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Tax Credit (Carers)
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost and number of beneficiaries of introducing a tax credit scheme for carers and care recipients on the same basis as the working families tax credit. [98459]
Mr. Timms: The estimates requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Firework Safety
Mr. Hancock:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fireworks imported into the United Kingdom have been seized by HM Customs as unsafe in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [99295]
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Mr. Timms:
None. Control over the safety of fireworks imported into the UK and sold to the general public has since 1993 been the responsibility of Local Trading Standards Officers. The Health and Safety Executive authorises general retail fireworks for storage and supply in the UK.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of disregarding the basic state pension for the purposes of tax. [98512]
Mr. Timms:
It is not possible to provide a reliable estimate for the cost of disregarding the basic state pension for tax purposes, because survey data on personal incomes do not distinguish between basic state pensions and earnings related elements such as SERPS.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the final report of the EU Code of Conduct (Business Taxation) Group. [98735]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
The Code of Conduct states that it is for ECOFIN to decide whether to publish the final report.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the tax measures affecting the UK and Crown dependencies which have been identified as requiring amendment by the EU Code of Conduct (Business Taxation) Group. [98734]
Miss Melanie Johnson:
I refer the right hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend the Paymaster General gave the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) on 13 July 1999, Official Report, column 182W.
British Institute for Sport
15. Mr. Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on establishing the British Institute for Sport; and if he will make a statement. [98981]
Kate Hoey: We have made significant progress in recent months, with the announcement on 7 October of up to £120 million of Lottery funds for the English element of the UK Sports Institute and the introduction of a number of essential support services for athletes and coaches.
School Sport
16. Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to promote sport in schools. [98982]
Kate Hoey:
School sport is vital to the health of UK sport, at all levels, and is an essential component of a rounded education. I am working closely with the schools Minister to deliver a step change in the range and quality of school sport, in terms of both curriculum PE and after-school sports activities including competitive team games.
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17. Mr. Letwin:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to improve public awareness of digital technology. [98983]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The Government believe it is important to promote public awareness and understanding of digital broadcasting. They are working closely with industry to establish a public information campaign which will explain simply, clearly and objectively what digital television means for the public and sets out fully the choices available to them.
18. Mr. Jim Cunningham:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what benefits he expects to secure for the public from the new funding agreement with national museums and galleries. [98984]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
Funding agreements place clear responsibilities on our sponsored museums and galleries to deliver against demanding targets guaranteeing high standards of public access, educational activities and management. The Agreements detail the outputs which each of the bodies has agreed to achieve in return for public funding.
19. Mrs. Betty Williams:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to increase his support for disabled sport. [98985]
Kate Hoey:
I am keen to see all sports offering a wide range of opportunities to people with disabilities and we are working closely with the Sports Councils to ensure that this happens.
I was pleased to be able to launch the English Federation for Disability Sport (EFDS) on 19 October, which will provide a united voice for sport for people with disabilities.
20. Mr. Luff:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has to simplify the procedures for small voluntary organisations to apply for grants from Lottery funding bodies. [98986]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The Awards for All scheme, which involves Lottery distributors working closely together to provide a one-stop shop, has already made procedures much simpler for community groups seeking grants of up to £5,000. To build on this we are working with distributors to find ways of simplifying the application process generally to ensure that it is user-friendly and that forms are written in plain English. I have also asked the independent Quality, Efficiency and Standards Team which I established to look at the costs associated with making a Lottery application.
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26. Mr. Michael Jabez Foster:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what benefit he expects to secure for the public from the new funding agreement with the Heritage Lottery Fund. [98992]
Mr. Alan Howarth:
The Heritage Lottery Fund is not subject to a funding agreement, since it does not receive money voted by Parliament. The Fund's grant-giving activities are controlled through financial and policy directions issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
Dr. George Turner:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the operation of the National Lottery Act 1998. [98989]
Mr. Chris Smith:
I refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer given earlier today by the Under-Secretary my hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Kate Hoey) to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport (Ms Coffey), Official Report, column 326.
21. Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Scottish Executive on Government funding for sport in educational establishments. [98987]
Kate Hoey:
No specific discussions of this sort have taken place. However, under the Chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, I attend meetings of the Sports Cabinet along with representatives of the other Home countries. This forum discusses a wide range of issues related to sport.
22. Mr. Swayne:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to bring forward measures to reform the law in respect of religious broadcasting. [98988]
24. Mr. Grieve:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the future of religious broadcasting. [98990]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The Government are contemplating new broadcasting and communications legislation, to be introduced early in the next Parliament, to ensure that a suitable regulatory framework is in place in the light of technological and other developments. Current statutory provisions relating to religious broadcasting will be considered in that context.
25. Mrs. Gordon:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if funds from the new opportunity fund's green spaces initiative will be available for playing fields. [98991]
Kate Hoey:
Yes. In line with its policy directions the New Opportunities Fund will spend at least 75 per cent. of the £125 million allocated to the Green Spaces and
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Sustainable Communities initiative on projects including urban and rural green spaces, children's play, organised and informal sport, playing fields and access to the countryside. As also required by its policy directions the New Opportunities Fund exploring with Sport England ways of collaborating with other initiatives in these areas.
27. Mr. Watts:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the benefits to children of the green spaces initiative funded by the new opportunities fund. [98993]
Mr. Chris Smith:
The emphasis in the initiative on urban and rural green spaces, children's play, organised and informal sport, playing fields and access to the countryside will provide opportunities that will greatly improve the health, happiness and social well-being of children, particularly in areas of multiple deprivation.
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