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15 Oct 2007 : Column 824W—continued
Broadcasting Programmes: Children
Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his assessment is of the contribution of public service children’s television programmes to children’s development of knowledge and understanding of themselves and their environment; and if he will make a statement on future investment in UK commissioning and production of such programmes. [158433]
James Purnell: UK originated children’s television programming is a much valued and important part of the UK’s broadcasting environment.
The Government recognise that there are challenges to the ability of commercial public service broadcasters to sustain this type of programming. Ofcom issued a
discussion paper on 3 October and the responses received will inform Phase 1 of their Public Service Broadcasting Review, which will be published in spring 2008, and the Government’s consideration of the future funding of public service provision.
Bus Services: Concessions
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the 2008 Concessionary Fare National Scheme on tourism in the UK. [156021]
Margaret Hodge: DCMS has made no assessment of the impact of the national bus concessions scheme on tourism.
Casinos
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the written statement of 16 July 2007, Official Report, columns 1-3WS, on casinos, what progress has been made with the review of the introduction of small, large and regional casinos. [157972]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The work that the Secretary of State announced in his written statement of 16 July 2007, Official Report, columns 1-3WS, is now well under way, and the intention is to make a further announcement later this year.
Casinos: Milton Keynes
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether a process is available for Milton Keynes to open a casino; and if he will make a statement. [157311]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Milton Keynes is one of the local authorities earmarked by the Government for one of the eight large casino licences permitted by the Gambling Act 2005, following the recommendation of the independent Casino Advisory Panel.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in a written statement on 16 July 2007, Official Report, columns 1-3WS, that he had written to the local authorities, including Milton Keynes, to put forward for the new casinos, to ask them to confirm whether they still wish to license a new casino.
A further announcement will be made once Ministers have had the opportunity to consider the responses of the local authorities.
Creative Partnerships: Finance
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what changes to the funding of creative partnerships will occur as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review. [157612]
James Purnell: Although the Department's overall CSR settlement was announced on 9 October we are still finalising detailed allocations to NDPBs and programmes such as Creative Partnerships.
I therefore regret that I am not yet in a position to go into detail about either the programmes' future shape or funding.
Departments: Accountancy
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what accounts directions were issued by his Department in financial years (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07. [156620]
Margaret Hodge: Under the Government Resource and Accounts Act 2000 HM Treasury issue accounts directions to Departments, pension schemes and agencies and under the Government Trading Fund Act 1973 to trading funds.
For the years 2005-06 and 2006-07 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has issued accounts directions for the form and content of resource and other accounts to the following sponsored bodies:
Historic Royal Palaces
Big Lottery Fund
Horserace Betting Levy Board
Olympic Delivery Authority
Olympic Lottery Distributor
Olympic Legacy Trust
The Regional Cultural Consortiums
Royal Household
For S4C the Accounts Direction has not changed but a Memorandum of Understanding including the existing accounts direction was issued in May 2007.
Departments: Public Bodies
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list his Department's (a) executive agencies, (b) executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), (c) advisory NDPBs, (d) tribunal NDPBs, (e) trading funds and (f) public corporations for each financial year since 2005-06. [156621]
Margaret Hodge: Details of the public bodies for which DCMS was responsible in the financial year 2005-06 can be found in the Cabinet Office publication Public Bodies 2006, copies of which are in the Library and also available online at:
For the financial year 2006-07 the details can be found in the DCMS publication DCMS Public Bodies Directory 2007, copies of this publication are also available from the Library and online at:
Departments: Publicity
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his Department's projected spending is on advertising and promotional campaigns for (a) 2007-08 and (b) 2008-09, broken down by cost relating to (i) television, (ii) radio and (iii) print media. [155883]
Margaret Hodge: The Department's projected spending on advertising and promotional campaigns for 2007-08 and 2008-09 with the areas specified is zero.
Digital Broadcasting: Celtic Languages
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to ensure spectrum allocation for (a) Gaelic and (b) Welsh language service on digital terrestrial television after the digital switchover. [156859]
James Purnell: The BBC announced earlier this year its intention to launch a Gaelic language channel—the Gaelic Digital Service (GDS)—on digital terrestrial television in Scotland, to be run as a partnership between BBC Scotland and Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gaidhlig (Gaelic Media Service). A public value test into this proposed service is currently ongoing.
A Welsh language service—S4C—is already provided on digital terrestrial television in Wales, and multiplex capacity will be available for S4C to continue to provide that service.
At present, therefore, it is intended that both Gaelic and Welsh language services will be provided on digital terrestrial television after digital switchover.
Horse Racing: Drugs
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) decision to revoke the accreditation of the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory in Newmarket as a WADA-accredited laboratory; and what assessment he has made of and the implications of this decision for drug-testing in the UK. [158207]
Mr. Sutcliffe: In light of discussions with UK Sport, the UK’s National Anti-Doping Organisation, the Horseracing Forensic Laboratory (HFL) had its World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accreditation revoked in September.
The development of UK Sport’s intelligence-based testing programme, the aim of which is to use intelligence to target drug tests more effectively, means that UK Sport is unlikely to significantly increase the number of tests it conducts year on year. As a result, UK Sport could not guarantee the number of tests HFL required to make its accreditation status financially viable.
Kings College, the remaining WADA accredited laboratory in the UK, will undertake analysis of all UK Sport’s anti-doping programme tests.
UK Sport advises that this is an approach endorsed by WADA, and will have no adverse implications for drug-testing in the UK.
Members: Correspondence
Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to reply to the letter of 16 August (departmental reference 76546) from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire. [157429]
Mr. Sutcliffe: A reply to this letter was sent on 8 October 2007.
Museums and Galleries: Finance
Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was awarded to national museums and galleries in each year since 1995-96 in constant 2007-08 prices. [156708]
Margaret Hodge: Grant in aid for the 14 national museums since 1995-96 in constant 2007-08 prices is set out in the following table.
| Grant in Aid (£ million) | |
National Film Theatre
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 30 July 2007, Official Report, column 1594W, on the National Film Theatre, if he will make a statement about future plans for the library of the British Film Institute. [156246]
Margaret Hodge: The British Film Institute (BFI) is in advanced discussions with the Higher Education sector to achieve a long term strategic partnership that would provide much needed new investment and improved access to the BFI’s world leading collections, including the Library, as a significant research resource.
Such a partnership would also enable the BFI to develop international scholarship, training and teaching programmes which fully utilise the Nation’s film and TV collections.
In the longer term, it is intended that the partnership would continue by establishing a centre of research excellence within a National Film Centre being proposed by the BFI for 2012-13.
Sports: Safeguarding of Vulnerable People Act 2006
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the effect of the Safeguarding of Vulnerable People Act 2006 on sport. [158226]
Mr. Sutcliffe:
The Safeguarding of Vulnerable Groups (SVG) Act 2006 will help safeguard children and vulnerable adults participating in sport by
introducing a strengthened vetting regime for those working in this area, and barring those who are unsuitable.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families, Department of Health and the Home Office have been working with a wide range of stakeholders including sports bodies and organisations and will continue working with the Department for Culture Media and Sport and sports bodies to help inform Regulations and prepare for implementation of the SVG Act. The Government are planning to consult later in the year on a number of detailed elements of the scheme.
Sports: Schools
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if his Department will revise the Child Protection in Sport guidance to ensure more structured risk in school sport. [157985]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit and Sport England have developed Standards for Safeguarding and Protecting Children with the National Governing Bodies. These standards positively promote the adoption of safe practice that minimises the risk to young people participating in sport including school sport.
Stonehenge
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans there are to improve tourism, parking and traffic facilities at Stonehenge. [155776]
Margaret Hodge: A new Stonehenge Visitor Centre, allowing for improved tourist facilities, was granted planning consent on 29 March 2007, subject to conditions, one of which is that improvements to the A303 proceed, as set out in the published Stonehenge Improvement Order 2000.
The Government are currently considering the findings of the inter-Departmental Review of Options for the A303 Stonehenge Improvement and will make an announcement shortly on the way forward.
Television: Scots Gaelic Language
Mr. MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on which (a) channels and (b) broadcasting platforms the Gaelic language television channel will be available; and if he will make a statement. [150315]
James Purnell [holding answer 18 July 2007]: The Gaelic Media Service is working with the BBC with the aim of establishing a high-quality Gaelic Digital Service which is capable of meeting the needs and expectations of the Gaelic audience in the most cost-effective way possible.
The expectation is that the GDS would be launched on satellite and digital cable. The aim would be to make it available on digital terrestrial after the completion of digital switchover. Prior to digital switchover the new service would be showcased in the limited slot available for TeleG.
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