§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what role his Department has in the tendering process for the provision of digital broadcasting services to support the GCSE curriculum; [65690]
(2) how many bids have been received in response to the tender for the provision of digital broadcasting services to support the GCSE curriculum; and from which companies; [65689]
(3) what advertising, subscription and sponsorship revenue sources will be permitted to the provider of digital broadcast services to support the GCSE curriculum; [65691]
(4) if he will place in the Library a copy of the tender document for the provision of digital broadcasting services to support the GCSE curriculum; [65686]
(5) which national curriculum subjects will be supported by a digitally broadcast education service; [65688]
(6) what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of establishing a digital broadcast service to support the GCSE curriculum in (a) year one, (b) year two and (c) year three of operation; [65684]
(7) what plans he has to encourage (a) schools, (b) individuals and (c) others to subscribe to a new digital broadcast channel to support the GCSE curriculum. [65693]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe Department for Education and Employment has invited companies with a broadcasting or transmission licence and experience in the provision of educational broadcast material to submit tenders on a competitive basis for the provision of specific digital broadcasting services to support the GCSE curriculum. These services will support GCSEs in English, mathematics, double award science, history and geography. 265W Bids are currently being considered and information relating to them is commercial in confidence. The precise cost and nature of the services, plans to promote them and permitted sources of revenue will depend on the outcome of the tender exercise and will form part of any contract. A copy of the Invitation to Tender for the digital broadcasting services is being deposited in the Library.
The Department has no plans for a new digital broadcast channel to support the GCSE curriculum. Decisions on such a channel, and on its possible funding, would be for individual broadcasters.