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Special Advisers
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the subject and date of each written briefing prepared by his special advisers for all Labour Members since May 1997 and the total number and total cost to date of these. [89994]
Mr. Byers: Special Advisers are appointed under terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract for Special Advisers. Schedule 1, Part 1 of the Model Contract sets out the role and duties of Special Advisers. As well as research for Ministers and reviewing papers, contributing to policy planning within the Department and preparing policy papers, speechwriting and liaison with outside interest groups, their role explicitly includes liaising with the party and helping to brief party MPs. Records are not held of when such briefings are given. Similar arrangements have applied under successive Governments.
European Commission Communication
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place a copy of the European Commission Communications on (a) the Environment and the Internal Market and (b) Mutual Recognition in the Library. [90090]
Mr. Wilson: The Commission Communications referred to are available in the Library under the Commission references 99/263 (10 June) and 99/299 (21 June) respectively. They can also be accessed electronically via the Commission website: (www.europa.eu.int/comm/index-en.htm).
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
EU Cultural and Audiovisual Meeting
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation on European identity given at the EU Weimar meeting on cultural and audiovisual issues; what is his policy on the issues raised; and if he will make a statement. [88464]
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Mr. Alan Howarth:
I will ensure that a copy of Jorge Semprun's Weimar speech is placed in the Libraries of the House. The meeting in Weimar underlined to those present the benefits which can accrue from learning the lessons of history and using culture as a means towards better mutual understanding between the peoples of Europe. Following the meeting in Weimar, the German Presidency presented a draft Council Resolution on integrating history into the European Community's cultural action. The Resolution was agreed unanimously at the Culture/Audiovisual Council in Luxembourg on 28 June, and a copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House when the final text is available.
Mr. Hood:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was the outcome of the Culture Council held in Luxembourg on 28 June; and if he will make a statement. [89289]
Mr. Chris Smith:
My hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts represented the United Kingdom at the Culture/Audiovisual Council held in Luxembourg on 28 June. The Council agreed a Common Position on the Culture 2000 funding programme. A Council Resolution on integrating history into the Community's cultural action was agreed, as was a decision on the appointment by the Council of the members of the selection panel for the Community action concerning the European Capital of Culture. There was an exchange of views on the cultural dimension of the Kosovo conflict. On audiovisual matters, Council conclusions on convergence and self-regulation in the media were agreed.
Mr. Chope:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many offences of television licence fee evasion were adjudicated upon in magistrates' courts in (a) England and (b) Wales during each of the last five years; what was the cost; what proportion of the cost was borne by (i) the magistrates' courts and (ii) the BBC; and what has been the amount of fines imposed. [89558]
Janet Anderson:
The Home Office Court Proceedings database records prosecutions under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts. The great majority, but not all, of these relate to television licence fee evasion. The reporting of prosecutions where there has been no police involvement, as in this case, is known to be incomplete. Accurate information on the cost of prosecutions under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts is not available.
(1) In 1995, as a result of an error in data processing procedures, there was a shortfall in the recording of data for certain summary offences, including those under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts.
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Libraries (Lottery Money)
Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how local authorities will obtain money made available through the National Lottery New Opportunities Fund to develop a public libraries IT network; and what plans he has to ensure that all public libraries will benefit from this money. [89470]
Mr. Alan Howarth: Guidance on applications for funding for the £20m ICT training programme for librarians and the £50m programme for creation of digitised learning material will shortly be issued by the New Opportunities Fund (NOF).
Guidance on applications for funding for infrastructure development, to be delivered through NOF's £200m Community Access To Lifelong Learning Programme, is likely to be issued at the end of this year.
Millennium Prayers
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps to facilitate the saying of prayers at midnight on 31 December 1999 in the Millennium Dome by the Archbishop of Canterbury. [89579]
Janet Anderson: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is responsible for the content and delivery of the opening celebrations at the Millennium Dome on 31 December. NMEC is discussing these arrangements with a number of interested parties including the Royal Household and Lambeth Palace, and the Government are kept fully informed of these discussions. The nature and scope of the celebrations will be announced in due course.
Preston Television Licensing Enquiry Office
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many successful prosecutions took place in the Preston Television Licensing enquiry office area for each year since 1992. [89550]
Janet Anderson:
From April 1993, the Preston TV Licensing enquiry office (TVLEO) area also included Morecambe. From December 1996, the Preston TVLEO area was incorporated into TV Licensing's Northern Region; figures from 1996-97 onwards therefore relate to
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addresses with the PR postcode. The number of convictions for television licence evasion during the period in question was:
| Number of convictions | |
|---|---|
| 1992-93 | |
| (Preston TVLEO) | 5,360 |
| 1993-94 | |
| (Preston TVLEO) including Morecambe | 6,569 |
| 1994-95 | |
| (Preston TVLEO) | 5,503 |
| 1995-96 | |
| (Preston TVLEO) | 5,165 |
| 1996-97 | |
| (PR postcode) | 1,058 |
| 1997-98 | |
| (PR postcode) | 757 |
| 1998-99 | |
| (PR postcode) | 522 |
Air Passenger Duty
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from the tourism industry calling for (a) change to and (b) hypothecation of Air Passenger Duty. [89560]
Janet Anderson: We have had a number of representations on Air Passenger Duty either calling for change to, or a hypothecation of, the duty and these have been passed to the Treasury.
Heritage Buildings
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the historic and architectural merit of surviving buildings from the British Empire Exhibition held at Wembley in 1923. [89193]
Mr. Alan Howarth [holding answer 1 July 1999]: Wembley Stadium and the Palace of Arts were added to the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest in Grade II in 1976. The other surviving buildings from the Exhibition were inspected by English Heritage in 1997, as a result of which the Palace of Industry was listed in Grade II.
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