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Millennium Tower, Portsmouth

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public money, excluding that provided by the Millennium Commission, has been spent on the Millennium Tower in Portsmouth; and if she will make a statement. [44743]

Tessa Jowell: I will write to the hon. Member in my capacity as Chair of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

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Free Television Licences

Mr. Ivan Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many old age pensioners in the Harwich constituency have benefited from the introduction of free television licences. [45117]

Dr. Howells: TV Licensing, which administers the free television licence scheme for the BBC as Licensing Authority, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, estimates based on the 1991 Census indicate that there were approximately 12,900 people aged 75 or over in the Harwich constituency.

Register of Sports Facilities

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects the register of sports facilities will be published; how this will be funded; and if she will make a statement. [45167]

Mr. Caborn: Information on sports facilities is currently held by a variety of organisations and a single database will enable more strategic Government investment in those areas and facilities which are most important. My Department is continuing discussions with Sport England on the scope, content, and cost of the proposed database and how the project will be taken forward. We will then be in a position to draw up a realistic timetable for the project.

Millennium Bridge

Mr. Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what public funds have been expended in rectifying the defects in the Millennium bridge. [45136]

Tessa Jowell: This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I will write to the hon. Member in my capacity as Chair of the Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

Bisham Abbey

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the bodies consulted by (a) Sport England and (b) her Department prior to the agreement of proposals to redevelop Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre. [45427]

Mr. Caborn: Given the historic nature of Bisham Abbey, Sport England have undertaken extensive consultation on the redevelopment of the National Sports Centre. Among the organisations consulted have been national governing bodies of sport, local sports clubs and other interest groups. The governing bodies and local sports clubs include: English Cricket Board, English Hockey Association, British Judo Association, Amateur Rowing Association, Rugby Football Union, Lawn Tennis Association, BAWLA, Football Association, Bisham

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Abbey Squash Club and Bisham Abbey Golf Club. In addition the interest groups consulted include Windsor and Maidenhead District Council, Bisham Parish Council, Environment Agency, English Heritage, the Council for Protection of Rural England, Bisham Abbey User Committee and local residents.

Officials from my Department hold regular meetings with members of Sport England to discuss issues relating to the English Institute of Sport and the National Sports Centres, including Bisham Abbey.

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with Sport England on the re-development of Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre. [45446]

Mr. Caborn: Officials from my Department hold regular meetings with members of Sport England to discuss issues relating to the English Institute of Sport and the National Sports Centres, including Bisham Abbey.

Digital Heritage

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the preservation of the digital heritage of the United Kingdom. [45198]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 21 March 2002]: Digital publications are continuing to increase in number and importance. The present system of legal deposit requires printed publications to be deposited in the British Library. In July 1998 the Working Party on the Legal Deposit of Non-print Publications chaired by Sir Anthony Kenny reported to the then Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library. The report makes a convincing case for moving towards legislation for the legal deposit of non-print material. My Department continues to seek a legislative slot in which to bring the matter before the House. In the meantime a voluntary code of practice is in operation.

The national archive of the records of central Government and the courts of law for the United Kingdom is the Public Record Office, for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible. It has already instituted an electronic records programme for selection and preservation of the records of central Government.

New Millennium Experience Company

Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list those individuals who have held shares in the New Millennium Experience Company since it became a non-departmental public body, and for each individual to state (a) the number of shares they held, (b) the percentage of the total shares in the company they held, (c) the date on which they became shareholders and (d) the date on which they ceased to be shareholders. [45199]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 21 March 2002]: The information is as follows:

(a)(b)(c)(d)
Right hon. Roger Freeman MP2100February 1997May 1997
Right hon. Chris Smith MP2100May 1997June 1997
Right hon. Peter Mandelson MP2100June 1997December 1998
Right hon. Chris Smith MP2100December 1998January 1999
Lord Falconer of Thoroton QC2100January 1999


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Scottish Land Fund

Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the grants made to date by the New Opportunities Fund through the Scottish Land Fund, the date of award and the amount awarded. [46233]

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Mr. Caborn: In just under a year of operation, 47 grants worth a total of £4,838,472 have been made by the Scottish Land Fund using New Opportunities Fund funds. The table gives further details of all awards made to date.

Scottish Land Fund grants to date

Local authorityApplicantGrant typeAmount (£)
April 2001
HighlandKinlochleven Land Development TrustDevelopment90,000
HighlandLaggan Forest Trust Co. Ltd.Development73,172
April total163,172
May 2001
MorayDeskford Community AssociationAcquisition12,000
HighlandFernaig Community TrustDevelopment57,796
Perth and KinrossComrie Millennium Footpath AssociationTechnical assistance4,381
AberdeenshireWindyhills Community GroupTechnical assistance9,415
May total83,592
July 2001
Argyll and ButeRoss of Mull Historical CentreAcquisition52,907
Argyll and ButeMull and Iona Community TrustAcquisition33,268
Eilean SiarPort of Ness Harbour Ltd.Acquisition4,168
MorayBurghead Amenities ProjectAcquisition19,108
July total109,451
August 2001
HighlandAbriachian Forest TrustDevelopment94,000
HighlandDurness Development GroupAcquisition15,670
Argyll and ButeTiree Rural Development CompanyDevelopment50,000
AberdeenshireWoodhead and Windyhills Community GroupAcquisition90,000
HighlandGlen Beag Woodland Steering GroupTechnical assistance300
HighlandBalmacara Square Management CommitteeTechnical assistance964
Scottish BordersGordon Community Woodland AssociationTechnical assistance720
Argyll and ButeKilchoman Community GroupTechnical assistance1,536
August total253,190
September 2001
HighlandIsle of Eigg Heritage TrustTechnical assistance3,375
HighlandIsle of Eigg Heritage TrustDevelopment20,310
South AyrshireBallantrae Rural Initiative Care in the CommunityAcquisition26,690
Argyll and ButeGigha Land Steering Community GroupTechnical assistance2,974
September total53,349
October 2001
HighlandIsle of Eigg Heritage TrustDevelopment62,519
HighlandKells Croft Steering GroupAcquisition12,475
Argyll and ButeGigha Land Steering Community GroupAcquisition3,525,000
HighlandFernaig Community TrustAcquisition11,873
October total3,611,867
November 2001
HighlandAcharacle Community CompanyAcquisition96,420
RenfrewshireHowwood Community Woodland GroupAcquisition13,870
Argyll and ButeIomairt Chille-ChomanAcquisition30,358
AberdeenshireMid Deeside Ltd.Technical assistance3,665
AberdeenshireMid Deeside Ltd.Technical assistance4,350
StirlingTrossachs Community TrustAcquisition20,000
HighlandNorth Sutherland Community Woodland TrustTechnical assistance1,491
RenfrewshireHowwood Community Woodland GroupTechnical assistance485
HighlandStrathnairn Community Woodland ProjectTechnical assistance1,151
November total171,790
January 2002
HighlandDistillery Wood AssociationTechnical assistance940
Perth and KinrossHighland Perthshire Communities Land TrustTechnical assistance2,910
AberdeenshireStrichen Community ParkTechnical assistance176
Scottish BordersGordon Community Woodland AssociationAcquisition69,971
OrkneyNorth Ronaldsay TrustAcquisition50,835
Argyll and ButeIsle of Gigha Heritage TrustDevelopment90,000
January total214,832
February 2002
HighlandAnagach Woods Steering GroupTechnical assistance399
HighlandAnagach Woods Steering GroupTechnical assistance799
HighlandLaggan Forest Trust Forestry Co. Ltd.Technical assistance1,000
ShetlandSandwick Social and Economic Development Co.Acquisition25,265
HighlandKingsburgh Forest TrustAcquisition148,805
StirlingLoch Katrine Community TrustTechnical assistance961
February total177,229
Overall total4,838,472

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