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European Football Championship Matches
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure the safety of British football fans travelling to European Football Championship matches. [119875]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The Government are doing everything possible to help the host countries provide a safe and secure environment for all football fans attending the European Championships in Holland and Belgium in June. We established a Euro 2000 Co-ordinating Group in October to ensure that Government, police and other United Kingdom preparations are comprehensive and complementary. There has been considerable liaison and consultation with the Dutch and Belgian authorities who are responsible for the management and security of supporters attending the tournament. This high level of co-operation will continue up to and throughout the tournament.
Police Helicopters (South Wales)
Ms Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many criminals were caught as
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a direct result of the use of police helicopters by the South Wales Police in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99 and (d) 1999-2000; and how much stolen property was recovered as a direct result of the use of helicopters; [120835]
- (2) how much it cost to operate the police helicopter tracker car recovery system used by the South Wales Police in the financial years (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98, (c) 1998-99 and (d) 1999-2000 broken down by the cost of (i) hire of helicopters, (ii) cost of staff and (iii) other costs. [120864]
Mr. Charles Clarke: In 1999-2000, the helicopter used jointly by South Wales Police and Gwent Constabulary was responsible for over 200 arrests and the recovery of £200,000 worth of stolen property. Information relating to previous years and to the use of the tracker recovery system is not immediately available and I will write to my hon. Friend once the details have been collected.
Disorder (Central London)
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statues and buildings were vandalised during the disorder in central London on 1 May; what lasting damage was done; how many people have been (a) arrested for and (b) charged with damaging the statues and buildings; and if he will make a statement. [121044]
Mr. Straw: The statues in Parliament Square, for which the Royal Parks Agency have responsibility, were defaced to varying degrees. Remedial work on these is currently being undertaken by specialist contractors and much of the superficial graffiti have already been removed. Seven statues and monuments, including the Cenotaph, for which English Heritage has responsibility, were also vandalised. English Heritage advise me that no lasting damage was done to any of their monuments. The graffiti on the Cenotaph were removed in time for the wreath laying ceremony at lunchtime last Thursday by the Danish Resistance Movement.
The Metropolitan police advise me that damage was also caused to 19 buildings in and around the vicinity of Whitehall, Trafalgar Square and the Strand. Serious damage was caused to McDonald's in Whitehall. I understand that a total of 13 people have been arrested so far for criminal damage, of whom four have been charged.
Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans were drawn up in respect of the protection of (a) the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square and (b) the Cenotaph prior to the disorder of 1 May; for what reasons, and on whose authority, it was decided not to protect them; how many persons have been (i) arrested and (ii) charged with vandalising the statue and the Cenotaph; what steps the police are taking to arrest other such persons; and if he will make a statement. [121075]
Mr. Straw: I understand that both the Royal Parks Agency who have responsibility for the statues in Parliament Square and English Heritage who have responsibility for seven other statues and monuments, including the Cenotaph, damaged during the May Day disturbances, considered whether the statues and monuments should have been boarded up before the
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demonstration but decided not to do so. I understand that one factor which was taken into account by the Agency and English Heritage was a concern to avoid the hoarding being used as weapons in the event of violence.
Figures for arrests and charges for criminal damage to individual statues and monuments is not available. The Metropolitan police advise me that 13 people have been arrested for criminal damage and that four of these have so far been charged. Police investigations into the disturbances are continuing.
CABINET OFFICE
Duchy Benevolent Fund
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been paid from the Duchy Benevolent Fund to organisations and individuals in each year since 1995. [119850]
Marjorie Mowlam: Grants made by the Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund for the past five years are as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1995-96 | 251,637 |
| 1996-97 | 316,425 |
| 1997-98 | 277,014 |
| 1998-99 | 290,957 |
| 1999-2000 | (23)310,800 |
(23) Unaudited
Lists of grants made from the Fund for the last five years would run to several hundred items.
Press Officers
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many press officers are employed in the Cabinet Office; and how many were employed in (a) 1996-97, (b) 1997-98 and (c) 1998-99. [119977]
Mr. Stringer: The average number of press officers in post in the Cabinet Office Press Office in 1996-97 was seven; 1997-98 was 10.2; 1998-99 was 12.3 and in 1999-2000 was 16.7.
In addition, a dedicated press office was set up in March 1999, to co-ordinate Government media activity on the Year 2000 Millennium Bug problem. The Unit was set up by the President of the Council. The total number of full-time press officers employed over the year was five.
Civil Service Code
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when she proposes to give statutory backing to the Civil Service Code. [120025]
Marjorie Mowlam: The Government have given a commitment, in principle, to give statutory backing to the Civil Service Code. The Government have a heavy forward legislative programme and will take this legislation forward as and when a suitable opportunity arises.
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Special Advisers
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what was the (a) number and (b) cost of foreign visits undertaken by special advisers within her Department since May 1997. [119932]
Marjorie Mowlam: For the financial years 1997-98 and 1998-99, I refer the hon. Member to the answer to the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Tyrie) on 17 May 1999, Official Report, column 242W. For 1999-2000, Special Advisers accompanied me or my predecessor overseas on five occasions at a cost of £2,022. This includes one visit at no cost to public funds. In addition, the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator and his deputy travelled overseas on six occasions at a cost of £3,935. This includes two visits at no cost to public funds.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
FA Cup Final
12. Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans Ministers in his Department have to attend the Football Association cup final. [119885]
Kate Hoey: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have both received invitations to attend the FA Cup Final. My right hon. Friend is planning to go to the match, but I shall be at another sporting engagement.
World Cup Final
13. Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the progress made in implementing the Broadcasting Act 1996 with reference to television coverage of the 2002 and 2006 football world cup finals tournaments. [119886]
Mr. Chris Smith: The World Cup finals tournament is a listed event under Part IV of the Broadcasting Act 1996. Under the terms of that Act and of the Independent Television's Code on Listed Events, live television coverage of the World Cup finals tournament must be offered on fair and reasonable terms to BBC 1, BBC 2, Channel 3 (ITV) or Channel 4.
Wembley Stadium
15. Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has held with local authorities regarding the proposed new Wembley stadium. [119888]
Kate Hoey: Neither I nor my right hon. Friend can or should intervene in any of the planning discussions which have recently been taking place between WNSL and Brent. The Wembley Task Force (including Nigel Mobbs, Brent etc. and DCMS officials) has been very active in promoting the wider regeneration of the area, and we are keeping in close touch with their work.
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if (a) he and (b) members of the Wembley Maintenance Committee have discussed with Brent Council a section 106 agreement for transport
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infrastructure investment in connection with the granting of planning consent for the redevelopment of Wembley Stadium; and if he will make a statement [119121]
Kate Hoey: Planning issues including section 106 agreements are solely a matter for the London Borough of Brent. Therefore, neither Ministers nor officials from the Department have discussed section 106 agreements for transport infrastructure with the London Borough of Brent. Similarly, this is not an issue which the Wembley Monitoring Committee has discussed with the London Borough of Brent though individual members of the Committee, such as Wembley National Stadium Ltd., have had such discussions in the course of their normal business. The Wembley Task Force has discussed a range of transport and other infrastructure issues relating to the wider Wembley regeneration area but this has not included negotiation of section 106 agreements which are a matter for the London Borough of Brent and relevant developers.
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