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Polling Times

Mr. Whittingdale: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will extend the hours of polling for local government elections to the same as those that apply for general elections; and if she will make a statement. [3734]

Ms Harman: The Government agree with the Electoral Commission that consistent hours of polling at all elections is desirable. Polling hours for all elections except parliamentary elections are set in secondary legislation by various authorities, such as the devolved Administrations, and those authorities will need to take decisions on this issue. I will consider carefully any suggestions for amendments to the rules of the elections for which I am responsible.

Race Relations (Amendment) Act

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what arrangements are in place to ensure that bodies within the responsibility of her Department comply with the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. [3554]

Ms Harman: The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 placed a general duty and specific duties on a number of public bodies. The list of bodies subject to the general and specific duties is updated periodically in consultation with the CRE. My Department's Race Equality Scheme sets out the departmental approach to compliance and has been recently refreshed to take into account new bodies who form part of my Department.
 
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Rape Trials

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what training is undertaken by recorders of the Crown court before they are ticketed to try rape. [4683]

Ms Harman: Judicial training is the responsibility of the Lord Chief Justice and is exercised through the Judicial Studies Board (JSB), an independent body chaired by Lord Justice Keene.

The Senior Presiding Judge, on behalf of the Lord Chief Justice, authorises selected Recorders to hear cases involving rape or a serious sexual offence. Before being authorised, a judge must have wide and significant experience of the criminal justice system, and must have demonstrated the necessary sensitivity for these cases. These authorised Recorders may not hear such a case without first having attended the appropriate JSB training, and the designated course for this is the Serious Sexual Offences Seminar (SSOS). Authorised Recorders, along with other authorised judiciary, will be invited to continuation training every three years from the date of their first attendance.

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how recorders of the Crown are selected as suitable to try rape cases. [4684]

Ms Harman: The Senior Presiding Judge, on behalf of the Lord Chief Justice, authorises selected Recorders to hear cases involving rape or a serious sexual offence. Before being authorised a judge must have wide and significant experience of the criminal justice system, and must have demonstrated the necessary sensitivity for these cases. These authorised Recorders may not hear such a case without first having attended the appropriate JSB training, and the designated course for this is the Serious Sexual Offences Seminar (SSOS). Authorised Recorders, along with other authorised judiciary, will be invited to continuation training every three years from the date of their first attendance.

Terrorism Acts

Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans she has to reform legal procedures for dealing with terror cases. [3603]

Bridget Prentice: The Government have indicated their intention to bring forward fresh counter-terrorism legislation and are currently considering what provisions it should contain. The intention is to bring forward proposals for pre-legislative scrutiny in late autumn.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Working Mothers (Child Care)

Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Minister for Women what plans the Government have to provide working mothers with access to personal advisers in relation to child care; and if she will make a statement. [3888]

 
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Meg Munn: Jobcentre Plus have introduced Childcare Partnership Managers to help support the growth of local child care provision. They work alongside child care partners and employers to meet the child care needs of unemployed parents.

We realise that many working parents face difficulties in finding accessible, affordable and quality child care, which stops them making the most of their opportunities in work, training or study.

Childcare Partnership Managers have a key role to play in helping them find the child care they need when they need it.

WALES

Digital Television

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the provision of digital signals which would allow free view set-top boxes to be used in Welsh valley communities. [2767]

Mr. Hain: The topography of the Welsh valleys leads to problems in securing digital terrestrial reception. Of the 200 analogue transmitters in Wales, only nine have so far been converted to digital transmissions. This is to protect current analogue signals from interference. When switchover occurs, it is expected that all 200 transmitters will be equipped to broadcast digital signals.

We are committed to achieving digital switchover between 2008 and 2012, on a region by region basis, and will ensure that the interests of elderly people and other vulnerable groups are protected.

Higher Education Fees

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss the provision of the necessary resources to the Welsh Assembly Government to avoid the introduction of variable top up fees in Wales. [4692]

Mr. Hain: I understand that the Assembly and the DfES have agreed the financial transfer under the Higher Education Act 2004.

Honours

Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many officials currently in the Department received honours in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List; and at what rank of honour. [5110]

Mr. Hain: None.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Digital Television

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on progress towards rollout of digital television services. [4243]

 
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James Purnell: Great progress has been made. 61.9 per cent. of households are now estimated to have digital television.

We welcome the fact that Switchco, the organisation which will co-ordinate the UK's switchover to digital television, is now in place.

As we said in our manifesto, we will achieve digital switchover between 2008 and 2012 ensuring universal access to high-quality, free-to-view and subscription digital TV. This will happen region by region, and we will make sure that the interests of elderly people and other vulnerable groups are protected.

Men's Lifestyle Magazines

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Advertising Standards Authority, (b) the Press Complaints Commission and (c) others about guidelines or legislation to ensure that explicit covers on men's lifestyle magazines are kept out of the reach of children; and if she will make a statement. [3415]

James Purnell: None. The Government believe that a free press is vital in a democracy and we would not, therefore, seek to intervene in what a magazine chooses to publish. The Obscene Publications Act 1959 and the Indecent Displays Act 1981, are designed to protect children and others from exposure to inappropriate material. Furthermore, the National Federation of Retail Newsagents operates a voluntary code of practice for the display of pornographic magazines; 'lifestyle' magazines are displayed at newsagents' discretion, and customers can seek to influence how that discretion is exercised.

Royal Parks Agency

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make it her policy to ensure that the Royal Parks Agency takes full account of the environmental and social impact on
 
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communities and areas surrounding Royal Parks whendecisions are taken to restrict car access to those parks. [3032]

Mr. Lammy [holding answer 13 June 2005]: It is already the policy of the Royal Parks Agency to take full account of the environmental and social impact of decisions to restrict access to the Royal Parks for motor cars.

The agency is required under the Greater London Authority Act 1999 to consult with local authorities before introducing any measures that might affect traffic on the authorities' roads. By the same token, local authorities are required to consult the agency before introducing any measures on their roads that might affect traffic on park roads.

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