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CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Museums and Galleries Commission
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the future of the Museums and Galleries Commission's Conservation Register. [114467]
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 14 March 2000]: The Museums and Galleries Commission (MGC) will be replaced by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLAC) on 3 April 2000. Options for the future of
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functions currently carried out by the MGC were presented in a consultation document issued by MLAC in January this year.
In that document, MLAC suggests that the maintenance of the MGC Conservation Register should not be carried out by MLAC. The MGC is currently exploring the options for a future alternative home for the Conservation Register where its potential as a public information resource and as an endorsement of high quality conservation practice can be further realised.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last met representatives of (a) the film company Alchymie and (b) the finance company Flashpoint; and if he will make a statement. [114973]
Mr. Chris Smith:
I met directors of Flashpoint in May 1999 and attended the launch of Alchymie in October 1999.
As Secretary of State for the Department with responsibility for film policy, I frequently have meetings with representatives of the film industry and attend industry events. Given that our policy, as set out in the 1998 report of the Film Policy Review Group, is to encourage the growth of a self-sustaining, commercial film sector, I welcome efforts by the industry to establish new initiatives, such as Alchymie, which combine the production and commercial exploitation of British films. The success of such initiatives, however, depends not on any Government involvement, but on their commercial performance in a competitive and volatile market.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from the British Activity Holiday Association regarding the impact of the level of accommodation offset within the National Minimum Wage Regulations. [114972]
Mr. Chris Smith:
We received a copy of the British Activity Holiday Association (BAHA) comments in late 1998 on the accommodation offset during consultation on the then draft National Minimum Wage Regulations. These comments were also copied to the Department of Trade and Industry.
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More recently, I am aware that the BAHA gave written and oral evidence to the Low Pay Commission on the offset as part of the review which the Government asked the Commission to carry out to evaluate the introduction of the minimum wage.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress he has made in promoting nautical archaeology. [114930]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is currently engaged in providing additional wreck marker buoys and interpretative signs at a number of sites designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.
In 2000-01 we will continue to support, through the Heritage Grant Fund administered by English Heritage, two nautical archaeological projects: the activities of the Hampshire and Wight Trust and the Nautical Archaeological Society's course programme.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 8 March 2000, Official Report, column 736W, on film funding, how much National Lottery funding was recouped in each case where repayments have been made. [114976]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The publication of information on amounts of National Lottery funding recouped from individual films could damage the prospects of films which had not been fully exploited in all territories and media. The information could also make it possible to deduce the terms of the contract between the Lottery distributor and the other backers of the film, which are confidential.
The total amount recouped by date by the Arts Council of England is £5,974,018.
Mr. Bercow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his reply of 3 March 2000, column 432W, how many British Museum staff have been dismissed over the past 12 months; at what cost; and with what period of notice, in each case. [112380]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
I regret that the figures in my original answer were incorrect. The correct figures are in the table:
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| Number of staff and their category | Reason for terminations | Period of notice | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 aged 60+ who are being compulsorily retired | Museum reorganisation | 6 to 9 months | 48,529 |
| 9 aged between 50 and 60 who are taking early retirement but on a compulsory basis | Museum reorganisation | 6 months | (1)190,470 |
| 22 persons under 50 who are taking compulsory early severance | Museum reorganisation | 6 months | 1,035,510 |
| 3 others | Performance or health grounds | 2--no notice 1--13 weeks | Nil |
(1) Additionally these staff will be paid an annual compensation cost until they reach age 60. The total cost in the current year is £89,838. Over the next few years this annual sum will reduce as people reach age 60. The overall present value of this payment, at current money values, is estimated to be £555,343. There will also be other one-off costs estimated at £253,989 relating to pension preservation and the bringing forward of lump sums.
Notes:
1. All the compensating amounts shown above derive from Civil Service Pension Scheme standard terms and conditions.
2. The above table does not include staff whose fixed-term contracts have not been renewed. These terminations do not carry a cost to the Museum.
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NORTHERN IRELAND
Parades Commission
Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what kind of protection has been afforded to the members of the Parades Commission since its establishment; and what has been the cost of providing protection to members of the Commission over the past 12 months. [113831]
Mr. Ingram: It is the long standing policy both of this Government and previous Governments that we do not discuss the security measures provided to individuals or groups. The cost of installing and maintaining security measures for members of the Parades Commission over the period in question was £74,004.96.
Departmental Expenditure Limit
Mr. McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to amend the Northern Ireland Departments' Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999-2000. [115343]
Mr. Ingram: The Northern Ireland Departments' Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999-2000 has been increased by £94,327,000 from £4,856,247,000 to £4,950,574,000. The increase is the net effect of:
The net transfers to other Government Departments are made up as follows:
Mr. McCabe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what key targets are set for the Forensic Science Agency of Northern Ireland in 1999-2000; what
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forward plans have been prepared by the Agency; and what arrangements have been made for the publication of this year's plans. [115344]
Mr. Ingram:
The following key targets are set for the Forensic Science Agency of Northern Ireland in 1999-2000.
the take up of end-year flexibility entitlement of £98,341,000;
There is also a decrease in the provision for Welfare to Work of £31,144,000.
net transfers to other Government Departments of £18,134,000 as detailed;
an increase in the provision for Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances of £8,500,000;
increases resulting from additions to "The Giving Age" and Health of £4,293,000;
an increase in Housing Loan Charges of £1,147,000; and
an increase in the Capital Modernisation Fund of £180,000.
net transfers to the Northern Ireland Office of £8,144,000;
a transfer to the Inland Revenue of £6,689,000;
transfers to the Scottish Executive of £1,788,000;
transfers to the Department of Health of £1,098,000;
a transfer to the Department for Education and Employment of £653,000;
The net increase in the Northern Ireland Departments' Departmental Expenditure Limit is a charge on the Departmental Expenditure Limit Reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.
transfers to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of £257,000;
a transfer to the Privy Council Office of £10,000;
a transfer from the Department of Trade and Industry of £500,000; and
a transfer from the National Assembly for Wales of £5,000.
Quality of Service
To turnaround 85 per cent. of those cases in which a file is required to be submitted to the DPP within 85 days of notification or final submissions whichever is later for cases received from 1 April 1999.
Quality of Science
Maintain UKAS accreditation for those scientific processes identified by the Ministerial Advisory Board.
Achieve supplier status for the National DNA database by 31 December 1999.
Service Provision
To have obtained the agreement of the User Board that the Agency is effectively meeting the needs of the RUC as defined in the Service Level Agreement for the year ending 31 March 2000.
Financial Performance
To recover from Customers the full cash costs of the services to them.
To reduce by 2 per cent. the Unit Cost of the Agency.
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