Listed Sporting Events (Hansard, 8 April 1998)

§ Sir Raymond Powell
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 30 March 1998,Official Report, column 368, on the Advisory Group on Listed Events, what is the cost of the group to public funds; how many witnesses have been called by the group, and if he will list them; and which member of the group was an expert on Rugby League Football. [37846]

§ Mr. Chris Smith
The Chairman and members of the Advisory Group on Listed Events were unpaid. Their expenses incurred in travelling to the meetings of the Group were paid from public funds at a cost of £1,499.78. The group heard oral evidence from the following:
Independent Television Commission:

Ms Sheila Cassells

Ms Sarah Thane

Major Spectator Sport Division, Central Council for Physical Recreation:

Lord Alexander of Weedon

David Glencross QC

Mr. Maurice Lindsay

Nr. Nigel Hook

The England and Wales Cricket Board:

Lord McLaurin of Knebworth

Mr. Terry Blake

The BBC:

Mr. Will Wyatt

Mr. Jonathan Martin

Mr. Dominic Morris

BSkyB:

Mr. Vic Wakeling

Mr. Ray Gallegher

Mr. Jonathan Sykes

Mr. Phillip Jenner.

The members of the Advisory Group were appointed not for their knowledge of particular sports but to represent the interests of the general viewing public. All of the members did, however, have a good, general knowledge of sporting issues and were provided with appropriate background information on specific sports events.

§ Mr. Vaz
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to make a final decision on the listing of A and B grade sporting events for terrestrial television [37917]

§ Mr. Chris Smith
The Advisory Group on Listed Events announced its recommendations to me on 20 March. These recommendations included the proposal230W that the list maintained under Part IV of the Broadcasting Act 1996 should be made up of Group A and B events, these classifications defining the extent of the protection for television coverage of these events on generally available, terrestrial channels. I shall make my final decisions on this proposal, and on the events to be included on the list, when I have fully considered the implications of the Group's report. I hope to do so around the middle of May.