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Oil Production Equipment Exports to Sudan

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have received applications for Export Credits Guarantee Department cover in respect of exports to the Sudan related to the development and production of oil; if so, for what amounts; and whether such cover can be made conditional on the making and implementation of an internal peace agreement.[HL3074]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: One application was received in 1997 but no ECGD cover was provided.

British Telecom

The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consultations, if any, they have had with British Telecom in respect of the forthcoming rollout of ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subcriber Line), particularly in terms of the service's availability and affordability to home-users and single-user businesses.[HL3046]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: DTI officials have discussed BT's plans for its ADSL rollout with it on a number of occasions, but the details of the rollout are a commercial matter for BT. The independent telecommunications regulator, OFTEL, has been working to ensure effective competition in the provision of ADSL and other broadband services. Once BT has installed ADSL on local lines, it will be required to give service providers access to its upgraded system on non-discriminatory terms. OFTEL is also requiring BT to open up its local loop to other operators so that they can compete in the provision of broadband access. The Government believe that competition, both from other ADSL providers and other high speed services such as broadband cable, is the best way to ensure that access to broadband services is affordable for both consumers and small businesses.

The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that British Telecom's proposal to enforce a patent on the concept of "hyperlinks" is consistent with the Government's strategy for access to the Internet; and, if not, what action they are proposing to take to remedy the situation.[HL3047]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Companies are entitled to seek to establish and enforce patent rights in the interests of their shareholders. British Telecom is a

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private company and its actions in this area are a matter for itself.

Factortame Judgment: Payment of Claims

Lord Merlyn-Rees asked Her Majesty's Govenrment:

How they intend to meet expenditure relating to payment of claims following judgment against the UK in the Factortame case.[HL3160]

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Hayman): Parliamentary approval to expenditure arising from the Factortame case is being sought in the Main Estimate for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Class X, Vote 2). Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £9,735 million is being met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

Tuberculosis Cases in London

Lord Harris of Haringey asked Her Majesty's Government:

What were the numbers of cases of tuberculosis notified in each of the London health authorities in each of the last five years.[HL2981]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The information requested is provided in the table.

Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre--London Tuberculosis Notifications 1995-1999

District Health Authority	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Barking and Havering	43	30	41	43	44
Barnet	66	57	63	77	50
Bexley and Greenwich	43	59	72	87	81
Brent and Harrow	272	257	259	236	286
Bromley	13	12	21	13	26
Camden and Islington	135	138	182	187	171
Croydon	47	60	64	83	87
Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow	241	287	290	350	351
East London and The City	398	402	427	438	442
Enfield and Haringey	140	154	190	167	198
Hillingdon	56	78	75	98	79
Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster	128	162	156	124	153
Kingston and Richmond	27	25	19	31	31
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham	198	235	226	241	242
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth	104	103	132	106	104
Redbridge and Waltham Forest	131	131	194	163	164
London Region Total	2,042	2,190	2,411	2,444	2,509

Source:

Public Health Laboratory Service.

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