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Sporting Events

11. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Government's policy is towards the hosting of major sporting events in the UK. [158147]

Mr. Chris Smith: The Government are committed to attracting top international major sporting events to this country because they attract world wide audiences and can showcase the UK as well as helping to boost participation in sport. UK Sport's Major Events Strategy is aimed at ensuring that all bids are properly co-ordinated and based on sound financial planning. It is important to consider not just the sporting event itself but the wider opportunities presented for community regeneration and social cohesion.

National Stadium (Wembley)

13. Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he next plans to meet the chairman of the Football Association to discuss progress of building the new national stadium at Wembley. [158149]

Mr. Chris Smith: I meet Geoff Thompson, the Chairman of the Football Association, from time to time to discuss a range of issues. I last met with him last week, and we did indeed discuss the Wembley project when we met.

Royal Parks

14. Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the reopening of those royal parks which are closed because of the foot and mouth outbreak. [158150]

Mr. Alan Howarth: I received representations both for and against the reopening of these parks. The parks were reopened on 11 April.

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Museum and Gallery Visits

15. Mr. Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people have visited museums and galleries sponsored by his Department in the last two years. [158153]

Mr. Alan Howarth: In 1999-2000 the number of visits to museums and galleries sponsored by my Department was 26.08 million. Based on recent data returns the figure for 2000-01 is 30.50 million.

The 2000-01 figure represents an increase of over 20 per cent. on 1998-99 the last year before DCMS began to extend free entry at its sponsored museums and galleries.

I believe that these figures represent a considerable success for my Department's access policies and reflect a great deal of hard work and commitment on behalf of the sponsored bodies involved.

Arts Projects

16. Mr. Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has to assist local authorities in promoting arts projects. [158154]

Mr. Alan Howarth: Last year my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State published "Creating Opportunities". The preparation of a local cultural strategy in accordance with this guidance document will help local authorities to develop a coherent vision for cultural activities and projects.

Television Licences

17. Ms Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will introduce measures to allow televisions in communal areas in homes where all residents are over 75 years old to have a free licence. [158156]

24. Ms Oona King: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will introduce measures to allow televisions in communal areas in homes where all residents are over 75 years old to have a free licence. [158163]

Janet Anderson: The Government have received a number of representations from hon. Members and members of the public on this subject. We are currently considering the matter.

22. Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how people in sheltered housing have been affected by changes to the television licensing regime; and if he will make a statement. [158161]

Mr. Chris Smith: The only recent change relating specifically to sheltered housing has been an amendment to the regulations governing the £5 Accommodation for Residential Care (ARC) concessionary licence scheme in April 2000. This brought the qualifying age for men and women into line at 60. Information is not available on the number of additional beneficiaries resulting from this change.

An estimated 500,000 people live in sheltered housing which qualifies for the ARC scheme. About 80 per cent. of these residents are aged 75 or over and therefore now qualify for the free licences introduced by the Government in November last year. The number of people

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living in sheltered housing which does not qualify for the ARC scheme is not known, but any residents who are 75 or over are also entitled to a free licence.

Millennium Dome

19. Mr. Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his estimate is of the costs of care and maintenance of the Millennium Dome from the date of the disposal of the majority of its contents by auction to 7 June. [158158]

Janet Anderson: The auction of the majority of the Dome's contents was completed on 2 March 2001. The cost of care and maintenance of the Dome site and structures from that date to 7 June is forecast to be about £1.6 million to £2 million covering rates, utilities, site servicing, security, and insurance, and a proportion of the IT and staffing support relevant to the care and maintenance function.

Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Millennium Commission has spent on the Millennium Dome; and if he will make a statement. [158151]

Mr. Chris Smith: The Millennium Commission has approved total grant to the New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) of £628 million for the Millennium Experience at Greenwich and its associated national programme of events and activities.

Culture Online

20. Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place the tender documents for Culture online in the public domain. [158159]

Mr. Alan Howarth: My Department has not tendered for third parties to deliver materials and services for Culture online. This will be a matter for Culture online itself once it has been established as a statutory corporation. We ran a tendering exercise to appoint consultants to develop a business case for Culture online, between October 2000 and January 2001. Copies of this tender document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The business case will be completed by summer 2001.

26. Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what space for poetry will be made available in Culture online. [158165]

Mr. Chris Smith: The provision of online poetry is within Culture online's broad remit. However, it will be a matter for Culture online itself to decide the amount of space that will be provided for individual projects and themes, including poetry, once it has been formed as a statutory corporation.

Foot and Mouth

21. Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to his oral answer of 26 March 2001, Official Report, column 663, on tourism and foot and mouth, what estimate he has made of the loss of tourism businesses as a result of the foot and mouth outbreak in the past four weeks. [158160]

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Mr. Chris Smith: Our best estimate on the basis of the information so far obtained is that losses of revenue by the English tourism industry will be around £140 million per week averaged over the eight month tourist season. I do not have any estimate of the number of businesses which may be lost as a result of foot and mouth. It is precisely in order to prevent such losses that the Government have introduced a package of measures to help small and rural tourism businesses.

Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement about financial compensation for tourist businesses adversely affected by foot and mouth. [158152]

Janet Anderson: A package of financial measures to help tourist businesses affected by foot and mouth was announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and chairman of the Rural Task Force, on 20 March.

Mr. Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from the Youth Hostels Association in respect of the damage it has suffered as a not-for-profit organisation within the tourist industry during the course of the recent foot and mouth experience; if he will take special measures to assist not-for-profit organisations in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement. [159348]

Janet Anderson: The Department has received representations from the Youth Hostels Association on the effects of the foot and mouth disease outbreak on the Association.

A range of relief measures are now available in rural areas and we have provided additional funding for promotional work by the English Tourism Council and British Tourist Authority. However, we have no plans to introduce special measures for not-for-profit organisations at this time.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from (a) the English Tourism Council and (b) the British Tourist Authority on the cost of additional marketing campaigns to combat the economic impact of foot and mouth disease. [159386]

Mr. Chris Smith [holding answer 27 April 2001]: The English Tourism Council(ETC) has made representations for additional funding in support of the Government's aim to reinforce the message that Britain is open for business and to enable them to assist with the recovery plan following the foot and mouth outbreak. On 6 April, my Department announced that £3.8 million in additional funding was being made available to the ETC for an advertising and promotion campaign to restore public confidence in visiting the countryside. The British Tourist Authority (BTA) has also made representations for additional funding in support of the Government's aim to reinforce the message overseas that Britain is open for business. On 6 April, my Department announced that £2.2 million in additional funding was being made available to the BTA for the promotion of tourism overseas.

On 25 April, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in the House that more money will be allocated to tourism promotion work. A further announcement will be made in the next few days.

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