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Golf Tourism

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to promote golf clubs as part of a golf tourism strategy. [47946]

Dr. Howells: The British Tourist Authority (BTA) has developed a mini-marketing plan for golf and works closely with Wales and Scotland on their golf strategies.

The BTA's website features various aspects of golf including participation, event information, history and sports wholesalers who package golf tours to the UK. In addition, BTA is considering producing a publication specifically dedicated to golf tourism.

Public Libraries

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of public libraries in the UK had public internet access by December 2001. [46650]

Dr. Howells: The £100 million lottery funded programme to connect public libraries to the internet is proceeding well and by the end of last year 67 per cent. of all UK libraries offered public internet access. The programme is expected to fulfil its target of connecting all libraries to the internet by the end of 2002.

Digital Television Website

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) unique visitors and (b) page impressions there have been for the digital television website, digitaltelevision.gov.uk [46913]

Dr. Howells: From the period of 12 October 2001 to 27 March 2002 the details are:



Creative Industries

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the (a) revenues generated and (b) employment created by the creative industries were for the financial years (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000, (iv) 2000–01 and (v) 2001–02 to the most recent date for which figures are available; [46919]

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Dr. Howells:

Turnover

Revenues(81) £ billionEmployment(82) £ millionExports(83) £ million
19971011.298.4
19981101.379.2
19991181.459.9
20001281.4810.8
20011.60

(81) Estimates based on the Office for National Statistics Annual Business Inquiry and Industry estimates.

(82) Estimates relate to each June. Figures are based on the Office for National Statistics Annual Business Inquiry and Labour Force Survey.

(83) Estimates based on the Office for National Statistics International Trade in Services Inquiry and industry estimates.


Gross Value Added

Change in output(87) Per cent.
1997–9810
1998–997
1999–200013

(84) Adjusted to remove growth due to inflation. Estimates based on the Office for National Statistics Annual Business Inquiry.


Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the competitiveness of the creative industries in the UK in each year since 1996–97. [46649]

Dr. Howells: My Department is not able to make an accurate assessment of the competitiveness of the creative industries as figures are not yet available from the Office for National Statistics.

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her Department's plans to improve the dissemination of statistics on the creative industries; and what progress has been made towards that aim. [46648]

Dr. Howells: In March 2001 my Department published the second Creative Industries Mapping Document, providing a measure of the economic contribution of the creative industries to the UK. This document remains relevant and is available from my Department's website at www.culture.gov.uk/creative/mapping.html.

My Department is also working closely with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in order to develop estimates that report on the performance of the creative industries nationally. We are also working with the Regional Development Agencies (RDA) on a broad framework for the collation of statistics, including those for the creative industries, in order to provide consistency across the regions.

The Department is considering, in cooperation with other stakeholders, whether there is a need for a further mapping exercise.

Invoices

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of invoices to the Department not in dispute were paid within 30 days or the otherwise agreed contractual terms in 2001. [47393]

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Dr. Howells: 99.1 per cent. of invoices not in dispute were paid within 30 days, or agreed contractual terms, by the Department during the period January to 31 December 2001.

European Regional Development Fund

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which of her Department's projects have received finance from the European Regional Development Fund in the financial years (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000, (e) 2000–01 and (f) 2001–02 to the most recent date for which figures are available. [46651]

Mr. Caborn: My Department does not administer any regeneration initiatives nor does it receive finance from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

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However, many public bodies in the culture and leisure field, including many funded by DCMS, participate in such initiatives and, during the period in question, applicants from within the fields of tourism, culture and leisure received ERDF finance in excess of £200 million and will continue to receive funding throughout the 2000–06 programme.

Historic Sites (Worcestershire)

Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the sites of historic interest in Worcestershire which have received grant aid in the last five years, indicating (a) the date and (b) the amount awarded in each case. [47601]

Dr. Howells: The following sites in Worcestershire were offered grant aid from English Heritage:

Site Date of offerAmount offered £
St. Peter, Besford7 July 199724,973
Hanbury Hall, Hanbury6 March 199832,510
Preaching Cross, St. Kenelm's Church, Upton Snodsbury11 September 1998725
Abbey Gateway, Malvern29 September 19982,736
Netherton Chapel, Netherton9 October 19981,226
St. Michael and All Angels, Tenbury Wells19 December 199813,268
St. Michael's Ruined Nave and West Tower Walls, Abberley29 March 199921,034
Walker Hall, Evesham20 May 199946,000
Abberley Hall Clock tower, Great Witley20 September 19995,640
Hanbury Hall, Droitwich26 January 200023,410
St. Mary Magdelene, Himbleton2 February 200024,044
St. Michael and All Angels, Knighton on Teme2 February 200010,003
Middle Littleton Tithe Barn, Middle Littleton22 March 200018,160
Baches Forge, Churchill31 March 200023,580
St. Deny, Severn Stoke31 March 200013,689
St. Peter, Powick31 March 200042,401
St. Andrew, Ombersley10 May 200023,338
Hewell Grange (HMP), Bromsgrove10 November 200015,000
St. Mary, Stanford on Teme21 December 2000180,691
St. Michael and All Angels, Tenbury Wells21 December 200045,641
St. Giles, Heightington21 December 200016,004
All Saints, Worcester28 March 001107,500
St. Michael's Ruined Nave and West Tower Walls, Abberley20 June 20018,000
Total699,573

The following projects have been awarded grants by the Heritage Lottery Fund:


Project title ApplicantAward dateAward pa£
Gwen Finch Wetland Reserve ProjectWorcestershire Wildlife Trust3 March 1998354,470
City of Worcester CAPSWorcester City Council19 March 1998150,000
Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Reserves Restoration ProjectWorcestershire Nature Conservation Trust Ltd.16 July 1998884,750
St. Peter, Besford, WorcestershireSt. Peter, Besford, Worcestershire22 October 199812,700
Worcestershire Countryside ExperienceWorcestershire County Council26 January 199930,000
Severn Valley Railway Heritage ProjectKidderminster Railway Museum Trust Ltd.13 May 19991,757,000
Lifford Hall, Worcestershire—re-roofing and refurbishmentLifford Memorial Hall3 August 1999329,200
St. Mary, Ripple, WorcestershireSt. Mary, Ripple, Worcestershire3 September 1999484,400
Elgar Birthplace Museum DevelopmentElgar Foundation and Elgar Birthplace Trust12 October 1999236,500
Worcestershire SoldierWorcestershire Regiment Museum Trust7 December 1999323,000
Worcester Museum of Medicine and Health CareCharles Hastings Education Centre29 March 2000321,000
Malvern Heritage ProjectWorcestershire County Council7 August 200030,000
Hunthouse Wood Nature Reserve—extensionWorcestershire Wildlife Trust14 September 200024,200
St. Stephen, Redditch, WorcestershireSt. Stephen, Redditch PCC17 October 2000227,300
The Elgar Birthplace MuseumThe Elgar Foundation20 December 200047,400
Penorchard Meadows—acquisition and restorationWorcestershire Wildlife Trust19 October 2000110,500
Worcestershire Heathland Heritage ProjectWorcestershire County Council22 May 200182,700
Kidderminster Railway Museum roof and canopy restorationKidderminster Railway Museum Trust Ltd.13 June 2001177,500
Lasletts Almshouses, Worcester—repair of defective pavingLasletts Almshouse Charity26 July 200118,000
Castle Three Car—acquisition, WorcestershireWorcestershire County Museum9 August 20015,200
Natural Connections—WorcestershireWorcestershire Wildlife Trust12 September 200174,800
Restoration of Great Northern Railway Carriage No. 2701L.N.E.R. (S.V.R) Coach Fund12 September 200184,300
Grimley Brick Pits SSSI—lease purchase and restorationWorcestershire Nature Conservation Trust Ltd.12 September 200184,700
Witley Court—repairs to Nesfield garden and fountainsEnglish Heritage13 March 2002727,500
Church House Areley Kings—restoration, WorcestershireWorcestershire Building Preservation Trust13 March 2002371,500
Total6,948,620

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