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Hunting with Dogs
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Government's plans to ban hunting with dogs. [109549]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Foster) on 11 November 1999, Official Report, columns 787-88W.
Sunday Elections
Mr. Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the additional cost per elector of pilot schemes under which elections take place on Sunday. [109767]
Mr. Mike O'Brien: A number of local authorities have applied to run pilot schemes which involve weekend voting but no scheme which provides for voting on Sunday only will be run.
Trial by Jury
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) cost of additional appeals to the Crown Court against the (i) verdicts and (ii) sentences of magistrates, under his proposals to restrict the right to trial by jury. [108099]
Mr. Straw [holding answer 2 February 2000]: Only 1 per cent. of defendants appeal against conviction and sentence following a trial in the magistrates courts and the model which has been used to estimate costs assumes that the effect will be de minimis. Even if as many as 10 per cent. of previously electing defendants chose to appeal following conviction after a contested trial, there would be fewer than 200 additional appeals, at a cost of less than £250,000.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Broadcasting
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the EU authorities on the framework for public financing for broadcasting with special reference to licence fee supplements. [110072]
16 Feb 2000 : Column: 545W
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 14 February 2000]: My officials met Commission officials on 26 January, primarily to discuss the Commission's decision on BBC News 24. The various funding options identified in the report of the independent panel, chaired by Gavyn Davies, "Review of the Future Funding of the BBC", were briefly discussed.
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which (a) organisations and (b) individuals he has met to discuss broadcasting since 1 May 1997. [109995]
Janet Anderson:
My right hon. Friend has discussed broadcasting with a wide range of organisations and individuals since 1 May 1997, and with many of them a number of times. Diary records are not kept by subject matter and it would not be possible to identify all such meetings, formal and informal, in order to provide the comprehensive list sought.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with which body the Chief Executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council has a contract of employment. [110108]
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 14 February 2000]: The Chief Executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council has a contract of employment with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLAC).
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what procedures were followed in the selection of a candidate for the new Chief Executive of the New Millennium Experience Company; [109470]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 10 February 2000]: The NMEC Board appointed Pierre-Yves Gerbeau as Chief Executive of the Company on 7 February. Mr. Gerbeau's appointment reflects the view that a different approach and different skills are now needed to manage the project successfully during its year of operation. A number of possible candidates were considered before deciding to appoint Mr. Gerbeau. Under the terms of the Financial Memorandum governing relations between the NMEC and its Shareholder, Lord Falconer of Thoroton has approved the appointment.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the balance of the revenues of the New Millennium Experience Company and the operating costs of the Dome. [106354]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 24 January 2000]: It is too early at this stage to make a conclusive estimate but I fully expect the New Millennium Experience Company to meet its income targets and complete the Millennium Experience project within the original £758 million cash-limited budget.
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Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which schools in the Colchester constituency will be eligible to receive free tickets to visit the Millennium Dome; how many pupils in each school will be eligible; and what are the arrangements for the allocation of tickets. [106467]
Janet Anderson:
Every school in the Colchester constituency is eligible to apply for up to 100 free tickets to the Dome under the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) Education Tour scheme. Up to 1,000,000 free tickets are available. The available free tickets are allocated over a series of ballots. The first ballot, for tickets available in February, March and April, took place in November 1999. The second ballot, for tickets available in May, June and July, will take place in February 2000. The third ballot, for tickets available in September, October and November, will take place in June 2000. The final ballot, for tickets available in December, will take place in September 2000. NMEC, through the Education and Learning Experience Managers in its 12 offices countrywide (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the North-East, Yorkshire and Humberside, the North-West, the East Midlands, the West Midlands, the East, the South-East, the South-West and London), and through the regional media will continue to ensure that all schools are fully aware of the free ticket scheme and of the education visit arrangements.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) which schools in the Chorley constituency will be eligible to receive free tickets to visit the Millennium Dome; [105039]
Janet Anderson:
[holding answer 17 January 2000]: Every school in the Chorley constituency is eligible to apply for up to 100 free tickets to the Dome under the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) Education Tour scheme. Up to 1,000,000 free tickets are available. The available free tickets are allocated over a series of ballots. The first ballot, for tickets available in February, March and April, took place in November 1999. The second ballot, for tickets available in May, June and July, will take place in February 2000. The third ballot, for tickets available in September, October and November, will take place in June 2000. The final ballot, for tickets available in December, will take place in September 2000. Approximately 12 per cent. of all free tickets are available to schools in the North West region as this is the approximate proportion of the school population in that region. NMEC, through the Education and Learning Experience Managers in its 12 offices countrywide (Scotland, Wales, northern Ireland, the north-east, Yorkshire and Humberside, the north-west, the east Midlands, the west Midlands, the east, the south-east, the south-west and London), and through the regional media will continue to ensure that all schools are fully aware of the free ticket scheme and of the education visit arrangements.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what provision is made for students with learning difficulties attending further
16 Feb 2000 : Column: 547W
education establishments to be allocated free tickets to visit the Millennium Experience; and if he will make a statement. [108724]
Janet Anderson:
The New Millennium Experience Company are not making free tickets for the Dome available to further education establishments. Free tickets are available to up to 1 million schoolchildren aged between eight and 16. Groups of students are charged £14.50 per head and student card holders wishing to make their own arrangements pay £16.50. NMEC is happy to discuss any special needs which particular visitors and groups might have--for example, special needs groups can bring an enabler with them free of charge and can use the on site car park, provided they are Orange Badge Holders and book beforehand. Hosts can be prepared to receive a particular group and ensure that its members are able to move through zones at their own pace, and buggies and wheelchairs can be arranged. All special needs requirements can be arranged on the Dome ticket line (0870 606 2000) when booking Dome tickets.
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what travel assistance is being provided to schools in the Chorley constituency visiting the Dome. [105041]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 17 January 2000]: The costs attributable to the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) Education Tour scheme at the Dome, including administration of the scheme, the tickets themselves and the management costs of implementing it throughout the year, are being met by NMEC from the Millennium Experience project budget. It is, however, established practice with school trips for the schools to make arrangements for travel and subsistence themselves. NMEC provides all schools with details of travel companies who are offering packages specifically aimed at schools. Additionally, many schools are also well placed to negotiate favourable deals through their established relationships with local travel operators.
(2) if he will make a statement of the role of Lord Falconer of Thoroton in the appointment of the new Chief Executive of the New Millennium Experience Company. [109472]
(2) how many pupils in each school in the Chorley constituency will be eligible for free tickets to visit the Millennium Dome. [105040]
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