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21 Nov 2002 : Column 230W—continued
Bletchley Park
Mr. Wyatt : To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has for the future of the Code Breaker Museum at Bletchley Park. [81823]
Dr. Howells: My Department has no plans. Bletchley Park and its contents are the responsibility of the Bletchley Park Trust, which is implementing plans that will ensure the long-term preservation of key heritage elements of the site and serve as a fitting memorial to the men and women involved in the vital code-breaking work there during the second world war.
Elite Sport Funding
Mr. Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the funding for elite sportsmen and sportswomen will be in cash terms under her three-year future funding plans in (a) 2002–03, (b) 2003–04, (c) 2004–05 and (d) 2005–06; and if she will make a statement. [82116]
Mr. Caborn: The data required is not readily available. I will write to the hon Member with detailed information as soon as possible.
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History Channel
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she has satisfied herself that UK History is distinctive from the History channel and will not compete unfairly with it. [80429]
Dr. Howells: Unlike the BBC's licence fee funded channels, there is no requirement that BBC Worldwide's commercial channels are distinctive. As a commercial channel, UK History can compete on a commercial basis in the same way as any channel, subject to all the requirements of EU and UK Competition Law, as well as the BBC's Fair Trading Commitment and Commercial Policy Guidelines.
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the approval given in 2000 to UKTV for the UK History channel. [80436]
Dr. Howells: No. Approvals given for BBC Worldwide's commercial activities contain commercially sensitive information and, therefore, are not published.
Independent Production Quotas
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) when the independent production quotas for television will apply across all media including the internet; and when the independent production quota of 25 per cent. will be increased to 40 per cent. across all media. [80726]
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(2) what plans there are to increase the independent production quota for broadcasting from 25 per cent. to 40 per cent.; and what plans there are to extend the 25 per cent. independent production quota in (a) radio and (b) web sites. [81824]
Dr. Howells: The ITC are considering the independent productions quota as part of their review of the television programme supply market. We will consider any recommendations the review makes in this area. It is not our intention to apply the independent producers quota to web sites. We have received representations suggesting that BBC radio commits itself to an independent production quota similar to the one which currently exists for television services. The Department's officials are considering this issue with the BBC and others.
Millennium Stadium
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment she has made of the continuing viability of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. [82109]
Mr. Caborn: No assessment has been made by this Department. Any ongoing liability of the Millennium Stadium is a matter for its operators and falls within the remit of the National Assembly for Wales.
Museum of Moving Image
Mr. Wyatt : To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans there are to (a) reopen the Museum of Moving Image; and (b) open a new Museum of Film and Television in London. [81825]
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Dr. Howells: The British Film Institute (BFI), which is responsible for the Museum of the Moving Image (MOMI), has no plans to re-open it. However, the BFI is developing plans to open a new Film Centre on the South Bank which will incorporate not only the collections of MOMI, but also the existing National Film Theatre, National Film and Television library and the BFI's head office.
School Playing Fields
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many planning applications affecting school playing fields were (a) referred to Sport England and (b) objected to by Sport England in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) 2001–02. [82364]
Mr. Caborn: Sport England in their role as statutory consultee for planning applications affecting playing fields received 314 applications in respect of playing fields within educational ownership for the year 1999—2000, 428 for the year 2000—01, and 551 for the year 2001—02. Data is not available to show Sport England's response action to planning applications for playing fields in educational ownership.
Planning applications affecting playing fields can often involve a change of use that benefits sport rather than in resulting in the outright sale of playing fields or their development It should also be noted that where planning permission is granted this does not necessarily mean that the proposed development or change of use went ahead. Data is not collected centrally on whether planning applications are actually implemented.
Seconded Civil Servants
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what work has been (a) researched and (b) implemented jointly by her Department and (i) the Broadcasting Standards Commission and (ii) London Arts through the use of seconded senior civil servants. [81568]
Dr. Howells : No work has been researched and jointly implemented by my Department and the Broadcasting Standards Commission or London Arts through the use of seconded senior civil servants. Neither organisation conducts research.
TV Licences
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were given custodial sentences following a failure to pay a fine for TV licence evasion in each of the last 20 years. [80442]
Dr. Howells: The information requested is available only from 1992 onwards. The number of people in England and Wales received into prison for non-payment of fines for television licence fee evasion, in each year since 1992, was as follows.
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| Year | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | 570 | 861 | 770 | 774 | 355 | 245 | 156 | 83 | 36 | 31 |
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether a television licence is required for a personal computer capable of receiving television broadcasts. [80488]
Dr. Howells: The BBC has statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and for determining the licensing requirements in specific circumstances. I cannot, therefore, comment in detail on how those requirements would apply in particular cases. However, the requirement to have a licence relates to the installation or use (actual or intended) of the apparatus in question and not simply its capability. A television licence is required for the installation or use of a television receiver. A television receiver is equipment installed or used for the purpose of receiving television programme services, as defined by section 2(4) of the Broadcasting Act 1990. A personal computer which is capable of receiving television programme services, and which is installed or used for such purposes, is therefore a television receiver, and its installation or use as such requires a television licence.
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
Israel
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the United States Government about the use of US manufactured military equipment containing components manufactured in the UK and sold to Israel; and if he will make a statement. [82226]
Mr. Mike O'Brien :The Foreign Secretary's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Sherwood (Mr. Paddy Tipping) of 8 July 2002, Official Report, column 650–2W, informed Parliament about the issuing of export licences for the export of Head Up Display Units (HUDs) to the USA for incorporation into F-16s, some of which were for re-export to Israel. While considering these applications we had discussions with US Administration to make sure of our understanding of US export control policy and practice. The US Government maintains a strong and effective export licensing system.
Kenya
Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements are being made by (a) the UK Government, (b) the Commonwealth and (c) the European Union to provide observers for the Kenyan elections on 27th December. [80543]
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Mr. Rammell: The Government of Kenya has invited international observers. The European Union Election Observer Mission will be the cornerstone of the international observation effort. It will deploy 20 long term observers from 24 November and 50 short term observers a week before polling. The UK has nominated a list of nationals willing to participate in the Mission.
The Commonwealth Secretariat has been invited to send a team of observers as well. A team of Commonwealth officials has been in Kenya making a needs assessment.
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