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17 May 1999 : Column WA1

Written Answers

Monday, 17th May 1999.

Withholding Tax

Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will refrain from agreeing to proposals for a withholding tax or any compromise until the consent of the House of Commons has been obtained.[HL2309]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: We have made it clear on a number of occasions that we will not agree to any EU proposals which would require the UK to introduce a withholding tax or which risked serious damage to EU financial markets. The Government will fulfil its obligations to Parliament through the normal parliamentary scrutiny arrangements.

Data Protection: Digital Decoders

Lord Birdwood asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether any United Kingdom broadcaster is receiving any form of private information about its subscribers through its digital decoders without the knowledge of those subscribers.[HL2340]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: As with any company which has a customer database, broadcasters who hold information on subscribers to their services are subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984. Under the terms of the Act, companies are required to register details of the type of information they are processing with the Data Protection Registrar. The register is a public document and these details can be checked by the subscriber. BSkyB have informed us that the only information obtained through their digital decoders is to provide broadcasters with information for the billing of pay-per-view events.

United Christian Broadcasters

Lord Robertson of Oakridge asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether United Christian Broadcasters have been prevented from applying for a licence to broadcast programmes in the United Kingdom; and, if so, why; and [HL2363]

Whether they will, as a contribution to the Millennium celebrations, arrange for United Christian Broadcasters to be given a licence to broadcast in the United Kingdom at least in the years 2000 and 2001.[HL2364]

17 May 1999 : Column WA2

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Radio Authority is the public statutory corporation responsible for licensing all independent radio services under the terms of the Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996, subject to review by the courts.

The Broadcasting Act 1990 disqualifies groups whose objectives are wholly or mainly of a religious nature from holding a terrestrial national radio licence issued by the Radio Authority. However, this disqualification does not extend to local, satellite and cable radio licences, where the authority is permitted to licence religious bodies subject to compliance with its religious guidelines. It is under these provisions that, for example, United Christian Broadcasters already hold two satellite broadcast licences from the Radio Authority. A religious organisation can hold a digital satellite radio licence but not a terrestrial digital radio multiplex or sound programme service licence under the 1996 Broadcasting Act.

My honourable friend the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting will be meeting representatives of United Christian Broadcasters shortly to explore their concerns more fully.

British Museum: Prints and Drawings Students' Room

Lord Freyberg asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 22 April (WA 165) on the British Museum's display of prints and drawings, what number of visitors to the Students' Room of the Department of Prints and Drawings are the staff able to deal with at any one time.[HL2354]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: There are 12 seats for public use in the Students' Room, and during the calendar year 1998, 5,014 visitors used them. The average number of visitors who use the seats per day is 20.

There is also an area where displays are put out for groups of up to 20 students at a time: this is by prearrangement.

British Films: Support

Baroness Anelay of St. Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Film, Janet Anderson MP, on 22 February (HC Deb., WA 46-48), what plans have been drawn up to establish a film marketing agency as a result of the discussions held between representatives of the distributors and exhibitors; and when the agency will be launched; and [HL2330]

When the Film Action Report, due to be published in April 1999, will be placed in the Library of the House; and [HL2331]

17 May 1999 : Column WA3

Further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Film, Janet Anderson MP, on 22 February (HC Deb., WA 46-48), when they will make the announcement regarding the Skills Investment Fund; and whether the training made available by the fund will be extended to acting and directing courses; and [HL2332]

Further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Film Janet Anderson MP, on 22 February (HC Deb., WA 46-48), when the Film Education Working Group will publish the report which was due to be published in April 1999; and [HL2333]

Which British facilities and locations have been used directly as a result of the work of the British Film Office in Los Angeles that was established specifically to encourage Hollywood producers to use British facilities and locations.[HL2334]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The film marketing agency is an industry-led initiative. Discussions are continuing within the relevant trade bodies about how the agency will be constituted and funded. No firm launch date has yet been decided.

The Secretary of State will make an announcement about the achievements of the Film Policy Review Action Committee on 19 May. A copy of the press release will be placed in the Library of the House.

The Secretary of State will make an announcement about the Skills Investment Fund on 19 May. Further details about the training the Skills Investment Fund will make available will be announced then and a copy of the press release will be placed in the Library of the House.

Because of the need for wide consultation on an extensive range of proposals, the Film Education Working Group will now publish its report in June.

Since its establishment, the British Film Office in Los Angeles has provided advice to numerous US productions and assisted them in making use of the studios, facilities, locations, crew and artists available within the UK.

Royal Parks Agency: Environmental Impact Assessments

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Royal Parks Agency (RPA) has been "greened" in the manner required of and described in Executive Agencies, The Government's Response to Environmental Audit Committee Report on the Greening Government Initiative; and, if "greening" requires agencies to conduct environmental impact assessments of their activities as a matter of course, whether they will instruct the RPA to do so.[HL2335]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: As part of the Greening Government Initiative, all departments and their agencies are expected to take account of the environmental implications of their policies and activities. I am satisfied that the measures currently implemented by the Royal Parks Agency to protect the fabric of the Royal Parks from detrimental environmental impacts conform with this initiative.

17 May 1999 : Column WA4

Prostitutes' Cards in Telephone Boxes

Lord Stallard asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they plan to publish proposals to deal with the problem of prostitutes' cards in public telephone boxes.[HL2520]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn): Our consultation paper, New Measures to Control Prostitutes' Cards in Phone Boxes will be published on Tuesday 18 May. This is a local problem which needs a local approach. The consultation paper will look at options for changing the law to enable those who put cards in telephone boxes to be dealt with more effectively on a local basis. Copies of the consultation paper will also be placed in the Library on Tuesday.

Human Rights Act 1998

Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Burlison on 29 April (WA 64), whether one of the factors which they are taking into account in deciding when to bring the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998 fully into force is the public expenditure involved where government departments and other public authorities are held liable to pay damages for breaches of Convention rights occurring once the Act is fully in force.[HL2310]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government are considering all relevant factors. Under the Human Rights Act 1998, the courts are required to take into account the principles applied by the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the award of compensation under Article 41 of the Convention. The level of damages awarded by that Court is generally modest and in some cases the Court considers that a judgment in favour of a victim is a sufficient remedy.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Burlison on 29 April (WA 64), whether any changes in United Kingdom laws have yet been identified as requiring new legislation to ensure compatibility with the Convention rights.[HL2311]

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The position has not changed since Lord Burlison's Answer of 29 April (WA 64).

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