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Written Answers to Questions

Wednesday 8 November 2000

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Ministerial Engagements

Dr. Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many visits he has made to (a) the cinema and (b) the theatre in an official capacity since May 1997. [136242]

Mr. Chris Smith: Since May 1997 I have attended 12 cinematic and 25 theatrical performances in an official capacity. In addition I have also attended performances at various festivals over this period and have attended both the cinema and theatre on numerous other occasions in a personal capacity.

Culture Online

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 1 November 2000, Official Report, column 476W, what estimates he has made of the cost to public funds of establishing the new service provisionally entitled Culture Online. [137221]

Mr. Chris Smith: My Department is in the process of commissioning a full economic appraisal of this proposal in order to establish the likely cost to public funds and the potential for income generation.

Theatre Closures (London)

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received about the proposed closure of Westminster Theatre and the Mermaid Theatre; what assessment he has made of planning arrangements governing the future listing of such buildings; and if he will make a statement. [137008]

Mr. Alan Howarth: I have received two representations asking me to consider listing the Westminster Theatre and none about the Mermaid. The Westminster Theatre has been assessed for listing and found not to meet the strict criteria; a certificate of immunity against listing, valid for five years, was issued in June 1997. The Mermaid Theatre will be considered should I receive such a request.

Civil Servants (Relocation)

Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which relocation companies hold contracts with his Department for the relocation of civil servants; when the contracts were last renewed; where the contracts were advertised; and what the length and value of each contract is. [137189]

Mr. Chris Smith: My Department has no regionally based offices so has had no need of such contracts.

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Fitness Facilities

Mr. Alan Keen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans his Department has to work with (a) private health and fitness clubs and (b) public sports and leisure facilities to provide health benefits to all the population. [137045]

Kate Hoey: The Government's Sports Strategy "A Sporting Future for All" is based on creating opportunities to participate in sport. Wide participation, which requires easy access to various types of sports and fitness facilities and to sports clubs, will help to improve levels of fitness and lead to long-term improvements. The strategy implementation subgroup charged with this task, whose members include representatives from local authority sport and the private health and fitness sector, is on course to report back to Ministers at the end of the year.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Housing Benefit

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. Corbyn) of 9 March 2000, Official Report, columns 806-07W, what the average cost per case is for the administration of Housing Benefit in each local authority in England. [136166]

Angela Eagle: The measure of the average cost to a local authority of administering a Housing Benefit case is based on a comparison of the amount the authority reports it spends on benefit administration and the reported size of its case load. The figures have been calculated using this comparison and have been placed in the Library.

Mortgage Benefit Scheme

Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received on the introduction of a mortgage benefit scheme. [136814]

Angela Eagle: In April we published our Housing Green Paper, "Quality and Choice: A decent home for all" setting out our vision and strategy for the provision of housing in the future. It is the most comprehensive review of housing policy for 23 years and is all about raising standards, improving performance, extending choice and increasing accessibility and accountability. I am aware that some of the responses to the Housing Green Paper support the introduction of a mortgage benefit scheme.

EU Employment Directive

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when the Inter-ministerial Group on Ageing and Older People last met to discuss the EU directive on discrimination in employment. [137319]

Mr. Rooker: The EU directive is not specific to older people. It was therefore discussed by Ministers across Government throughout the year before it was signed in October.

Elderly People

Mr. Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was spent on social security for the elderly as

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a proportion of gross domestic product in 1996-97; what he estimates it will be in 2001-02; and what amount this would be if basic state pension had been linked to earnings, excluding the cost of free television licences for the over-75s, Winter Fuel Payments and the Minimum Income Guarantee, but including Income Support. [137903]

Mr. Rooker: In 1996-97, Social Security benefit expenditure on elderly people accounted for 5.32 per cent. of GDP. The forecasts underlying the most recently published expenditure plans ¹ show that in 2001-02 the corresponding figure will be 5.33 per cent. of GDP. The corresponding figure for 2001-02 would have been 5.23 per cent. if basic state pension had been linked to earnings, excluding the cost of free TV licences for the over-75s, Winter Fuel Payments and the Minimum Income Guarantee, but including Income Support.

¹ Spending Review 2000 plans.

WALES

Rail Improvements

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last met the chairmen of rail companies

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operating within Wales to discuss improvements to Welsh railway lines; and what was the outcome of these meetings. [135241]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Oversight of the railway industry is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.

I have met representatives of rail companies on several occasions to discuss a range of issues. I also maintain close contact with the National Assembly for Wales, which has a key role to play in encouraging the development of integrated transport networks. I know that Sue Essex, the Assembly's Secretary for Planning, Environment and Transport, has had numerous meetings with the train operating companies and has issued guidance to those bidding for the Wales and Borders franchise, setting out the Assembly's aspirations for rail services in Wales.

Foreign Investment

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the origins of foreign investment in Wales in each of the last 10 years. [135228]

Mr. Paul Murphy: The information requested is in the table.

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Capital expenditure stated at time of investment decision£ million

Region	1990-91	1991-92	1992-93	1993-94	1994-95	1995-96	1996-97	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000
France	61.100	55.550	25.500	4.567	0.050	16.900	14.190	19.090	24.064	1.200
Germany	9.212	39.482	8.434	13.682	31.350	6.600	0.975	25.868	63.354	33.880
Italy	0.500	58.070	11.425	2.835	0	5.770	21.849	17.290	17.840	3.810
Japan	39.469	230.475	9.150	87.215	214.590	34.015	96.076	145.558	196.598	24.031
Korea	0	0	0.600	0	0	17.102	1700.000	0	0.400	0
North America	136.543	589.700	384.549	356.527	506.829	520.673	880.289	134.223	144.787	437.930
Other European	15.346	30.820	32.474	67.086	19.671	23.158	17.779	78.606	87.952	7.346
Rest of World	24.300	17.950	318.087	43.000	2.450	296.092	0.989	28.147	5.901	4.067

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Business Numbers

Mr. Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many businesses (a) operate and (b) operated in 1995 in Wales. [136272]

Mr. Paul Murphy: In 1999 there were 75,230 businesses in Wales registered for VAT. The comparable figure for 1995 is 77,200. These figures do not include companies with an annual turnover of less than £50,000 or those in VAT-exempt sectors.

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