Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Monday Volume 519 29 November 2010 No. 80 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 29 November 2010 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2010 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through the Office of Public Sector Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/ Enquiries to the Office of Public Sector Information, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 507 29 NOVEMBER 2010 508 future. We want to ensure that the timing is such that it House of Commons does not force people to jettison their analogue radios in huge quantities. Our discussions are progressing rapidly. Monday 29 November 2010 Last week I had a discussion with the managing director of one of the largest commercial radio groups, and we hope that our discussions will progress further in the The House met at half-past Two o’clock next month. PRAYERS Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): There is a great deal of anger in Wales about the way in which the Minister and his Department have treated our local media. ITV [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] Wales will probably not be able to sustain its public service requirements, and S4C has been treated appallingly. There has been no consultation with the people of Wales. There will be a single monopolistic presence in Oral Answers to Questions broadcasting in Wales, and the Minister is doing a great disservice to the people of Wales by the way in which he is advancing his cause. CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Mr Hunt: The mess in local broadcasting in Wales was not created by this Government. It was the hon. The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media Gentleman’s party under which audiences for S4C halved and Sport was asked— over the last decade, and which did absolutely nothing Local Media about it. We have sought to find a secure future for S4C that will maintain its independent identity but will also give it the support of our largest broadcaster. We have 1. Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con): What plans he has actually done something about the problem; the hon. for the future of local media. [26730] Gentleman’s party did nothing about it whatsoever. 10. John Glen (Salisbury) (Con): What plans he has Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab): When the Minister does for the future of local media. [26739] consult on the future of local media, will he speak to The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media elected representatives? I note that he has completely and Sport (Mr Jeremy Hunt): We have announced radical ignored the views of all party leaders in Wales on S4C, plans to secure the future of the local newspaper industry, including the leader of the Conservatives in Wales. Is and have ambitious hopes to turn this country from one not the way in which he is ignoring elected representatives of the least well served by local television to one of the from Wales an absolute disgrace? Will he start talking best served. to people about something which is very keenly felt in Wales, and which he does not understand? Charlie Elphicke: Many local newspapers have struggled with the recession, but the East Kent Mercury and the Mr Hunt: With respect to the hon. Gentleman, I have Dover Express in my constituency have done really well. talked to many elected representatives, but in particular Do Ministers think it right to praise successful local elected representatives from this House, about the best newspaper groups? way forward for S4C. We have put a solution on the table which secures S4C’s finances for the whole Mr Hunt: Yes, especially when they are in one’s own comprehensive spending review. If the hon. Gentleman constituency. My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The has a better solution, perhaps he should put something best way in which we can help local newspaper groups is forward, because we have heard nothing from the Labour by making it commercially viable for them to turn into party. multi-media operations which offer their news product over radio, television, iPods, iPads and mobiles. I do not Fibre-optic Broadband know what the broadcast footprint of Dover television might be, but I have no doubt that it would extend my hon. Friend’s reputation as a campaigning Member of 2. Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con): If he will discuss Parliament across the channel to the north coast of with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and France. Skills steps to ensure that the roll-out of fibre-optic broadband is available on an equal basis to all customers John Glen: In the light of the uncertainty facing local in a single community. [26731] radio operators such as Spire FM in my constituency over the path for migration to DAB, can the Minister The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, tell us when the owners and operators of such stations Olympics, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey): Iam will know whether they can secure a future beyond lucky enough to be a Minister in both the Department Ofcom’s seven-year licensing strategy? for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, but I intend to discuss Mr Hunt: I thank my hon. Friend for his important the issue with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of question. We greatly value the role of local radio, and State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, who we are also very committed to the transition to a digital leads on it. 509 Oral Answers29 NOVEMBER 2010 Oral Answers 510 Mark Pawsey: Constituents of mine tell me that on a against the backdrop of the fact that this country pays new housing estate consisting of 900 homes, about out £120 million in debt interest every day. Schools 800 are about to receive the new BT Infinity fibre-optic funding has been ring-fenced and handed over to head service, but 100 will be left with a poor 0.5 to 1.5 megabit teachers, and I would challenge them to continue this supply. Working professionals rely on an efficient service. funding where it is proving important and showing Will the Minister make representations to ensure that benefits, and I hope the right hon. Gentleman would all users in a community receive the same excellent support them in that. service? Mr Don Foster (Bath) (LD): Further to that answer, I Mr Vaizey: My hon. Friend speaks up very well for greatly welcome the proposal for the new school Olympics his constituents in regard to this problem, which is to improve competition between schools, but does the connected with the placing of exchanges. One community Minister recognise that for that to be successful it is is often served by two different exchanges. However, I important that schools receive a wide range of support, intend to speak to the relevant operator about the issue which was previously provided by the school sports and report back to him. partnership? Will he confirm that although the ring-fencing for the funding has gone, the money is still available in London Olympics (Sporting Legacy) schools, and therefore will he confirm that he will continue to work with the Secretary of State for Education 3. Dr Daniel Poulter (Central Suffolk and North to ensure there continues to be a partnership into which Ipswich) (Con): What steps his Department is taking schools— to secure a sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympics. [26732] Mr Speaker: Order. We have got the drift of the hon. Gentleman’s question, and I am grateful to him for it. The Minister for Sport and the Olympics (Hugh Robertson): I have asked Sport England to develop its Hugh Robertson: The short answer to that is yes of £135 million places people play strategy, which along course I will. The key thing to remember is that the with the investment in the Olympic park will mean a funding has, of course, been handed over to the schools— new generation of iconic facilities, protection for our [HON.MEMBERS: “No, it hasn’t.”] The schools budgets local playing fields and the gold challenge, which will have been handed over to head teachers and it is entirely both raise money for charity and get more people up to them to make decisions on it as they please. The playing Olympic sports. The school Olympic-style head teachers of every single secondary school that I competition will get competitive sport back in our have visited during my time as a Member of Parliament schools, and all of this is, of course, supported by have always asked me for greater control of their budgets; protecting both the whole sport plans and elite athlete they have now got it. funding in the spending review. Tessa Jowell (Dulwich and West Norwood) (Lab): Dr Poulter: I am sure the Minister is aware that The Olympics are a national project beyond party politics, Ipswich has some fantastic sporting facilities, and we and I join the hon. Gentleman in his support for that are greatly looking forward to hosting the Azerbaijan principle, which I have always maintained, so will he team during the 2012 Olympics, but may I invite him to now stand with the coaches, the teachers, the young visit Ipswich to help us in our aspirations to develop a people and the volunteers who are bewildered and sports village and a lasting sporting legacy for young outraged by the decision to dismantle the partnerships people, and to improve healthy lifestyles in Ipswich? that have seen nine out of 10 children play sport regularly? I ask him to do so in the spirit not of party politics, but Hugh Robertson: I thank my hon.