Commons briefing: Culture, media and sport questions

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ePolitix.com reports on Monday's culture, media and sport questions, in which ministers address questions on lap dancing, Digital Britain and the Olympics.

Lynda Waltho (Lab, Stourbridge) has slammed the "big, big loophole" that temporary event notices create for lap dancing clubs.

In culture, media and sport questions, she drew attention to owners who used the system to expand their businesses, holding events in a variety of locations to increase customer numbers.

But culture minister Gerry Sutcliffe explained that specific information was not kept on the nature of applications.

He stated that the licensing act merely governed the holding of events not the content of events, and was therefore inappropriate in this situation.

Mark Field (Con, Cities of London and Westminster) who also lambasted the loopholes left in the legislation.

Denis MacShane (Lab, Rotherham) went on to criticise a particular example of a "degrading" club in Newcastle

He welcomed a boycott organised by his daughter with Newcastle University students.

Adrian Sanders (Lib Dem, Torbay) criticised the "democratic loophole" that prevents temporary event licences being subject to elected officials, calling for this to be closed.

Shadow minister, Ed Vaizey, raised concerns that there was no requirement for a designated supervisor to be in an establishment.

This criticism was rejected by Sutcliffe, who argued that designated supervisors were working as intended.

Lindsay Hoyle (Lab, Chorley) demanded that the Digital Britain review must support the survival of regional news services.

Culture secretary Andy Burnham agreed that regional news had a "crucial importance".

John Whittingdale, culture, media and sport committee chairman, highlighted that the "total advertising revenue of commercial television" was less than the licence fee received by the BBC.

He challenged Burnham to commit to using some of the extra funds to support regional news and Channel 4.

But Burnham warned against the assumption, specifying that there was a great deal of uncertainty over the costs of the digital switchover.

Lib Dem culture spokesperson Don Foster accused the government of "playing catch-up" with the rest of Europe by setting a low target of 2mb/s broadband provision.

Burnham evaded questions by clarifying that the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform was principally responsible for the decision.

In topical questions, Ann Winterton (Con, Congleton) called for help to be provided for the local media which was vital for effective democracy.

Agreeing that regional and local news was "crucial to local democracy", Burnham stated that there would be a summit at the end of April.

Andrew Stunell (Lib Dem, Hazel Grove) called for all options to be "on the table" at the local media summit.

But the minister reported that all relevant options would be available.

And Jim Cunningham called for a media bailout to match the banking support.

Jeff Ennis (Con, Barnsley East & Mexborough) has called on the government to replace the levy system in the horseracing industry he said that ministers must "actually modernise" the sector.

Sutcliffe responded that the levy review would provide opportunity to discuss the issues facing the industry.

However, Philip Davies (Con, Shipley) called for the government to accept the three-year deal offered by bookmakers which would, in his view, allow the required time to create a long term strategy.

Sutcliffe replied that the levy revenue continuation could go hand-in-hand with a three-year deal to guarantee stability.

Concerns were put on record today over the use of European loans to disguise the cost of the Olympic Games.

Hugh Robertson, shadow Olympics minister, demanded an explanation of the £250m loan that had appeared on the European Investment Bank website to complete the athletes' village.

Jowell dismissed the report, arguing that not all the money would be needed.

The funds will also aid the development of the social housing projects in the athletes' village, she explained.

Mark Harper (Con, Forest of Dean) also asked what the estimate of expenditure was for the Olympic Games and expanding on the legacy cost, Jowell stressed that 75 pence in every pound went towards regeneration.

Peter Bone (Con, Wellingborough) demanded further details on the "anchor tenant" of the Olympic Stadium when the Games had concluded.

Expressing further concerns over the legacy, Andrew Selous (Con) highlighted the need for "very expensive venues" to have a "long lasting legacy" for the people of London and beyond London.

Jowell concluded that designs were amended, occasionally at cost, to "ensure that adaption for community use" is possible.

The Olympics minister made it clear that schools, community groups and the British Institute of Sport would all be using the stadium.