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UK Overseas Territories

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will estimate the costs associated with the defence of UK overseas territories in each of the last four years; [14909]

(2) what the costs were of running and maintaining UK military facilities in (a) UK overseas territories and (b) other UK military facilities overseas in each of the last four years. [14910]

Mr. Ingram: The costs of running and maintaining the many UK Military Facilities overseas are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the major facilities are primarily, but not exclusively, managed by the Chief of Joint Operations (CJO) and I can provide the expenditure recorded by CJO in respect of the Permanent Joint Operating Bases in the three main overseas territories in each of the last four years: £

	Financial Year
	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05
Cyprus	206	240	247	203
Gibraltar	79	113	81	94
Falkland Islands	115	120	111	113

There is no historical analysis of these costs that would distinguish between those associated with the actual defence of UK overseas territories and those incurred in other activities, such as training, exercises, and operations, at the locations concerned. It is, therefore, not possible to isolate the costs of defence alone nor to reliably estimate them.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Bilingual Licence Applications

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reasons bilingual application forms for licences to sell alcohol have not been made available in Welsh local authorities. [12089]

 
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James Purnell: We did not prescribe bilingual application forms in the Licensing Act 2003 regulations as we had concerns about practical issues, including the ability of non-Welsh speakers being able to engage in the process if applications were made in Welsh. However, following discussions with the Welsh Language Board, we have been reassured that requirements under Welsh language schemes protect the interests of Welsh and English speakers alike. On that basis, we are looking to prescribe the forms as soon as possible, although this will not be before the 6 August date for converting existing alcohol licences. I have made it clear that, in the meantime, I have no policy objection if licensing authorities in Wales wish to make forms available in Welsh or bilingually, and to accept them in Welsh under their Welsh language schemes. This approach has the support of the Welsh Language Board and I understand that Welsh authorities are issuing and accepting Welsh forms.

Commonwealth Games (2014)

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is her policy to provide financial support for the bid to bring the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow in 2014. [14897]

Mr. Caborn: As sport in Scotland is a devolved matter, the costs of any bid to stage the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are the responsibility of the key organisations concerned which are Glasgow city council, the Scottish Executive and the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Scottish Executive on a Glasgow bid for the commonwealth games in 2014. [14898]

Mr. Caborn: I have had no formal discussions with the Scottish Executive on this issue. However officials from the Scottish Executive have been keeping my officials informed of progress with consideration of this issue.

Correspondence

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many letters to her Department from hon. Members in session (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06 remain unanswered, broken down by those which are (i) one month old, (ii) two months old, (iii) three months old, (iv) four months old and (v) over six months old. [13858]

Mr. Caborn: In response to your parliamentary question regarding unanswered correspondence in session (a) 2004–05, the Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members/Peers correspondence. The Report for 2004 was published on 6 April 2005. (b) The following table shows the number of letters in the Department that have not received an answer for 2005–06:
 
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2005–06 (1 January 2005 to 30 June 2005)

	Number
Current month	28	Due June
One month	23	Due May
Two months	41	Due April
Three months	17	Due March
Four months	12	Due February
Six months	nil	nil

Departmental Expenditure

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total spending by her Department on (a) staff, (b) accommodation and (c) procurement in (i) Moray constituency and (ii) the Highland region was for the most recent year for which figures are available. [14853]

Mr. Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not spent anything on staff, accommodation or procurement in Moray or the Highland region.

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total spending by her Department on (a) staff, (b) accommodation and (c) procurement in (i) Dundee East constituency, (ii)Tayside and (iii) the city of Dundee was for the most recent year for which figures are available. [14878]

Mr. Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not spent anything on staff, accommodation or procurement in Dundee East, Tayside or the city of Dundee.

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total spending by her Department on (a) staff, (b) accommodation and (c) procurement in (i) Banff and Buchan and (ii) the North East of Scotland was for the most recent year for which figures are available. [14887]

Mr. Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not spent anything on staff, accommodation or procurement in Banff and Buchan or the North East of Scotland.

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total spending by her Department on (a) staff, (b) accommodation and (c) procurement in Perth and North Perthshire was for the most recent year for which figures are available. [14921]

Mr. Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not spent anything on staff, accommodation or procurement in Perth or North Perthshire.

Departmental Priorities

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's priorities are for the next 12 months. [14850]

Tessa Jowell: The priorities for my Department for 2005–06 are set out in the DCMS Business Plan 2005. Copies of the plan have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
 
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Digital Broadcasting

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what percentage of viewers in the Stroud constituency (a) have access to Freeview and (b) have converted from analogue to digital broadcasting; what strategy she has put in place to complete the conversion process; and if she will make a statement. [14152]

James Purnell: Freeview reception via Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is not currently extensive in Stroud, although it may be possible in some parts to receive signals from the main Mendip and Ridge Hill transmitters. We do not presently have figures for digital conversion in the area.

As regards strategy, I refer my right hon. Friend to the statement made by the Secretary of State in Parliament on the 21 July 2005, Official Report, columns 112–13WS.

Mr. David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households in Midlothian are unable to receive digital television. [14187]

James Purnell: The vast majority of households in Midlothian can, with the appropriate equipment, receive digital television services via at least one of digital satellite or digital terrestrial.

Mr. Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what provision has been made for households in Devon and Cornwall that will be unable to receive a digital signal by 2008; [14570]

(2) what assessment she has made of whether a digital signal will be available to every household in Devon and Cornwall by the time analogue transmission is ended; [14572]

(3) how many households that are receivers of analogue transmission in Devon and Cornwall are unable to receive a digital signal. [14573]

James Purnell: The vast majority of households in Devon and Cornwall can, with the appropriate equipment, receive digital television services via at least one of digital satellite, digital terrestrial or cable.

Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is broadcast from Devon and Cornwall's five main transmitters (Redruth, Caradon Hill, Huntshaw Cross, Beacon Hill and Stockland Hill), along with the Plympton relay transmitter.

The Government are committed to ensuring that everyone who currently receives the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue will be able, at digital switchover, to receive them in digital form.

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