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World Heritage Sites
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to increase Government support for United Kingdom World Heritage sites. [41429]
Dr. Howells: The Government take their responsibilities for this country's World Heritage Sites very seriously. This was reflected in the Government's statement, The Historic Environment: A Force for Our Future (AFFOF), published on 13 December 2001, which included a commitment to complete management plans for all of England's current World Heritage Sites by the end of this year. We plan to publish an implementation plan to take forward the AFFOF agenda, including this commitment, shortly.
AFFOF followed on from the publication on 12 December 2001 of a Green Paper on the effectiveness of the existing planning system. This Paper is providing an opportunity for representations to be made on how best to safeguard the future of our World Heritage Sites through that system.
The management teams at our World Heritage Sites are, of course, eligible to apply for English Heritage and heritage lottery fund grants in the usual way.
Golden Jubilee Medal
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (i) if she will make it her policy that The Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal should be awarded to serving members of the Prison Service; [41643]
- (2) if she will list the categories of people who will be entitled to be awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal; [41453]
(3) what plans she has to extend the categories of those who will be entitled to receive the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal; and if she will make a statement. [41454]
Tessa Jowell: The medal is being issued to serving members of the armed forces and Royal Fleet Auxiliary and to the '999' emergency services. Eligibility is restricted to those who completed a minimum of five years' reckonable service on 6 February 2002—the 50th anniversary of the Queen's Accession. The detailed criteria for distribution are being worked out. The Prison Service is not an emergency service and therefore does not come within the criteria for the issue of the medal.
Swimming Pools
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many swimming pools there are in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) coalfield constituencies. [41809]
Mr. Caborn: We have contacted the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and Sport England to request the information required, and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is available, placing copies of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.
Lottery Bids
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many lottery bids were made from coalfield constituencies in the last 12 months; and what the United Kingdom average is. [41826]
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Mr. Caborn: Comprehensive information on applications for lottery grants is not centrally held at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). However, research commissioned from Sheffield Hallam University by DCMS and Lottery distributors, which was published in 1999, found that coalfield areas had generated 2.5 fewer applications per 10,000 people than the national average.
Royal Institute of British Architects
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when her Department last met the Royal Institute of British Architects; and if she will make a statement. [41961]
Dr. Howells: Ministers and officials in my Department hold regular meetings with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts met officials from RIBA on 11 October 2001.
Commission for Architecture and the
Built Environment
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when her Department last met the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment; and if she will make a statement. [41955]
Dr. Howells: Ministers and officials in my Department hold regular meetings with the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE). On 30 January 2002, officials attended a formal meeting which included most Commissioners. Less formal meetings between officials and CABE have taken place since. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met the Chairman and Chief Executive of CABE on 20 November 2001.
New Radio Stations
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what regulations govern introduction of new radio stations. [41369]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 11 March 2002]: The framework for independent radio licensing is contained in the Broadcasting Acts of 1990 and 1996, which set out the broad procedures which the Radio Authority must follow when advertising and awarding licences. The legislation includes general provisions for the authority to do all it can to secure a range and diversity of services, calculated to appeal to a variety of tastes and interests. In awarding individual local licences, the authority also has to consider how far the service would broaden the range of programmes available in the area by way of independent local radio services and, in particular, serve tastes and interests not already provided for.
In respect of the BBC, they must apply to the Secretary of State for any new radio services. The Secretary of State will then assess any proposal against the criteria set out in the public service approvals guidelines. These include distinctiveness (in programming and content) of the proposed BBC service from those provided by other broadcasters.
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Non-Governmental Organisations
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 1 March 2002, Official Report, column 1633W, on non-Governmental organisations, what information he collates on the funding of non-Governmental organisations by his Department, with particular reference to those operating on a regional level; and if he will make a statement. [42541]
Mr. Caborn: My Department funds a large number of non-departmental public bodies which may in turn decide to pass on some of their allocation to non-governmental organisations. This information is not collated by my Department.
DEFENCE
Training
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are to (a) increase the number of training areas and (b) sell training areas. [41315]
Dr. Moonie: There are no plans to increase the total number of training areas, although, where appropriate, purchases may be made to augment existing sites if suitable land comes on to the market. Equally, the Department will dispose of land for which it no longer has a use.
As a general policy the size of the defence estate is kept under constant review. The Ministry of Defence is currently undertaking a study to identify its core sites. This study includes the training areas.
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military training areas there are in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) England and (d) Northern Ireland. [41314]
Dr. Moonie: Excluding areas that are ranges only, the numbers of military training areas in the UK are as follows:
- (a) Scotland—18
- (b) Wales—9
- (c) England—95
- (d) Northern Ireland—2.
The terms of the land holdings comprise a mixture of freehold, leasehold and training rights licences.
The number of areas which are ranges only are:
- (a) Scotland—9
- (b) Wales—7
- (c) England—22
- (d) Northern Ireland—2.
War Pensions
Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what he estimates the cost of war pensions will be in each of the next 20 years. [42218]
Dr. Moonie: The cost of war pensions can be estimated only up to Financial Year 2006–07 and is set out in the table.
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| £ billion | |
|---|---|
| 2002–03 | 1.186 |
| 2003–04 | 1.148 |
| 2004–05 | 1.118 |
| 2005–06 | 1.085 |
| 2006–07 | 1.046 |
Gripen Aircraft
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what work has been done to evaluate the Gripen aircraft; when it was completed; if the result of the evaluation is available; and if he will make a statement. [36950]
Dr. Moonie: The Gripen aircraft was evaluated as part of a Combined Operational Effectiveness and Investment Appraisal (COEIA), completed in 1996, in connection with the Eurofighter programme. Whilst Gripen is an excellent aircraft, our studies confirmed that Eurofighter is the most cost-effective option to meet the Royal Air Force's currently assessed future needs. However, the detailed results of the COEIA contain classified information, the release of which could compromise Royal Air Force operations. I am therefore withholding it in accordance with Exemption 1 (Defence, Security, and International Relations) of the code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
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