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Extra-curricular Sports
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will support the recruitment of volunteers to assist in extra-curricular sporting activity among young people. [132898]
Kate Hoey: I am keenly aware of the importance of volunteering in sport. As part of the implementation of our sport strategy, "A Sporting Future for All", we are looking at ways of encouraging people to volunteer and of rewarding their commitment to sport.
Duty Roster
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the daily Ministerial Duty Roster for his Department during the summer adjournment. [133058]
Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 27 July 2000]: It is not normal practice of Government to publish a daily Ministerial Duty Roster. This Department will ensure that it has sufficient cover through the summer recess in line with the requirements of the Ministerial Code.
ITN
Mr. Woolas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to review the ownership rules of ITV's news provider, ITN. [132870]
Janet Anderson [holding answer 27 July 2000]: The Government will publish a White Paper later this year, which will set out our proposals for reform of broadcasting and telecommunications regulation. We invited ideas for issues to be addressed in the White Paper and we are presently reviewing the responses. Proposals to review the regulation of media ownership will be considered in that context.
Digital Television
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the subtitled output as a percentage of total only, for (a) digital satellite and (b) digital cable channels (i) currently and (ii) for each of the last three years. [133291]
Janet Anderson: There are no statutory requirements on digital satellite or digital cable broadcasters to provide subtitling on their services and to report on the levels of subtitling they make available. We are, however, continuing to encourage cable and satellite broadcasters to increase the provision of subtitling, sign language and audio description on their services. We are about to publish a consultation paper as part of a review of the statutory targets for subtitling, sign language and audio description provision on digital terrestrial television. This paper includes an invitation to comment on wider issues of concern about the provision and reception of these services, including provision on cable and satellite. The results of the consultation will be published and will also form part of our consideration of the future regulation of broadcasting in the forthcoming White Paper on communications.
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Television Licences
Mr. Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many over 75s in The Wrekin will qualify for free television licences from November. [133198]
Janet Anderson: Everyone aged 75 or over will be entitled to benefit from a free television licence from 1 November this year, but television licences cover households rather than individuals. Exact figures on the number of households which will benefit from the concession are not available. However, the 1991 Census New Parliamentary Constituency Monitor, published by the Office for National Statistics, shows the population of The Wrekin constituency as 76,207, of which 2.3 per cent. were men aged 75 and over and 4.0 per cent. were women aged 75 and over.
Mr. Michael J. Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people aged over 75 in (a) Worcester and (b) Mid-Worcestershire will qualify for free television licences from November. [133769]
Janet Anderson: Everyone aged 75 or over will be entitled to benefit from a free television licence from 1 November this year, but television licences cover households rather than individuals. Exact figures on the number of households which will benefit from the concession are not available. However, the 1991 Census New Parliamentary Constituency Monitor, published by the Office for National Statistics, shows the population of the Worcester constituency as 81,755, of which 2.3 per cent. were men aged 75 and over and 4.2 per cent. were women aged 75 and over. The population of the Mid-Worcestershire constituency was 81,652, of which 2.4 per cent. were men aged 75 and over and 4.4 per cent. were women aged 75 and over.
Communication White Paper
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will publish the Communication White Paper. [133554]
Janet Anderson: As indicated in the answers my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry gave on 21 July 2000, Official Report, columns 342-43W and 360W, we propose to publish the Communications White Paper later this year.
Electronic Communications Act 2000
Mr. Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what orders he (a) has made and (b) intends to make using section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000; and if he will make a statement. [133377]
Mr. Chris Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Cabinet Office.
Spoliation Panel
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place a copy of the Rules of Procedure of the Spoliation Panel in the Library. [133227]
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Mr. Alan Howarth: I have placed a copy of the Rules of Procedure for the Spoliation Advisory Panel in the Library today.
Liverpool Royal Philharmonic Society
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the application of Liverpool Royal Philharmonic Society for stabilisation funding. [133369]
Mr. Alan Howarth: This is a matter for the Arts Council of England as the Lottery distributor for the arts. I understand, however, that ACE has approved an award of £5.4 million to place the RLPS on a sound financial and artistic footing for the foreseeable future.
Rugby League
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the full cost to public funds of the UK staging the Lincoln Rugby League World Cup during the autumn. [133629]
Kate Hoey: I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of my reply in the Libraries of the House.
Piers
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what powers he has to take action against local authorities which lease seaside piers for inappropriate commercial uses. [133695]
Janet Anderson: I do not have powers to intervene where local authorities lease seaside piers to others.
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that seaside piers are protected from inappropriate commercial development. [133696]
Janet Anderson: Some historic seaside piers have been protected by listed building legislation. Otherwise the development of seaside piers is largely a matter for the owners subject, of course, to the requirements of the law.
Reports
Mr. Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the reports submitted to his Department, by bodies that were created after May 1997 and that include significant and plural membership from outside the Civil Service, stating in each case the body writing the report, the date the report was submitted, how many recommendations were made, the number of those recommendations that have been implemented to date and the number of recommendations that have been rejected; and if he will make a statement. [133569]
Mr. Chris Smith: The bodies set up since May 1997 which have reported, and the dates they reported, are as follows.
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I shall write to the hon. Member with the additional information he requires.
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