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Football
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she last met representatives of the Football Association to discuss progress with proposals for a new national stadium at Wembley; and if she will make a statement. [29748]
Mr. Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met representatives of The Football Association on 13 December 2001. Since then and following her announcement to the House on 19 December 2001, Official Report, columns 291–93, DCMS officials have been working closely with The Football Association, WNSL and Sport England to monitor progress on the National Stadium project.
Golden Jubilee
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 21 January 2002, Official Report, column 624W, on the Golden Jubilee, what activities will take place during the Jubilee Weekend of 1–4 June. [30371]
Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 31 October 2001, Official Report, columns 758–59W. Further details will be announced as they become available.
Christian Broadcasting
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with representatives of Christian organisations on the subject of broadcasting. [31261]
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Dr. Howells: Ministers have had no recent meetings with representatives of Christian organisations.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will (1) review broadcasting legislation to redefine access for Christian broadcasting stations; [31263]
- (2) make a statement on what reasons there are for preventing the setting up of Christian radio and television stations. [31262]
Dr. Howells: The regulators have licensed a number of Christian radio and television stations using their discretion under the Broadcasting Act 1990 to award local analogue, satellite and cable sound programme and cable and satellite television service licences to religious bodies. The Broadcasting Acts do not permit them to award licences for national analogue, national digital or local digital sound programme and terrestrial analogue and terrestrial digital television services.
I am reviewing broadcasting legislation in the light of responses to the recent "Consultation on Media Ownership Rules" which announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to allow religious bodies to hold a local digital sound programme licence. The paper also invited views on whether the restrictions on ownership of other terrestrial licences by religious bodies should be relaxed, and we are currently considering the responses. The Government will publish details of its proposals in the draft Communications Bill which we expect to publish this spring.
DEFENCE
Project Falcon
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what budget cuts have been made to Project Falcon; and if he will make a statement. [31101]
Dr. Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 January 2002, Official Report, column 825 to the hon. Member for New Forest, West (Mr. Swayne).
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if down selection for the Falcon project will be made on the basis of the original specifications set out in November 2000; and if he will make a statement; [28726]
- (2) what role the new study required by 4 February will play in the down selection for Falcon; and if he will make a statement. [28727]
Dr. Moonie: There are no plans for the supplementary Falcon study to play a role in the current down selection process.
The current work on Falcon is examining a possible reduction in the number of competing consortia prior to the assessment phase but competition will continue. The down selection is being conducted on the basis of the original capability requirement set out in November 2000.
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In keeping with the principles of Smart Acquisition, capability requirements may evolve to ensure that trade-offs between time, cost and performance are used to provide the best value for money and reflect user needs—final down selection to a single supplier will therefore take place against a requirement developed on this basis.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that capabilities of the Falcon system remain as specified in the operational requirements issued in November 2000. [28719]
Dr. Moonie: A key element of Smart Acquisition is an evolutionary requirements process that reflects the need to trade between time, cost and performance. Therefore, the Falcon capability requirement may evolve from that set out in November 2000, to ensure delivery of the most effective solution within cost and time constraints. We will, however, ensure that the competing consortiums are kept fully informed of the requirements against which their bids are being assessed.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what capacity for battlefield integrated system applications Falcon is specified to support; and if he will make a statement. [28721]
Dr. Moonie: Project Falcon will provide an operational level communications infrastructure. As such, it will support the transfer of data generated from any Battlefield Information System Application being developed as part of the Land Digitisation process.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the specification for the Falcon system will retain the requirement to avoid a single point of failure. [28720]
Dr. Moonie: We have defined Falcon system failure in capability terms by stating a required service availability, so providing contractors with the freedom to deliver efficient and effective solutions within time and cost constraints.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the down selection for the Falcon project will be made. [28722]
Dr. Moonie: We are currently examining a possible reduction in the number of competing consortia prior to the assessment phase. This initial down selection process is due to report in February 2002. In accordance with the principles of Smart Acquisition, it is planned that subsequent down selection to a single supplier will take place following completion of the assessment phase.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision has been made to adapt AFV 432 vehicles to carry the Falcon system; and if he will make a statement. [28723]
Dr. Moonie: There is no specific requirement for AFV 432s to carry the Falcon system. In the longer term, Falcon will be incorporated into armoured vehicles and this process will be aligned with plans to deliver new armoured fighting vehicles.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what encryption system has been specified as part of the Falcon project; and if he will make a statement. [28725]
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Dr. Moonie: The Falcon project includes plans to develop a new generation encryption system to enable secure communication. The precise encryption system requirement has not yet been confirmed.
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision is being made to integrate the Apache attack helicopter into the Falcon system; and if he will make a statement. [28728]
Dr. Moonie: On current plans, the secure voice and data communications infrastructure provided by Falcon will include Apache attack helicopter ground support facilities.
Defence Estates
Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to achieve the 10 per cent. improvement in the condition of defence estates. [30833]
Dr. Moonie: The Strategy for the Defence Estate "In Trust and on Trust" sets out a provisional goal to demonstrate improvements in estate condition of at least 10 per cent. by 2005.
"The Stewardship Report on the Defence Estate 2001", which was published on 22 January, shows the baseline against which magnitudes of change year on year can be judged and reported. The report is available on the Ministry of Defence website www.mod.uk.
Animal Experiments
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many animal experiments were carried out at Porton Down in the last year for which figures are available. [31205]
Dr. Moonie: Dstl Porton Down submits annual returns to the Home Office detailing the number of procedures undertaken which involve the use of animals.
In the year 2000 a total of 11,985 procedures were returned to the Home Office. The figures for 2001 are expected to be available late February 2002.
NIBAT 2 Accommodation (Dungannon)
Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans exist to upgrade NIBAT 2 accommodation at Dungannon; and if he will make a statement. [31488]
Dr. Moonie: A contract has been let for installation of a number of additional portable accommodation units at Killymeal House, Dungannon to augment the current accommodation and improve the quality of life for the soldiers of NIBAT 2 who are stationed there on a six month roulement tour. In addition, existing accommodation is currently being painted and some minor refurbishment work is being undertaken, again to improve the quality of life for those stationed at Dungannon.
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