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Public Bodies
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many appointments to the public bodies listed in "Public Bodies" for her Department were made during 1994-95 from names supplied by the public appointments unit; and if she will list them. [25958]
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 22 April 1996]: None.
Archaeological Sites
Mr. Dafis: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she plans to introduce legislation to implement her proposals for new controls for archaeological sites. [25844]
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 23 April 1996]: Proposals to update and improve the legislation governing the protection of archaeological sites will be included in the heritage Green Paper, to be published shortly. Subject to the outcome of the consultation exercise and given a suitable legislative opportunity, these proposals will then go forward for consideration by Parliament.
Late Payments
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much was paid late to the private sector for goods and services by her Department in 1995-96.[26151]
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 24 April 1996]: The information requested is not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what percentage of bills were paid late by her Department in 1995-96. [26127]
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Mr. Sproat [holding answer 24 April 1996]: My Department is committed to the payment of invoices within agreed contractual provisions or within 30 days of the presentation of a valid invoice or delivery, if later. Although the information requested is not available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost, on the basis of a sample of invoices received by the Department of National Heritage during 1995-96, 91 per cent. were paid on time.
Copyright
Mr. Maclennan: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress her Department has made towards obtaining a photocopying licence from the Copyright Licensing Agency to ensure compliance with copyright law. [26719]
Mr. Sproat [holding answer 25 April 1996]: The Department of National Heritage is currently discussing the terms of its photocopying licence with the Copyright Licensing Agency. We expect to sign the final licence shortly.
Five Nations Championship
Mr. Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultations she has had with the four home rugby unions concerning the equal partition principle of the receipts from the television contract for televising the Five Nations championship. [27313]
Serco Ltd.
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what contracts her Department and her agencies have with Serco Ltd.; what is the current cost; when each contract ends; what are the penalties involved should she seek early termination of the contract; and if she will make a statement. [26683]
Mr. Sproat: My Department and the Historic Royal Palaces agency do not have any contracts with Serco Ltd. However, the Royal Parks agency has two contracts the details of which are set out in the list. In neither case would the Royal Parks agency be liable for any penalties in the event that the contract was terminated early.
| Contract | Estimated annual cost (£) | Duration | Completion date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyde Park | |||
| Grounds maintenance | 868,784 | 4 years | 3 March 2000 |
| Richmond Park | |||
| Grounds maintenance | 533,061 | 4 years | 3 March 2000 |
Football Trust
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the budget of the Football Trust in each of the last five years; and what percentage of that budget was received from pools betting duty. [26528]
Mr. Sproat: The information is as follows:
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| Year ended 5 April | Income £ million | Percentage of budget received from pools betting duty concessions |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 34.9 | 58 |
| 1993 | 38.7 | 55 |
| 1994 | 38.9 | 58 |
| 1995 | 41.5 | 55 |
| 1996 | 25.7 | 62 |
Source:
The Football Trust.
Crown Immunity
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many buildings in the Government's historic estate (a) are in disrepair and (b) have Crown immunity; how many of those in disrepair have Crown immunity; what proposals she has to (i) tackle this disrepair and (ii) end Crown immunity for such buildings; and if she will make a statement. [25717]
Mr. Sproat: There are about 1,600 historic buildings in the Government estate, which are either statutorily listed or scheduled ancient monuments. All have Crown immunity. Thirty-one are known to be in disrepair and at risk. Departments have developed proposals to dispose of 17 of these, mostly through sale on the open market. The remainder are subject to regular comprehensive surveys, used to prioritise essential repairs. Many of the 31 buildings at risk are the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence, whose expert historic buildings advisory group considers ways in which the buildings might be disposed of or brought into use.
The Government have already announced the intention to end Crown immunity from planning and conservation controls at a suitable legislative opportunity. The implications of this for certain aspects of conservation policy will be discussed in the forthcoming Green Paper.
Dome Cinema, Worthing
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action her Department is taking to save the Dome cinema at Worthing, West Sussex; and if she will make a statement. [26614]
Mr. Sproat: The future of this building, which is currently listed as grade 2, is a matter for its owners and the local planning authority, which is responsible for the control of works to listed buildings. My right hon. Friend's responsibility is restricted to the listed status of the building. A request that it is upgraded to 2* is currently being considered by English Heritage, my statutory adviser on listing matters.
Private Finance Initiative
Ms Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of funding to be made available to her Department through the private finance initiative in (a) 1995-96, (b) 1996-97 and (c) 1997-98. [26173]
Mr. Sproat: The estimated private finance component of projects completed, under way or in prospect in my
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Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies is as follows:
- (a) 1995-96: £6.01 million
(b) 1996-97: £14.5 million
(c) 1997-98: £26 million.
Mr. Sproat: The Department, including its agencies and sponsored bodies, have engaged in a number of PFI projects, which involve the following income generation or revenue spending:
| Estimated income | Estimated spending | Surplus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 445,000 | 418,000 | 27,000 |
| 1996-97 | 445,000 | 350,000 | 95,000 |
| 1997-98 | 445,000 | 150,000 | 295,000 |
Tourism
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment has been made of the principal reasons indicated by research as to why foreign tourists visit Britain. [26791]
Mr. Sproat: From time to time, the British Tourist Authority produces information about features mentioned by holiday makers as being enjoyable parts of their visits. In the 1988 overseas visitors survey, the particular features of Britain which visitors enjoyed included: the people, mentioned by 30 per cent.; heritage and cultural attractions, 26 per cent.; countryside, scenery and villages, 21 per cent.; and specific towns, areas or attractions, 18 per cent. The 1995 overseas visitors to London survey indicated that visitors to London, which attracts 51 per cent. of all overseas visitors to Britain, including 84 per cent. of all first-time visitors, mentioned as enjoyable features of their visit: historic houses, sites and cathedrals, 38 per cent.; British way of life and people, 21 per cent.; museums and galleries, 18 per cent.; shopping, 15 per cent.; London architecture, 13 per cent.; parks and gardens, 12 per cent.; and pageantry, history and ceremonial, 11 per cent.
National Heritage Memorial Fund
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the grants of over £3 million that have been made by the national heritage memorial fund; and if she will list each of the organisations that have received grants in excess of this amount. [26307]
Mr. Sproat: The information is as follows:
| Receiving Organisation | Amount (£ million) |
|---|---|
| Heritage Memorial Fund | |
| The National Trust--to acquire Kedleston Hall | 14.0 |
| The National Trust--to acquire Belton House | 9.0 |
| Weston Park Foundation--endowment payment | 7.8 |
| The National Trust--to acquire Chippendale furniture in Nostell Priory | 6.1 |
| Burton Constable Hall Foundation-- endowment payment | 5.8 |
| The National Trust--to acquire Calke Abbey | 4.5 |
| The National Trust--to acquire Stowe Park | 4.5 |
| The National Trust--to acquire Chastleton House | 4.1 |
| The National Trust for Scotland--Fyvie Castle contents, endowment and restoration | 3.1 |
| English Heritage--to acquire the contents of Brodsworth Hall | 3.4 |
| Paxton Trust--Paxton House contents, endowment and restoration | 3.02 |
| Heritage Lottery Fund | |
| Sir Winston Churchill Archive Trust-- acquisition and conservation of Churchill papers | 13.2 |
| National Maritime Museum--new building and gallery development work | 11.8 |
| The National Trust for Scotland--acquisition of Mar Lodge Estate | 10.3 |
| British Museum Collections Study Centre-- new building | 8.1 |
| The National Gallery--acquisition of painting: Seurat "The Channel of Gravelines" | 8.0 |
| The Lowry Centre--new building | 7.6 |
| National Museums of Scotland--new buildings projects | 7.2 |
| Imperial War Museum--new building: Duxford American Air Museum | 6.5 |
| Natural History Museum--construction of new gallery | 6.1 |
| National Museum of Photography, Film and Television--construction of new gallery | 6.0 |
| Hampshire Museum of Transport and Technology--new building | 5.7 |
| The National Trust--acquisition of Croome Park | 4.9 |
| The Tate Gallery--gallery extension | 3.8 |
| The National Trust for Scotland--Charlotte Square Regeneration | 3.8 |
| Geffrye Museum--museum extension | 3.7 |
| Lace Market Heritage Trust--building restoration | 3.1 |
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