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Home Energy Efficiency Grants
Mrs. Michie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to amend the home energy efficiency scheme to encourage applications from the Scottish islands and remote areas. [3797]
Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
Major revisions to this scheme, which were made by the previous administration, come into force on 1 July. From that date the scheme will include cavity wall insulation, loft insulation, heating control system upgrades, draughtproofing, energy efficient lamps, hot water tank insulation and personal advice. Installers have been appointed throughout Great Britain and they will undertake local marketing throughout their areas to bring the scheme to the attention of eligible householders. Every
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local authority will shortly receive guidance, issued jointly with the Scottish Office, about the scheme and the part they can play in promoting it.
We shall be taking an early opportunity to review the scheme to check whether the changes are meeting the needs of customers.
Cabinet Committees
Mr. Baker: To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on his role in respect of each Cabinet committee on which he sits. [4661]
Mr. Mandelson: Like my colleagues on these committees, I contribute to collective consideration of the issues under discussion.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Government Car Service
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the Government car service will assess the advantages of using Triumph motorcycles for its dispatch riders. [4316]
Dr. David Clark: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Government Car and Despatch Agency. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. Nick Matheson, to write to the hon. Member. Letter from Nick Matheson to Mr. Peter Bottomley, dated 20 June 1997:
I have been asked by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to reply to your Parliamentary Question on using Triumph motorcycles for the InterDespatch Service's courier despatch service. I am the Chief Executive of the Agency with operational responsibility for the InterDespatch Service.
The current fleet of six motorcycles was purchased in April 1996 following a technical and operational evaluation of suitability for courier work. This included research with existing users, particularly in assessing load carrying capacity.
The motorcycle fleet is due for replacement in approximately two years, and I will be carrying out a new assessment towards the end of this year. That assessment will include machines produced by Triumph.
Compliance Cost Assessments
Mr. Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if the rules relating to the deposit of compliance cost assessments in the Library prior to the publication of Bills in force in Session 1996-97 continue to apply; and if he will list those Bills for which compliance cost assessments have not been duly deposited in the current session. [4747]
Dr. David Clark:
We intend to develop a more succinct, open and relevant system for assessing the costs and benefits of new legislative proposals. In the meantime, the existing rules for publishing a compliance cost assessment alongside bills presented to Parliament
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continue to apply. The responsibility for the preparation of individual compliance cost assessments rests with the relevant Minister.
Departmental Advisers
Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the special advisers in his Department, the Minister to whom each is responsible, the subjects on which they advise and the number of advisers in his Department in the year up to 1 May. [5347]
The Attorney-General: No special advisers are, or have been, employed in my Department.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Tourism Industry
10. Mrs. McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has for encouraging the improvement of training and qualifications in the tourism industry. [3090]
19. Ms Jenny Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has for encouraging the improvement of training and qualifications in the tourist industry. [3102]
Mr. Tom Clarke: Training and investment in people is one of our key policy aims for the tourism and hospitality industries. We will pursue this aim in partnership with those industries, tourist boards, local authorities and others, together with colleagues in the Department for Education and Employment.
18. Mr. Dobbin: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to increase the United Kingdom income from tourism. [3101]
Mr. Clarke: The Government is working with the industry, the tourist boards, local authorities and others to ensure that tourism is making its full contribution to the UK economy. In 1995, the industry was worth £38 billion, equivalent to over 5 per cent. of the UK's GDP, and it has great potential for growth.
26. Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what work opportunities the tourism industry will provide to the welfare-to-work programme.[3111]
Mr. Clarke:
The tourism industry is well placed to play a key role in the welfare-to-work initiative. The industry has enormous potential for employment
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generation. It already supports some 1.6 million jobs, a number which could grow up to one million in the next decade. We shall be looking to leading employers within the industry to support the Government's initiative.
11. Mr. Pearson:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to ensure a fairer distribution of lottery proceeds across the regions. [3094]
Mr. Chris Smith:
It is clear that some areas of the country have benefited a great dal more from the lottery than others. We will be looking at the reasons for this as part of our review of lottery distribution. We will publish a White Paper containing our proposals in July.
16. Ms Atherton:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to change the terms of the operation of the national lottery. [3099]
Mr. Banks:
My Department does not have the power to change the terms of operation for the current licence holder. We will seek an efficient and competitive not-for-profit operator when the existing licence expires in 2001.
21. Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy to allow the national lottery to operate overseas; and if he will make a statement. [3105]
Mr. Smith:
The operator of the national lottery may under the terms of its licence sell tickets in other member states of the European Community and the European Economic Area provided such sales are not prevented by the state's domestic legislation. Ticket sales outside this permitted area are not allowed under the licence. Any change to the licence would require the Director General's consent.
23. Mr. Desmond Turner:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to review the terms of the lottery operator's licence. [3107]
Mr. Smith:
I have announced our intention to seek an efficient not-for-profit operator when the current licence expires. I do not have the power to change the terms of operation for the current licence holder.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the (a) grants of and (b) expenditure of lottery moneys by economic region up until 1 April 1997 (i) in total and (ii) expressed in terms of expenditure per capita in the region. [3185]
Mr. Banks
[holding answer 16 June 1997]: A full list of awards is available from the Library of the House. The table sets out the summary of the total number and value of awards by region and country, including a per capita breakdown:
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(11) Population figures are drawn from the Registrar Generals' population projection for 1994 based on the estimated resident population at mid-1991, for County Councils and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys 1993, for Metropolitan areas.
(12) London figures indicates amount per capita once awards to National institutions are discounted.
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