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Television Programmes (Quality)
27. Mr. Grocott: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will undertake a review of the quality of television programmes. [16724]
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: The monitoring of the quality of television programmes on independent television and the BBC is the responsibility of the Independent Television Commission and the BBC board of governors respectively. The ITC publishes an annual review of the performance of Channel 3 licencees and Channel 4 and the BBC governors report each year on the corporation's performance in the BBC annual report.
British Academy of Sport
Mr. Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she expects to announce the site of the British academy of sport. [16702]
Mr. Sproat:
We announced on 25 February that the preferred site for the British Academy of Sport will be chosen from three contenders: the Central Consortium, the Heyford Consortium and the Sheffield Consortium. These proposals will now be considered in more detail by the United Kingdom Sports Council and my Department.
3 Mar 1997 : Column: 500
Mr. Morgan:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultations she has had with bodies and individuals in Wales with respect to Welsh participation in official millennium celebrations. [16721]
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley:
My Department is consulting widely over millennium issues. The millennium co-ordination group, which is chaired by my Department, includes representatives from the Welsh Office. The Church Together in Wales is represented on the Lambeth sub-group which considers the spiritual aspects of the millennium.
In addition, the Millennium Commission has sent its consultation document to all Welsh Members of Parliament, local authorities and local authority associations, the Welsh Office, and Welsh lottery distributors and to arts, sport and heritage bodies. Copies were also sent to the police, churches and voluntary associations in Wales and to companies in the entertainment industry, as well as to any individuals or groups who had inquired about the matter.
Mr. Harry Greenway:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the proposed new national football and athletics stadium at Wembley. [17100]
Mr. Sproat:
I welcome the decision announced by the Sports Council on 17 December 1996 that Wembley is to be the proposed site for the new 80,000 all-seater English national stadium for athletics, football, and rugby league, and will receive a lottery award of £120 million towards the total project costs of around £210 million. This decision is a good example of the Government's commitment to facilitate, through the national lottery, the development of the necessary sporting infrastructure to enable this country to attract to these shore top international events--such as the football World Cup in 2006 and the world athletics championships in either 2001 or 2003.
Mr. John Greenway:
To ask the Secretary of state for National Heritage what action she is taking to promote training in the tourism industry. [16706]
Mr. Sproat:
Tourism has enormous potential for job creation: it creates one in five of all new jobs. As stated in our October publication, "People Working in Tourism and Hospitality," to deliver good service--more of the industry must recruit and retain the right people and equip them with the skills that they need. Our comprehensive new strategy for tourism, success through partnership, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State launched on 5 February, carries this work forward. It is clear from the many letters and comments that we have had already, that the industry particularly welcomes the fact that this is a joint initiative with them, with key targets and specific points for action on many aspects of tourism. As announced in the strategy, next month we shall issue a practical guide specifically for small tourism businesses which will include advice on training and developing staff.
3 Mar 1997 : Column: 501
Mr. Tony Banks:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will instruct Camelot to issue twice-weekly figures in cash terms for the amount (a) staked, (b) paid out in prizes, (c) paid out for good causes and (d) retained by Camelot. [17834]
Mr. Sproat
[holding answer 27 March 1997]: This is an operational matter for Camelot Group plc. I have--therefore--asked the director general of the national lottery, who is responsible for regulating the operation of the lottery, to write to the hon. Member and to place copies of his response in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when (a) the British Rail architecture design group and (b) British Rail businesses were wound up; if he will indicate in each case the number of employees (i) in total and (ii) in York one year before the wind-up date; and what sums were spent on (1) redundancy payments and (2) other costs associated with the winding-up of the businesses. [16644]
Mr. Watts:
Details of the costs incurred by the British Railways Board on those businesses which were wound up as part of the privatisation process are a matter for the board itself.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 25 February, Official Report, column 165, if he will give a breakdown of the figure of £1.2 billion relating to the structures of tunnels. [18075]
Sir George Young:
London Underground estimates that £350 million of its investment backlog relates to civil engineering works on the railway's infrastructure, including tunnels. It does not have a more specific figure for tunnels alone. London Underground has recently completed the refurbishment of the Northern line tunnels under the Thames and has re-lined the tunnels around Old Street station. Work on the Bakerloo and East London line tunnels is well under way.
Dr. Michael Clark:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what publicity he intends to initiate regarding the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act 1995 in advance of its implementation. [17995]
Mr. Bowis:
We have already publicised the Act and its implementation in the Driving Standards Agency magazine circulated to all approved driving instructors, motorcycle trainers and local road safety officers and have sent a guidance note to justices' clerks and justices' chief executives. Articles will appear in the literature distributed at theory test centres and given to all drivers and riders on passing the practical test. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's information leaflets, including the one sent to all provisional licence applicants, will also include references to the Act, as will the highway
3 Mar 1997 : Column: 502
code when it is next re-issued. Further publicity events are being planned nearer to the date of implementation which is 1 June 1997.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many London bus drivers are currently in receipt of social security benefits; and what is the cost of this to public funds. [18442]
Mr. Bowis:
This information is not available.
Mr. Thurnham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce the number of accidents arising from lorries shedding their wheels. [18268]
Mr. Bowis:
Following joint discussions with the Vehicle Inspectorate and the Association of Chief Police Officers, a nationwide survey of the extent of the problem is currently taking place and will continue until the end of April this year. The need for further action will be considered in light of the outcome of this study.
We are also currently updating the Department's leaflet, first issued in 1991, giving further guidance to operators on measures for preventing wheel loss.
Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with Railtrack about (a) the maintenance of fencing, walls and hedges on its land and (b) the removal of litter and debris from such land; and if he will make a statement. [18437]
Mr. Watts:
Maintenance of boundaries is a matter for Railtrack and enforcement of the relevant statutory duties is the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive. The Department has consulted Railtrack about proposals to transfer the litter duty which applied to the British Railways Board, to the relevant successor bodies, including Railtrack.
Mr. Spearing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to (a) London Transport and (b) London Underground Ltd. in the last five years concerning ways in which they could increase revenue for London Underground operation by (i) better marketing and (ii) more commercial use of property; and what estimate he has made of the revenue potential of (i) and (ii). [18346]
Mr. Bowis:
Marketing and the management and development of its property are operational matters for London Transport, which recognises its importance.
Mr. Spearing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his oral answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) of 25 February, Official Report, column 157, what factors underlay his statement that operating surpluses on London Underground would grow substantially; and what sums he expects to be available for capital investment in the years 2000 to 2005. [18345]
3 Mar 1997 : Column: 503
Mr. Bowis:
My right hon. Friend's comments were based on London Underground's own forecasts of substantial growth in operating surpluses. Following privatisation, investment will be funded not only from these surpluses and continued Government support, but also from the recycling of privatisation proceeds and funds raised by the private sector. It is premature to speculate on the precise sums involved, but our overall aim is to modernise the underground's infrastructure within five years of privatisation.
Mr. Spearing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requests were made by London Transport for capital funding for London Underground Ltd. and what amounts were provided from public funds for (a) 1992-93, (b) 1993-94, (c) 1994-95 and (d) 1995-96. [18351]
Mr. Bowis:
London Transport submit to Ministers each year their views on their grant requirements for the forthcoming public expenditure round. The distribution of grant by LT between London Underground Ltd. and its other businesses is an operational matter for LT. The cash allocated to London Underground by LT from 1992-93 to 1995-96 is shown in the table. These figures exclude grant for the construction of the Jubilee line extension.
| Year | Cash paid to London Underground Ltd.(6) |
|---|---|
| 1992-93 | 598 |
| 1993-94 | 511 |
| 1994-95 | 413 |
| 1995-96 | 340 |
(6) Figures supplied by London Transport.
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