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National Stadium

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) Lottery and (b) Treasury money has been spent on the project to build a national athletics stadium at Picketts Lock. [7924]

Tessa Jowell: Sport England has spent £1.57 million on the development of the National Athletics Centre project. All of this is from the lottery sports fund. No Exchequer money has been spent to develop the project.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) when the Carter report into Wembley Stadium and Picketts Lock was commissioned; [7922]

(2) when she will publish the Carter report into Wembley Stadium and Picketts Lock; [7932]

(3) when she received the Carter report into Wembley Stadium and Picketts Lock. [7934]

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Tessa Jowell: I announced the review of National Stadium project on 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 37W. Sport England commissioned the review of the Lee Valley National Athletics Centre project on 2 July 2001, Official Report, column 79W.

I received copies of both reports on 31 August 2001.

The Lee Valley Report was published by Sport England on 4 October. The Government have no current plans to publish Patrick Carter's report on the National Stadium as this would compromise the discussions that Patrick Carter is currently having with the Football Association.

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is her policy on support for (1) a single national stadium for (a) football, (b) rugby and (c) athletics; [7930]

(2) national stadia for (a) football, (b) rugby and (c) athletics. [7928]

Tessa Jowell: The Government continue to be guided by the governing bodies of sport as to the merits of a national stadium for their respective sports. We fully support the Football Association's aspiration to develop a national stadium and are committed to ensuring that UK Athletics has a robust legacy to enable the sport to invest and grow in the longer term. It is for UK Athletics to determine whether this legacy should include a National Athletics Centre and to discuss any future plans with Sport England to ensure such aspirations are viable and sustainable over the longer term.

Tourism Incentive Group

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the progress of the Tourism Incentive Group. [7564]

Dr. Howells: In July, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State asked the English Tourism Council (ETC) to consult senior tourism industry leaders and propose a clear programme for modernising and restructuring the industry, which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport could then consider as a basis for entering into partnership and investing in reform. The ETC set up the Tourism Initiative Group and sent its report to the Secretary of State on 10 September—it made various recommendations under four key areas: product quality, service and productivity, data, and marketing. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is currently considering that report and held a seminar on 11 and 12 September to discuss with senior tourism industry and public body representatives how best to take forward the ideas in the Tourism Initiative Group report and, in particular, what role the industry itself should play.

BBC Chairman

Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the membership of the Advisory Panel which is considering applications for the chairmanship of the BBC. [5127]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 19 July 2001]: No. It is not our policy to publish the names of advisory panel members. This is to avoid the risk of their being subjected to unwarranted pressure at any stage of the process. The selection process for all public appointments follows the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public

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Appointments, and requires an independent assessor on each advisory panel. This practice has been in place since the introduction of an independent element into the appointments process in 1996.

PRIME MINISTER

Global Temperatures and Rainfall

Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what estimates he has made of the percentage increase in global temperatures and rainfall by 2100; and if he will make a statement on the recent discussions he has had on these issues with G7 leaders. [7310]

The Prime Minister: The recent international scientific assessment of climate change by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that global temperatures are expected to rise by between 1.4oC and 5.8oC over the period 1990 to 2100. Although global precipitation is expected to increase overall there is still considerable scientific uncertainty over future regional precipitation changes.

I discussed the subject of climate change and the Kyoto protocol with the other G7 leaders and President Putin at the G8 summit in Genoa in July. We agreed on the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and committed ourselves to working together to meet this common objective.

Government Policy (Presentation)

Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister if he will estimate how much time he spent on dealing with issues of presentation of Government policy in the media in the last 12 months. [7131]

The Prime Minister: Issues of presentation are a matter for the director of strategy and communication and the Prime Minister's official spokesman. I discuss these issues with them as required.

Global Population

Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what estimate he has made of global population by 2050; how many people there will be affected by (a) drought and (b) flooding; how many are so affected now; and if he will make a statement on his recent discussions on these issues with G7 leaders. [7309]

The Prime Minister: The UN, in its document "State of the world population 2001", estimates that the world population will increase to 9.3 billion by 2050. At present, around 1 billion people are affected by drought and desertification. There are no independent estimates for this figure in 2050. There are no reliable figures for the total population affected by flooding as the numbers vary quite considerably from year to year.

I discussed the subject of climate change and the Kyoto protocol with the other G7 leaders and President Putin at the G8 summit in Genoa in July.

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Terrorist Attacks

Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what preparations he has made to defend key UK landmarks in the light of recent terrorist attacks in the USA; and if he will make a statement. [7307]

The Prime Minister: We have no intelligence of a specific threat to the UK. In the light of the events in the USA on 11 September, plans are being reviewed and guidance updated. Every reasonable measure of internal security is being taken. All the necessary authorities are involved.

Life Peers

Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister how many life peers have been created since 1 May 1997; and how many of those were nominated by him in his capacity as leader of the Labour Party. [7133]

The Prime Minister: Two hundred and sixty seven life peers have been created since 1 May 1997. This includes peers nominated by my predecessor but created after the 1997 general election. Of these, 116 have been appointed specifically either as Labour Ministers or as Labour working peers.

Prime Minister's Powers

Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will introduce legislation to give statutory definition to the powers of the Prime Minister; and if he will make a statement; [7127]

(2) if he will list those of his powers (a) granted to him by statute and (b) which can be exercised (i) without statutory authority and (ii) under royal prerogative. [7132]

The Prime Minister: In addition to general references to the Prime Minister, there are more than 50 specific powers conferred on the office by statute, most in relation to appointments. The Prime Minister also holds the titles and duties of the Minister for the Civil Service and the First Lord of the Treasury.

The Prime Minister's roles as the head of Her Majesty's Government, her principal adviser and as Chairman of the Cabinet are not, however, defined in legislation. These roles, including the exercise of powers under the royal prerogative, have evolved over many years, drawing on convention and usage, and it is not possible precisely to define them. The Government have no plans to introduce legislation in this area.

Departmental Changes

Mr. Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what his policy is on advising Parliament of changes in (a) Departmental structures and responsibilities and (b) ministerial changes. [7165]

The Prime Minister: My policy is to keep Parliament informed about changes to departmental structures and ministerial responsibilities. The list of ministerial responsibilities is updated regularly and copies placed in the Library of the House.

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