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Mineworkers' Vibration White Finger
Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in respect of mineworkers' vibration white finger (VWF), a substantial number of claims are being denied at a later stage, even though such claims had previously been accepted; and whether they will instruct their claims handlers to honour the original decisions.[HL5334]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: In respect of mineworker's vibration white finger, a small number of claims were accepted, only to be denied at a later stage.
In the light of the substantial number of claims which have been registered so far—146,209 as of 30
June 2002—by IRISC, the department's claims handlers, there have been a small minority of claimants who had their exposure to vibratory tools accepted and were medically assessed but subsequently had their exposure revised. The claims were therefore denied.Four-hundredth Anniversay of Union: Possible Stamp Issue
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the postal authorities propose to celebrate the four-hundredth anniversary of the joining of the crowns of Scotland and England in 2003.[HL5440]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: It has been the practice of successive governments that decisions relating to the day-to-day running of Consignia and its units, including the Royal Mail and its stamp programme, are the responsibility of Consignia's management. As the noble Lord's Question relates to a matter for the company, I have asked Consignia's chief executive to reply direct.
Ofgem: Revised Rules and the Marine Industry
Lord Corbett of Castle Vale asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will place in the Library of the House (a) a copy of their draft guidance to marine operators and the leisure marine industry on the maximum resale price provisions of the Utilities Act 2000; and (b) a list of those in the marine industry, including operators, landlords and tenants, consulted in the preparation of the guidance.[HL5561]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) is currently preparing guidance for both landlords and tenants, including those in the marine industry, on the implementation of the revised rules, which take effect on 1 January 2003. The guidance will include examples of price calculations and will be expanded and updated as necessary. A printed copy of the guidance will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses, together with a list of those individuals and organisations (including those from within the marine industry) who responded to Ofgem's consultations.
Russian Federation: Patent Rights
Lord Jopling asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What measures have been taken by (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the European Union and (c) European Union member states to enforce patents or to encourage patent protection in the Russian Federation.(HL5631)
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Both the UK and its European partners are conscious of the importance to industry of encouraging the Russian Federation to bring its patent and other intellectual property rights (IPR) legislation into compliance with international standards and have been working actively towards that end.
The UK has participated in IPR seminars in Russia, offering advice and training material produced by the UK Patent Office and encouraging ratification of international IPR treaties. Representatives of ROSPATENT, the Russian Patent Office, have also made study visits to the UK Patent Office.
The European Patent Organisation, of which the UK is a founder member, has provided ROSPATENT with access to its world-class patent search and technical literature database. Expert tuition in the set-up and use of the database has also been provided. This is of significant benefit to both Russia and European industry to assist in the determination of the validity of patent rights granted in the Russian Federation. Technical cooperation and assistance with ROSPATENT has also facilitated the electronic scanning of patent documents.
Within the framework of the EU-Russia Sub-Committee on Justice and Home Affairs, both parties have signed the partnership and co-operative agreement. Detailed negotiations highlighted the areas where Russian patent and other intellectual property rights are inadequate and have led to a common action plan on IPR. Assistance is provided on the preparation of new legislation which will be compliant with international norms, such as the WTO TRIPS Agreement. Technical assistance funds have also been provided. As a result of negotiations, enforcement procedures will be within the new intellectual property legislation. This will lead to more effective enforcement procedures. Russia has already introduced amendments to strengthen sanctions imposed in respect of trademark violations. Improved enforcement provisions for other areas of intellectual property rights, including patents, will follow.
Spain has provided technical assistance in the form of documentation relating to trademarks and brands, industrial design and patents. Germany has hosted a study visit from the Russian Federation to gain an insight into the structure and practices of the German Patent Office. Advice and information were supplied on e-commerce, patent fees and training of staff. A separate visit by judges from the Supreme Commercial Court of the Russian Federation visited the Federal Patent Court in Munich, the German Patent and Trademark Office and the Patent Lawyer's Association to exchange experiences within the field of protection of industrial property. Germany also has an agreement with the Russian Federation regarding the exchange of literature and patent search and examination results.
Russian Federation: Nuclear Safety
Lord Jopling asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What assessment they have made of the likelihood of the occurrence of another nuclear incident similar to that of Chernobyl, either in the Russian Federation or in one of the Soviet-built reactors in the former states of the Soviet Union.[HL5716]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government maintain a close interest in the safety of Soviet-designed nuclear power plants, both as a signatory to the IAEA Nuclear Safety Convention and through their membership of the G7 Nuclear Safety Working Group.
The Chernobyl nuclear power plant incident occurred as a result of the operation of the plant in an unauthorised and hazardous manner. Since that time all Soviet-designed, first generation reactors have been subject to substantial safety upgrades for which the UK has provided funding either bilaterally or through multilateral programmes.
In general most later generation Soviet-designed nuclear power plants now approach or meet western standards of safety. However, concern still remains over the continued operation of Chernobyl type RBMK reactors and first generation pressurised water reactors of Soviet design, which cannot be fully upgraded.
Although the chance of a repeat of a Chernobyl type incident is considered remote, the Government, with G7 partners and the EU, continue to press Russia for the earliest possible closure and decommissioning of their first generation reactors. Closure of such plants is also being made a condition for the EU accession of Lithuania, Bulgaria and Slovakia. The EU is leading negotiations with Armenia, with a view to the closure of their one nuclear power plant. All nuclear power plants of concern within the Ukraine are now closed, with the final reactor on the Chernobyl site being taken out of service in December 2000.
EU Member States: Energy Resources
Lord Jopling asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the European Union has any fixed rules regarding the degree of dependence, in percentage terms, of any European Union member state on energy resources from any one source; and, if so, how this will affect the candidature for membership of the European Union of those countries which are heavily dependent on Russia for their energy supplies.[HL5717]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The European Union does not have rules regarding the degree of dependence, whether in percentage or any other terms, of any EU member state on energy resources from a single country source. From this it follows that candidate countries for EU membership will not be restricted in the extent to which they import their energy supplies from Russia or from any other producer country. However, under a policy administered by the Euratom Supply Agency, the
EU's nuclear utilities are expected to contract with Russia for no more than some 20 per cent of their natural uranium and enrichment requirements. The aim is to ensure a diversification of sources of supply so that the EU does not become over-dependent on any single source of supply.
Nevertheless, under Euratom treaty provisions, agreements or contracts for the supply of nuclear fuel to candidate countries in existence at the time of accession will not be prevented from being implemented provided that they are communicated to the European Commission. The European Commission has made known its intention to submit a Communication to the Council incorporating a mandate for negotiating an agreement with Russia on trade in nuclear materials. We understand that one of the factors under consideration will be the position of the candidate countries as a number of them are believed to be fixed to uranium supply contracts with Russia that exceed the EU's existing limits.
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