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Tobacco Advertising
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on measures taken to help sports find alternative sponsorship and funding to tobacco advertising. [8435]
Mr. Caborn: As my hon. Friend is aware, the Tobacco Task Force was set up for the seven sports which sought assistance in the transition from tobacco sponsorship. The Task Force quickly concluded the first phase of its operation which was to identify the needs of the sports currently receiving Tobacco sponsorship and how best they could be assisted.
I wrote to the seven sports on 28 July to determine whether they still needed assistance and whether they would make use of the Task Force. Since then I have met representatives from snooker and I am due to meet shortly representatives from darts, pool and angling. To date rugby league, ice hockey and clay pigeon shooting have not replied.
Once these meetings have taken place I will then be in a position to determine what role if any the Task Force will play in the future.
Football (Grants)
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what measures were taken by the Government to ensure that football clubs applying to the Football Foundation and the former Football Trust for grants for improvements to stadiums were awarded them as a result of competitive tendering; and if she will make a statement; [8463]
- (2) which clubs received grants from the Football Foundation and the former Football Trust; when such grants were made; and what the value was in each case; [8461]
(3) if she will list those companies, and the football clubs involved, who were awarded contracts for improvements to grounds funded by the Football Foundation and the former Football Trust; what was the value of such grants in each case; when the grants were awarded; and if she will make a statement; [8462]
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(4) what monitoring has been made of decisions of the Football Foundation and the former Football Trust in allocating grants to football clubs for improvements to stadiums; and if she will make a statement. [8460]
Mr. Caborn: On the winding-up of the Football Trust in 2000, its work in funding football stadium improvements passed to the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, a company limited by guarantee. Details of all stadium improvement grants made to individual clubs by the Fund, and before it by the former Football Trust, together with details of all grants made since July 2000 by the Football Foundation from its grass roots and community/education funds, are deposited regularly in the Library of the House.
On its inception, the Football Stadia Improvement Fund adopted the tendering policy of the former Football Trust. Contracts for stadium improvement work which is financed by grants from the Fund must be the subject of a minimum of three competitive tenders. In respect of work financed by grants in excess of £100,000, the Fund reserves the right to be present at the opening of the tenders. Although full details of all funded projects are retained by the Fund, and were retained by the former Football Trust, details of individual tenders are not retained by the Fund, and were not retained by the former Football Trust.
The Government monitor the decisions of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund and the Football Foundation through their representative on the Boards of these bodies, currently Lord Pendry. The Government were also represented on the Board of the former Football Trust. The annual accounts of the Fund, the Football Foundation, and the former Football Trust are and were subject to internal and external audit, and are and were submitted to the Audit Commission.
New Opportunities Fund
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the grants paid by the new opportunities fund under the space for sport and the arts initiative. [8759]
Mr. Caborn: Sport England is administering the grants for the Space for Sport and Arts programme on behalf of the other funding partners—the New Opportunities Fund, the Arts Council of England, DCMS and DfES. The 65 local education authorities involved in the programme are due to submit detailed applications by the end of October. Only once applications have been received and assessed will final funding allocations for each project be confirmed and the grants issued. Although a small number of applications have been received, no grant has yet been paid.
Golden Jubilee
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funds will be made available to parish and town councils to fund Golden Jubilee celebrations; and if she will make a statement. [9019]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 19 October 2001]: Lottery funding will be available to help local communities mark and celebrate the Golden Jubilee. Local groups, including town and parish councils, can
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apply through the cross distributor Awards for All for grants of between £500 and £5,000 for Jubilee related projects. Projects must meet existing criteria and involve one or more of the lottery good causes of the arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education or the environment. Larger applications associated with the Jubilee will be considered by Lottery distributors if the project meets the criteria and timetable of an existing programme or scheme.
Recreation Facilities
Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to enhance the protection and preservation of (a) school and (b) community sports and recreation facilities. [139]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 25 June 2001]: We are determined to build on our success in protecting playing fields and improve the playing field infrastructure for both schools and communities. £750 million from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) will bring about a step change in opportunities for young people to play sport, through new and refurbished school sports facilities, including playing fields, which will be available for community use, throughout the country. NOF has selected Sport England as an Award Partner to deliver an additional £31 million of Lottery money to projects in England for the creation of playing fields and community spaces, as part of NOF's Green Spaces Initiative. My Department will encourage organisations funding green spaces to prioritise their funding allocations in line with local playing field strategies where they are available.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (DfES) recently issued strengthened Guidance for the Protection of School Playing Fields and Land for City Academies. The new guidance: introduces the role that the new School Playing Field Advisory Panel will play in advising on applications to dispose or change the use of school playing fields and the new criteria under which those applications will be assessed; gives more protection to playing fields provided for pupils under eight; and ensures that any proceeds arising from the sale of playing fields at operating schools are ploughed back into providing outdoor sport or recreational facilities.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is currently considering the responses to his consultation on a revised draft of Planning Policy Guidance Note 17 on Sport, Open Spaces and Recreation. My Department is working closely with the DTLR to ensure that the new PPG 17 is robust in strengthening and extending our protection of school and community playing fields, and assists local authorities in planning constructively for sport and recreation for the future.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Landfill (Tyres)
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made towards meeting the EU directive banning disposal of tyres in landfill. [8505]
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Mr. Meacher: The Government have issued for consultation draft regulations giving effect to the requirements of the EC Landfill Directive, including those banning the landfilling of whole and shredded tyres. The consultation period closes on 26 October 2001 and we will then move to lay the regulations before Parliament as soon as possible. In advance of the regulations coming into effect the Environment Agency is using its existing powers under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations 2000 to apply the Directive's requirements to any permits issued in the interim.
Energy Savings
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to extend the obligation on energy suppliers to deliver energy savings to their customers. [8200]
Mr. Meacher [holding answer 18 October 2001]: Under the Utilities Act 2000, the Government will set an Energy Efficiency Commitment obligation for electricity and gas suppliers for the period 1 April 2002 until 31 March 2005. Under the commitment, electricity and gas suppliers will be required to achieve targets for the promotion of improvements in energy efficiency. There will be a focus on helping lower income consumers, including those in receipt of income and disability benefits.
A statutory consultation document on our proposals was issued in August, and we are currently considering responses. We intend to lay the Statutory Order for the Commitment during the autumn. It will be subject to affirmative resolution in both Houses of Parliament.
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