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  • Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Barclay on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) masts are operational and (b) premises receive a mobile signal as a result of the Mobile Infrastructure Project.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The first site to go live was Weaverthorpe in North Yorkshire in September 2013, providing coverage to over 200 premises in North Yorkshire. The second site has been built in North Molton in Devon and will be operational shortly, estimated to reach more than 200 premises. Once potential sites have been identified, network connections need to be found, sites need to be acquired and planning consent achieved. This work is underway and ongoing.

  • Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Barclay on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many masts will be erected in Cambridgeshire as part of the Mobile Infrastructure Project.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Mobile Infrastructure Project implementation plan identified seven potential masts for Cambridgeshire. Coverage by the mobile network operators has shifted as they begin roll out of 4G, leading to improvements in coverage in some areas and changes in the number and locations of not spots. DCMS officials and Arqiva, delivery partner for the Mobile Infrastructure Project, are incorporating these changes into the project’s planning. Once this planning is finalised any changes will be communicated to planning authorities.

  • Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Barclay on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of how many premises in Cambridgeshire will benefit from the Mobile Infrastructure Project.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    We expect that over 150 premises in Cambridgeshire will benefit from the Mobile Infrastructure Project. The build of all masts under the Mobile Infrastructure Project is dependent on a number of unknown factors for each potential mast, including finding a willing landlord for the mast and obtaining planning permission.

  • Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Barclay on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many masts are operational in Cambridgeshire as a result of the Mobile Infrastructure Project.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    There are not yet any masts operational in Cambridgeshire. We estimate that work will commence on Cambridgeshire masts over the coming months. The build of all masts under the Mobile Infrastructure Project is dependent on a number of unknown factors for each potential mast, including finding a willing landlord for the mast and obtaining planning permission.

  • Justin Tomlinson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Justin Tomlinson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has had discussions with Pan European Game Information on its pricing structure and effect on the UK video games industry.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Whilst we have not had any recent discussions about pricing structure, PEGI – via the UK Games Rating Authority – formally notified my Department recently that the general fees for obtaining a PEGI classification are being increased by 5% from 1 July 2014, the first increase for 5 years.

    In 2012 my Department brought into force a statutory requirement for PEGI classifications for hard copy video games that are unsuitable for younger children. A full business impact assessment was produced for this policy in discussion with industry and with PEGI. My department will continue to monitor the impact of the statutory classification requirements for video games sold in the UK and we are committed to a formal review of the policy in 2015.

  • Mark Pritchard – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Mark Pritchard – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will hold discussions with the major auction houses on the sale of stolen antiquities from conflict areas and the links between the proceeds of such sales and the funding of terrorism.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    I have no current plans to hold discussions with the major auction houses, nor has the Government recently discussed the sale of conflict antiquities with them. The Government believes that regulating trade in antiquities is primarily the responsibility of the art and antiquities trade itself. The established trade associations possess codes of ethics by which they expect their members to abide and we expect the associations to strictly enforce those codes. The DCMS has produced advice and guidance to help UK dealers and auction houses consider the relevant issues such as ensuring the secure provenance of cultural objects in which they deal.

    The UK takes the issue of illicit trade in cultural goods very seriously and is continuously working to combat this type of trafficking.

    The UK has legislation in place, the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, which makes it an offence to import or export objects if that is prohibited under any enactment. Once an EU Regulation prohibiting such import or export comes into force, the act becomes a UK offence. Accordingly, prohibitions on export and import of certain Syrian cultural property under Council Regulation (EU) 1332/2013 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria, have been backed up by UK offences since December 2013. These are complemented by a statutory instrument (The Export Control (Syria Sanctions) (Amendment) Order 2014) which was laid before Parliament on 18 July 2014. The prohibitions relate to the trade in certain Syrian cultural goods where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the goods were removed from Syria on or after 9 May 2011 without consent of the legitimate owner or in breach of Syrian or international law.

    The import, export and dealing in illegally removed Iraqi cultural property is prohibited under The Iraq (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2003. While not specific to war situations, the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003 prohibits dealing in cultural objects illegally excavated or illegally removed from monuments or structures of historical, architectural or archaeological interest.

  • Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Barclay on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, When he expects the mobile infrastructure project to be completed.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The news release issued on MIP in July last year referred to sites being acquired and built by 2015. Intensive work is continuing to deliver coverage to areas currently without, and this project remains a high priority for the Government. Providing coverage to some of the more remote and sensitive locations has been challenging but this project has brought together the four mobile network operators for the first time to find solutions. Proposals and timeframes to tackle these issues and to secure long term mobile coverage capabilities for the future are being finalised with further communications expected in the autumn.

  • Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games for participation in clay pigeon shooting in each region of the UK.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    Sport England is investing £1.1 million in British Shooting for 2013-17 to get more people taking part in shooting regularly.

    According the Active People Survey, 54,300 people take part in clay pigeon shooting in England at least once a month. This is an increase of 3,800 since 2012. It is the most popular shooting discipline in England.

    Table 1 gives a regional breakdown of shooting (all disciplines) participation. Please note – a regional breakdown of figures for specific shooting disciplines is not available due to the relatively small size of the sport.

    Table 1:

    Region

    Monthly Participants (16+) – Oct 2011/12

    Monthly Participants (16+) – Apr 2013/14

    Change since 2011/12

    East

    22,800

    19,400

    -3,400

    East Midlands

    14,200

    11,300

    -2,900

    London*

    –

    –

    –

    North East*

    –

    –

    –

    North West

    12,000

    12,700

    700

    South East

    21,100

    23,200

    2,100

    South West

    18,700

    12,400

    -6,300

    West Midlands

    10,500

    14,400

    3,900

    Yorkshire

    9,700

    16,900

    7,200

    *Data not available for these regions due to the relatively small size of the sport

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the cost of restructuring the shipbuilding agreement with BAE Systems.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 November 2013, (Official Report, column 696W).

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department will spend on the D-5 missile life extension programme in each of the next five years.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Forecast and planned expenditure on the D5 missile life extension programme for the current and next financial years (FY) are as follows:

    FY 2014-15 £27.1 million (Forecast)
    FY 2015-16 £35.0 million (Planned)
    Spending plans for 2016-17 and beyond have not yet been agreed and will be set as part of the Government’s spending review process. Therefore, I am withholding details of the proposed spending beyond 2015-16 as to release this information would be likely to impact upon the formulation of Government policy.