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Sports Facilities
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has held with local education authorities on the increased provision of facilities for sporting groups. [105544]
Kate Hoey: My right hon. Friend and I are in regular contact with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Education and Employment, and through them, local education authorities, on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including the important issue of improving the provision of sports facilities in schools.
I have also discussed this with local authorities in my travels around the country and have met with the Local Government Association.
8 Feb 2000 : Column: 114W
Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the Department for Education and Employment on increasing the number of playing fields and extending sporting facilities at schools. [105102]
Kate Hoey
[holding answer 17 January 2000]: My right hon. Friend and I are in regular contact with ministerial colleagues in the Department for Education and Employment on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including the important issues of playing fields and improving the provision of sports facilities in schools.
I have also discussed this with local authorities in my travels around the country and have met with the Local Government Association and the National Playing Fields Association.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many letters he has received since 1 May 1997 on (a) constituency matters and (b) other matters of Government policy from each of those Members of the House who have not taken the Oath of Allegiance. [108403]
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 3 February 2000]: The information requested is not held centrally.
Mr. Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money the National Lottery has donated to the National Health Service; and if he will make a statement. [108716]
Kate Hoey:
The National Lottery has not donated any money to the National Health Service. The New Opportunities Fund has a remit to support initiatives connected with health, education and the environment, all funding allocated to health programmes, such as for the establishment of Healthy Living Centres or for cancer prevention, detection, treatment and care is quite separate from and additional to any money spent by the National Health Service in these areas.
Mr. Livsey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many relay stations will be digitalised when the phasing out of the analogue system is completed. [108719]
Mr. Chris Smith:
At least 30. The current digital terrestrial television (DTT) transmission plan comprises a network of 51 main transmitter sites and 30 relay transmitters. The BBC and Independent Television Commission, with their transmission providers, are now considering how to develop DTT coverage further, in consultation with the digital broadcasters, Government and representatives of manufacturers and consumers.
Mr. Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the application of the concessionary TV licence scheme to sheltered housing units where the residents include non-pensioners who have been placed there by the local authority to meet urgent housing needs. [106833]
8 Feb 2000 : Column: 115W
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 25 January 2000]: I recognise that this practice is increasing and gives rise to apparent anomalies in the application of the concessionary television licence scheme to sheltered housing units, which depends on the particular circumstances of the case. The Government asked the independent review panel on the future funding of the BBC to consider the structure of the scheme and whether a suitable alternative structure might be available. The Government are considering the Davies report's recommendations in the light of responses to the public consultation. We intend to announce our conclusions shortly.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if he will make an assessment of the benefits to the United Kingdom from BBC World; [108649]
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 7 February 2000]: I have had no such discussions with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. BBC World is a commercial venture and we have no plans to assess its impact overseas, though I would expect that, in its own way, BBC World makes a positive contribution to the standing of the United Kingdom.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many applications for lottery funding, and to what value, have been received by the Millennium Commission in each year since its establishment; and what is the number and value of grants made or announced in each year; [108773]
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 7 February 2000]: This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I will 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.
Dr. Harris:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 8 December 1999, Official Report, column 537W, what restrictions were placed on contractors carrying out research projects funded by his Department in 1999 in respect of them discussing their findings with journalists (a) before and (b) after publication. [108204]
Mr. Chris Smith:
All research contracts contain standard terms and conditions which place restrictions on contractors requiring permission from the Department before any discussions of their findings with journalists, either before or after publication.
8 Feb 2000 : Column: 116W
Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will encourage the (a) Football Association, (b) Football League, (c) television networks and (d) Football Trust to provide funds for schools without sports playing fields to obtain access to such fields for team sports. [108284]
Kate Hoey:
The FA Premier League and the Nationwide Football League have signed the Central Council of Physical Recreation's Voluntary Code on Broadcasting, under which governing bodies commit themselves to investing at least 5 per cent. of broadcasting revenues in the grass roots development of their sports. The Premier League re-affirmed its commitment to the principles of the Code in January 1999 following the publication of the Football Task Force's report Investing in the Community. My officials are in discussion with the Football Trust and the sport's governing bodies about the distribution and use of that investment, a proportion of which may be allocated to the provision of playing areas for school team sports.
Mr. Field:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will give a substantive answer to the question from the right hon. Member for Birkenhead on the birth weight of babies, tabled on 12 January (ref. 105430). [109122]
Yvette Cooper:
I shall let my right hon. Friend have a reply to his earlier question as soon as possible.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists have been (a) struck off and (b) reprimanded for professional negligence in each year since 1995. [106719]
Mr. Hutton
[holding answer 24 January 2000]: Under the Dentists Act 1984, it is the General Dental Council (GDC) that has statutory functions in relation to both the professional conduct and the fitness to practise of dentists in the United Kingdom. The proceedings of the Professional Conduct Committee of the GDC are made public by the Council. The number of dentists found guilty of serious professional misconduct in the last five years is given in the table.
(2) what discussions he has had with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in respect of funding for BBC World. [108648]
(2) what arrangements are in place for the continued funding after 31 December of ongoing projects supported by the Millennium Commission; and if he will make a statement. [108771]
| Year | Erased | Suspended(7) | Admonition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| 1996 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| 1997 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| 1998 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| 1999 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
(7) Suspended up to 12 months
Source:
General Dental Council
8 Feb 2000 : Column: 117W
Waiting Lists
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of patients on waiting lists, and how many patients this represented, were waiting over one year in (a) 1979, (b) 1989, (c) 1995 and (d) the latest date for which figures are available; [107062]
(2) in which year since 1970 there was the smallest percentage of patients on waiting lists who were waiting over one year for hospital treatment; and how many patients this represented. [107106]
Mr. Denham: The information requested is shown in the table. The March 1996 data are presented since this is the year with the smallest percentage of patients waiting over 12 months for inpatient treatment:
| Date | Total waiting | Over 12 month waiters | Percentage over 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 1979 | 695,726 | 197,532 | 28.4 |
| September 1989 | 929,056 | 218,116 | 23.5 |
| September 1995 | 1,040,142 | 27,938 | 2.7 |
| September 1996 | 1,061,558 | 14,993 | 1.4 |
| September 1999 | 1,084,529 | 50,916 | 4.7 |
Notes:
Ordinary cases only collected in 1979 (day cases were not included). All other years represent ordinary and day cases combined.
March 1996 figures were total waiting: 1,048,029; over 12 month waiters: 4,576; percentage over 12 months 4.7.
Source:
KH07 return (Trust-based data)
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