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External Media Relations

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much her Department spent on external media relations in each year since 2001. [29575]

Bridget Prentice: The Department spent nothing in 2001–02, £14,100 in 2002–03, £154,140 in 2003–04 and £141,451 in 2004–05. This can be explained primarily by spending on independent PR consultants by the Commission for Judicial Appointments and spending on the Living Together campaign which aims to increase awareness and understanding of the legal issues surrounding cohabitation.

High Sheriffs

Mr. Beith: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the arrangements were for (a) the advertisement of vacancies and (b) the selection of nominees in preparing the 2005 nominations for high sheriffs in England and Wales. [34448]

 
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Ms Harman: The arrangements for seeking nominees are a matter for individual counties. Local selection panels are, however, encouraged to cast the net as widely as possible and to consider candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Media Relations

Mr. Salmond: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much the Department has spent on external media relations in each month of the last year. [14683]

Bridget Prentice [pursuant to the reply, 24 November 2005, Official Report, c. 1355W]: The Department spent £10,415.41 on external media relations in each month of the last year. I had previously stated that the amount spent was £5,670 but this figure failed to take account of spending by the Commission for Judicial Appointments on independent consultants.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Digital Broadcasting

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her latest estimate is of the number of non-digital television sets in the UK; what the average is per household; what the estimated cost to the Government is of (a) digital switchover and (b) support to viewers on low incomes to facilitate changeover; and if she will make a statement. [32204]

James Purnell: On 8 November 2005, Ofcom published research by the Generics Group ¹ which examined the cost and power consumption implications of digital switchover for UK households. The report estimates that there are 24.8 million primary sets and 24.3 million secondary sets in regular use. This excludes television sets that are used exclusively for other purposes such as video gaming. Ofcom's most recent figures for digital take up were published on 9 December 2005. As of 30 September 2005, 65.9 per cent. of homes—round 16.4 million homes—can receive digital television services on at least one set. A further 650,000 homes have access to multichannel television services through analogue cable. Ofcom do not have detailed estimates for digital take up for second or third sets take up. The Generics Group research estimates that around 28 per cent. of secondary sets are used to receive digital television.

Targeted support will be available to households where someone is aged 75 or over; and to households where someone has a severe disability-defined as those people eligible for either disability living allowance or attendance allowance. The full details and costs of the scheme are currently being developed, but the assistance will consist of providing the necessary equipment to convert one television set and the relevant support to install and use such equipment. This help will be free for the poorest eligible households, those on income support, jobseeker's allowance or pension credit; other qualifying households will pay a modest fee. The scheme will be established and funded by the BBC, as envisaged in the BBC Charter Green Paper published in March.
 
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There are no central estimates of the overall cost to Government of digital switchover. However, other than the costs of updating television equipment within the Government sector, the only costs will be those incurred for research, communications and other programme support costs for the Digital Switchover Programme.

¹ Cost and power consumption implications of digital switchover—Generics Group. Published by Ofcom on 8 November 2005

Elite Athletes (Financial Support)

Mr. Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on financial support for elite athletes. [37617]

Mr. Caborn: Financial support for elite athletes during the period April 2005 to March 2009 is being provided through a number of schemes.

UK Sport's World Class Performance Programme will provide £98 million to sport's national governing bodies and elite athletes to assist their preparation and participation at winter and summer Olympics and Paralympics.

The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) is providing £17 million to our most talented young people in the form of scholarships, bursaries and TASS 2012

scholarships.

In addition, our elite athletes are able to train at a number of world-class facilities throughout England that have been developed as part of the English Institute of Sport with an investment of £120 million from Sport England's Lottery Fund.

London Olympics

Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the commitments made by the Government to the International Olympic Committee to restrict betting on the 2012 London Olympics; and by what means she will implement those commitments. [37274]

Mr. Caborn: No such commitments have been given.

Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding submissions she has received directly from the British Olympic Association for elite sport in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic games. [37288]

Mr. Caborn: I have not received a funding submission from the British Olympic Association for elite sport in the run-up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Disability Rights Commission on promoting the London Paralympics; and if she will make a statement. [37610]

Mr. Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not, at this stage, held discussions with the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) on the promotion of the London 2012 Paralympic games. However, the
 
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DRC has been involved in the preparations for thegames through their membership of London 2012'sLondon Disability Organisations Forum. As preparations gather pace, discussions are taking place between the 2012 stakeholders to determine the best way to engage and consult with disability organisations on various aspects of the games over the coming years.

We are determined that the London 2012 Paralympic games will be a showcase for Paralympic sport, strengthening the Paralympic Movement and setting new standards for services, facilities and opportunities for disabled people. The games will inspire greater numbers of young people—and in particular those with disabilities—to become involved with sport and to aspire to elite performance.

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Kettering (Mr. Hollobone) of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 1W, on the Olympic Games, who the members are of the Nations and Regions Group of London 2012; and what the relevant experience of each is. [35831]

Mr. Caborn: The 2012 Nations and Regions Group is Chaired by Charles Allen and includes a representative from each English region and the devolved Administrations.

The full list of current members is; Charles Allen, Chief Executive of ITV, London 2012 Board Member and Chief Executive of Manchester 2002; Keith Mills, Deputy Chairman of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games; Jeff Moore, Chief Executive of the East Midlands Development Agency; Stephen Castle, Board Member of the East of England Development Agency and Chair of the East of England Regional Sports Board; Neale Coleman, Adviser to the Mayor of London; Tim-Cantle Jones, Chair of the North East Regional Sports Board; Andy Worthington, Chair of the North West Regional Sports Board; Aideen McGinley, Permanent Secretary of the Northern Ireland Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure; Julia Bracewell, Chair of Sport Scotland; Mary McAnally, Chair of the South East Regional Sports Board and a member of the South East Regional Development Agency; Ged Roddy, Chairman of Sport England South West; Gareth Hall, Chief Executive of the Welsh Development Agency; Derrick Anderson, Chair of the West Midlands Regional Sports Board and Non-Executive Director of London 2012; David Gent, Chief Executive of Sport England Yorkshire; Sue Killen, Director General, Department for Culture, Media and Sport; and Tom Wright, Chief Executive of VisitBritain.

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has had with regional and local bodiesabout plans to attract Olympics-related activities to Northamptonshire in the run up to the 2012 games. [36137]

 
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Mr. Caborn: We have established a Nations and Regions Group to ensure the whole of the UK is engaged with and benefits from the Games in 2012.

The Nations and Regions Group met on 4 November to discuss how best to co-ordinate UK wide interests in staging the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and will meet again on 24 January to confirm its remit and membership.

Each of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the regions of England is establishing a regional working group, responsible for taking work forward and reporting to the Nations and Regions Group. They will include representatives from regional development agencies (RDAs), regional sports boards and other relevant stakeholders. Under this arrangement, Northamptonshire would participate through the East Midlands Group.

The RDAs will of course play a vital role in this work, and we will write to them shortly to ask them to develop plans to maximise business and development opportunities offered by the 2012 Olympics in their regions.

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