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County Court Fees
Mrs. Helen Jackson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations he has received on the impact of the County Court Fees (Amendment) Order 1996 (SI 1996 No. 3189) on those in debt. [18873]
Mr. Streeter: According to our records 53 representations have been received by Ministers specifically relating to the County Court Fees (Amendment) Order 1996, two in the form of parliamentary questions and 51 letters from Members of Parliament.
Magistrates Courts Committees
Mr. Hargreaves: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the status of the Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull magistrates courts committees. [20348]
Mr. Streeter:
Whilst my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and I continue to support the policy of amalgamating magistrates courts committees, where to do so would be likely to contribute to an overall increase in administrative efficiency for committees concerned, a number of points have been raised in the recent consultation exercise which require further consideration. In order for full consideration to be given to these matters my right hon. and noble Friend and I have decided that it
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would be appropriate to direct the chief inspector of Her Majesty's magistrates court service inspectorate to report, by the end of July 1997, on whether the proposed amalgamation of Birmingham, Coventry and Solihull magistrates courts committees, in accordance with the proposals set out in the consultation document, and in the light of the comments made in consultation, would be likely to contribute to an overall increase in the efficiency of the administration of magistrates courts for the area. In the circumstances, it is not appropriate that an immediate decision is reached at this time and the timetable proposed in the draft amalgamation order is therefore no longer appropriate.
Television Licences
Ms Estelle Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) when she plans to announce changes in the requirements for television licences for caravans; [18762]
- (2) when she plans to announce changes to the television licence rules in respect of the sheltered housing schemes which fail to qualify for television licence concessions because some units within the scheme were purchased under the right-to-buy provision before the accommodation was designated as sheltered housing. [18764]
Mr. Sproat: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply of 12 February 1997, Official Report, columns 188-89, to my hon. Friend the Member for Spelthorne (Mr. Wilshire).
Executive Agencies
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much her Department estimates it cost to establish each executive agency associated with her Department. [16966]
Mr. Sproat [pursuant to his reply 25 February 1997, Official Report, column 146]: Regrettably, the reply was incorrect. The correct information is as follows: Although the Historic Royal Palaces agency is now associated with my Department, it was set up by the Department of the Environment prior to the establishment of the Department of National Heritage in April 1992. My Department established The Royal parks agency on 1 April 1993, continuing the earlier work undertaken by the Department of the Environment. Some administrative costs were incurred by my Department between April 1992 and 1 April 1993 but I regret detailed information is not available.
Channel 5
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if Channel 5 will be able to be received throughout Pendle; and if she will make a statement. [19579]
Mr. Sproat:
Copies of maps showing the predicted initial coverage of Channel 5 broadcasts from terrestrial transmitters were placed in the Libraries of both Houses on 23 October 1996. The closest transmitter to the hon. Member's constituency which will transmit Channel 5 is
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Winter Hill. It is estimated that this transmitter will not provide a service throughout the Pendle constituency. However, some residents in the south-west of the constituency who are on the edge of the predicted coverage area may receive an acceptable service.
The Government have always acknowledged that viewers in several parts of the country will not be able to receive Channel 5. It is, however, open to Channel 5 Broadcasting Ltd. to enhance its coverage in future by other delivery means, including cable, satellite and digital terrestrial transmissions.
Ms Walley:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement in respect of the moratorium imposed by the Football Trust on grant aid to football clubs arising out of the Taylor report; and if she will make a statement. [19519]
Mr. Sproat:
I have recently met representatives of the Football Trust to discuss its future funding programme. I am hopeful that a solution will be found soon that will enable the trust's grants programme to be resumed. The Government remain committed to delivering on schedule the essential football ground safety improvements agreed following the Taylor report.
Mr. Legg:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she will next visit the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee. [20264]
Mr. Sproat:
I am visiting the International Olympic Committee on 13 March at the invitation of its President, Mr. Samaranch. My main aim is to ensure that the case for British sport and our commitment to attracting major international events, not least the Olympic games, is fully understood at the highest levels of major international sports organisations. I shall also be using the opportunity to stress the whole range of radical sporting initiatives which this Government have taken, including: the proposed British Academy of Sport; national lottery revenue support to develop sporting excellence and capital support for updating facilities, including the proposed new English national stadium at Wembley and facilities in Manchester for the 2002 Commonwealth games. To underline the importance of this visit, Mr. Craig Reedie, chairman of the British Olympic Association, and a member of the United Kingdom Sports Council, will accompany me.
Mr. Alison:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many churches and cathedrals have received funding from the national lottery; and what is the total amount of such funding. [18291]
Mr. Sproat
[holding answer 4 March 1997]: Seventy awards totalling £11,561,976 have been announced for the restoration and refurbishment of churches and cathedrals.
Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the total amount paid out in national lottery awards to projects and charities in the
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constituency of Crewe and Nantwich since the inception of the national lottery indicating what percentage of the total amount awarded this represents. [18637]
Mr. Sproat
[holding answer 4 March 1997]: A total of £969,320 has been paid out to projects in Crewe and Nantwich. This represents 62 per cent. of the total awards of £1,556,221 announced for the constituency.
Mr. Betts:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what percentage of bills to her Department were paid (a) in accordance with agreed contractual conditions and (b) within 30 days of receiving goods and services or the presentation of a valid invoice where no contractual conditions applied in the last year for which figures are available. [18815]
Mr. Sproat
[holding answer 6 March 1997]: My Department has signed up to the CBI prompt payment code and is committed to the payment of invoices within agreed contractual provisions or within 30 days of the presentation of a valid invoice or delivery, if later. Whilst the information requested is not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, on the basis of a sample of invoices received by the Department of National Heritage during the 1995-96 financial year, 91 per cent. were paid within the contract terms or 30 days.
Mr. Dafis:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultations she has had with (a) Independent Television Commission and (b) the Broadcasting Standards Commission concerning the levels of violence on television following the killings at Dumblane. [19098]
Mr. Sproat:
The Government have long been concerned about violence on television and the protection of young people from unsuitable material. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly meets the ITC and the Broadcasting Standards Council and has frequently highlighted public concerns on this issue. Last autumn, she asked both bodies, together with the BBC, to report action taken on violence and future proposals, and in December she met the bodies' chairmen to review their reports and agree further initiatives.
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