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Wembley Stadium
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from UK Athletics concerning the proposals for the English National Stadium at Wembley put forward by Wembley Stadium Ltd. regarding the proposals' suitability for hosting the World Athletics Championships and an Olympic athletics competition. [104334]
Kate Hoey
[holding answer 10 January 2000]: My Department was in close contact with UK Athletics about the proposals for athletics at Wembley. Following the announcement made by my right hon. Friend to the House on 1 December 1999, Official Report, columns 305-06, and a further statement issued on 22 December 1999, my Department are continuing to work with UK Athletics and the British Olympic Association to develop and assess non-Wembley options for staging international athletics events.
17 Jan 2000 : Column: 348W
Mr. Gardiner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the suitability of the Copland School site or a location for a warm-up track for the World Athletics Championships in 2005. [104325]
Kate Hoey
[holding answer 10 January 2000]: The suitability of a number of options for warm up facilities around the stadium at Wembley were considered by Sport England including the Copeland School site. Although providing a lasting legacy for school and community use, Sport England expressed reservations in respect of access to the stadium during an event which would have weakened a World Athletics Championship bid.
Mr. Gardiner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions he has had with the Chief Executive of UK Athletics about the feasibility of hosting the World Athletics Championships and an Olympic athletics competition at Twickenham; [104340]
(3) what assessment his Department has made of the cost of upgrading the public transport infrastructure at Twickenham so as to make it capable of hosting a world athletics championship and an Olympic athletics competition; [104333]
(4) when designs for the conversion of Twickenham, such as would render it suitable to accommodate a World Athletics Championship and an Olympic athletics competition, will be ready for submission to the local planning authority; [104341]
(5) what assessment he has made of the cost of demolishing and rebuilding the South Stand at Twickenham on a (a) hydraulic and (b) roller system so as to accommodate an athletics track suitable for hosting a world athletics championship and Olympic athletics competition and of providing additional infill seating between the new south stand and the existing east and west stands, inclusive of lost revenue whilst such alterations are being carried out; [104342]
(6) what assessment he has made of the cost of upgrading seating and corporate hospitality at Twickenham to render it suitable to host a World Athletics Championship and Olympic athletic competition; [104337]
(7) what assessment he has made as to whether the timescale for converting Twickenham into a stadium capable of hosting the World Athletics Championship and an Olympic athletics competition will allow a successful bid for the 2005 World Athletics Championships; [104339]
(8) what assessment he has made of the need to upgrade the corporate hospitality facilities at Twickenham as part of a bid to host the 2005 World Athletics Championships and an Olympic athletic competition; [104336]
17 Jan 2000 : Column: 349W
(9) what investigations he has made into locating a suitable warm-up track for the 2005 World Athletics championships close to Twickenham. [104324]
Kate Hoey
[holding answer 10 January 2000]: Sport England, together with UK Sport, UK Athletics, the BOA and the Department, is undertaking further work on non-Wembley options for staging international athletics events. The Rugby Football Union (RFU) proposed that Twickenham might be used for such events and constructive discussions are underway between the Department, Sport England, UK Athletics, the BOA, the RFU and the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. A further announcement will be made once this work is completed.
Mrs. Ann Cryer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) men and (b) women in each of the standard age groups were employed in his Department in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1999. [104018]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport was established in April 1992 following machinery of government changes.
(2) if all seats in the stadium at Twickenham would comply with the C60 minimum sightlines specification of the Green Guide and the Football Stadium Advisory Design Council for a world athletics championship staged there without relocating the site of the present stands; [104329]
| Men | Women | |
|---|---|---|
| 16-19 | 1 | 0 |
| 20-24 | 5 | 1 |
| 25-29 | 18 | 21 |
| 30-34 | 41 | 40 |
| 35-39 | 46 | 35 |
| 40-44 | 31 | 19 |
| 45-49 | 35 | 15 |
| 50+ | 24 | 28 |
Digital Television
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received regarding the number of transmitters and the power of transmissions for digital television services; and if he will make a statement. [104725]
Janet Anderson: DCMS has received a number of representations from MPs and members of the public about the coverage of digital terrestrial television (DTT) services.
The BBC and Independent Television Commission (ITC) jointly planned for the launch of digital terrestrial television and developed a plan comprising a network of 81 transmitter sites across the UK, most of which are now broadcasting.
The BBC and ITC, with the transmission providers, are now considering, in consultation with the digital broadcasters, Government and representatives of manufacturers and consumers, how to improve coverage across all six digital terrestrial television multiplexes at all of the 81 sites. It is hoped, as a result of initial work in the London and surrounding area, that significant improvements will be possible.
17 Jan 2000 : Column: 350W
Mr. Kaufman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will instruct the ITC to obtain from ITV the latest figures showing (a) the change in the numbers watching news on Channel 3 since the abolition of "News at Ten" and (b) the change in the viewing numbers for the 10.00 to 10.30 p.m. weekday slot on Channel 3 since the abolition of "News at Ten". [104467]
Janet Anderson:
The Independent Television Commission is monitoring the performance of ITV following changes to its news provision in March 1999. For the four weeks beginning 6 December 1999 the average audiences who were watching news on Channel 3 and the figures for the equivalent weeks in 1998 are as follows:
| Million | |
|---|---|
| 1998 | |
| 5.40-6.00 | 5.6 |
| 10.00-10.30 | 6.5 |
| Total | 12.1 |
| 1999 | |
| 6.30-7.00 | 6.2 |
| 11.00-11.15 | 3.2 |
| Total | 9.5 |
(b) The average Channel 3 audience between 10.00 and 10.30 p.m. was 0.9 million less in the four weeks beginning 6 December 1999 than it was in the equivalent weeks in 1998.
TREASURY
Smuggling
Mr. Sedgemore: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of Martin Taylor's report on the Government's Strategy to Combat Tobacco Smuggling. [105332]
Miss Melanie Johnson: Martin Taylor's advice to the Chancellor was personal and confidential, including areas of operational sensitivity to HM Customs and Excise. It would therefore not be appropriate to place Mr. Taylor's advice in the Library.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of UK duty lost through the smuggling of alcohol in each of the last three years. [105358]
Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire (Mrs. Lawrence) on 26 November 1999, Official Report, columns 254-55W, and to the technical report on cross-Channel smuggling placed in the Library of the House on 19 September 1998.
Correspondence
Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 25 November regarding a constituent. [104815]
17 Jan 2000 : Column: 351W
Mr. Andrew Smith:
I have responded.
Mr. Barron:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has asked or intends to ask representatives of the UK tobacco manufacturers, distributors or exporters to provide data on quantities of UK manufactured cigarettes that have been exported from the UK with UK health warnings and markings and to explain the purpose of exporting cigarettes so labelled. [104642]
Dawn Primarolo:
Such matters are laid to HM Customs and Excise. Customs does not routinely require tobacco manufacturers or other exporters to provide data on cigarettes exported with UK health warnings and markings. Customs is considering whether there is a case for doing so in future.
Mr. Barron:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates HM Customs and Excise has made of the quantity of UK-manufactured cigarettes (a) exported from the UK with UK health warnings and markings and (b) sold on cross-channel ferries since July 1999 with UK health warnings and markings but with duty paid in France or Belgium. [104641]
Dawn Primarolo:
HM Customs and Excise have no estimates for the extent of these activities.
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