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Equal Opportunities

Jackie Ballard: To ask the Solicitor-General if an action plan for increasing the representation of women in public life has been (a) prepared by his Department and (b) published since November 1998. [94843]

The Solicitor-General: The hon. Member is referred to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 October 1999, Official Report, column 682.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the cost of establishing the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. [95136]

Mr. Alan Howarth [holding answer 25 October 1999]: £350,000 has been allocated to cover the costs associated with the establishment of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLAC) in this year and next.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications were received for the position of Chief Executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council; how many candidates were interviewed; and what salary the position carries. [95150]

Mr. Alan Howarth [holding answer 25 October 1999]: Thirty seven applications were received for the position of Chief Executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.

Six Candidates were interviewed for the post. The position carries a salary of £67,500.

26 Oct 1999 : Column: 780

Tourism

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many incoming tourists to the UK there were annually since 1995; and what estimate he has made of the numbers for 1999. [95203]

Janet Anderson [holding answer 25 October 1999]: Since 1995 the number of incoming tourists to the UK has been as follows:

Thousand

YearVisits to UK
199523,537
199625,163
199725,515
199825,745

There were 17.46 million visits to the UK in the first 8 months of 1999, an increase on 17.42 million visits in the equivalent period for 1998.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the effectiveness to date of the Government's tourism strategy. [95117]

Janet Anderson [holding answer 25 October 1999]: "Tomorrow's Tourism" is a challenging strategy for the next decade with many long-term goals. Together with the industry, we have already made good progress, for example:



    the launch of the new standardised accommodation rating system;


    the addition of on-line accommodation booking facilities to BTA's award-winning "Visit Britain" website; the launch of 16 of the British Tourist Authority's planned 36 new websites overseas; and the launch of the "Britain--Now is the Time" campaign to market the UK as a visitor destination for the Millennium;


    the successful hospitality careers festival held earlier this year;


    the inclusion of many seaside resorts on the new Assisted Areas map.

A fuller progress report will be made at the first Tourism Summit early next year.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has made to Her Majesty's Treasury regarding the impact on the tourism industry of airport passenger duty. [95118]

Janet Anderson [holding answer 25 October 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have discussed many matters of concern to the tourism industry, including air passenger duty (APD), with a wide range of ministerial colleagues including my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In addition, my officials have made contact with their colleagues in HM Customs and Excise when representations about APD have been made by industry representatives or members of the public.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the future arrangements for England-wide marketing within the tourism sector. [95132]

26 Oct 1999 : Column: 781

Janet Anderson [holding answer 25 October 1999]: The British Tourist Authority continues to market England abroad as part of its overall remit. It does so in partnership with the Regional Tourist Boards and the English Tourism Council with which it has an Overseas Marketing Agreement. Domestically, the English Tourism Council retains a strategic policy overview of marketing and has a major role in carrying out market research and providing advice on techniques and best practice.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact on the number of visitors to Britain of doubling airport passenger duty. [95124]

Janet Anderson [holding answer 25 October 1999]: The new rates of APD were introduced on 1 November 1997. In the first twelve months (November 1997 to October 1998) in which the new rates were in operation there were an estimated 25.8 million visits to the UK, an increase of 3 per cent. on the previous twelve months.

Green Spaces

Mr. Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what amount in (a) percentage and (b) money terms of the New Opportunities Fund budget is currently spent on the purchase of brown-field sites for developing playing fields; [95199]

Kate Hoey [holding answer 25 October 1999]: The New Opportunities Fund is currently consulting on the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities initiative, and has so far made no grants under it. The policy directions that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has issued to NOF require it to commit at least 75 per cent. of the £125 million available for the initiative to green spaces, and NOF will decide in the light of its consultation exercise whether or not further to allocate this sum between particular types of project.

Equal Opportunities

Jackie Ballard: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if an action plan for increasing the representation of women in public life has been (a) prepared by his Department and (b) published since November 1998. [94854]

Janet Anderson: The Cabinet Office is responsible for co-ordinating the Government's initiative on equal opportunities and public appointments, so I therefore refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 25 October 1999, Official Report, column 682.

This Government are committed to the equal representation of women and men in public appointments. A plan of action has been drawn up, which includes individual departmental plans for increasing the participation of women in public life. Details of individual Departments' plans are given in "Quangos: Opening up Public Appointments, 1999-2002", published by the Cabinet Office on 25 May 1999. Copies are in the Libraries of the House and on the Internet. The plans

26 Oct 1999 : Column: 782

contain specific goals and objectives for increasing the representation of women on the boards of public bodies, and are updated annually in the light of progress made.

Dance and Drama

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education and Employment regarding the funding of dance and drama courses. [95114]

Mr. Alan Howarth [holding answer 25 October 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have had a number of discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment and my noble Friend the Minister of State regarding the development of policy for funding dance and drama students.

Ealing Studios

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received in relation to the future of Ealing Studios; and if he will make a statement. [95128]

Janet Anderson [holding answer 25 October 1999]: In addition to the representation from the hon. Member, my Department has received four representations about Ealing Studios, three of which were from interested parties.

The National Film and Television School, as the owner of the land at Ealing, is responsible for the future of the site. As one of my Department's funded bodies, the School will keep my officials fully informed of its plans.

Wembley Stadium

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last met representatives of the London Borough of Brent to discuss the development of the national stadium at Wembley; and what discussions have taken place regarding section 106 proposals. [95144]

Kate Hoey [holding answer 25 October 1999]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met representatives of the London Borough of Brent on 15 and 22 July to discuss general progress with the national stadium project. He has had no discussions with the London Borough of Brent about section 106 requirements related to the national stadium project, which are entirely matters for the planning authority and the applicant, Wembley National Stadium Limited, to resolve following submission of the formal planning application.

I will be meeting representatives of the London Borough of Brent early next month.


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