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International Film School
18. Mr. Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to visit the International Film School at University College of Wales, Newport. [26185]
Dr. Howells: I met the Director of the School in October, but I have no current plans to visit the school.
School Sports
19. Dr. Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consideration has been given to extending the school sports co-ordinators scheme beyond its target of 2003–04; and if she will make a statement. [26186]
Mr. Caborn: We are considering extending the school sports co-ordinators scheme beyond the current target of 2003–04 as a means of helping to deliver the Government's commitment to entitlement to a minimum of two hours high quality PE and school sport per week for all children. We shall be discussing this in more detail with DfES Ministers.
Licensing Laws
21. Mr. David: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to bring forward licensing reform legislation. [26188]
23. Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to bring forward licensing reform legislation. [26190]
Dr. Howells: We plan to present legislation to implement the proposals set out in the White Paper "Time for Reform" as soon as parliamentary time permits. In addition, we are taking forward a series of regulatory reform proposals, including the one which allowed pubs and clubs to open continuously for up to 36 hours at new year's eve. The Police Superintendents Association of England and Wales has said that the resulting phasing of closing times was welcomed by the police service.
Cultural Commission
22. Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what basis she selected the members of the Cultural Commission for the east of England. [26189]
Tessa Jowell: The Chair of the East of England Regional Cultural Consortium, known as Living East, was appointed by me following consultation within the region and advice from an independent appointments panel.
Consortium members are either nominated by the relevant cultural bodies or by local government, or appointed by the Chair in consultation with others in the region. Ministers are not involved with the appointment of any Consortium members other than the Chairs.
21 Jan 2002 : Column 618W
Women (Sport)
24. Dr. Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what encouragement she has given to women's participation in sport. [26191]
Mr. Caborn: The Government are determined to ensure that there is equality of opportunity for all in every area including sport. Our policy of 'Sport for All' is aimed at encouraging everyone, including women into sport. Sport England provides over £6 million of Exchequer funding to sports governing bodies and all are required to ensure that they have proposals for the development of women as part of the condition of funding. Sport England also fund the Womens Sports Foundation (WSF) which is the only organisation in the UK that is solely committed to improving and promoting opportunities for women and girls in sport at every level. More women than ever are finding that regular physical exercise can lead to improvements in health, self-confidence and well-being. Women's team sports such as football and rugby are among the fastest-growing sports in the country.
Libraries
25. Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals she has to increase Library use among low income and socially excluded groups. [26192]
Tessa Jowell: Policy guidance on the contribution that libraries can make to tackling social inclusion was issued in January last year in the document "Libraries, Museums, Galleries and Archives For All".
Over the past two years, my Department has supported 49 library schemes which contribute to tackling social inclusion under the DCMS/Wolfson Public Libraries Challenge Fund.
We are working with Resource (the Council for Museums, Libraries and Archives) to ensure that library services are made as widely available as possible to all sections of society.
Through lottery funding, all public libraries will offer public internet access by December 2002.
Dorset and East Devon Coast
26. Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings she has had with the English Tourist Council regarding the granting of world heritage status to the Dorset and east Devon coast. [26193]
Dr. Howells: I am delighted that the Dorset and East Devon coast was awarded World Heritage status last month.
I have not met with the English Tourism Council to discuss this matter. The ETC offers leadership and guidance to the tourism industry and reported recently on the heritage sector in Action for Attractions. My Department takes an active role in establishing comprehensive Management Plans for UK World Heritage sites which include sustainable tourism policies.
21 Jan 2002 : Column 619W
Football (Crowd Control)
27. Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to meet representatives of the Football Association to discuss crowd control. [26194]
Tessa Jowell: The Government look to the football authorities to act quickly to prevent any recurrence of recent crowd disorder at matches. The Football Association and the FA of Wales are conducting detailed inquiries into events at the cup ties played at Cardiff and Aston Villa on 6 January. I expect that these inquiries will consider the extent to which local police forces made use of the extensive public order powers available to them under the Football Offences Act 1991 and other legislation. I have made it clear that the Government stand ready to assist with these inquiries, and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport would be happy to facilitate meetings between the football authorities and Ministers, if these are considered necessary.
Euro
28. Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she has met the English Tourist Council to discuss the acceptance of euro notes and coins. [26195]
Dr. Howells: I have not met with the English Tourism Council to discuss this matter.
The British Tourist Authority has recently issued revised guidance for the tourism industry on the euro which includes a checklist of action points and advice on authenticating banknotes. Further guidance will be issued if it is needed.
Derwent Valley Mills
30. Mr. Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has met the English Tourist Council to discuss the granting of world heritage status to Derwent Valley mills. [26197]
Tessa Jowell: I am delighted that Derwent Valley Mills was awarded World Heritage status last month.
I have not met with the English Tourism Council to discuss this matter. The ETC offers leadership and guidance to the tourism industry and reported recently on the heritage sector in Action for Attractions. My Department takes an active role in establishing comprehensive Management Plans for UK World Heritage sites which include sustainable tourism policies.
National Museums
31. Mr. Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people visited national museums in December. [26198]
Tessa Jowell: Overall some 200,000 more people visited in December 2001 than in December 2000 taking the total to 1.8 million. Visitors to those that went free on or just prior to 1 December doubled. This clearly demonstrates the success of our policy to abolish admission charges.
21 Jan 2002 : Column 620W
Golden Jubilee
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to celebrate the Golden anniversary of the Queen's accession on 6 February 2002. [24963]
Tessa Jowell: Although the actual anniversary of Her Majesty the Queen's accession to the throne is 6 February, the Prime Minister announced on 23 November 2000, Official Report, column 294W, that the Queen had approved his recommendation that the anniversary should be celebrated during the summer of this year, the focal point of which will be the celebrations during the 'Jubilee Weekend' of 1 to 4 June.
Newspaper Advertising
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been the expenditure of her (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on newspaper advertising by title in each year since 1997. [26989]
Dr. Howells: The Department's total expenditure on newspaper advertising over the years in question is shown in the table. The Department uses newspaper advertising mainly to attract candidates for the many public appointments for which the Department is responsible but it also includes the cost of external recruitment exercises for the Department itself. Expenditure by title is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98(16) | 0 |
| 1998–99(16) | 244,377 |
| 1999–2000(16) | 139,501 |
| 2001–01(16) | 121,012 |
| 2001–02(17) | 83,514 |
(16) Outturn
(17) To date
The Department has 66 non-departmental public bodies and does not keep central records of their newspaper advertising. The cost of tracing and listing each public body's advertising and promotional campaigns could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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