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9 Oct 2006 : Column 36W—continued


Regulation-making powers contained under Schedule 1
Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph

1(4)(a) and (b)

4(1)(a) and (c)

6(1)(b)

6(4)(a) and (b)

6(7)

3(1)(a)

4(3)

6(2)

6(5) in (b) and (d) in “couple”

6(8)

3(2)

4(4)

6(3)

6(5) in “education” and “remunerative work”

—


Regulation-making powers contained under Schedule 2
Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph

1(a), (b) and (c)

4(2)

8(1)

11

15(2)

2

5

8(2)

12

3

6

9

14

4(1)

7(1)(a), (b) and (c)

10

15(1)


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Regulation-making powers contained under Schedule 3 (amending or extending powers in other legislation)
Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph

1 (section 6(9) of the Child Support Act 1991)

4(6) (s.71 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992)

s.5(3) (s.3 of the Jobseeker’s Act 1995)

2 (s.24(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1991)

4(7) (s.73 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992)

6(4) (s.11 of the Social Security Act 1998)

3(2) (s.22(5) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992)

4(14) (s. 124 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992)

6(5) (s.27 of the Social Security Act 1998)

4(2) (s.1 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992)

4(15) (s.125 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992)

6(6) (s.28 of the Social Security Act 1998)

4(3) (s.2AA of the Social Security Administration Act 1992)

4(17) (s.132 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992)

7 (s.72 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999)

4(4) (s.5 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992)

4(18) (s.150(7) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992)

—

4(5) (s.15A of the Social Security Administration Act 1992)

5(2) (s.1 of the Jobseeker’s Act 1995)

—


Regulation-making powers contained under in Schedule 4
Paragraph Paragraph Paragraph

1(a)and (b)

4(2)

7(a),(b), (c), (d) and (e)

2(a), (b), (c) and (d)

5(2)

8(1)

3

6(1)(a) and (b)

9


In addition, there are a number of provisions which are intended to specify what must be included in the regulations or which illustrate the potential use of the powers.

Winter Fuel Payments

Mr. Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in winter fuel payments in the London borough of Ealing in 2005-06. [90071]

James Purnell: A total of £11.9 million was paid as winter fuel payments in the London borough of Ealing in 2005-06.

Mr. Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in winter fuel payments to people over 60 in Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush constituency in 2005. [90211]

James Purnell: A total of £4.2 million was paid as winter fuel payments to people over 60 in Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush constituency in 2005-06.

(This figure is rounded to the nearest £100,000).

Written Answers to Questions

Monday 9 October 2006

Culture, Media and Sport

Tote

9. Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress her Department is making with the sale of the Tote. [92573]

Mr. Caborn: My Department has been in discussion with a racing consortium regarding the sale of the Tote at full market value.

Unfortunately we have not been able to reach an agreement with the consortium.

We will announce shortly how we intend to meet the intentions of the manifesto—achieving value for money for the taxpayer and recognising racing’s interest in the Tote.

Sport at School

10. James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress is being made towards the two hours per week sport participation target for school children. [92574]

Tessa Jowell: The results of the 2005-06 school sport survey will be published in the near future.

We are confident that we are on track to meet the 2006 PSA target of 75 per cent. of 5 to 16-year-olds who spend at least two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport, within and beyond the curriculum.

The 2004-05 School Sport Survey showed an 11 per cent. increase in the percentage of children in school sport partnerships spending at least two hours in a typical week on school sport.

Digital Television

11. Mr. McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of households in Dundee have access to digital television through a roof top aerial. [92576]

Mr. Woodward: Ofcom estimates that over 80 per cent. of households in Dundee currently have access to digital terrestrial television.

Digital TV take-up in Scottish regions is 66 per cent.

Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her most recent assessment is of the digital television coverage in (a) the Forest of Dean area and (b) other areas; and what steps are being taken to improve coverage in the Forest of Dean. [91775]


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Mr. Woodward: Ofcom estimates that around two thirds of homes in the Forest of Dean constituency currently receive digital terrestrial services. The majority of homes are able to receive digital TV via satellite, using appropriate equipment.

Three quarters of UK households are able to receive digital terrestrial television. Digital switchover will allow all those who currently receive a good analogue signal to receive digital TV via an aerial, ensuring that the vast majority of people have a choice of digital platform.

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that digital services are accessible from new-build housing in the Government’s growth areas. [87820]

Mr. Caborn: We recognise the importance of ensuring that digital services are readily accessible from new-build housing, and my officials are working with others in Government on the production of good practice guidance in this area for house builders.

Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her assessment is of the level of awareness of the digital switchover in (a) the South West and (b) Forest of Dean constituency. [90172]

Mr. Woodward: According to Digital UK, in Q2 2006, awareness of digital switchover in the ITV regions covering the South West was as follows:

Q2 switchover awareness
ITV region Percentage

West country

77

West

(1)75

Central

66

(1) Small base size, to be viewed as indicative only.

Information is not available by parliamentary constituency.

Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the (a) number and (b) percentage of households that will qualify for assistance in switching over to digital television. [90173]

Mr. Woodward: We estimate that around 7 million UK households will qualify for assistance from the digital switchover help scheme between 2008 and 2012. This represents around 25 per cent. of all UK households by 2012.

Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how figures for digital television reception are collected and calculated; and whether any new transmitting devices are planned to be built prior to digital switchover. [91774]

Mr. Woodward: Ofcom calculate digital terrestrial television coverage using a computer model dividing the UK into units of 50 metre squares using a database with details of all UK transmitter locations, frequencies, heights and powers. The model also makes assumptions about the height and condition of
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viewers’ aerials, the effects of incoming interference from distant UK and continental transmitters.

The digital terrestrial television network cannot be extended before digital switchover as additional transmitters would interfere with the existing analogue signals.

Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the readiness of the residents of Blaenau Gwent to switch to digital television. [92481]

Mr. Woodward: DCMS does not hold specific information for Blaenau Gwent.

Research for Ofcom/Digital UK Switchover Tracker, which measures readiness for switchover in each region, demonstrates Wales has one of the highest levels of switchover awareness (71 per cent.). Wales has the highest take-up of digital television in any UK region. As of March 2006, 80 per cent. of Welsh households already had digital TV (Ofcom, Q1 2006).

Online Gambling

12. James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many online gambling companies have been prosecuted since 1997 for violating the Gaming Act 1968 in advertising their services. [92577]

Mr. Caborn: Since 1997 there have been no prosecutions for violating the advertising provisions of the 1968 Gaming Act.

The joint DCMS/Gambling Commission guidance on remote gambling advertising has led to a dramatic reduction in offensive adverts.

BBC

14. Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment she has made of the new arrangements for BBC governance. [92580]

Tessa Jowell: The new arrangements for BBC governance take full effect from 1 January. The separation of the Trust from the executive board will strengthen the BBC's independence from Government and its accountability to licence fee payers.

Travelling Circuses

15. Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is her most recent assessment of the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on travelling circuses. [92581]

Mr. Woodward: The Government remain committed to evaluating the impact of the new licensing requirements on travelling circuses after their first season of operating under the new regime.

I look forward to meeting the hon. Member shortly to discuss these issues with him.

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