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Tourism Summit
18. Mr. Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent tourism summit. [114871]
25. Mr. Hoyle:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent tourism summit. [114878]
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Janet Anderson:
I am happy to say that the tourism summit held on 1 March was a great success. For the first time Ministers from a range of Departments whose policies significantly affect tourism were able to engage in close discussion on priorities for joint progress in the year ahead.
Ministers committed themselves to the fulfilment of the tourism strategy. Collectively, they also made two specific pledges. Most notable of those is the establishment of a cross-departmental network of officials to ensure close working on policies affecting tourism. They will also consider the forthcoming report from the Better Regulation Task Force on the impact of regulation and enforcement on the hotel and restaurant sector and how to improve co-ordination of regulation in this area.
We will publish a report on the summit.
22. Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contribution the national lottery is making towards encouraging the playing of competitive sporting fixtures in schools. [114875]
Kate Hoey:
Inter-school competitive fixtures will be an important part of the job description of the School Sports Co-ordinators, a new initiative which is being supported by the Lottery Sports Fund with additional support expected to come from partnership funding, including the new opportunities fund. Detailed proposals for the initiative are being drawn up in conjunction with key partners.
23. Caroline Flint:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in what ways he expects children to benefit from the green spaces initiative funded by the new opportunities fund. [114876]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The new opportunities fund launched the green spaces and sustainable communities initiative in January, and hopes to make its first grants this summer. The initiative covers, among other things, opportunities for children's play, organised and informal sport, playing fields, access to the countryside and creating safer routes to school. These opportunities will greatly benefit the health, happiness, safety and social well-being of children, particularly in areas of multiple deprivation.
24. Dr. Whitehead:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to encourage professional sport to invest income from the sale of television rights in amateur and youth sport. [114877]
Kate Hoey:
A number of UK governing bodies have signed the Central Council of Physical Recreation's Voluntary Code, under which a minimum of 5 per cent. of broadcasting income is invested in grass roots development. The resulting arrangements in cricket, tennis and other sports appear to be working well. The football authorities are currently drawing up--in consultation with Sport England and my Department--
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detailed proposals for using their broadcasting income with the public funds to improve the development of grass roots football in England. An announcement will be made when discussions have been completed.
26. Miss Geraldine Smith:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to encourage the regeneration of British seaside resorts; and if he will make a statement. [114879]
Janet Anderson:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Harwich (Mr. Henderson), Official Report, column 4.
Mr. Robertson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement about the distribution of lottery grants across the country. [114874]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The Government are committed to ensuring that Lottery funding is distributed fairly both geographically and across all groups of society. This is reflected in the changes made to lottery distribution through the National Lottery Act 1998, and through the revised policy directions which I issued in summer 1998. My Department and the lottery distributors have jointly commissioned research, due shortly, into why coalfield areas have fared badly from the lottery, which I hope will hold lessons for distribution to other areas of low take-up.
Mr. Pendry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the amounts of moneys (a) distributed to good causes from the National Lottery Fund and (b) which have yet to be allocated. [116489]
Mr. Chris Smith:
All the funds in the National Lottery Distribution Fund available for distribution have been allocated to the National Lottery Distributing Bodies, and all but £200 million of this money has already been committed by them. While money remains in this fund, it earns tax free interest which goes to the good causes, not Government.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to establish a national sports museum; and if he will make a statement. [113734]
Kate Hoey:
I refer the hon. Member to my answers of 15 March 2000, Official Report, column 251W.
Mr. Winnick:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 8 February regarding a constituent. [116381]
Janet Anderson:
I have now replied to my hon. Friend, with an explanation of the reasons for the delay in responding to his correspondence.
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Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much national lottery funding has been provided to historic railway engine restoration projects since the start of the national lottery; and if he will make a statement. [116100]
Kate Hoey:
Since the beginning of the national lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund has made 17 awards to historic railway engine restoration projects, and the total value is £2,161,158.
Mr. Hurst:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what new initiatives the Government are introducing to help vulnerable young people resist drugs. [116649]
Mr. Ian McCartney:
I am pleased to announce that today my Department was able to help launch Positive Futures, a joint sports and drug prevention initiative designed to engage young people at risk.
The UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordination Unit in the Cabinet Office, Sport England and the Youth Justice Board have joined together to create the initiative, which will use sporting and drug education activities to divert vulnerable young people away from drug misuse and crime.
Between the three partners, £950,000 will be invested in 2000-01 to fund 24 projects around the country. By the end of October, all 24 will have begun.
As we set out in our 10-year anti-drugs strategy "Tackling Drugs to Build a Better Britain", the Government are committed to helping young people resist drug misuse in order to achieve their full potential in society. I believe that this initiative will give hope to young people in areas of deprivation, helping them to build self-esteem and confidence while, at the same time, offering a healthy alternative to involvement in drugs.
Dr. Jack Cunningham:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what representations she has made, in her role as interdepartmental co-ordinator of policy on rural affairs, to Barclays Bank plc about their branch closure policy; what reply she has received; and if she will make a statement. [116289]
Marjorie Mowlam:
I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer that my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary gave on 20 March 2000, Official Report, column 445W.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) if she will list the categories of information which are (a) held and (b) planned to be held on the Knowledge Network Project which are broken down by constituency level; [116290]
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Marjorie Mowlam:
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on 24 March 2000, Official Report, column 691W.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will publish the communications audit of Whitehall departments; and if she will make a statement. [116291]
Marjorie Mowlam:
The communications audit of Whitehall Departments is part of Phase 1 of the work of the Knowledge Network Project. The results and findings of Phase 1 will be reported to me by July 2000 and will subsequently be made available on the Internet.
Mr. Simon Hughes:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what is the total planned and current cost of the Knowledge Network Project; and if she will make a statement. [116292]
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Marjorie Mowlam:
The estimated cost of Phase 1 of the Knowledge Network Project is £242,000. Subsequent work, including costs, will be planned following the outcome of Phase 1.
(2) which Ministers, special advisers and civil servants have control of the input of information to the Knowlege Network Project; and if she will make a statement. [116293]
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