House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 22 Mar 2004 (pt 17)

22 Mar 2004 : Column 572W—continued

Winter Fuel Allowance

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people over (a) 60 years and (b) 80 years are in receipt of the winter fuel allowance in The Wrekin. [162774]

Malcolm Wicks: The information is as set out in the table below.

Winter Fuel Payment

Number of people over 60 Number of people over 80

2003–04 17,116 3,220

	Number of people over 60	Number of people over 80
2003–04	17,116	3,220

Source:

IAD Information Centre, 100 percent sample.

Notes:

1. Figures taken from the Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service Winter Fuels Payment 2003/2004 exercise 100 per data.

2. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of (a) payment errors and (b) overpayments of winter fuel allowance to older people. [162074]

Malcolm Wicks: During winter 2002–03 some 11,356,000 winter fuel payments were made. About 0.4 per cent. (48,972) were incorrect. Those pensioners who were underpaid were sent further payments when the facts were established. In a very small proportion of cases there was overprovision because for example, some recipients' circumstances had changed or duplicate payments had been made in error.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Activity Co-ordination Team

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times she has met the Secretary of State for Health to discuss the work of the Activity Co-ordination Team. [162164]

Mr. Caborn: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Secretary of State for Health have met formally on one occasion to discuss the work of the Activity Co-ordination Team. They are due to meet again at the end of March 2004.

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what budget her Department has allocated to the work of the Activity Co-ordination Team. [162165]

22 Mar 2004 : Column 573W

Mr. Caborn: The Activity Co-ordination Team (ACT) has been established by Government to increase participation in sport and physical activity. ACT is not a funding body but will publish shortly a paper setting out proposals to tackle physical inactivity.

Broadcasting (Children)

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her Answer of 4 December 2003, Official Report, columns 163–4W on broadcasting (children), what representations she has received on establishing a national digital radio network for children; and if she will make a statement. [162090]

Estelle Morris: A number of representations have been received. However, as I explained in my Answer of 4 December 2003, Official Report, columns 163–4, the licensing of commercial radio stations is a matter for Ofcom, and Ministers cannot intervene. Parties interested in establishing a national digital radio network for children should approach Ofcom and holders of the national and regional commercial digital sound multiplexes.

Departmental Scientific Adviser

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department has a chief scientific adviser. [162482]

Estelle Morris: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not appointed a chief scientific adviser. DCMS has access to a wide range of expert scientific and technological advice through its own economists and statisticians, its standing and ad hoc advisory groups, its sponsored bodies and other research and development partners. This advice is called upon as and when necessary to support policy-making activities and inform Ministerial deliberations.

Digital Television

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the level of take-up of digital television services has been from 1998 to the most recent date for which figures are available, broken down by region; and what steps have been taken since June 2003 to improve the collection and compilation of regional data. [161914]

22 Mar 2004 : Column 574W

Estelle Morris: This information is not available currently. Subscriber figures for the take up of digital television services are not available on a regional basis, as the data is commercially sensitive and therefore confidential to the pay television companies. However the Office for National Statistics hope to be able to produce figures on the level of take up of all digital television services on a regional basis in the future, and I understand Ofcom are compiling some estimates of regional take-up. The Department is currently having discussions on the possibility of commissioning research on the take-up of digital television services by region.

Film Making

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) financial and (b) other assistance has been provided towards film making in (i) Greater London and (ii) England in each of the last five years. [162341]

Estelle Morris: The following table gives details of financial assistance towards film making in (i) Greater London (GL) and (ii) the rest of England (Eng) for the last five years. Prior to the establishment of the UK Film Council in April 2000, funding for film production was channelled through the British Film Institute's (BFI) production arm, the Arts Council of England (ACE) and British Screen Finance Limited. The UK Film Council took over responsibility for investing in film making from the date of its inception in April 2000.

Also, from 2001–02 an additional £7.5 million per year has been allocated to regional film development, and allocated through the Regional Screen Agencies. These have the promotion of film making as a core concern, but also assist training programmes and a wide range of other activities which work to promote film on a regional level.

In addition to the funding referred to above, the UK Film Council's film-making scheme for young people, First Light, has made 34 awards to projects in Greater London at a cost of £494,466, and awarded funding to an additional 120 projects in the rest of England at a cost of £1,250,765.

As well as financial assistance, the UK Film Council works to create the best possible environment for film-making in the UK. Examples of its activities include the joint establishment, with Skillset, last year of the first ever skills strategy for the film industry.

£

Funding agency for Film 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04

BFI Production ⁽²⁶⁾204,400

⁽²⁷⁾688,300

Arts Council of England (ACE) ⁽²⁷⁾24,938,263

British Screen Finance Ltd. ⁽²⁷⁾4,000,000

UK Film Council — ⁽²⁶⁾29,834,325 ⁽²⁶⁾24,600,413 ⁽²⁶⁾31,081,000 ⁽²⁶⁾27,107370

⁽²⁷⁾205,597 ⁽²⁷⁾870,318 ⁽²⁷⁾1,226,730 ⁽²⁷⁾1,638,350

Total 29,830,963 30,039,922 25,470731 32,307,730 28,745,720

Funding agency for Film	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
BFI Production	⁽²⁶⁾204,400
	⁽²⁷⁾688,300
Arts Council of England (ACE)	⁽²⁷⁾24,938,263
British Screen Finance Ltd.	⁽²⁷⁾4,000,000
UK Film Council	—	⁽²⁶⁾29,834,325	⁽²⁶⁾24,600,413	⁽²⁶⁾31,081,000	⁽²⁶⁾27,107370
		⁽²⁷⁾205,597	⁽²⁷⁾870,318	⁽²⁷⁾1,226,730	⁽²⁷⁾1,638,350
Total	29,830,963	30,039,922	25,470731	32,307,730	28,745,720

⁽²⁶⁾ GL

⁽²⁷⁾ Eng

Notes:

A regional breakdown of ACE lottery awards for film production is not available due to the awards being grouped as national grants.

Figures for spend in England does not include the spend for Greater London.

Film funding is non location specific, i.e. an award can be made to production company based in London but the film itself could then be shot (and funding spent) on locations across England and the UK.

22 Mar 2004 : Column 575W

Libraries

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been spent on library (a) buildings and (b) books in (i) Lancashire and (ii) Chorley in each year since 1997. [162153]

Estelle Morris: Information on Lancashire's expenditure on premises is contained in the following table. It is based on the premises expenditure per thousand population and the population figures shown in the relevant annual Public Library Statistics volumes produced by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are held in the House of Commons Library. These figures are not broken

22 Mar 2004 : Column 576W

down below library authority level. 2001–02 are the latest "actual" figures available (figures for 2002–03 are only available as an estimate at present).

Expenditure on books in Lancashire and Chorley is shown in a further table. Figures relating directly to Chorley are not available; the figures below are based upon a best estimate provided by Lancashire County Council.

Expenditure on library premises£

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02

Lancashire 2,017,800 1,782,384 1,674,801 1,873,020 1,970,360

Expenditure on books

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03

Lancashire

Resources Fund (£) 3,202,933 2,389,655 2,256,429 2,432,519 2,447,138 2,569,364

Books (£) 2,643,901 1,960,919 1,818,357 1,861,551 1,795,926 1,936,070

Chorley (percentage) 6.85 8.61 8.62 8.70 8.85 8.88

Resources Fund (£) 219,401 205,749 194,504 211,629 216,572 228,160

Books (£) 181,107 168,835 156,742 161,955 158,939 171,923

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
Lancashire	2,017,800	1,782,384	1,674,801	1,873,020	1,970,360

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03
Lancashire
Resources Fund (£)	3,202,933	2,389,655	2,256,429	2,432,519	2,447,138	2,569,364
Books (£)	2,643,901	1,960,919	1,818,357	1,861,551	1,795,926	1,936,070

Chorley (percentage)	6.85	8.61	8.62	8.70	8.85	8.88
Resources Fund (£)	219,401	205,749	194,504	211,629	216,572	228,160
Books (£)	181,107	168,835	156,742	161,955	158,939	171,923

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