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a copy of which is in the Library of the House. It is planned to produce a further report later this year. This timetable is later than that originally envisaged due to slower than expected progress with other work arising from the survey.Training and Enterprise Councils.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he expects that his Department's financial appraisal and monitoring team will complete (a) the review of the monitoring and sample checking systems of the Welsh training and enterprise councils in relation to operating agreement compliance and (b) the review of the non-vocational qualifications claims under output-related funding of training provided by JHP Training in Wales and their verification ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Redwood : The Department's financial appraisal and monitoring team reviews the systems of training and enterprise councils to ensure compliance with the operating agreement and that standards are maintained.
The review of NVQ claims following training provided by JHP Training in Wales will be completed by the end of August.
Ambulances (Bull Bars)
Ms Primarolo : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will instruct South and East Wales Ambulance trust to remove the bull bars fitted to their vehicles and instruct all ambulance services that the fitting of bull bars to emergency vehicles is prohibited on the grounds of safety.
Mr. Gwilym Jones : The South and East Wales Ambulance NHS Trust has already made arrangements to remove bull bars from 10 ambulance vehicles. Elsewhere in Wales bull bars are not fitted to front-line ambulance vehicles.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
St. Ethelburga's Church
16. Mr. Lidington : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to fund the rebuilding of St. Ethelburga's church from the millennium fund or the proceeds of the national lottery.
Mr. Sproat : The responsibility for the allocation of lottery proceeds is a matter for independent distributing bodies accountable to Parliament. These bodies--the Sports Councils, the Arts Councils, the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Millennium Commission and the National Lottery Charities Board--will issue full guidance notes for applicants in the autumn. Those interested in receiving grants from the national lottery will need to apply to the relevant distributing body.
Film Industry
17. Mr. Clappison : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultations he has had with representatives of the film industry.
Mr. Brooke : Last year I held a series of 10 consultative meetings with all sectors of the film industry to consider the state of the industry and how the level of investment in British film production might be raised. I have
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subsequently had discussions with a number of key industry figures. I will announce the Government's conclusions in due course.Arts Council
18. Mr. Nicholls : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how he intends to improve the accountability of the Arts Council.
Mr. Brooke : I have explored with the chairman of the Arts Council ways in which the council's accountability can be improved. The council has agreed a programme to implement a number of proposals, including an annual Arts Council lecture, twice-yearly public meetings outside London and a series of meetings on each of the different art forms. I welcome these proposals, as a positive move to improve public understanding of the council's operations and decisions.
Cross-media Ownership
20. Mr. Wicks : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on Government policy towards cross-media ownership.
Mr. Brooke : I announced on 3 January that I would be reviewing the rules which restrict cross-media ownership. Ministers will be considering a report by officials during the summer. The timing of an announcement about the outcome will depend on a number of factors, including the nature of those recommendations and any legislative implications.
Science Museum
22. Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals he has to help fund the extension to the science museum.
Mr. Sproat : Any request for extra funds from the science museum will be considered when I decide the grant-in-aid allocations for the museums and galleries sponsored by my Department. These will be announced at the time of the Budget.
Competitive Sports
23. Mr. Peter Ainsworth : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions he has had with the Sports Council regarding the development of competitive sports.
Mr. Sproat : My right hon. Friend and I meet the chairman of the Sports Council regularly to discuss matters of mutual concern, including the development of competitive sports.
Anabolic Steroids
24. Mr. Kilfoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what initiatives he intends to take to implement an effective United Kingdom ban on the availability and use of anabolic steroids in sports.
Mr. Sproat : In 1993-94, the four sports councils spent over £910, 000 on their programmes to combat drug abuse in sport and carried out nearly 4,000 tests. The availability of anabolic steroids is already controlled under the Medicines Act 1968 and the Government are currently considering whether to introduce further controls.
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Televised Sporting Events
25. Sir Michael Neubert : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage whether he plans legislation to widen the list of those sporting events which are ensured a showing on a terrestrial television channel.
Mr. Brooke : I shall consider what the National Heritage Select Committee says in its report on sports sponsorship and television coverage which was published on 6 July.
Industrial Heritage Sites
26. Mr. Pike : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many sites of industrial national heritage he has visited in the last six months ; and if he proposes to make additional funding available to such sites.
Mr. Brooke : Over the past six months I have visited two sites relating to our industrial heritage : the Quarry Bank Mill museum in Styal, Cheshire, and the Tiverton museum in Devon, with its lace machine gallery.
On the question of funding, my Department makes substantial resources available each year to English Heritage and the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Both organisations offer grants towards the preservation of our industrial heritage and in so doing have made significant contributions in Burnley, for example, towards the development of Queen Street Mill, as the hon. Member will be aware. The additional resources for the heritage expected from the national lottery will substantially increase the scope for preserving the best of our industrial past.
Arts (Disabled People)
27. Mr. Keith Hill : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps his Department is taking, via its sponsored bodies, to improve access to the arts for disabled people.
Mr. Sproat : I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rochdale (Ms Lynne) earlier today.
National Lottery
21. Mr. Brandreth : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he expects the first distribution of funds generated by the national lottery to take place ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Brooke : I expect the bodies responsible for the distribution of national lottery proceeds to invite the first applications for funding from the beginning of 1995. The first funds should be distributed to successful applicants shortly thereafter.
28. Mr. Sheerman : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his estimate of the benefits disability organisations will derive from the national lottery.
Mr. Brooke : Organisations for the disabled stand to gain considerably from the net proceeds of the national lottery. They will be able to apply for lottery funding for any project which is on or connected with the arts, sport or national heritage ; is for a charitable purpose ; or is to mark the year 2000 or beginning of the third millennium.
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Television Licence Fee
29. Mr. Nigel Evans : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to help senior citizens living alone with their television licence fee.
Mr. Brooke : As the Government have made clear on many occasions, we are sympathetic to pensioners who find difficulty in meeting the cost of the licence fee, but we do not consider the licence fee a suitable instrument of social policy.
Children's Play Organisations
Mr. Ainger : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy to ensure that children's play organisations are able to receive directly funds from the national lottery.
Mr. Sproat : It is likely that the children's play projects will be eligible for funding from a number of the lottery distributing bodies. Guidance notes explaining the precise eligibility criteria will be published by these distributors later in the year.
Departmental Strategy Document
Mr. Mackinlay : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish a strategy document for his Department's development and promotion of the nation's arts, culture, sport and heritage for the next five years.
Mr. Brooke : My Department's annual report for 1993-94 sets out the Government's overall aims for the national heritage and outline plans, subject to annual review, for the three years ahead. The Department has also issued a short booklet "Preserving the Past, Shaping the Future", which describes the Department's aims in greater detail.
Royal Palaces
Ms Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 16 May, Official Report, column 346, what are the capital conservation and improvement schemes which the historic royal palaces agency will fund in 1994-95 ; how much will be spent on each ; and how much will be spent on (a) building maintenance and (b) running costs.
Mr. Sproat : Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Historic Royal Palaces Agency under its chief executive, Mr. David Beeton. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from David Beeton to Ms Marjorie Mowlam, dated 11 July 1994 :
The Secretary of State for National Heritage has asked me to reply to your Question about the capital conservation and improvement schemes which the Historic Royal Palaces Agency will fund in 1994-95 ; how much will be spent on each ; and how much will be spent on (a) building maintenance and (b) running costs.
Planned expenditure by Historic Royal Palaces on capital schemes in 1994-95 is £9.1 million in total (excluding VAT). Of this, the agency plans to spend approximately the following amounts on individual schemes costing more than £0.25 million :
|£ million
-------------------------------------------------------
Agency Fire Prevention Programme
Tower of London |0.5
Hampton Court Palace |0.4
Kensington Palace |0.1
Banqueting House |0.2
Kew Palace |0.3
Tower of London
Jewel House and Waterloo Barracks |3.2
Renewal of Electricity Supply |0.2
Re-presentation of the White Tower |0.2
Catering-New Armouries Building |0.1
Hampton Court Palace
Privy Garden Parterre |0.7
Restoration of Georgian Rooms |0.6
Car Parking |0.1
Catering |0.1
Kensington Palace State Apartments
Restoration of King's Gallery |0.3
Planned expenditure in 1994-95 on building maintenance
is £1.5 million and on running costs is £11.1 million (
excluding VAT).
Public Bodies
Mr. Kilfoyle : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department which have a statutory basis.
Mr. Sproat : None of the advisory bodies sponsored by my Department has a statutory basis. However, some of the executive bodies which are established by statute do have an advisory role. Examples are the British Tourist Authority, set up under the Development of Tourism Act 1969, and English Heritage, set up under the National Heritage Act 1983.
Audio-described Television
Mr. Alan Howarth : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what research has been undertaken by his Department into the availability of audio-described television for visually impaired people in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Brooke : None. A consortium, which includes the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the Independent Television Commission, the BBC, and the ITV Association, is developing the AUDETEL project, which aims to provide an audio description commentary on television. I understand that the BBC and ITV hope to begin experimental transmissions within the next week.
Gaelic Radio Service
Mrs. Ray Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received regarding the development of a national Gaelic radio service in Scotland.
Mr. Brooke : Since the publication of the Government's consultation document on the future of the BBC in November 1992, I have received representations about the development of a national Gaelic radio service in Scotland from three bodies : An Communn Gaidehealach, Commun na Ghaidhlig and Foram luchd-ionnsachaidh.
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GM Vauxhall Conference
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received from the GM Vauxhall conference about its case for parity.
Mr. Sproat : I met Mr. William King, chairman, and Mr. Peter Hunter, secretary, of the GM Vauxhall Conference on 1 November 1993 to discuss the funding of safety improvements at GMVC club grounds. During the meeting the GMVC representatives formally submitted their case for parity. On 11 March this year they provided me with additional information.
Sports Ground Safety
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what representations he has received from the Rugby Football League about their ground safety plans ;
(2) when he last met representatives of the Rugby Football League ; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Sproat : I met Mr. Rodney Walker, chairman, and Mr. Maurice Lindsay, chief executive, of the Rugby Football League on 22 November 1993 to discuss the funding of safety improvements at Rugby Football League grounds. I have received no further representations from the Rugby Football League since then, although I have had since further informal discussions.
Football Trust
Mr. Pendry : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions he has had with the Pools Promoters Association about widening the remit of the Football Trust to include other sports, with particular reference to rugby and cricket.
Mr. Sproat : My officials held a meeting with representatives from the Pools Promoters Association on 22 June. Negotiations are at an early stage.
British Library
Ms Mowlam : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what areas will be covered by the most recent report he has commissioned on the British library project from Kennedy and Donkin ; what will be the cost to the Exchequer ; and if he will place the report in the public domain.
Mr. Brooke : The most recent report commissioned from Kennedy and Donkin Building Services Ltd. was for an independent survey of the mechanical and electrical services installed in the first phase of the new British Library building. The report investigated whether services as installed complied with statutory requirements and relevant British Standards and, including follow-up work, has cost £165,000. I do not plan to publish the report because it contains information which is potentially commercially sensitive.
Maastricht Treaty
Mr. Tony Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the impact upon the arts and heritage in the United Kingdom of article 128 of the Maastricht treaty.
Mr. Brooke : Article 128 of the Maastricht Treaty gives the Community a role in support of member states' own
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action in specified areas of culture without enabling it to interfere in national cultural affairs. I am awaiting Commission proposals on what incentive measures should be provided under the new article. These will also suggest how the Community may take cultural aspects into account in its action under other aspects of the treaty.Items in Lieu of Tax
Mr. Faulds : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the allocations made to public institutions in the United Kingdom during the half-year ended 30 June of individual works of art and museum objects pre-eminent for national, scientific, historic or artistic interest which have been accepted in satisfaction of inheritance tax, together with information, where applicable, as to conditions or wishes expressed by testators or executors in the matter of allocation ; and if he will list the works of art and museum objects which are still awaiting allocation, with the respective dates of their acceptance in satisfaction of inheritance tax.
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 7 July 1994] : The information is as follows :
Item |To whom allocated |Condition/wishes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two Vuillard paintings |Fitzwilliam Museum |Unconditional
|(Femme Assisse
|Tasse de Cafe)
|Ashmolean Museum
|(Le Dejeuner)
Haydn Manuscripts |National Trust |Conditional
Constable painting |Bristol City Art Gallery|Conditional
Land at Sheringham Hall |National Trust |Conditional
Gainsborough portrait |National Gallery |Conditional
Unallocated items |Date accepted
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Hilliard miniature portrait |15 December 1993
J. F. Herring painting |15 December 1993
Wrest Park papers and albums |15 December 1993
Gomm furniture |17 February 1994
Ardizzone sketchbooks |31 March 1994
Lawrence portrait |31 March 1994
Three works by Picasso and |27 April 1994
one work by Klee
George I silver kettle and stand |24 May 1994
Museums and Galleries
Mr. Andrew Faulds : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish the attendance figures for the financial year ended 31 March reported by the national museums and galleries for which he is responsible, broken down into the individual institutions, but including their outstations, with figures in each case of the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for the preceding year.
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 7 July 1994] : The information is as follows :
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|Number of |Number of |Percentage
|visitors |visitors |Increase/
|in 1992-93 |in 1993-94 |Decrease
|(millions) |(millions) |over the
|previous year
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Museum |6.914 |6.027 |-12.8
Imperial War Museum |1.148 |1.191 |+3.7
National Gallery |4.200 |4.015 |-4.4
National Maritime Museum |0.541 |0.530 |-2.0
National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside |1.207 |1.340 |+11.0
National Portrait Gallery |0.563 |0.792 |+41.0
Natural History Museum |1.729 |1.744 |+0.9
Science Museum |2.579 |2.671 |+3.6
Tate Gallery |2.185 |2.747 |+26.0
Victoria and Albert Museum |1.454 |1.577 |+8.5
Wallace Collection |0..198 |0.154 |-22.0
|------- |------- |-------
Total |22.718 |22.788 |+0.3
It is not possible to identify the number of visitors to the Royal Armouries which at present forms
part of the Tower of London.
Export Licences
Mr. Andrew Faulds : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the items for which the issuing of export licences was withheld on the recommendation of the reviewing committee on the export of works of art during the half-year ended 30 June specifying in each case the valuation and whether an item was exported or retained, with particulars in the latter event of the acquiring institution ; and if he will list any items for
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which licences have been withheld but the final disposal of which is not yet decided, specifying in each case (a) the valuation and (b) the relevant time limit.Mr. Sproat [holding answer 7 July 1994] : The information is as follows :
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Description of item |Valuation (£) |Outcome
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A marble effigy of the
Duchesse de Nemours, by
Chapu, dated between 1881-1883 |79,987.50 |Purchased by the
|Walker Art Gallery
|which is part of the
|National Museums and
|Galleries on Merseyside
A pastel portrait of
Caroline, 4th Duchess of
Marlborough, by Gainsborough, c. 1767-72 |236,919.00 |Export licence granted
A painting, Saint
Sebastian Succoured by
Two Angels', by Guercino,
1617 |400,000.00 |Decision deferred until
|after 31 July 1994
A painting, The
Miraculous Transportation
of the Holy House of
Loreto', by Tiepolo (1696-
1770) |3,200,000.00 |Export licence granted
A marble bust of Lady
Harriet Pellew, by
Thorwaldsen, 1817 |170,404.00 |Export licence granted
A drawing 'A
Canephorous in profile to
the left', by in
Parmigianino (1503-1540) |90,000.00 |Decision deferred until
|after 7 August 1994
An electroplated teapot, by
James Dixon & Sons,
designed by Dr.
Christopher Dresser, 1879 |68,812.50 |Decision deferred until
|after 7 August 1994
Child Care
Mr. Barnes : To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what provision his Department makes for child care facilities for staff ; what is the extent of subsidy to nursery places and holiday playschemes ; if his Department (a) subscribes to "Childcare Solutions" and (b) makes child care vouchers available ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 7 July 1994] : In the 1993-94 financial year, this Department spent £1,650, excluding running costs, on child care. This provides one day care place in a nursery which opened in November 1993. In this instance the place is subsidised as it can be justified in value for money terms.
ENVIRONMENT
Habitat and Species Directive
Ms Walley : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of the responses he has received following his consultation on the European habitat and species directive.
Mr. Atkins : Copies of the responses to my Department's consultation paper have already been placed in the Library.
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Species at Risk
Mr. Llwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many species of (a) animal and (b) plant, which are native to the United Kingdom, were considered to be at risk in (a) 1964, (b) 1973, (c) 1983 and (d) 1993 ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Atkins : Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, 39 British species or families of animal and 62 species of plant were protected in 1983, reflecting the Government's concern for those species at risk. In 1993, 94 species of animals were protected, and 168 species of plant. All wild birds in Britain are protected under the Act.
In Northern Ireland, all wild birds are protected under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, with 17 vulnerable species of animal and 55 species of plant.
Data on species at risk for 1964 and 1973 are not readily available.
The lists of protected species may be reviewed and amended in responses to species' changing conservation status.
Water Pollution, Worcester
Mr. Burden : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations his Department has received from Kay and Co. on the Worcestershire Water pollution incident ; and what assessment he has made of the representations.
Mr. Atkins : A report on the water pollution incident in Worcestershire has been received from Kay and Co. In its continuing investigation of this incident, the drinking water inspectorate will assess the points raised in the report. In investigating an incident of this nature, the inspectorate needs to check each piece of information at source and obtain independent expert advice including on toxicology.
Mr. Luff : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations his Department has received from Kay and Co. on the Worcestershire water pollution incident ; and what assessment he has made of the representations.
Mr. Atkins : A report on the water pollution incident in Worcestershire has been received from Kay and Co. In its continuing investigation of this incident, the drinking water inspectorate will assess the points raised in the report. In investigating an incident of this nature, the inspectorate needs to check each piece of information at source and obtain independent expert advice including on toxicology.
Westminster Council
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of the press conference held by Mr. Magill on 11 January ; and who meets it.
Mr. Baldry : I have no information on this point.
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost to date of the investigation into Westminster by Mr. Magill ; and who will cover the costs.
Mr. Baldry : I understand from the Audit Commission that the cost of Mr. Magill's investigation into Westminster up to January 1994 was approximately £1 million. This has been paid by Westminster city council.
Column 475
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often a district auditor has called a press conference to announce provisional findings of an investigation ; and what guidance is given in respect of the propriety of holding such conferences.
Mr. Baldry : I am not aware of any press conferences being given to announce an auditor's provisional findings and views, although I understand that press statements in such circumstances are common practice. This is a matter for the auditor's discretion ; it is always open to him or her to take legal advice.
Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the impartiality of Mr. Magill following the press conference on 11 January.
Mr. Baldry : This is not a matter for the Government. District auditors are appointed by the Audit Commission and are bound by the commission's code of audit practice, which imposes a duty of impartiality. However, I have no reason to believe that Mr. Magill is not acting impartially in his conduct of the investigation at Westminster city council.
Land Use
Mr. Robert Banks : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many applications for a certificate of lawfulness of existing use or development have been refused by local authorities in England in each of the last five years ;
(2) how many applications for a certificate of lawfulness of existing use or development have been accepted in England in each of the last five years.
Mr. Baldry : This information is not available. Although local authorities provide my Department with quarterly statistics of planning applications and decisions, these do not differentiate applications for certificates of lawfulness of existing use or development and other kinds of planning application. Moreover, the legislation providing for such applications did not come into force until July 1992.
Energy Saving Trust
Mr. Robert Ainsworth : To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the level of funding currently avilable to the Energy Saving Trust for programmes of work in 1994-95 ; what is the source of these funds ; and what further resources are expected to be made available during the current financial year.
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