Previous Section Index Home Page


Museums

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what Government funding has been

5 Mar 2002 : Column 262W

made available in each of the last five years for museums in (a) London, (b) the South East, (c) Birmingham, (d) the West Midlands and (e) England; what her projections are for the next three years; and if she will make a statement. [38094]

Dr. Howells: My Department's grant funding to its 20 sponsored museums and galleries in England and their branch museums is shown in the table.

Table 1: Allocation of grant-in-aid to DCMS sponsored museums and galleries
£ million

Region1997–981998–991999–20002000–012001–022002–032003–04
England206203219229246268275
London184185197205218238243
South East
Birmingham
West Midlands

My Department does not provide core funding for other museums, but supports the wider museum sector in England through Resource: the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries.

Following the creation of the Designated Museums Challenge Fund (DMCF) in 1999 Resource and its predecessor the Museums and Galleries Commission have made the following awards of non-core funding to museums with pre-eminent collections across England:

Table 2: Non-core support for regional museums via Resource
£ million

Region1999–2002
England15.0
London2.4
South East1.6
Birmingham0.6
West Midlands(18)0.9

(18) Excluding Birmingham


In the Government Spending Review 2000 Resource was allocated an additional £10 million per year to support regional collections. This will now be used to implement the proposals set out in the report of the Regional Museums Task Force "Renaissance in the Regions".

Royal Parks Police

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what progress has been made on the recommendations made on the Royal Parks Police by Tony Speed and Dan Foley; and when changes will be implemented; [39984]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 4 March 2002]: Responsibility for the subject of these questions have been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, William Weston. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Sandra Smith to Mrs. Cheryl Gillan, dated 4 March 2002:






New Millennium Experience Company

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 14 February 2002, Official Report, column 592W, for what reason ownership of the sculpture did not accrue to NMEC. [39147]

Tessa Jowell: In common with other sculptures at the dome site, NMEC paid only for construction and installation in order to keep the cost affordable. Ownership rights remain with Anthony Gormley, therefore. He has, however, made it clear that he wishes the sculpture to remain on the site. The necessary permissions are being pursued to make this happen.

5 Mar 2002 : Column 263W

Ice Sports (Gloucestershire)

Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to site new ice sports facilities in Gloucestershire; and if she will make a statement. [40709]

Mr. Caborn: The provision of ice sports facilities is a matter for local authorities to consider. Local authorities are best placed to determine the level of provision required in the light of local needs and the appropriate mixture of public and private provision.

The Government support the provision of sport and leisure facilities through various means including funding from the Sports Lottery Fund, administered by Sport England. It is for local authorities to apply for this funding. No applications have been received for any new ice sports facilities in Gloucestershire.

Sport England have informed us there are no plans for the provision of an ice sports facility in Gloucestershire. Sport England's regional strategy report in 1995 recognised the need for new ice sport facilities in the south-west. As ice rinks are relatively expensive to build, any applications for lottery funding would be considered in the context of Sport England's priorities.

Sports Training

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations she has received concerning funding for sports training for those aged 16 to 18 years; and if she will make a statement. [40379]

Mr. Caborn: Following a recommendation in the March 2001 Government's Plan for Sport, a review of the role that further and higher education can play in the delivery of sport was undertaken by a national advisory group. The group reported back to Ministers in December 2001, and funding issues were covered in its conclusions and recommendations. The Government are currently consulting on the report, and expects to respond to it in April this year.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial assistance is provided by the Government for sports training for those aged 16 to 18 years. [40378]

Mr. Caborn: The Learning and Skills Act 2000 imposes a duty on the Learning and Skills Council to secure provision of organised leisure time activities connected with the training and education of young people aged 16–18. Funds are allocated to learning providers for this purpose.

Sports Clubs

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 13 February 2002, Official Report, column 409W, on sports clubs, if she will list those sports representative bodies which provided evidence that the majority of local authorities grant 100 per cent. rate relief. [39973]

Mr. Caborn: In my answer of 17 January 2002, Official Report, column 472–73W, to the hon. Member, I stated that the majority of local authorities grant rate relief of up to 100 per cent. to local amateur sports clubs.

5 Mar 2002 : Column 264W

That was not intended to imply that the majority of such clubs receive rate relief at 100 per cent.—simply that the majority of local authorities grant some measure of discretionary relief, and that the majority of amateur clubs benefit from this in some degree.

That statement was based on informal discussions with Sport England and the Central Council for Physical Recreation. As I informed the hon. Member in my answer of 13 February, no detailed figures exist.

Press and Public Relations

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were employed in a press or public relations function in her Department on 1 January in (a) 1997, (b) 1998, (c) 1999, (d) 2000, (e) 2001 and (f) 2002. [39935]

Dr. Howells: The number of press officers and publicity officers in my Department at 1 January in each of the last six years was as follows:

DatePress officersPublicity officers
199784
19981914
199984
2000925
2001824
2002825

Note:

1. Includes two officers working part-time

2. Includes one officer working part-time



Next Section Index Home Page