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8 Mar 2005 : Column 1748W—continued
Digital Broadcasting
Mr. John Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 21 February 2005, Official Report, columns 237–38W,
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on Digital Broadcasting, what the technical restraints on DTT transmissions from the Sutton Coldfield transmitter are. [219657]
Estelle Morris: Viewers in Solihull will be receiving their conventional television signals from the main Sutton Coldfield transmitter. Sutton Coldfield does broadcast the full range of digital services, but congestion of the spectrum means that their coverage currently has to be limited to avoid causing interference to viewers of analogue television services.
Although many viewers in the West Midlands are able to receive digital services from Sutton Coldfield, the coverage restrictions result in patchy digital coverage in and around Solihull.
At switchover, these restrictions will be removed and enable the coverage of the digital services to be increased to ensure that everyone who can currently get the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue form (BBC 1 and 2, ITV, Channel 4/S4C and Channel 5) can receive them on digital systems.
Growth Areas (Funding)
Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding her Department has earmarked for growth areas to ensure that they have the resources required to meet the demands of a growing population. [218334]
Mr. Caborn: The majority of the Department's funding is delegated to its non-departmental public bodies. We have not, therefore, earmarked any direct funding for the growth areas although we do recognise that culture has a vital contribution to make to them and are working closely with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. We have also encouraged our NDPBs to engage with local delivery vehicles and local regeneration partnerships within the growth areas and they are actively involved in a number of pieces of work including:
the joint funding of a Cultural Coordinator for the North Kent section of the Thames Gateway by Culture South East, Arts Council England South East, Sport England South East, South East England Museum and Library Archive and Tourism South East. The Coordinator will work with these agencies and other partners to ensure a strategic and coordinated approach to the development of cultural provision with Thames Gateway North Kent;
the development of cultural guidance for development bodies within the Milton Keynes South Midlands Growth Area. This work, due to be published on 15 March, has been coordinated by Culture South East, Living East and Culture East Midlands working with English Heritage, Sport England, Arts Council England, Tourist Boards, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, regional bodies advising on architecture and the built environment, and screen and media agencies from within the three regions as well as Government offices and local authorities.
Libraries
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on library (a) buildings and (b) books in Greater London in each year since 2001–02. [220180]
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Estelle Morris: The following information shows the funds spent on library premises and books in Greater London.
This information derives from the Annual Public Library Statistics published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). 2002–03 is the latest data available. Because of the way the statistics are calculated and presented, the books figure also includes the purchase of pamphlets.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 17,818,383 |
| 2002–03 | 20,183,505 |
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 13,222,992 |
| 2002–03 | 13,196,648 |
Licensing Act
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what recent representations she has had from amateur sports clubs regarding the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003; [220099]
(2) what recent representations she has had from the police regarding the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003; [220100]
(3) what recent representations she has received from alcohol abuse charities regarding the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003; [220162]
(4) what recent representations she has had from religious groups regarding the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003; [220165]
(5) what recent representations she has received regarding the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003. [220279]
Mr. Caborn: There have been two recent public consultations on (a) draft Regulations and an Order under the Licensing Act 2003 which took place between 15 September and 10 November 2004, and (b) draft fee regulations under the 2003 Act which took place between 4 November and 23 December 2004.
In respect of (a) we received 269 responses from 230 public bodies, organisations and individuals, some of which responded more than once. These included two from amateur sports clubs; 10 from police forces including one from their representative body (the Association of Chief Police Officers); 0 from alcohol abuse charities; and 0 from religious groups. We also received a response from a Member of Parliament on behalf of The National United Temperance Council.
In respect of (b) we received 427 responses, including 97 from amateur sports clubs and their representative bodies; one from a police force and one from ACPO; 0 from alcohol abuse charities; and 0 from religious groups.
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Since these consultations ended we have received correspondence from a wide range of groups and individuals including from sports clubs and their representative bodies, individual police officers, individuals from the field of alcohol abuse charities, and from those representing religious groups. This correspondence has primarily concerned the level at which fees have been set and the potential impact of 24 hour opening.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many extended licences have been issued since the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003; and if she will make a statement. [220164]
Mr. Caborn: 7 February marked the start of the transition from the old licensing regimes to the arrangements under the Licensing Act 2003. However, the 2003 Act will not be fully implemented until November 2005. It is therefore too soon to say how many licences have been issued varying the hours of operation.
Lottery Funding (Travellers)
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the Traveller community groups and organisations that have received Lottery funding since May 1997. [219951]
Estelle Morris: The following lists all successful Lottery awards that have been granted to groups that feature the words 'Traveller' or 'Gypsy' in their name, or in project description. This does not mean that all the groups listed are Traveller groups or organisations.
This information is available from the Department's searchable Lottery award database at www.lottery.culture.gsi.gov.uk, which uses information supplied by the Lottery distributors.
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