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Renewable Energy

Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Renewables Obligation, introduced on 1 April this year, places an obligation on electricity suppliers to supply a specified proportion of their electricity from renewable energy. The levels of obligation will ramp up every year to reach the target of 10 per cent by 2010. This target and the levels of obligation are expressed as percentages of total electricity supplied rather than percentages of all energy generated. The first obligation period runs from 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003. The level of obligation for this first period is set at 3 per cent.

Coal Claims Website

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty's Government:

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Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The initial set-up costs for the coal claims website were £700,000.

The department continues to work with solicitors and its contractors in developing the site and expanding its use. The department has no plans to carry out any full operational review at present.

British Coal Health Liabilities

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will state, both in relation to mineworkers' Vibration White Finger (VWF) and respiratory claims, the precise sums paid by way of costs to Nabarro Nathanson, the solicitors representing the Department of Trade and Industry, in respect of generic work undertaken since the High Court trials.[HL5333]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Since January 1998, when the department took over British Coal health liabilities, it has paid almost £6.5 million to Nabarro Nathanson by way of costs.

Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether it is still the case that in respect of Vibration White Finger (VWF) and respiratory claims, they will, in cases of doubt, take the miner's word in respect of work histories or duties; whether any such decisions have had a positive effect on the processing of claims; if not, why not; and whether any such decisions have been ignored by AON IRISC.[HL5398]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: On respiratory disease claims, where British Coal records clearly state a claimant worked in a particular pit or job but the claimant contends that they worked elsewhere, under the claims handling agreement there is a presumption that the records are correct. If solicitors and their clients can produce further evidence or make a strong case that calls into question the validity of the existing records then that will be taken into account. Where no records exist the department takes the claimant's word.

On VWF claims, similarly British Coal records are used first to confirm the claimant's occupation. If this is disputed, or records cannot ultimately be found, then there is a process for claimants to provide additional evidence to support their contention.

Productivity

Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether United Kingdom productivity is falling; and, if so, why.[HL5362]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Whole economy productivity, on a per-hour worked basis, was 0.5 per cent higher in quarter one 2002 than in the same

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quarter last year. This compares with the latest peak in productivity growth of 3.5 per cent in 2000 quarter one.

Productivity growth is influenced by a wide range of factors and last year's marked slowdown in the world economy clearly dampened output and productivity gains, especially in externally exposed industries and sectors.

GDP is forecast to increase by 2 to 2.5 per cent in 2002, gathering pace during this year as the world economic recovery becomes more broadly based. There are already encouraging signs that productivity growth is beginning to pick up following last year's world downturn. For example, manufacturing productivity in the three months to May was 1.3 per cent higher than in the previous three months, its fastest growth since January 2001.

Tobacco Smuggling

Lord Faulkner of Worcester asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether the Companies Investigation branch investigating the alleged role of British American Tobacco in tobacco smuggling has so far taken advice or evidence regarding BAT's conduct from either the European Union anti-fraud office (OLAF) or the legal team that has been conducting a racketeering action against BAT and other tobacco companies on behalf of the State Governors of Columbia; and if not whether they plan to do so.[HL5421]

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The investigation into allegations that British American Tobacco was implicated in smuggling are continuing. Confidential investigation is being conducted under Section 447 of the Companies Act 1985. The department does not comment on any aspects of such inquiries.

Trade in Food

Lord Carter asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What was the total (excluding drink) of all food imports, all food exports and the deficit in the trade in food in the 10 years 1992–2001.[HL5497]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): The following table shows the value and balance of UK trade in food between 1992–2001.

(£ million)

YearExportsImportsBalance of Trade
19924,62710,672-6,045
19935,09110,807-5,715
19945,64211,662-6,020
19956,43912,917-6,478
19966,24113,929-7,689
19975,98313,341-7,358
19985,69213,130-7,437
19995,31513,094-7,780
20005,14812,883-7,736
20014,77613,785-9,009
Grand Total54,953126,220-71,267

Crown Copyright

Source: HM Customs and Excise

Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities & Food) Accounts and Trade, ESD, Defra.


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Lord Carter asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What was the total (excluding drink) of all temperate food imports, all temperate food exports and the trade deficit or surplus in temperate food in the 10 years 1992-2001.[HL5498]

Lord Whitty: The following table shows the value and balance of UK trade in indigenous food between 1992-2001.

(£ million)
YearExportsImportsBalance of Trade
1992 3,725 6,326 –2,602
1993 4,023 6,264 –2,240
1994 4,446 6,657 –2,210
1995 5,174 7,480–2,307
1996 4,894 8,049 –3,156
1997 4,624 7,753 –3,128
1998 4,330 7,972 –3,642
1999 4,057 8,171–4,114
2000 3,951 8,189 –4,238
2001 3,570 8,908 –5,338
Grand Total42,79475,769–32,975

Copyright

Source: HM Customs and Excise

Data prepared by Statistics (Commodities & Food) Accounts and Trade, ESD, Defra.


Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner

Baroness David asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What are the plans for the offices of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England.[HL5591]

The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): The current Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England, Sir Michael Buckley, plans to retire later this year.

Her Majesty has been pleased to approve the appointment of Ann Abraham as Sir Michael's successor as Parliamentary Commissioner for

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Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England. Ann Abraham, who is currently the Legal Services Ombudsman, will take up appointment later this year.

I am grateful to Sir Michael for the dedication and commitment he has shown over the past five and a half years, and for the valuable contribution he has made to public life.

Information Commissioner

Baroness Hilton of Eggardon asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Who the new Information Commissioner will be.[HL5592]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Prime Minister has announced that the Queen has approved the appointment of Mr Richard Thomas as the new Information Commissioner, to succeed Mrs Elizabeth France CBE later this year. Mr Thomas is currently Director of Public Policy at the law firm Clifford Chance. He is expected to take up his duties as commissioner on 30 November.

Ministerial Overseas Visits

Baroness Lockwood asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they will list (a) government expenditure on ministerial overseas visits for the financial years 1996-97 to 2001-02 and (b) all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002, including the cost, destination and purpose of each visit.[HL5593]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Expenditure on ministerial overseas visits for the period requested is estimated as follows:

Year £ million
1996-977.9
2 May 1997 to 31 March19986.4
1998-994.9
1999-20004.6
2000-014.7
2001-025.6

The figure for 2001-02 reflects payments made so far for travel undertaken in this period; a few bills have yet to be submitted to departments for payment.

A list of all visits overseas undertaken by cabinet ministers costing £500 or more during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The list provides details of the date, destination and purpose of all such visits and the cost of ministers' travel and accommodation where appropriate.


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