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21 May 2003 : Column 821W—continued
Digital Television
Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people who are blind are able to enjoy digital television. [114192]
Dr. Howells: The Government fully recognise the importance of access to television services for people with sensory impairments. Digital technology has huge potential for improving services and we are extremely keen that all groups benefit.
The Communications Bill currently before Parliament strengthens the requirements for audio description on television. The Bill sets targets of 10 per cent. of programmes to be audio described for the blind, extending these requirements to digital cable and satellite broadcasters for the first time.
The Government have also been raising awareness among manufacturers about the opportunities in the market for equipment for disabled people. For example
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the Government are encouraging manufacturers to use design for all principles to produce better designed new equipment both for those with disabilities and those without.
Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to raise the target for audio description for digital television programmes. [114193]
Dr. Howells: The 10 per cent. target for audio description was considered as part of the Review of the Statutory Requirements for the Provision of Subtitling, Signing and Audio Description, the report of which was published In January 2001. Having considered all the issues, during the review, we concluded that the 10 per cent. target should be maintained. We believe that this target is challenging but achievable.
This decision recognised the unresolved production and distribution difficulties with the audio description modules needed to receive the service. The Government have been working with the RNIB, broadcasters and manufacturers to help identify possible solutions to these problems and we are disappointed that the current problems have not yet been solved.
The Communications Bill, currently in Parliament, allows the Secretary of State, following consultation with OFCOM, to vary the target percentage for audio description, by order. So even though the target is currently 10 per cent. it means that if there were significant advances in the current technology, and more widespread take-up of the modules, targets could be increased.
English Heritage
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the potential impact of road charges on UK tourism. [112717]
Dr. Howells: DCMS recognises that transport is a key issue for UK tourism and officials from DCMS and the Department for Transport are in regular contact on transport issues. The Government do not consider that the M6 toll road will have a significant impact on tourism. The revenues raised from local authority congestion charging schemes must be reinvested into local transport improvements and can help deliver a quality transport system that will benefit all sectors of the economy, including tourism.
Entertainments Licences
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what estimate she has made of the number of premises that will apply for an entertainments licence following passage of the Licensing Bill; [114132]
- (2) what steps she is taking to increase the opportunities to hear live music in the UK; [114131]
(3) what representations she has received from musicians' organisations about the Licensing Bill. [114064]
Dr. Howells: DCMS has received a great deal of correspondence from organisations representing musicians and other performers about the Licensing
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Bill, most of whom have been concerned that it will restrict their activities. The vast majority of their concerns have been unfounded and based on a misinterpretation of the Bill's provisions. Where we believed that the Bill could be improved, however, we have listened to the concerns expressed to us and have made appropriate amendments, for instance by exempting places of public religious worship from the licensing regime as it relates to the provision of entertainment and entertainment facilities and by accepting the spirit of an amendment which exempts incidental live music in certain circumstances.
Under the provisions of the Bill there will be no separate licence for the provision of regulated entertainment. Permission to carry on any of the activities licensable under the Bill will be covered by a single premises licence. It will cost no more to apply at the same time for a licence permitting the sale of alcohol and the provision of entertainment than it would to apply for one permitting the sale of alcohol only. I therefore believe that the Bill will make it more affordable than now for venues to put on live performance in the vast majority of cases and increase opportunities for musicians and other artists to perform.
The Regulatory Impact Assessment that was published alongside the Licensing Bill states that just over 9,000 on-licensed premises and registered members clubs hold permanent public entertainment licences or certificates of suitability. An estimated 37,000 temporary public entertainment licences are also issued each year. The Government have made no estimate of the number of premises that will apply for permission to provide regulated entertainment under the new licensing regime. We expect, however, that the removal of the cost deterrent in applying for permission to provide such entertainment, along with the provision of a less bureaucratic system and measures to prevent unnecessary conditions being attached to licences by licensing authorities will encourage many more in respect of their premises to take the opportunity to provide public entertainment.
Fitness for Purpose Initiative
Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the Fitness for Purpose Initiative. [113717]
Dr. Howells: The Fitness for Purpose initiative was launched in the autumn 2001 by my Department in conjunction with the Local Government Association. The initiative promotes better inspection and regulation of hotels, guesthouses and bed and breakfast accommodation which are failing to meet minimum legal requirements on health and safety, food hygiene, trading standards and fire safety, in order to help them improve. Further details can be found at www.culture.gov.uk/tourism.
From April this year, leading local authorities have been carrying out pilot studies of the initiative in major English tourist destinations. The lessons from these pilots will form the basis of a full set of proposals which DCMS and the Local Government Association will produce next year. We then hope to see Fitness for Purpose adopted across England from 2004.
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Gambling
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what studies have been undertaken by her Department regarding a link between liberalised gambling laws and addictiveness; and if she could place copies in the Library. [114779]
Mr. Caborn: We have not carried out such studies ourselves, but are aware of and have taken into account the available research evidence on problem gambling. This evidence was listed in the bibliographies to the reports of the Gambling Review Body (Cm 5206, a copy of which is already in the Library) and of consultants appointed by the Gambling Industry Charitable Trust (which was published earlier this month and is available on the Trust's website at www.gict.org.uk).
OFCOM
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance she has given to OFCOM on its duties in respect of the regulation of the content of broadcast material. [114099]
Dr. Howells: The principles and objectives for regulation of the content of Broadcast material by OFCOM are set out in the Communications Bill. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has given no further guidance to OFCOM on this matter. OFCOM will regulate content standards by way of a statutory code or codes, with regard to the specific provisions laid down in the Communications Bill. These codes will be developed on the basis of evidence and research.
Public Service Agreements
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Department has taken to publicise its Public Service Agreement targets; and at what cost to public funds. [114451]
Dr. Howells: A progress report of the Department's Public Service Agreement targets was published as a Command Paper in November 2002 at a cost of £2,293. The targets have also been published on our website and are referred to in the Department's Annual Report, Strategic and Business Plans, all at negligible additional cost.
School Premises
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on regulations on future entertainments on school premises. [114865]
Dr. Howells: Entertainment provided by a school or college to which the public are admitted is currently licensable and will continue to be licensable under the provisions of the Licensing Bill. This is primarily because the public safety issues involved would be the same as for any other venue, although the promotion of the other licensing objectives, such as the protection of children from harm and the prevention of public nuisance are also important.
A concert or other performance in a school or college which takes place for parents and students without payment will, however, be exempt from the new regime.
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Similarly, if the school charges parents and students but does so only to cover its costs, no licence would be required. This would mean that the school nativity play
in the form that we all know would not need a licence. Any performance of music, dancing, etc that is being performed for students as part of their education would also be exempt as it would not be provided for the purpose of entertainment.
The Government have also made a commitment to exempt schools and sixth form colleges from the fees associated with the provision of regulated entertainment under the licensing regime which the Bill will introduce where the entertainment is provided by the school. Under the existing legislation a reduction in or waiver of fee may be granted by a local authority outside Greater London if they consider the entertainment is
- "of an educational or other like character".
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