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Alcopops
Mr. Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research she has commissioned into the ages of the purchasers of alcopops. [69746]
Dr. Howells: Neither my Department, nor the Home Department which previously had responsibility for alcohol licensing, have commissioned their own research into the ages of the purchasers of alcopops. In formulating policies regarding alcohol Ministers have, however, considered research from a number of sources, including the Department of Health's teenage drinking survey, the British Medical Association's alcohol and young people survey and other work carried out by the Alcohol Education and Research Council.
I am pleased to say that the Portman Group's second review of its Code of Practice, on the naming, packaging and merchandising of alcoholic drinks found that "underage appeal" of alcoholic drinks, which was the predominant cause for complaint in the code's first years, has now virtually disappeared as a problem. The Government are not, however, complacent about these issues and the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 strengthened the ability of the police and trading standards officers to use young people to carry out test purchases of alcohol with the aim of ensuring that young people do not obtain alcohol illegally.
Departmental Report
Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was of publishing her Department's annual report for each of the past five years. [70474]
17 Jul 2002 : Column 409W
Dr. Howells: The cost of publishing the Department's annual report for each of the past five years was as follows:
| Design, typesetting, pdfs etc. | Print(35) | Proof reading | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 38,664 | 16,800 | — | 55,464 |
| 1999 | 46,142 | 25,000 | — | 71,142 |
| 2000 | 40,212 | 18,310 | 648 | 59,170 |
| 2001 | 45,144 | 24,648 | 533 | 70,325 |
| 2002 | 56,105 | 24,774 | 570 | 81,449 |
(35) Buy back copies from The Stationery Office.
The costs for 2002 include the development of a new design template which the Department plans to follow for the next two to three years.
Commonwealth Games
Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will publish the Government's response to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's Fifth report, Session 2001–02, "Revisiting the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games". [71207]
Tessa Jowell: I am today publishing the Government's response to the Select Committee's Fifth report entitled "Revisiting the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games". The response is available on the DCMS website (www.culture.gov.uk) and copies of the response have been laid before Parliament and deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
Historical Manuscripts Commission
Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the future of the Historical Manuscripts Commission in the light of the recommendations in the Chipperfield report. [71352]
Dr. Howells: My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts announced on Friday 12 July the publication of the report into the review of the functions carried out by the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (HMC) by Sir Geoffrey Chipperfield.
The Government accept the key recommendations of the report and as a result of consultations with the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Public Record Office and the Historical Manuscripts Commission my right hon. and noble Friend was able to announce that the Government intend to establish a new body, the National Archives. This will bring together functions relating to public and private records, in order to serve the nation's archives in a more efficient and effective way. It will also enhance access by members of the public to this uniquely rich national resource. The new body will report to the Lord Chancellor.
To help facilitate the establishment of this new body, my Department has agreed to provide additional investment to enable the HMC to upgrade the National Register of Archives.
Copies of the report are available in the Libraries of both Houses.
17 Jul 2002 : Column 410W
Religious Broadcasting
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she plans to maintain the ban on religious organisations owning many categories of broadcasting licence; and if she will make a statement. [70779]
Dr. Howells: The Government's position is set out in the document 'The draft Communications Bill—The Policy' which states that where there is sufficient spectrum availability, restrictions on religious bodies holding licences will be removed (para 9.3.3).
The Radio Authority, which licences all independent radio services in the UK, is currently given discretion under the Broadcasting Act 1990 to award local analogue, satellite and cable licences to religious bodies, subject to compliance with the authority's codes, and the ITC can also award cable and satellite TV licences to religious organisations. The draft Bill increases the number of types of licences which religious bodies can hold by giving Ofcom discretion to award local digital sound programme service licences, digital additional service licences, digital programme service licences and TV restricted service licences.
Consultation
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department has a designated consultation co-ordinator in accordance with the Cabinet Office code of practice on written consultations. [70982]
Dr. Howells: Yes, the Department does have a designated consultation-co-ordinator.
ITV Licences
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list (a) the regional managing directors of ITV licences, (b) members of the boards for licence management and maintenance and (c) conditions for membership of such boards. [69673]
Dr. Howells: The regional managing directors of ITV licences are as follows.
| ITV regional company | Managing director |
|---|---|
| Anglia | Graham Creelman |
| Border | Paddy Merrall |
| Carlton Central | Ian Squires |
| Carlton London | Colin Stanbridge |
| Carlton Westcountry | Mark Haskell |
| Channel | Michael Lucas |
| Grampian | Derrick Thomson |
| Granada | Brenda Smith |
| HTV | Jeremy Payne |
| LWT | Christy Swords |
| Meridian | Lindsay Charlton |
| Scottish | Sandy Ross |
| Tyne Tees | Margaret Fay |
| UTV | John McCann |
| Yorkshire | David Croft |
Membership of the boards and conditions of membership are matters for individual ITV companies and details can be obtained from the regional managing directors listed above.
17 Jul 2002 : Column 411W
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Mentally Incapacitated Patients
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the definition of giving basic care to a helpless patient includes the provision of fluids. [67209]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Government's position is that the definition of basic care includes the offer of food and fluids. These should always be offered to patients who are capable of swallowing them. Where nutrition and hydration have to be provided by artificial means, their possible withdrawal is, in all cases, a matter of clinical judgment which is undertaken in accordance with professional advice provided by a responsible and recognised body of medical opinion and the general law. The current consultation paper, "Making Decisions: Helping People who have Difficulty Deciding for Themselves", reflects this position.
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what advice will be given based on consultation on "Making Decisions: Helping People who Have Difficulty Deciding for Themselves" in the advisory leaflets on the effects of dehydration. [67208]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Consultation Paper, "Making Decisions: Helping People who have Difficulty Deciding for Themselves", seeks responses by 9 July 2002. Following the closure of the consultation period, all responses received will be thoroughly considered and will inform the final published version of the guidance leaflets. I will make a statement on responses to the consultation in due course.
Female Staff
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of the staff of the Lord Chancellor's Department are women; and what the percentage was in June 1997. [66908]
Ms Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, on 5 July 2002, Official Report, column 622W.
Adjudicators
Mr. Malins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many adjudicators were in post in January of each of the last 10 years. [68642]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The information can be produced, but it has not been possible to do so in the time available. I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.
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