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1 Feb 2006 : Column 541W—continued

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Correspondence

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will respond to the letter of 22 December 2005 from the hon. Member for East Devon seeking an inquiry into the recent events at English National Opera. [47306]

Mr. Lammy: I will be sending a response to the hon. Member within the next few days.

Departmental Sustainable Development

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department takes to report publicly on its key sustainable development impacts. [46865]

 
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James Purnell: Key operational sustainable development impacts are publicised on our website under the heading 'Framework for Sustainable Development' (see http://www.culture.gov.uk/about_dcms/sustainable_development/sustainable_development_framework.htm). I intend to publish a Sustainable Development Action Plan very shortly, followed by a progress report by the end of 2006. Our sustainable development strategy, which covers all aspects of our involvement with sustainable development, is available electronically on our website and hard copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

EU Media Plus

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which UK (a) programmes and (b) films have received funding from the EU Media Plus programme; and if she will make a statement. [46836]

James Purnell: The Government support the Media Plus programme and recognise the benefits it brings to help create a sustainable and successful film industry in the UK.

Since 2001, the UK film industry has benefited from over €28 million, approximately £19.5 million, through the Media Plus programme, and a further €500,000 (£341,000) through the related i2i initiative.

Specific projects to have received such funding include films such as East is East and Christmas Carol—The Movie. Slate funding received has led to the development of films such as Sylvia, A Cock and Bull Story and Girl with a Pearl Earring.

In addition, the New Talent scheme has been particularly beneficial for the UK. The British scriptwriter, Duane Hopkins, received the 2004 MEDIA New Talent award in 2004 for his feature-length screenplay Better Things.

TV programmes that have also benefited from the funding scheme include Why We Fight and the forthcoming In Search of Mozart.

I am arranging for the complete list of UK programmes and films that have received financial assistance from the EU Media Plus programme to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Jewish Festivals

David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005. [46753]

Mr. Lammy: DCMS is a diverse organisation that values its staff as individuals. Although the Department does not specifically celebrate Hanukkah and Yom Kippur its diversity training promotes the need for staff to be sensitive to colleagues observing or already celebrating religious or cultural events. We also provide a religious and cultural guide and an interfaith calendar which is available to all staff on our intranet site.
 
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Libraries

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's policy is on stocking Bibles in libraries. [47917]

Mr. Lammy: This is a matter for each local library authority.

Licensing Act (Welsh Forms)

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on providing Welsh language versions of the licensing forms issued in relation to the Licensing Act 2003. [45027]

James Purnell [holding answer 24 January 2006]: My officials have been exploring with the Welsh Language Board which other documents relating to the licensing process should be prescribed in Welsh, in addition to the applications forms. They hope to conclude those discussions shortly. We will then consult key stakeholders before finalising the regulations and laying them before Parliament in April. Subject to the usual parliamentary process, we would expect the Order prescribing the forms to come into force in the early summer. The Department is also discussing a proposed DCMS Welsh language scheme with the Welsh Language Board with the aim of treating the Welsh and English Languages equally in the conduct of public business.

National Cultural Goods

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on the adoption of legislation in the United Kingdom to (a) prevent seizure and (b) guarantee the security of national cultural goods on loan from other countries; and if she will make a statement. [46671]

Mr. Lammy: My Department has received four letters on this subject, one of which was on behalf of a number of museum and gallery directors most affected by this issue. I am meeting the directors on 2 February to discuss what can be done to prevent the seizure of international works of art in the UK and reassure lenders that it continues to be safe to exhibit in the UK.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the adequacy of UK provisions to guarantee the security of national cultural goods on loan from other countries; and if she will make a statement. [46672]

Mr. Lammy: The Government have reviewed the extent of the protection already available to state owned property, including national cultural goods, in the United Kingdom under the State Immunity Act 1978, and we will be considering the introduction of legislation to provide immunity from seizure for international works of art.

Olympic Games 2012

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her latest estimate is for the cost of hosting the 2012 Olympic games; and if she will make a statement. [45123]

 
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Tessa Jowell: As I said in my recent answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Edgbaston (Ms Stuart) on 26 January 2006, Official Report, column 2296W, I have commissioned KPMG to provide advice on the costs of the London 2012 Olympic games. Their work, which is ongoing, will inform our strategy for managing the Olympic project.

Stonehenge

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials from her Department have discussed with the National Trust the proposals from consultants for a new northern corridor route for the proposed A303 Stonehenge road improvement. [47005]

Mr. Lammy: I am aware of outline proposals from the National Trust's consultants on a new northern corridor route for the A303 past Stonehenge. The Department for Transport will be meeting the National Trust to discuss this and other issues. My Department will chair the next Stonehenge programme board on 22 February which will provide a further opportunity for discussion.

Television Broadcasts (Violence)

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department plans, under the Government's Respect Agenda, to monitor and evaluate the effect on antisocial behaviour of the broadcasting of violent acts during peak-time television programming. [46677]

James Purnell: No. 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.

Under section 2.4 of Ofcom's Broadcasting Code, which applies to all broadcasters, programmes must not include material which, taking into account the context, condones or glamorises violent, dangerous or seriously antisocial behaviour and is likely to encourage others to copy such behaviour. This has been in place since July 2005. Ofcom periodically commissions research which informs the development and interpretation of its code.

Television Licences

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many fines for the non-payment of television licences have been imposed in each London constituency for each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [47409]

James Purnell: Information on fines for unlicensed use of a television receiver is not recorded separately from other offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 to 1967 and the Communications Act 2003, although the majority of offences under these acts are likely to relate to television licence evasion; nor is information held by constituency. The number of offenders receiving fines for all offences under the above Acts in the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas, for each of the last five years for which information is available, was:
 
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	Number of fines
2000	16,105
2001	6,071
2002	10,267
2003	7,066
2004	12,131

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many fines for the non-payment of television licences have been imposed in (a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster in each of the last five years. [46557]

James Purnell: Information on fines for unlicensed use of a television receiver is not recorded separately from other offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 to 1967 and the Communications Act 2003, although the majority of offences under these acts are likely to relate to television licence evasion. The number of offenders receiving fines for all offences under the above Acts in the Barnsley district magistrates court and Doncaster magistrates' court, for each of the last five years for which information is available, was:

		Number
	Barnsley district magistrates court	Doncaster magistrates court
2000	571	567
2001	420	381
2002	617	888
2003	251	362
2004	328	423

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