HC Deb 21 November 2002 vol 394 cc230-1W
Mr. Whittingdale

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she has satisfied herself that UK History is distinctive from the History channel and will not compete unfairly with it. [80429]

Dr. Howells

Unlike the BBC's licence fee funded channels, there is no requirement that BBC Worldwide's commercial channels are distinctive. As a commercial channel, UK History can compete on a commercial basis in the same way as any channel, subject to all the requirements of EU and UK Competition Law, as well as the BBC's Fair Trading Commitment and Commercial Policy Guidelines

Mr. Whittingdale

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the approval given in 2000 to UKTV for the UK History channel. [80436]

Dr. Howells

No. Approvals given for BBC Worldwide's commercial activities contain commercially sensitive information and, therefore, are not published.