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London Marathon

Mr. Pendry: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what support her Department is providing towards the staging of the 1997 London marathon. [13921]

Mr. Sproat: My Department recognises the London marathon as a major international sporting event. The Royal Parks Agency is currently discussing with the organisers of the event the use of the royal parks to ensure the success of the 1997 race.

Royal Parks

Mr. Pendry: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what financial support her Department has given to the Royal Parks in each of the last five financial years.[13927]

Mr. Sproat: The information is as follows:

Year	£ million
1992-93	20.1
1993-94	22.9
1994-95	23.9
1995-96	24.7
1996-97	(1)23.2

(1) planned.

Caravan Parks

Mr. Robert Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consultations have taken place to reach a common standard of classification and a common symbol throughout the United Kingdom for caravan parks; and if she will make a statement. [14012]

Mr. Sproat: The British graded holiday parks scheme currently provides a common standard of classification and a common symbol across Great Britain.

5 Feb 1997 : Column: 607

The scheme is operated by the English tourist board, the Scottish tourist board, the Wales tourist board, the British Holiday and Home Parks Association and the National Caravan Council. Last summer they jointly carried out consumer research with the aim of developing a scheme that reflects consumer needs more closely. The research was finalised at the end of last year and a committee comprising representatives of each of the organisations is looking at ways of achieving this and will then consult the industry.

Windsor Castle

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much has been raised for the restoration of Windsor castle by the admission charges to Buckingham palace. [14047]

Mr. Sproat: I understand from the royal collection department, which as a department of the royal household is responsible for these matters, that the latest audited figures for the three years to 31 March 1996 show that a total of £8,127,000 has been raised from the summer opening of the Buckingham palace state apartments.

British Academy of Sport

Mr. William Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she expects to announce the final shortlist of applications for the British academy of sport. [14045]

Mr. Sproat: A decision on the successful bidder will be announced in early spring.

Charities Act 1992

Mr. Robert Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when she plans to implement part III of the Charities Act 1992. [13998]

Mr. Sproat: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to the hon. and learned member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile) on 16 December, Official Report, columns 443-44.

Sporting Activity

Mr. Pendry: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will estimate the number of (a) adults, (b) women and (c) children aged under 16 years who regularly participate in sporting activity. [13926]

Mr. Sproat: The 1993 general household survey of a representative sample of 19,000 people over 16 years of age in Britain revealed that 63.7 per cent. of all adult respondents, and 57 per cent. of all female respondents, had participated in at least one sporting activity in the preceding four weeks. The 1994 young people and sport in England survey of a representative sample of 4,400 six to 16-year-olds revealed that in the preceding 12 months all respondents had undertaken some form of sporting activity during lessons, and 98 per cent. of respondents had undertaken some form of extra-curricular sporting activity.

5 Feb 1997 : Column: 608

LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

War Pensions Appeals

Mr. Trickett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of war pensions appeals were resolved in favour of the appellants at the war pensions appeals tribunals (a) in 1979 and (b) in the last year for which figures are available; and what was the average value of such awards to successful appellants in each of the last three years. [14020]

Mr. Streeter: The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Jon Trickett, dated 5 February 1997:

The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the proportion and cost of successful awards in favour of the appellant at the War Pensions Appeal Tribunal.
There are no statistics available to show the percentage of decisions given in favour of the appellant in 1979. The percentage of decisions given in favour of the appellant in 1982 was 31.8 per cent. and in 1996 the percentage was 30 per cent.
The information requested about the average value of such awards to successful appellants in each of the last three years is not held centrally, and could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

Mr. Trickett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many staff are currently employed by the war pensions appeals tribunals in Leeds. [14022]

Mr. Streeter: The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Jon Trickett, dated 5 February 1997:

The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of staff currently employed by the War Pensions Appeal Tribunal in Leeds.
The Pensions Appeal Tribunal does not employ any staff in the Leeds area. All appeals are issued and processed at the London office of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. If a hearing is required in Leeds, a clerk is sent to the Leeds office to assist in the running of the Tribunal. From time to time a clerk from the Immigration Authorities will also assist.

Mr. Trickett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many staff are currently employed by the war pensions appeals tribunals; and how many there were in (a) 1979 and (b) 1990. [14023]

Mr. Streeter: The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Jon Trickett, dated 5 February 1997:

The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about staffing levels at the War Pensions Appeal Tribunal.
The Pensions Appeal Tribunal presently employs 21 staff. In 1979 it employed 10 staff and in 1990 that number had increased to 16.

5 Feb 1997 : Column: 609

Mr. Trickett: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases are currently before war pensions appeals tribunals involving appellants over the age of 68 years; and what steps are taken to expedite hearings in these cases. [14024]

Mr. Streeter: The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from M. D. Huebner to Mr. Jon Trickett, dated 5 February 1997:

The Parliamentary Secretary of the Lord Chancellor's Department has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of cases currently before the War Pensions Appeals Tribunal which involve appellants over the age of 68 years and how those cases are expedited.

The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

PRIME MINISTER

Travel Costs

Mr. Winnick: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the total travel costs for himself and his staff during the present Parliament; and if he will list the equivalent figures for the 1983 to 1987 Parliament. [13427]

The Prime Minister [holding answer 30 January 1997]: The total costs of such travel in the United Kingdom and overseas during the current Parliament are as follows:

Year	£
1992-93	(2)1,730	Actual
1993-94	1,490	Actual
1994-95	1,230	Actual
1995-96	1,650	Actual
1996-97	1,270	Budget

(2) All figures in £'000s rounded to the nearest £10,000. Comparable data for 1983-87 Parliament are not available.

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