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1 Mar 2005 : Column 1086W—continued
Telephone Numbers (0870)
Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will prohibit the use of national rate 0870 telephone numbers by general practices and other frontline primary care services; and if he will make a statement. [213505]
Mr. Hutton: Yes. From April, no national health service organisations providing local services will not be able to adopt national or premium rate numbers. General practitioner practices currently using national rate telephone lines will be expected to change these to lo-call" numbers.
Waiting Times (Lancashire)
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for surgery for patients in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley was in (i) 1997, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2005. [216207]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested for available years is shown in the tables.
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Note:
No data was returned for Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust for quarter 4, 2000–01.
Source:
Department of Health KH07.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Cancer
Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what policies her Department has in place for supporting employees with cancer. [218590]
Mr. Caborn: The Department for Culture Media and Sport has a range of polices in place to support staff with medical conditions. These include occupational health advice on reasonable adjustments to allow staff to continue working where appropriate; support and advice from the DCMS Staff Counsellor; a range of flexible working provisions, including flexitime, part-time working, homeworking and paid/unpaid special leave; and six months fully paid sickness absence, followed by six months on half pay, up to a maximum of 12 months.
Digital Switchover
Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) when she expects to announce the areas of the United Kingdom in which digital switchover will first take place; [214544]
(2) what criteria will be used in determining the order in which digital switchover will be introduced in the regions; [214545]
(3) if she will make a statement on her plans to implement a regional roll out of digital switchover. [214546]
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Estelle Morris: The Government will confirm the timetable once all the remaining issues relating to digital switchover are resolved and we are satisfied that the interests of consumers, especially the most vulnerable, are well protected.
The order in which regions will be switched off is not one for the Government: it will be based on technical criteria and agreed between broadcasters, multiplex operators and Ofcom.
We expect Ofcom to issue a statement on the indicative regional order shortly.
Ofcom have issued a statement on the indicative regional order. This is available from the Ofcom website at: www.ofcom.org.uk.
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to announce the details of regional pilot schemes in preparation for digital switchover; what role regional pilot schemes will have in determining the date for digital switchover; and if she will make a statement. [218906]
Estelle Morris: The Government has no plans for regional pilot schemes. However, we are currently conducting a technical trial in South Wales to gauge the technical and consumer issues associated with the switchover process. This trial is not a blueprint for regional rollout but a vital part of the preparation for the national switchover.
The order in which regions will be switched off is not one for the Government: it will be based on technical criteria and agreed between broadcasters, multiplex operators and Ofcom.
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Ofcom have issued a statement on the indicative regional order. This is available from the Ofcom website at: www.ofcom.org.uk.
The Government will confirm the timetable once all the remaining issues relating to digital switchover are resolved and we are satisfied that the interests of consumers, especially the most vulnerable, are well protected.
EU Committees
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times during the (a) Italian, (b) Irish and (c) Dutch presidency of the EU the Committee for the implementation of the training programme for professionals in the European audio-visual programme industry and of the programme to encourage the development, distribution and promotion of European audio-visual works MEDIA II met; when and where these meetings took place; what UK Government expert was present; and if she will make a statement. [217952]
Estelle Morris: Between 1 July 2003 and 31 December 2004, the MEDIA Committee met in Brussels on: 15 July 2003, 22 September 2003, 31 October 2003, 12 November 2003, 10 December 2003 (Italian presidency), 20 February 2004, 25 March 2004 (Irish presidency) 16 July 2004 and 22 October 2004 (Dutch presidency) and in Athens on 12 November 2004 (Dutch presidency). The UK was represented at all these meetings, either by DCMS officials or UK Film Council representative or both.
Government Art Collection
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Government Art Collection has spent on new works of art in each of the last 10 years; where each item purchased since 1997 is located; and whether each is accessible to the public. [217393]
Estelle Morris: The following figures represent how much the Government Art Collection (GAC) has spent on works of art in the last 10 financial years and the current financial year.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1994–95 | 127,000 |
| 1995–96 | 83,000 |
| 1996–97 | 123,000 |
| 1997–98 | 137,000 |
| 1998–99 | 127,000 |
| 1999–2000 | 179,000 |
| 2000–01 | 135,000 |
| 2001–02 | 158,000 |
| 2002–03 | 253,600 |
| 2003–04 | 225,200 |
| 2004–05(16) | 110,500 |
(16) includes purchases up to 15 February 2005
Some works of art have been purchased or commissioned by other Government Departments.
A list of the current locations of works of art purchased since 1997 (as of 17 February 2005), and listed by Government Department and GAC, is
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provided in a separate document. I am arranging for copies of this document to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
The Government Art Collection is part of DCMS; its acquisition policy is guided by the Advisory Committee on the GAC which is a non-departmental public body. Members are both independent and ex-officio, including the Directors of the National Galleries.
The GAC plays a unique role in the UK in displaying works of art from its holdings in major Government buildings at home and abroad, in order to promote British art, culture and history. Due to the nature of Government buildings and current security issues, it is not possible for the general public to gain open access to most of the works on a daily basis. However, the buildings in which works of art are displayed—in reception rooms, entrance halls, Ministers' and Ambassadors' offices—all receive many thousands of visitors per year, all over the world.
Members of the public may consult the GAC to see individual works of art. Additionally, many Government buildings in the UK (including the GAC's own premises) are accessible during the annual Open House Weekend. The GAC also gives regular tours throughout the year round its premises, lends works of art to public exhibitions, and operates a website www.gac.culture.gov.uk listing and illustrating all its original works of art. A growing number of historical and modern prints are being added to this.
Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2005, Official Report, column 1724W, on Government Art Collection, how much the Government Art Collection spent in total on purchasing works of art in each of the last 15 years. [218984]
Estelle Morris: The following figures represent how much the Government Art Collection (GAC) has spent on works of art in the last 15 financial years and the current financial year.
(17) Includes purchases up to 15 February 2005.
Some works of art have been purchased or commissioned by other Government Departments.
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