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Coral-Ladbrokes Merger
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the proposed sale of Coral to Ladbrokes; and if he will make a statement. [54668]
Dr. Howells: The Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) have delivered their report on the acquisition by Ladbrokes of the Coral betting business to the Secretary of State. The report will be published as soon as practicable.
New Environmental Technologies
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the potential market for British manufacturers of new environmental technologies. [54849]
Mr. Battle:
Research suggests that the total global environmental market is worth $280 billion now and likely to grow to over $640 billion by 2010. More details can be found in "Global Environmental Markets: An Update", published by the Government's Joint Environmental Markets Unit.
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Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of the (a) the Post Office and (b) Parcelforce. [54655]
Mr. Mandelson:
As announced by my right hon. Friend the President of the Council when President of the Board of Trade, on 6 April 1998, Official Report, column 63, the Government plan to give the Post Office greater commercial freedom so that it can meet the challenges of the domestic and international markets, and deliver improved efficiency, effectiveness and service standards. The Government commissioned a review of public sector options for achieving this. It encompasses consideration of Parcelforce. The review is proceeding apace and I hope to announce our proposals in the Autumn.
Mr. Llew Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bury, North (Mr. Chaytor) of 9 July 1998, Official Report, column 631, when he expects the transport of spent fuel from Germany to Sellafield will resume. [54419]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
I have been asked to reply.
My Department has responsibilities for the safe transport of radioactive materials. My German counterpart with these responsibilities announced, on 25 May, a ten point plan which, when fully implemented, would allow shipments to resume. At present I am unaware of any established timetable for this implementation. My officials are in contact with their German counterparts and will give any help possible to enable them to bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion. I must emphasise that the resumption of shipments of spent fuel within Germany is a matter for the German Authorities.
Mr. Wilkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total cost to public funds of his recent visit to Brazil including the cost incurred by accompanying officials broken down by (a) travel costs and (b) accommodation and subsistence. [52840]
Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 28 July 1998]: The cost of my trip to Brazil, as Minister without Portfolio, was approximately £6,400 for travel and £328 for accommodation. I was not accompanied by officials from the UK.
Mr. Wilkinson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the purpose of his recent visit to Brazil; and how many officials accompanied him on the visit. [52839]
Mr. Mandelson
[holding answer 28 July 1998]: As Minister without Portfolio I undertook an official programme of meetings and visits in Brazil to cement the close personal relations between my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Cardoso, and to deepen ties between the two governments and countries so as to strengthen our economic partnership. This programme included meetings with President Cardoso and Government Ministers and speeches at the University of Brasilia and the British Chamber of Commerce in Sao Paulo. I was not
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accompanied by officials from the UK but received excellent support from the British Embassy and the Consulate General in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Mr. Fabricant:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the cost of all research undertaken by his Department since May 1997, excluding the cost of green papers and other public consultation documents drafted by his officials; and if he will list in each case the organisations which undertook that research. [52703]
Ms Jowell
[holding answer 29 July 1998]: The term research covers a wide range of activities from scientific and engineering research through to consultancies and public opinion surveys. The information requested is not held centrally.
Mr. Hepburn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the consultants' report following their review of the invalid vehicle service. [54618]
Mr. Boateng:
We have considered this report carefully and decided to accept the consultants' recommendations that the Invalid Vehicle Service (IVS) should close on 31 March 2003, with help being given to drivers to take up alternative forms of transport. The scheme was closed to new drivers in 1976 and with around 720 invalid three-wheeler vehicles left on the road, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain this service. We now need to plan ahead and safeguard the interests of the remaining drivers. The long lead-in period before closure will give drivers the time to look at all the options available. Those leaving the scheme will be eligible for the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance and drivers will be able to use this to switch to modern four-wheeler cars, scooters, and powered wheelchairs, possibly taking advantage of the Motability scheme. Help with driving lessons and adaptations to vehicles will be given.
Mr. Efford:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the Eleventh Annual report of the Committee for Monitoring Agreements on Tobacco Advertising and Sponsorship. [54619]
Mr. Dobson:
Shortly. Copies will be placed in the Library.
Angela Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to change the debt structure of NHS trusts; and if he will make a statement. [55194]
Mr. Milburn:
The New NHS White Paper made clear the Government's intention to abolish the internal market in the National Health Service and amend the NHS trust financial regime to make it more transparent and more suitable for a public service based partnership. As part of our programme to achieve this aim, we are changing the
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debt structure of NHS trusts. We have already taken steps to stop issuing long-term interest-bearing loans to NHS trusts to finance their capital expenditure. Instead, we are issuing Public Dividend Capital (PDC). The NHS Executive will now be making arrangements to replace existing interest-bearing debt with PDC without the application of premiums or discounts because the Exchequer funds NHS trusts' normal debt servicing costs. This will supersede the present, market driven financial structure, reduce bureaucracy and provide a simpler, clearer and more understandable arrangements, in tune with NHS trusts' status as part of the public sector.
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to address shortages of clinical oncologists. [54933]
Ms Jowell:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 29 July 1998, Official Report, column 380. Clinical oncology is also known as radiotherapy.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 31 March 1998, Official Report, column 510, on departmental transport arrangements, what further changes he has made. [53994]
Ms Jowell:
The Department is working towards the target announced in the White paper, "A New Deal for Transport", that all headquarters buildings and main buildings occupied by executive offices and government offices for the regions should have green transport plans by March 1999 and all other key buildings by March 2000. Work has started on preparing green transport plans but no changes have yet been made to departmental transport arrangements.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many networked computers are currently in use in the National Health Service. [54130]
Mr. Boateng:
This information requested is not available centrally.
Mr. Best:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the advice and practices of the Specialist Workforce Advisory Group on (a) waiting list numbers and (b) the provision of services in smaller hospitals. [54036]
Mr. Boateng:
The Specialty Workforce Advisory Group (SWAG) advises Government about the numbers of doctors in higher specialist training needed to meet estimated requirements for consultants four to six years ahead. SWAG's first set of recommendations was for the year 1996-97. The effect, in terms of the numbers of doctors completing training and taking up consultant posts, and thus contributing to the reduction of waiting lists, is beginning to be felt. SWAG's planning process takes account of the views of the National Health Service and the medical profession about service needs. The
31 Jul 1998 : Column: 782
deployment of consultants supplied through national workforce planning is for trusts and health authorities to determine.
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