| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
11 Nov 2003 : Column 194W—continued
Oil Pipeline (Caucasus)
Valerie Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the Government's policy is on the proposed oil pipeline from Baku to Ceyhan. [137406]
Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend to the written statement made on 5 November 2003 Official Report, columns 35–36WS, which sets out DFID's position on funding by the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group, for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
St. Helena
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many tourists he estimates will visit St. Helena in each year once (a) the breakwater and (b) the airport is completed. [137227]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: No decisions have been made on whether to build a breakwater or an airport in St. Helena. The possibility of a breakwater, which the island authorities believe would provide safer and assured disembarkation and embarkation at all or most times from and to ships, is to be investigated further for technical and economic viability. For the latest position on possible establishment of air access, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my Written Statement to this House on 16 September 2003, Official Report, column 43WS. Last year, 7,692 arrivals were recorded by St. Helena's Immigration Department. This figure included 5,362 persons landed from cruise ships. The rest included other tourists, business visitors and those visiting friends and families. Consultants estimated in 2001 that total arrival numbers could increase to 14,850 within five years of establishing access by air. The St. Helena Government estimates that largely assured disembarkation and embarkation of passengers from and to ships could alone more than double the number of cruise ship visitors to the island.
PRIME MINISTER
Departmental Energy Use
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Prime Minister how much (a) electricity and (b) other energy his Department has used in each year since 1997 (i) in total and (ii) per square metre; what the projected use is for each of the following years for which forecasts are made; what plans he has to reduce usage; and if he will make a statement. [135047]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) gave him today.
Engagements
Mr. Cameron: To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements are made for chairing his weekly planning and co-ordination meeting in Downing street when he is unable to attend. [137904]
11 Nov 2003 : Column 195W
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
BBC Charter
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what organisations she will consult on the forthcoming review of the BBC Charter. [136651]
Tessa Jowell: The review will be wide-ranging, with a great deal of industry and public consultation, and will, I hope, be characterised by vigorous and open debate. I have appointed Lord Burns to give me independent advice throughout. The process will be extensive and thorough, with several opportunities for people to feed in their views, and there will be an appropriate Parliamentary stage.
It will begin before the end of the year when I issue a consultation document outlining the main issues for consideration.
I shall be seeking views from all organisations and individuals with an interest. In particular I will ask those in the broadcasting industry for their views and will feed those views back into the wider consultation process.
Mr. Best: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the process for the forthcoming review of the BBC Charter. [136652]
Tessa Jowell: The review will be wide-ranging, with full industry and public consultation, and I hope, be characterised by vigorous and open debate. It will begin before the end of the year when I issue a consultation document outlining the main issues for consideration. It will take into account Ofcom's review of public service broadcasting, Philip Graf's review of the on-line services, the forthcoming review of the BBC's digital TV and radio services, and numerous other strands of work. We will engage directly with the general public throughout the process on an unprecedented scale. I have appointed Lord Burns to give me independent advice throughout.
I aim to publish a Green Paper around the end of 2004 drawing on this sequence of reviews, consultation and analysis, to be followed by a White Paper containing considered recommendations to set before Parliament and the public. The whole process will be completed well before the Charter expires in 2006.
Bechtel
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the contracts for consultancy and other work carried out by Bechtel for agencies responsible to her Department and its predecessor in each year since 1997, stating in each case (a) the nature of the work, (b) the value of the contract and (c) the duration of the contract; and if she will make a statement. [137886]
Mr. Caborn: Neither DCMS nor the Royal Parks Agency have any record of contracts with Bechtel over the period 1997 to 2003.
11 Nov 2003 : Column 196W
Commercial Radio Licences
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) when she expects Ofcom to invite applications for a new commercial radio licence in Cornwall; [137428]
- (2) what changes she expects Ofcom to make in the process of (a) advertising and (b) issuing new commercial radio licences; [137429]
(3) when she expects Ofcom to resume the advertising of new commercial radio licences. [137430]
Estelle Morris [holding answer 10 November 2003]: These are matters for Ofcom. They will assume responsibility for advertising and awarding radio broadcast licences from the Radio Authority on 29 December 2003.
On 6 November, the Radio Authority announced the award of the local digital multiplex licence serving most parts of Cornwall, and the city of Plymouth, to South West Digital Radio Ltd.
National Lottery
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications were (a) received, (b) rejected and (c) successful for Lottery money for London in each of the last five years. [137836]
Estelle Morris: This Department does not keep the information in the form requested.
The following number of awards have been made in London for each of the last five years:
| Number of awards | |
|---|---|
| January 1998 to January 1999 | 794 |
| January 1999 to January 2000 | 2,157 |
| January 2000 to January 2001 | 3,174 |
| January 2001 to January 2002 | 2,701 |
| January 2002 to January 2003 | 3,242 |
| January 2003 to 10 November 2003 | 1,838 |
This is derived from the Department's Awards Database and is based on information supplied by the distributing bodies.
Shurland Hall, Sheppey
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the decision on the future of Shurland Hall on the Isle of Sheppey will be announced. [138137]
Estelle Morris: English Heritage is in discussion with the owner and the local planning authority over the proposed strategy for Shurland Hall, which is to convert it into residential property. Subject to the agreement of the current owner and the availability of funds, it is hoped that a first tranche of holding repairs, leading to the removal of the scaffolding, will be implemented in summer 2004.
Sport (EU Competition Legislation)
Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Government's
11 Nov 2003 : Column 197W
policy is on the exclusion of sport from the requirements of EU competition legislation; and if she will make a statement. [137137]
Mr. Caborn [holding answer 10 November 2003]: The Government firmly believe that sport like any other activity must abide by the requirements of EU and UK competition legislation.
The Government note that in recent sports cases considered by the European Commission Competition Directorate due note has been taken of the specific characteristics of sport as set out in the declaration on sport made by the 2000 European Council meeting in Nice.
The Government support the proposals to include specific reference to sport in the proposed new European Treaty but is seeking improvements in the text proposed by the European Convention to reflect more accurately the Nice declaration. I discussed detailed textual suggestions with my European colleagues at our informal meeting in Florence on 2–3 October and secured support for a revised text from the overwhelming majority of the 25 states represented. I hope that progress on this text can be made in the current discussions within the Intergovernmental Conference.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |