| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Hotels
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to publicise the launch of the new rating scheme for hotel accommodation; and when it will take place. [83036]
Janet Anderson [holding answer 4 May 1999]: The Government have asked the English Tourist Board, which will shortly become the English Tourism Council, to arrange the consumer launch of the new harmonised schemes for hotel and guest accommodation, working closely with the AA and the RAC. Preparatory inspections will shortly be complete and the launch is planned for September. We support these arrangements to ensure wide awareness of the benefits of the new schemes.
UK Sports Institute
Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress he has made in the allocation of the facilities at the regional centres of excellence for the UK Sports Institute. [83168]
Mr. Banks:
Since the launch of the UK Sports Institute's network in England on 1 March 1999, Sport England have briefed key individuals and institutions in consortiums on the way forward. They are also updating the 1997 audit of sport to clarify individual World Class Programme sports service and facility requirements.
10 May 1999 : Column: 31
The information will be used to draw up a template for each UK Sports Institute consortium which will set out the service and facility requirements for each individual area. These will be ready to present to the network consortiums in the summer.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with Mr. Greg Dyke with regard to the appointment of the next Director-General of the BBC. [83037]
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 4 May 1999]: I have had no detailed discussions with Mr. Greg Dyke about the appointment of the next Director-General of the BBC. He did, however, inform me on 4 February that he was considering applying for the post.
Mr. Reed:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of projects which have received Millennium Commission awards have been in (a) the east midlands and (b) Leicestershire. [83164]
Janet Anderson:
This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. My right hon. Friend will reply to my hon. Friend in his capacity as Chairman of the Commission, and place copies of his reply in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will list the expected sources of partnership funding for each of the Millennium capital projects; and how much has now been secured in each case; [83758]
Mr. Chris Smith:
These are matters for the Millennium Commission. I shall write to the hon. Member in my capacity as Chairman of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Spring:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many planning applications for the sale of school playing fields have (a) been considered and (b) been objected to by Sport England since 25 February; and if he will list them. [81801]
Mr. Banks
[holding answer 28 April 1999]: Since 25 February Sport England has considered 45 planning applications in respect of school playing fields and objected in 4 cases. Of the remaining 41 planning applications, 16 are still undergoing assessment by Sport England. The list of planning applications is as follows:
(2) how much of the matched funding being sought by the Millennium Commission capital projects is expected to come from (a) local authorities, (b) development corporations, (c) ERDF, (d) other Government sources and (e) private donations. [83759]
10 May 1999 : Column: 32
Millennium Dome (Opening Ceremonies)
Mr. Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that those invited to the opening ceremonies of the Dome are representative of the whole of society. [82327]
Janet Anderson: The New Millennium Experience Company are determined that the opening celebration at the Millennium Dome on 31 December 1999 will be an inclusive event and will represent the whole of society. The majority of those invited will be members of the general public from across the UK. NMEC are currently developing their strategy for delivering this and will announce the arrangements in due course.
Departmental Legal Business
Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his Department's policy when (a) conducting legal proceedings and (b) seeking legal advice as to the circumstances in which Queen's Counsel should be instructed; and for each of the last three years (i) on how many occasions his Department instructed Queen's Counsel and (ii) what was the total cost of instructing Queen's Counsel. [81764]
10 May 1999 : Column: 33
Mr. Chris Smith:
In relation to sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of my hon. Friend's question concerning my Department's policy when conducting legal proceedings, and when seeking legal advice as to the circumstances in which Queen's Counsel should be instructed, this Department would normally expect the Treasury Solicitor's Department to instruct Counsel on its behalf. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Solicitor-General on 26 April 1999, Official Report, columns 1-2.
With regard to each of the last three years, as far as my officials have been able to ascertain without incurring disproportionate cost, from April 1996 to March 1997 Queen's Counsel were instructed in one case; from April 1997 to March 1998 Queen's Counsel were instructed in three cases; and from April 1998 to date Queen's Counsel were instructed in five cases.
As far as my officials have been able to ascertain without incurring disproportionate cost, the total cost of instructing Counsel during the periods referred to above was:
It should be noted that the total figure given for the period 1996-97 covers work for two cases--it includes a sum attributable to Counsel's fees for work undertaken before April 1996 but paid after that date. It should also be noted that the figure given for 1998 to date excludes Counsel's fees for work undertaken in that period which are yet to be agreed.
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff who have worked as professional statisticians in his Department and its predecessor have left on early retirement in each of the past 10 years. [81174]
Janet Anderson:
The number of "professional statisticians" who have left on early retirement in the last 10 years is none.
Mr. Menzies Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff by grade are employed as professional statisticians in his Department; how many of these staff have been accepted as fast stream by the Civil Service Selection Board; and how many have been granted chartered statistician status by the Royal Statistical Society. [81196]
Janet Anderson:
Statistical work is undertaken by a range of specialisms such as Research Officers, Social Survey Officers and Economists. Within this Department there are 1 Grade A (U)--Grade 6 equivalent, 1 Grade A (L)--Grade 7 equivalent, 1 Assistant Statisticians employed as "professional" statisticians, all of whom have been recruited via CSSB.
for 1996-97: £146,689.75; and
for 1997-98 £11,350.50; and
for 1998 to date £25,168.51.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |