HC Deb 13 February 1996 vol 271 cc545-6W
Mr. Grocott

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will include the fourth report of the National Heritage Select Committee of Session 1993–94, HC 289, "Sports Sponsorship and Television Coverage", as part of the evidence to her consultation document "Broadcast Sports Rights: Informing the Debate." [14318]

Mr. Sproat

The Government are aware of the views expressed in the National Heritage Select Committee report and will take account of these and other views before making our position clear.

Mr. Grocott

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage to which organisations had she sent copies of her document "Broadcast Sports Rights: Informing the Debate". [14313]

Mr. Sproat

In addition to copies deposited to both House Libraries, copies of the discussion paper have been sent directly to the following organisations:

  • BBC
  • ITVA
  • Channel 4
  • S4C
  • Channel 5 Broadcasting
  • BskyB
  • Cable Communications Association
  • Sports Councils for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
  • Central Council for Physical Recreation
  • British Sports Forum
  • Institute of Sports Sponsorship
  • Test and County Cricket Board
  • Football Association
  • The Premier League
  • Scottish Football Association
  • English Rugby Football Union
  • Welsh Rugby Football Union
  • Professional Golf Association
  • Rugby League
  • Lawn Tennis Association
  • British Olympic Association
  • British Athletics Federation
  • British Paralympic Association
  • Independent Television Commission
    • 546
  • Radio Authority
  • Office of Fair Trading
  • Patent Office
  • Consumers' Association
  • National Consumers' Council
  • Voice of the Listener and Viewer.

The paper has also been widely publicised in the media and copies have been sent to any organisation requesting them. A record of these organisations has not been kept.

Mr. Grocott

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what is the closing date for the submission of evidence on her consultation document "Broadcast Sports Rights: Informing the Debate"; [14311]

(2) when she plans to announce her conclusions on her consultation document "Broadcast Sports Rights: Informing the Debate". [14312]

Mr. Sproat

The paper is not a formal consultation document, but a discussion paper published to assist the public and parliamentary debate. There is, therefore, no formal end date to a consultation process. However, the Government will make their position clear on Report in the other place.

Mr. Grocott

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what measures she will take to assess the opinions of viewers and listeners on her document "Broadcast Sports Rights: Informing the Debate". [14314]

Mr. Sproat

Representatives from the National Consumers Council, the Consumers Association and the Voice of the Listener and Viewer will meet my officials, to discuss both the document and the general issue of broadcast sports rights. My Department has also received a large number of representations from members of the public on this issue.