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12 Jan 2006 : Column 784W—continued
Digital Broadcasting
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average cost is per household of (a) digital switch-over and (b) aerial repairs to enable households to receive digital television. [40652]
James Purnell: On 8 November 2005, Ofcom published research by the Generics Group which examined the cost and power consumption implications of digital switchover for UK households. The report estimates that
for those households that will incur a cost as a result of switchover, the actual cost will depend on the equipment requiring conversion and the level of voluntary conversion carried out before switchover. Typical non-voluntary costs for TVs and recorders in households containing an average collection of reception equipment are therefore estimated to range from £26 to £153."
Disabled People (Media Portrayal)
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment her Department has made of the portrayal of people with disabilities on television; and what recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on this issue. [40825]
James Purnell: None. Responsibility for what is broadcast on television and radio rests with the broadcasters and the organisations which regulate broadcasting—the Office of Communications (Ofcom), the Governors of the BBC and the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority. Ofcom did recently publish a report on the representation and portrayal of people with disabilities on analogue terrestrial television.
Free Television Licences
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioners in Hendon have received free television licences in 2005; and if she will make a statement. [41618]
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James Purnell: TV Licensing, which administers free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Hendon constituency in 2004–05 was 5,740 according to Department for Work and Pensions records.
ICONS Online
Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the (a) set-up costs, (b) annual running costs, (c) projected lifespan, (d) total cost and (e) impact on Barnett formula funding of ICONS online. [41549]
Mr. Lammy: ICONS is a Culture Online project run in partnership with Cognitive Applications. The project set-up cost to date is £510,000; running costs amount to £43,500 each month (£522,000 per year). The project ends in March 2007, but has been designed to become a self-sustainable non-profit organisation after that date. The total cost therefore amounts to just over £1,000,000. Culture Online's remit only extends to England, and the ICONS project has no impact on the Barnett formula funding.
Parliamentary Questions
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to reply to question 38358 tabled on 13 December by the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid Kent, on funding for elite athletes. [41186]
Mr. Caborn: I answered question 38358 from the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Hugh Robertson) on 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 32W.
World Cup
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Government officials will be attending FIFA World Cup matches in their official capacity. [41687]
Mr. Caborn: No decision has been made as to whether any Government officials will attend any of the FIFA World Cup matches in Germany this year in an official capacity.
It is likely that a number of Government Ministers may attend matches and will be accompanied by officials. Similarly, no decisions about Ministerial attendance have been made.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Bankruptcies
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the number of (a) personal and (b) company bankruptcies in (i)London and (ii) each London borough in each of the last three years. [40803]
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Mr. Sutcliffe: The following table records the numbersof individual bankruptcy orders and company compulsory liquidations in the London Region classified according to Official Receivers' Office from 2002–03 to 2004–05.
Figures are not separately available for each London borough.
(22)Croydon Official Receiver's Office is classified under London Region for 2004–05 only, when it accounted for 1,678 of the 4,910 bankruptcies and 209 of the 1,137 company compulsory liquidations.
(23)The 2004–05 figures also include Public Interest Unit (PIU) and Carousel, which together amount to 18 bankruptcies and 139 company compulsory liquidations.
Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the operation of section 60 of the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004. [41001]
Alun Michael: To date there have been no proceedings in relation to offences covered by section 60 of the Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004.
End of Life Vehicles Directive
Mr. Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the UK is on track to meet the January 2006 targets set by the EU end of life vehicles directive. [40467]
Malcolm Wicks: The End-of-Life Vehicles (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005, which transpose the targets in the Directive into national law, place obligations on vehicle producers and, in certain circumstances, Authorised Treatment Facilities, to achieve recovery and recycling of 85 per cent. of the weight of ELVs they scrap during the whole of 2006. A study commissioned by the Department last year established that 75 per cent. of the average weight of ELVs is made up of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and this proportion may be deemed to have been automatically reused or recycled, under the terms of Commission Decision 2005/293/EC, to reflect usual commercial practice. A further 10 per cent. of the weight of ELVs needs therefore to be recovered during 2006. Fluids, including fuel, and tyres, plastics and glass are likely to contribute. Progress will be reviewed during the course of the year to ensure that obligated parties are on course to meet their targets.
Fireworks (Amendment) Bill
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has
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received about the Fireworks (Amendment) Bill; how many (a) supported and (b) opposed the Bill; and if he will make a statement. [40999]
Mr. Sutcliffe: I have received no representations on this Bill.
Gwynt-y-Mor Wind Farm
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has held with representatives of power renewables concerning the proposed development of the Gwynt-y-Mor wind farm. [40718]
Malcolm Wicks: Prior to an application being submitted under the Electricity Act 1989 officials in the Department had various discussions with npower about a proposed generating station at Gwynt-y-Mor. These discussions concerned issues relating to a formal scoping request under regulation 7 of the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) England and Wales Regulations 2000 and more recently to matters concerning the making of an application under the Electricity Act and about the administrative processes triggered by such an application.
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