| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
18 Oct 2006 : Column 1232W—continued
Vending Machines
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many vending machines there are in each of his Department's offices; how many in each office sell (a) coca-cola, (b) other sweetened fizzy drinks and (c) sugared confectionary; and what consideration has been given to eliminating the sales of such substances from his Department's premises. [93284]
Mr. Dhanda:
The number of vending machines on each of the Department for Education and Skills sites
dispensing (a) coca-cola, (b) other sweetened fizzy drinks and (c) sugared confectionary is detailed as follows:
| Site | Dispensing | Number of machines |
The Department will continue to keep under review the type and quality of all fizzy drinks and confectionery available for purchase within our premises to our employees. But in the immediate term, we shall retain the status quo in respect of selling confectionery and fizzy drinks to our adult employees but to encourage our catering partner to increase the healthy choice options available to staff. In the longer term, we will continue to work with our colleagues and partners to promote healthier lifestyles and how this impacts on catering provision within the Department.
Culture, Media and Sport
BBC
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when decisions will be announced on (a) the new BBC Charter and (b) the licence fee; and whether these decisions will be subject to Parliamentary scrutiny and assent. [94736]
Tessa Jowell: The new BBC Charter and Agreement have been finalised. The Charter is subject to approval by the Sovereign. This took place on 19 July. The Charter and Agreement have been debated in both Houses and the Agreement was approved by the House of Commons on 10 July. Both documents have been published. The Government will announce the level of the television licence fee to apply from April 2007 later this year. The level of the licence fee is set by regulations made under the Communications Act 2003, which must be laid before both Houses of Parliament before they can come into effect. The regulations are subject to negative resolution procedure, but the opportunity exists for any change to be debated by both Houses.
Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) funds and (b) other support her Department has committed to the Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network; and if she will make a statement. [93432]
Mr. Woodward: My Department does not directly fund the Broadcasting and Creative Industries Disability Network. The Network is funded through subscriptions from its members, who include the UK Film Council (the Government's strategic agency for film), and the BBC. DCMS officials attended the Network's Annual General Meeting on Monday 9 October.
Digital Television
Mr. Evans: (1) To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the extent of the availability of Freeview is in (a) Lancashire and (b) Ribble Valley; and if she will make a statement; [94474]
(2) what assessment she has made of the level of awareness of digital switchover in (a) Lancashire and (b) Ribble Valley; [94475]
(3) what percentage of households in (a) Lancashire and (b) Ribble Valley have access to digital television through a roof top aerial. [94476]
Mr. Woodward [holding answer 17 October 2006]: Figures for penetration of digital television into Lancashire are not available. However Ofcom’s recent research into the availability of digital services reported that availability of digital terrestrial television (Freeview) across the North-west of England is estimated to be 94 per cent. It is estimated that 87.2 per cent. of households in the Ribble Valley constituency can currently get digital terrestrial services, although the vast majority of households can receive digital TV via satellite, with the right equipment.
Three quarters of UK households are currently able to receive digital terrestrial television. From switchover, coverage of digital terrestrial television will be increased to substantially match that currently achieved by analogue services.
Information on awareness of digital switchover, is not available by county or parliamentary constituency. According to Digital UK, as of 30 September, awareness of digital switchover in the Granada ITV region was 71 per cent.
Empty Homes Agency
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding the Empty Homes Agency has received from the National Lottery since 1997; and for what purpose the funding was provided. [94770]
Mr. Caborn: £796,000 has been awarded to the Empty Homes Agency since 1997 by the Community Fund. Three awards have been made, each aiming to highlight the problem of empty homes and other unused buildings in Britain and to help re-house those in need.
The information is derived from the Department's Lottery award database. This is searchable at www.lottery.culture.gov.uk, and uses information supplied by the Lottery distributors.
Internet Advertising
Mr. Don Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her
Department had with (a) other Government departments, (b) the food and beverage industries, (c) Ofcom, (d) representatives of the advertising industries, (e) other governments and (f) other interested parties on the regulation of advertising campaigns which use the medium of electronic games made available via the worldwide web; and if she will make a statement. [93866]
Mr. Woodward:
The European Commission's proposal in December 2005 for the revision of the Television Without Frontiers Directive could be interpreted as covering some electronic games on the internet and any advertising within them. Discussions have taken place with a range of interested parties, and we continue to discuss the draft proposal with other EU member states and the European Commission.
There have been no other discussions with any parties concerning the regulation of advertising in electronic games on the internet.
Live Theatre
Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial support her Department has given to live theatre outside London in the last three financial years; and what funding has been allocated for future years. [94833]
Mr. Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not fund the arts directly, but through Arts Council England, who are responsible for distributing public money from Government.
The following figures provide a breakdown of the information requested:
| Arts Council England funding for regularly funded organisations—Theatre | ||||
| £000 | ||||
| Region | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
In addition, Arts Council England has allocated theatre organisations Grants for the Arts of £11.1 million in 2004-05 rising to £11.5 million in 2005-06.
Arts Council England has allocated regular funded organisation support up to 2007-08. Future funding is contingent on the outcome of the current Government Comprehensive Spending Review.
Museums and Galleries
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many museum and gallery visits there were in each of the last 20 years in (a) England and (b) each local authority area. [93793]
Mr. Lammy: VisitBritain's Visitor Attraction Trends 2005 includes the number of visits to museums that responded to its surveys between 1989-2005. These figures are set out in the following table:
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |