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7 Nov 2006 : Column 1100W—continued
Digital Switchover
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which industry representatives were consulted on the time to be taken between publication of the final proposals for the Digital Dividend Review and its implementation. [99356]
Mr. Woodward: The department has not consulted with industry representatives on proposals for the Digital Dividend Review.
Ofcom announced on 17 November 2005 the beginning of the Digital Dividend Review project to examine the options arising from the release of spectrum afforded by the digital switchover programme. It is for Ofcom to decide who to consult in relation to the Digital Dividend Review.
Mr. David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what powers Ofcom has to ensure that ITV will continue to produce local news programmes following the changeover from analogue to digital television. [99508]
Mr. Woodward: ITV1’s public service broadcasting obligations relate to regional not local news.
The Communications Act tasks Ofcom to set appropriate targets for the provision of regional news programmes and will continue to do so after the switchover to digital television.
International GCSE
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department recognises the International GCSE as an acceptable substitute for a GCSE for the purposes of recruitment. [96735]
Mr. Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport would recognise the International GCSE as an acceptable substitute for a GCSE for recruitment purposes.
Light Bulbs
Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of light bulbs purchased by her Department in 2005 were of the compact fluorescent type. [98256]
Mr. Woodward: The Department does not use light bulbs of the compact fluorescent type.
We are currently refurbishing our offices at 2-4 Cockspur Street and are installing T16 energy efficient light bulbs.
Live Music
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the MORI research into live music commissioned by her Department will be published; and why the MORI presentation to the Live Music Forum on its research was cancelled. [98718]
Mr. Woodward: The Department expects to publish the MORI research into live music in December.
The decision to cancel the MORI presentation was based on our desire to ensure that the data were subject to suitable quality assurance procedures. In addition, presenting to the Forum would not have been consistent with national statistics protocols to ensure equal access to the data for all interested parties, including the Live Music Forum, the Musician's Union and the general public.
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when her Department will be making Ipsos-MORI’s research on the impact of the new licensing legislation on live music available to the (a) Live Music Forum, (b) Musicians Union and (c) the general public. [98941]
Mr. Woodward: The current Ipsos-MORI research on live music licensing will be released to the Live Music Forum, the Musicians’ Union and the general public at the same time. We currently expect to release the report in December.
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reason certain members of the Live Music Forum previewed the Ipsos-MORI research recently commissioned by her Department; and what criteria were used in inviting such participation. [98942]
Mr. Woodward: The National Statistics Code of Practice sets out the guidelines for the release of statistics. It states that early access is permitted for those “able to offer useful ideas, comments and criticism on the quality and presentation of the information”. Two members of the Live Music Forum were specifically chosen to review the draft of the research report because of their knowledge and experience of the live music industry, and, in particular, expertise in small venues—a focus of this study.
London Borough of Bexley
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which projects in the London borough of Bexley are under consideration by her Department. [99199]
Mr. Lammy: There are currently no projects in the London borough of Bexley under consideration for direct funding by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Ministerial Travel
Mr. Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she has taken to offset the carbon dioxide emissions caused by ministerial travel in her Department. [98741]
Mr. Woodward: DCMS is developing a carbon offsetting scheme to cover air, rail and road travel by the Department, including Ministers. We intend to offer our sponsored bodies the opportunity to join the scheme, which we expect to launch early next year.
New Opportunity Fund
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2006, Official Report, columns 2049-50W, on the New Opportunity Fund, what further (a) awards and (b) payments have been made from the New Opportunities Fund for physical education and sport in the 2006-07 financial year. [100159]
Mr. Caborn: To date this financial year, the value of (a) awards made is £23,604,058 and (b) payments made is £136,682,282.
These figures do not include grants which have funded sport indirectly.
Olympic Games
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on the use of Welsh sporting venues in connection with the 2012 London Olympics. [100038]
Mr. Caborn: The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff will host group stages of the football competition in the 2012 Olympic games.
Sports Cabinet brings together all four of the UK home countries to consider and contribute to the development of sport at a policy and strategic level which will have an impact on a UK-wide basis. The Sports Cabinet already includes as a standing agenda item a regular update on all aspects of 2012. The Secretary of State is keen that this is maintained to ensure that issues impacting the devolved Administrations are fully discussed.
The Government are determined that the whole of the UK, including Wales, can contribute to and benefit from the 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games. A Nations and Regions Group (NRG), comprising representatives from every region and nation, has been established to provide leadership and strategic direction. Wales is represented by Gareth Hall, Director of the Department of Enterprise, Innovation and Networks of the Welsh Assembly Government.
Areas of potential benefit include business opportunities, hosting pre-games training camps, tourism, culture and volunteering opportunities. Wales, through the NRG, is developing a delivery plan to ensure that these opportunities are maximised.
As part of this process Wales has venues that could be used to provide facilities for pre-games training and for the holding camps that a country’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) and/or National Paralympic Committee (NPC) may choose to set up prior to the games.
In order to assist NOCs and NPCs, the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is putting together a ‘Pre-Games Training Camp Guide’ in which facilities in the UK that have been selected as providing a suitable training environment are listed by location and by sport.
LOCOG have released details on their website, inviting expressions of interest from potential host facilities. Applications can be made on the London 2012 website: www.london2012.com/trainingcamps <http://www.london2012.com/trainingcamps>. Applications will initially be assessed locally with selection coordinated by each nation and region. A proposed list of facilities will then be submitted to LOCOG for final selection. The guide will be distributed to NOCs and NPCs in July 2008.
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with (a) the current board and (b) potential owners of West Ham United about the ownership of the London 2012 stadiums. [99555]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 6 November 2006]: On 3 July 2006, I and representatives of the other Olympic stakeholders met the Mayor of Newham and representatives of West Ham United to discuss the legacy of the Olympic stadium. The Minister of Sport and officials have also had exploratory discussions with those with a potential interest in the legacy use of the stadium. I have held no discussions with any potential owners of West Ham United.
Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether athletics events will continue to be able to be held in the 2012 Olympic stadiums following the games irrespective of the ownership of those stadia. [99641]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 6 November 2006]: As the Olympic Stadium Explanatory Document published in July by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) made clear, it is envisaged that in legacy mode it will be a 25,000-seater stadium with athletics at its core, consistent with the commitment set out in the London 2012 Candidate File. The ODA has appointed consultants who, in consultation with Olympic stakeholders, sporting bodies and the local community, are scoping the different possible legacy uses for the stadium with a view to drawing up a business plan for future use of the stadium. A wide range of options consistent with our Candidate File commitment is currently under consideration.
Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the expected completion date is for the (a) Olympic stadium and (b) Olympic village. [100100]
Tessa Jowell: As set out in the Olympic Park Delivery Programme (published in July 2006 by the Olympic Delivery Authority), the expected completion date for the construction of the Olympic stadium is 2011—in time for test events to take place—and the expected completion date for the construction of the Olympic village is early 2012.
Quiz Shows
Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will take steps to ensure that the rules relating to advertising or lotteries apply to competitions on television quiz shows which require premium-rate telephone calls to enter. [99196]
Mr. Woodward: The Office of Communications (Ofcom) and the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) are responsible for the rules relating to advertising or lotteries on television which require premium rate calls to enter. Both ICSTIS and Ofcom are in the process of reviewing how they regulate this area to ensure effective consumer protection.
On 3 August the Gambling Commission consulted on the possible need for some Call TV Quiz Services to change how they are currently operated to ensure compliance with the new rules under the Gambling Act 2005 (which will come into force in September 2007). However, only the courts will be able to decide whether or not certain Call TV Quiz Services constitute lotteries under the new Act.
Radio Spectrum
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of radio spectrum usage by the programme making and special events industry in the last five years for which figures are available; what estimate she has made of future usage; what the consequences of the changeover to digital broadcasting are likely to be for that usage; and if she will make a statement. [99357]
Mr. Woodward: Ofcom manage the spectrum used for Programme Making and Special Events (PMSE), which is currently licensed by JFMG who have a contract with Ofcom which runs until 2008.
Ofcom announced on 17 November 2005 the beginning of the Digital Dividend Review (DDR) project to examine the options arising from the release of spectrum afforded by the digital switchover programme. The DDR project also includes consideration of the spectrum currently being used by the PMSE users. Ofcom is planning to issue a consultation on the Digital Dividend Review by the end 2006.
Regeneration
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is on the role of art and culture in regeneration; and if she will make a statement. [99288]
Mr. Lammy: Art and culture can play a significant role in regeneration. Examples of this can be seen across the country, such as the Lowry in Salford, the Sage in Newcastle-Gateshead and the Bellenden Renewal area in Peckham, South London. My Department’s publication “Culture at the Heart of Regeneration” highlighted how culture can drive regeneration by reviving town centres, drawing communities together and promoting economic development. The role of culture in regeneration has been strengthened by a Joint Agreement on Sustainable Communities, signed by the Department for Communities and Local Government, my Department and a number of its key non-departmental public bodies in July this year.
Supporters Direct
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public money has been allocated to Supporters Direct in 2005-06; and if she will make a statement. [99289]
Mr. Caborn: A total of £415,000 was allocated to Supporters Direct during 2005-06. This comprised £325,000 from Sport England and £90,000 from Sport Scotland.
Supporters Direct was established in 2001 and aims to deliver responsible democratic representation at football clubs through the establishment of Supporters Trusts. Over 140 trusts have already been established with Supporters Direct’s help and over 65,000 people have been introduced to local democratic structures as club trust members.
Supporters Direct’s accounts are independently audited, approved by its members and are available on its website at:
www.supporters-direct.org.
Television Licence Fees (Northern Ireland)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people in Northern Ireland have been (a) fined and (b) prosecuted for non-payment of television licence fees in each of the last 10 years. [97104]
Mr. Woodward: Information recording prosecutions for licence evasion in Northern Ireland (recorded by TV Licensing) is available for the last three years:
| Number of prosecutions | |
The other information requested is not collected centrally.
International Development
Afghanistan
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of school attendance rates for (a) boys and (b) girls in Afghanistan in the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [99593]
Hilary Benn: The Government of Afghanistan Ministry of Education figures for total enrolment rates in general education are:
| million | |||
| Girls | Boys | Total | |
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