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Sports Clubs
Mr. Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones) of 5 July 1999, Official Report, column 382, what representations he has made to the Home Office about charitable status for sports clubs. [90812]
Mr. Chris Smith: My hon. Friend the Minister for Sport has been in close contact with my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office on this issue. I particularly look forward to the forthcoming consultation dealing with charitable status and community based sports clubs, in which I will be taking a close interest.
Single Currency
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much expenditure his Department (a) has incurred to date and (b) expects to incur on preparations for possible United Kingdom entry into the European single currency; and if he will make a statement. [91182]
Mr. Chris Smith: The Department has not incurred any separately identifiable expenditure. Activity in this area has been limited to disseminating information to sponsored bodies. I have made no estimate of future expenditure.
Departmental Buildings
Mrs. Ewing:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the location, functions, number of staff accommodated and running costs of his Department's and its agencies' buildings in Scotland. [90859]
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Mr. Chris Smith:
DCMS has no staff, accommodation or agencies in Scotland.
Media Relations
Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers involved in media relations were employed within his Department at 1 May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 and (iii) 1999. [84203]
Dr. Reid [holding answer 18 May 1999]: Detailed information on the numbers of permanent civil servants employed in Departmental Press Offices during the financial years 1997-98 and 1998-99 was provided in a memorandum dated 16 June 1998 to the Select Committee on Public Administration and published in its report on The Government Information and Communication Service (HC 770) in July 1998. A copy is in the Library of the House. The number in post in my Department at 1 May 1999 was 30.
All Special Advisers in my Department have had ad hoc contact with the media, but no Special Adviser was employed to deal specifically with media relations at 1 May (i) 1997, (ii) 1998 or (iii) 1999. One special adviser with particular responsibility for media relations was employed from 5 May 1998 to 6 April 1999.
Wildlife Protection
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposal he has to introduce greater protection for wildlife; and if he will make a statement. [90179]
Dr. Reid: Protection for wildlife was devolved on 1 July and is now a matter for the Scottish Parliament. The only reserved aspect of protection for wildlife is the protection and regulation of the import and export of animals and plants (under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species--CITES).
Post Office
Mr. Gorrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has made to ministers about the proposed changes in the Post Office as they would affect Scotland. [90774]
Dr. Reid:
The Post Office makes a vital contribution to national life in Scotland, particularly in rural areas. I have been fully involved in development of the Government's proposals for reform of the Post Office that were presented to the House by my right hon. Friend on 8 July 1999, Official Report, columns 1175-90. "Post Office Reform: A World Class Service for the 21st Century" reaffirms the Government's commitment to a universal postal service at a uniform tariff. Measures such as the setting of criteria for access to Post Office counter services will ensure that any evolution of the network of post offices will take place with due regard to less populated areas.
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Mr. Gorrie:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has (a) made to the Cabinet Office and (b) received from the Scottish Executive regarding changes required in the rules governing the conduct of civil servants because of their involvement in supporting or advising committees of the Scottish Parliament. [90777]
Mr. Grieve:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much expenditure his Department has (a) incurred to date and (b) expects to incur, on preparations for possible United Kingdom entry into a European single currency; and if he will make a statement. [91184]
Dr. Reid:
Following the publication of the Government's Outline National Changeover Plan, my Department is considering what preparations may be necessary.
Rural Transport
1. Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has for the improvement of transport provision for people living in rural areas. [89475]
33. Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures have been taken to improve transport in rural areas since May 1997; and if he will make a statement on progress made. [89508]
Mr. Prescott: This Government have already significantly improved transport in rural areas. Over £170 million is being made available over three years for extra rural bus services and 1,500 new and enhanced services have been set up, many to local hospitals, shops and stations.
Genetically Modified Foods
19. Mr. Alan W. Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the decision reached at the Council of Environment Ministers meeting in Luxembourg on 25 June regarding the development, production and sale of genetically modified foods. [89494]
Mr. Meale: I am pleased to announce to the House that the Council reached political agreement on the amendment to Directive 90/220 on the deliberate release and marketing of genetically modified organisms. This directive does not include the approval for sale of genetically modified foods, but it does cover crops used in the production of foods.
I am confident that this will secure better protection for the environment and human health. Tightening of many of the core elements of the Directive and increasing transparency will help public confidence in the regulatory
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regime, and establishing fixed time periods for the decision-making steps will provide more predictability for biotechnology research and industry.
20. Mr. David Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress has been made in the application of the policies set out in the report "Towards an Urban Renaissance" in the east midlands. [89495]
Mr. Caborn:
The final report of the Urban Task Force "Towards an Urban Renaissance" was published on 29 June. We are considering the Task Force's recommendations in the preparation of our Urban and Rural White Papers, both of which will be published in the next 12 months.
Urban areas in the Midlands currently benefit from a range of Government regeneration initiatives such as the Single Regeneration Budget, the New Deal for Communities (in Leicester and Nottingham), and from regeneration activity carried out by English Partnerships and the East Midlands Development Agency.
21. Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the impact on traffic levels which the Government's planned new charges on motorists will have. [89496]
Mrs. Liddell:
A number of studies have indicated that traffic levels could be substantially reduced if local authorities decided to implement packages of measures including road user charges and complementary public transport improvements.
22. Ann Clwyd:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the franchise conditions of service station operations on the motorways. [89497]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
We have no immediate plans to do so, though a recent increase in complaints has led the Office of Fair Trading to conduct a preliminary investigation of its own into the price of food and drink at motorway services areas. We have said that we will wish to consider the case for further Government intervention, either through our formal agreements with operators or otherwise, in the light of OFT's findings.
23. Ms Squire:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on improving public transport access to Paddington station. [89498]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
London Underground is currently improving access to its station at Paddington. The improvements include a widened ticket hall, an extended ticket office, a revised gateline and new architectural finishes. The work will be complete in September 1999.
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