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National Lottery

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what definition she uses of additionality in relation to the operation of the national lottery. [26239]

Mr. Caborn: We continue to follow the principle set out in our July 2003 policy statement

"Lottery funding will not be allowed to become a substitute for funding that would normally fall to mainstream Government spending"

a basic principle which has been expressed in slightly different ways in the past by successive Governments. We do not, however, believe that a legal definition is appropriate.

Olympic Games

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has discussed with (a) the Football Association, (b) the Premier League and (c) the Football League plans to stage matches in the UK over the period of the Olympic Games in 2012; and if she will make a statement. [25049]

Mr. Caborn [holding answer 7 November 2005]: Neither my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, nor I have held any discussions with the football authorities about the staging of matches in the UK during the period of the Olympic Games in 2012. However, officials will be discussing this with the football authorities in due course.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), as part of the Host City Contract, ask all host cities to take steps to ensure that no major event that could have an impact on the successful organisation and staging of the Games takes place in London or at other competition venues during the period of the Games. The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) will be working with the IOC, venue owners, local authorities and national governing bodies to ensure we take a common sense approach to the application of this particular requirement.

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has discussed with the England and Wales Cricket Board the staging of international cricket matches in the UK over the Olympic period in 2012; and if she will make a statement. [25050]

Mr. Caborn [holding answer 7 November 2005]: Neither my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, nor I have held discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) about the staging of international cricket matches in the UK over the Olympic period. However, my officials met the ECB last week to discuss the issue.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), as part of the Host City Contract, ask all host cities to take steps to ensure that no major event that could have an impact on the successful organisation and staging of the Games
 
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takes place in London or at other competition venues during the period of the Games. The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) will be working with the IOC, venue owners, local authorities and national governing bodies to ensure we take a common sense approach to the application of this particular requirement.

Premier League

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Office of Communications has spent to date on its investigation into Premier League broadcasting rights. [25706]

James Purnell: Ofcom and the Office of Fair Trading, as the national competition authorities, have been advising the European Commission in relation to their investigation into the sale of Premier League broadcasting rights. The level of expenditure by Ofcom on this work is a matter for the Chief Executive, Stephen Carter, and officials have asked him to respond directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Super-casinos

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many bids there have been for a super-casino; and which locations such bids relate to. [25876]

Mr. Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has established an independent casino advisory panel to assist her in the exercise of her order making powers under Section 175(4) of the Gambling Act 2005 to determine the geographical distribution of the new casino premises licences, including the licence for the one regional casino permitted by the Act.

The panel is beginning to develop the necessary criteria for examining the proposals and detailing the process by which proposals should be submitted. It is envisaged that the panel will ask for formal proposals to be submitted to it early in the New Year.

Television Licences

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the non-payment of television licences is detected. [25889]

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. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Ultra-local Television

Mr. Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will reframe the BBC's remit in local communities as a cautious and selective intervention in limited areas where it is clear that commercial models are not sustainable. [25343]

 
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James Purnell: As stated in the Green Paper published in March 2005, the BBC needs to be vigilant about its potential to have a negative effect on commercial competitors. The Green Paper set out proposals for achieving this including that significant new activities should be subject to market impact assessments. Further detail will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper.

Under-aged Drinkers

Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what impact she expects the Licensing Act 2003 to have on alcohol abuse amongst under-aged drinkers in (a) England and (b) Gravesham. [24051]

James Purnell: When implemented on 24 November, the Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act) will increase the penalties for selling alcohol to children. The maximum fine on conviction will be increased to £5,000 and there will be the ability to suspend or forfeit personal licences at first offence, rather than on second conviction, as is the case now. The Act also removes a range of exceptions which allow children to buy alcohol, for example in clubs, and on river and coastal 'booze cruises'.

The 2003 Act is only one element of the Government's approach to tackling alcohol abuse. For example, the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy is founded on improving education and heath intervention, and the Violent Crime Bill will introduce a new closure power where premises are found to have sold alcohol persistently to people under 18-years-old.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

0870 Numbers

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the occasions in the last five years on which 0870 telephone numbers have been used by his Department as contact numbers for members of the public; and how much revenue was received from the use of 0870 contact numbers in each of the last five years for which records are available. [24463]

Mr. Thomas: DFID has not operated any 0870 telephone numbers in the past five years, and therefore has not received any such revenue.

Africa

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the aid to Africa agreed at the G8 summit is being allocated between countries. [25210]

Hilary Benn: As agreed at the Gleneagles summit, the commitments of the G8 and other donors will lead to an increase in official development assistance to Africa of US$25 billion a year by 2010.

UK's assistance to Africa will increase to £1.25 billion per annum by 2008. These resources will be allocated to individual countries in line with DFID's resource allocation process. To help inform the decision, DFID uses a financial model to generate suggested allocations for bilateral
 
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country programmes. This model takes account of both the extent of a country's poverty and the likely effectiveness of UK aid in reducing that poverty. Vulnerability to economic shocks and the amount of aid which countries are likely to receive from other donors are also taken into account, alongside a number of other factors. Country-by-country, these include the effectiveness of multilateral channels, conflict and reconstruction needs, inequality and social exclusion, our historical engagement and the political environment. In line with our new policy on conditionality, aid allocations are subject to developing country governments' commitment to poverty reduction, sound financial management, and human rights.

It is for other donors to decide how they will allocate their increased aid between African countries.

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