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Girls' Football
17. Mr. Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Football Association about plans to encourage girls to play football. [83425]
Mr. Banks: I met senior representatives of The Football Association on 9 March, principally to discuss The FA's plans to stage a Women's Football Awareness Week in June. Given the significant schools element in The FA's proposals I am arranging for The FA representatives to have detailed discussions with myself and Education Ministers shortly. I fully support the excellent work which The FA is undertaking in this important area, and wish it every success.
Musical Instrument Tuition
18. Mr. David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what direct support will be given to schools musical instrument tuition from the youth music trust and the standards fund. [83426]
Mr. Alan Howarth: The independent National Foundation for Youth Music, formerly known as the Youth Music Trust, opened in April and will work with the DfEE's £150 million Standards Fund measures to increase opportunities for school children to access instrumental music-making. The National Foundation for Youth Music's policies will complement the Standards Fund measures, drawing on £30 million of Arts Council Lottery funds, by seeking to find additional ways in which all children, in schools and outside, will have access to quality music-making opportunities. Further announcements about the National Foundation for Youth Music's policies will be made shortly.
Tourism (Wiltshire)
19. Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect of the working time directive on the tourism industry in Wiltshire. [83427]
Janet Anderson: The Government believe that the Working Time Regulations are business friendly in all parts of the UK. They strike a balance between the need for effective legislation, providing fair minimum standards for workers and ensuring that businesses are not subject to unnecessary burdens.
Parks (Policing)
20. Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will discuss with the head of the Royal Parks Constabulary and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis the limitation of park controllers' powers in extremis. [83428]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
I have no plans to discuss changing the powers of the Royal Parks Constabulary with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan police and the Chief Officer of the Royal Parks Police.
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Officers of the Royal Parks Constabulary have the same powers, privileges and immunities as any police constable within the Metropolitan police district. These powers are adequate to discharge their responsibilities to the Secretary of State, under the Royal Parks Regulations Act 1872.
21. Mr. Ennis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to improve safety and spectator comfort at cricket grounds. [83429]
Mr. Banks:
The Government are determined that spectators of all sports should be able to enjoy the action in safety and comfort. Last month, I announced new roles for both Sport England and the Football Licensing Authority in our drive to modernise sports grounds across the country. Sport England is to fund a £10 million improvement scheme over the next four years to help top rugby league and rugby union teams, and the major cricket counties to improve safety at their grounds. In addition, the Football Licensing Authority will be reconstituted as the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and will have an advisory role on safety issues associated with all sports which use outdoor sports stadia, including cricket. I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that these are welcome developments.
22. Ms Buck:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contribution the New Opportunities Fund will make to the national year of reading. [83430]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The New Opportunities Fund will be issuing its first grants under the out of school hours learning initiative in July. As the National Year of Reading ends in August, the New Opportunities Fund will not be making a contribution to this programme.
23. Mr. Purchase:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to receive the report of the viewers panel on concessionary television licences; and if he will make a statement. [83431]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The BBC funding review panel, whose terms of reference include a consideration of the structure of the concessionary licence scheme and possible alternatives, will report to me by the end of July this year.
24. Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received on the work of the British Tourist Authority. [83432]
Janet Anderson:
My Department regularly receives representations--mostly complimentary in nature--on the work of the British Tourist Authority.
17 May 1999 : Column: 278
26. Mrs. Ellman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the allocation of arts funding to and within the English regions. [83434]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
The arts in the English regions benefit from a variety of funding sources; Government, via the Arts Council of England and the regional arts board; local authorities; the European Union; and business sponsorship. Each is indispensable, and we could not take away one without endangering the whole.
27. Mr. Jenkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to improve safety and spectator comfort at rugby grounds. [83435]
Mr. Banks:
The Government are determined that spectators of all sports should be able to enjoy the action in safety and comfort. Last month, I announced new roles for both Sport England and the Football Licensing Authority in our drive to modernise sports grounds across the country. Sport England is to fund a £10 million improvement scheme over the next four years to help top rugby league and rugby union teams, and the major cricket counties to improve safety at their grounds. In addition, the Football Licensing Authority will be reconstituted as the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and will have an advisory role on safety issues associated with all sports which use outdoor sports stadia, including rugby. I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that these are welcome developments.
28. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when grants will be awarded under the Green Spaces Initiative funded by the New Opportunities Fund. [83436]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The New Opportunities Fund expects to invite applications for grants under the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities initiative by January 2000 and aims to make awards shortly after.
35. Mr. Bradshaw:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has held with transport providers on the provision of low-cost services for visitors to the millennium experience from the south-west. [83444]
36. Helen Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to encourage people from the north-west to visit the millennium experience. [83445]
Janet Anderson:
The New Millennium Experience Company working with the travel industry, including rail and coach operators, aims to deliver packages combining travel and Dome entry, which will give visitors value for money and encourage all those who wish to visit the Dome to do so. Following the company's announcement of ticket prices on 18 March, the travel industry has already confirmed a range of attractive and competitive
17 May 1999 : Column: 279
packages. For example, National Express has announced return coach travel and entry to the Dome for just £29.99 from anywhere in England, Scotland or Wales.
37. Mr. Stringer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will estimate the economic impact of the millennium dome on the north-west of England. [83446]
Janet Anderson:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Mr. Forth) on 29 March 1999, Official Report, column 517.
Mr. Amess:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received on forecasts of numbers visiting the dome during the first year. [83440]
Janet Anderson:
The Millennium Experience is planned as a one-year event running from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000. The New Millennium Experience Company estimates that it will attract 12 million visitors during the year of operation. I have received no representations about this figure.
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