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Accountancy Services
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost to her Department was for accountancy services in each of the last four years. [34170]
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Dr. Howells: The costs of external accountancy services for the Department for the years in question is shown in the table.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 115,298 |
| 1999–2000 | 115,309 |
| 2000–01 | 172,025 |
| 2001–02(12) | 140,540 |
(12) Spend to date
Mobile Telephones
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list, for 1997–98 and for each subsequent financial year, the amount spent (a) in the United Kingdom and (b) abroad by (i) her Department, (ii) its agencies and (iii) its non-departmental public bodies on (1) providing mobile telephone equipment, including handsets and other associated equipment, (2) telephone calls made using such equipment and (3) telephone calls made using privately owned mobile telephones but subsequently reclaimed by (x) Ministers and (y) staff. [34398]
Dr. Howells: This information cannot be provided save at disproportionate cost. My Department spent £500 on mobile telephone equipment in 2000–01 and £28,000 on mobile calls and line rental in the same period. Expenditure in previous years was at the same level.
Mobile Libraries
Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to increase the number of mobile libraries. [34097]
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Dr. Howells: Mobile library provision, as with branch libraries, is a matter for library authorities in line with their duty to provide comprehensive and efficient services within the terms of the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.
Child Protection (Sport)
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial assistance is provided to national governing bodies of sport to draw up and implement child protection policies; and what plans she has to provide further assistance. [34518]
Dr. Howells: The Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) was established in 2000 and is a three-year joint venture between Sport England (funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport) and the NSPCC. Each are contributing £300,000 towards the unit, which provides a wide range of services to governing bodies including training, consultancy, information and guidance, and case-specific support. In addition, Sportscoach UK makes a significant contribution to governing bodies in the child protection area through coaching and its education programme, and Sport England have identified two staff to work closely with the CPSU on child protection work. It is worth noting too that the Criminal Records Bureau, which was set up partly in response to the Protection of Children Act 1999 in England and Wales, will help governing bodies with their child protection policies.
Regional Arts
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the spending by regional arts boards was, per capita of population served, in each of the past 10 years; and if she will make a statement. [35158]
Dr. Howells: The table collated by the Arts Council of England provides the figures requested by the hon. Member.
| ALL RABs | EEA | EMA | LA | NA | NWA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 Direct arts spend | 4,406,276 | 4,116,211 | 12,474,394 | 6,496,922 | 7,971,107 |
| Mid-95 Population | 5,257,300 | 4,036,100 | 7,007,100 | 3,095,200 | 6,497,600 |
| 1995–96 Spend per head (£) | 0.84 | 1.02 | 1.78 | 2.10 | 1.23 |
| 1996–97 Direct arts spend | 4,499,474 | 4,131,044 | 13,075,294 | 7,113,607 | 8,321,574 |
| Mid-96 Population | 5,292,800 | 4,053,100 | 7,074,200 | 3,091,300 | 6,489,000 |
| 1996–97 Spend per head (£) | 0.85 | 1.02 | 1.85 | 2.30 | 1.28 |
| 1997–98 Direct arts spend | 4,615,052 | 4,145,321 | 12,724,078 | 6,700,651 | 9,751,399 |
| Mid-97 Population | 5,334,500 | 4,068,200 | 7,122,100 | 3,086,800 | 6,481,400 |
| 1997–98 Spend per head (£) | 0.87 | 1.02 | 1.79 | 2.17 | 1.50 |
| 1998–99 Direct arts spend | 4,282,894 | 4,242,899 | 12,843,375 | 7,113,607 | 8,530,042 |
| Mid-98 Population | 5,377,000 | 4,080,700 | 7,187,400 | 3,082,600 | 6,486,500 |
| 1998–99 Spend per head (£) | 0.80 | 1.04 | 1.79 | 2.31 | 1.32 |
| 1999–2000 Direct arts spend | 4,666,124 | 5,331,877 | 13,686,076 | 8,100,981 | 9,860,501 |
| Mid-99 Population | 5,418,900 | 4,101,800 | 7,284,900 | 3,073,300 | 6,478,100 |
| 1999–2000 Spend per head (£) | 0.86 | 1.30 | 1.88 | 2.64 | 1.52 |
| 2000–01 Direct arts spend | 5,349,901 | 7,399,162 | 25,996,282 | 11,557,019 | 18,500,627 |
| Mid-2000 Population | 5,459,700 | 4,118,000 | 7,375,100 | 3,068,200 | 6,493,200 |
| 2000–01 Spend per head (£) | 0.98 | 1.80 | 3.52 | 3.77 | 2.85 |
| 2001–02 Direct arts spend | 8,397,333 | 8,731,487 | 30,140,051 | 11,947,163 | 17,711,128 |
| Mid-2000 Population | 5,459,700 | 4,118,000 | 7,375,100 | 3,068,200 | 6,493,200 |
| 2001–02 Spend per head (£) | 1.54 | 2.12 | 4.09 | 3.89 | 2.73 |
Notes:
1. RAB arts spend figures are taken from RAB audited accounts, with the exception of 2001–02 figures which are taken from RAB business plans for that year.
2. Population figures are calculated from figures provided by National Statistics. Mid-2000 figures are the latest available.
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Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on the funding of regional arts and cultural services. [35157]
Dr. Howells: The Arts Council of England carries out funding of regional arts organisations at arm's-length from the Government through the regional arts boards.
Regional arts boards are currently independent charitable organisations, and grants to them from the Arts Council are subject to conditions set by the council. The council made operating grants of £97.6 million to the regional arts boards during the financial year 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the savings which would be achieved under the revised proposals from the Arts Council of England regarding funding of arts in the regions. [35159]
Dr. Howells: The Arts Council of England has set a target of £8 million to £10 million in savings from administration to put back into the arts. We have made it clear to the Arts Council of England that this target must be met. It is preparing a timetable for the restructuring which will generate those savings once the transfer to a single organisation has been completed.
Consultants
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost to her Department was of the use of external consultants in each of the last four years. [35023]
Dr. Howells: The cost of external consultants for the Department for the years in question is shown in the table.
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| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 379,156 |
| 1999–2000 | 711,394 |
| 2000–01 | 320,795 |
| 2001–02 spend to date | 421,609 |
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