Departmental Responsibilities
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport at how many events organised by (a) charities, (b) other civil society groups, (c) businesses and (d) lobbying organisations Ministers and senior officials in his Department have given speeches in each month since May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [77363]
John Penrose: Details of speeches given by Ministers in the Department to various organisations are published on our website at the following link:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/ministers_speeches/default.aspx
Ministers and senior officials are sometimes required to give short speeches at other events but these details are not recorded centrally.
Digital Broadcasting
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with representatives of small businesses on digital switchover. [75946]
Mr Vaizey: Representatives from electronics retailers and manufacturers are invited quarterly to discuss the digital TV switchover programme and review progress with me, as the Minister responsible for TV switchover. The most recent meeting was on 22 September 2011. Digital UK also engages with small business groups on a regular basis.
Digital Consumer Expert Group
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the regional composition is of his Department's digital consumer expert group. [77573]
Mr Vaizey: The consumer expert group (CEG) currently includes only organisation with national interests, such as the Royal National Institute of Blind People. Which? and the Rural Communities Council. Organisations with specific regional interests could be members subject to the agreement of the CEG.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how members of his Department's digital consumer expert group were recruited; how such members are remunerated; and what expenses may be claimed by such members. [77574]
Mr Vaizey: In 2003 the Government invited organisations with a very obvious interest in broadcasting and consumer protection to participate in the consumer expert group (CEG). Since then organisations have been welcomed to join the consumer expert group, subject to the agreement of the group itself and demonstrating a genuine interest in the issues which the CEG is considering.
31 Oct 2011 : Column 480W
Members of the consumer expert group are not remunerated and any expenses related to CEG activities must be meet by the individuals or organisations themselves.
Digital Economy Act 2010
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what statutory instruments he plans to lay before the House under the provisions of the Digital Economy Act 2010; and when he expects to lay each such instrument before the House. [77403]
Mr Vaizey: The Government will be submitting two statutory instruments to the House over the coming period to take forward the online infringement of copyright provisions within the Digital Economy Act 2010. The first, which is currently under consideration under the terms of the technical standards directive, sets out the way in which the costs of the provisions will be shared by industry. The second will be an order setting out the initial obligations code. We would expect the instruments to be laid before both Houses in the first quarter of 2012.
Equiniti
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department expects to raise from the resale by Equiniti of surrendered equipment as part of the programme making and special events funding scheme. [76917]
Mr Vaizey: The Department will not raise any funds from the resale of this equipment as it is covered by a contract between Ofcom and Equiniti. Ofcom has not made any assessment of how much revenue the resale of equipment under the scheme will realise. The contract between Ofcom and Equiniti contains a gain share clause whereby 54% of the resale value is returned to HM Treasury. Equiniti must cover its own cost of sales from its share of the resale value.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when the contract between Ofcom and Equiniti on the programme making and special events funding scheme was signed. [77137]
Mr Vaizey: The contract between Ofcom and Equiniti on the programme making and special events funding scheme was signed on 25 June 2010.
Legal Opinion
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many times his Department has sought advice from external counsel in (a) 2007, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six months of 2011. [76363]
John Penrose: The Department does not record the number of times the legal team has sought advice from external counsel.
31 Oct 2011 : Column 481W
Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on (a) legal advice and (b) instructing counsel in (i) 2007, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) the first six months of 2011; how many times (A) his Department was taken to court and (B) a decision taken by his Department was subject to a judicial review; and what the outcome was of each such (1) case and (2) review. [76399]
John Penrose: The Department's expenditure on legal advice and instructing counsel for the years in question is set out in the following table.
We are unable to provide the information in the manner in which my hon. Friend has requested because we record costs by financial year. Also, we do not separately record costs incurred instructing counsel, and they are not readily identifiable from overall external legal costs expenditure.
| Financial year | Total (£) |
The Department does not record centrally the number of times it has been taken to court, the number of decisions taken by the Department that were subject to a judicial review and the outcome of each case.
Equiniti
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what measures are in place to ensure that only licensed users are permitted to buy surrendered programme making and special events equipment from Equiniti; and if he will make a statement. [76918]
Mr Vaizey: A procedure is in place whereby Equiniti checks with JFMC, which issues wireless telegraphy licences for programme making and special events on behalf of Ofcom, whether the potential purchaser holds a current channel 69 licence. Equiniti will only sell surrendered equipment where this is the case.
Mobile Phones
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what procurement process will be applied when implementing the decision to extend mobile coverage to 99% of the population. [77402]
Mr Vaizey: The procurement strategy for extending mobile coverage is one of a number of tasks that are now being taken forward by my officials over the coming weeks. Before any decisions are taken on a procurement process, I would expect discussions to take place on possible options with a range of interested organisations.
31 Oct 2011 : Column 482W
Museums and Galleries
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what (a) museums, (b) galleries and (c) heritage sites he has visited in an official capacity in each region since May 2010. [77203]
Mr Vaizey: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 21 October 2011, Official Report, column 1162W, providing the details of visits in the last 12 months.
Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many people have made recent representations to him regarding the future of the Captain Cook Birthplace museum in Marton, Middlesbrough. [77259]
Mr Vaizey: To date, our records show that the Department has received and responded to 362 representations regarding the future of the Captain Cook Birthplace museum in Marton, Middlesbrough. The museum is the responsibility of the local authority, in this case Middlesbrough council, which must decide on how best to fund and deliver its cultural services. It is not appropriate for the Department to prescribe how it does so.
Ofcom
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what powers Ofcom has to prevent the re-selling of equipment surrendered as part of the programme making and special events funding scheme back into the UK market; and if he will make a statement. [76919]
Mr Vaizey: The contract with Equiniti required that Ofcom must approve any disposal proposal (including resale) made by Equiniti of surrendered equipment. The proposal for disposal has been approved and requires that Equiniti only sells to licensed users and imposes a requirement on purchasers to modify, destroy or return the equipment to Equiniti by the time licensed (and therefore lawful) use of channel 69 finishes at the end of 2012. If a potential purchaser is not licensed or does not agree to modify, destroy or return the equipment to Equiniti, then the sale cannot proceed. Purchasers are required to confirm in writing to Equiniti that they have either modified the equipment to operate on channel 38 or channel 70, disposed of the equipment under the waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) regulations or returned it to Equiniti. Ofcom can request that purchasers provide documentary evidence of disposal or modification (and to make equipment available for inspection on request in the case of modification).
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2011, Official Report, column 540W, on Ofcom, if he will place in the Library a copy of the invitation to tender produced by Ofcom inviting contractors to bid for the programme making and special events funding scheme. [77290]
31 Oct 2011 : Column 483W
Mr Vaizey: We understand that Ofcom intends to publish the information to tender document on its website.
Public Libraries
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department plans to set (a) the Local Government Group and (b) Arts Council England targets for the roll-out of the ideas and best practice arising from the Future Libraries programme. [77436]
Mr Vaizey: In line with the Local Government Association’s (LGA’s) Taking the Lead approach to sector-led improvement, which the Government support, Arts Council England (ACE) and the LGA have no intention of imposing performance targets on local authorities.
Instead, ideas and best practice from the Future Libraries programme have been shared with local authorities throughout the life of the programme to inspire improvement across the sector. I wrote to all authorities in February enclosing a short paper outlining a number of lessons learnt from the Future Libraries programme, together with additional examples of current good practice from a range of local authorities.
The Local Government Group published a final report on the programme in August. It set out the emerging models for delivery of public library services, namely:
Through co-location or new, non-traditional outlets and service points;
Using external providers—trusts and charitable companies, other councils or through the private sector;
Sharing services with other councils;
Empowering communities to do things their own way.
ACE will launch the libraries development initiative next month with the aim of building on the Future Libraries programme.
Radio Frequencies
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps have been taken to ensure that channel 69 is clear of programme making and special events use after September 2012. [77134]
Mr Vaizey: We understand from Ofcom that there are no Wireless Telegraphy Act licences in existence or planned to be issued which entitle licensees to make use of channel 69 for programme making and special events after September 2012 and, therefore, that the channel in question will be clear at that point. The Government provided funding for a scheme to compensate pre-existing channel 69 users who previously had an expectation of continued use after 2012, which has been making payments since March 2011 and will continue to do so in 2012.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much revenue he expects to accrue to the Exchequer from the resale of surrendered equipment as part of the programme making and special events funding scheme; and if he will make a statement. [77135]
31 Oct 2011 : Column 484W
Mr Vaizey: We have not made any assessment of how much revenue the resale of equipment under the scheme will realise.
Mr Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps have been taken to ensure that equipment surrendered under the programme making and special events funding scheme cannot use channel 69 after the channel has been cleared in October 2012; and if he will make a statement. [77136]
Mr Vaizey: The contract between Ofcom and Equiniti requires destruction of equipment in accordance with environmental regulations, return or modification for lawful use. Further, there is a requirement that any purchaser of surrendered equipment agrees to take the equipment out of use by the time licensed (and therefore lawful) use of channel 69 expires and confirm in writing to Equiniti that they have either modified the equipment to operate on Channel 38 or Channel 70, disposed of the Equipment under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations or returned it to Equiniti. Ofcom can request purchasers provide documentary evidence of disposal or modification (and to make equipment available for inspection on request in the case of modification). Any use of programme making and special events equipment in Channel 69 (re-sold or otherwise) after the deadline will be unlawful and Ofcom has powers under the Wireless Telegraphy Act to take enforcement action against unlawful use of spectrum.
Rugby: Tourism
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his Department's tourism plan is for the (a) 2013 Rugby League World Cup, (b) 2015 Rugby Union World Cup and (c) 2014 Commonwealth Games. [77434]
John Penrose: VisitBritain has already launched a four-year international marketing campaign (“You're Invited”), aimed at core and emerging markets, based on investment of almost £50 million from its funds, and additional support from the private sector, toward generating a £100 million marketing fund. Alongside this, VisitEngland will take forward a major domestic tourism campaign to promote domestic destinations, taking advantage of the ‘staycation’ effect and revitalising our domestic offer.
VisitBritain and VisitEngland will work with the tourism industry and the tourist boards of the devolved nations, as appropriate, to maximise the economic opportunities offered by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, the 2013 Rugby World Cup, the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup, and the 2014 Commonwealth games.
Tourism
Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will provide support to help preserve the paddle steamer Waverley as a tourist attraction. [76728]
31 Oct 2011 : Column 485W
John Penrose: The paddle steamer (PS) Waverley is the largest operational vessel in the National Historic Fleet and as such is distinguished as being of pre-eminent national or regional significance.
National Historic Ships, a body funded by this Department as the official adviser to the UK Government on historic vessels, has been supporting the PS Waverley Trust by offering support and advice on business planning, fundraising and accessing available grants. In addition, the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded PS Waverley £5,717,000 for two major restoration projects (£2,689,000 in 1996-97 and £3,028,000 in 2001-02), and has also met with the PS Waverley Trust to offer advice on accessing a small grants programme and support for business planning.
Beyond this, the vessel is owned by an independent charitable trust based in Scotland and as such would fall under the remit of Scottish Ministers.
Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had on supporting regional tourism agencies as part of the growth review. [77663]
John Penrose:
The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), meets regularly with destination management organisations and industry bodies. Over the next four years VisitBritain will be running a major international marketing campaign, aimed at core and emerging markets, based on investment of almost £50 million from their funds, and additional support
31 Oct 2011 : Column 486W
from the private sector, toward generating a £100 million marketing fund. This will showcase Britain to the world and aims to attract 4 million extra visitors, spending £2 billion in the UK economy, which will support businesses, jobs and growth.
VisitEngland is working closely with local areas and destinations, in line with the Government's localism agenda, to grow the value of local tourism economies. This is co-ordinated through the National Strategic Framework for Tourism, which includes an action programme developed in consultation with the tourism sector. This will include a four-year domestic tourism campaign to promote domestic destinations, taking advantage of the ‘staycation' effect and revitalising our domestic offer, generating up to £500 million in additional visitor spend and 5.3 million additional overnights.
Tourism policy seeks to help improve the sector's productivity and competitiveness, in particular, to address the burden of regulation affecting the industry. The Government's Red Tape Challenge focused on the hospitality sector in May, inviting the industry and the public to identify regulations holding back the industry and stifling growth. Alongside this, the Government have set up an industry task force, led by senior industry figures, which is working on identifying rules, regulations and inspections impeding the sector, and which might be cut, modified or abolished.
The Government's plans for promoting the growth of the visitor economy are set out in detail in the paper, “Government Tourism Policy” published in March 2011, and available at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7896.aspx