House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 1 Feb 2005 (pt 8)

1 Feb 2005 : Column 784W—continued

Digital Television

Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that residents of multiple dwelling units can access digital television prior to analogue switch-off; and if she will make a statement. [211736]

Estelle Morris [holding answer 31 January 2005]: One of the challenges in completing digital switchover will be to make sure that residents in flats and other multi-dwelling units can access digital television services. Many residents living in multi-dwelling units already access digital television services either through communal systems that are capable of transmitting digital signals or through the use of other antennae.

In order to help identify the issues for residents who live in multi dwelling units, we established a dedicated Housing Communications Group as part of the Digital Television Action Plan. The Housing Communications Group includes representatives from leading housing bodies including the Chartered Institute of Housing, the National Housing Federation, the National Landlords Association, tenants groups such as TPAS and TAROE and representatives from the Digital Television Group.

In June 2004, DCMS and DTI wrote to all local authorities, registered social landlords and around 70 housing bodies to alert them to digital switchover and to encourage them to factor this in when preparing plans to develop new housing stock or refurbish or upgrade existing stock.

In August 2004 we commissioned NOP to carry out a research project to investigate the progress made by social landlords. This research will enable us to have a better assessment of what is needed and to get a representative picture of when social landlords believe they will be able to upgrade systems for digital switchover. We hope to publish the findings of this study very shortly.

We have also started work, in association with the Chartered Institute of Housing, to produce comprehensive new guidance later this year setting out the options available to landlords who have properties

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with analogue communal systems which need to be upgraded. The guidance will be aimed at both the private and social sector landlords and housing developers. We also plan to issue separate guidance for householders which will cover the issues for tenants living in MDUs.

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer of 24 January 2005, Official Report, column 44W, on digital switch-over, what the few remaining issues relating to digital switch-over are that require to be resolved prior to the Government confirming the timetable for switch-over. [212021]

Estelle Morris: The remaining issues include the precise coverage requirement (number of transmitters to be converted, mode and power combinations), the regional order, the Technical Trial in Wales and most of all, consideration of the interests of the most vulnerable consumers.

Library Services (Wakefield)

Mr. Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been made available to Wakefield Council for library services in each of the last five years. [211225]

Mr. Caborn: The Annual Public Library Statistics, published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy for the years 1999–2000 to 2002–03 (the latest available) show the overall expenditure by Wakefield libraries as follows:

£

1999–2000 3,309,655

2000–01 3,579,166

2001–02 3,684,526

2002–03 3,980,546

	£
1999–2000	3,309,655
2000–01	3,579,166
2001–02	3,684,526
2002–03	3,980,546

The expenditure will be underpinned by funding from a number of sources, national, local and self-generated.

1 Feb 2005 : Column 786W

Non ring-fenced core funding for public libraries is paid to the 149 library authorities in England as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. DCMS does not hold a precise figure but I understand that Wakefield has added some uplift to the 2004–05 libraries budget and I commend them for that. I also understand that the Library Service itself has been energetic in forming partnerships and accessing external funding; this is also highly commendable.

Wakefield's libraries, in common with those in the rest of the United Kingdom, are connected to the internet through a £120 million national lottery grant, which established the People's Network.

Additionally, my Department is funding the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council £5 million over the three years ending 2005–06 to implement the Framework for the Future Action Plan and Library Improvement Programme which is designed to encourage improvement across the public library sector in England generally.

Museums (Loans)

Mr. Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many objects have been loaned to (a) other UK museums and galleries, (b) museums and galleries in other EU countries and (c) non-EU foreign museums and galleries by national museums and galleries in the UK in each of the last five years. [213057]

Estelle Morris: We do not collect figures on the number of loan objects. In agreement with our sponsored museums and galleries, we record the number of loan venues, which presents a better measure of regional reach. The figures are provided by our sponsored museums and galleries.

The table shows the number of UK and overseas loan venues for all DCMS sponsored museums and galleries from 1999–2000 to 2002–03 and in 2003–04, following a change of target, the number of venues in England to which objects from the collection were loaned.

1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04

British Museum 238 171 175 209 94

Geffrye Museum 4 6 5 5 5

Horniman Museum 13 19 9 9 13

Imperial War Museum 177 180 180 200 127

Museum of London 106 105 108 111 91

Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester 3 3 3 7 6

National Gallery 97 118 91 88 115

National Maritime Museum 83 68 97 109 93

National Museums Liverpool 93 99 42 95 65

National Museum of Science and Industry 254 259 245 259 217

National Portrait Gallery 72 86 103 115 90

Natural History Museum 3,697 3,116 2,264 2,610 61

Royal Armouries 129 129 138 135 99

Sir John Soane's Museum 10 11 9 8 8

Tate Gallery 135 213 189 154 69

Tyne and Wear Museums⁽¹⁾ n/a 80 55 41 44

Victoria and Albert Museum 309 295 292 315 255

Wallace Collection⁽²⁾ n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

⁽¹⁾DCMS began funding Tyne and Wear Museums in 2000–01. Figures for previous years are not available.
⁽²⁾Under the terms of the bequest, the Wallace Collection cannot lend objects from the collection.

1 Feb 2005 : Column 787W

	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
British Museum	238	171	175	209	94
Geffrye Museum	4	6	5	5	5
Horniman Museum	13	19	9	9	13
Imperial War Museum	177	180	180	200	127
Museum of London	106	105	108	111	91
Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester	3	3	3	7	6
National Gallery	97	118	91	88	115
National Maritime Museum	83	68	97	109	93
National Museums Liverpool	93	99	42	95	65
National Museum of Science and Industry	254	259	245	259	217
National Portrait Gallery	72	86	103	115	90
Natural History Museum	3,697	3,116	2,264	2,610	61
Royal Armouries	129	129	138	135	99
Sir John Soane's Museum	10	11	9	8	8
Tate Gallery	135	213	189	154	69
Tyne and Wear Museums⁽¹⁾	n/a	80	55	41	44
Victoria and Albert Museum	309	295	292	315	255
Wallace Collection⁽²⁾	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

National Lottery Funding

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research has been conducted regarding those communities which feel unable to accept funding derived from the National Lottery because of religious or cultural belief. [212145]

Estelle Morris: The Department is not aware of any research on this issue.

We would like Lottery funding to benefit as many people and communities as possible. However, we fully respect the decision of those groups who choose not to apply for National Lottery funding, and indeed those individuals who choose not to play the Lottery.

Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will conduct a survey to ascertain the effect which the absence of potential funding has on those communities unable to accept direct funding from the National Lottery. [212146]

Estelle Morris: The Department is not aware of any research on this issue, nor do we have plans to undertake any such research.

We would like Lottery funding to benefit as many people and communities as possible. However, we fully

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respect the decision of those groups who choose not to apply for National Lottery funding, and indeed those individuals who choose not to play the Lottery.

NESTA

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total spending on administration costs at the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts was in each year from 1999–2000 to 2003–04; how much was spent on grants in each year; what estimate she has made of (a) administration costs and (b) grant expenditure in each year from 2004–05 to 2007–08; and if she will make a statement. [211481]

Estelle Morris: The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) exists to pioneer ways of supporting and promoting talent, innovation and creativity across science, technology and the arts. It supports awardees both through financial grants and added value assistance that maximises the projects chances of success. Added value assistance includes mentoring and specialist advice.

NESTA divides its non-grant costs into support for awardees—'programme support costs' and non-awardee costs—'non-programme costs' as set out in the table:
Analysis of expenditure 1999–2005 £000

1999–2000⁽³⁾ 2000–01⁽³⁾ 2001–02⁽³⁾ 2002–03⁽³⁾ 2003–04⁽³⁾ 2004–05⁽⁴⁾

Awards made⁽⁵⁾ 1,948 4,911 5,514 7,271 8,985 10,476

Programme support costs⁽⁶⁾ 2,152 3,478 3,758 4,669 6,117 9,052

Other projects directly delivering statutory objects⁽⁷⁾ — — 3,105 4,613 4,283 4,125

Total programme costs 4,100 8,389 12,377 16,553 19,385 23,653

Non-programme costs⁽⁸⁾ 1,814 1,270 1,204 1,270 1,458 1,732

Total expenditure 5,914 9,659 13,581 17,823 20,843 25,385

Non-programme costs as a percentage of total expenditure 30.7 13.1 8.9 7.1 7.0 6.8

⁽³⁾Actual.
⁽⁴⁾Forecast.
⁽⁵⁾Awards made (grants and investments) to projects in accordance with NESTA's remit.
⁽⁶⁾Programme support costs includes the direct costs of developing and delivering the awards programme and an allocation of indirect costs, based on estimated time spent supporting the awards programme.
⁽⁷⁾Other projects that directly deliver NESTA statutory objects include Futurelab, and Planet Science.
⁽⁸⁾Non-programme costs include both staff and other administrative costs.

	1999–2000⁽³⁾	2000–01⁽³⁾	2001–02⁽³⁾	2002–03⁽³⁾	2003–04⁽³⁾	2004–05⁽⁴⁾
Awards made⁽⁵⁾	1,948	4,911	5,514	7,271	8,985	10,476
Programme support costs⁽⁶⁾	2,152	3,478	3,758	4,669	6,117	9,052
Other projects directly delivering statutory objects⁽⁷⁾	—	—	3,105	4,613	4,283	4,125
Total programme costs	4,100	8,389	12,377	16,553	19,385	23,653
Non-programme costs⁽⁸⁾	1,814	1,270	1,204	1,270	1,458	1,732
Total expenditure	5,914	9,659	13,581	17,823	20,843	25,385
Non-programme costs as a percentage of total expenditure	30.7	13.1	8.9	7.1	7.0	6.8

A detailed breakdown of expenditure can be found in NESTA's Annual report and accounts 2003–04 (HC 23) that was placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Spending plans for 2005–06 to 2007–08 will be decided by Trustees of NESTA, having regard to the endowment income available to them and the need to secure value for money when expending funds.

NESTA has key performance indicator targets that measure operational efficiency in terms of non-grant costs. The Department will shortly discuss with NESTA the targets they intend to set for 2005–06.

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