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Tourism
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the factors contributing to the fall in the number of people employed in the tourism industry in England between December 1997 and December 1998; and if he will make a statement. [97988]
Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 9 November 1999]: Data from the Annual Employment Survey suggest that the number of employee jobs in tourism-related industries (TRI) in England rose by some 8,000 to 1.35 million between December 1997 and December 1998.
On the other hand, Labour Force Survey data suggest that, over the year to December 1998, the number of self-employment jobs fell by 17,000 to 130,000. My Department has asked the Office for National Statistics for their assessment of the reasons for this trend.
The latest figures, for the year to June 1999, show an increase in employee jobs in all TRI sectors and a reduction in the number of self-employed jobs.
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on external consultants and advisers in each of the last four financial years. [97425]
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Mr. Chris Smith:
The expenditure information requested is given in the following table:
| Year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 304,632 |
| 1996-97 | 448,931 |
| 1997-98 | 589,149 |
| 1998-99 | 381,634 |
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will break down the total cost of establishing the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. [97992]
Mr. Alan Howarth: £350,000 has been allocated to cover the costs associated with the establishment of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLAC) in this year and next. Costs are likely to include items such as legal fees, consultancy advice, the remuneration of the Chairman and Chief Executive until next April, travel and publications.
Films
Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his policy is on providing funding for films made and produced outside the South-East of England. [97297]
Janet Anderson: The Government is keen to develop the film industry and film culture throughout the UK and, where public support for film production is concerned, firm guidelines exist to encourage participation by people living and working outside the South-East. The British Film Institute and the Arts Council of England have co-financed projects with Regional Arts Boards, Regional Media Development Agencies and the Arts Councils of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Film Council will also have a responsibility to ensure wide access to its production funds when it commences operation next year.
Lottery support for film production is also channelled through the Arts Councils of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, all of which have remits to encourage the production of films which contribute to their respective indigenous film industries. This support will continue after the creation of the Film Council.
Television Regulation
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will make a statement on his policy towards the future regulation of programme output on (a) BBC1 and (b) ITV; [97591]
- (2) what plans he has to improve regulation of satellite television providers. [97589]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 8 November 1999]: Regulation of programme output on BBC One is a matter for the BBC's Board of Governors and on ITV and satellite broadcasters for the Independent Television Commission. The ITC are currently conducting an audit of regulatory burdens on commercial broadcasters. My Department and the DTI are separately about to undertake
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a fundamental reassessment of broadcasting and communications regulation with a view to possible major legislation early in the next Parliament.
Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Home Office since 1 August regarding the impact of asylum seekers in seaside holiday resorts. [95909]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 2 November 1999]: Officials in my Department have had a number of discussions with the Home Office on this important subject. Government policy will take proper account of the potential impact on seaside resorts and the availability of support networks locally when placing asylum seekers in available accommodation in these areas.
Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what developments there have been in the transmission on terrestrial television channels of major sporting events in the last five years; what representations his Department has received on this subject; and if he will make a statement. [97436]
Janet Anderson:
The four terrestrial television channels which are available to over 99 per cent. of UK viewers have continued to offer high quality coverage of events across a wide range of sports over the last five years. Channel 5, which is available to 75 per cent. of UK viewers, has also offered extensive sports coverage since March 1997. Coverage of a number of major sporting occasions must be made available to the BBC, Channel 3 or Channel 4 under Part IV of the Broadcasting Act 1996. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a revised and extended list of such protected events on 25 June 1998, taking account of the recommendations made to him by the independent Advisory Group chaired by Lord Gordon of Strathblane.
My right hon. Friend has received 2,948 representations on the subject of sports coverage on terrestrial television channels since May 1997, including 375 from hon. Members.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his policy is towards holding the Olympic Games in the United Kingdom. [97985]
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 9 November 1999]: The Government are committed to supporting a viable Olympic bid at the earliest opportunity. The British Olympic Association, who have responsibility for UK bids for the Olympic Games, is carrying out a series of feasibility studies on a London based bid and will report to me before the end of the year.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what agreement he has reached with the Chinese authorities regarding the trade in illegal copies of compact discs and videos. [97987]
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Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 9 November 1999]: During my visit to China and Hong Kong earlier this year, I raised with the appropriate authorities both in Beijing and Hong Kong the issue of trade in illegal copying of CDs and videos. We agreed that such trade is not beneficial to the development of a healthy domestic or international market and that it infringed intellectual property rights, and I encouraged them to maintain and intensify their efforts to enforce their domestic legislation in this area.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the level of industry participation in the new harmonised accommodation rating scheme for England. [97476]
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 5 November 1999]: Almost 49 per cent. of serviced accommodation providers in England have now signed up to the new standardised ratings being run by the English Tourism Council, the AA and RAC that were introduced in September.
This is an encouraging start, but we want more providers to sign up to the new schemes since we believe this will help drive up quality standards in accordance with the aims of "Tomorrow's Tourism". The ETC are responsible for encouraging and measuring take-up of the schemes and also identifying how it can be increased.
Mrs. Ellman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding the Millennium Commission has currently allocated for flagship capital projects where the Commission contribution is £10 million or more in (a) London, (b) Birmingham, (c) Manchester, (d) Salford, (e) Liverpool, (f) Sheffield, (g) Newcastle, (h) Leeds and (i) Bristol. [97638]
Mr. Chris Smith:
This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I will reply to my hon. Friend in my capacity as Chairman of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department spent on external consultants and advisers in each of the last four financial years. [97414]
Dr. Reid:
Expenditure on external consultants and advisers over the last four financial years by The Scottish Office, including its Executive Agencies and associated departments, is estimated as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 3.0 |
| 1997-98 | 2.5 |
| 1998-99 | 2.1 |
| 1999-2000 | 0.9 |
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