What plans the Government have to respond to the distribution needs of the film industry. [37404]

I refer my hon. Friend to "A Bigger Picture", the report of the Film Policy Review group, co-chaired by myself and Mr. Stewart Till, to whom I give the thanks of my Department and, I am sure, of the House, for his splendid work with others. The report was published on 25 March. It proposes a number of measures to promote the wider distribution of British films.

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on an excellent report, which I hope all right hon. and hon. Members will read. I am sure that my right hon. Friend shares my concern about the increasing difficulty that a number of film societies have in obtaining prints of new releases, especially when they are restricted to being able to show films on 16 mm equipment. I am sure also that my right hon. Friend agrees with me that we do not want to force the closure of all our town and city-centre film venues, thereby forcing everyone to get into his or her car to go out of town. Does my right hon. Friend have any plans—can anything be done—to keep film societies afloat?

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her comments on the review. There has been a positive response on both sides of the Atlantic.

Is the Minister aware that it is becoming harder and harder since 1 May to attract international film makers to this country because of the strength of the pound? Given that, why is it that the London Film Commission, which was set up with the help of the previous Government and which has helped to attract millions of pounds of film investment into the capital, has received a grant insufficient even to guarantee its future until the end of the year?

First, it does not help when the hon. Gentleman gets his facts considerably wrong. Secondly, it does not help when he talks down Britain when people abroad are investing in British films. We want to encourage them to do so.

What plans his Department has to introduce further television licence concessions. [37405]

The Government's agreement with the BBC provides for a review of future funding arrangements prior to March 2002. That review will include a detailed consideration of licence fee concessions.

I thank the Minister for his answer, but the House will be aware that, before the recent Budget, there was much floating of a trial balloon by the Government in relation to suggestions that there would be free television licences for all pensioners. Will the Minister confirm that the trial balloon was shot down because the Treasury simply refused to sanction the proposal?

No. The trial balloon was floated by the media, not by the Treasury. The hon. Gentleman, having been parliamentary private secretary to the right hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mrs. Bottomley), the previous Secretary of State, will know the difficulties surrounding the concession scheme. It is probably full of anomalies and imperfections. Our Department receives more correspondence about this matter than almost any other. It is genuinely a difficult matter. To extend the existing concession scheme to all pensioner households would cost, at latest figures, £471 million. That is a considerable sum, which we shall have to examine carefully when we come to the review.

Is my hon. Friend aware that on 16 January 1987 my private Member's Bill was voted down by 21 votes? Tory Cabinet Ministers were chauffeured from across the road to the House to vote down a Bill that would have given tremendous help to many pensioners. Does he agree that concessionary television licences should be introduced when it is possible to do so, because, as he says, so many elderly people want and need them? Such licences would be fair and a form of justice, and I shall continue to press for them to be introduced as early as possible.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for reminding hon. Members of his 1987 Bill. He will recall that those who voted against it included the right hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mrs. Bottomley) and the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude)—their opposition says it all.

How many piers in England and Wales have received lottery funding in excess of £100,000 since 1 May 1997. [37406]

One seaside pier has received lottery funding since 1 May 1997. The Brighton west pier trust was awarded a grant of £10.6 million in March 1998 by the heritage lottery fund for the restoration of the pier's substructure.

I thank the Minister for our recent meeting, which was helpful. The Secretary of State said in the lottery debate that his criterion would be that lottery funding would go to people rather than to buildings. I agree, but piers do not come into the category of buildings or into any other category: they are one of their own. Southport pier attracts 144,000 people each year, but it is in need of repair, and we need lottery funding. Will the Minister put piers in a different category when heritage funding is considered?

On the general point, the hon. Gentleman and others can debate those matters when the National Lottery Bill is discussed. With regard to Southport pier, he led a delegation, which I was delighted to meet, and its members spoke fluently for their cause. To help the hon. Gentleman and his constituents, I should say that this is a matter for the heritage lottery fund, which expects to receive a revised application; it would be in their interests to submit it as soon as possible.

The constituents of my neighbour, my hon. Friend the Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Mr. Lepper), who is not in the Chamber, are grateful for the £11 million investment in the Brighton west pier trust, which will generate about £30 million investment in the area. Is not such partnership funding the way to secure the future of piers such as the Brighton west pier, which is the only grade I listed pier in the country?

I thank my hon. Friend for his remarks; the people of Brighton and many others are grateful for the funding. The major difference between Brighton west pier, which is of grade I status as my hon. Friend says, and Southport pier is that, until now, Southport pier, alas, has been grade II.

What proposals he has to encourage the arts outside London; and if he will make a statement. [37407]

The Government are determined that the arts and the work of artists should be encouraged and supported in every part of this country, which is why my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced a new £5 million fund, the new audiences initiative, at the time of the Budget.

I thank the Minister for that answer. Does he agree that many genuinely community-based groups in every aspect of the arts—for example, the Rude Mechanicals theatre group in my constituency—are benefiting or should benefit from funding through the Arts Council or through lottery funding every bit as much as high-profile organisations such as Covent Garden?

I entirely agree, and I am delighted that the hon. Gentleman is obviously getting some early midsummer night's dreaming in with his Rude Mechanicals. Of course he is right. It is a well made point because it is the community arts, and particularly the non-professional arts, that contribute so much to cultural life and do not receive enough consideration either in the House or in the media.

Will my hon. Friend consider carefully the question of music in the sense both of music making and providing music? In the north-west, we have a vigorous tradition of excellent music, but, sadly, it looks as though some music teaching is to be abandoned in the education service, which is very worrying. It will deprive us of a whole sector of important cultural activity.

My hon. Friend makes a very good point. It is underlined by, for example, last year's report of the associated board of the Royal Schools of Music, which shows a worrying trend and a decline in the number of people learning and teaching music. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are examining the matter with considerable urgency, and hope to make a substantial announcement later in the summer, with some new initiatives to kick-start the teaching of music in schools and for young people. The new initiatives that we are providing in the National Lottery Bill may help us to do that.

In view of the pressure on the arts budget, particularly now that the Chancellor of the Exchequer has helped himself to so much lottery funding, does the hon. Gentleman have any plans to ensure that some of the major national London arts groups are funded directly by his Department rather than through the Arts Council? Does he intend that the Royal Opera house or English National Opera will be a direct client of his Department, as the museums are, and will no longer be, as I say, the Arts Council's responsibility, which would clear its desk, so that it could help the arts outside London more evenly?

No. We have no such plans, although, as part of our departmental spending review, we are examining the whole way in which our Department allocates its expenditure.

What measures he has taken to ensure that the new access fund supports museums and galleries in Dudley. [37408]

Perhaps I might be permitted to observe at the outset that access to cultural recreation, particularly sporting activity of all kinds, was something dear to the heart of our late and much loved colleague Denis Howell. We remember him today with great affection.

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer, and congratulate him on the moneys that have been made available. I raise two issues for the longer term. The first concerns education packs. As a matter of policy, Dudley museum does not charge, but it does have to charge for education packs, even though teachers can freely reproduce them.

Yes. Both those issues, which my hon. Friend has rightly raised—the development of educational initiatives in museums and galleries and the ability of people with physical impairment to gain physical access to museums and galleries—would fall specifically within the province of the heritage lottery new fund. Dudley museum will, I am sure, be interested in putting in an application for consideration.

If he will make a statement on the Government's policy on cross-border media mergers. [37410]

The Government have no plans to amend the media ownership rules revised by the Broadcasting Act 1996. These permit, of course, cross-border holdings within the European Union.

On how many occasions in the past year has the Prime Minister personally intervened in such matters?

As far as I am aware, the Prime Minister has had one 30-second reference to the matter in a conversation with the Italian Prime Minister, and on no other occasion has he intervened.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of us who live in the regions are more concerned about what happened to cross-border television and independent regional television services under the previous Government, when many of us lost our independent regional broadcasting? Is it not about time that we reminded the viewing public of that? Will the Labour Government make sure that there are independent news services and local community services when companies such as Granada Television, which took over Yorkshire Television, become part of a much greater sector?

My hon. Friend raises an extremely important point. The regional character and flavour of programme making, especially in the ITV network, has been one of the great strengths of independent television over the years. Sadly, it was put in some danger by the changes introduced by the previous Government, who seemed completely uninterested in quality and interested only in the price tag when they changed the franchising system. We have made it very clear to the Independent Television Commission that we regard it as one of its prime duties to uphold the regional character and the regional sourcing of programmes when it considers matters relating to ITV.

How predominant does an international multi-media group have to become before it triggers concern and intervention by this Government?

The rules are very clearly laid down in legislation passed by the Conservative Government.

What assessment he has made of the contribution which (a) drama and (b) television make to the United Kingdom economy. [37411]

No separate estimate is available for drama, although the revenues of the much wider other entertainments category totalled nearly £6 billion in 1997. Television and radio combined had total revenues of almost £10 billion in 1997.

The figures that my right hon. Friend has just given go some way to illustrating the importance of these industries. Given their impact on employment and the balance of payments, and given also that they brighten the quality of our lives, is there not a case for adding to the help, support and encouragement that he has already given them, especially in respect of training, which has suffered badly from the fragmentation of the television industry? That would enable us to do better at combating the huge advantage that the Americans gain from their huge domestic market, and the huge advantage that the French have from cultural and linguistic subsidies.

My hon. Friend makes a very interesting point. I welcome, as I am sure he does, the dialogue between film and television, and the interest of both in training. My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the fact that total revenues of spectrum estimates indicate a turnover from the creative industries as a whole of around £55 billion, £12 billion of which is generated from exports. Creative industries like those to which he referred are of the utmost importance to my Department and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, and my hon. Friend can be sure that we share his values.

Is it not the case that most people who work in the film industry originally trained in television, not only at the BBC but with independent companies? Although I welcome the last Budget, which helped the film industry, will the right hon. Gentleman urge the Chancellor of the Exchequer also to give some thought to withholding tax, which at present is still a disincentive for some American film companies to come to the United Kingdom, even though they invest here in large numbers?

It ought to be said that, with regard to the film industry, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been the most generous Chancellor in history. In his Budget, within eight weeks of being in government, he gave a three-year, 100 per cent. write-off to film production. On the day that the document that I have in my hand was published, in which the review group—consisting in the main of people from the film industry, from television and from skill set involved in training—recommended an extra year, the Chancellor outdid even that and gave an extra two years, so things are not going too badly.

My hon. Friend the Minister will know that the film review recommended that the broadcasting industry—which makes tremendous use of film—should contribute to the all-industry fund. Has he had any response from the television industry to that proposal?

My hon. Friend makes a valid point. BBC, Channel 4, ITV and BSkyB already have a good record of investing in film production. Broadcasters recognise that the voluntary contribution suggested in the review is appropriate for all who now use film, including broadcasters and cinema and video distributors. There has been a very positive response.

What meetings he has held with representatives of News International in the last month to discuss cross-media ownership; and if he will make a statement. [37412]

I have not held any meetings with News International to discuss this subject in the last month. I briefly met Mr. Rupert Murdoch and representatives from BSkyB—in which News International has a 40 per cent. holding—together with other key players in the European audio-visual industry, at the Birmingham audio-visual conference on 6 April.

Has the Minister or any of his officials ever discussed policy issues relating to News International with Mr. Tim Allan at No. 10 Downing street? Does he believe that 28-year-old Mr. Allan has been offered a salary of £100,000 a year because of his mastery of the motor scooter or because of his access to the heart of Government?

The politics of envy.

The answer is no—I have never discussed such matters with Mr. Allan. That question, coming from a former Tory communications director, smacks a little of jealousy.

Does my right hon. Friend welcome the statement that Mr. Murdoch made at the Birmingham conference, when he said that he looked forward to the day when Britain was fully integrated into Europe? Does my right hon. Friend agree that the traditional strength of the British audio-visual industry is such that it should be the leading player in Europe? Far from adopting the rather xenophobic protectionist line of Conservative Members—just sour milk because Rupert has gone off them—should we not be backing any British companies that promote British film and British media ownership across Europe and the rest of the world?

I did, indeed, note with considerable interest Mr. Murdoch's statement in his speech at the Birmingham conference, when he looked forward to the future integration of Europe. However, he made one or two other observations with which I could not agree, such as his attack on public service broadcasting. I tried to put the record right with a robust defence of public service broadcasting during my closing speech at the conference.

At the time when the Prime Minister acceded to Mr. Murdoch's request to intervene with the Italian Prime Minister in favour of the recent BSkyB bid, did he know that his deputy press spokesman was already negotiating to take on a senior job with BSkyB? Was Mr. Allan the conduit for Mr. Murdoch's request for help? Were Cabinet Office officials consulted about his subsequent appointment? Did they know of any role that Mr. Allan played in the Prodi affair?

I think that most people are interested in rather more substantive issues, which include the matter on which Mr. Murdoch addressed the Birmingham conference last week. That related to the approval which I gave on 13 October last year for the start-up by the BBC of 24-hour news—something which Mr. Murdoch and BSkyB greatly resented.

How lottery distributors, when formulating their strategy, will assess need in the Burton constituency. [37413]

Distributors will consult widely when drawing up their strategies. This consultation will include local authorities and other local interests. The new proposed policy directions, drafts of which are in the Library of the House, emphasise the need to ensure that lottery funds reach all parts of the country and all sections of society.

I welcome my right hon. Friend's reply. My constituency has some of the most deprived wards in the west midlands. Will the new lottery legislation ensure that help gets to where it is most needed in those wards?

Yes, in two ways. First, the new policy directions—drafts of which I have issued—will ensure that all lottery distributors take proper account of the need to combat social deprivation when considering making grants. Secondly, distributors will be able to instigate fast-track procedures for small community grants which will get rid of a lot of the red tape and excessive paperwork which at the moment bedevil applications by small community organisations eminently deserving of grant.

Will not the National Lottery Bill result, effectively, in the decisions on which projects in Burton are supported by lottery funds being taken by Ministers? Is that not why virtually every Labour Back Bencher who spoke in support of the Bill at Second Reading did so on the explicit basis that the Bill will make it easier for the Secretary of State to direct lottery money to the constituencies of Labour Members of Parliament?

No, Madam Speaker. It may not surprise you that the right hon. Gentleman is wrong on all counts. I was interested to receive a letter from the right hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mrs. Bottomley)—the former Secretary of State—who spends most of her time, like the right hon. Gentleman, accusing us of creating the new opportunities fund to somehow deal with our priorities. In her letter she referred to a dyslexia centre in her constituency, and said:

"The changes in direction—

should provide an excellent opportunity for them. I wonder if you could brief me on the likely timetable in which applications will be received for the new opportunities fund."

What plans he has to review the criteria relating to the eligibility of good causes to receive lottery funding. [37414]

The National Lottery Bill creates a new, sixth good cause encompassing health, education and the environment. I am consulting on a new package of draft policy directions governing the distribution of lottery funds for the existing good causes, and expect to issue the formal directions shortly.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that one of the things which characterised the lottery when it was run by the Tory Government was that they favoured their own people and their own marginal seats? As evidence of that, the three seats in north Derbyshire—Bolsover, North-East Derbyshire and Chesterfield—finished in the lowest 10 per cent. of all constituencies in Britain in terms of receiving grant. It is clear that somebody was making a serious attempt to ensure that we did not get much of a return. Since the Labour Government are in charge, will my right hon. Friend remedy that and help those areas of social deprivation? It is not a matter of favouring anybody—it is about favouring those people who have not had a fair crack of the whip hitherto.

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. This should not be a matter of favouring particular parts of the country because of their political affiliation. It should be about ensuring that there is a fair geographical spread across the country and that issues of social deprivation are properly taken into account. Both will result from the changes in direction and legislation that we are proposing.

Is the Secretary of State aware of the concern expressed by the chief executive of the mental health charity Sane about the fact that her helpline, which deals with many thousands of people who are contemplating suicide, has had its applications for lottery grants turned down three times, whereas a helpline for owners bereaved after the death of a pet, which deals with a much smaller number of people, has received a grant of £180,000? Does he not think that a strange set of priorities? Does he agree that the lottery of the lottery should be in the choosing of numbers and the winning of prizes, not in the awarding of grants?

Certainly the awarding of grants should not be a lottery, but the hon. Gentleman will know—as, indeed, the Conservative Front-Bench spokesman has just pointed out—that those decisions are strictly a matter for the National Lottery Charities Board, not for me.

What steps he is taking to improve standards in cricket in the United Kingdom. [37418]

Working through the English Sports Council, we are encouraging the England and Wales Cricket Board in its plans to widen access to the game, to build the quality of the competitive game in England and to improve performance in international competition.

That is a good statement of principle, for which I thank the Secretary of State. Will he be more proactive in ensuring that standards are such that we can expect to win test series this year and in the future, rather than think that we will win, but then lose? Will he consider calling for an audit, local authority by local authority, of facilities for teaching cricket and of incentives to youngsters to learn? On each estate in constituencies such as his and mine, places could be marked out as nets—it is very simple—so that kids could play cricket in the yard just as they play football and other games. If that happened, we might get people who could win some test matches for us.

Like the hon. Gentleman, I look forward with a mixture of optimism and trepidation to the test matches against South Africa and Sri Lanka later this summer. It is important that we ensure the promotion of excellence, which is why we very much hope that the England and Wales Cricket Board will put forward proposals for a national cricket academy as part of the United Kingdom sports institute network.

Will my right hon. Friend congratulate the England women's cricket team, which returned to this country yesterday morning—on the same plane as me—from its successful tour of South Africa? What steps are his Department taking to encourage more women to take part in cricket?

I congratulate both the England women's cricket team and my hon. Friend. I am particularly pleased that £157,000 of world-class performance grants have been made available to the team so that it can develop the excellence of its game. I am also pleased that the Women's Cricket Association has decided to merge with the England and Wales Cricket Board, which I think bodes well, especially for the board.

Is it not rather bizarre that anyone should look to the Government to improve cricket, as the essence of new Labour spin doctoring is that it is not cricket?

The hon. Gentleman is batting on rather a sticky wicket. It is important that the Government ensure mass participation in sports of all kinds, including cricket, and excellence. Both are very much at the heart of the Government's sports policy.

As the question refers to cricket in the United Kingdom, may I remind the Secretary of State that cricket is played in Scotland and that Aberdeen cricket club had a Caribbean professional long before the 1939–45 war? I further remind him that some Scots have played for England, and that two of the world cup games will be played in Scotland. Will he impress upon my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland the need to increase coaching facilities throughout Scotland? My right hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Anniesland (Mr. Dewar) and his colleagues in the Scottish Office are not known as great cricket fans. We need an expansion of cricket coaching facilities throughout Scotland.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is well known, however, as a man of great fairness and integrity and I am sure that he will have listened carefully to my hon. Friend, whose remarks I shall draw to his attention.

What action he is taking to ensure that the millennium dome will enable the best British design and innovation to be exhibited. [37434]

The dome itself is a flagship of British design and innovation—Richard Rogers's design, in scale and construction, shows the world the best of the nation's talent and creativity; the content will be a reflection of the spectacular imagination of British companies and British-based designers.

Did my hon. Friend see the report by Business Strategies last week pointing up the vital importance to this country's future wealth creation of the creative industries, including those in design and innovation? As so much interest is being expressed by people at home and overseas in visiting the dome, will he ensure that the impact of the dome and what happens in it are not just felt during its time, but will influence future creativity, innovation and design as we go into the millennium?

My hon. Friend makes a good point, with which I agree. It is extraordinary that some people in this country like to carp and sneer at our creative industries and at what they call "cool Britannia". My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to the Business Strategies report of last week, which noted that the creative industries contribute some £50 billion to our national economy and that they will be the fastest-growing source of new jobs between now and 2006.

Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that the dome's token nod to British content, which is apparently to be called "UK@ Now", is being designed by a Frenchman? Is that the Frenchman who described the dome as "very un-British", which the Minister said last week he took as "a great compliment"? Does he agree with the spokesman for the dome who, when the story about the French designer came out, said:

"As far as we are concerned David Bentheim is doing it himself but if he wants to farm it out to someone else that is cool with us."

"a display of confidence in the creativity and talents of our people"?

I notice that, the better we do and the more progress we make in constructing the millennium dome and its contents, the weaker the right hon. Gentleman's questions become. One day he will give us all a shock and say something positive about the millennium dome, which was, after all, his party's original idea. However, perhaps it is just very cool in today's Conservative party to pour cold water on the ideas and vision that were originally shown by his right hon. Friends.

What events are proposed at the millennium experience for the evening of 31 December 2000. [37435]

I am tempted to say that my hon. Friend should give us a break before asking questions about the closing ceremony. Preparations for that ceremony are at an early stage, and it is too soon for final decisions.

I am somewhat disappointed by the tone of that reply, bearing in mind the fact that the eve of the millennium is the last day of December 2000 and the first day of the millennium is 1 January 2001. When we are emphasising the need for arithmetic to be taught correctly in schools, I should have thought it incumbent on Her Majesty's Government to mark the arithmetically correct time of the millennium change.

indicated assent.

Before they nod, Conservative Members should reflect on the fact that they got it wrong as well. It is important that this Parliament should at least give some recognition to the fact that the eve of the millennium is the last day of 2000. We should get it right, or we shall look profoundly silly. The Victorians got it right: newspapers of 1900-01 show that they marked the change of the century on the eve of 1901. We ought to be able to get it right, too.

Whatever the technical truthfulness of my hon. Friend's observation, I can assure him that, whenever the opening and closing ceremonies take place, they will reflect the full breadth and success of the celebrations that we have planned. I am determined to ensure that the whole year-long celebrations are accessible to as many people as possible, and not only to the well-heeled and the very important.

Whatever the closing date of the dome may be—or perhaps, following the question of my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude), I should say, "la date de fermeture"—is it not completely irrelevant, given that, although there were supposed to be 12 million visitors, we have already heard that the plan to provide river transport has failed, and London Transport says that there will not, after all, be 24 trains an hour? How can there be a closing, when the opening will be unsuccessful, as nobody will be able to get there?

The innovative integrated transport systems that are being developed—the Jubilee line extension, the new river services and riverside walks, and even a cable car service across the Thames—will be among the most important legacies of the millennium experience.

What progress has been made on the national programme for the millennium experience. [37436]

The New Millennium Experience Company has established 12 national programme offices in the nine regions of England and in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Staff in those offices are providing a one-stop shop source of information about how to engage in the United Kingdom-wide programme of events and activities and in the nation's millennium festival.

Is my hon. Friend aware of the feeling in north Nottinghamshire and, I suspect, in Hartlepool, that people living in London and the south-east are advantaged to the disadvantage of people in the midlands and the north? Will he take steps to ensure that people throughout the United Kingdom have the opportunity to celebrate the millennium?

The Government are absolutely determined to ensure affordable access to the millennium dome for all people from every part of the country, but the millennium does not mean only the dome. It means the £100-million nationwide festival of sporting, artistic and heritage events, bids for which can be submitted from next week; the huge range of capital projects being funded by the millennium commission at over 3,000 locations throughout the country; and the millennium awards, which will fund ordinary people throughout the country to do extraordinary things, from pensioner inventors in Cornwall to special needs workers in Northamptonshire. In other words, it means a national movement to change the landscape of our country and really make a difference to the way we live our lives. That is what the millennium celebrations mean, and that is why the Government are backing them.

Is the Minister not aware that the millennium celebrations actually mean the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ? Is he not ashamed of the fact that, throughout all that great tirade and, indeed, his answers to the other questions this afternoon, he did not mention that once, and that the importance he gives to it in his dome is so ludicrously small?

The hon. Gentleman's view is not shared by His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, with whom I had a recent meeting and who expressed himself well content with the proper acknowledgement that we are giving to the birth of Christ and the contribution of the Christian religion to this country. We will continue to work with him, his colleagues and other members of the multi-faith Lambeth group to ensure that all those objectives are properly reflected and fulfilled.

What vehicles are available to bishops and how many chauffeurs are supplied; and what was the total cost of running these vehicles, including depreciation, and employing the chauffeurs for the latest year for which figures are available. [37445]

Official cars provided for bishops have engine capacities in a range from 1.6 to 2.3 litres. In 1997, the net cost of providing and maintaining bishops' cars was £279,000. Seven bishops use their own cars and are paid a mileage allowance. In 1997, 31 bishops employed full or part-time drivers. The cost of those to the commissioners was £317,000.

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that money spent on chauffeurs and very large-engined cars is not regarded sympathetically by people in parishes who see their churches closing and otherwise short of money? Would the money not be better diverted to helping to take the Christian mission to the country at large?

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. Bishops have a demanding ministry, as he will know, and an increasing work load. The use of a driver can give them valuable extra time and relieve them of some pressure when travelling to and from their many and varied engagements. Several of the drivers also work as gardeners or handymen at see houses, or are part-time.

What discussions he has had on the arms exporting policy of companies in which the Church Commissioners have invested. [37446]

The question of company policy on the export of arms has recently been put to GEC and GKN. Both companies have given assurances that they adhere strictly to the United Kingdom Government's licence terms for such sales.

Has my hon. Friend followed events recently in east Java, Indonesia, where, on 8 April, British-supplied water cannons were used to fire toxic liquids and tear gas at unarmed students? Is it not time that the Church Commissioners reviewed their policy in view of those facts, especially as the water cannons have been used not once but many times against unarmed demonstrators? They should review their policy in the light of those incidents and I want my hon. Friend's assurance that they will do just that.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising those matters; as she habitually does. The Church Commissioners are always grateful to her, and listen to her with great care. As Church investors, we are acutely aware of the strength of feeling that those issues arouse within the Church and among the public at large. Our policy as commissioners draws a distinction between, on the one hand, a legitimate British defence industry that supplies equipment under Government licence to the Ministry of Defence and our NATO partners and, on the other, the supply of equipment as part of the international arms trade, albeit also under Government licence.

What recent discussions have taken place between the Church Commissioners and diocesan authorities about ethical investment. [37447]

Members of the Church of England's ethical investment working group frequently meet and give presentations to various diocesan bodies regarding the Church's ethical investment policy.

Would the hon. Gentleman ensure that there is not merely regular or some contact between the dioceses and the Church Commissioners, but some mechanism whereby, before any decision is taken by a diocese, such as mine of Southwark, which I read had invested in the defence industries, it is fully briefed on the implications and alternatives, and on issues that relate to the Jubilee 2000 repayment of debt agenda? Many countries that buy arms sold by the companies in which our diocese invests could pay off or reduce their debts and spend on more worthwhile activities if they did not buy those arms.

Under the Cathedrals Measure 1963, chapters are requested to seek our advice before investing, although they are not required to follow it. The Church Commissioners publish information about the ethical investment policy of the Church's central investing bodies. It is widely circulated and a report is made annually to the General Synod of the Church of England. As the hon. Gentleman knows, there is a review of the Cathedrals Measure, and a Cathedrals Measure will come before the House shortly.

If he will make a statement regarding the role of BSkyB as a sponsor of the millennium dome. [37438]

BSkyB is one of the four founding partners of the millennium experience. Founding partners have the opportunity to work with the New Millennium Experience Company's staff and design teams in developing the content of exhibits in the dome. Additionally, where founding partners' support covers the company's challenge programme of country-wide events and activities, they will have similar opportunities to work with the company's staff in the development of that programme.

Will BSkyB get any exclusive television coverage rights?

No, it will not.

Given the public interest in sponsorship and other arrangements for the dome, when does the Minister intend to publish the business plan for the millennium dome, in line with the recommendations of the Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport?

The initial draft of the company's corporate plan has already gone, under cover of confidentiality, to the Select Committee. It will duly be published for the House and the public to read.

What proposals he has, through the New Millennium Experience Company, for celebrating the millennium in Scotland, Wales and the English regions. [37439]

The New Millennium Experience Company has established 12 national programme offices in the nine regions of England and in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to ensure that the millennium experience programme of UK-wide events and activities running before and during 2000 offers as many opportunities as possible for people across the country to take an active part. In addition, the company's 12 local offices will provide a one-stop shop source of information about how to take part in the millennium festival programme which will run during 2000.

I am grateful to the Minister for that reply, as one just about old enough to remember with great fondness the 1951 festival of Britain, both on the south bank and all the events in my home village of Radyr, which I now have the honour of representing. Does he agree that, while Greenwich will be essentially regarded as an urban festival, matters such as improving access to the countryside for 2000 and beyond are important? For many of us, the right to roam is as important as the right to dome, if not more so.

I very much share my hon. Friend's sentiment. It is important that, in formulating ideas and, plans for locally based, do-it-yourself millennium celebrations and festivals, the matching funds from the millennium festival fund are sought by rural as well as suburban and urban areas. I hope that that will be the case. I shall ensure that the offices of the New Millennium Experience Company, which administers the millennium festival fund, seek to encourage and look kindly upon any such applications from local groups and organisations in rural areas.

Over the recess, I met Mr. Stephen Martin of Virtex, which runs virtual reality systems that would allow the millennium dome to be enjoyed by every citizen in the country who has access to the internet. That project was encouraged by my hon. Friend the Member for Esher and Walton (Mr. Taylor), but the company has now learnt from a reliable source that a Japanese system might have been chosen. Why is that?

I shall, of course, look into the matter; I have no detailed information on it at my fingertips. Wherever possible, we seek to make sure that the supplies for the dome, both for its construction and for its contents, come from British companies. If British companies have failed to compete successfully on this occasion, I very much regret that. However, as I said, I shall inquire with the company and see what the facts of the matter are.

What representations he has received about the use of the term "spirit zone". [37440]

The New Millennium Experience Company's working title for the zone, which aims to explore the values that underpin our society and how they are expressed through faith and belief, is spirit level. The New Millennium Experience Company has received two representations about the use of the term "spirit level" arising from the company's continuing consultations with the Lambeth group on the content of the zone.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Christians and other faith groups had their worst fears confirmed when the contents of the dome were launched at The People's Palace, the same place where Labour celebrated its victory? Their fear is that the Government are exploiting the dome for party political purposes. The term "spirit level" is an insult to the Christian faith and to other religions, and sounds more like a place where Mystic Meg should hang out.

That is rich coming from the right hon. Lady, the leader of whose party said recently that he would rather take a walk than go to church.