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Ofcom

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the relationship between her Department and Ofcom. [13431]

James Purnell: The Office of Communications (Ofcom) is a public corporation, operating independently from Government, principally under the terms of the Communications Act 2003 and the Office of Communications Act 2002. Ministers and Department officials meet regularly with Ofcom to consider issues to do with the exercise of its statutory functions. Ofcom is required to report annually to the Secretary of State; its annual report 2004–05 was published on 19 July 2005, copies of which have been laid in the House.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what process is used to audit the financial performance of Ofcom. [14200]

James Purnell: Under the terms of the Office of Communications Act 2002, Ofcom is required to prepare in respect of each financial year a statement of accounts in such form as the Secretary of State may direct, copies of which are sent to the Secretary of State and also to the Comptroller and Auditor General who is required to examine, certify and report on that statement. The Ofcom Annual Report 2004–05, with the certificate and report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, was laid before each House of Parliament on 19 July 2005. Additionally, a review of the effectiveness of the system of internal control is performed by Ofcom's internal audit function.

Press Officers

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press officers the Department employed in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year. [8134]

Mr. Caborn: The number of press officers the Department employed in each year since 1997 are as follows. The cost for each year is available only from 2003 as the information requested for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

	Number	£
1997	7	—
1998	7	—
1999	9	—
2000	8	—
2001	9	—
2002	8	—
2003	9	459,952
2004	10	552,677
2005	9	466,206

 
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Rivers

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with (a) the British Canoe Union and (b) others on improving the accessibility of rivers in England and Wales to the public. [14851]

Mr. Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions with either the British Canoe Union or other similar organisations regarding the accessibility of rivers in England.

However, as part of my responsibilities as Minister for Sport, I met with representatives of the British Canoe Union in December 2004. This was as part of a meeting I had with the Minister for Rural Affairs at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in which issues including increasing access to water-based sports and recreation, such as canoeing, were discussed.

The National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Assembly rather than DCMS or Defra, have responsibility for the accessibility of rivers in Wales.

South Bank Centre

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will request the resignation of Lord Hollick as chair of the South Bank Centre. [13397]

Tessa Jowell: I have no intention of seeking Lord Hollick's resignation.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Prime Minister concerning the future of the London Eye; and what assessment she has made of the effect of the success of the 2012 Olympic bid on the situation with the South Bank Centre. [13398]

Tessa Jowell: I have had no discussions with the Prime Minister concerning the future of the London Eye. The welcome success of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic bid has no bearing on the current negotiations between the South Bank Centre and the London Eye.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects the lease dispute between the South Bank Centre and the London Eye to be resolved. [13399]

Tessa Jowell: Negotiations to secure a new agreement are on-going.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on progress with the negotiations between the South Bank Centre and the London Eye. [13400]

Tessa Jowell: Negotiations between the South Bank Centre and the London Eye are ongoing.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what dates she has had discussions with Lord Hollick, chair of the South Bank Centre, about the London Eye; what the substance of those conversations was; and whether she plans further (a)meetings and (b) discussions with Lord Hollick on that subject. [13401]

 
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Tessa Jowell: I have had one phone call with Lord Hollick, on 21 May, to discuss the London Eye. I am being kept informed of the progress of negotiations.

Television Licences

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on advertising on television warning against the failure to hold a current television licence in the last five years. [14148]

James Purnell: The BBC has responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day to day administration under contract to the corporation. I have therefore asked the BBC's head of revenue management to consider the question raised by the hon. Member and to write to him direct, placing a copy of the reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people in Paisley and Renfrewshire North were found by TV Licensing not to have a current television licence in 2004. [14151]

James Purnell: The BBC has responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day-to-day administration under contract to the Corporation. I have therefore asked the BBC's Head of Revenue Management to consider the question raised by the hon. Member and to write to him direct, placing a copy of the reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mr. David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people are employed by TV Licensing in Scotland. [14194]

James Purnell: The BBC has responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day to day administration under contract to the corporation. I have therefore asked the BBC's head of revenue management to consider the question raised by my hon. Friend and to write to him direct, placing a copy of the reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mr. David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on advertising on commercial radio to publicise the need to hold a current television licence in each of the last three years. [14195]

James Purnell: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not spent any money on radio advertisements to publicise the television licensing requirements. The BBC has responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system; this includes responsibility for publicity to encourage compliance with the legislation. I have therefore asked the BBC's head of revenue management to consider the question raised by my hon. Friend and to write to him direct, placing a copy of the reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

Mr. David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people in Midlothian were found by TV Licensing not to have a current television licence in 2004. [14796]

 
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James Purnell: The BBC has responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day to day administration under contract to the corporation. I have therefore asked the BBC's head of revenue management to consider the question raised by my hon. Friend and to write to him direct, placing a copy of the reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

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