| Previous Section | Home Page |
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by what date he expects all applications for sheep annual premium in the current year to be paid out.
Mr. Ancram : Payments under the 1994 sheep annual scheme are expected to be completed by June 1995.
The Commission normally authorises two advance payments which are expected to be made in September-October 1994 and December 1994-January 1995.
Official Entertainment
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total cost of official entertaining in his Department in each year since 1990-91 ; if he will list the receptions held in each year at his Department's expense ; and what was the cost of each reception.
Sir John Wheeler : The total cost of official entertainment in the years since 1990-91 is included in the running cost expenditure for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments which is published every year in the departmental annual report, a copy of which is held in the Library. The entertainment budget is used for a variety of functions including receptions. Separate figures are not kept for individual functions.
Column 959
Area Health Boards
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when each of the four area health boards last advertised job vacancies in (a) southern Irish newspapers and (b) Scottish newspapers ; and if he will make a statement on their advertising policies.
Sir John Wheeler : All four area health boards advertised in some southern Irish newspapers in March 1994. None of the boards uses Scottish newspapers for recruitment purposes.
Health and personal social services employing authorities apply standard selection and appointments procedures which were developed by the management executive of the Department of Health and Social Services. These procedures place responsibility for advertising job vacancies on individual employing authorities.
Decisions on how best to bring a vacancy to the notice of prospective applicants are based on personal judgment.
Cross-border Co-operation
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funds exist to encourage (a) cross-border co-operation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and (b) co-operation between Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Sir John Wheeler : Under the EC structural funds, the Interreg initiative is especially designed to encourage cross-border co-operation and to develop border areas. Northern Ireland submitted a programme jointly with the Republic of Ireland for 1991 to 1993 and it is proposed to submit a follow-on programme. Approximately £60 million has been made available under the joint Interreg programme for Northern Ireland and Ireland for 1991-93. In addition, in preparing new development plans for 1994-99, both the British and Irish Governments have paid close attention to the opportunities for expanding economic collaboration in the context of the next round of assistance from the structural funds.
Since 1990 the Department of Education has made available funding of £2,000 per annum to facilitate short-term teacher exchanges between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland ; in addition some £150,000 per annum is made available for the promotion of international networks, mainly European, including schools in the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.
Funding is also available from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for ad hoc projects where cross-border co-operation would be mutually beneficial.
In addition the Department of Economic Development in collaboration with Republic of Ireland has organised two energy efficiency conferences at a cost of £6,200 and a cross-border trade conference at a cost of £10,000.
Finally, the International Fund for Ireland, which was established jointly by the United Kingdom and Irish Governments in 1986, operates under an independent board with the objectives of
(a) promoting economic and social advance ;
(b) encouraging contact, dialogue and reconciliation between nationalists and unionists throughout Ireland.
Geographical Data
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the shortest distance between Belfast and (a) Scotland and (b) the Republic of Ireland.
Column 960
Mr. Tim Smith : From City hall, Belfast to Portpatrick lighthouse in Scotland is 58.2 km and to the middle of Newry river west of Narrow Water castle in the Republic of Ireland is 58.8 km. The accuracy of the measurements is assessed to be to the nearest 200 m.
Security Co-operation
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary met (a) the head of the Southern Irish police and (b) chief constables in Scotland to discuss security co-operation ; and if he will make a statement on the level of co-operation between the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the police forces in the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.
Sir John Wheeler : The Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary meets the Commissioner of An Garda Siochana on a regular basis and the level of security co-operation between the two forces is extremely high.
In relation to chief police officers in Great Britain, the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, dependent upon subject matter, liaises personally or through officers of appropriate rank with the requisite expertise. These arrangements have proved satisfactory in maintaining full security co-operation within the United Kingdom.
Business and Industry Promotion
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last promoted Northern Ireland business and industry in (a) Scotland and (b) the Republic of Ireland.
Mr. Tim Smith : The Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland assisted 40 local companies to take part in a Europartenariat business-to-business event at the Scottish exhibition and conference centre in Glasgow on 13 and 14 December 1993.
The most recent business promotion event in the Republic of Ireland was a joint IDB--Irish Trade Board sub-contract exhibition aimed at promoting products sourced in Ireland, north and south ; this was held on 17 November 1993 in Dublin.
Energy
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met Ministers from (a) Scotland and (b) the Republic of Ireland to discuss co-operation in the provision and distribution of energy ; and if he will make a statement about energy co-operation between Northern Ireland and both Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr. Tim Smith : Regular discussions take place with Scottish Ministers on a wide range of issues including energy. Energy matters, particularly electricity, have been discussed with Ministers from the Republic of Ireland from time to time. I continue to support any co- operation in energy matters that may bring benefit to Northern Ireland.
Tourism Promotion
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last promoted the Northern Ireland tourist industry in (a) Scotland and (b) the Republic of Ireland.
Column 961
Mr. Tim Smith : A television advertising campaign promoting Northern Ireland is currently under way in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. I also attended the opening on 15 March 1994 of the Northern Ireland tourist board's Scottish office in Glasgow.
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Northern Ireland tourist board last discussed co-operation with (a) the Scottish tourist board and (b) Bord Failte in the Republic of Ireland ; and if he will make a statement on co-operation in the promotion of tourism by the Northern Ireland tourist board with both Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr. Tim Smith : Both the Northern Ireland tourist board and the Scottish tourist board are represented at regular meetings with United Kingdom tourist board counterparts. The last meeting was held on 6 January 1994.
There is frequent contact between the Northern Ireland tourist board and Bord Failte in the Republic of Ireland. The chief executives last met on 8 October 1993.
I fully support the Northern Ireland tourist board in seeking to promote tourism in Northern Ireland through co-operation with other tourist boards.
Culture (Financial Support)
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the extent of financial support for (a) Irish culture and (b) Scottish culture in Northern Ireland ; and if he will make a statement about the development of both these cultures in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Ancram : In 1993-94 Government funds have contributed nearly £1.5 million, and EC structural funds £711,000, specifically towards activities promoting the appreciation of, and respect for, the diverse traditions which make up the cultural heritage of Northern Ireland. The complexity of Northern Ireland's cultural heritage makes it difficult to disaggregate this expenditure between those aspects which are of Irish, Scottish or other origin. More generally, education, arts and other departmental expenditure will contribute to the cultural life of Northern Ireland on many levels. Government aims to promote wider understanding and respect for all aspects of Northern Ireland's cultural heritage and to show that differences do not have to lead to division.
Industrial Development
Mr. John D. Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Industrial Development Board last participated in a joint venture with (a) the Scottish Development Agency and (b) the Southern Irish Development Authority ; and if he will make a statement about co-operation by the Industrial Development Board with equivalent organisations in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr. Tim Smith : Since 1992 the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland and the Irish Trade Board have participated in a series of joint programmes aimed at stimulating cross-border trade. The programmes have included a series of joint exhibitions to promote sub-contracting opportunities for local companies and joint product promotions outside the island of Ireland. The most recent event was a joint sub-contract exhibition organised in Londonderry in March 1994.
Column 962
No joint ventures have been entered into with the Irish Development Authority or the Scottish Development Agency.Student Benefits
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what benefits students who are incapacitated due to accident or ill health and are thereby unable to attend their studies are entitled ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir John Wheeler : In general, financial support for students is given through the educational programme and not the social security system. However, the following benefits may be available to students during periods of incapacity :
Sickness Benefit may be paid to a student who is incapable of work whilst undergoing a course of study subject to the satisfaction of certain National Insurance contribution conditions.
Invalidity Benefit will become payable where the incapacity continues and sickness benefit has been in payment for 28 weeks. Disability Living Allowance is a non-contributory benefit which is payable where the "care" and "mobility" requirements and other enabling conditions are met.
Severe Disablement Allowance is a non-contributory benefit available to students (aged 19 or over) who are unable to work for at least 28 weeks because of sickness or disablement. If they first become incapable after their 20th birthday, they must also be assessed as, at least, 80 per cent disabled.
Income Support is available to disabled students who : --are receiving Disability Living Allowance or Severe Disablement Allowance, or
--who have an invalid vehicle, or
--who are registered blind, or
--who qualify for an Education and Library Board disabled student's allowance because of deafness, or
--whose illness continues beyond 28 weeks.
Housing Benefit
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been taken to increase awareness about the housing benefit system and to ensure that eligible tenants are fully appraised ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir John Wheeler : Poster and leaflets on housing benefit are displayed at all Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Rate Collection Agency and social security offices. In addition, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in conjunction with the Rate Collection Agency has recently launched a Province-wide advertising campaign. The campaign includes three weeks of advertising on television and in the national and local press.
Income Support
Mr. Maginnis : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what extent attending a lecture tour or conference abroad disqualifies an unemployed person from claiming income support.
Mr. Ancram : Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Column 963
Letter from A. Wylie to Mr. Ken Maginnis, dated 30 March 1994 : I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on the extent to which attending a lecture tour or conference abroad disqualifies an unemployed person from claiming Income Support. Unemployed people claiming Income Support, who are required to be available for employment, do not qualify for Income Support for periods of absences abroad.I hope this explains the position to you.
Fishing Industry
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial amounts were approved and have been allocated from European structural funds to the fishing industry in each year from 1 April 1990 to 31 March 1994 ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir John Wheeler : The following amounts have been allocated in each year :
|£
---------------------------------------
1990-91 |88,404
1991-92 |1,095,785
1992-93 |302,133
1993-94 |1,290,996<1>
<1> To 30 March.
Column 964
Lumpy Skin Disease
Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of lumpy skin disease occurred in each year since 1985.
Sir John Wheeler : No instance of lumpy skin disease has ever been recorded in Northern Ireland.
Fishing Industry
Mr. McGrady : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial amounts will be allocated from European structural funds to the fishing industry from 1 April to 31 March 1997 ; and if he will make a statement.
Sir John Wheeler : Two million ecu will be allocated to the fishing industry in each year, which, at the current exchange rate of 1.25 ecu to the pound sterling, equates to £1.6 million per year.
Social Fund
Mr. Clifford Forsythe : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Northern Ireland social fund discretionary budget will be for 1994-95.
Mr. Ancram : I am glad to be able to announce that the social fund discretionary budget for 1994-95 will be £29.8 million. This is an increase of £1.3 million over the amount allocated to districts for 1993-94.
Details of the allocations will be placed in the Library together with a note explaining the basis on which they have been made.
Column 965
Recorded Offences
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide tables giving the total number of recorded offences, the number for each category of offence and the number scheduled for hearing under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts in Northern Ireland in each year since 1983 ; and how many and what percentage in each case were (a) recorded by police as having been cleared up and (b) recorded as results in a conviction.
Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 29 March] : The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Table A gives details of the total number of recorded offences, the number for each category of offence, the number cleared and the clearance rate. It is not possible to link directly recorded offences to persons proceeded against in court and subsequent convictions. Table B gives the total number of persons proceeded against for scheduled offences under the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Acts. Classification of offences into scheduled and non-scheduled offences under emergency legislation takes place at the prosecution stage and is therefore not available for recorded offences, where there is no prosecution. The table does not include scheduled offences tried at magistrates courts. These are subject to the approval of the Director of Public Prosecutions and figures could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
Crimes known, and detected, by class-Northern Ireland total 1983-87
Table A
1983
|Known |<1>Detected|Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Offences against the person |2,934 |1,647 |56
2. Sexual offences |396 |292 |74
3. Burglary |21,327 |5,105 |24
4. Robbery |1,870 |561 |30
5. Theft and TADA |27,750 |6,647 |24
6. Fraud and forgery |2,855 |1,728 |61
7. Criminal damage |4,577 |767 |17
8. Offences against the state |1,680 |525 |31
9. Other offences |595 |503 |85
|------- |------- |-------
Total |63,984 |17,775 |28
<1> (Cleared).
1984
|Known |<1>Detected|Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Offences Against the Person |3,389 |1,929 |57
2. Sexual Offences |496 |334 |67
3. Burglary |22,364 |5,484 |25
4. Robbery |2,009 |530 |26
5. Theft and TADA |28,746 |8,139 |28
6. Fraud and Forgery |3,117 |2,101 |67
7. Criminal Damage |4,419 |955 |22
8. Offences Against the State |1,566 |492 |31
9. Other Offences |673 |527 |78
|------- |------- |-------
Total |66,779 |20,491 |31
<1> (Cleared).
1985
|Known |<1>Detected|Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Offences Against the Person |3,458 |2,012 |58
2. Sexual Offences |653 |506 |77
3. Burglary |20,275 |5,110 |25
4. Robbery |1,800 |419 |23
5. Theft and TADA |29,490 |10,145 |34
6. Fraud and Forgery |3,697 |2,681 |73
7. Criminal Damage |3,194 |870 |27
8. Offences Against the State |1,410 |341 |24
9. Other Offences |607 |497 |82
|------- |------- |-------
Total |64,584 |22,581 |35
<1> (Cleared).
1986
|Known |<1>Detected|Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Offences Against the Person |4,205 |2,411 |57
2. Sexual Offences |834 |659 |79
3. Burglary |19,973 |5,196 |26
4. Robbery |2,204 |409 |19
5. Theft and TDA |30,819 |11,585 |38
6. Fraud and Forgery |4,209 |2,968 |71
7. Criminal Damage |4,055 |1,259 |31
8. Offences Against the State |1,537 |486 |32
9. Other Offences |419 |363 |87
|---- |---- |----
Total |68,255 |25,336 |37
<1>(Cleared).
1987
|Known |<1>Detected|Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Offences against the person |4,198 |2,976 |71
2. Sexual offences |817 |746 |91
3. Burglary |17,294 |5,238 |30
4. Robbery |2,504 |464 |19
5. Theft and TADA |30,136 |12,990 |43
6. Fraud and forgery |4,150 |3,296 |79
7. Criminal damage |2,592 |1,125 |43
8. Offences against the state |1,780 |616 |35
9. Other offences |389 |292 |75
|------- |------- |-------
Total |63,860 |27,743 |43
<1> (Cleared).
Crimes known, and detected, by class-NI total 1988-1992
1988<1>
|Known |<2>Detected|Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Offences against the person |3,469 |2,366 |68
2. Sexual offences |779 |657 |84
3. Burglary |14,353 |4,106 |29
4. Robbery |2,130 |488 |23
5. Theft and TADA |27,994 |12,539 |45
6. Fraud and forgery |3,881 |3,276 |84
7. Criminal damage |2,254 |927 |41
8. Offences against the state |644 |557 |86
9. Other offences |386 |310 |80
|------- |------- |-------
Total |55,890 |25,226 |45
<1> In 1988 two offences ('assault on police' and communicating false
information regarding a bomb hoax' ceased to be recorded.
<2> Cleared.
1989
|Known |<1>Detected|Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Offences Against the Person |3,338 |1,938 |58
2. Sexual Offences |935 |799 |85
3. Burglary |14,680 |4,011 |27
4. Robbery |1,738 |391 |22
5. Theft and TADA |27,057 |11,716 |43
6. Fraud and Forgery |4,395 |3,483 |79
7. Criminal Damage |2,013 |687 |34
8. Offences Against the State |626 |507 |81
9. Other Offences |365 |276 |76
|------- |------- |-------
Total |55,147 |23,808 |43
<1> (Cleared).
1990
|Known |<1>Detected|Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Offences Against the Person |3,374 |2,088 |62
2. Sexual Offences |790 |725 |92
3. Burglary |14,817 |3,330 |22
4. Robbery |1,630 |289 |18
5. Theft and TADA |29,267 |10,420 |36
6. Fraud and Forgery |4,177 |3,082 |74
7. Criminal Damage |2,191 |789 |36
8. Offences Against the State |585 |489 |84
9. Other Offences |367 |263 |72
|--- |--- |--
Total |57,198 |21,475 |38
<1>(Cleared).
1991
|Known |Detected<1>|Per cent.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Offences Against the Person |3,955 |2,450 |62
2. Sexual Offences |877 |762 |87
3. Burglary |16,563 |3,620 |22
4. Robbery |1,848 |308 |17
5. Theft and TADA |32,033 |10,751 |34
6. Fraud and Forgery |4,811 |3,220 |67
7. Criminal Damage |2,394 |765 |32
8. Offences Against the State |592 |454 |77
9. Other Offences |419 |345 |82
|--- |--- |---
Total |63,492 |22,675 |36
<1> Cleared.
1992
|Known |<1>Detected |<1>Per cent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Offences against the person |4,102 |2,630 |64
2. Sexual offences |973 |781 |80
3. Burglary |17,117 |3,270 |19
4. Robbery |1,851 |349 |19
5. Theft and TADA |34,256 |11,008 |32
6. Fraud and forgery |5,486 |3,342 |61
7. Criminal damage |2,502 |837 |33
8. Offences against the state |478 |383 |80
9. Other offences |767 |653 |85
|------- |------- |-------
Total |67,532 |23,253 |34
<1>(Cleared).
Table B Scheduled Offences: Persons proceeded against<1> Year |Total |Found Guilty|per cent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1983 |638 |577 |90 1984 |507 |464 |92 1985 |698 |625 |90 1986 |596 |567 |95 1987 |713 |680 |95 1988 |515 |487 |95 1989 |456 |414 |91 1990 |470 |440 |94 1991 |423 |388 |92 1992 |413 |354 |86 <1> At Crown Court only.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Appointments
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what information his Department holds or obtains relating to individuals who have been appointed, or may be considered for appointment, to paid or unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment, in particular relating to active involvement in (a) extreme left-wing organisations, (b) extreme right-wing organisations and (c) involvement in any of the political parties represented in the House of Commons ;
(2) what procedures his Department has to prevent the possible appointment of individuals with extreme political views to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment.
Mr. Sproat : In making appointments to the public bodies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible a number of factors are carefully considered. Information about public appointments made is available in "Public Bodies 1993".
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will list the organisations and individuals who have been asked, since June 1992, to submit names of individuals to be considered for appointments to paid and unpaid posts for which a Minister has to approve the person or shortlist for the appointment ;
(2) if he will list the organisations and individuals outside his Department who are sent information on, or consulted about, individuals who are, or may be, proposed to the Minister for appointment to posts for which a Minister has to approve the person appointed or the shortlist for the appointment ;
(3) if he will list each appointment for which a Minister has to approve the appointment or shortlist for the appointment, showing for each appointment (a) which Minister exercises the responsibility, (b) the salary, if any, attached to the post, (c) the term of the appointment and (d) the person currently appointed to the post.
Mr. Sproat : Information about appointments made to public bodies which are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for National Heritage is available in "Public Bodies 1993". I also refer to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Kilfoyle) on the following dates, Official Report, written answers :
Columns ------------------------------------ 924-926 | 4 March 101-104 |22 February 23-24 |21 February 1049-1050 |18 February 916 |17 February 790 |16 February 673-674 |15 February 575-576 |14 February 514-515 |11 February 349-351 | 9 February 125-126 | 8 February 136-137 |25 January
Column 969
Official Entertainment
Mr. Boyes : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total cost of official entertaining in his Department in each year since April 1992 ; if he will list the receptions held in each year at his Department's expense ; and what was the cost of each reception.
Mr. Sproat : The total cost of official entertainment in the year from 1 April 1992 is included in the running cost expenditure for my Department which is published every year in the annual report ; figures for 1993-94 are not yet available. The entertainment budget is used for a variety of functions including receptions. Separate figures are not kept for individual functions.
Proton Cars
Mr. Redmond : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many Proton cars have been purchased by his Department in the years for which information is available ; and at what cost.
Mr. Sproat : My Department has not purchased any Proton cars.
Cross-media Ownership
Mr. Barry Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish the full terms of reference for the review of cross-media ownership.
Mr. Sproat : My right hon. Friend announced on 3 January that the review will examine the rules which restrict ownership between newspapers, television companies and radio stations, in the context of fundamental changes taking place in the media industries throughout the world. The review will see whether those rules strike a satisfactory balance. In doing so they will be looking at the need for diversity and choice for audiences, while encouraging United Kingdom interests to play an active part in national and international markets.
Mr. Barry Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what studies his Department has made of the differing cross-media ownership regulations within the EU ; and what conclusions those studies have reached.
Mr. Sproat : My Department has made no formal studies, but closely follows cross-media ownership issues elsewhere. It is taking part in discussions within the EU on the Commission's Green Paper on "Pluralism and Media Concentration in the Internal Market", a copy of which is available in the Library. This contains detailed information about the regulations which apply in all member states.
Mr. Barry Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 4 March to the hon. Member for Wansdyke (Mr. Aspinwall), Official Report, column 924, if he will place the representations made to the cross-media ownership review team in the Library.
Mr. Sproat : I have no plans to do so, as this raises issues of commercial confidentiality. It remains open to the originators to make their representations public if they choose.
Mr. Barry Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will complete his review of cross-media ownership by the end of July ; and when he will make an announcement on the way forward.
Column 970
Mr. Sproat : I would like to see this review concluded as rapidly as possible. An interdepartmental group of officials is due to make recommendations to Ministers in the summer. The timing of an announcement will, however, depend on many factors, including the nature of those recommendations and any legislative implications.
Royal Opera House
Ms Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what provisions have been made for Government funding for the Royal Opera house if its application to the millennium fund is not successful ; and what assessment he has made of the ability in this event of the Royal Opera house to refund the money it has borrowed.
Mr. Sproat : I have made no such provision or assessment. However, borrowings by the Royal Opera House Development Land Trust in connection with the Royal Opera house development are subject to my right hon. Friend's consent. Such borrowings cannot exceed a specified proportion of the value of the marketable assets available to the trust.
Commercial Broadcasting
Mr. Barry Porter : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what limits the Independent Television Commission and Radio Authority already impose on the programme content operated by the relevant commercial franchisees.
Mr. Sproat : All licensed programme services have to comply with the programme codes of the Independent Television Commission and the Radio Authority. Copies of the codes have been placed in the Library.
For Channel 3 licence holders and Channel 4, there are other programme requirements, set out in their licenses. National and local radio licence holders have to adhere to promises of performance, which are based on the proposals in the applications for licences.
UNESCO
Mr. Enright : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what activities his Department has undertaken or is about to undertake in the context of UNESCO's convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage.
Mr. Sproat : My Department has reviewed possible candidates for inclusion in the world heritage list and is currently considering revised criteria published by UNESCO on the nomination of cultural landscapes. My Department is also funding a three-year programme by the International Council on Monuments and Sites United Kingdom to produce monitoring reports for the English world heritage sites and to encourage the production of comprehensive management plans for these sites. Guidance on the world heritage convention was included in draft "Planning Policy Guidance Note 15", which was issued for consultation last year and will be published in final form later this year.
Protected Wrecks
Sir Cranley Onslow : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what practical issues relating to the transfer of responsibility for protected wrecks in English
| Next Section
| Home Page |