| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
5 Jun 2006 : Column 121W—continued
The publication of guidance for museums, libraries and archives to ensure that, in practice, they acquire cultural property legally and ethically.
Digital Television
11. Mr. Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of television viewers in the Border Television area cannot receive digital television. [74927]
Mr. Woodward: Currently digital terrestrial television is available to over half of the population of Border region, and the vast majority of households can receive digital TV services via digital satellite, terrestrial or cable. 70 per cent. of households in Border have already chosen to take up digital TV.
After switchover, which takes place in Border in 2008, UK digital terrestrial television coverage will match the current analogue coverage of 98.5 per cent.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether Ofcom's digital dividend review of the value of the spectrum released by full digital switchover will inform Government policy on the extent of the costs of digital switchover to be paid for through the BBC licence fee. [71608]
Mr. Woodward: There is no relation between the Digital Dividend Review, on which we expect Ofcom to consult towards the end of this year, and the switchover costs to be paid by the BBC, which will be part of the licence fee settlement.
Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department has to increase its audio description targets for digital television. [75172]
Mr. Woodward:
The Department currently has no plans to increase its audio description targets for digital television. The Communications Bill gives Ofcom a requirement to produce, publish and from time to time review a Code relating to provision for the deaf and visually impaired and the means by which such services should be promoted. Ofcom are in the process of reviewing the code, and have suggested in their consultation that it would be better to review the
statutory target for audio description when it is clearer how many potential beneficiaries will use it.
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the cost of digital switchover will be ring-fenced in the accounts of the BBC. [73549]
Mr. Woodward [holding answer 25 May 2006]: We are considering how best to account for the BBC's digital switchover costs, including the cost of the targeted help scheme, as part of discussions about the level of the licence fee.
Sport (Participation)
12. Mr. Mackay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to increase mass participation in sport. [74928]
Mr. Caborn: The Department is committed to its public service agreement target of increasing levels of participation in sport by priority groups by 3 per cent. by 2008. Working through Sport England, we are implementing a range of measures to achieve this.
Gambling
13. David Tredinnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate she has made of the number of people with a gambling addiction. [74929]
Mr. Caborn: The current estimate is that 0.6 per cent. of the adult population in Great Britain are problem gamblers. This figure is drawn from the last national prevalence study published in 2000. The Gambling Commission is currently conducting a further prevalence study.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Gambling Commission on the size of the sample to be used in future prevalence studies on problem gambling; and if she will make a statement. [74567]
Mr. Caborn: My Department has had discussions with the Gambling Commission about all aspects of the design, conduct and management of the prevalence study.
The sample size to be used in the prevalence study to be conducted this summer will be 10,000, which is greater than that used in the 1999 study. The sample size to be used in future prevalence studies has yet to be decided.
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria will be used to assess the level of problem gambling in an area surrounding a new casino licensed under the Gambling Act 2005. [74867]
Mr. Caborn: My Department is in the process of tendering for a scoping study to establish the best means of identifying, measuring and assessing the social and economic impacts of the 17 new casinos that are being permitted under the Gambling Act 2005. The study is scheduled to be completed in the autumn and will be published once the Department has had the opportunity to consider it.
Digital Audio Broadcasting
14. Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent progress there has been in the take-up of digital audio broadcasting; and if she will make a statement. [74930]
Mr. Woodward: Progress has been impressive with sales of DAB sets doubling in the last 12 months to April. Sales now exceed 3 million. The Government have established a regulatory regime which has allowed for this growth, and we continue to work closely with Ofcom and industry to encourage that development further. According to the Digital Radio Development Bureau, the UK leads the way in take up of DAB sets.
Olympic Games
15. Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of possible cost over-runs on the 2012 Olympics. [74931]
Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Ludlow (Mr. Dunne).
Ann Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the potential role for the arts in the London 2012 Olympics; and if she will make a statement. [73564]
Mr. Caborn: The arts will play a crucial role in the cultural events supporting the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The Cultural Olympiad will begin in 2008, offering an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the range of high class and diverse art from across the UK.
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contingency plans her Department has for overspend on the 2012 Olympic games. [74507]
Tessa Jowell: We will make every effort to avoid cost overruns. However, should they arise, we will look at all the options available at the time.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has received a copy of the The Business of the Games report by the Economic Development, Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee of the Greater London Assembly; and if she will make a statement. [74568]
Mr. Caborn: I have seen a copy of this report and I endorse the London Assembly's recognition of the importance of ensuring that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are equipped to benefit from the many opportunities that the 2012 Games will bring. Small businesses across the value chain, in a wide variety of sectors and throughout the nations and regions, have much to gain from the commercial opportunities arising from the Games. The Government are determined to maximise those opportunities both for SMEs and British business as a whole. All the Olympic partners and stakeholders are working together to identify the best model to achieve this, taking into account best practice from previous host cities.
Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures her Department has put in place to co-ordinate a cross-Government approach to achieving a legacy for the 2012 Olympics. [73313]
Tessa Jowell: The Government Olympic Executive (GOE) has been set up within DCMS to co-ordinate Government input into the 2012 games. The Executive acts as a link between Departments on the one hand and LOCOG (London Organising Committee) and the ODA (Olympic Delivery Authority) on the other. The GOE works closely with all Departments through the Inter-Departmental Steering Group (senior officials responsible for Olympic related activity in Departments), supported by Departmental Olympic Co-ordinators who handle the day-to-day liaison. Through these groups the GOE is ensuring a joined up inter-Departmental approach to delivering the benefits and legacy of the 2012 games.
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) principles and (b) guidelines are in place relating to the exploitation of the Olympics for party political purposes in elections up to 2012. [73615]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 25 May 2006]: Arrangements were agreed before the May 2005 general election in respect of the London 2012 bid. The principle of cross-party working still applies and is an important element of the success to date. I am committed to continuing to work openly and constructively with all parties in delivering the 2012 Games, and we have a series of working arrangements in place to ensure this happens.
Tourism
16. Mr. Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations have been made by her Department to the Lyons review with regard to the potential impact of a bed tax on tourist accommodation. [74932]
Mr. Woodward: The Lyons Inquiry is an independent review, and it has not yet made any recommendations. Sir Michael Lyons is scheduled to report by the end of this year and my Department will respond, as is appropriate, at that point.
18. Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the role of local authorities in promoting tourism in the UK. [74935]
Mr. Woodward: Local authorities play vital roles in supporting tourism, investing over £122 million into the sector in 2004-05. My Department works closely with the Local Government Association and a range of other organisations representing local councils, and is ensuring that local authorities are fully involved in work to prepare for the tourism opportunities of the 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games.
Cricket (Television Coverage)
17. Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to meet the England and Wales Cricket Board and the major broadcasters to discuss television coverage of test match cricket. [74934]
Mr. Caborn: As I made clear, both at the Select Committee hearing on 29 November and in my response to the Committee Report, published in March, I am willing to convene a meeting between the terrestrial broadcasters and BSkyB, but only upon the understanding that the broadcasters are willing to negotiate with BSkyB. To that end, I wrote to the major broadcasters on 16 May to canvass their views on whether such a meeting would be useful. We have yet to receive all the responses.
Sports Events (Alcohol Sales)
19. Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with sporting bodies on the possible effect on antisocial behaviour of the sale of alcohol at sporting events. [74936]
Mr. Woodward: I have had no discussions with sporting bodies on the impact of the sale of alcohol at sporting events on antisocial behaviour. The licensing of sales of alcohol was devolved to individual licensing authorities by the Licensing Act 2003. The prevention of crime and disorder is one of the licensing objectives which licensing authorities have to take into account when relevant representations are made on a licence application. The police can also seek a review of a licence if they have concerns about crime and disorder.
Air Miles
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many air miles have been accrued by senior civil servants in her Department from official business in each of the last three years; and how they were used. [70487]
Mr. Lammy: DCMS uses an agent to book air travel and, as part of this cross-Government arrangement, the individual does not accrue air miles.
BBC
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who will monitor the BBC's efficiency targets. [73547]
Mr. Woodward [holding answer 25 May 2006]: As stated in the White Paper, the Government believe that one of the overriding duties of the Trust should be the effective stewardship of the licence fee on behalf of licence fee payers: making sure that it is spent with maximum effectiveness and efficiency and always providing value for money. It will be part of the Trust's role to secure and demonstrate continuing improvements in the BBC's efficiency, increasing the return provided by its commercial services and bearing down on the costs of proposed investments. The Government also welcome the proposal of the current Chairman of the BBC that the Trust should ask the NAO to consider the extent to which future "self-help" targets are being met and that the results of this work will also be reported to Parliament.
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will require the BBC to submit a revision of its Red Book figures before making a decision on the licence fee. [73546]
Mr. Woodward [holding answer 25 May 2006]: The Government are currently conducting a funding review to determine the level of the licence fee to apply from April 2007. As part of this process the BBC has submitted an assessment of its future funding needs. That assessment made clear that projected costs in some areas would be subject to revision. The BBC has undertaken to make revisions to its assessment available to the Government as work progresses. The Government will announce the details of the settlement in due course.
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure the independence of the BBC Trust from (a) the Corporation and (b) the Government. [75061]
Tessa Jowell: The new governance structure is designed to strengthen the BBC's independence from Government and will be reinforced by very clear separation between the Trust and the Executive Board. This clear separation will be achieved through the distinct and different roles of the Trust and Executive Board. The Trust's overarching responsibility will be to represent the interests of the licence fee payer. The new system will also deliver effective oversight of the Executive Board's activities by the Trust, in the public interest; at the same time, it will prevent micro-management of the executive Board's activities by the Trust in a way that would distract from the Trust's strategic role.
Better Regulation Unit
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what role her Department's Better Regulation Unit has played in (a) the review of the Licensing Act 2003 and (b) the guidance issued
under section 182 of that Act; and if she will make a statement. [71692]
Mr. Woodward: The Department's team responsible for promoting better regulation is involved at all stages of the review of the guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, and in our wider monitoring and evaluation work around the implementation of the Act.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |