Written Answers of 2 September 1998

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Press Office
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people currently work for his Department's Press Office. [54468]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: There are 23 staff, including administrative support, currently working in the Department of Trade and Industry's Press Office. In addition, there are 6 vacant posts in the process of being filled.

  EU Working Time Directive
  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will defer the coming into force of the Working Time Directive from 1 October 1998 to 1 January 1999 to allow more time for consideration of the implementing regulations. [54031]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: The timetable for implementation was announced in February 1998. We published draft regulations for consultation in April 1998. We laid regulations on 30 July 1998, which will come into force on 1 October 1998. There has been plenty of time for consideration of the Government's proposals.

  Foreign Coal Producers (Subsidies)
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals his Department has to take action in respect of the subsidies given to German and Spanish coal producers by their Governments. [54238]

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposes to take in respect of the amount of subsidies given to German and Spanish coal producers by their Governments. [54000]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: In the case of Spain we have formally complained to the European Commission about discriminatory application of limits on the sulphur content of coals from different ECSC resources, and have received assurances that UK coal will be treated on the same basis as Spanish coal. This should open the Spanish market to a range of English deep-mined coals.

  We have also laid a formal complaint against Spanish state aid for coal questioning whether the required criteria of ultimate viability has been fulfilled for all those producers receiving operating aid under the ECSC Coal State Aid code. We are pressing for confirmation from the Spanish authorities that a subsidy of 1 peseta per
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  kilowatt/hour available to Spanish power-station operators burning Spanish coal is equally available in respect of UK coal.

  In the case of Germany, we conveyed a complaint to the European Commission on behalf of Celtic Energy Ltd. setting out how state aid provided to Sophia Jacoba and Ibbenburen mines led to a distortion in the anthracite market in the ECSC and particularly in the UK. Following an investigation the Commission found there had been abuse of state aid and reached a decision on 29 July requiring repayment of nearly DM 20 million state aid by the German producers. This decision provides UK producers with an assurance that such unfair practices will not recur and should help to open up continental markets for competitive UK exports of anthracite.

  We made representations to the Commission in March 1998 on the proposed merger of the three remaining German hard coal producers, urging the need for full transparency of future state aid, and for further consideration to be given of the assets being acquired by Ruhrkohle. The Commission approved the structure of the merger of the three companies on 29 July but subject to conditions on divestment and segregation of the company's import activities.

  Formal complaints against German state aid for power station anthracite have been submitted by Consolidated Coal and Evans and Reid (the agents for Tower Colliery) and RJB Mining in respect of state aids for German coal production more generally. In June 1998 the Commission approved state aid of DM 10.4 billion for German coal production and 438 billion pesetas for Spanish coal production. I understand that RJB Mining is lodging an appeal to the European Court against these Decisions.

  The Government are monitoring closely the commercial negotiations UK producers are conducting on the export of power-station coal and briquettes to the German market in competition with state-aided German coal.

  It is important that the Commission interprets the Coal State Aids Code strictly and we will continue to press for an open and competitive coal market in Europe.

  Electricity Industry
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of further vertical integration in the electricity industry; and if he will make a statement. [54001]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: Decisions on company structure in the electricity sector are commercial matters subject to any restrictions imposed through licences and, in the case of mergers, to consideration under the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1973.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the reforms which the Government propose to make to the price-setting mechanism for the pool price of electricity.
  [54462]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: The Director General of Electricity Supply published his Report on the Review of Electricity Trading

  865
  Arrangements on 29 July. I shall need to consider the proposals he has put forward before deciding what action to take.

  Mr. Boswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the anticipated demand for new electricity generation capacity, taking account of granted consents and anticipated retirement of coal-fired and Magnox plant. [54893]

  Mr. Battle
  Retirement of all existing coal, oil, or nuclear plant will be a commercial matter for its owners, subject to approval by the regulator who may require it to be offered for sale. Need for new plant will depend on retirement decisions as well as on future demand for electricity.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what target he has set for the proportion of electricity to be produced from renewable sources following the Kyoto agreement. [54823]

  Mr. Battle
  The Government are committed to a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources in line with our manifesto commitment. To this end, I am reviewing policy towards new and renewable sources of energy, including consideration of what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of UK electricity needs from renewables by the year 2010, and how renewables can make an effective contribution to meeting our national and international commitments for future greenhouse gas reductions. The review, which is nearing completion, is examining the status of all the new and renewable energy technologies in the UK industry, and their future prospects in both home and export markets. It is also considering what further research, development, and demonstration is needed for the longer term. I expect to announce the outcome of the review later this year.

  Coal Industry
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the likely number of job losses in the coal industry over the next three years. [54004]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: Levels of employment in the coal-mining industry will depend upon commercial decisions taken by the private sector coal companies.

  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is his estimate of the number of people that will be employed in the coal industry in 2002. [54824]

  Mr. Battle
  Levels of employment in the coal-mining industry will depend upon commercial decisions taken by the private sector coal companies.

  Trade Unions
  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will exempt small and medium sized businesses from his proposed statutory trade union recognition requirements. [54457]
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  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: As stated in the Fairness at Work White Paper, the Government propose to exempt firms employing twenty or fewer employees from the statutory recognition procedure.

  Mr. Bercow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will raise the threshold for the size of firm required to recognise a trade union. [54456]

  Mr. Ian McCartney
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: The Government's current policy on the threshold is as set out in the Fairness at Work White Paper, which was published on 21 May 1998.

  Millennium Dome (Sponsorship)
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, (1) pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow), of 27 July 1998,Official Report, column 14, if he will list the amount of the contributions made by (i) British Telecom, (ii) BSkyB, (iii) Manpower, (iv) Tesco, (v) Marks and Spencer, (vi) British Airways and (vii) BAA plc; [54431]

  (2) pursuant to his oral answer of 27 July 1998, Official Report, column 14, to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow), if he will list each private sector sponsor and the amount of the contribution; [54432]

  (3) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member of Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper) of 24 February 1998, Official Report, column 204, if he will list those companies which had made commitments coming up for detailed negotiation which are now sponsors and the amount of their sponsorship; [54434]

  (4) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper) of 24 February 1998, Official Report, column 204, if he will list those of the 40 potential sponsors who have now made contractual commitments to sponsorship. [54433]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 31 July 1998] As announced by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) in its press release on 24 February 1998, the total sponsorship support from these companies for the Millennium Experience is £58.8 million. Press releases were issued on the same day by British Telecom (BT), BSkyB, Manpower, and Tesco—the first four Founding Partner sponsors. BT's said that it was
  "investing £12 million in the national Millennium programme",
  BSkyB's said that it will be
  "committing a minimum of £l2 million to the project",
  Manpower's said that its president
  "confirmed the £12 million",
  and Tesco's said that their total
  "investment would be £12 million".
  British Airways and BAA together, as confirmed in the NMEC's February press release, are providing £10.8 million. Marks & Spencer was announced as the fifth Founding Partner on 1 June. The Millennium Experience project, and its cash budget, incorporates both the Dome at Greenwich and a linked programme of country-wide initiatives, activities, and events running prior to and during 2000. The Founding Partner and other sponsorships span both aspects of the Experience.
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  Others who have confirmed their support for the Millennium Experience are the Corporation of London, whose press notice on 24 February stated that its £6 million sponsorship is on the basis that it is matched by City business; GEC and BAe, who have both been supporters of the project since its early development phase in 1996. Additionally, Camelot are official ticket distributors through their Lottery terminals.

  I cannot at this stage name other companies in sponsorship discussions with the NMEC, or the potential level of sponsorship support under discussion or negotiation in particular cases. I must respect the commercial confidentiality expected by the companies concerned where they do not wish, at this stage, to announce their involvement. To do otherwise would jeopardise the NMEC's negotiating position and, ultimately, the success of the project.

  Millennium Dome (Sponsorship)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio, pursuant to his answer of 17 July 1998,Official Report, column 316, on the Millennium Experience, what incentives he offers to individuals, companies or other organisations to sponsor zones within the Millennium Dome which are not available to the New Millennium Experience Company; what is the minimum monetary commitment required of them; and when that has to be made available to the New Millennium Experience Company. [52176]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is responsible for all matters relating to sponsorship of the Millennium Experience. Its strategy is to deliver its testing sponsorship target through a range of sponsorship categories each with terms and conditions and benefits commensurate with the level of sponsorship involved. There is no minimum monetary commitment required. The timing of when the sponsorship is made available is a matter for the Company and the individual sponsor.

  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio how much has now been committed by sponsors to the Millennium Experience; and how much of this is(a) in cash and (b) in kind. [51941]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has announced a total of £87 million and has commitment at Board level from other sponsors, whose own commercial considerations require that details remain unannounced at this stage. This takes the level of sponsorship secured to above £100 million. Whilst the detailed negotiations between the NMEC and the companies are concerned with progress towards contractual terms, it is not possible to state the split between cash and in kind.

  Energy Policy
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will make a statement on energy policy. [54236]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 29 July 1998, Official Report, column 354.
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  Competitiveness Working Parties
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current membership of the competitiveness working party on increasing business investment; when it last met; what matters were discussed; and when it will next meet. [54506]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: The UK Competitiveness Working Party on Investment last met on Monday 15 June under the Chairmanship of Lord Hollick to discuss the part business might play in implementing various of its earlier recommendations. Current membership is as follows:

  Sir David Barnes: Zeneca plc

  Professor Kumar Bhattacharyya: University of Warwick

  Ronald Cohen: Apax Partners & Co. Ventures Ltd.

  Chris Evans: Merlin Scientific Services Ltd.

  Amelia Fawcett: Morgan Stanley Group (Europe)

  Robert Fleming: Pace Micro Technology plc

  Alan Hughes: University of Cambridge

  Judy Lever: Blooming Marvellous Ltd.

  Roger Lyons: MSF

  John Melbourn: 3i plc

  Magnus Mowat: Allen plc

  Helen Murlis: Hay Management Consultants Ltd.

  Tom O'Neill: Pilkington Optronics Barr Stroud Ltd.

  David Ritchie: DTI West Midlands

  Dominic Shorthouse: Rolls Royce plc

  Malcolm Taylor: Bridgeport Machines Ltd.

  David Watson: BP International Company plc

  No further meetings are currently planned.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current membership of the competitiveness working party on promoting the best of best practice; when it last met; what matters were discussed; and when it will next meet. [54508]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: The members of the Competitiveness UK Best Practice Working Party are Alec Daly (CBI), James Dyson (Dyson Domestic Appliances), Sir Tom Farmer (Kwik Fit), Jackie Kernaghan (Forte UK), Tina Mason (Dutton Engineering), Professor Colin New (Cranfield School of Management), Amber Paul (Caparo Industries), Dr. Rosemary Radcliffe (Coopers & Lybrand), John Saunders (Business Link—Hereford and Worcester) Fiona Skinner (RF Brookes), Cob Stenham and Lynn Williams (TUC).

  The working party last met on 1 July 1998, to review how its recommendations to the Secretary of State were being taken forward and in particular reviewed progress on the development of the CBI led national best practice campaign "Fit for the Future". No further meetings of the Working Party are currently planned.

  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current membership of the competitiveness working party on making the most of the information age; when it last met and what matters were discussed; and when will it next meet. [54509]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: The membership of the Information Age Competitiveness Working Party is as follows:

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  Barbara Roche MP, Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry (Chair)

  Sir Jeremy Beecham, Chairman, Local Government Association

  Alan Calder, Chief Executive, Business Link London City Partners

  Julia Collins, Partner, Coopers & Lybran

  Sue Davidson, Director, BT Business Connections, BT plc

  Brian Davis, Chief Executive, Nationwide Building Society

  Ron Dunn, Chairman and Chief Executive, Ascada Ltd.

  Mike Fischer, President, Research Machines plc

  Balram Gidoomal, Chairman, Winning Communications Ltd.

  Nigel Hartnell, Managing Director, ICL Services

  James Hehir, Chief Executive, Ipswich Borough Council

  Terry Leahy, Chief Executive, Tesco plc

  William Sargent, Joint Managing Director, FrameStore

  Peter Swann, Professor of Economics and Management of Innovation, Manchester Business School

  Suzanna Taverne, Financial Director, Financial Times

  Tony Young, Secretary General, Communication Workers Union

  The last meeting was held on 25 June 1998, when Working Party members discussed a range of ideas on ways of promoting the potential Competitiveness Benefits of Information and Communication Technologies for UK business, particularly small firms. No further meetings of the Working Party are currently planned.

  Multilateral Agreement on Investment
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish reports of the unofficial negotiations on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment which have taken place since the Ministerial meetings in April; and if he will make a statement. [54249]

  UK balance of trade in iron and steel, ceramics and coal 1993–97

  Year

  Iron and steel

  Ceramics

  Coal

  Value (£ million)

  1993

  678

  222

  -624

  1994

  756

  241

  -539

  1995

  721

  320

  -549

  1996

  515

  350

  -629

  1997

  231

  224

  -641

  Volume (metric tons)

  1993

  3,016

  -100,500

  -15,666

  1994

  2,321

  -67,788

  -14,244

  1995

  1,573

  -13,322

  -15,558

  1996

  2,544

  -8,463

  -17,001

  1997

  2,496

  -152,390

  -19,169

  Notes:

  Because of the diverse nature of the products included in the figures for ceramics (i.e. high value/low volume porcelain and low value/high volume items such as ceramic tiles and other construction products) the trade balance in volume terms can be erratic HM Customs and Excise Business Monitors MA20, MM20 A and MQ20 Eurostat Intra and Extra EU Trade

  Export Promoter Scheme
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the operation and cost of the Export Promoter Scheme in each year since 1990. [54162]
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  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: My hon. Friend the Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry reported to the Commons Select Committee on European Legislation on the negotiations on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) on 8 July. She undertook to keep the Committee informed of further developments in negotiations.

  Wide informal discussions have taken place, both with other negotiating countries and interested parties, but no formal records are kept of these contacts.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to ensure that hon. Members are given access to the full list of exemptions for each signatory of the Multilateral Agreement on Investment. [54250]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: On signing the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI) each country's list of exemptions will be published. At this stage in the negotiations, however, the full list of country exemptions is not available. Countries submitted their lists as confidential documents and we therefore cannot release them without the consent of the countries concerned. The UK, however, has always made its list available and has been placed in the Library of the House.

  My officials will explore with other countries negotiating with MM the possibility of making their lists public and, if consent is given, I will ensure these are also placed in the Library.

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Stevenson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the balance of trade in(a) steel, (b) ceramics and (c) coal in (i) volume and (ii) value in each of the last five years. [53238]

  Mrs. Roche
  The information is given in the following table:

  Mr. Wilson
  The Export Promoter Initiative was launched in late 1992 as a partnership between industry and Government which would spearhead the UK's efforts to win overseas business. The initiative involves seconding senior executives from British companies with appropriate international trade expertise to the Department
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  for about two years. Their role as Export Promoters (EPs) is to bring to bear their experience of particular countries and sectors and use this impartially to advise and assist both SMEs and larger enterprises. The initiative is now a rolling programme of recruitment with EPs being replaced as secondments are completed.

  Employers are asked to bear their secondees' payroll costs although in practice the department has to make a financial contribution by negotiation in 3 our of every 4 appointments. The department provides support budgets for EPs for their travel, subsistence, promotions, etc.

  Since its early days, when the target number of EPs was 100, the initiative has settled to a current level of about 80 EPs on secondment at any one time.

  The cost of the scheme each year since its inception has been as follows:

  £ million

  1993–94

  2.0

  1994–95

  5.6

  1995–96

  6.3

  1996–97

  5.8

  1997–98

  4.6

  An evaluation report of the Export Promoter Initiative in 1997 found it to be highly valued by UK business, and the current Government remain strongly committed to the Initiative.

  Export Forum
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the Export Forum's recommendations as to target markets. [53462]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: These recommendations are being implemented in the new scheme of Support for Exhibitions and Seminars Abroad (SESA), which was announced on 25 March 1998, and in the rolling programme of target market campaigns which we are launching this year. Some, such as the Export Explorer for Western Europe, have already been introduced and others will follow in the Autumn. As recommended by the Export Forum, the list of target markets will be kept under regular review.

  Export Opportunities (Defence and Security)Service
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the support provided by his Department to the Export Opportunities (Defence and Security) Service operated by the Defence Manufacturers Association and the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers in the last year for which figures are available. [54166]

  Mr. Wilson
  The establishment of the Export Opportunities (Defence and Security) Service was one of the winning projects announced by the President of the Board of Trade on 29 May 1997 in the Government's Sector Challenge initiative. The Department is providing support of up to £101,625 over a period of three years. £8,587 in grant was paid in 1997–98. £10,699 in grant has been paid so far in this financial year.
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  Science Budget
  Mr. Alasdair Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the spending recipients of the science budget in the year 1997–98; what the allocation will be for 1998–99; and what are the planned figures for(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–2001.
  [54580]

  Mr. Battle
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: The information for 1997–98 and 1998–99 is as follows:

  Science budget allocations

  £ million

  Allocation 1997–98

  Allocation 1998–99

  BBSRC

  183.300

  186.549

  ESRC

  64.896

  67.450

  EPSRC

  386.373

  388.382

  MRC

  289.070

  293.208

  NERC

  165.116

  172.556

  PPARC

  191.850

  191.628

  International Subscription Reserve

  8.800

  15.213

  CCLRC

  1.450

  1.462

  Pensions

  11.530

  13.298

  Royal Society

  22.271

  22.621

  Royal Academy of Engineering

  3.370

  3.436

  OST Initiatives

  2.302

  2.376

  Joint Research Equipment Initiative

  —

  4.147

  LINK/Foresight

  —

  1.000

  Total

  1,330.327

  1,363.326

  Because of the Comprehensive Spending Review there were no specific planning figures for the subsequent years. The allocations for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 will be announced in the autumn.

  Competitiveness Advisory Group
  Mr. Chope
  To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the current membership of his Competitiveness Advisory Group; when it last met and what matters were discussed; and when it will next meet. [54512]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 31 July 1998]: The current membership of the Competitiveness Advisory Group is as follows:

  Sir Jeremy Beecham, Chairman, Local Government Association

  C. K. Chow, Chief Executive, GKN

  Sir Terence Conran, Chairman, Conran Holdings

  John Edmonds, General Secretary, GMB

  Dr. Chris Evans, Chairman, Merlin Ventures

  Sir Richard Evans, Chief Executive, British Aerospace

  Geraid Frankel, Chair, Industry Forum

  Ian Gibsort, Managing Director and Chief Executive, Nissan
  Motor Manufacturers

  Anthony Greener, Joint Chairman, Diageo

  Jan Hall, Partner, Stuart Spencer and Associates

  Terry Leahy, Chief Executive, Tesco

  Judy Lever, Director, Blooming Marvellous

  Dr. Tony Marchington, Chief Executive, Oxford Molecular Group

  John Monks, General Secretary, Trades Union Congress

  Rosemary Radcliffe, Head of Economics, Coopers & Lybrand

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  Bryan Sanderson, Managing Director, British Petroleum

  Cob Stenham, Deputy Chairman, Telewest

  Sir Richard Sykes, Chairman and Chief Executive, Glaxo Wellcome

  Adair Turner, Director General, Confederation of British Industry

  Perween Warsi, Managing Director, S&A Foods

  The Competitiveness Advisory Group last met on 30 June 1998. Three main issues were discussed: the progress of the Competitiveness UK White Paper; a report from the Small Firms Working Group; and the competitiveness strategy for the South East Region. A date has not yet been fixed for the next meeting of the Group.

  Departmental Environmental Policy
  Mr. Nigel Jones
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what environmental activities her Green Minister has undertaken since being appointed. [50064]

  Mr. Battle
  I have considered "environmental-related issues" on a day-to-day basis, reflecting their importance in the work of DTI, and the Government's commitment to the overall objective of sustainable development. I have taken a number of steps to ensure that sustainable development is properly integrated into all of the Department's work. This includes: circulation of copies of the recently published guidance on environmental appraisal to all directorates and to staff at all levels, to be supported by staff training sessions; a series of seminars with prominent speakers from industry and NGOs to raise the level of understanding of sustainable development issues and the implications of our work; and a Sustainable Development network throughout the DTI and Government Offices to provide a focal point for two-way communication with the 50-strong Environment Directorate which provides a central contact point for advice and information to all staff on environmental issues. My Department has contributed to the revision of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy and work is underway on the development of a DTI sustainable development strategy.

  Virtually all of the DTI's responsibilities, from energy, trade, and science and technology policy through to sectorial sponsorship (including that in respect of the environmental and waste management industries) to consumer affairs are related to activities which have impacts on the environment, and implications for sustainable development which can be significant.

  I have made sustainable development a priority across my science and research portfolio, in particular with regard to the Foresight Programme. Through its identification of a vision for the future and the development of practical initiatives to realise that vision, it can make a substantial contribution in the life of this Parliament to our long term policy objectives. Foresight is already promoting a number of initiatives which have the potential to make an important contribution to sustainable development. For example, the Foresight LINK Awards launched on 1 September 1997 have a declared preference for projects addressing the broad theme of "A Cleaner World". Another Foresight initiative, the "Foresight Clear Zones" programme aims to help in the development of technology that will improve local air
  874
  quality and reduce congestion within our urban centres, making them cleaner, but at the same time accessible and commercially thriving.

  Awards have been made to six projects underway across the country that demonstrate "technology for liveable cities". The "Sustainable Technologies for a Cleaner World" conference on 19 May 1998, which 1 addressed, raised awareness of the market opportunities presented by the key environmental challenges of the future. The conference focused on future markets for cleaner technologies and processes and environmental products which will exist in 2010, in the UK and globally. It considered how the UK should best respond to these opportunities through R&D and other necessary actions.

  I have promoted and provided practical help and support for the UK Environmental goods, services and technologies industry at home and overseas through the Joint DTI/DETR Environmental Markets Unit (JEMU).

  JEMU has identified a number of significant overseas markets for the UK environmental industry and is helping the sector to exploit the commercial opportunities which these markets represent.

  On 18 March 1998 my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and I launched a business plan for JEMU which outlines the way in which the Unit will work with the environmental industry over the next three years.

  Finally, I am developing systems for environmental appraisal of polices and programmes and implementing greening government operations. I have attended two Green Minister's meetings, a bilateral meeting with the Minister for the Environment, and gave oral evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee in relation to their Greening Government inquiry.

  Millennium Dome (HFCs)
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what air-conditioning units which do not emit hydrofluorocarbons were considered for use in the Dome; and if he will make a statement. [51290]

  Mr. Mandelson
  Despite an open and flexible tender process, only one proposal for a non-HFC cooling system for the Dome was submitted to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC). This proposed the use of ammonia refrigerant. However, the NMEC did consider a number of other possible cooling systems during the design process and reviewed options again following suggestions made by Greenpeace. In each case it was concluded that, given the unique nature of the Millennium Experience, the tight deadlines and fixed budget, the units that have now been selected offer the safest, most flexible solution. The chiller units for the Dome are hermetically sealed so as to give zero emissions of HFC in normal operation. Accepting that actual leakage is dependent upon maintenance protocols, detection and repair procedures, the NMEC is committed to a realistic target of less than 1 per cent. leakage during the year of the Experience's operation.

  Millennium Dome (Exhibit Zone)
  Mr. Mitchell
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio what progress he has made in defining British characteristics for the purposes of the @ Now Zone of the Millennium Dome. [48833]
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  Mr. Mandelson
  It is not the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) aim or intention to define British characteristics in the UK@Now exhibit zone. The content of the zone aims to explore the UK population's view of themselves and their country, and the perceptions of others about the UK. Research and consultation which the NMEC will be undertaking will ensure that the views of the UK public are reflected in this zone.

  Millennium Experience (Environmental Impact Assessments)
  Mr. Llew Smith
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) of 29 June 1998,Official Report, column 67, what environmental impact assessments he has commissioned of the Millennium Dome and associated developments including parking and travel arrangements, for the new Millennium Experience exhibition at Greenwich; and what plans he has to apply the green Government policy guidelines to further developments at the Greenwich site. [51406]

  Mr. Mandelson
  The planning application for the Millennium Experience at Greenwich submitted to the London Borough of Greenwich in 1996 included detailed assessments of the likely environmental, traffic and other impacts of the project. In addition to this the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has prepared an Environmental Plan setting out an integrated programme of sustainable site management for the Millennium Experience site. This plan has been accepted by the London Borough of Greenwich as the basis for the delivery of the NMEC's environmental commitment. The plan is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the evolving nature of the project. Additionally, the NMEC liaise regularly with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and take into account all relevant Government guidance and policy.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Diplomatic Staff
  Mr. Jim Murphy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the(a) individual and (b) combined total capital value of each of the UK's diplomatic posts abroad. [54681]

  Mr. Fatchett
  I shall write to my hon. Friend shortly and place copies of the letter in the Libraries of the House.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Overseas Property
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the properties(a) owned and (b) rented or leased by her Department outside the United Kingdom; the purposes for which they are designated and the annual running costs for each property. [54442]

  Mr. Foulkes
  The Department for International Development owns the following three domestic properties outside the United Kingdom each of which are used to house aid personnel and have an average annual running cost of approximately £1,000:

  11 Hendikz way, Harare

  11 Brentford, Harare

  20 Epping road, Harare

  Domestic properties are purchased only where there are significant cost advantages. A large number of domestic properties are rented on behalf of aid personnel overseas details of which could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  DFID leases office accommodation directly with local landlords in Pretoria and New Delhi. Annual running costs of each are approximately £400,000 and £100,000 respectively. Other overseas office accommodation is either shared or sub-leased from the FCO. A contractual Agreement is being negotiated with the FCO.