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Correspondence

Sir Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the right hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire will receive replies to his letters of 9 February and 4 May on behalf of his constituent Dr. Nazir. [125194]

Mr. Straw: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 8 June. I apologise to him for the delay.

Remembrance Sunday

Mr. Pond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the arrangements for this year's ceremony at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. [125551]

Mr. Straw: The usual ceremony at the Cenotaph will be held on Remembrance Sunday. The Royal British Legion has made proposals which will allow other relevant groups and individuals who have not in the past taken part in the march past at the conclusion of the official ceremony to do so. I welcome these proposals, which the Royal British Legion are now taking forward. Interested parties will be able to apply through the Royal British Legion.

Burns Inquiry

Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what date was first set for the report of the Burns Inquiry into hunting with dogs to be delivered to him; when he expects to receive it; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement. [125349]

Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Burns Inquiry was asked to report by late spring. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary expects to receive the report from Lord Burns today, and the report to be published next week.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Television Transmitter Failures (Compensation)

Ms McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what compensation arrangements apply to television licence holders who are unable to receive broadcasts as a result of transmitter failures. [124738]

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Janet Anderson: The television licence fee is a payment for permission to install or use television to receive television programme services and not for a service provided. There is therefore no entitlement to compensation, nor, while a TV remains installed, to refunds of television licence fees in cases of transmitter failures.

Millennium Dome

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the standard adult charge for visiting the Dome; and what is the average entrance receipt achieved per visitor. [123985]

Janet Anderson [holding answer 5 June 2000]: The gross standard adult charge for entrance to the Dome is £20. The average gross yield entrance receipt per visitor to date, is £14.50.

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the attainment of a target for visitor figures for the Millennium Dome will be a factor in deciding to award a bonus to Pierre-Yves Gerbeau. [124394]

Janet Anderson [holding answer 7 June 2000]: The attainment of a target for visitor numbers will be one of a range of measures used in any decision to award a bonus payment to the Chief Executive of the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC).

Designated Museums Challenge Fund

Mr. Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to extend the period of the Designated Museums Challenge Fund; and if he will make a statement. [125075]

Mr. Alan Howarth: £15 million has been allocated to the Designation Challenge Fund between 1999 and 2002. Provision beyond that will depend on the outcome of the spending review 2000.

New Millennium Experience Company

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects the New Millennium Experience Company to publish its next accounts; and what period they will cover. [125030]

Janet Anderson [holding answer 8 June 2000]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) aims to publish its next Annual Report and Accounts at the end of July 2000, to cover the period up to 31 December 1999.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many board meetings of the New Millennium Experience Company have taken place since 1 January; when they took place; and which directors were in attendance at each meeting. [125028]

Janet Anderson [holding answer 8 June 2000]: Since 1 January 2000, the Board of the New Millennium Experience Company has met eight times.



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Stonehenge

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the preferred commercial operator of the proposed visitor centre at Stonehenge has been chosen; and if he will make a statement. [125328]

Mr. Alan Howarth: I anticipate that a statement will be made in the near future.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Pakistan

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the rape of eight Christian girls in Pakistan on 7 May. [125143]

Mr. Hain: We are aware of reports that Christian girls were raped on 3 May in Lahore. We strongly deplore this dreadful criminal act. Following the coup of 12 October, General Musharraf gave assurances that the rights of Pakistan's minorities would be respected and that they would be treated as equal citizens. We urge him to fulfil this commitment and ensure that all Pakistan citizens are given the full protection of the law.

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage the administration in Pakistan to eradicate religious intolerance. [125145]

Mr. Hain: We share concerns about the position of religious minorities in Pakistan and have relayed those concerns to the Pakistan authorities. Our High Commission in Islamabad maintains a regular dialogue with Christian and human rights groups and the Pakistani authorities on this issue. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and raise our concerns.

9 Jun 2000 : Column: 399W

India

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indian Government on the rise of Hindu militancy in India. [125162]

Mr. Hain: During his visit to India in April, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised with the India Foreign Minister, Jaswant Singh, his concerns over incidents of religious intolerance. I also discussed attacks on religious minorities with my Indian interlocutors during my visit to India last November.

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the frequency of attacks against the Christian population of India in each of the last four years. [125144]

Mr. Hain: We have been following closely reports of attacks on Christians in India. We have noted with concern an apparent increase in such reports over the past four years. We have raised this issue with Indian authorities on a number of occasions and have urged them to respond to international concern over attacks on Christians. We and our High Commission in New Delhi will continue to monitor this issue.

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received concerning attacks on Christians in India. [125164]

Mr. Hain: Our High Commission in New Delhi continues to monitor the position of religious minorities in India closely, including reports of attacks on Christians.

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support he is giving the Indian Government to reduce Hindu militant attacks on the Christian population of India. [125163]

Mr. Hain: We support the Indian authorities in their efforts to ensure that the right to freedom of religion, as enshrined in the Indian Constitution, is guaranteed. We have welcomed the Indian Government's assurances that attacks on Christians are fully investigated and action taken against the perpetrators.

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