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Internet Access

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to help small and micro businesses counter their proportionally greater cost of maintaining access to the internet than larger businesses; and what assessment her Department has made of (a) the price difference between commercial and household access charges for small and micro businesses and (b) the price difference between narrowband dial-up offers and broadband offers. [157207]

Mr. Timms: Government action to help small business maintain access to the Internet include the following improvements to the R&D Tax Credit with an extension of the first year ICT capital allowances as a result of the Budget for 2003 to 2004:

A reduction in the minimum tax-deductible allowance for IT equipment from £25,000 to £10,000 has enabled more small and medium sized enterprise to claim the SME Tax Credit;

An extension of 100 per cent. of the first year capital allowances for small businesses investing in information and communications technology for another year.

In January 2004, the Department produced guidelines on Home Computing Initiatives in association with Dfes and the Cabinet Office to help businesses take advantage of the £500 annual tax exemption on loaned computer introduced by the Chancellor in 1999. This exemption enables businesses to loan computers to their employees as a tax-free benefit and helps smaller businesses maximise organisational performance through improved ICT skills.

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A mass-market broadband solution defined as broadband priced to target residential and small businesses alike is available to approximately 85 per cent. of the UK population. This definition excludes more expensive high-capacity leased lines frequently used by larger firms.

Oftel's Business Use of the Internet: Small and Medium Business Survey (Q 14, August 2003), revealed that 44 per cent. of UK SMEs included in the survey with broadband internet access having previously used a narrowband connection, decided to upgrade because broadband was a similar price to their previous internet connection.

National Business Angels Network

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 2 February 2004, Official Report, column 647W, on the National Business Angels Network, if she will make a statement on the effectiveness of the National Business Angels Network. [155358]

Nigel Griffiths: An external evaluation of the National Business Angels Network took place early in 2003 that examined all aspects of its operation, including its matchmaking activities. The Department no longer funds this element of the National Business Angels Network's operations.

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the role of the National Business Angels Network in the Single Pathway to Market initiative; and what (a) administrative and (b) programme funding it will receive from her Department for each year between 2004 and 2008. [157199]

Nigel Griffiths: The National Business Angels Network is a private company and its role in the Single Pathway to Market is entirely a matter for the company and its Board. The Department is not providing any funding for this initiative.

Nuclear Decommissioning

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the effect of the cost of nuclear decommissioning over the next 10 years on the price of electricity. [158535]

Mr. Timms: The Department has not made such an assessment. Electricity prices, including those for electricity generated by BNFL and British Energy (BE), are determined by the market under NETA and reflect the underlying market situation, giving appropriate signals to enable market players to respond.

From April 2005, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) will take responsibility for the decommissioning and clean up of BNFL's nuclear sites and for the Magnox fleet of nuclear power stations, pending their decommissioning and eventual closure. The revenue accrued from Magnox generation will contribute towards the NDA's clean up costs.

Under BE's proposed restructuring plan, the Government will take financial responsibility for the company's historic spent fuel liabilities and will

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underwrite BE's new arrangements for funding decommissioning and uncontracted liabilities to the extent that BE's contributions are insufficient.

Radioactive Waste

Mr. Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she made to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the future of Nirex Ltd. (a) in advance of and (b) following the announcement on 16 July 2003 by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on making Nirex independent of industry. [158644]

Mr. Timms: Disclosure of this information—internal advice and discussion—is covered by exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information between Government Departments and it has not been the practice of successive Governments to disclose exchanges of this nature.

Sakhalin II

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account she will take of the potential impact of building onshore pipelines through salmon spawning streams when assessing the Sakhalin II phase 2 oil and gas project under consideration for support by the Export Credits Guarantee Department. [157905]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: ECGD and the other potential lenders are still discussing the river crossing methods with Sakhalin Energy and want to ensure that the chosen methods are environmentally acceptable.

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Sakhalin II phase 2 oil and gas project under consideration for support by the Export Credit Guarantee Department will involve construction of an undersea pipeline through the feeding ground of the western grey whale. [158074]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Sakhalin Energy's plan is for an undersea pipeline to cross the southern point of the whales' northern feeding ground. ECGD is awaiting further information on this issue and will want to be sure that the potential impact on the Western Gray Whales is minimised. I am aware of the range of issues to which this project gives rise and I will approve support only if I am satisfied that these have been addressed.

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when a decision on whether to support the Sakhalin II phase 2 will be taken by the Export Credit and Guarantee Department. [158075]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Merionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) on 26 February 2004, Official Report, columns 406–07W.

I am aware of the range of issues to which this project gives rise, and I will approve support only if I am satisfied that these have been satisfactorily addressed.

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Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account she intends to take of the risk and potential impact of earthquake damage to the on and offshore oil and gas pipelines on Sakhalin Island when she assesses the Sakhalin II phase 2 project for support by the Export Credit Guarantee Department. [158081]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: Sakhalin Island is in an active earthquake zone. During due diligence on the Sakhalin II project, ECGD will want reassurance that effective measures are being taken by Sakhalin Energy Investment Company to minimise any potential damage to the facilities of the project including both on and off-shore oil and gas pipelines, from earthquakes.

Details of action being taken by SEIC to mitigate the risk of damage from earthquakes can be found on their website www.sakhalinienergy.com.

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Sakhalin II phase 2 oil and gas project under consideration for support by the Export Credit Guarantee Department will involve the dumping of waste into the Gulf of Aniva. [158271]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: I am informed that the Sakhalin Energy wants to dispose of dredge sediment at a site in the Gulf of Aniva that has been licensed by the Russian Authorities. ECGD and the other potential lenders want to be sure that any disposal at this site is environmentally acceptable.

Mr. Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what formal consultation has been undertaken by the Export Credit Guarantee Department on the Sakhalin II phase 2 oil and gas project. [158273]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: ECGD publicly disclosed its consideration of the project and invited comments on 23 May 2003.

ECGD officials have also taken part in meetings and corresponded with relevant stakeholders, including environmental NGOs, from both Sakhalin and the UK.

Sakhalin Energy has undertaken public consultation on Sakhalin and will shortly be publishing an updated Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan.

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