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To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her Answer of 11th February, 399 c660W, if she will make a statement on the value for money which has been secured from spending on civil space aid for the period from 1997 to 2003. - (Holding answer...

Asked by

David Laws (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Trade and Industry

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

9 April 2003

Reference

107196; 403 c263-4W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Trade and Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what the outcome was of the Competitiveness Council held in Brussels on 3rd March; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Asked by

Jim Hood (Labour)

Answering body

Department of Trade and Industry

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

3 March 2003

For answer on

24 March 2003

Answered on

24 March 2003

Mr. Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Competitiveness Council held in Brussels on 3 March; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement. [101358] Miss Melanie Johnson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, represented the UK at the Competitiveness Council 3 March 2003. Ministers at the Council reached an agreement on the Community Patent. The agreement combines new proposals on jurisdiction and distribution of patent fees with text agreed under the Spanish Presidency on languages and the role of patent offices. The main elements of the agreement include a unitary jurisdiction enforced by a single panel of the Court of First Instance, in Luxembourg, and a transitional period for enforcement of the patent by national courts to end by 2010 at the latest. On languages member states agreed that the regime for the Community patent should involve translations of the claims part of the patent document into all Community languages. They also agreed that the larger part of fee income should be redistributed according to measures of patent activity. The Presidency invited comments on the Report of the Competitiveness Council's input to the Spring European Council. Among other things, the report stresses the need for increased co-ordination between member states to create the European Research Area (ERA), a true internal market for science and knowledge, through the open method of co-ordination. This should firstly be applied to a number of research- related areas, such as the objective of raising European research spending to 3 per cent. of EU average gross domestic product (GDP), up from the current 1.9 per cent. The report highlighted the Competitiveness Council role as the `guardian of competitiveness', ensuring that the effects of all measures taken on the competitiveness of European industry and services are fully taken into account in policy making. Impact assessment was the key to achieving the right balance between the three pillars of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry said that the new Council formation was still building competence and credibility; there was scope for a more ambitious input next year, which should be based on an integrated framework prepared by the High Level Group for Competitiveness and Growth. In particular, this should develop the Council's horizontal role in assessing the work of other Councils for its effects on competitiveness. There was a public debate on entrepreneurship that allowed member states to emphasise SMEs' crucial role in job creation, growth and innovation in Europe, and the need to better integrate the different policies enhancing entrepreneurship. Several member states, including the UK, mentioned the need to organise information campaigns to improve the image of entrepreneurship, to cut red tape, to improve the access to financing and to public procurement, and to cooperate actively at the regional and local level. The Council adopted conclusions on "The Promotion of Entrepreneurship and Small Firms". The Commission presented its initiative to simplify the Community's legal acquis. Work will be divided into two stages, the first involving consolidation and codification of legal texts thereby reducing the sheer number of pages of EU law. The second stage begin to reduce legal obligations on economic operators. Commissioner Busquin presented the Green Paper on European Space Policy. The paper forms the basis of a consultation, to be held from 22 January to 30 May 2003. The Presidency announced that an in-depth discussion on European Space Policy would take place at the next meeting of the Competitiveness Council on 12-13 May 2003. A progress report by the Commission summarised the state of play of negotiations on the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) nuclear fusion energy research project. A full progress report will be presented at the Competitiveness Council on 12-13 May. The Spanish and French delegations underlined the importance of the ITER project. They both confirmed their application to host the ITER facility. A consensus on a draft international agreement to fulfil the ITER, including the site and the cost-sharing scheme between partners, is envisaged for the end of 2003. The Commission outlined a timetable for their work on the proposed Chemicals Directive. The main elements of this were: an orientation debate to be held in the college before Easter and a five-week internet consultation with business and stakeholders and formal proposals adopted before the summer break. The Commission fully recognised the need to get the right balance between the protection of the environment, jobs and innovation. The Council reviewed progress on the Directive on takeover bids, presented by the Commission on 2 October 2002. This was followed by an exchange of views. The UK said the Presidency text was a good step towards reaching the necessary level playing field. Commissioner Bolkestein said the Commission would welcome any agreement that goes further than their proposal to achieve a level playing field, provided that it is acceptable both to the Council and to the Parliament. The Commission introduced its recently adopted proposal for a directive harmonising rules on the enforcement of intellectual property rights, aimed to combat large scale counterfeiting and actions with significant effects on right holders. Under other business Germany tabled a short paper on implementation of EU directives into national law. Germany suggested that the Commission should consider making a legal assessment as to whether national authorities have correctly implemented EU law when it receives notification of this implementation. The Commission argued that they already do this, when they collate information for the biannual Single Market Scoreboard. They were though willing to engage in further dialogue with Germany to improve systems. The Portuguese delegation presented to the Council the third "EUREKA meets Asia" event, to be held in Macao in May. The event aims to strengthen the relationship between European and Asian, and particularly Chinese, businesses.

Date

24 March 2003

Reference

101358; 402 c25-7W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Trade and Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what her estimate is of her Department's total spending on space programmes in each year from 1990-91 to 2004-05 (planned); and if she will make a statement. - Inc table.

Asked by

David Laws (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Trade and Industry

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Tabled on

3 February 2003

For answer on

11 February 2003

Answered on

11 February 2003

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her estimate is of her Department's total spending on space programmes in each year from 1990-91 to 2004-05 (planned); and if she will make a statement. [95804] Ms Hewitt: The figures below list the total spending on space programmes for the financial years 1990-91 to 2004-05 by the DTI and the Office of Science and Technology, which funds the space activities of the Natural Environment Research Council and the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (and funded the latter's predecessor, the Science and Engineering Research Council, until 1993). The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry assumed responsibility for the Office of Science and Technology in 1995. _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Financial Year Civil Space Expenditure Financial Year Civil Space Expenditure £million £million 1990-91 131 1998-99 138 1991-92 141 1999-2000 138 1992-93 149 2000-01 143 1993-94 147 2001-02 142 1994-95 158 2002-03 150 1995-96 163 2003-04 151 1996-97 167 2004-05 146 1997-98 159 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: Expenditure 1990-01 to 1999-2000 on a cash basis Expenditure for 2000-01 onwards on a full resource accounting and budgeting basis.

Date

11 February 2003

Reference

95804; 399 c660W;399 c658W

House

House of Commons

LOSS OF THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA

That this House extends its sympathy and condolences to the families of the crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia and shares with the American and Israeli people their sense of loss; expresses its admiration for the scientific endeavour of all those involved in the international space programme; and believes that...

Primary sponsor

John Wilkinson (Conservative)

Type

Early day motions

Date

3 February 2003

Reference

645; 645A1

House

House of Commons

Statement on Iraq and meeting with President George Bush in Washington

Statement on Iraq and meeting with President George Bush in Washington. (Also includes message of condolence on the Columbia Space Shuttle Disaster). (Inc ref to report in Library - Dep 03/338).

Lead member

Tony Blair

Department

Prime Minister

Type

Ministerial statements

Date

3 February 2003

Reference

399 c21-38

House

House of Commons

Dept of Trade and Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the objectives of the UK Space Strategy 1999 to 2002 were met; and if she will make a statement. - Inc ref to 22 January 2003 398 c13WS and fact that new draft Strategy in Library.

Asked by

Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Trade and Industry

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

29 January 2003

Reference

91656; 398 c931-2W;398 c926W

House

House of Commons

Dept of Trade and Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether the British National Space Centre's Best Practice in the Space Industry club is self financing; how many United Kingdom companies are committed to the club; and if she will make a statement. - Includes figure.

Asked by

Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat)

Answering body

Department of Trade and Industry

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

27 January 2003

Reference

91655; 398 c600W;398 c598W

House

House of Commons

Written statement on publication of draft UK space strategy 'Space for science, enterprise and environment' for consultation

Written statement on publication of draft UK space strategy 'Space for science, enterprise and environment' for consultation. (Copy of strategy in Library - Dep 03/230).

Member

Patricia Hewitt (Labour)

Department

Department of Trade and Industry

Type

Written statements

Date

22 January 2003

Reference

398 c13WS

House

House of Commons

Sainsbury of Turville, Lord

Lords statement on when the United Kingdom space strategy will be published. [HL 1194]. - Inc fact that the draft United Kingdom space strategy 'Space for Science, Enterprise and Environment', is being published today, copies in Library.

Asked by

Lord Jones (Labour)

Type

Written questions

Status

Answered

Date

22 January 2003

Reference

HL 1194; 643 c97WA

House

House of Lords

Librarians' tools

Type

House

Session

Year

Department

Member

Primary member

Answering member

Legislative stage

Legislation

Subject

Publisher