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Ancient Woodland
Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what planning proposals she has to protect ancient woodland. [40353]
Ms Keeble: I have been asked to reply.
The review of Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) note 9 on Nature Conservation will present an opportunity to consider guidance on trees and ancient woodlands, including areas of ancient woodland that are not designated as sites of special scientific interest.
My Department will also provide any planning advice that is required in respect of the proposed best practice guidance on forestry and woodlands, and in the updating of Circular 36/78 on Trees and Forestry.
6 Mar 2002 : Column 365W
WALES
Cynon Valley
Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he last discussed the future development of the former phurnacite plant site in the Cynon Valley with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales; and what conclusions were reached. [40529]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I meet regularly with the First Minister when we discuss a range of issues affecting Wales.
The former Phurnacite plant at Abercwmboi is presently the subject of a mediation process led by the Environment Council. The process is trying to establish whether it is possible for interested parties to reach agreement on how remediation of this site, and the adjoining Ancit plant site, might be taken forward. No decisions on the future use of the site will be taken until the mediation process is completed later this year.
Fair Trade
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether fair trade products are sold in his Department. [39839]
Mr. Paul Murphy: No. My Department has no shops or other outlets where such products could be sold.
External Contracts
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations which previously held contracts with his Department (a) won new contracts at the culmination of the existing contracts and (b) won new contracts after a period of inactivity with his Department in each of the past five years. [38721]
Mr. Paul Murphy [holding answer 28 February 2002]: There have been no such cases since the creation of the Wales Office in July 1999. For the former Welsh Office, the information requested is not readily available and the question can be answered only at disproportionate cost.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the 30 largest contracts awarded by his Department from (a) May 1997 to April 1998, (b) May 1998 to April 1999, (c) May 1999 to April 2000, (d) May 2000 to April 2001 and (e) May 2001 to the latest date, indicating in each case the values of the contracts and the companies with which the contracts were placed. [38722]
Mr. Paul Murphy [holding answer 28 February 2002]: For the former Welsh Office (covering the period until June 1999) the information requested is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Since its creation in July 1999 the Wales Office has continued these contracts which it inherited from the former Welsh Office:
- Cleaning by Appointment (office cleaning)
Securicor Guarding (out-of-hours security)
Government Car and Despatch Service (Ministerial cars)
Sykes and Sons (flying of flags).
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The value of these contracts is commercially confidential.
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which non-accounting and non-information technology external organisations have won new contracts with (a) his Department and (b) executive agencies in each of the past five years. [38720]
Mr. Paul Murphy [holding answer 28 February 2002]: For the former Welsh Office the information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Wales Office, since its creation in July 1999, has only continued existing contracts inherited from the Welsh Office.
Sports
Dr. Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales regarding the development of centres of sports excellence in Wales. [34844]
Mr. Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I meet regularly with the First Secretary and his Cabinet colleagues to discuss a range of issues affecting Wales.
Wales already has 42 Centres of Regional Excellence and over 170 Centres of Local Development. I understand that the Sports Council for Wales has developed a set of criteria for prioritising the specialist facilities needed by governing bodies of sport.
Correspondence
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters were received by (a) the Secretary of State for Wales and (b) the Under-Secretary of State for Wales in each month since July 1999. [30626]
Mr. Paul Murphy: The information is contained in the table:
6 Mar 2002 : Column 367W
TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS
Millennium Dome
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the total (a) costs and (b) revenue were of the (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001 new year's eve functions held at the Millennium Dome; how the events were planned; how the contracts were negotiated; with whom contacts were entered into; if similar events are planned at the Millennium Dome in the future; what the costs for maintaining the Dome and the surrounding site were for each of the past 24 months; and if he will make a statement. [29586]
Ms Keeble: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) was responsible for the Dome up to the end of June 2001. English Partnerships took ownership of the Dome on 1 July 2001.
The new year's eve events in 2000 and 2001 were both held by the Ministry of Sound.
NMEC received £90,900 from the Ministry of Sound in connection with the new year's eve 2000 event which included payments to cover incremental costs totalling £40,900. NMEC bore costs of £11,000 directly related to the event and the Ministry of Sound met additional costs itself. The event was carefully planned by staff at the Dome and representatives of the Ministry of Sound over a period of several weeks, resulting in an agreement between NMEC and the Ministry of Sound. The event took place in the "Skyscape" building situated on land adjacent to the Dome.
For the 2001 new year's eve event in the Dome, English Partnerships received a total payment of £219,125 from Ministry of Sound—£75,000 as a basic hire charge and the remainder as a share of ticket revenue. In addition, Ministry of Sound paid for all the costs of organising the event.
The records of NMEC show that maintenance costs for the Dome and site (in £000s) as borne by NMEC were as follows (calculated on a cash paid basis):
6 Mar 2002 : Column 368W
The figures for 2000 include insurance. The available figures for 2001 do not include insurance. It is estimated that the element of NMEC's insurance for 2001 which related to the Dome and site was approximately £700,000. It is not possible to apportion this to individual months. The figures for the last six months in 2001 relate to outstanding invoices and rebates for the first half of the year.
Since English Partnerships took ownership of the Dome on 1 July 2001, their total running cost 1 expenditure incurred (in £000s) in relation to the Dome, broken down by month and calculated on an accruals basis, has been 2 :
| £000 | |
|---|---|
| July | 223 |
| August | 238 |
| September | 220 |
| October | 229 |
| November | 275 |
| December | 266 |
All these costs will be recovered from eventual sale proceeds.
As regards the future use of the Dome, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, to my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Mr. Stewart) on 18 December 2001, Official Report, columns 220–21W.
English Partnerships have been asked to explore further short-term events at the Dome and have received a number of approaches for events during 2002, on which discussions are continuing.
- 1 Includes rates, utilities, security and maintenance, and EP staff costs on management and maintenance of the Dome.
- 2 Subject to any reassessments by the relevant authorities, of rates or other charges included in the cost of managing and maintaining the Dome.
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will provide a breakdown of the monthly costs of maintaining the Millennium Dome until the contract with Meridian Delta has been completed, including (a) the cost of staff, advisers and details of their responsibilities, (b) maintenance and (c) other costs. [32805]
6 Mar 2002 : Column 369W
Ms Keeble: Since English Partnerships took ownership of the Dome on 1 July 2001, their total running cost 1 expenditure incurred in relation to the Dome, broken down by month and calculated on an accruals basis, has been 2 :
| £000 | |
|---|---|
| July | 223 |
| August | 238 |
| September | 220 |
| October | 229 |
| November | 275 |
| December | 266 |
During 2001 English Partnerships also incurred £6.1 million on decommissioning the Dome contents in preparation for a future use and £2.2 million in relation to the current sale process. The cost of the previous competition to find a long-term use for the Dome, which began in March 1999 and ended at the beginning of 2001, was £6.7 million.
All these costs will be recovered from eventual sale proceeds.
I will be pleased to write to the hon. Member informing him of monthly running costs figures in arrears, until the proposed deal with Meridian Delta Ltd is concluded.
- 1 Includes rates, utilities, security and maintenance, and EP staff costs on management and maintenance of the Dome.
- 2 Subject to any reassessments, by the relevant authorities, of rates or other charges included in the cost of managing and maintaining the Dome.
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