---

Free Television Licences

21. Mr. Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many families in the Elmet constituency will benefit from the introduction of free television licences for households with a member aged 75 years or over. [123690]

Mr. Chris Smith: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Film, Tourism and Broadcasting to my right hon. Friend the Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) on 2 March 2000, Official Report, column 350W.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Department is taking to liaise with the television licensing authorities to ensure that all pensioners over the age of 75 will be fully

12 Jun 2000 : Column: 498W

informed of when they become eligible for a free television licence; what efforts his Department is making to ensure that pensioners are given accurate information in respect of this; and if he will make a statement. [124545]

Janet Anderson: Officials at both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Social Security are in regular contact with the BBC as Licensing Authority to ensure the effective implementation of free television licences for the over-75s. The BBC is providing me with regular progress reports covering a range of issues, including publicity for the concession. Progress to date includes the establishment of a dedicated TV Licensing helpline, publication of explanatory leaflets, television trailers and the start of direct mailings to all domestic addresses on the TV Licensing database. DCMS has prepared a separate question and answer guide to the concessionary scheme.

Football (Community Involvement)

23. Mr. Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his policy as regards encouraging football clubs to be involved in their local communities. [123692]

Kate Hoey: The Government fully support the efforts of football's governing bodies and individual clubs to become more involved in their local communities, and encourages the football authorities to continue to implement the recommendations of the Football Task Force's third report, "Investing in the Community".

School Sport

25. Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received about sport in schools in Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [123694]

Kate Hoey: I have received one letter recently from a school in Rotherham about the provision of a sports hall under the Private Finance Initiative. This is a matter primarily for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, whom I am consulting. I am also aware of the series of articles which have appeared in the Yorkshire Post recently about sport and PE in schools in Yorkshire. Our sports strategy--A Sporting Chance for All--recognised that in too many of our schools sport and PE have declined, and the need to find a new approach which will support teachers, parents and young people. That is why the strategy set out a five part plan aimed at raising standards of physical education and sport in all schools to match those of the best. The plan proposes:

i) the rebuilding of sports facilities at primary schools with £15O million of funding;

ii) the creation of 110 Specialist Sports Colleges to provide the lead in innovative practice and to work with partner secondary and primary schools to share good practice and raise standards;

iii) the provision of £24O million to encourage and support schools in a range of out of school learning opportunities including physical education and sport;

iv) the establishment of 600 school sports co-ordinators in areas of greatest need which will provide opportunities for young people to compete regularly for their school and take part in a wide range of sports; and

12 Jun 2000 : Column: 499W

v) that our most talented 14 to 18-year-olds have access to the coaching and support which will enable them to fulfil their potential.

Mr. Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the introduction of school sports co-ordinators. [123673]

Kate Hoey: As part of the aims of raising the standards of Physical Education and sport in schools, 600 School Sports Co-ordinators will be appointed by 2002. They will work in 150 'families' of schools. This means that 600 secondary schools and the 110 sports colleges will be linked to 3,000 primary schools. We aim to have the first tranche of 40 school sports co-ordinators in place by the autumn term 2000.

Football (Youth and Amateur)

26. Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to increase investment in youth and amateur football facilities. [123696]

Kate Hoey: I am pleased to say that the Football Foundation, a new body, which will distribute funding from the Premier League, the FA and Sport England will be launched shortly. This follows the Premier League's commitment last year to investing 5 per cent. of its next broadcasting contract for the good of the sport. It is envisaged that the majority of the Foundation's income will be used to fund initiatives designed to develop football at the grass roots.

Museums and Galleries

27. Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to improve pensioners' access to museums and galleries. [123697]

Mr. Alan Howarth: I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster and Wyre (Mr. Dawson), Official Report, column 499W.

Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to give pensioners easier access to museums and galleries. [123672]

Mr. Alan Howarth: From 1 April free entry for the over 60s was introduced to those museums funded by my Department which currently charge for admission, including the National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, the National Museum of Science and Industry, the Natural History Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the National Maritime Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Seaside Resorts

Mr. Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to promote family-friendly holidays at traditional seaside resorts. [123687]

Mr. Chris Smith: Later this year the English Tourism Council, which is sponsored by my Department, will be undertaking a new programme of research to examine the current provision for family holidays in England. The

12 Jun 2000 : Column: 500W

research will aim to gain a better understanding of the market and to identify opportunities for growth particularly at seaside resorts.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 28 February 2000, Official Report, column 100W, concerning secondments, if the secondee listed was appointed for a period of 12 months or less. [124823]

Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 7 June 2000]: The secondee listed in my response of 28 February 2000, Official Report, column 100W was appointed for a period of more than 12 months.

King Edward VII Convalescent Home

Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average bed occupancy rate was at King Edward VII Convalescent Home at Osborne (a) in each of the five years between 1989 and 1993 and (b) in 1999, broken down between (i) residents and (ii) convalescents. [125131]

Mr. Alan Howarth: Figures are not available for 1989 and 1990. The information for the other years requested is as follows:

Percentage

Year	Residents(26)	Convalescents(27)
1991	100	85
1992	99	58
1993	100	63
1999	57	64

(26) Average occupancy per year.

(27) Average occupancy per week.

Mr. Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many beds have been available for (a) residents and (b) convalescents (i) in each of the five years from 1989 to 1993 and (ii) in 1999 at King Edward VII Convalescent Home at Osborne [125132]

Mr. Alan Howarth: Figures are not available for 1989 and 1990. The information for the other years requested is as follows:

Year	Residents(28)	Convalescents
1991	15	5
1992	20	23
1993	21	19
1999	30(29)

(28) Any unfulfilled residents beds were offered to convalescents whenever there was demand.

(29) Registered beds reduced from 40 to 30 in 1998 with no distinction between residents and convalescents.

---