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Canoeing
Sir Cranley Onslow: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the grant available from the Sports Council and other public bodies in support of canoeing in the year 1994-95, expressed in terms per capita of those participating in this sport; and what are the corresponding figures for the sport of angling. [29333]
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Mr. Sproat: In 1994-95 the British Canoe Union received a grant of £320,000 from the Sports Council. A further £6,500 was also provided for canoeing schemes in awards from sportsmatch, a business sponsorship incentive scheme for sport launched by the Government in 1992 to increase the amount of business sponsorship going into grass roots sport and physical recreation. This represents a sum of £3.26 on a per capita basis for the estimated 100,00 people who take part in the sport. In 1994-95 Sports Council grants to the governing bodies of angling totalled £54,125. In addition to this, sportsmatch provided £42,250 in awards for angling schemes. This represents a sum of 3p on a per capita basis for the estimated 2.9 million people participating in freshwater and seawater angling in England and Wales.
Ms Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the technical definition for canoeing in the Scottish/NVQ, for coaching. [30325]
Mr. Sproat: The awarding bodies forum has accepted the technical definition for canoeing, and it therefore meets the normal requirements for S/NVQs. In relation to health and safety, the technical definition was developed by the British Canoe Union following principles and procedures agreed by the forum, and it is for the BCU to review this definition on a regular basis.
Business Sponsorship
Mr. Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment she has made of the extent of business sponsorship of innovative arts projects and small arts bodies. [29932]
Mr. Sproat: A significant percentage of smaller arts companies have attracted business sponsorship. Based on statistics collected by the Association for Business Sponsorship of the Arts and analysed by the Arts Council of England, I understand that some 51 per cent. of arts organisations with a turnover of between £10,000 to just under £50,000 were in receipt of commercial support during 1994-95. Innovative projects also continue to receive sponsorship from the business sector. Recent examples include Barclays stage partners and the Guinness ingenuity awards for pub theatre.
Arts Council
Mr. Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she last met the chairman of the Arts Council; and what was discussed. [29933]
Mr. Sproat: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets the chairman of the Arts Council on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues. Details of the discussions are not given.
Listed Buildings (North Frith House)
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what advice she has received from English Heritage on whether North Frith house, Tonbridge, Kent, should be listed. [29736]
Mr. Sproat: English Heritage has advised my right hon. Friend that North Frith house should be listed. My right hon. Friend has decided to accept that advice and North Frith house and two bathing boxes in its grounds were added to the statutory list on 17 May 1996.
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Museums and Galleries
Mr. Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has in respect of the repair and refurbishment of museums and galleries. [29934]
Mr. Sproat: It is for those responsible for individual museums and galleries to make plans for the repair and refurbishment of their buildings. In 1996-97, the Department will provide over £205 million of grants in aid to 17 museums and galleries, plus a further £9 million to the Museums and Galleries Commission to help the wider sector, but these bodies each decide how much of their grant is to be directed towards repair and refurbishment. In addition, museum and galleries throughout the UK can apply for funds from the national lottery to refurbish and improve their buildings.
Mr. Callaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information she collates on the level of admissions to national galleries and museums. [29931]
Mr. Sproat: My Department collates figures on visitor numbers for each museum and gallery it sponsors. The latest such information was provided in the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) on 8 May 1996, Official Report, columns 170-71.
National Vocational Qualifications
Ms Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she expects the Scottish/NVQ technical definition for (a) cricket, (b) windsurfing, (c) trampolining, (d) tennis, (e) rugby union, (f) rugby league, (g) rowing, (h) swimming, (i) sub-aqua, (j) orienteering, (k) netball, (l) movement and dance (recreational), (m) judo, (n) hockey, (o) gymnastics, (p) fencing and (q) basketball, to be produced. [30324]
Mr. Sproat: Judo, cricket, tennis, movement and dance, hockey, swimming, rowing, orienteering, netball, and sub-aqua are all at an advanced stage of development of their technical definition. Windsurfing, basketball, gymnastics, and fencing are at the forefront of S/NVQ development in coaching. Consequently, their technical definition as part of their approval for centre status. In due course, these sports will develop a separate technical definition, which is the current practice for new NVQs. Rugby union, rugby league and trampolining are not, at present, involved in working towards the S/NVQ process of developing a technical definition.
Ms Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if groups not recognised by the Sports Council are permitted to submit contextual definitions within the Scottish national vocational qualifications for coaching. [30326]
Mr. Sproat: It is the responsibility of the sport concerned to develop the technical definition by consulting widely throughout the sport. Any non-recognised body would be able to contribute to this process through the recognised governing body. One of the criteria for recognising a governing body is that they are truly representative of the specified sport.
Ms Corston: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many sport groups have taken up NVQs; and of these how many (a) are live, (b) have approved technical definitions and (c) can deliver NVQs. [30328]
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Mr. Sproat: Twenty-one sports have now developed materials to allow the technical content of S/NVQs to be assessed. This figure includes those sports with separate technical definitions and those where technical definitions were approved when they received centre status.
Market Testing
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list, for each of her Department's agencies, what market testing has been carried out into the services they provide and what were the results. [30118]
Mr. Sproat: In the period from the formulation of my two agencies until March 1995 they have market tested the elements of their services to the public listed in the table.
| Let by | Activity | Name of successful bidder | Won by in-house bid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 | |||
| The Royal Parks | Property maintenance Management | Tarmac Facilities management | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Kew Palace-- Security Services | Royal British Legion | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Hampton Court Palace--Gardens Litter Clearance | SITA | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Hampton Court Palace | Initial Cleaning Service | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Kensington Palace Catering | De Blanks | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Kensington Palace Cleaning | Swanlux | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Banqueting House--Catering | 10 companies used--selected by tender | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Banqueting House--Floristry | Nancy Ford | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Banqueting House--Security | RBLA | No in-house bid |
| 1994-95 | |||
| Historic Royal Palaces | HM Tower of London-- Window Cleaning | Metropolitan | No in-house bid |
| The Royal parks | Management of Car Parking Facilities | Apcoa Parking Ltd. | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | HM Tower of London-- Commercial Guarding | RBLA | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | HM Tower of London-- Costumed Interpretation | Past Pleasures | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | HM Tower of London--Garden Maintenance | Ground Control | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Hampton Court Palace--Catering | Town and Country | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Hampton Court Palace-- Costumed Interpretation | Past Pleasures | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Hampton Court Palace-- Recorded Tour Service | Acoustiguide | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Hampton Court Palace--Warding Services | Group 4 | In-house bid unsuccessful |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Kensington Palace--Catering | De Blanks/Digby Trout | No in-house bid |
| Historic Royal Palaces | Kensington Palace--Cleaning | Securicor | No in-house bid |
22 May 1996 : Column: 298
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