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Heritage Lottery Fund
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of Lord Rothschild's statement at the time of the publication of the 1996-97 Annual Report of the Heritage Lottery Fund relating to the reduction of lottery funding for purposes related to heritage. [69161]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
When the Lottery was launched in 1994, the good causes were expected to receive around £9 billion in total over the first licence period, that is
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£1.8 billion for each of the five good causes, including heritage. When we raised that forecast to £10 billion, we were able to provide £1 billion for the New Opportunities Fund without affecting the expectations of the original good causes. We now expect the Lottery to raise £10.6 billion for the good causes over the licence period, which ends in September 2001. £200 million of the extra £600 million will be shared equally between the heritage, the arts, sport and charities, with the balance of £400 million going to the New Opportunities Fund. The Heritage Lottery Fund can therefore now count on receiving at least £1.85 billion in total during the present licence.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 3 February that, following the reduction in the percentage income shares to the heritage, the arts, sport and charities from 16 2/3 per cent. to 5 per cent. for thirteen weeks from 15 February in order to provide the extra revenue for the New Opportunities Fund, each is guaranteed to receive 16 2/3 per cent. for the remainder of the licence period. This is in addition to the undertaking we have already given that these good causes are each gauranteed 16 2/3 per cent. of Lottery proceeds after the current licence expires. These guarantees give the Heritage Lottery Fund a clear financial framework within which to plan its future spending and operate the new strategic approach to Lottery distribution we have introduced.
Mr. Maples:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which Ministers in his Department made use of (a) RAF and (b) chartered aircraft between 1 October 1998 and 31 January 1999; and if he will list the dates, destinations and costs of such flights. [69077]
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 4 February 1999]: Neither I nor any of my Ministers have made use either of an RAF aircraft or of a chartered aircraft.
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many holidays were taken in the United Kingdom by British residents in (a) 1994 and (b) 1998. [69392]
Janet Anderson:
United Kingdom residents took an estimated 62.8 million holidays in the United Kingdom in 1994, according to the UK Tourism Survey. Short holiday trips, of 1-3 nights, accounted for fractionally over 50 per cent. of all holidays. The latest figures currently available from this annual survey are for 1997. They show an estimated 70.8 million holidays in the UK, 13 per cent. more than in 1994. Short holiday trips accounted for 53 per cent. of all UK holidays in 1997. The number of short holidays taken in the UK increased by 18 per cent. between 1994 and 1997.
Figures for 1998 are expected to be available in late Spring.
Gibraltar
Mr. Tyrie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government
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have taken in the past two weeks to draw to the Spanish Government's attention their obligations under the European Community treaties in respect of the border with Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement. [69700]
Ms Quin:
The Ambassador in Madrid has raised this issue on several occasions recently with the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We have made it clear to the Spanish authorities that we look to them to allow movement across the border in conformity with EU obligations.
Mr. Letwin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what military equipment has been licensed for export by UK companies to Indonesia since 1 May 1997. [69491]
Mr. Fatchett:
The Government are soon to publish their Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls. They will list by country of destination the number of export licences issued in each equipment category, and give details of the military equipment for which licences have been granted.
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has evaluated on the alleged use against civilians of arms exported from the UK to Indonesia. [69760]
Mr. Fatchett:
No formal mechanisms exist at present for systematically monitoring the use of British defence equipment once it has been exported. We will not however issue licences for the export of equipment where we judge there is a clearly identifiable risk that the equipment might be used for internal repression.
Mr. Illsley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Orders in Council relating to arms embargoes circulated to British embassies and high commissions by his Department between 1979 and 1997. [69922]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
From 1979 to 1997, it was not normal practice to circulate copies of Orders in Council or summaries of them to British Embassies and High Commissions. It was the practice instead to circulate copies of the relevant UN Resolutions. Since July 1998 all FCO Departments and Posts overseas and all Whitehall Departments have been sent details of the scope and provisions of all new sanctions, including arms embargoes.
Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy with regard to the participation of representatives of the Government of Myanmar in European Union-ASEAN discussions. [69483]
Mr. Fatchett:
As an ASEAN member, Burma is entitled to be represented at EU/ASEAN bloc-to-bloc meetings. The next meeting, of Foreign Ministers, is due to take place in March in Berlin. The UK believes that the level of Burmese representation should be in keeping with the spirit of the EU Common Position, which reflects
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the EU's concern about the appalling human rights and political situation in Burma. We continue to make this position clear to our EU Partners.
Mr. David Heath:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what position was taken by the United Kingdom representatives at the General Affairs Council on 25 and 26 January on proposals tabled by the German Government on arms control. [69482]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
As there was no prospect of consensus on the Presidency's proposal concerning the Code of Conduct on Arms Exports, the UK did not intervene. Our position is that this issue should be considered during the annual review of the operation of the Code, which is due to take place towards the end of the German Presidency, in the light of experience.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to mark the accession of Georgia to full membership of the Council of Europe. [69260]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Georgia has yet formally to accede to the Council of Europe (CoE).
The CoE Committee of Ministers is to consider the recommendation of the CoE Parliamentary Assembly that Georgia be invited to become a full member of the organisation, but with the requirement that Georgia meets certain specified commitments with stipulated timescales.
We shall support a decision endorsing the Assembly's recommendations.
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the actions of the Pakistan Government to limit the press freedom of the Daily Jang newspaper. [69894]
Mr. Fatchett:
We are following developments in this case. I expect to raise the issue with the Minister of Information when I visit Pakistan on 8-10 February.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to work through the UN to ensure that Dr Jonas Savimbi is prosecuted for crimes against humanity. [69386]
Mr. Tony Lloyd:
The major responsibility for the break down of the peace process lies with Jonas Savimbi, but military action is not going to result in an acceptable resolution of the present crisis. The only way forward is for both the warring parties to return to the negotiating table. I would not wish to take any measures which might undermine prospects for a negotiated settlement.
Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement in respect of the Government's policy towards UNITA. [69385]
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Mr. Tony Lloyd:
Our policy is to urge UNITA to fulfil its obligations under the Lusaka Protocol. It is their failure to do so which has led to the breakdown in the peace process and for which Mr. Savimbi must bear the main responsibility. But military action is not going to result in an acceptable solution of the present crisis. The only way forward is for both warring parties to return to the negotiating table. UN sanctions against UNITA were designed to encourage UNITA to fulfil its peace process obligations. The Government enforce all UN sanctions.
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