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Channel 4
24. Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received concerning Channel 4; and if he will make a statement. [46336]
Mr. Chris Smith:
I have received no such representations. Channel Four is a central element in the Government's vision for the broadcasting industry in the digital future. We expect it to continue to play a vital role in providing distinctive and innovative public service programming of high quality.
29 Jun 1998 : Column: 58
25. Mr. Boswell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on admission charges to national museums. [46337]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The March Budget settlement included £2 million to maintain free admission at the currently non-charging national museums and galleries. At the same time, the Heritage Lottery Fund announced a £7 million Access Fund, available to all museums and galleries for new access initiatives. I will make a further announcement next month.
26. Jane Griffiths:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the conclusions of the mapping exercise on the creative industries. [46338]
Mr. Tom Clarke:
We are currently finalising the mapping exercise and will publish it as soon as possible.
27. Miss Kirkbride:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the introduction of digital terrestrial television. [46339]
Mr. Chris Smith:
I look forward to the successful launch of digital terrestrial services alongside digital services on cable and satellite later this year. Digital television will increase consumer choice and deliver the benefits of the information age to our living rooms.
28. Mr. Corbyn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations the football task force has received on the prices of football merchandise. [46340]
Mr. Banks:
The Football Task Force has received a number of representations on the cost of football merchandise. The remit of the Task Force specifically includes the investigation of marketing policies in football. The Task Force will be taking further representations from interested parties and is due to publish its report on all the commercial aspects of the game by the end of the year.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his proposals for the reduction of television licence fees for pensioners. [47560]
Mr. Fisher
[holding answer 25 June 1998]: The Government's current Agreement with the BBC provides for a review of the arrangements for funding the Corporation after March 2002. We shall conduct that review in good time to allow decisions to be taken before then. The review will include a detailed consideration of the question of concessions, both for pensioners and others.
29 Jun 1998 : Column: 59
Mr. Bayley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many representations English Heritage has received (a) in favour of and (b) against its proposal to move its Ancient Monuments Laboratory to Fort Cumberland, Portsmouth; [47396]
(3) how many people visited English Heritage's (a) Ancient Monuments Laboratory in London and (b) Central Archaeological Service in Portsmouth in the most recent year for which figures are available; [47398]
(4) what effect the proposed relocation of English Heritage's Ancient Monuments Laboratory will have on the amount of money in English Heritage's archaeology grants budget available for distribution in 1998-99 and 1999-2000; [47397]
(5) what information has been collected by English Heritage about the proportion of the professional staff in its Ancient Monuments Laboratory who would (a) be happy to relocate and (b) seek alternative employment in the event that the laboratory is relocated to each of the alternative locations considered in recent months; [47401]
(6) if English Heritage intends to consult the people and organisations which use the services of its Ancient Monuments Laboratory about its proposal to move the laboratory to Fort Cumberland, Portsmouth; [47395]
(7) which places were considered by English Heritage as possible future locations for its Ancient Monuments Laboratory; and in respect of each of these places what is the estimated (a) capital value plus conversion cost of the premises, (b) cost of relocating staff, (c) cost of capital equipment for the new laboratory, (d) annual running cost of the new laboratory and (e) annual cost of and time used for official travel by the laboratory's staff. [47399]
Mr. Banks:
These detailed questions about the relocation of English Heritage's Ancient Monuments Laboratory relate to internal management proposals under consideration by English Heritage's Commissioners about the most efficient and effective deployment of resources to fulfil its archaeological responsibilities. These questions are therefore more appropriately answered by English Heritage itself, and I have asked its Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend. I will ensure that copies are placed in the Libraries of the House. Should English Heritage wish to pursue relocation, my Department would of course consider its business plan.
Mr. Gill:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Heritage Lottery Fund regarding the future of HMS Cavalier. [47112]
Mr. Banks:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Minister for Arts and I have not had any discussions with the Heritage Lottery Fund about the future of HMS Cavalier. However, we are aware of her status as the last surviving Second World War
29 Jun 1998 : Column: 60
destroyer and of the case for her preservation. These issues were considered in detail during the recent Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry into the future of the ship. In this regard, we were pleased to hear of the National Heritage Memorial Fund award to Medway Council, in association with Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, of £37,575 for a feasibility study of the case for preservation and relocation.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what initiatives the Government took to promote National Swim Week on 17 to 31 May. [47218]
Mr. Banks:
Swimming has my full support, as it is one our healthiest recreational pursuits. I was therefore pleased to see the National Swim Week introduced throughout the country, as it gave youngsters an excellent opportunity to participate in the sport and helped to raise important funds for Cancer Relief.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he has taken to host the Rugby League World Cup in the United Kingdom. [47605]
Mr. Banks:
The Government are committed to work to bring major international sporting events to Britain and, through the English and UK Sports Councils, we fully support the efforts being taken by the Rugby Football League to stage the Rugby League World Cup at the earliest possible date. I understand that the RFL is due to present a draft eight-year programme of international competition, which includes a proposed four-year World Cup cycle, to the next meeting of the Rugby Football League's International Board later this year.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on progress in the upgrading of Wembley Stadium; and if he will name the alternative national stadium to be used during upgrading work at Wembley. [47606]
Mr. Banks:
It is still early days, but I am very pleased with the progress to date, and in particular the way the English Sports Council, the Football Association and the English National Stadium Trust are working productively together in developing a new stadium of which the nation can be proud. The aim is for the current stadium to be demolished after the 1999 FA Cup Final, and for the new stadium to be completed by 2002. Decisions on alternative venues for events during construction of the new stadium are entirely matters for the governing bodies concerned.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of projects allocated Heritage Lottery funding within Wales to date were unable to raise matching funding; and what is the total amount of resulting unclaimed funds. [47393]
29 Jun 1998 : Column: 61
Mr. Banks:
The Heritage Lottery Fund is not aware of any projects in Wales which have been awarded grants but for which the required partnership funding has not been raised. There are therefore no resulting unclaimed funds.
Mr. Martyn Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of the Lottery funds allocated for Heritage projects has been spent in (a) Wales and (b) North Wales. [47392]
Mr. Banks:
To date, the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded £1.01 billion to 1,862 projects. Of this, Wales has received £23.27 million (2.3 per cent.) and North Wales has received £8.74 million (0.1 per cent.). Information on National Lottery awards is now available on the Departments website. www.lottery, culture.gov.uk.
(2) what estimate has been made by English Heritage of the cost of providing Library and other facilities in order to establish a centre of excellence if it relocates its Ancient Monuments Laboratory to Fort Cumberland, Portsmouth; [47400]
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