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Tobacco
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the value in each of the last three years to (a) sports bodies and (b) cultural organisations of advertising and sponsorship by the tobacco industry. [141416]
Mr. Chris Smith: As part of the 1995 Voluntary Agreement on Sponsorship of Sport by Tobacco Companies, the Tobacco Manufacturers Association is
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required to make a return detailing the expenditure incurred in that year by tobacco companies on sports sponsorship in the United Kingdom.
The returns for the three most recent years available are:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | 8,053,000 |
| 1997-98 | 7,516,000 |
| 1998-99 | 8,139,000 |
Detailed figures for sponsorship of cultural organisations by the tobacco industry are not available, but we do not believe that significant sums are involved.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding for sport has been secured by the Tobacco task force since it was established. [141415]
Mr. Chris Smith: Assistance with the replacement of existing contracts can most effectively be targeted in the 12 to 18 months before they lapse, which is the normal lead-in time for negotiating new sponsorship agreements. My hon. Friend the Minister for Sport is in close touch with the seven sports affected and task force members are also offering ongoing advice and assistance to help the sports prepare to move away from existing tobacco sponsors. None of these sports have asked for the task force to reconvene at the present time.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on which dates since December 1997 the Tobacco Task Force has met; and who was in attendance on each occasion. [141414]
Mr. Chris Smith: The information requested is as listed.
- 10 December 1998
- Tony Banks
- Jon Smith (First Artist Corporation)
- Maurice Lindsay (Central Council for Physical Recreation)
- Mike Reynolds (Institute of Sports Sponsorship)
- Anne Leach (Virgin Group)
- Rajiv Bhattia (Virgin Group)
- Derek Etherington (DCMS Sports Sponsorship Consultant)
- Colin Jones (DCMS Official)
- Graham Bond (DCMS Official)
- 24 February 1999
- Tony Banks
- Jon Smith (First Artist Corporation)
- Lizzie Leopolds (First Artist Corporation)
- Maurice Lindsay (Central Council of Physical Recreation)
- Mike Reynolds (Institute of Sports Sponsorship)
- Derek Etherington (DCMS Sports Sponsorship Consultant)
- Colin Jones (DCMS Official)
- Graham Bond (DCMS Official)
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- 19 October 1999
- Kate Hoey
- Lizzie Leopolds (First Artist Corporation)
- Mike Reynolds (Institute of Sports Sponsorship)
- Derek Etherington (DCMS Sports Sponsorship Consultant)
- Will Whitehorn (Virgin Group)
- Helen Day (European Sponsorship Consultants Association)
- Graham Bond (DCMS Official).
In addition, there was also an informal meeting on 19 June 1998 which included members of the Task Force. Present at that Meeting were:
- Tony Banks
Jon Smith (First Artist Corporation)
Maurice Lindsay (Central Council of Physical Recreation)
Mike Reynolds (Institute of Sports Sponsorship)
Brad Rosser (Virgin Group)
Colin Jones (DCMS Official)
Graham Bond (DCMS Official).
Accommodation Rating Scheme
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures he proposes to promote a UK-wide accommodation rating scheme. [141425]
Mr. Chris Smith: Responsibility for tourism policy, including on accommodation grading, in the other countries of the United Kingdom now rests with the devolved administrations. Ministers have previously looked at the possibility of moving towards a UK-wide accommodation grading scheme but there was no straightforward solution. Both the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting and I would, however, be happy to discuss this again with our counterparts in Scotland and Wales should they so wish.
Historic Wrecks
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to extend the statutory protection of historic wrecks. [141535]
Mr. Chris Smith: The Government are seeking the earliest suitable legislative opportunity to give English Heritage powers with regard to underwater archaeology, including historic wreck sites designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, in the territorial waters of the UK adjacent to England. This will put underwater archaeology in England on the same footing as land
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archaeology, allowing underwater projects and sites access to English Heritage expertise and grant funds which are currently not available to them.
Tourism
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what methodology is used by his Department to calculate average spending by visitors to (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland. [141410]
Mr. Chris Smith: My officials consult the findings of well-established surveys of (a) UK households and (b) overseas visitors to the UK, from which information is collected concerning total tourism spending in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The total figures are then divided by the estimated number of tourists, as also identified by the surveys.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his policy is towards proposals to extend EU competence in the field of tourism. [141418]
Mr. Chris Smith: Her Majesty's Government would not support any proposals to extend EU competence in the field of tourism.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on trends in incoming tourism to the United Kingdom. [141426]
Mr. Chris Smith: The numbers of North American and other long-haul visitors to the UK have increased by 3 per cent. and 1 per cent. respectively in the first 10 months of this year, compared with the corresponding period of 1999, although visits from Europe are down by 4 per cent. and overall visits by 2 per cent.
Overall spend by overseas visitors is up by 1 per cent. to £10.8 billion in the first 10 months of this year, compared with the equivalent period of 1999, and remains on course to be one of the highest levels on record.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to restore a marketing remit to the English Tourism Council. [141424]
Mr. Chris Smith: The English Tourism Council was set up with a specifically strategic role. It does of course consider marketing needs in this context and it carries out market research and identifies and disseminates best practice, working closely with Regional Tourist Boards and others. In recent months it has produced guidance for the use of regional and local bodies and the industry, to help to promote the England brand.
The British Tourist Authority does an excellent job marketing England abroad and this is complemented by the work of the Regional Tourist Boards, local authorities and other destination organisations.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the English Tourism Council regarding the funding of IT programmes. [141417]
Mr. Chris Smith: I and my officials are in regular contact with the English Tourism Council (ETC) about the development of e-tourism in this country. The
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importance of this was highlighted in the Government's national tourism strategy and we have set up an e-tourism group, chaired by the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting, and including private sector expertise, in order to assess the best way forward, including funding. We have increased the ETC's budget by 20 per cent. from 2002-03, rising by a further 5 per cent. the year after.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the per capita public funding of tourism in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in the current financial year. [141411]
Mr. Chris Smith: In 2000-01, the National Tourist Boards are due to receive grant in aid as follows:
| Grant in aid | Population | Grant in aid per capita | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board | (£ million) | (Million) | (£) |
| British Tourist Authority | 37.0 | 57.6 | 0.64 |
| English Tourism Council | 11.0 | 49.6 | 0.22 |
| Scottish Tourist Board | 24.5 | 5.1 | 4.80 |
| Wales Tourist Board | 15.4 | 2.9 | 5.31 |
| Northern Ireland Tourist Board | 13.9 | 1.7 | 8.18 |
However, Government support for tourism is not confined to grant for tourist boards. DCMS is also spending some £1 billion in 2000-01, for example, on the arts, royal parks and palaces, museums and galleries, much of which directly benefits tourism. Moreover, English local authorities are estimated to have spent over £90 million last year on tourism, or £1.81 per head; comparable figures for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not available.
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last (a) attended and (b) was represented at, the EU Internal Market Council for Consumer Affairs and Tourism. [141419]
Mr. Chris Smith: The first meeting of the newly reorganised Internal Market, Consumer and Tourism Council was on 30 November in Brussels and was attended by my hon. Friend the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs.
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