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and 1993. A breakdown of figures, by gender, for violent crime could be provided only at disproportionate cost. For the purposes of the table, violent crime includes murder, manslaughter, grievous bodily harm, malicious wounding, firearms and explosives offences and robberies.


Violent crime     |1992         |1993                       

------------------------------------------------------------

InterCity         |276          |341                        

Regional          |611          |496                        

Network SouthEast |1,311        |1,447                      

Other Sectors     |41           |161                        

                  |-------      |-------                    

Total             |2,239        |2,466                      


l

All sexual assaults1992                                1993                                                 

(against males in                                                                                           

brackets)                                                                                                   

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intercity         |57               |(7)              |37               |(2)                                

Regional          |63               |(3)              |63               |(7)                                

Network SouthEast |151              |(13)             |161              |(11)                               

Other Sectors     |3                |-                |11               |(1)                                

                  |-------          |-------          |-------          |-------                            

Total             |274              |(23)             |272              |(21)                               

The increase in violent crime in Network SouthEast is mainly attributable to robberies in south London, which is not unique to the railways. The British Transport police, working closely with the Metropolitan police, have targeted the problem, a policy which is starting to have an impact.


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NATIONAL HERITAGE

Royal Palaces

Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what accommodation at the occupied royal palaces is designated for Prince Charles and Prince Edward ; and what staff and ancillary accommodation each has.

Mr. Sproat : The information is as follows :

The Prince of Wales

(a) His Royal Highness' apartment in St. James's palace which comprises three reception rooms, one principal bedroom and two staff bedrooms, together with ancillary accommodation.

(b) Three flats for domestic staff at Kensington palace. Two have one bedroom and one reception room and one has one bedroom and two reception rooms.

(c) One house at Kensington palace for a Private Secretary. It has four bedrooms, three reception rooms and ancillary rooms. There is no staff accommodation.

The Prince Edward

(a) His Royal Highness has use of two bedrooms, one sitting room and one bathroom in Buckingham palace. These rooms do not form a self contained apartment.

(b) one flat for a domestic employee in the Royal mews at Buckingham palace comprising one bedroom and one reception room.

Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 19 January, Official Report, column 651, regarding accommodation for members of the royal family in occupied royal palaces, how much staff and ancillary accommodation is provided in each case.

Mr. Sproat : The staff and ancillary accommodation, on which rent is paid, or which is taken into account in salary and wage levels, is as follows :

HRH Princess Margaret

8 bedrooms

4 bathrooms

2 reception rooms

2 kitchens

2 utility rooms

1 staff rest room

Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

8 bedrooms

4 bathrooms

3 reception rooms

3 kitchens

2 utility rooms

1 staff rest room

TRH Prince and Princess Michael of Kent

1 bedroom

2 bathrooms

1 reception room

1 kitchen

2 utility rooms

TRH The Duke and Duchess of Kent

4 bedrooms

2 bathrooms

3 kitchens

1 staff rest room

HRH Princess Alexandra

No staff accommodation

Grace and Favour Accommodation

Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many grace and favour apartments there are in Buckingham palace ; and to whom they are allocated.


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Mr. Sproat : There are no grace and favour apartments at Buckingham Palace. There are two service apartments. One is allocated to the chief housekeeper and one to the person who is responsible for the pages, footmen, craftsmen and porters located at Buckingham palace. The Princess Royal, the Duke of York and Prince Edward use rooms at Buckingham palace, but do not have self-contained apartments.

Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 19 January, Official Report, column 652, what offices were held at the time of their retirement by the military knights, pensioners, who occupy grace and favour accommodation at the occupied royal palaces.

Mr. Sproat [holding answer 26 January 1994] : Of the 13 military knights, one was a major general--GOC midlands district--three were brigadiers--two from the Royal Signals (2) and one from the Royal Artillery--three were lieutenant colonels--17th/21st Lancers, King's Own Scotish Borderers and Queen's Lancashire Regiment--and six were majors-- Life Guards, Royal Army Service Corps, Manchester Regiment, Royal Signals, Scots Guards and Coldstream Guards.

Mr. Alan Williams : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 19 January, Official Report, column 652, what positions were held prior to retirement by the remaining four pensioners granted accommodation in the past on a grace and favour basis who were neither employees nor widows of employees of the royal household.

Mr. Sproat [holding answer 26 January 1994] : One pensioner is a former nanny to the Queen's children, the second is the retired principal of St. Catherine's house, the third is a cousin of the Queen and the fourth is an unmarried daughter of a former Chief of the General Staff whose widow was originally provided with grace and favour accommodation.

Deregulation

Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if he will give the likely date of conclusion for his review of regulations relevant to tourism, as referred to in the Department of Trade and Industry's deregulation document as published with the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill ; if he will also provide a cost-benefit estimate of the review, with a separate section for each item of legislation he has examined ; and what consultations he or officials have held in the course of the review ;

(2) if he will give the intended start date, finish date and cost-benefit estimate of his Department's review of the Tourism (Sleeping Accommodation Price) Order 1977 as outlined in the Department of Trade and Industry document on deregulation, published with the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill ;

(3) if he will give the intended start date, finish date and a cost-benefit estimate for his Department's review of the Hotel Proprietors Act 1956, as outlined in the Department of Trade and Industry document on deregulation published with the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill.

Mr. Sproat : My Department's inquiry into regulations affecting tourism is designed to complement the


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Government's wider deregulation initiative by examining in detail the burdens on tourism-related businesses. This separate examination is warranted because of the highly important contribution which the tourism and hospitality industry makes to the economy and to employment, and will continue as long as regulatory burdens remain a matter of concern to the industry. I announced the preliminary findings of my inquiry to the House on 27 July, 1993, Official Report, columns 768-71 , and a progress report will be issued in due course. The review has been conducted, at no additional cost, as part of the normal day -to-day work of my Department. During the course of the inquiry I have spoken to many individuals and organisations, both local and national, within the industry. I have received written representations from a great many more. My Department does not have primary responsibility for the regulations indentified during the inquiry, with the exception of the Hotel Proprietors Act 1956 and the Tourism (Sleeping Accommodation Price Display) Order 1977. These are currently being examined by officials. We intend to begin a public consultation exercise shortly and to complete it as quickly as possible.

Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will give a likely start date, finish date and his cost-benefit estimate for his Department's review into the scope for consolidating or simplifying the legislation on sports ground safety as outlined in the Department of Trade and Industry document on deregulation published with the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill.

Mr. Sproat : An informal consultation exercise in line with deregulation guidance will commence as soon as is practicable. I hope to consider the responses during the summer.

Cultural Services (VAT)

Mr. Fisher : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consideration he has given to EC directives on VAT giving exemptions to certain cultural services and goods.

Mr. Sproat : Discussions are continuing between my officials and those of Customs and Excise about the scope of such an exemption.

Public Libraries (Review)

Mr. Fisher : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is (a) the full cost of the review of public libraries and (b) the cost of the consultant to the review.

Mr. Sproat : The review of public libraries is expected to cost in the region of £100,000, exclusive of the DNH's own staffing costs. The bulk of this expenditure is likely to be accounted for by the cost of the consultants.

Mr. Fisher : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which consultant has been appointed to advise the review of public libraries.

Mr. Sproat : We expect to appoint a consultant very shortly.

Battersea Power Station

Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will take urgent action to secure the future of Battersea power station ; and if he will make a statement.


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Mr. Brooke : I understand that the building remains structurally sound. It was inspected by officers of English Heritage on 21 January.

I am aware from press reports that there is a dispute about girders inserted in the building which may result in legal action. Listed building consent would of course be required for any demolition or alteration of the building falling within section 7 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

Consultants

Dr. Wright : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on which occasions since it was established his Department has employed the services of external consultants ; and if he will give details of the purposes for which they were employed and the cost of employing them.

Mr. Sproat : Since April 1992, my Department and its two agencies have let contracts to external consultants valued at approximately £6 million. Consultants have been used for advice, information and as a management resource in the following areas : to assist in the setting up of the Department, including advice on financial and personnel management, and project management for the new headquarters ; to review the Arts Council and to examine local authority management of arts facilities ; to undertake preparatory work for the national lottery ; to study the activities of library authorities ; to review the British library St. Pancras project ; to advise on the BBC and the television licence fee ; to undertake reviews relating to the British film industry ; to review the effectiveness of press self-regulation ; to report on sports sponsorship activities ; to look at the economic effects of listing buildings of historic interest ; to advise on royal estate management responsibilities ; to inquire into fire safety at royal palaces ; to provide statistical data on tourism ; various tasks on behalf of the Historic Royal Palaces agency ; and various tasks on behalf of the Royal Parks agency.

National Lottery

Mrs. Jane Kennedy : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are the names and addresses of the consortia which have so far bid to run the national lottery.

Mr. Sproat [holding answer 26 January 1994] : The names and addresses of those organisations which have publicly announced their intention to apply for the main licence to run the national lottery are as follows :

The Great British Lottery Company

3 Round Wood Avenue

Stockley Park

Uxbridge

Middlesex

081-561-3090

The UK Lottery Foundation

Jevington House

Knotty Green

Beaconsfield

Bucks

HP9 2TY

0494-673777

NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd.

New Court

St. Swithins Lane

London

EC4P 4DU


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071-280-5000

Rainbow UK Ltd.

48 St. Martins Lane

London

WC2N 4EJ

071-836-2424

Camelot Group plc

Beaumont Burfield Road

Old Windsor

Windsor

Berkshire

SL4 2JP

0753-833971

Games for Good Causes plc

Compass House

Redan Place

London

W2 4SA

071-727-9695

The Director General of the National Lottery will publish a full list of all those who apply, after 14 February, which is the closing date for applications.


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