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New Deal (Communities)
Ms Buck:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when an announcement will be made about a second round of the New Deal for Communities programme. [98048]
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 620
Ms Armstrong:
I am delighted to announce today that 22 new areas are being invited to bid for funding under the second round of the New Deal for Communities programme. The eligible areas are:
In each area we are inviting community based partnerships to form, and take responsibility for, the regeneration of one neighbourhood of between 1,000-4,000 households. We trust that the communities, service providers and businesses will seize this opportunity to transform some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country.
Copies of the bidding guidance for round 2 of the New Deal for Communities programme have been placed in the Library of the House.
I am also pleased to announce the approval of the first of the long-term Delivery Plans developed by our pathfinder partnerships, 17 of whom began work last year. The partnership for Beswick and Openshaw in East Manchester have developed a robust strategy that promises to deliver real and lasting change for the area and its community. I am delighted to announce that we have today offered that partnership the funding they need to implement their strategy for change.
Mr. Walter:
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for 1999-2000, 2000-01 and 2001-02, the departmental expenditure limits of the Wales Office (a) as they were before the negotiation of Objective 1 status for West Wales and the Valleys and (b) as they are now; what amounts are available to meet that expenditure from (i) the block grant, (ii) local authority credit approvals, (iii) European Union grants broken down by programme and (iv) the private sector element of matched funding. [97699]
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Mr. Paul Murphy:
The Departmental Expenditure Limit of the former Welsh Office (excluding Welfare to Work expenditure) was set at the last Comprehensive Spending Review as:
London:
Islington, Lambeth, Haringey, Lewisham, Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent
North West:
Knowsley, Salford, Rochdale, Oldham
North East:
Hartlepool, Sunderland
Yorkshire and the Humber:
Sheffield, Doncaster
West Midlands:
Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Coventry
South West:
Plymouth
East Midlands:
Derby
South East:
Southampton
East:
Luton.
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1999-2000 | 7,097 |
| 2000-01 | 7,498 |
| 2001-02 | 7,888 |
There have been no changes arising from the negotiation of Objective 1 status for West Wales and the Valleys. This is a matter for the next spending review.
The allocation of funds within the block is a matter for The National Assembly for Wales.
Ministerial Visit (China)
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the outcome of his visit to China earlier this year. [97979]
Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 9 November 1999]: I visited China earlier this year, from 27 April to 6 May. I was accompanied by a delegation of leading figures from the UK television, music and film industries.
The objectives of the visit were: to create among UK creative industries an improved understanding of China and its way of doing business, to outline to the Chinese what the UK could offer; and to raise the issue of piracy and encourage the Chinese authorities to maintain their efforts to tackle this problem.
The visit produced some positive outcomes which officials from my Department are taking forward in collaboration with the appropriate contacts from the business community. These include:
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 622
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport at what time in the morning the watershed period before which programmes unsuitable for family viewing are discouraged, ends. [97592]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 8 November 1999]: Under the terms of the watershed agreement the hours between 9.00pm and 5.30am are recognised as being a time at which programmes are aimed towards an adult rather than a family audience.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the suitability for screening prior to the 9.00 p.m. watershed of programmes of United States origin depicting extensive use of firearms. [97588]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 8 November 1999]: Responsibility for these matters rests with the broadcasters and regulators. The regulators are independent of the Government and accountable for safeguarding the public interest in broadcasting. They maintain wide ranging guidelines on the standards which should be observed, including the 9.00 p.m. watershed. These guidelines apply to programmes regardless of genre or country of origin.
Ms Kingham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Quality, Efficiency and Standards Team will publish its work plan. [98337]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The Quality, Efficiency and Standards Team (QUEST) has been set up to identify, evaluate and promote good practice across the cultural sector. It works independently of the Department and reports directly to me. After wide consultation, QUEST has now decided on its initial projects. Details of these are set out in QUESTS's work plan, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if construction work on each of the zones in the Millennium Dome will be completed by 31 December. [97774]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 8 November 1999]: Progress on the Millennium Dome remains on time and on budget. The construction and development phases for the Dome are nearing completion and the transition to exhibit fit-out is in full flow. All zones will be complete by 31 December.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the use of the Millennium Dome site after the closure of the exhibition. [95177]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 25 October 1999]: The Government is committed to identifying a sustainable, viable use for the Dome after the Millennium Experience ends and launched a competition for that purpose on 4 March 1999. The competition is proceeding
10 Nov 1999 : Column: 623
well and we are pleased with the level of interest that has been shown. Bidders have now provided their outline proposals and we hope to be able to select a final shortlist by the end of the year. Obviously, for commercial reasons, the identities of the bidders will remain confidential. The outcome of the competition will be announced in the summer of 2000.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on security arrangements at the Millennium Dome. [95120]
Janet Anderson
[holding answer 25 October 1999]: The New Millennium Experience Company has regular discussions with the Metropolitan Police about all aspects of security. By definition, it would not be helpful to reveal the detail of those discussions or of the security arrangements implemented as a result. I am satisfied that those arrangements are both robust and comprehensive.
Mrs. Lait:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what policy towards the employment of people with disabilities he has asked the operators of the Millennium Dome to follow. [95082]
Janet Anderson:
The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has an equal opportunities employment policy. To ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to vacancies, NMEC is working with Manpower, the Employment Service and a number of specialist agencies. All applicants with a disability are offered an initial interview. They, like all other applicants for vacancies, are assessed on their ability to perform particular jobs to an acceptable standard. Where an individual fails an initial or any subsequent interview, constructive follow-up advice is offered.
agreement from State Administration for Radio Film and TV to proceed with the idea of National Film and Television School (NFTS) student scholarships under which 4-6 top Chinese students will be given a bursary to attend a one-year NFTS training school;
agreement on developing ideas for greater exchange of television product between China and the UK;
commitment by the Ministry of Culture to expanding the cultural exchange programme between China and the UK;
possibility of running a festival of films produced by the Xian film studios;
agreement to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) providing a training programme for National Copyright Association of China (NCAC) officials on how to deal with piracy;
the development of greater understanding of and commitment to the creative industries agenda by both the British Embassy and British Council staff in China;
a number of specific business deals initiated or concluded by BBC Worldwide and other companies represented on the visit;
and a greater appreciation of the benefits of a joint political/business approach to doing business in China--and an awareness of cultural events which also provide a business spin-off.
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