§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will ask the BBC to publish figures indicating the(a) funding of and (b) audience figures for (i) BBC Choice, (ii) BBC Knowledge and (iii) BBC 24 hours since their inception. [150213]
§ Janet AndersonThe BBC has published figures showing their spending on each of these channels in the Corporation's Annual Report and Accounts every year since they were launched. Audience figures are published independently by BARB, the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board Ltd.
§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what permission was sought by the BBC from his Department in launching(a) BBC Choice, (b) BBC Knowledge and (c) BBC 24 hours. [150212]
£ million 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 Total Discretionary spending on Government measures 200 200 1,270 2,730 4,390 8,800 Net cost of earnings uprating — 140 500 1,380 1,570 3,580 Extra spending above earnings uprating 200 60 770 1,360 2,830 5,220 Notes:
1. Our measures included the above-inflation increase in the basic State Pension, the Minimum Income Guarantee, Winter Fuel Payments and concessionary TV licences for those aged 75 and over.
2. It is assumed that the date at which uprating of basic State Pension by earnings begins is April 1998.
3. Costs are net of income-related benefits. Gross costs have been estimated by the Government Actuary's Department. Income-related benefit offsets are estimated using the Policy Simulation Model.
4. The cost of linked benefits, particularly widows'/bereavement benefits, is excluded.
5. The definition of earnings used for uprating is the average earnings index, seasonally adjusted, in the three months to July in the preceding year.
6. The costs are shown in 1999–2000 prices and are rounded to the nearest £10 million.