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7 Dec 2005 : Column 1303W—continued

Tariffs

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the cost to the British economy of tariffs on industrial goods. [34148]

Ian Pearson: There are many estimates of the cost of tariffs on industrial goods. These estimates suggest that global costs of tariffs on industrial goods exceed $100 billion. Precise estimate of the share of these global costs borne by the UK economy vary, but could be up to $5 billion.

World Trade Organisation

Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry what action the Government plan to take at the World Trade Organisation talks in Hong Kong to ensure fair treatment for the world's poorest farmers. [34501]

Ian Pearson: The Government are committed to achieving an ambitious, pro-development package at the WTO ministerial conference in Hong Kong, which will allow for a successful conclusion to the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) by the end of 2006.

The DDA has the potential to deliver a freer and fairer trading system, benefiting farmers in developing countries and least developed countries through increased market access and the dismantling of trade-distorting subsidies by industrialised countries. The UK will press for poor countries to be given the flexibility to decide, plan and sequence trade reforms through effective special and differential treatment and, in the agriculture negotiations, designation of special products and use of a special safeguard mechanism.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Community/New Opportunities Funds

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will break down the cost of the administrative merger of the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund by main cost area. [35052]

Mr. Caborn: The break down of costs of the administrative merger of the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund are in the table.

Merger main cost area	Cost (£)
Consultation costs	745,854
IT changes	949,312
Termination payments	1,898,853
Professional fees	85,968
Property costs	1,226,486
Other costs	69,762
Total	4,976,235

 
7 Dec 2005 : Column 1304W
 

Correspondence

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will respond to the letter from the hon. Members for Croydon, South (Richard Ottaway) and for East Surrey dated 5 September regarding Kenley Airfield. [30474]

James Purnell [holding answer 21 November 2005]: I replied to the hon. Members on 5 December with apologies for the delay in responding.

Damages

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2005, Official Report, column 1608W, on damages, if she will list those cases where the litigation has been brought to a Minister's attention owing to the (a) nature and (b) scale of the damages sought. [34391]

Mr. Lammy: This information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Staff (Chronic Back Pain)

Mr. Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what initiatives are being taken in her Department to help civil servants with chronic back pain. [34973]

Mr. Lammy: DCMS has a duty of care to all staff and provides staff with Desk Assessments to highlight any physical problems they may have, including back problems. The Department undertakes reasonable adjustments to physical features staff work areas, including desk, chair and IT equipment and alternative working patterns. If the back problem is more severe the Department arranges for a more specialised Occupational Health Desk Assessment to be carried out.

Digital Switchover

Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to increase awareness about digital switchover. [33626]

James Purnell: Digital UK, a not-for-profit organisation, has been set up to co-ordinate the UK's switch to digital television and will make sure that everyone is aware of what is happening and what they need to do. The switchover process will take place between 2008 and 2012, ITV region by ITV region. Digital UK launched its national switchover public awareness campaign in the national press in September. It has also set up a website and call centre for enquiries and leaflets, produced jointly with the Government, have been distributed to libraries, CAB offices and retailers across the UK. Digital UK plans to begin targeted regional campaigns three years prior to switching and communications activity is already underway in the borders region.

Additionally, the Government are continuing to run its own media campaign to inform consumers of the benefits of digital switchover and why it is happening.
 
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To help make digital television options clear to consumers, the Government launched the digital switchover Certification Mark in 2004. It certifies products and services that are designed to help consumers through switchover. This helps to raise awareness of digital switchover, and is now visible in retailers across the UK and also on TV and recording equipment of most leading brands.

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to increase awareness of digital switchover in the Leeds West constituency. [35135]

James Purnell: Digital UK, a not-for-profit organisation, has been set up o co-ordinate the UK's switch to digital television and will make sure that everyone is aware of what is happening and what they need to do. The switchover process will take place between 2008 and 2012, ITV region by ITV region. Digital UK launched its national switchover public awareness campaign in the national press in September. It has also set up a website and call centre for inquiries and leaflets, produced jointly with the Government, have been distributed to libraries, CAB offices and retailers across the UK. Digital UK plans to begin targeted regional campaigns three years prior to switching and communications activity is already under way in the Borders region.

Leeds West receives Yorkshire Television, which will switch over in 2011 and localised communications will start in 2008.

Additionally, the Government are continuing to run their own media campaign to inform consumers of the benefits of digital switchover and why it is happening.

To help make digital television options clear to consumers, the Government launched the digital switchover Certification Mark in 2004. It certifies products and services that are designed to help consumers through switchover. This helps to raise awareness of digital switchover, and is now visible in retailers across the UK and also on TV and recording equipment of most leading brands.

Licensing

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what advice and guidance her Department has given to local authorities on how premises licensed under the Licensing Act 2003 should be treated if they open for hours which are outside those permitted by virtue of their planning permission when their Licensing Act 2003 premises licence allows for them to open. [33169]

James Purnell: Guidance issued to licensing authorities under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, which was also circulated to every police chief constable, includes advice on the integration of planning and licensing regimes. It emphasises that applications for premises licences should normally be made by businesses with planning consent- should not be a re-run
 
7 Dec 2005 : Column 1306W
 
of the planning application; and should not cut across decisions taken by the local authority planning committee or following appeals against decisions taken by that committee.

The guidance also notes that the giving of a temporary event notice does not relieve the premises users from any requirements under planning law for appropriate planning permission where it is required.

The enforcement of planning law is a matter for individual local authorities.

Ministerial Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions since 7 July she has used the London Underground in connection with her official duties. [35023]

Mr. Lammy: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has used the London Underground three times since 7 July in connection with her official duties.

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