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BBC (Transmission Services)
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the present running costs of transmission services operated (a) by the BBC and (b) by companies in the private sector currently serving ITV, Channel 4 and commercial radio. [9865]
Mr. Sproat: Our consultants, led by Hill Samuel, assessed the cost of transmission to both the BBC and the commercial broadcasters.
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Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the effect on the charges to the BBC for its transmission services of the privatisation of those services. [9866]
Mr. Sproat: Our consultants, led by Hill Samuel, assessed the effect of privatisation on the cost to the BBC of transmission services. We have determined that the Office of Telecommunications will regulate the costs of any private sector supplier with which the BBC subsequently contracts to provide transmission services, to ensure that the cost to the corporation of its current transmission services does not increase in real terms.
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if the privatisation of BBC transmission facilities will lead to separation of World Service transmitter operations from domestic operations. [9863]
Mr. Sproat: That is a matter to be determined in preparing for the privatisation.
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BBC Digital Terrestrial Services
Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the BBC's development of digital terrestrial radio and television. [9864]
Mr. Sproat: The BBC is playing a crucial role in the development of digital terrestrial radio and television. It began to broadcast its five national radio services in digital form on 27 September 1995. It is working with the Independent Television Commission on detailed frequency planning for the launch of digital terrestrial television, and is an active member of the Digital Television Group, an industry body seeking to co-ordinate the technical and commercial development of digital terrestrial television.
We have offered the BBC exclusive use of the digital television multiplex which will provide the greatest geographical coverage in the UK. This gives the BBC the opportunity to be at the forefront of digital technology, and to maintain and develop its public service remit into the 21st century. It enables them to make firm plans for that multiplex, and I understand that these may include widescreen versions of BBC1 and BBC2, complemented by new services, perhaps encompassing additional news, sport and parliamentary coverage and an enhanced Ceefax service.
Windsor Castle
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is her latest estimate of the cost to public funds arising from the fire and restoration of Windsor castle. [8907]
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 17 January 1996]: The current estimated cost of the Windsor castle fire restoration is £36 million, of which £10.8 million will be met from public funds.
Mobile Phones
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the secretary of State for National Heritage what costs her Department and executive agencies have incurred as a result of withdrawing from contracts under which mobile phones are provided; and if he will list the companies concerned. [9748]
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 17 January 1996]: The Department of National Heritage and its executive agencies have not incurred any costs as a result of withdrawing from contracts for mobile phones.
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what agreements her Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each agreement. [9746]
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 17 January 1996]: The Department of National Heritage and its executive agencies have agreements with Cruse Technical Services and AutoRentals for the provision of mobile phones. The Department currently has contracts with 11 air-time providers.
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| Provider | Number of mobiles on line |
|---|---|
| Mercury | 4 |
| Vodafone | 25 |
| Vodacom | 9 |
| Cellnet | 14 |
| Uniqueair | 14 |
| BT Mobile | 13 |
| Peoples Phone | 2 |
| Motorola | 7 |
| Hutchinson Telecommunications | 3 |
| Orange | 1 |
| TalkLand | 4 |
All contracts are of one-year duration. There is no cost to public funds for any of the contracts that are currently held beyond standard rental and call charges.
Mr. Donohoe:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what procedures were used by her Department in awarding contracts for the supply of mobile and car phones to her Department and its executive agencies; and which companies were involved in tendering for these contracts. [9747]
Mr. Sproat
[holding answer 17 January 1996]: All contracts for the provision of mobile phones are let according to standard Government guidelines on procurement. Quotations have been sought from a range of companies, including but not limited to: Mercury, BT Mobile, Cellnet, Vodac, London Car Telephones, Uniqueair, Peoples Phone and Vodafone.
Research and Development Projects
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many research and development projects in universities are currently being funded by his Department; how much these projects are worth; and in how many universities these projects are being funded. [9042]
Mr. Arbuthnot: In 1993-94, the last year for which research expenditure figures are available, it estimated that some £33 million was spent with universities and further education establishments--table 1.5, UK Defence Statistics 1995. Currently, we have research agreements with some 70 such institutions. It is not possible to provide a detailed breakdown of the number of projects covered by these agreements without incurring disproportionate cost. Expenditure on development is mainly with industry.
RAF Finningley
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what offers for the non-military use of RAF Finningley have been received. [9859]
Mr. Soames: To date, 38 recorded expressions of interest have been received ranging from interest to individual buildings and plots of land to interest in the whole site. The details of the persons and companies involved is commercially confidential. We hope to commence full marketing of the site within the next few months.
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Ballistic Missiles
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the extent of the threat posed to the United Kingdom by the development over the next decade of ballistic missile capability by countries which currently have no such capability. [10267]
Mr. Soames: We consider it unlikely that any nation aspiring towards a ballistic missile capability will be able to develop systems capable of threatening the UK mainland within the next 10 years. However, there is no room for complacency and we will continue our efforts, with others, to halt the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, and will keep the situation under careful review.
Gulf War (Costs)
Mr. Tony Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the final cost of major equipment lost and munitions consumed in the Gulf war and in associated training. [8765]
Mr. Soames: The cost of major equipment lost and of munitions and minor items consumed in the Gulf conflict which were not replaced was £245 million. These costs are included in the current estimate of additional military costs of the Gulf conflict to the United Kingdom.
Mr. Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the total costs arising from British involvement in the Gulf war. [8766]
Mr. Soames: The current estimate of the additional military cost of the Gulf conflict is £2.494 billion, spread over several years. The Export Credits Guarantee Department estimates that total claims arising from the Gulf conflict, including those outstanding, amount to £637 million. Other Departments incurred minor costs in respect of the conflict.
The bulk of these costs have been offset by the generous cash contributions from other Governments totalling £2.049 billion.
Low Flying
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations have been made to him concerning correlations between military low altitude flying and permanent hearing damage to children between birth and one; and if he will make a statement. [9883]
Mr. Soames: I have received no such representations.
Mr. Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to introduce a new minimum height limit on flight training and a maximum speed over residential areas; and if he will make a statement. [9884]
Mr. Soames: There are no plans at present to alter height and speed restrictions for low-flying military aircraft. However, the regulations governing the use of the United Kingdom low flying system are kept under continuous review.
Mr. Carlile: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the impacts of military low altitude flights on the health and safety of residents of the areas overflown. [10233]
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Mr. Soames: We closely monitor scientific research on noise and health. With the exception of hearing, the evidence has not established a causative link between environmental noise--including that from military low flying--and health. In the case of hearing, we believe that the restrictions that we place on the heights, speeds and operating procedures of military aircraft should ensure that the level of noise experienced on the ground is not harmful, given the brief exposure involved.
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