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Children's Theatre
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what representations he has received concerning the future of children's theatre in London; [74233]
- (2) what discussions he has had with the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon about its funding; and if he will make a statement. [74238]
Mr. Alan Howarth [holding answer 2 March 1999]: My Department has recently received a substantial number of letters from members of the public expressing concern for the future of the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon. We have held no discussions with representatives of the Polka Theatre, as this is a matter for the London Arts Board, London Borough Grants and the London Borough of Merton. I understand also that the Unicorn Theatre is in the process of addressing the serious financial situation it faced earlier in this financial year.
Museum Visits
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to collect information about the number of (a) primary and (b) secondary school visits to museums. [74237]
Mr. Alan Howarth [holding answer 2 March 1999]: Museums and galleries sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport all regularly collect data on school visits, and in most cases those by primary and secondary schools can be distinguished.
The Museums and Galleries Commission hope to include a request for information on primary and secondary school visits in their DOMUS (Digest of Museum Statistics) general survey of Registered museums, questionnaires for which will be issued in the summer. This will furnish information for the wider sector.
Funds have been allocated to allow free entry for children to currently charging national museums in England from April this year. Data on visits made by children will be collected on a regular basis so that the impact of this policy is carefully monitored. Most visits by organised school parties are already free.
Helen Jackson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Government have for the Millennium Dome after 2000; and if he will make a statement. [75157]
Janet Anderson:
The Government have today launched a competition to invite bids for alternative uses of the Dome on its present site after the Millennium Experience finishes at the end of December 2000. I have placed copies of the brochure for stage one of the process in the Libraries of the House. Decisions will be taken by the Government following appraisal of detailed bids, submitted at later stages, by the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) and English Partnerships and consultation with the Millennium Commission.
The Government's objective is to ensure a sustainable alternative use of the Dome which reflects its cultural significance and contributes fully to regeneration both of
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the Greenwich Peninsula as a whole and more widely. The Government will wish to achieve good value for money from the disposal of the Dome and related land, and will have regard to whether the proposal would generate receipts which at least match those which could have been achieved if the site were clear and disposed of for ordinary commercial development. The Government will also pay close attention to the regeneration and cultural outputs likely to be delivered by any proposed use, and its compatibility with proposals for developing the rest of the peninsula and the wider Thames Gateway area.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the role of professional lobbyists in formulating policy in her Department. [74361]
Mrs. Beckett:
Any contacts with lobbyists by Ministers and civil servants in this Department are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code" and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contact with Lobbyists".
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the President of the Council if she will set up a Select Committee to consider what parliamentary privilege will apply to hon. Members' web sites; and if she will make a statement. [73678]
Mrs. Beckett:
The Committee on Standards and Privileges is already able to examine any questions of privilege.
Departmental Hospitality
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate his Department's expenditure on hospitality and entertainment in (a) 1997-98, (b) 1998-99, (c) 1999-2000, (d) 2000-01 and (e) 2001-02; and if he will make a statement. [69254]
Mr. Dewar [holding answer 4 February 1999]: Expenditure on official hospitality to the Scottish Office in the financial year 1997-98 was £62,596. Provision of £75,000 has been made for 1998-99. Budgets for the financial years 1999-2000 and 2000-01 have not yet been set.
Nurses (Pay)
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which establishments in Scotland have paid a regular lead to nursing staff in each year since 1970; what was the annual value of the lead; what was its purpose; and if he will make a statement. [69055]
Mr. Galbraith [holding answer 8 February 1999]: The exact information required is not available centrally.
National terms and conditions for nursing staff include a range of leads and allowances paid under certain circumstances. Details of all such allowances were set out
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in Annex 1 of the Health Departments' 1998 evidence to the Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine, copies of which are held in the Library. This included information on the current national rate of payment and a brief description of conditions for payment. Information on the value of leads and allowances is only available from 1986 onwards and copies of the relevant circulars issued to the NHS in Scotland have been placed in the Library. All NHS bodies which employ nurses on national contracts pay these leads and allowances, if qualifying conditions are met. Since 1994 employers have had the flexibility to increase leads and allowances locally, which some NHS Trusts have done. In their sixteenth report for 1999, laid before Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, the Review Body recommended that on-call and stand-by allowances should be increased by 19% from 1 April 1999 and urged Trusts to increase relevant leads and allowances.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the subject areas within his Department's responsibilities which will be covered by the information campaign on Britain's membership of a single currency. [73667]
Mr. Dewar:
The Treasury will continue its dialogue with key external bodies to determine what information the public and business would need at each stage of the changeover process. Any information campaign would cover key concerns that the public and business may have. Chapter eight of the Treasury's Outline National Changeover Plan provides further information. Copies of the Plan are available in the House Library.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to issue information from his Department to help the public make an informed decision when they vote on the single currency. [73656]
Mr. Dewar:
Any plans by the Government to issue information during a referendum campaign on whether or not the UK should join the single currency would be made in light of the Government's response to the recommendations from the Neill Committee on the conduct of referendums. The Government will announce their conclusions on those recommendations when my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary publishes a White Paper and draft Bill before the summer recess.
Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those Ministers in his Department who were present at the recent Brit awards in an official capacity; and who or what organisation was acting as their sponsor or host. [73490]
Mr. Galbraith:
The Minister for Education, Scottish Office, attended the Brit awards ceremony as a guest of the British Phonographic Industry.
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Mr. Maclean:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what official visits he, his Ministers or officials have paid to Zimbabwe since May 1997; whom they met; and what was discussed. [73458]
Mr. Dewar:
No Scottish Office Minister has visited Zimbabwe in an official capacity since May 1997. The Chief Social Work Inspector attended the All Africa Conference on Community Service at Kadoma from 24 November to 2 December 1997 at the invitation of Prison Reform International to advise on the development of alternatives to prison. The Kadoma Declaration and Action Plan were subsequently endorsed by the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.
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