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BBC Transmitter Network

Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the proposals for the privatisation of the BBC's transmitter network; and what assessment she has made of the impact this will have on the provision of NICAM broadcasting facilities throughout the BBC's transmitter network.[38643]

Mr. Sproat [holding answer 22 July 1996]: As we announced last November, the BBC is handling the arrangements for the sale of its transmission assets. I understand that the BBC remains committed to an extension of NICAM stereo sound coverage as part of its continuing programme of investment in its transmitter network. It is for the BBC to determine the rate and order of this programme in the light of its resources and other engineering priorities. This position will not be affected by the privatisation of the transmission network.

Lottery Funding (Wales)

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list under each head through which money is available from the national lottery the organisations in Wales which have been allocated money; and what assessment she has made of the take-up rate of the allocations. [38840]

Mr. Sproat [holding answer 22 July 1996]: To date, 767 awards in Wales totalling £152,278,948 have been made. I will write to the hon. Member with a full list of these awards. National lottery awards are made in response to applications.

Millennium Fund

Mr. Patten: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many projects supported by the millennium fund (a) recognise the millennium as marking 2,000 years since the birth of Jesus Christ and (b) otherwise have a specifically Christian character; [39582]

(2) how many schemes have been approved and of what value from the millennium fund; how many of these and at what value (a) specifically recognise that the year 2,000 as marking the birth of Jesus Christ and (b) are of a Christian nature; and what percentage of the total approved schemes by number and value these represent. [39652]

Mr. Sproat: This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage will reply to the hon. Member in her capacity as chairman of the commission and place copies of her reply in the Libraries of the House.

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National Lottery

Mr. Dixon: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the grants awarded by the national lottery organisations in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) the South Tyneside district council area and (c) the Tyne and Wear area. [38014]

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Mr. Sproat: Lottery grants to the Jarrow constituency and South Tyneside district council are listed. It is not possible to generate figures for Tyne and Wear because it does not have precisely defined boundaries. To date, there have been 346 awards in the north-east region for a total of £91,646,291. I will write to the hon. Member with a full list of these awards.

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Awards made in the Jarrow Constituency to date

Body	Award date	Recipient	Project title/description	Award amount £
Arts	24 January 1996	Groundwork South Tyneside	Groundwork Eco Office proposal	95,000.00
NLCB	11 June 1996	The Jazzmanelles	Purchase of new uniforms for 35 members, including musical equipment to encourage self respect and participation	5,500.00
Sports	5 June 1995	Whitburn Cricket Club	Purchase of Cricket Pitch and Clubhouse	78,000.00
Sports	7 November 1995	Whitburn Community Association	Extend existing changing block	22,948.00
		4 Awards	Total	201,448.00

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Awards to date in the South Tyneside District Council area

Body	Award date	Recipient	Project title/description	Award amount £
Arts	24 January 1996	Groundwork South Tyneside	Groundwork Eco Office proposal	95,000.00
NLCB	11 June 1996	The Jazzmanelles	Purchase of new uniforms for 35 members, including musical equipment to encourage self respect and participation	5,500.00
Sports	5 June 1995	Whitburn Cricket Club	Purchase of Cricket Pitch and Clubhouse	78,000.00
Sports	7 November 1995	Whitburn Community Association	Extend existing changing block	22,948.00
Arts	15 May 1996	The Customs House	Feasibility study	61,450.00
NLCB	19 December 1995	Apna Ghar Women's Centre	Technology Training for Ethnic Minority Women	193,500.00
NLCB	19 December 1995	South Tyneside Womens Aid	Improve Safety and Surroundings for Distressed Women and Children	9,176.00
NLCB	11 June 1996	South Tyneside Training and Enterprise Network (Ten)	50% contribution to TEN's core funding enabling further economic regeneration at grass-roots. Salary and office costs.	96,662.00
NLCB	11 June 1996	Simonside Youth Centre	Outdoor clothing, camping and sports equipment for 10 disadvantaged youth for Duke of Ed.Award South Shields	8,000,00
NLCB	11 June 1996	South Tyneside Citizens Advice Bureau	Refurbishment 2 offices, employment 1 full time, 2 part time and support for tribunal representation and housebound South Shields	197,710.00
NLCB	11 June 1996	John Wright Centre Social Club	The acquisition of a replacement ambulance for a social club for people with physical and/or learning disabilities.	29,360.00
NLCB	11 June 1996	Womens Hath in South Tyneside	The provision of health information, counselling and support for women	336,845.00
Sports	7 July 1995	South Shields Sports Club	New Hardcourts	29,420.00
		13 Awards	Total	1,163,571.00

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British Cycling Federation

Mr. Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what monitoring she conducts of the extent to which sports governing bodies let contracts in receipt of Sports Council grants to suppliers of goods and services in ways which are open and transparent and which comply with proper codes of accounting practice, with particular reference to the British Cycling Federation. [38695]

Mr. Sproat: Government support to individual governing bodies of sport is primarily channelled through the Sports Council, an independent body set up by royal charter. All sports governing bodies in receipt of Sports Council grants are required to have their annual accounts audited and to supply a copy of these audited accounts to the Sports Council. The Sports Council's liaison officers have regular informal meetings with officials of the governing bodies and have the right to attend meetings of relevant committees. This applies to the British Cycling Federation. The Comptroller and Auditor General may

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conduct more detailed audits. The Sports Council also has the right to conduct more detailed audits and the council's management audit programme includes a review of the operations of a sample of governing bodies in receipt of Sports Council grants. The British Cycling Federation has a formal tendering process for contracts which is administered by the directors of the British Cycling Federation/British Cycling Federation Promotions Ltd. It is established custom and practice for members of the Executive to declare any conflict of interest.

Mr. Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what reports he has received from the auditors of the British Cycling Federation in relation to contractual links between the federation and (a) Impsport Ltd., (b) Fletcher Marketing and (c) Sports Ambassador Ltd. [38636]

Mr. Sproat: Government support to the individual governing bodies of sport is primarily channelled through the Sports Council, an independent body set up by royal charter. All sports governing bodies in receipt of Sports

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Council grants are required to have their annual accounts audited and to supply a copy of these audited accounts to the Sports Council. I understand from the Sports Council that no report has been received, nor has one been requested, from the auditors of the British Cycling Federation in relation to contractual links between the Federation and (a) Impsport Ltd. (b) Fletcher Marketing and (c) Sports Ambassador Ltd.

Mr. Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps she will take to protect public funds given to the British Cycling Federation by the Sports Council in respect of the legal proceedings between the British Cycling Federation and its former president. [39135]

Mr. Sproat: The Sports Council has advised the British Cycling Federation formally that the grant it receives cannot be used to pay any legal fees or costs associated with the legal proceedings between the British Cycling Federation and its former president. The Sports Council's liaison officers have regular informal meetings with officials of the governing bodies and have the right to attend meetings of relevant committees. The Sports Council also has the right to conduct detailed audits and review the operations of governing bodies in receipt of Sports Council grants. The Sports Council will continue to monitor the position closely to ensure that the British Cycling Federation honours the terms of its agreement with the council.

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