You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard > Commons Debates > Commons Debates by date > Commons Debates - previous sessions > Bound Volume Hansard - Written Answers
Previous Section Index Home Page

Youth Crime

Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence about involving the Army Cadets, Sea Cadets and Air Cadets in his policies to tackle youth crime. [17140]

Mr. Michael: The Home Office operates a small grant scheme to cover the additional costs incurred when local Cadet Forces provide activities for children thought to be at risk of becoming involved in youth crime or who have already been involved in offending. This scheme was set up in 1995 to provide a variety of activities including providing positive alternatives to offending. I will shortly meet colleagues from the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Education and Employment to discuss the scheme and the role of the Cadet Forces in tackling youth crime.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Sports Broadcasting

Mr. Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress he has made in his review of the sports events listed under Part IV of the Broadcasting Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [17935]

Mr. Chris Smith: I have consulted interested parties about the principles which should guide the listing process, and I am today publishing criteria which I hope will make the process more transparent. I have also appointed an advisory group of individuals with knowledge of the sporting, broadcasting and public policy issues involved. The members of the group are:









I have invited this group to consider the issues against these published criteria:


As an initial step in the process of reviewing the list, the rights holders for the events currently listed and a number of other major sports events are being formally consulted, as the 1996 Act requires. The submissions received from them will be made available to the advisory group.

The rights holders for the following events are to be consulted:






25 Nov 1997 : Column: 456















The group may request that other events be included in the review and the rights holders for these events will be consulted.

The group will begin its work immediately and I expect it to make its recommendations to me before Easter. I shall then decide what changes, if any, to make to the current list.

Dance and Drama

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the interim schemes for the funding of dance and drama in (a) England and (b) Wales; and what factors account for the differences; [15597]

Mr. Fisher: The operation of the interim scheme is a matter for the Arts Council of England. I understand that full information is not yet available, but I have asked the Arts Council for a report on the effectiveness of the interim scheme and I will reply in full to the hon. Member as soon as I have it.

New Opportunities Fund

Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what are the management and distribution arrangements for the money currently being channelled to the New Opportunities Fund. [17595]

Mr. Chris Smith: Shadow accounting arrangements have been in place since 14 October 1997 whereby 13 1/3 per cent. of the proceeds for good causes from the National Lottery, and any interest earned on that sum,

25 Nov 1997 : Column: 457

accrue to the New Opportunities Fund. Subject to Parliament's approval of the legislation I shall be introducing shortly, funds being held for the New Opportunities Fund will be formally transferred to it after Royal Assent. Initial funding for the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts will be met from the sum allocated to the New Opportunities Fund. These arrangements will be fully reflected in the accounts of the National Lottery Distribution Fund and the Distributing Bodies.

Blackhill Control Centre

Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact on monitoring and maintenance of terrestrial television and radio transmission in Scotland of the closure of Blackhill Control Centre. [16699]

Mr. Fisher [holding answer 20 November 1997]: The Independent Television Commission and the Radio Authority set the technical standards for the transmission of commercial terrestrial television and radio services respectively. It is for the Commission and the Authority to monitor the compliance of broadcasters and service providers with those standards.

National Transcommunications Ltd.

Ms Roseanna Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what powers he has to supervise the activities and service provided by National Transcommunications Ltd. [16698]

Mr. Fisher [holding answer 20 November 1997]: National Transcommunications Ltd. (NTL) provides a range of services in the telecommunications and broadcasting fields. It has to comply with the conditions and requirements set out in the licences granted to it by the Radiocommunications Agency under the provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (as amended); by the Department of Trade and Industry under the provisions of the Telecommunications Act 1984 and by the Independent Television Commission (ITC) under the terms of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996. It is for the Agency, the Office of Telecommunications and the ITC to ensure that NTL complies with the terms of these licences. NTL is also under contract to a number of broadcasters who are licensed by the ITC under the Broadcasting Acts and who are required to fulfil certain transmission obligations.

Local Television Channels

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what data his Department collates on the availability of local television channels in particular areas. [16715]

Mr. Fisher: The BBC and the Independent Television Commission (ITC) are responsible for planning the use of frequencies for television services and hold data on the coverage of all national and regional terrestrial television services. This information is shared with my Department and with the Department of Trade and Industry's Radiocommunications Agency, which is responsible for ensuring that frequency plans for all terrestrial television services do not interfere with other spectrum users' services.

25 Nov 1997 : Column: 458

Departmental Information

Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library a copy of the internal departmental guidance on the dissemination of information; and if he will make a statement. [16308]

Mr. Chris Smith: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport treats all request for information in accordance with the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The Code was revised earlier this year and copies of the Second Edition of the Code and the accompanying Guidance on Interpretation are available in the Libraries of the House.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Mr. Philip Dale

Mr. Swinney: To ask the Attorney-General for what reasons he refused to overturn the sentence for manslaughter given to Mr. Philip Dale at Winchester Crown Court on 3 September 1997 on grounds of undue leniency; and if he will make a statement. [17203]

The Attorney-General: I declined to apply to the Court of Appeal for leave to refer to the Court for review the sentence imposed upon Mr. Philip Dale at Winchester Crown Court on 3 September 1997 on the grounds that the sentence was not unduly lenient. An unduly lenient sentence is one which falls outside the range of sentences which a judge, applying his mind to all of the relevant factors, could reasonably consider appropriate.

Next Section Index Home Page