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SOLICITOR-GENERAL
NHS Computer Fraud
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Solicitor-General how many persons were prosecuted for involvement in fraud over the procurement of computer equipment in the NHS in each of the last six years. [116858]
The Solicitor-General: The Crown Prosecution Service holds no central records in respect of the number of persons prosecuted for involvement in fraud over the procurement of computer equipment in the NHS in each of the last six years. The information requested could be obtained only by examining each relevant file in every CPS office, at disproportionate cost. The Serious Fraud Office has not prosecuted any persons for involvement in fraud over the procurement of computer equipment in the NHS in each of the last six years.
R. v. Doran
Mr. Singh: To ask the Solicitor-General when the report of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the collapse of the case, R. v. Doran & Others, is due to be handed to the Attorney-General; and if the report will be published. [117318]
The Solicitor-General: I have been informed by His Honour Gerald Butler QC that his report is close to completion, but I am not in a position to provide a specific date by which the finished report will be provided to the Attorney-General. The question of publication is a matter for the Attorney-General and the Chairman of HM Customs and Excise. As the previous Attorney- General, my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberavon (Sir J. Morris) stated in his parliamentary answer of 22 July 1999, Official Report, column 607W, a summary of the report and its recommendations will be made available to the House.
Mr. Singh: To ask the Solicitor-General what factors led to the delay in the reporting of the inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the case, R. v. Doran & Others. [117319]
The Solicitor-General:
I have been informed by His Honour Gerald Butler QC that the inquiry took longer than anticipated for three reasons: (1) there were delays in providing the inquiry with all the relevant
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documentation; (2) the documentation was substantially more voluminous than anticipated when the inquiry was established; (3) there were far more witnesses to be interviewed than was thought to be the case at the outset. The inquiry has received evidence from, and interviewed, 37 witnesses.
World Class Performance Programme
Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when his Department will provide the projected funding figures for the World Class Performance Programme for 2000-01 in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland. [115329]
Kate Hoey: The World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) is administered by UK Sport for UK governing bodies and includes athletes from all parts of the United Kingdom. Sport England is responsible for the administration of the WCPP for English governing bodies and for the World Class Potential and World Class Start Programmes for English athletes. In addition, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland administer their own elite programmes for their national athletes below the level of World Class Performance.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Sport Scotland--Talented Athlete Programme | 2,000,000 |
| Sport Scotland--Scotland Junior Groups Programme | 750,000 |
| Sports Council for Northern Ireland--Development of Talented Individuals Programme | 530,000 |
Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the individual awards for the World Class Performance Programme specifying the sports to date. [115328]
Kate Hoey: The World Class Performance Programme (WCPP) is administered by UK Sport for UK governing bodies and by Sport England for English governing bodies. The awards made by UK Sport and accepted by governing bodies since the Council became a lottery distributor on 1 July 1999 are given in the table. Sport England is currently upgrading its grant management system and information prior to 1 July 1999 and on the Sport England WCPP. I will write to the hon. Member with this information shortly and place a copy in the Library of the House.
(1) The list comprises only those awards that have been accepted by the Governing Body and are hard commitments.
(2) The total awards committed may not necessarily equate to exact outturn expenditure. Athlete subsistence costs are a best estimate and may not be taken up in full. Performance costs are normally taken up in full but where an underspend does arise lottery funding may be recouped or withheld.
(3) Diving, Swimming and Disability Swimming include awards that have been backdated to cover extensions to earlier awards.
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Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reason there has been a reduction in funding of the World Class Performance Programme from 1998-99 to 1999-2000. [115330]
Kate Hoey: There has been no reduction in funding of the World Class Performance Programme. The information included in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Reed) of 22 February 2000, Official Report, columns 849-51W, provided details of the funding to elite sport by each of the Sports Councils and related to expenditure for the first 10 months of 1999-2000, not to the total value of awards.
The expenditure figures for the financial year 1999-2000 remain incomplete since payments for March have still to be made. The expected outturn for 1999-2000 will be broadly in line with that for 1998-99. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the full year figures are available.
Lottery Funding
Miss Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much National Lottery funding projects in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency have received since the National Lottery began. [117313]
Kate Hoey: The total value of National Lottery awards to projects in the constituency of Morecambe and Lunesdale since the lottery began is £5,374,323. The data are taken from the National Lottery Awards database which uses information supplied by the distributing bodies.
Historic Engineering Projects
Mr. Keetch:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on National Lottery funding for historic engineering projects. [117595]
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Mr. Alan Howarth:
The Heritage Lottery Fund can support a wide variety of projects involving the acquisition, repair, conservation and restoration of buildings, sites and collections relating to industrial and technological history, which will include historic engineering projects. To date the Heritage Lottery Fund has committed over £104 million to projects in the industrial, maritime and transport sector, and expects to continue to allocate 9 per cent. of its income annually to this area within the period of the current Strategic Plan.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with (a) the Football Association, (b) UEFA, (c) the Official England Supporters Club and (d) the Belgian Police Federation regarding the suitability of the Charleroi Stadium for holding major international football matches; and if he will make a statement. [117243]
Mr. Chris Smith
[holding answer 3 April 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has raised concerns about the suitability of Charleroi as a venue for the England v. Germany match with the Belgian Government, who have provided assurances that the stadium complies with UEFA and Belgian safety standards. The Home Office is overseeing preparations for Euro 2000 and there is extensive liaison with the host countries and with UK agencies involved in the tournament.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had concerning safety issues at Charleroi Stadium. [117275]
Kate Hoey
[holding answer 3 April 2000]: I recently discussed this matter with the Chief Executive of the Football Licensing Authority.
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