To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on (a) commissioning and (b) funding the production of television programmes (i) in each of the last three years and (ii) in 2008-09 to date; what programmes these were; and which companies made them. (210241)

[holding answer 11 June 2008]: In the last three years the Home Office has funded or part-funded the production of three television programmes outlined as follows:

Beat: Life on the Street focused on the work and role of police community support officers. It aired in the autumn of 2006. The Home Office spent £400,000 for the production of this series in the 2006-07 financial year. The series was made by Two Four Television. There was no commissioning cost.

A second series of Beat: Life on the Street was aired in January 2008. The Home Office spent £00,000 for the production of this series in the 2007-08 financial year. The series was made by Two Four Television. There was no commissioning cost.

A series about the work of front line officers from the UK Border Agency is currently in the final production stages. The Home Office spent £400,000 from its budget for 2007-08. The series is made by Steadfast Television. There is no commissioning cost.

To date in this financial year 2008-09 there has been no further spend.