§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she(a) has made and (b) will make of the numbers of licence fee payers who are able to access BBC online at their place of residence. [33315]
§ Dr. HowellsI have made no such assessment and have no plans to do so. However, we know that an estimated 97.5 per cent. of households have television and therefore have or should have a television licence. Oftel's latest estimate, which was published on 29 January, is that 45 per cent. of households in the UK are now connected to the internet. All such homes will therefore be able to access BBC online.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment she(a) has made and (b) plans to make of the (i) benefits and (ii) disadvantages to licence fee payers of (A) BBC Choice, (B) BBC Knowledge, (C) BBC Parliament, and (D) BBC News 24; [33312]
(2) what assessment she (a) has made and (b) will make of the (i) benefits and (ii) disadvantages to licence fee payers of BBC1 [33313]
§ Dr. HowellsAny proposed new BBC public service requires approval by the holder of my office, who assesses it against criteria designed to ensure that the service is compatible with the BBC's primary public service role. A programme of reviews of such services against the approvals given, starting with BBC News 24, was announced by my predecessor as part of the licence fee settlement in February 2000. The terms of reference
814W
£ Distributing body Recipient Project title Award date Award amount Community Fund Edinburgh Volunteer Tutors Organisation This three-year project will provide one to one support for children (5–14 years) who are on the margins of school and community life, and whose behaviour or development is giving serious cause for concern. 9 February 2001 97,139 Scottish Arts Council Carnegie Youth Theatre This group provides a platform for young people to join and participate in youth theatre. The grant will be used to fund advertising, hire of theatre, scenery, costumes, sound system and orchestra. 22 February 2001 4,900 Sport Scotland Craigmount Cougars This group provides young people with the opportunity to play American football both in friendly and competitive matches. The grant will be used to purchase helmets with face cages, shoulder pads, practice pants and lower pads. 22 February 2001 3,675 Heritage Lottery Fund North West Heritage This group encourages awareness of local heritage to the local community by giving presentations, creating archives and researching local history. The grant will be used to purchase archive storage drawer, filing cabinets, tape recorders, transcriber and stationery. 22 February 2001 1,379 for the first review will be announced shortly. BBC Knowledge will be replaced soon by the new BBC4 service which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State approved in September 2001 and which will be reviewed in 2004. She is currently considering a further application for approval of a new BBC3 service which would replace BBC Choice.
BBC1 covers the BBC's online, interactive and text services. A review of BBC online will be undertaken as part of the programme of reviews to which I have already referred.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will include methods other than the licence fee to fund the BBC as part of the process leading to a decision on the renewal of the BBC charter. [33316]
§ Dr. HowellsYes.
§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she(a) has made and (b) will make of the numbers of licence fee payers who are able to (i) receive and (ii) view (A) BBC Choice, (B) BBC Knowledge, (C) BBC Parliament, and (D) BBC News 24 at their place of residence. [33314]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 4 February 2002]: BBC digital services are broadcast free-to-view on digital terrestrial television, on digital satellite and are usually available on basic digital cable subscription packages. I provided information on digital television take up and on digital television coverage in my answer to the hon. Member for South Suffolk on 6 December 2001, Official Report, column 501W.