| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Departmental Name Change
Mrs. Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to rename the Department for National Heritage to reflect its role in supporting culture and sport. [7346]
Mr. Chris Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 14 July 1997, columns 43-44.
Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport--what organisations of and representing disabled people were consulted by his Department before the publication of the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds. [6978]
Mr. Banks [holding answer 9 July 1997]: My Department consulted the Centre for Accessible Environments on the revised Guide, along with many other organisations who have an interest in this area. These included the Departments for the Environment and Social Security, the sports governing bodies, and the local authority associations.
Football Stadia (Wheelchairs)
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport--for what reasons his Department has not implemented the Football Stadia Advisory Design Committee's recommendations concerning wheelchair spaces by (a) providing a definition of large stadia and (b) prescribing a formula in respect of the proportion of wheelchair spaces. [6967]
Mr. Banks
[holding answer 9 July 1997]: The Football Stadia Advisory Design Committee's advice on wheelchair spaces was set out in their document "Designing for Spectators with Disabilities" which was published in 1992. The advice in the new Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds represents current good practice within sports ground safety but now defines what constitutes a large stadium and provides guidance on how many wheelchair spaces should be provided at sports grounds. This followed many lengthy arguments over the number of wheelchair places to be provided at major new
15 Jul 1997 : Column: 113
developments. The guidance should help ensure that adequate wheelchair access is provided at new stadia, and my Department will continue to monitor the situation.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to prevent the theft of carved stone masonry and other architectural features from historic ruins with particular reference to monasteries. [7475]
Mr. Banks:
It is a criminal offence to execute, or cause to be executed, works to a listed building without first obtaining listed building consent. This includes the theft of architectural features. The current penalty for conviction in a Magistrates' court is a fine of up to £20,000 or imprisonment for up to six months (or both), whilst on conviction in the Crown Court an unlimited fine or a prison sentence of up to two years (or both) may be imposed. In determining the amount of any fine, a magistrates' court or the Crown Court must have regard to any financial benefit which has accrued or may accrue from the offence.
Planning Policy Guidance Note 15: Planning and the Historic Environment recommends that owners of listed buildings take precautions to safeguard architectural and other valuable features, especially when historic buildings are vacant or being refurbished. This may include removal for safe and secure storage, and the keeping of adequate records and photographs to help police in the recovery of stolen items.
In the case of scheduled monuments, the prior written consent of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is required in respect of any works involving the removal of a scheduled monument or any part of it. Failure to obtain consent, or to comply with any conditions imposed when granting consent, can result in a statutory maximum fine in the Magistrates' court of £5,000.
Mr. Godsiff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions he has had with the BBC concerning changes in the financial resources available for the maintenance of the BBC archives; and if he will make a statement; [8120]
Mr. Fisher:
The obligations placed on the BBC in respect of its archives are set out in its Royal Charter and its Agreement with the Secretary of State. These include broad obligations to establish and maintain archives containing material relevant to the objects of the Corporation, and to make the archives available to the public with or without charge. The BBC's Information and Archives Department provides a full range of library and information services. Changes in arrangements for the delivery of these services within the BBC will not affect the BBC's archives or public access to them. While we have had no discussions with the BBC on this point, we are confident that it is continuing to maintain its archival responsibilities under the Royal Charter and Agreement.
15 Jul 1997 : Column: 114
Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Lottery funding has been awarded to (a) opera music related projects and (b) jazz music related projects. [7855]
Mr. Fisher:
To date, the following sums have been awarded:
Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consultation has taken place with sports governing bodies regarding banning of shooting competitions; and if he will make a statement. [7992]
Mr. Banks:
The Home Office has lead responsibility for firearms legislation and has been in regular contact with the British Shooting Sports Council and other organisations. I understand there has been no formal consultation exercise with specific sports bodies. Under the Firearms (Amendment) Bill, small calibre pistols would become prohibited but special arrangements may be made by the relevant Secretary of State to permit shooting events using these pistols to take place in any future Commonwealth and Olympic Games held in Great Britain.
Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals are in hand for the review of the sports councils; and if he will make a statement. [7993]
Mr. Banks:
Further to my right hon. Friend's speech during the "Sport for All" debate on 27 June 1997, column 1061, I can confirm that he is currently considering a number of possible changes to the way in which the present sports council structures are working. A further announcement will be made in due course.
Mr. Forth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will list for the Review of Charges for National Museums and Galleries (a) the expected completion date and (b) the cost of conducting the review.[8239]
Mr. Fisher:
We hope to be able to announce the proposals by the end of September.
We estimate that the costs incurred by the Department in carrying out the review of admission charges will be in the order of £13,000. This estimate does not include the costs of the research by Glasgow Caledonian University on the impact of admission charges, which has been commissioned by the Museums and Galleries Commission.
15 Jul 1997 : Column: 115
Mr. Rowe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects the Arts Council of England to announce its grant decisions under the Arts for Everyone main programme; how many applications for awards under this scheme have been received; what is the total amount requested; and what estimate he has made of the size of the awards which will be issued under this programme. [7875]
Mr. Fisher:
The Arts for Everyone main scheme invites applications from established organisations for between £500 and £500,000 for new arts activities. There have been two rounds this year. 1,000 applications were received for the first round (closing date 31 March 1997), totalling some £150 million. Funding decisions will be made by the Arts Council of England in August 1997, with a planned public announcement of awards in the middle of September.
(2) if he will make a statement about the BBC's responsibilities under its Charter for the maintenance of its archives; and what arrangements he has for monitoring the BBC's fulfilment of those responsibilities. [8121]
(a) In the Arts Council of England's National Lottery Capital programme, 23 opera projects have been awarded in principle funds totalling £80,064,341.48 opera projects applying to the A4E Express programme have been awarded £208,000.
(b) In the Arts Council of England's National Lottery Capital programme, 12 jazz projects have been awarded in principle £824,351.115 jazz projects applying to the A4E Express programme have been awarded £509,000.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |