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North Korea

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. [186867]

Mr. MacShane: We continue to be concerned about North Korea's nuclear programme, and have been monitoring the six-party talks process aimed at resolving the current impasse.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr. Rammell) is visiting North Korea from 11 to 14 September. North Korea's nuclear programme will be one of the issues which he intends to raise during his visit.

Sudan

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the aid package for the Sudan announced in July has been spent; and if he will make a statement. [186358]

Hilary Benn: In July, the Chancellor announced that the UK would make available an allocation for Sudan of £150 million for the financial years 2005–06 to 2007–08. This is to be disbursed following the conclusion of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The signature of six protocols in Naivasha in June represented significant progress towards a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, but negotiations are continuing in order to resolve the remaining outstanding issues, pressing the parties to push on with these negotiations. However, we have made it clear to the Sudanese Government that they will not enjoy a peace dividend from the international community unless there is also progress in Darfur.
 
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The UK is the second largest donor in Darfur. The Department for International Development has allocated £62.5 million for humanitarian assistance between September 2003 and March 2005. Of this total, £36.9 million has been committed to date (to the UN, ICRC and NGOs).

DFID is also continuing to provide assistance in the rest of the country, this is to meet ongoing humanitarian needs and in support of our goal of helping Sudan to reach a just and lasting peace and to lay foundations for sustained poverty reduction.

Switzerland

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent action he has taken to ensure that Switzerland abides by its bilateral agreements with the EU on migration and employment of UK and other EU nationals; and if he will make a statement. [187492]

Mr. MacShane: A Joint Committee is responsible for the management and proper application of the bilateral agreement between the EU and Switzerland on the Free Movement of Persons, which sets out reciprocal arrangements for migration and employment. To date, the UK has not needed to pursue the issue of Switzerland's compliance.

Venezuela

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Venezuelan Government, (b) the Venezuelan Opposition Parties and (c) the organisers of the petition for a recall referendum on President Chavez regarding this recall referendum; and if he will make a statement. [186389]

Mr. Rammell: None. However, our Embassy in Caracas has a regular dialogue with all sides in Venezuela. I refer my hon. Friend to my press statement, issued on 17 August on the outcome of the recall referendum on 15 August. I called on all sides in Venezuela to respect the result of the referendum, as endorsed by the international observers, and work towards national reconciliation. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases.

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last had discussions with President Chavez of Venezuela about the current unrest in Venezuela; and if he will make a statement. [186390]

Mr. Rammell: Neither my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary nor I have held any discussions with President Chavez. We have consistently urged all sides in Venezuela to follow the democratic path, work towards a constitutional resolution to the political unrest and strive for national reconciliation. I made this clear in my press statement, issued on 17 August, on the outcome of the recall referendum on 15 August. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases.
 
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Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Government will play an independent role in monitoring the recall referendum which is due to take place in Venezuela in August; and if he will make a statement. [186415]

Mr. Rammell: We did not participate as observers of the recall referendum on 15 August, either independently or otherwise. We fully support the official observers of the referendum, the Organisation of American States and the Carter Centre. I commended them in my press statement on 17 August on the outcome of the referendum. I called on all sides in Venezuela to respect the result of the referendum, as endorsed by the international observers, and work towards national reconciliation. A copy of the statement is available on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website: www.fco.gov.uk/policy/news/press-releases.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Television Licence Fees

10. Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was raised in television licence fees (a) 10 years ago and (b) in the most recent year for which figures are available. [187902]

Estelle Morris: £1.65 billion in television licence fee revenue was raised in 1993–94 and £2.8 billion in 2003–04.

The figure for 2003–04 includes payments of £408 million by the Department for Work and Pensions to the BBC for free television licences for over-75s.

Broadband Television

11. Mr. Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the likely penetration of broadband television via the internet over the next 10 years. [187903]

Tessa Jowell: The take-up of broadband in the UK is now rapid with a wide range of suppliers in the marketplace and there are now about 50,000 new broadband subscribers every week. BT is now in a position to ensure that over 99 per cent. of all households could acquire a broadband connection if they so wished.

However, broadband TV remains in its infancy, and it will be many years before it could be regarded as universally available. Because of broadband TV's current small scale and technological limitations Government has not as yet made a specific assessment of where the market for broadband TV will be in the next 10 years, but of course Ofcom and other experts are routinely monitoring changes in technology and in consumer behaviour.

Domestic Tourism

14. Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make a statement on initiatives to promote domestic tourism in summer 2004. [187908]

 
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Mr. Caborn: Last year Visit Britain launched its domestic marketing strategy to promote tourism in England. Since then Visit Britain has run a number of campaigns including 'City Culture' and 'Waterside England'. Next week sees the launch of the 'Enjoy England' autumn campaign and 'Taste England' campaign. Further campaigns are being planned.

BBC Worldwide

15. Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations she has received concerning the future of BBC Worldwide; and if she will make a statement. [187909]

Estelle Morris: My hon. Friend has written about this matter. The future of the BBC's commercial services is a key issue for Charter review and we have received a range of representations in that context. The BBC is currently undertaking its own review of its commercial services, which is due for completion during the autumn. I understand that no decisions have so far been taken concerning BBC Worldwide or any other issue covered by the review.

Lottery Receipts

Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations she has received regarding the fair distribution of lottery receipts. [187898]

Estelle Morris: The Government wants to see all areas of the country benefiting from the huge success of the national lottery.

We consulted widely on the lottery and our reforms will provide a more transparent and streamlined application process for applicants—so more communities can benefit from the lottery's success.

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