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PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
Millennium Compliance
37. Mr. Chope: To ask the President of the Council when she intends to publish the next quarterly return on the progress of Government Departments towards millennium compliance. [62167]
Mrs. Beckett: I announced the results of the latest quarterly review in a statement to the House on 2 December 1998, Official Report, columns 902-05. Copies of the individual return from Departments and agencies have been placed in the Libraries of the House and published on the internet.
38. Helen Jones: To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the progress being made in terms of the preparedness of the national infrastructure to cope with the millennium date change. [62169]
Mrs. Beckett: Responsible departments and regulators are working with the major infrastructure providers to ensure that they are taking proper steps to tackle the Millennium bug.
We have also set up through Action 2000 a National Infrastructure Forum. The Forum brings together the main providers and users of infrastructure services to share best practice and information about their state of preparedness.
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A key part of the Forum's work is an Independent Assessment Project to assess the state of preparedness of key infrastructure services, including the electricity, water, fuels, telecommunications and financial sectors. The results of the first assessment of the water industry were announced by OFWAT on 22 October. The first results for the other key sectors should be available early in the New Year.
Digital Television
15. Mr. Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plan he has to ensure that digital television will be available to the most remote communities in Britain. [62142]
Janet Anderson: Digital terrestrial television services began on 15 November and will reach 90 per cent. of the UK population by the end of next year. Digital satellite services currently reach much of the UK and digital cable services are likely to begin next year. Extending digital services beyond the terrestrial launch phase to other parts of the UK, including remote communities, was one of the issues raised in our consultation paper "Television: the Digital Future". The responses to that paper are currently being evaluated. Once that process is complete the Government will be in a position to consider with the broadcasters the next steps towards extending digital services across the UK.
Millennium Fund
16. Mrs. Heal: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contribution the millennium fund will make to tackling social exclusion. [62143]
26. Ms Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contribution the millennium fund plans to make to projects to tackle social exclusion. [62154]
Mr. Chris Smith: The Government have sought to ensure that the Millennium celebrations will be inclusive, involving people from all religious and cultural backgrounds, all social groups and all areas of the United Kingdom. We also want to see a lasting legacy from the celebrations. Many of the projects funded by the Millennium Commission--particularly through their Awards scheme--will strengthen local community infrastructure and encourage active citizenship in both urban and rural areas.
Strategic Authority for Tourism
17. Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the role of a strategic authority for tourism in England. [62144]
Janet Anderson:
My Department launched a consultation exercise on 24 July which sought views on a variety of issues, including a strategic authority for English tourism. (The main conclusions of the consultation were made public this morning). A majority
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of the responses we received confirmed my view that there is a need for a national body of this type to support the new tourism strategy.
18. Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures he is taking to reduce the number of profane and lewd broadcasts on television. [62146]
Janet Anderson:
Broadcasters are subject to the general law and are required to comply with the regulators' guidelines on programme content. It is a long-standing and, I believe, a fundamental principle that Government do not intervene directly in issues of broadcasting content. Responsibility for enforcing the rules lies with the regulators, who are charged with safeguarding the public interest.
19. Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the funding of the new opportunities fund between 1997 and 2005. [62147]
Mr. Chris Smith:
I have announced New Opportunities Fund programmes of £1.4 billion to date. I have made no estimate of the Fund's income beyond the life of the current licence, which expires in September 2001.
20. Mrs. Butler:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has to devolve responsibility for culture to the regions. [62148]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
A new body will be established in each region to provide a strong, strategic voice for all cultural interests. A number of the public bodies sponsored by my Department are also delegating more responsibility to the regions. Further details are contained in the announcement which my right hon. Friend made earlier today on the results of the Department's Comprehensive Spending Review.
21. Mr. Fraser:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for the selection procedures for an operator for the national lottery when Camelot's licence expires. [62149]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The selection procedures for the next Lottery operator will be determined by the National Lottery Commission, which will take over the functions of the Director General of the National Lottery next year. The Commission will make its decision in line with its statutory responsibilities and my directions.
22. Angela Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received about the equality of distribution of lottery awards. [62150]
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Mr. Chris Smith:
I frequently receive representations about different aspects of the National Lottery, including the equality of the distribution of awards.
We are determined to ensure that Lottery money is allocated more fairly and equitably in the light of need across the whole of the United Kingdom and between different groups in society. The National Lottery Act 1998 requires distributors to show how they will achieve this in their strategic plans.
23. Miss Begg:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the contribution the performing arts can make to reducing social exclusion. [62151]
28. Ms Buck:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the contribution of the performing arts to measures to reduce social exclusion. [62156]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
One of my Department's principal objectives is to promote the role of the Department's sectors, including the performing arts, in combating social exclusion. The New Audiences Fund will continue to support projects which broaden access for young people and others who would not normally have an opportunity to experience the arts. Furthermore, as part of our contribution to the Government's forthcoming strategy for neighbourhood renewal, my Department is chairing an action team which will report on best practice in using the arts and sport to combat social exclusion.
24. Mr. Fabricant:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the amount of money available to be distributed for each of the good causes for (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000 and (c) 2000-2001 and the percentages these represent of total funds available for distribution by the good causes. [62152]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The Lottery is now set to raise £10.6 billion for good causes over the licence period, £600 million above previous forecasts.
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