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Construction Industry
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions she has had with the Department of the Environment regarding the need for the implementation of the Latham report with particular reference to the British Library contract. [411]
Mr. Sproat: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not considered it necessary to hold discussions with the Department of the Environment regarding the need for the implementation of the Latham report, following the experience of the British Library construction project.
However, the review by Sir Peter Levene's efficiency unit on Government procurement, which complements the Latham report, did consult the Department and drew upon the experiences of the British Library construction project in formulating its recommendations.
Sports Council
Mr. Pendry: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many redundancies are forecast through the restructuring of the Great Britain Sports Council; and what estimate she has made as to the effects these are likely to have in the level and quality of service. [1607]
Mr. Sproat: Staff selection is in progress for the new organisations following the restructuring of the Great Britain Sports Council. Until posts within the new structures have been filled, it is not possible to give accurate numbers of staff whose employment will terminate on the grounds of compulsory or voluntary redundancy.
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The restructuring I announced in July 1994 will enhance the service provided by the Sports Council. The new United Kingdom and English Sports Councils will have a sharper focus and reduced bureaucracy, which will greatly benefit sport.
Local Government
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the Acts of Parliament including Consolidation Acts that affect local government that have been introduced by her Department since January 1994. [28]
Mr. Sproat: My Department has not introduced any Acts affecting local government during this period.
Culture Council
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, if she will make a statement on the outcome of the Culture Council held on 20 November. [2471]
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: The Council of the European Union on Audiovisual and Culture matters met formally on 20 November; the UK was represented by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Inglewood.
Agreement was reached between member states on the central elements of an amended version of the television without frontiers directive 1989. In particular, there was agreement satisfactory to the UK that there should be no strengthening of the current articles 4 and 5 on quotas and that a contact committee should be established along with a review after five years. Agreement was also secured on amendments to offer strengthened protection to minors and to clarify jurisdiction.
The Council confirmed its agreement to the MEDIA II training decision having taken into account the European Parliament's second reading amendments. Taken with the previous decision on the development and distribution elements of the MEDIA II programme, this will enable this five-year programme of support for the audiovisual industry to begin in 1996.
The Commission made a brief presentation on a proposed European audiovisual investment guarantee fund to promote cinema and television production.
The Council also discussed a draft common position on a proposal to establish the Raphael programme for European cultural heritage, but was unable to agree due to budgetary concerns. However, the Council was able to agree unanimously to adopt a resolution to encourage work on the promotion of statistics on culture and economic growth. The Council also heard a presentation from the Commission on the cross-border aspects of fixed book pricing systems.
It was agreed that the title of European City of Culture in the year 2000 should be shared by Avignon, Bologna, Prague, Cracow, Reykjavik, Brussels, Bergen, Santiago de Compostela and Helsinki. It was also decided that Valletta and Linz, both candidates to host the European Cultural Month in 1998, would be invited to share the title.
23 Nov 1995 : Column: 284
Mr. Pendry:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if her Department has reviewed the sporting events listed under section 182 of the Broadcasting Act 1990. [1656]
Mr. Sproat:
The list of sporting events drawn up under section 182 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 is kept under regular review.
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the outcome of the case before the European Court of Justice between Her Majesty's Government and the broadcaster Red Hot television. [167]
Mr. Sproat:
The case has not yet been concluded.
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which encryption systems have been employed by the television services Rendez Vous and TV Erotica and notified to the Secretary of State by the Independent Television Commission; and what powers she has to ban these systems. [166]
Mr. Sproat:
I understand that both the TV Erotica and Rendez Vous channels employ the Eurocrypt encryption system for their broadcasts. An encryption system may be utilised by a number of different channels including, as in this case, by some whose broadcasts are in no way unacceptable. To outlaw an encryption system would not therefore be appropriate.
The order that I made on 14 November 1995 under section 177 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 proscribing TV Erotica, however, makes it a criminal offence to advertise, promote or sell the specific software, or smart cards, required to decode the TV Erotica channel's signal. The order comes into force on 5 December 1995. I am considering what action to take in the case of Rendez Vous.
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, if she will make a statement on the EC's proposal to amend the television without frontiers directive in respect of the designating factor in determining which member state has jurisdiction. [164]
Mr. Sproat:
The Government welcome the proposal that a revised television without frontiers directive should properly clarify and define the jurisdiction of member states over broadcasters. If, as proposed, establishment of the broadcasting company within a member state is to be the primary test of jurisdiction, it is imperative that a clear definition of establishment, for the purposes of the directive, should be incorporated in an amended text.
Mr. Byers:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many staff her Department employs on a regional basis in each standard English region; what is the cost of running these regional operations; what was the total budget for each region in 1994-95; and what are the main purposes for which the budget is used. [264]
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Mr. Sproat
[holding answer 22 November 1995]: My Department is based in central London and has no other regional offices. The Department employs 363 staff and its running costs for the current financial year are £17,710 million. A breakdown of the main areas of expenditure can be found in the Department's 1994 annual report (Cm 2511) held in the Library of the House.
Mr. Battle:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress has been made towards cutting energy consumption in Government buildings for which she has responsibility in each year since 1994. [1436]
Mr. Sproat:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Construction, Planning and Energy Efficiency, Official Report, columns 260-62.
Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information he has concerning the safety of Abdul Onibiyo since he was removed to Nigeria; [1619]
(2) what representations he has received concerning the proposed removal of the Onibiyo family to Nigeria; and if he will make a statement. [1621]
Mr. Kirkhope:
We have no information about Mr. Onibiyo's current situation. As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 7 November Official Report, column 813, his claim to a well-founded fear of persecution in Nigeria was fully considered and rejected. That decision was upheld by the independent appellate authority.
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