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Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 27 November 2002

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC

Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the organisations that have made representations to her about the commercial effect on their business of the BBC's activities. [80434]

Dr. Howells: A number of organisations have made representations, as part of the consultation process on new BBC public services and on an ad hoc basis, including broadcasters, educational software publishers, independent producers and platform operators.

BBC Freeview

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many advertisements for Freeview have been broadcast on (a) BBC television and (b) BBC radio; and if she will make a statement. [81778]

Dr. Howells: The BBC has not broadcast any advertisements for Freeview on either its radio or television services, but between 4 November and 20 November, it broadcast 70 information trails about its digital services on BBC One and BBC Two and around 170 on its five national radio networks. These trails inform viewers that the BBC's digital services can be accessed on Freeview, but also make clear that they are available on the digital satellite and digital cable platforms.

Correspondence

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she will reply to letters from Mr. Borthwick of Workington and the hon. Member for Workington to the Department of 13 April, 12 June, 26 July and 20 September. [80695]

Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts (Baroness Blackstone) has today replied to the letter of 26 July from the hon. Member for Workington which covered those of 13 April and 12 June from his constituent Mr Borthwick.

I apologise for the delay in the handling of correspondence both from Mr. Borthwick and the hon. Member for Workington. My Department aims to reply to Members' correspondence and correspondence from the public within 18 working days of receipt. I regret that this did not happen here.

Creative Industries

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment

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she has made of her Department's involvement in facilitating and promoting competitiveness of British creative industries (a) at home and (b) abroad; and if she will make a statement. [83745]

Dr. Howells: The Department is working in partnership with other Government Departments and representatives of the creative industries to enhance their economic performance at home and overseas. More recent figures from official sources suggest that in 2000 the creative industries:


Film Council

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the objectives of the Film Council; and if she will make a statement. [83757]

Dr. Howells: When the Film Council was established in April 2000, it was set 13 goals for film which had been identified in the course of the Film Policy Review (1998). These goals have formed the basis of the funding agreement with my Department. Progress against the funding agreement is reviewed regularly.

Lottery

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of (a) the effectiveness of her Department's transfer of functions from the Director General of the Office for National Lottery to the National Lottery Commission and (b) the relationship between her Department and the National Lottery Commission; and if she will make a statement. [83781]

Dr. Howells: The National Lottery Act 1998 made provision for the replacement of the office of Director General of the National Lottery by the National Lottery Commission; and I am satisfied that Parliament made the right decision in approving this change. Schedule 1 to the 1998 Act set out the transitional arrangements for the transfer of functions, which worked as intended. The relationship between the commission and the Department is as it should be. However, we published earlier this year a consultation document reviewing the way in which the National Lottery is now licensed and regulated, and seeking views on options for further change. We will announce our conclusions in due course.

Sports Funding

Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list Sport England's Exchequer and Lottery-funded programmes and initiatives. [80965]

Mr. Caborn: Sport England's current programmes are as follows:






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As part of its modernisation process, Sport England is reviewing all the programmes that it funds based on its new business strategy; it expects the review to be completed by the end of the year.

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Sustainability Strategy

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the sustainability strategy is for her Department; and if she will make a statement on how it has changed since the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. [83496]

Dr. Howells: As part of our long-term objective to maximise the Department's contribution to the Government's agenda on sustainable development and regeneration policy, we promised last April at a conference for our sectors held at the Science Museum to produce a sustainable development strategy. We are on target to fulfil this obligation.

Since the World Summit, my Department has identified among its strategic priorities; the aim of enhancing access to a fuller cultural and sporting life of children and young people, giving them the opportunity to develop their talents to the full; and of improving the productivity of the tourism, creative and leisure industries. These are in line with one of the main programmes for activity agreed at the World Summit, that of eradicating poverty.

Travel Budget

Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total budget is for (a) her Department and (b) its agencies for official travelling in 2002–03. [83030]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 25 November 2002]: The DCMS budget for official travelling and subsistence for 2002–03 is £934,894. In addition, the budget for the Royal Parks Agency is £37,700.

Works of Art (Restitution)

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on progress concerning the restitution of works of art looted by the Nazis. [82955]

Dr. Howells: The Spoliation Advisory Panel received two new claims this year, following its Report on the first claim which was published in January 2001. The Panel met in October 2002 to consider these new claims and will meet again in early 2003 to continue its discussions, when other claims which have been intimated may also be considered.

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