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Arts Access
Mr. McNulty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to enable greater access to the arts. [7510]
Mr. Fisher:
Access is a central theme of my Department's policies for the arts. The public has a right to the widest possible access in return for the public funding which the arts receive. The proposals we have made to increase access to the arts include plans to pilot open theatre nights and an artscard scheme for young
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people as well as plans to review the case for admission charges to core collections in our national museums and galleries.
Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to meet the chairman and Director General of the BBC to discuss the future radio broadcasting of the House; and if he will make a statement. [9878]
Mr. Fisher:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no such plans. Under the terms of its agreement with the Secretary of State, the BBC is required to transmit an impartial day-by-day account of the proceedings in both Houses of Parliament, but it is for the BBC to determine the best way in which to meet this obligation. The BBC is carrying out an extensive consultation exercise about the future direction of Radio 4 and I am sure that it will take into account in arriving at its decisions the strong feelings expressed by Madam Speaker and by hon. Members on both sides of the House about the broadcasting of our proceedings.
Sir Patrick Cormack:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the items for which the issuing of export licences was withheld on the recommendation of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art during the half-year ended 30 June, specifying in each case the valuation and whether an item was exported or retained, with particulars in the latter event of the acquiring institutions; and if he will list any items for which licences have been withheld but the final disposal of which is not yet decided, specifying in each case (a) the valuation and (b) the relevant time limit.[8977]
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TREASURY
Strip Searches
Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures are in place at ports of entry to inform people of their rights of appeal before being subjected to a strip search by Customs and Excise officers.[8523]
Dawn Primarolo: Before customs carries out a strip search travellers must be informed of their right of appeal orally by the officer and the traveller's attention is drawn to customs notice No. 11--available in the House of Commons Library--which is displayed in all search rooms. This notice advises travellers that before a strip search is undertaken they have a right of appeal to:
- --a senior officer of Customs and Excise, or
- --a justice of the peace who will decide whether or not the search is justified.
MIRAS
Mr. Todd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the administrative costs of retaining tax relief on mortgage interest. [7987]
Dawn Primarolo: Figures for the total expenditure on this task could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
VAT (Energy-efficient Materials)
Mr. Alan Simpson:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will incorporate within this review of the
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effects of a reduced rate of VAT for energy efficiency materials all correspondence received by his Department over the past three years, pertaining to this matter. [9194]
Dawn Primarolo:
The Chancellor announced in the Budget an extension of the review on the revenue effect of a reduced rate of VAT on energy-saving materials. We want to be sure that we identify effective and efficient ways of helping those on low incomes keep warm. Customs and Excise is leading the review and is taking full account of representations previously received.
Mr. Redwood:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will (a) list and (b) publish those representations his Department received from Sir David Simon prior to his joining the Government; [7425]
Mr. Gordon Brown:
The content and origination of representations from members of the public that the Treasury receive are treated as confidential. Their release is a matter for the individual concerned.
Mr. Vaz:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of employees in his private office are (a) of Asian origin and (b) of Afro-Caribbean origin. [8934]
Mrs. Liddell:
The Treasury collects data on the ethnic origin of its staff on a confidential, self-declaration basis. When it was collected, an assurance was given that the information would be used in aggregate form only and never in a way that might enable individuals to be identified. The analysis sought cannot be given because the total number of staff in the private office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer is sufficiently small to enable the individuals to be identified.
Ms Perham:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how often since 1992 his Department has been responsible for employment advertisements that contained age restrictions upon those who could apply. [9500]
Mrs. Liddell:
Age is not a criteria used in recruitment advertisements except for those who join the Treasury through the European fast stream, where there is an age limit of 31. The European fast stream offers EU-related work in the British civil service which, together with specially structured training, is designed to help young British graduates in the competitions for entry into the EU institutions. The age limit of 31 for such entrants reflects a period of training in advance of an age limit of 35 imposed by the European Commission on recruitment to the European institutions. The reason for the age limit is explained in the recruitment literature.
Mrs. Ballard:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Inland Revenue has made of the degree of compliance of companies in the construction industry
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with changes in the application of the rules concerning the employed or self-employed status of workers in that industry. [9126]
Dawn Primarolo:
Following requests from the construction industry for help in correctly determining the employment status of its workers, the Inland Revenue and Contributions Agency published new guidance in 1996. To provide uniformity of approach across the industry, construction companies were required to review the employment status of their workers and, by 5 April 1997, make necessary changes and start accounting for Pay-as-you-earn and national insurance contributions where appropriate.
(2) if he will (a) list and (b) publish those representations his Department received from BP prior to the Budget statement. [7428]
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