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CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
North Yorkshire and Humberside Arts Board
12. Ms Rosie Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to meet the chair and director of the North Yorkshire and Humberside regional arts board to discuss the development of the arts in their region. [7508]
Mr. Fisher: I met the chair and chief executive of North Yorkshire and Humberside regional arts board during my visit to Leeds on 17 July. I was able to see for myself the high quality of artistic activity in the region and was impressed by the commitment of North Yorkshire and Humberside arts board to the arts in the area. I wish them great success when they host the year of photography and the electronic image next year. We look forward to an innovative programme of events.
Sports Facilities
13. Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has to assist sports other than Association Football to improve grounds and stadiums. [7509]
Mr. Banks: I am keen to see higher standards of crowd safety at all sports. The English Sports Council has announced that it will give greater priority to the provision of lottery funding for spectator facilities for the major spectator sports. I welcome that decision.
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what national strategy guidance is used to ensure that lottery money is targeted strategically at sports facilities; and if he will make a statement. [7995]
Mr. Banks: The lottery sports fund has provided an excellent opportunity to make great improvements to the nation's sporting facilities. To date, capital funding of more than £570 million has been awarded to some 2,200 projects throughout England.
The English Sports Council--the statutory distributor of lottery funds for good causes in sport in England--undertakes this responsibility within the framework set
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out in directions issued to it by the Secretary of State. A copy of the directions is available in the Library of the House.
In addition, the ESC has developed additional strategies to help schools and areas of social deprivation, both urban and rural. The schools community sports initiative and the priority areas initiative have been introduced which allow up to 90 per cent. funding for new projects.
More needs to be done to help those regions that have been less successful in securing awards and we are looking into how the distribution of awards can be spread more evenly.
15. Mrs. Fyfe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to reform the national lottery. [7511]
Mr. Smith:
I will make a statement later this afternoon on my proposals for reforming the lottery. They will widen access to the benefits of the lottery, particularly in the areas of health, education and the environment.
24. Mrs. Betty Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to review the terms of the national lottery operator's licence. [7520]
Mr. Smith:
My Department does not have the power to change the terms of operation for the current licence holder. I will make a statement later this afternoon on my proposals for reforming the lottery including improvements to the way it is operated.
16. Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to reintroduce section 4 grants in England. [7512]
Mr. Tom Clarke:
The Government have no plans to reintroduce section 4 grants in England.
17. Mr. Trickett:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to promote the British film industry. [7513]
21 Jul 1997 : Column: 437
26. Mr. Hanson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to stimulate the British film industry. [7522]
27. Mr. Borrow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to assist the United Kingdom film industry. [7524]
Mr. Tom Clarke:
The Government's commitment to film was demonstrated by the new tax relief announced in the Budget. The film policy review group, set up by my Department, aims to double the audience of the British films and to help the film industry to achieve its full creative and economic potential.
18. Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received in respect of the millennium dome. [7514]
Mr. Chris Smith:
Since my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 19 June that the new millennium experience would go ahead, I have received numerous representations from Members of the House and their constituents, companies and the public. I have been encouraged by the number of people who have been enthused by our plans for celebrating the year 2,000 and have forwarded the many excellent ideas proposed to the operating company, the New Millennium Experience Company.
21. Lorna Fitzsimons:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for supporting millennium events in the regions. [7517]
Mr. Smith:
The Millennium Commission and the New Millennium Experience Company Ltd., are working together on proposals for a regional programme of events in the years up to and during the year 2000. In addition, we would encourage communities and local authorities throughout the country to organise celebrations, and my Department is promoting co-ordination between organisers of major regional events.
22. Ms Jenny Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been allocated by the Millennium Commission to projects to mark the millennium. [7518]
Mr. Smith:
I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).
19. Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he next intends to meet the chairman of the BBC governors to discuss the 24-hour news channel. [7515]
Mr. Chris Smith:
I have no current plans to meet the BBC chairman to discuss the 24-hour news channel. However, as my hon. Friend will know, approval has already been given in principle, under the provisions of the charter and agreement, to the BBC's initial proposals for public service digital television, including 24-hour news.
21 Jul 1997 : Column: 438
20. Mr. Jack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his Department's support for sand yachting. [7516]
Mr. Banks:
The Government give support for individual sports mainly through the English and UK Sports Councils. The British Federation of Sand and Land Yacht Clubs, the sport's governing body, has been awarded a grant of £19,000 by the UK and English Sports Councils. This runs to September 1997. From September, the funding and development of the sport will rest with the UK Sports Council. Sand yachting has so far been awarded £47,660 from the lottery sports fund.
23. Sir Sydney Chapman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what further initiatives he intends to take to conserve and enhance the nation's architectural heritage. [7519]
Mr. Banks:
We are committed to giving a high priority to protecting our heritage. Government funding to achieve this is channelled in the main through English Heritage. Increasingly, the lottery is also contributing substantial aid. English Heritage and the heritage lottery fund have had continuing discussions in recent months about possible funding initiatives in which they can collaborate to the greater benefit of historic buildings.
25. Mr. Gunnell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received in respect of ballroom dancing being given Olympic recognition. [7521]
Mr. Banks:
I am not aware that we have received any representations about recognising ballroom dancing as an Olympic sport. It is a good idea; it already has provisional recognition, but a final decision is a matter for the International Olympic Committee.
28. Mr. Pendry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister for Sport of 27 June, Official Report, column 1127, what progress has been made on the creation of a task force for football; and what its remit will be. [7525]
Mr. Banks:
I am currently looking into how the task force can be put into effect, its composition and its remit. I shall be making an announcement shortly.
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