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19 Dec 2005 : Column 2520W—continued
Zimbabwe
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid from the UK has been committed to (a) the Republic of Zimbabwe and (b) non-governmental organisations operating in Zimbabwe in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [30161]
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Hilary Benn: By the end of this financial year, DFID will have committed over £140 million to humanitarian and HIV/AIDS programmes in Zimbabwe since 2001–02. This will include approximately £95 million committed directly to non-governmental organisations. The breakdown is as follows:
(46)Figures for the financial year 2005–06 refer to planned expenditure.
(47)Includes support for orphans and vulnerable children, insecticide treated bednets, and an emergency programme to reduce maternal mortality.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Digital Television
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to offer assistance to individuals with the switchover to digital television. [38075]
James Purnell: The Government and broadcasters have set up Digital UK to provide the necessary information. Their activities will include major communication campaigns, direct mail and a call centre giving practical advice on how to prepare for switchover.
In addition, specific assistance will be available to households where someone is aged 75 or over; and households with people with severe disabilities. This will consist of providing the necessary equipment to convert one TV set and the relevant support to install and use such equipment.
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the availability of digital television. [38082]
James Purnell: The vast majority of households can, with the appropriate equipment, receive digital TV services via either digital satellite, digital terrestrial or cable.
However at least a quarter of households cannot currently receive the digital terrestrial television (DTT)service; this figure cannot be increased before switchover, which will take place between 2008 and 2012.
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to offer individuals assistance with the switchover to digital television. [38515]
James Purnell:
Digital UK will provide extensive information to ensure everyone knows what is happening, what they need to do, and when. Their
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activities will include major communication campaigns, direct mail and a call centre giving practical advice on how to prepare for switchover.
In addition, specific assistance will be available to households where someone is aged 75 or over; and households with people with severe disabilities. This will consist of providing the necessary equipment to convert one TV set and the relevant support to install and use such equipment.
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the progress towards digital switchover. [38537]
James Purnell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) on 11 November 2005, Official Report, column 765W.
BBC Charter
Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to announce the renewal of the BBC Charter. [38076]
Tessa Jowell: We intend to publish the White Paper and draft Charter and Agreement early in 2006. The newCharter and Agreement will replace the existing instruments, which expire on 31 December 2006.
Olympic Games 2012
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the latest estimate is of construction costs for the 2012 Olympic games facilities; and if she will make a statement. [38083]
Tessa Jowell: The current estimate of the cost of constructing the Olympic sports venue and press centre is around £1.2 billion, inclusive of inflation, fees and contingencies. I am determined that all costs will be tightly controlled and to ensure that the 2012 Games are delivered on time and within the funding envelope.
Administrative Savings
Mr. Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what administrative savings have beenmade by her Department in each of the last eight years. [34946]
Mr. Lammy: Information on gross controlled administration costs underspends for my Department is included in the published Public Expenditure Outturn White Papers for the relevant years. These are available in the Library of the House.
Details of efficiency gains being made as part of the SR04 efficiency programme, as set out in the Efficiency Technical Notes, are available on the Department's website:
Arts Council
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with the Arts Council. [38532]
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Mr. Lammy: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met Sir Christopher Frayling, Chair of Arts Council England, on 26 May 2005. I meet Sir Christopher and members of the Arts Council's senior executive team on a more regular basis.
BBC Licence Fee
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had on the BBC's licence fee proposals. [38533]
James Purnell: The BBC have briefed DCMS Ministers on their proposals. The Government is currently conducting a funding review to determine the level of the television licence fee to apply from April 2007 and will announce the outcome in due course.
Big Lottery Fund
Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) money will go to voluntary and community organisations; how much the BLF cost to create; and if she will make a statement. [38535]
Mr. Caborn: The Big Lottery Fund has given an undertaking that 60–70 per cent. of funding will go to voluntary and community sector organisations. The cost to date of the administrative merger of the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund to create the Big Lottery Fund is £4.976 million. The administrative merger is now effectively complete, though some minor costs will be incurred in effecting the legal merger, if the National Lottery Bill is passed.
Broadcasting (Illegal Jamming)
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received from UK (a) regulators and (b) broadcasters about disruption to the programmes of (i) BBC on 19 September and (ii) Channel 5 on occasions between 14 and 26 October and on 21 November from illegal jamming; and if she will make a statement. [34916]
James Purnell: The Secretary of State has not received any direct representations from broadcasters or regulators about disruption to either BBC or Channel 5 programmes due to illegal jamming in September and October.
The Office of Communications (Ofcom) did advise DCMS officials of a report of interference, received by Ofcom on 25 October, from Arquiva the network operator responsible for transmission of Channel 5 television services in the UK. This report concerned interference to a third party satellite link used to feed programmes to the Channel 5 network, which in turn interrupted the station's television broadcasts in the UK.
Neither Ofcom nor DCMS officials received formal complaints of similar interference to any other UK broadcasters, including the BBC, between September and November.
Andrew Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what advice she has received on the impact of the jamming of the Telstar 12
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and Hotbird satellites from within Libya on United Kingdom broadcasters; and if she will make a statement. [34920]
James Purnell: The Office of Communications (Ofcom) advised DCMS officials that the regulator had on 25 October received a report from Arquiva, the network operator responsible for transmission of Channel 5 television services in the UK, regarding interference to the Telstar 12 satellite service.
The Telstar 12 satellite provides programme feeder links for Channel 5 television broadcasts. Interference to the satellite, which is understood to have originated from a transmitter based in Libya, caused intermittent disruption to Channel 5 services within the UK over a period of approximately two weeks during October. DCMS officials advised FCO officials of the problem. The matter was taken up by FCO officials through the appropriate channels in Libya.
Interference has now ceased and there have been no further reports of interruption to Channel 5 or other UK television broadcast stations. DCMS officials nevertheless remain in touch with Ofcom and FCO officials to monitor the situation and will take appropriate steps should there be a re-occurrence of the problem.
Neither Ofcom nor DCMS officials have received reports of interference to the Hotbird satellite.
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