---

British Cultural Identity

14. Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will introduce plans to encourage the celebration of British cultural identity. [10033]

Dr. Howells: British cultural identity can be expressed through buildings and institutions, through the heritage and history of our communities, through art, literature, television and radio, through an appreciation of our countryside and landscape, and most of all through the diversity of the British people and their everyday lives. It is celebrated each day in theatres, halls, libraries, museums and galleries, in cinemas and sports stadiums up and down the country, finding expression in the talent and participation of people of all ages. This Department will continue to give people and communities the confidence and resources fully to express and to celebrate their cultural identity in an atmosphere of tolerance, openness and respect.

Equal Opportunities

15. Dr. Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she has taken to promote equal opportunities among the non-departmental public bodies which her Department funds. [10034]

Tessa Jowell: I am determined that the Boards of my Department's public bodies reflect the diversity of the society they serve and have set challenging targets for the representation of women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds and disabled people. We are currently reviewing our appointments equal opportunities action plan which is published annually, together with those of other Departments, in "Quangos-Opening up Public Appointments", which is deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

Community Sport

16. Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to give children more opportunities to participate in sport in the community. [10035]

Mr. Caborn: My Department has a PSA target to raise significantly year on year the average time spent on sport and physical activity by those aged six to 16. A key element of the School Sport Co-ordinator programme, which will see a network of 1,000 co-ordinators in secondary schools across the country, is to encourage better links between schools and community sports clubs. We will also ensure that facilities refurbished or built under the Space for Sport and Arts initiative and the New Opportunities Fund's PE and School Sport programme will be available for both school and community use. In addition, Sport England's Active Sports programme aims to work through local centres, coaches and clubs to enable young people to participate in sport more frequently, improve their skills and compete at various levels.

28. Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the facilities available for sport in the community. [10049]

Mr. Caborn: Sport England estimates that there are over 6,300 sports hall and swimming pool facilities and approximately 500 synthetic turf pitches in England which

5 Nov 2001 : Column: 63W

meet Sport England's minimum standards in terms of size and community access. In addition there are many smaller community indoor facilities which are used for a range of community activities other than sport.

National Stadium

17. Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on when Britain will have a national stadium. [10037]

Mr. Caborn: Scotland and Wales already have national stadiums.

Whether the current English National Stadium project can be developed depends to a great extent on whether the Football Association—whose events are crucial to the viability of the stadium—actually want to proceed with the National Stadium.

The discussions between Patrick Carter and the Football Association are intended to clarify the Football Association's position. The Government will, of course respond, to any proposals but we have made it clear that no taxpayers money will be committed to develop the stadium.

21. Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on a national stadium for England. [10041]

Mr. Caborn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to questions from my hon. Friends the Members for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle) and for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) and the hon. Member for Ryedale (Mr. Greenway) on 19 October 2001, Official Report, columns 1380–81W.

Community Radio Licences

18. Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the result of the latest bids for community radio licences will be announced. [10038]

Dr. Howells: The Radio Authority is responsible for licensing and regulating Independent Radio. I understand that the Radio Authority are is to announce its decision about the award of the Independent Local Radio licence to serve the town of Reading in February 2002.

Coalfield Communities (Lottery Funding)

20. Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress she has made in ensuring that coalfield communities receive a greater share of national lottery proceeds. [10040]

Mr. Caborn: My Department and Lottery distributors commissioned Sheffield Hallam University to research the impact of the Lottery on the coalfields and we have been working with coalfield groups to take forward recommendations to improve the take-up of funding in such areas. I shall publish a report tomorrow (6 November) on the progress made.

Gaming Machines

22. Mr. Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has had regarding gaming machines in private clubs. [10042]

5 Nov 2001 : Column: 64W

Mr. Caborn: We have received a substantial number of representations about the recommendation that jackpot gaming machines should not be allowed in such clubs. We are considering them, but have not yet reached any conclusions. We intend to make an announcement about the report as a whole early next year.

Gambling Review

24. Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the gambling review. [10044]

Mr. Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the gaming review. [10494]

Mr. Caborn: When we published the report of the gambling review body we initiated a period of consultation which ended on 31 October. We are now considering all the responses and intend to announce our conclusions early next year.

Picketts Lock

25. Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the decision to abandon Picketts Lock as a venue for the world athletics championships. [10046]

Tessa Jowell: Patrick Carter's report on the Lee Valley project was completed on 31 August. The report concluded that the level of risk facing the project had reached such a stage as to make it unsustainable.

Having discussed his conclusions in detail with Sport England, the Government needed to decide whether to invest significant amounts of new money in the project to make it sustainable or whether to look to alternatives. Patrick Carter took the view that even with significant additional funding, the Lee Valley project still faced the very real prospect of being a substandard event due to transport, infrastructure and athlete accommodation difficulties.

The Government were not willing to see the United Kingdom proceed to stage a substandard event and with Sport England's agreement, decided to terminate the project on 4 October.

Dual Use Stadiums

26. Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the viability of dual use stadiums with retractable seating for football and athletics; and if she will make a statement. [10047]

Mr. Caborn: I have made no specific assessment of the viability of dual use stadiums.

Eden Project

27. Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on progress on the Eden project. [10048]

5 Nov 2001 : Column: 65W

Tessa Jowell: This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I will write to my hon. Friend in my capacity as Chair of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

S4C

29. Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the subsidy paid to S4C; and if she will make a statement. [10050]

Dr. Howells: It is an important principle that broadcasters should be independent of Government. In accordance with this principle the funding paid to S4C to provide a Welsh language broadcasting service is set by the formula in section 80 of the Broadcasting Act 1996.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State lays an annual report and statement of accounts prepared by S4C before Parliament annually.

---