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Former Soviet Union (Aid)
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the level of (a) UK bi-lateral aid and (b) multi-lateral aid funded in part by Her Majesty's Government in each of the last two years to (i) Armenia, (ii) Azerbaijan and (iii) Georgia. [18361]
Mr. Foulkes: The levels of bilateral and estimated multilateral aid to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia during the last two years are as set out below:
| £ thousand | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 1996-97 | |
| Armenia | 546 | 1,122 |
| Azerbaijan | 1,651 | 1,093 |
| Georgia | 1,517 | 1,851 |
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| Armenia | 6.1 |
| Azerbaijan | 4.6 |
| Georgia | 6.2 |
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Museums (Lottery Grants)
Mr. Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list (a) the number of grant applications received for museums, (b) the number of museums which have been awarded Lottery grants, (c) the amount each successful museum has received and (d) the ratio of successful/unsuccessful applications regions by region since the commencement of the National Lottery. [17155]
Mr. Banks: As at 21 November the National Lottery distributing bodies have announced awards worth almost £311 million to 225 museum projects throughout the UK. The following table 1 provides a breakdown, by distributing body, of applications and awards to museums. Table 2 shows the regional success rate to applications from museums. I have arranged for a full list of awards to museums to be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Information on Lottery awards is now available on the Department's website www.lottery.gov.uk.
(7) The Millennium Commission does not keep information on unsuccessful applications by project type.
2 Dec 1997 : Column: 135
| Region | Arts Success rate | Heritage Success rate |
|---|---|---|
| London | 44.44 | 59.52 |
| North West | 50.00 | 68.00 |
| North East | -- | 58.33 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 57.14 | 57.58 |
| Eastern | 28.57 | 50.00 |
| East Midlands | 100.00 | 25.00 |
| West Midlands | 66.67 | 33.33 |
| South West | 75.00 | 61.90 |
| South East | 0.00 | 48.00 |
| Merseyside | -- | 33.33 |
| England total | 53.19 | 53.26 |
| Scotland | 100.00 | 53.19 |
| Wales | 62.50 | 75.00 |
| Northern Ireland | 100.00 | 70.00 |
Green Belt (Carrington Moss)
Mr. Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions he has had with directors of Manchester United regarding its application to build on green belt land at Carrington Moss; [17328]
- (2) what representations he has received regarding Manchester United's application for planning permission to build on green belt land at Carrington Moss; [17326]
(3) if he will list those organisations and individuals who have made representations to him (a) in favour and (b) against Manchester United's planning application to build on green belt land at Carrington Moss. [17327]
Mr. Banks [holding answer 24 November 1997]: My Department has received no representations about Manchester United's planning application, and I have had no discussions with the Directors of the club on this subject. The planning application itself is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions to consider.
Cricket
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has to establish a network of centres of excellence for cricket. [17937]
2 Dec 1997 : Column: 136
Mr. Banks:
We announced our proposals for the United Kingdom Sports Institute on 14 November. The headquarters will be part of a network of facilities throughout the United Kingdom. Many sports, including cricket, have indicated their desire to establish their own sports specific academies, as part of the Institute network. We are keen to see good proposals come forward for Lottery funding.
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what data he has collated on the percentage of total employment accounted for by the tourism industry. [18170]
Mr. Tom Clarke:
The latest available figures show that tourism accounts for approximately 7 per cent. of total employment in Great Britain.
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his Department is doing to encourage the provision of training for employees in the tourist industry. [18166]
Mr. Tom Clarke:
My Department is already working with the industry, and the Department for Education and Employment, to encourage employee training in the tourism, hospitality and leisure industries. Training is essential if these sectors are to have a world class work force of skilled individuals who can provide excellent service to meet consumer expectations. A working group of the Tourism Forum will be developing further ideas to promote training in the industry.
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what data he has collected on Britain's international ranking in terms of international tourism earnings. [18169]
Mr. Tom Clarke:
World Tourism Organisation figures show the United Kingdom as fifth in the world in terms of tourism earnings in 1996.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if darts will be treated as a recognised sport for the purposes of the tobacco advertising ban. [18153]
Mr. Banks:
The proposed EU Directive would ban all advertising through sponsorship, including darts events. It also proposes a phase-out period to allow alternative sponsors to be found. The Government will actively support efforts to secure alternative sponsors.
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what data he has collated on the number of United Kingdom visitors to London in the most recent available year. [18165]
Mr. Tom Clarke:
The UK Tourism Survey indicated that in 1996, there were 12.2 million visits to London by UK residents who stayed at least one night.
Mr. Chidgey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list, by regions defined by the
2 Dec 1997 : Column: 137
boundaries of the regional government offices, the lowest hourly rate paid by her Department to (a) full-time employees, (b) part-time employees, (c) persons employed under personal contract and (d) persons employed by firms undertaking contracted-out services for central government offices, defining the job title in each case. [18112]
Mr. Tom Clarke:
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has no offices outside central London.
The lowest hourly rate paid to full-time or part-time staff is £4.78p. This is paid to staff in grade D (Lower) (equivalent Administrative Assistant) who are mainly employed on administrative support activities.
The only persons employed under personal contracts in this Department are senior staff, the lowest hourly rate being £18.69.
The rates of pay of staff employed by firms undertaking contracted out services for the Department is a matter for the companies concerned.
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he (a) has taken and (b) proposes to take to inform prospective students of the changes in student and higher education financing. [17589]
Dr. Howells:
We have sent leaflets on the new student support arrangements to all schools with sixth forms, sixth form colleges, further and higher education institutions, careers services and student unions. We are running a free telephone helpline to handle enquiries about the arrangements and to respond to requests for further copies of the leaflets. To date, over half a million leaflets have been requested. For mature students, parents and others who might not be aware of our leaflets, we are running national adverts in the press and on the radio to publicise the freephone number. Also, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to sixth formers and college students to encourage them to consider higher education in the future and to clear up any misunderstanding that they may have about what we are proposing. In the new year, we shall be issuing the annual student grants and loans booklet, which, amongst other things, will set out the grant and loan rates for 1998-99 and will give more details about the financial contribution expected from parents at differing levels of income.
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