| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
18 Feb 2008 : Column 319W—continued
Departmental Databases
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what databases are (a) owned and (b) maintained by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies. [185419]
Mr. Sutcliffe: My Department (a) owns and (b) maintains the following databases:
Departmental E-mail
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his Department’s policy is on staff using their departmental email accounts for commercial purposes unrelated to their work. [184636]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The departmental e-mail system is primarily for work use. Occasional and reasonable personal use is permitted provided it does not interfere with the performance of duties. Any activity that would bring the Department into disrepute is prohibited.
Departmental Marketing
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2008, Official Report, column 1809W, on departmental marketing, what the size was of each of the two displays produced for the London Open House. [184796]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The two displays produced for the London Open House had identical dimensions, as follows:
| cm | |
Departmental Statistics
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish updated versions of statistics included in the (a) Taking Part: The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport, (b) Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment Licensing Statistics, (c) Creative Industries Economic Estimates and (d) Television Export Statistics publications. [186354]
Margaret Hodge: The most recent versions of statistics are currently available on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website.
The table shows when the following statistics are currently scheduled to be updated and released:
For all national statistics, and where possible for other products, we publish the month of release six months before and a release date up to four weeks before.
Publication dates of all future statistical releases are available on the research and statistics section on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport website.
The website should be checked for the most up to date release information.
Digital Broadcasting: Television
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what performance indicators the BBC have established for evaluating the value for money of its funding of Digital UK. [184272]
Andy Burnham: This is a matter for the BBC. I have, therefore, asked the BBC's Director of Finance to consider the question raised by the hon. Member and to write to him direct. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the results were of Digital UK's monthly external mystery shopping of its call centres in each month since August 2007. [184273]
Andy Burnham: Digital UK (DUK) does not conduct monthly external mystery shopping assessments of its UK call centre in Scotland. Instead, to date, DUK has commissioned GfK Mystery Shopping to carry out two waves of 50 assessments of their customer call centre in September and in October 2007, which were designed to test the call centre both in advance of the first Whitehaven/Copeland digital switchover and up to and including the switchover date itself on 17 October, when a higher volume of calls had been expected. The results of the first wave of assessments carried out in September are summarised as follows:
92 per cent. of agents appeared knowledgeable in relation to the inquiries overall.
Switchover dates when provided were given accurately. A number of callers (17) were not provided with switchover dates in their areas. These occasions were generally during call scenarios where the provision of a switchover date was not imperative.
86 per cent. of callers had a more positive view of Digital UK after the call and 30 per cent. of callers rated the service they received as excellent.
The results of the assessment carried out between 15 and 17 October in the final week leading up to and including the first Whitehaven/Copeland switchover date itself are summarised as follows:
88 per cent. of agents appeared knowledgeable in relation to the inquiries.
90 per cent. of callers had a more positive view of Digital UK after the call and 40 per cent. of callers rated the service they received as excellent.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the receiver equipment provided as part of the digital switchover help scheme includes a talking electronic programme guide to enable access to channels and programmes by blind and partially sighted people; and if he will make a statement. [184776]
Andy Burnham: The equipment provided by the Digital Switchover Help Scheme so far has not included a talking Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). However, we have had discussions on this issue with the RNIB and it is now under consideration by the Emerging Technologies Group, which has been set up to consider and recommend technological updates to equipment provided by the scheme.
Digital Switchover Help Scheme: Copeland
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of those in the Copeland area who have received assistance from the digital switchover targeted assistance scheme have opted for (a) satellite, (b) cable, (c) television via a telephone line and (d) freeview. [184275]
Andy Burnham: The figures are as follows:
| Number | |
| (1) Not available in Copeland. | |
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2008, Official Report, column 1809W, on digital switchover help scheme: Copeland, what targets were set for the expected response rate from households in Copeland eligible for assistance from the digital switchover targeted assistance scheme. [184471]
Andy Burnham: No response rate target was set for the Digital Switchover Help Scheme during the Copeland switchover.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2008, Official Report, column 1809W, on digital switchover help scheme: Copeland, what estimate was made of the number of people in Copeland who qualify for the digital switchover targeted assistance scheme who are registered blind or partially sighted and qualify on grounds of registration rather than on grounds of age or entitlement to disability benefits; and what efforts were made to contact them. [184473]
Andy Burnham: A total 202 individuals were identified as registered blind or partially sighted people living in the Copeland area. Of these, seven individuals only qualified solely on grounds of being either registered blind or registered partially sighted. All seven individuals were contacted by the Help Scheme operator and invited to make claims.
In addition to the communications issued by Digital UK to all residents, the West Cumbria Society of the Blind contacted approximately 300 of their members in and around the Copeland area to draw attention to the assistance available from the Help Scheme.
Digital Switchover Help Scheme: Finance
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what estimate he has made of the average cost of upgrading a home to receive digital television as part of the targeted assistance programme; and if he will make a statement; [184257]
(2) what the (a) best case and (b) worst case modelling was for the cost of the digital switchover targeted assistance scheme; [184270]
(3) if he will provide a full budgetary breakdown of the £603 million ring-fenced within the BBC licence fee settlement to pay for the digital switchover targeted assistance scheme; [184274]
(4) how much of the £603 million funding for the targeted assistance scheme has been allocated for contingencies. [184468]
Andy Burnham: This information is commercially sensitive while the BBC conducts a procurement process to identify a contractor to deliver the digital switchover help scheme. Once this process is complete, I will place a report in the Libraries of both Houses which sets out the methodology and assumptions used to develop a model to estimate the costs of the help scheme.
Digital UK: Advertising
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on advertising by digital UK, broken down by region; and how much will be spent on advertising in each region in each year until 2012. [183846]
Andy Burnham: I have asked Digital UK to write to the hon. Member with the information requested. I will arrange for copies of the letter to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Digital UK: Hearing Impaired
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether there are plans to set up an email helpline for Digital UK to enable those with hearing difficulties to make enquiries on digital switchover. [183847]
Andy Burnham: Digital UK intends to introduce a public e-mail contact channel in autumn 2008. The RNID has advised that e-mail is an accessible communications channel for deaf and hard of hearing people and a specific address for them would not be required. Digital UK’s customer contact centre staff have undergone disability awareness training and are able to answer questions relating to all aspects of digital switchover.
Digital UK promotes its text service number 0845 234 0380 on all information leaflets, including door-drops sent to every household in a TV region in the build up to switchover. In addition their leaflets are available on request in large print, Braille and other accessible formats on 0845 234 0388 or through their general call centre number on 08456 50 50 50.
As digital switchover approaches in a region, Digital UK will work through organisations which represent deaf people at a local or regional level to reach those who may need extra help to switch. This was the approach taken in the Copeland area.
RNID and TAG, a consortium of national organisations working on behalf of deaf people to promote equality of access to broadcasting and other electronic communications, are members of the Consumer Expert Group which advises Government and Digital UK on consumer issues relating to digital switchover.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |