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15 Jul 2004 : Column 1289W—continued
Employment Tribunals
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many claims have been made against her Department at employment tribunals in each year since 1997; [182757]
(2) how much money her Department spent (a) settling and (b) contesting claims registered at employment tribunals in each year since 1997. [182758]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 12 July 2004]: Information prior to 1999 is not available.
The remaining information can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Means-tested Benefits
Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the means-tested benefits available through her Department and the agencies for which it is responsible (a) in May 1997 and (b) now. [182591]
Ms Hewitt [holding answer 12 July 2004]: The Department did not provide any means-tested benefits in May 1997 and does not do so now.
Milton Haven
Lembit Öpik:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has had with the Milford Haven Port Authority in connection with the proposed development of the liquefied natural gas handling facilities within the port by Petroplus; what
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discussions his Department has had on safety matters with the Port Authority; and if he will make a statement. [179863]
Mr. Timms: None. The Department's regulatory role in relation to this project concerns issues of economic regulation. The particular issues are the future regime for regulated third party access, and the associated exemption arrangements (which will be administered by Ofgem); and an exemption from the requirement for a Gas Transporter licence (on which the Department is preparing to consult).
Non-departmental Public Bodies
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many non-departmental public bodies for which her Department is responsible have been (a) established and (b) abolished since 1997. [182951]
Ms Hewitt: The information is as follows:
25 non-departmental public bodies—10 executive, 14 advisory and one tribunal—have been established since 1997.
24 non-departmental public bodies—four executive and 20 advisory—have been abolished since 1997.
Nuclear Research
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what Government money is being spent on nuclear research in 2004–05. [183080]
Mr. Timms [holding answer 13 July 2004]: The Government funds projects on civil nuclear research through two of the Research Councils (Engineering and Physical Science Research Council and Natural Environment Research Council). Many of these projects are spread over a number of years, with no precise allocation of funds to each year. It is also possible that money will be allocated to further projects during the course of this year. Therefore it is not possible to give an exact figure for Government spend on nuclear research in 2004–05.
Research includes fission (approx £5.5 million over four years) 1 , fusion (£48 million over four years) 2 , nuclear physics (current level of support covering the period from 1999 to 2008 is £27.15 million) 3 , and related areas 4 .
DEFRA provides around £500,000 per annum for research on radioactive waste management issues.
1 Fission
A small number of projects are currently funded by EPSRC in nuclear fission power, with a value of £565,000, through the responsive mode mechanism. The subjects include plant material research, improved waste management techniques and improved energy extraction methods.
EPSRC are commissioning a 'Keeping the Nuclear Option Open' programme, worth £5 million over the next four years (of R&D related to the current, ongoing and potential future operation of fission power in the UK). The EPSRC also supports grants in a number of related, underpinning fields such as materials for reactor design and radionuclide chemistry.
2 Fusion
The UK's domestic fusion programme is undertaken by the UKAEA (UK Atomic Energy Authority), situated at Culham. University and student involvement in this area was recently boosted by the award of EPSRC industrial collaborative (CASE) studentships to Culham. Funding for fusion in 2003–04 was £15.6 million, of which £9 million for the domestic programme,
- including staff salaries and £6.6 million for the UK's host contribution for operating JET (Joint European Torus). The support of £15.6 million was provided on a yearly basis, but starting from April 2004 this support has been consolidated with a four-year grant of £48 million. This is based on a provision of £15.6 million for years 1 and 2, £9 million for year 3 and £6 million for year 4 and includes an allowance for inflation.
Additionally, EPSRC supports a portfolio of research in plasma physics, related to magnetic and inertial confinement fusion (current level of support allocated to research grants through responsive mode in this area totals approximately £4.5 million since April 2000).
3 Nuclear Physics
EPSRC's nuclear physics research portfolio is supported entirely through the responsive mode and, as of February 2004, the current level of support is £27.15 million.
4 Related Areas
Research is also funded through PhD studentships via the doctoral training account (DTA); however, full figures for how many are relevant to nuclear research are not yet available.
Prescription-only Medicines (Vets)
Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what consultations her Department has (a) had and (b) planned on regulatory changes to the prescription-only medicines regime for veterinary practices; [183248]
(2) when she expects to publish a statutory instrument for the future regulation of prescription-only medicines for animals. [183251]
Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answers 12 July 2004]: The Department has already consulted with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the British Veterinary Association and the British Small Animal Veterinary Association on the remedies proposed by the Competition Commission in their report on the supply of prescription only veterinary medicines.
There will be a public consultation on the draft statutory instrument to implement the changes. This will be published shortly.
Renewables Obligation Order
Mr. Meale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the objectives are of grants connected to the Renewables Obligation Order 2002. [183555]
Mr. Timms: There are no grants connected to the Renewables Obligation Order 2002. Under the Renewables Obligation, licensed suppliers have to supply a specified and growing proportion of their electricity from eligible renewable energy sources.
The Government are providing capital grant support to a range of renewable energy projects particularly in the areas of offshore wind, biomass, photovoltaics and solar water heating. The purpose of these is to provide additional support for demonstration projects for renewables technologies that are not yet economic with support from the renewables obligation alone.
Scientific Advisory Committees
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government will publish guidance for scientific advisory committees on how their published reports may express scientific disagreements. [184010]
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Ms Hewitt: The Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees provides detailed guidance on the operations of such committees and their relationship with Government. Sections 61 through to 67 set out the procedures for arriving at conclusions, dealing with dissenting views, and the publication of documents.
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Government will take steps to protect individual members of scientific advisory committees from litigation based on allegations of negligent mis-statement which may follow publication of their scientific views as part of the committees' work. [184011]
Ms Hewitt: The Code of Practice sets out the way in which scientific advisory committees should reach and present their views. Section 34–35 addresses potential liabilities of, and indemnity for committee members.
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