§ Mr. DavidsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will set out, with statistical information relating as directly as possible to the Glasgow, Pollok constituency, the effects on Glasgow, Pollok of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [160832]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThrough their commitment to public service broadcasting, the Government have helped to foster an environment in which a creative, commercially successful broadcasting industry provides a wide range of UK-made, high quality, original programmes catering for all viewers and listeners. We have ensured a secure funding base for the BBC, while giving them the freedom to develop commercial operations which complement and support their public service remit. We have made clear in the Communications White Paper that public service broadcasting will continue to have a key role to play in the digital future.
The Government have also introduced free television licences for people aged 75 or over from 1 November last year. Information on the number of beneficiaries by constituency is not available, but estimates based on the 1991 census indicate that there were approximately 5,200 people aged 75 or over living in the Glasgow, Pollok constituency.
According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies, for the national lottery awards database, there have been 76 national lottery awards to Glasgow, Pollok, totalling £2,268,974, since 2 May 1997. 38 millennium award winners have been identified from Glasgow, Pollok and between them they have received grants totalling £107,947. There have been no specific awards to Glasgow, Pollok from the millennium festival, however, Glasgow as a whole did receive grants totalling £546,000 for the New Year's Eve celebrations.
Other functions which were the responsibility of my Department have been devolved in Scotland to the Scottish Executive.