§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Ministerial policy reviews have been initiated within his Department since 1 May 1997; and when they are expected to report. [36072]
§ Mr. Chris SmithIn common with all other Government Departments, the Department for Culture Media and Sport has been undertaking a comprehensive spending review. This has looked at objectives, policies and spending priorities across all the Department's responsibilities.
The Department has also conducted a number of individual reviews alongside the spending review. These were:
- a review of the National Lottery resulted in the publication last July of a White Paper, "The People's Lottery" and the subsequent introduction of the National Lottery Bill now before the House;
- a review of the arrangements for celebrating the Millennium;
- a review of film policy, the outcome of which was published on 25 March;
- a review of the list of nationally important sporting events which must be made available to generally available free-to-air terrestrial TV channels.