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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Press Releases
Mr. Brady: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department for the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000 what was (a) the number of occasions on which couriers were used to distribute news releases from his Department and (b) the total cost of using couriers to distribute news releases. [113967]
Mr. Lock: My Department did not use any couriers to distribute news releases over the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000. LCD press notices are distributed to the media by e-mail, fax and post. LCD press notices for matters other than judicial appointments are placed on the Central Office of Information's (COI) press notice website and are given wide electronic distribution by the news distribution service which is also managed by the COI.
Mr. Brady: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the (a) national, (b) regional and (c) local newspapers and media bodies to which his Department sent news releases during the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000. [113993]
Mr. Lock: Over the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000 my Department issued 1,062 press notices. Targeted distribution relies on the subject and content of each specific press release. Provision of the distribution lists for all press notices issued over the period could only be undertaken at disproportionate cost.
All LCD press notices for matters other than judicial appointments are placed on the Central Office of Information's (COI) press notice website and are given wide electronic distribution by the news distribution service which is also managed by the COI.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Lottery
Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the distribution of lottery funding across the regions of the United Kingdom. [113642]
Kate Hoey:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has directed the Lottery distributors to ensure that all parts of the country have access to funding. My Department regularly monitors the distribution of funding to the regions and to areas of economic and social deprivation and it is clear that some areas have to date benefited less than others. My Department and the Lottery distributors have commissioned joint research into the impact of the National Lottery on coalfield areas which I expect to hold lessons for these and others areas of low take-up.
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Mr. Faber:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was the total Lottery funding made available to the English Sports Council in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 1998-99; and what is the estimated total Lottery funding to be made available to Sport England in each of the years (i) 1999-2000, (ii) 2000-01 and (iii) 2001-02. [113770]
Kate Hoey:
The total amount of Lottery proceeds (including interest) allocated to the English Sports Council for 1997-98 and 1998-99 was:
| Year | Amount of lottery proceeds |
|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 307 |
| 1998-99 | 255 |
| Year | Forecast income |
|---|---|
| 1999-2000 | £206-£211 |
| 2000-01 | £185-£221 |
| 2001-02 | £170-£226 |
The forecast for 1999-2000 was calculated by adding the share of Lottery proceeds allocated to Sport England from 1 April 1999 to the end of January 2000 to estimates for February and March 2000 based on the Lottery income forecast scenarios.
Museum Funding
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to alter the funding arrangements for national museums. [114117]
Mr. Alan Howarth: I have no such plans.
Press Releases
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000 what was (a) the number of occasions on which couriers were used to distribute news releases from his Department and (b) the total cost of using couriers to distribute news releases. [113971]
Mr. Chris Smith: The Department has not used outside couriers to distribute news releases in that period.
The Parliamentary Lobby is provided with copies of news releases by the Department's messengers. The cost of this exercise cannot be separately estimated.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the (a) national,
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(b) regional and (c) local newspapers and media bodies to which his Department sent news releases during the period 2 May 1997 to 29 February 2000. [113998]
Mr. Chris Smith:
News releases are routinely sent to the Press Association (and if relevant PA Sport), national daily and Sunday newspapers, relevant BBC and ITN outlets, Sky News and IRN.
All releases are also given to the COI's News Distribution Service, which in turn supplies a copy to the Parliamentary Online Information Service (POLIS), which is available on-line to all hon. Members.
If releases have a regional angle, copies are either sent direct to local papers and broadcasters, or distributed by the relevant COI regional office. Further distribution depends on the particular news release and we could not, without disproportionate cost, provide a comprehensive list of bodies who have received one or more releases during the period in question.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the names of unpaid creditors of the New Millennium Experience Company, together with the amount owed in each case and the dates of the relevant invoices; and if he will make a statement. [113510]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 7 March 2000]: The amount owed to suppliers by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is commercially confidential. Disclosure of such information would be in breach of contractual terms between NMEC and the third party.
Mr. Alexander:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many calls have been received by the Minimum Wage Hotline (a) in his Department's administrative region containing Paisley, (b) in Scotland and (c) nationally; and what action he is taking to publicise the existence of the service. [113552]
Mr. Alan Johnson
[holding answer 8 March 2000]: Nationally, as at 7 March, the National Minimum Wage helpline had received over 157,000 calls. Information on the total number of calls received by the helpline is not broken down by region. Some calls are anonymous and addresses are not taken. Others are simple inquiries where it would not be appropriate to request such information.
The helpline telephone number (0845 6000 678) is given in all National Minimum Wage literature and publicity. Last spring we spent £5 million publicising the minimum wage which included national TV coverage and gave details of the rates and confidential helpline number.
There will be further publicity in advance of the youth rate increase on 1 June, and the main rate increase on 1 October, and this will also feature the helpline number prominently.
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Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when consultation took place with consumer groups between 20 January and 2 March on the decision to remove the provisions concerning telecommunications and water industries from the Utilities Bill; and what responses were received; [113570]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 8 March 2000]: Both the National Consumer Council and the Consumers Association made representations to the Department.
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list (a) the meetings and contacts his Department has had with the telecommunications industry in connection with the Utilities Bill between 20 January and 2 March, (b) the telecommunications companies involved and (c) the occasions on which Ministers from his Department attended; [113568]
Mr. Byers
[holding answer 8 March 2000]: A number of letter have been received from the Other Licensed Operators (OLO) group and from individual companies including BT. The OLO group comprises Atlantic Telecom, Eurobell, Kingston Group, ntl, Telewest, COLT, Cable and Wireless, Energis, GTS, Global Crossing, Global One, Hermes, MCI/Worldcom, Norweb Telecom, Thus, Teleglobe, Telia, Telinco, Telstra, Viatel, Dolphin, One2One, Orange and Vodaphone.
(2) which consumer groups were consulted on the decision to remove the provisions concerning telecommunications and water industries from the Utilities Bill between 20 January and 2 March. [113571]
(2) what representations his Department received on behalf of the telecommunications industries between 20 January and 2 March in connection with the Utilities Bill; and if he will list the telecommunications companies involved. [113569]
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