four leak inquiries and assisted other Government Departments in a further three inquiries.


1999


The DTI conducted one leak inquiry and assisted other Government Departments in a further four inquiries.


2000


The DTI conducted one leak inquiry and assisted other Government Departments in a further three inquiries.


2001


The DTI conducted no leak inquiries and was not asked to assist in any leak inquiry conducted by another Government Department.

14 Jan 2004 : Column 786W

2002


The DTI conducted one leak inquiry and assisted another Government Department in one further inquiry.


2003


The DTI conducted one leak inquiry and assisted other Government Departments in a further two inquiries.

On no occasion has the name of any person accused of leaking information been made public.

World Trade Round

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on how many occasions she had discussions with Pascal Lamy between 10 and 14 September 2003. [146594]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend, and I, had various discussions with Pascal Lamy between 10 and 14 September 2003. The UK delegation was in close contact with the European Commission, at all levels, throughout the duration of the WTO ministerial in Cancun.

Nuclear Energy

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the basis is for the value of British Energy's spent fuel stockpile under paragraph 10.2, page 27 of the Historic Liabilities Funding Agreement between the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, British Energy Generation (UK) Limited, British Energy Generation Ltd, Newco1 and Newco2, dated 1 October 2003. [147622]

Mr. Timms: British Energy's spent fuel represents a significant liability, provisions for which are set out in the Company's published accounts. Under the terms agreed for the restructuring of British Energy, the Government will take financial responsibility for the company's historic spent fuel liabilities, but British Energy will retain title to the fuel. In order to give the Government maximum flexibility in dealing with this fuel, for which it will be financially responsible, the Historic Liabilities Funding Agreement contains the option for the Government or another body nominated by the Government to take title to the fuel from British Energy for the nominal sum of £1.

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the implications for security of nuclear materials at Sellafield of the report released on 18 December 2003 of nuclear material unaccounted for at UKAEA, BNFL and URENCO nuclear sites. [147624]

Mr. Timms: There are no security implications associated with the published "materials unaccounted for" (MUF) figures. The MUF values for any accountancy period need to be read in the context of the processing of materials that occurred over that period, and the published figures relating to Sellafield are within acceptable limits. There is no evidence to suggest that there have been any real losses or gains of nuclear material.

Patents

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer to question

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reference 145352 of 7 January, if she will list the 13 animals to which patents have been granted; and in each case, to which part of the animal the patent applies. [147738]

Ms Hewitt: The animals are nematode worms (four patents), salmon (one patent), trout, (one patent), Zebrafish (one patent), mice (one patent), and non-human mammals in general (five patents). In each case, the patent relates to the whole organism.

Regional Selective Assistance

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) new jobs were created and (b) jobs were safeguarded following allocation of Regional Selective Assistance applications in each of the last five years, broken down by region. [147163]

Jacqui Smith: This information can be found in the Industrial Development Act Annual Report published by the Stationery Office and placed in the Library of the House.

Singapore Issues

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the stance of her Department was on the Singapore issues at meetings of European trade ministers and officials before 15 December 2003. [146634]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government remain convinced that there are potential economic and social benefits to be gained from the Singapore issues for both developed and developing countries. However, we must take account of the views of developing countries, many of whom have expressed their strong opposition to taking forward negotiations, particularly in the areas of investment and competition.

I, therefore, welcome the fact that EU Trade Ministers agreed on 2 December that the European Community should "unbundle" the four issues and explore alternative, more flexible approaches, including the possibility of removing some, or all, of the Singapore issues from the Doha Round.

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is on the Singapore issue of trade facilitation. [146591]

Mr. Mike O'Brien : The Government fully support the EU objective of securing an, ideally multilateral, agreement within the WTO on trade facilitation. Research by the World Bank and the OECD, together with the European Commission's own analysis, show the potential for savings and welfare gains. Proportionately developing countries, in particular, stand to gain most.

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