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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Sudan

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations she has made to the Government of Sudan over the recent bombings of civilians in the Nuba mountains. [778]

Clare Short: We have regularly expressed concern at the highest levels in Khartoum about incidents of aerial bombing of civilian targets. We do so bilaterally and also with our European partners through the EU/Sudan Political Dialogue. We also issued a statement, with our EU partners, calling for restraint by both sides in the wake of the renewed SPLA offensive in Bahr al Ghazal.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Lottery Funding

Mr. David: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she will take to direct Lottery funding to where it is most needed. [1272]

Tessa Jowell: I am announcing today a £150 million initiative to target Lottery money at those most deprived local authorities which have received less lottery funding than other parts of the UK. Over three years, £100 million from the Community Fund and £50 million from the New Opportunities Fund will be provided to help some 50 areas. The initiative will be UK-wide and will begin in April 2002.

Radio Licences

Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will ensure that United Christian Broadcasting receives a radio broadcasting licence. [15]

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Dr. Howells: The Radio Authority is responsible for awarding radio broadcast licences under the terms of the Broadcasting Acts. United Christian Broadcasters already hold two satellite radio licences issued by the Radio Authority.

The Broadcasting Act 1990 disqualifies bodies whose objects are wholly or mainly of a religious nature from holding a terrestrial national analogue radio licence or a digital radio licence issued by the Radio Authority. The White Paper, "A New Future for Communications", announced our intention to lift the ban on religious bodies from holding local digital licences, at the next legislative opportunity. The White Paper also invited comments on relaxing the restrictions regarding the ownership of other licences by such bodies. We are currently considering the responses made. The Government will publish details of their proposals in a draft Bill as announced in the Queen's Speech.

Sponsorship (Tobacco Companies)

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the financial consequences for sport of the proposed ban on sponsorship by tobacco companies. [143]

Tessa Jowell [holding answer 25 June 2001]: The Government are committed to banning all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion, with certain limited exceptions, and will be introducing legislation in due course concerning tobacco sponsorship of sport. In the Draft Regulatory Impact Assessment to the Draft Tobacco (Prohibition of Advertising and Promotion) Regulations published in 1999, the annual cost of tobacco sponsorship of sport was estimated at £43 million. It is difficult to estimate the extent to which this sponsorship income would be lost as much may well be replaced by other sources.

Wembley National Stadium Ltd.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the £20 million which Wembley National Stadium Ltd. agreed to pay back to Sport England will be returned. [105]

Tessa Jowell [holding answer 25 June 2001]: During discussions held in April, the Football Association reiterated its commitment to repay £20 million of the lottery grant invested in the Wembley Stadium project to Sport England in return for the removal of athletics. The timetable for repayment will depend on the conclusions of the review which Patrick Carter has agreed to undertake.

Rate Relief (Sports Clubs)

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with Brighton and Hove Council regarding the availability of discretionary rate relief for sports clubs. [137]

Tessa Jowell [holding answer 25 June 2001]: I have not had any discussions with Brighton and Hove Council regarding the availability of discretionary rate relief for sports clubs since my appointment. This issue was addressed in the Local Government Finance Green Paper and the Government are currently considering the responses to it. A White Paper will be published later this year.

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Cricket

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what representations she has received regarding the need for legislative change to enable action to be taken against individuals who take part in cricket pitch invasions; and if she will make a statement; [110]

(2) what discussions she has had with the England and Wales Cricket Board regarding crowd behaviour at one day international matches. [109]

Tessa Jowell [holding answer 25 June 2001]: I have received no representations on this subject. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport discussed the recent incidents at the matches played at Edgbaston and Headingley with the England and Wales Cricket Board prior to, and during, his visit to the one day international at Trent Bridge on 19 October. My right hon. Friend will shortly be arranging a meeting with the Board and the Home Office to discuss a range of issues concerning security at cricket matches.

English Tourism Council

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to restore a marketing function to the English Tourism Council. [103]

Tessa Jowell [holding answer 25 June 2001]: I have no such plans; however, I shall be taking stock of tourism policy, including the work of the English Tourism Council.

The Tote

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to transfer the Tote to the private sector; and if she will make a statement. [96]

Tessa Jowell [holding answer 25 June 2001]: The Government's proposals for the Tote were set out by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary in his statement to the House on 2 March last year. It remains our intention to bring forward legislation to provide for a sale when Parliamentary time allows.

World Athletics Championships 2005

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the ability of London to host the 2005 World Athletics Championships. [93]

Tessa Jowell [holding answer 25 June 2001]: A full assessment of London's ability to meet the IAAF requirements for the staging of the World Athletics Championships formed part of the successful bid for the 2005 Championships. The bid was prepared by a steering group which was co-ordinated by UK Sport and UK Athletics.

Concessionary TV Licences

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals she has to change the working of the concessionary scheme so that eligibility

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for concessionary TV licences is not lost when someone under 60 years moves into the beneficiary's sheltered housing. [926]

Dr. Howells: On 9 April this year, the Government announced their intention to introduce measures to preserve the rights of beneficiaries of the Accommodation for Residential Care concessionary television licence scheme who remain in accommodation provided or managed by a local authority, a housing association or a development corporation, when the social mix or the level of warden cover change. We are consulting with the BBC on the formulation of the necessary amendments to the regulations governing the concessionary scheme.

Professional Sport (Drugs)

Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action she is taking to tackle the use of drugs by professional sportsmen and women. [780]

Mr. Caborn: This Government are firmly committed to combating doping in sport. We currently spend over £1 million a year on the UK anti-doping programme, which is delivered through UK Sport in conjunction with sports governing bodies. This programme includes both in and out-of competition testing of athletes, the development of a national policy framework, and the provision of education and information services for athletes and governing bodies. We are also working closely with European and International colleagues towards global harmonisation in the fight against doping in sport. In particular we are working to ensure a strong UK input into the work of the recently established World Anti-Doping Agency.

British Board of Film Classification

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the British Board of Film Classification's Annual Report will be published. [1271]

Tessa Jowell: The British Board of Film Classification's Annual Report is published today and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

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