Parliamentary Questions - Written Replies

TV LICENCE FEE: A review of the BBC licence fee and the potential for further savings by the corporation is to be carried out by Touche Ross, the accountancy firm, Peter Brooke, the Secretary of State for National Heritage, announced. The review will reconsider the linking of the licence fee to the retail price index for the next three years up to the renewal of the BBC charter.

CATERING SELL-OFF: Forward, the Civil Service catering organisation, is to be privatised, Anthony Nelson, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said. Financial advisers have been appointed and pounds 400,000 of 'preliminary expenses' has been transferred from the contingency fund.

CAPPING REVERSED: John Redwood, Secretary of State for Wales, reversed a decision by his predecessor, David Hunt, to cap the council tax of Aberconwy borough council. His decision was due to the extra costs caused by severe flooding in the town.