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Broadband

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the cost of providing broad band services per (a) urban dwelling and (b) rural dwelling. [55822]

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Mr. Alexander: I have been asked to reply.

There are a number of technologies used to provide broadband services. Each of these has a different cost structure and may suit different markets, including those defined by geography. The Government takes a technology neutral approach and aims to make the market more extensive and competitive.

National Stadium

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the Government will reimburse Birmingham City Council for the cost of the Birmingham bid for the National Football Stadium. [56573]

Tessa Jowell: No. Those local authorities and other bodies who made proposals to the English National Stadium Review team did so on their own volition.

British Museum

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the items in the British Museum's collection that have been (a) sold and (b) otherwise disposed of since 1972. [57687]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 20 May 2002]: The Trustees of the British Museum are permitted by the British Museum Act 1963, Section 5 to dispose of items in the collection where they are duplicates or unfit.

The British Museum sold 21 duplicate prints in 1986 and a duplicate set of Hiroshige woodblock prints in 1995. Some 2,600 duplicate coins, medals and badges and 117 duplicate western prints have been exchanged for similar material since 1972. Two bronze plaques from Benin were exchanged for a unique bronze horseman in the style of the Lower Niger Bronze industry in 1972. A relic of cannibalism, judged unfit to be retained in the Museum's collection was exchanged with Fiji for a collection of prehistoric sherds in 1975.

Playing Fields

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will provide a breakdown by region in England of the number of planning consultations received by Sport England in relation to change of use of playing fields in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02; and how many of these had planning permission granted. [57628]

Mr. Caborn [holding answer 20 May 2002]: The breakdown by region in England of the number of planning applications affecting playing fields received by Sport England for the years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 (figures for 2001–02 are not available); and how many received planning permission are shown in the following table:

Region1999–2000Planning Permission granted2000–2001Planning Permission granted
East38219365
East Midlands33217555
London3183717
North East39223628
North West956413293
South East152106226147
South West57334325
West Midlands11189162121
Yorkshire101679860
Total657431902611

Planning applications affecting playing fields can often involve a change of use that benefits sport rather than resulting in the outright sale of playing fields or their development. It should also be noted that where planning permission is granted this does not necessarily mean that the proposed development or change of use went ahead. Comprehensive data is not collected centrally on whether planning applications are actually implemented.


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National Insurance

Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to her answer of 7 May 2002, Official Report, column 63–64W, what her latest assessment is of the wage costs of (a) community amateur sports clubs and (b) the fitness industry. [58662]

Mr. Caborn: This information is not available. The wage costs of individual economic sectors are analysed each year in the New Earnings Survey, a publication of the Office of National Statistics. Trends in wages in the fitness industry, and among the non-volunteer staff of community amateur sports clubs, are not separately analysed.

Reserved Powers

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to transfer the administration of reserved powers and functions of her Department, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within its remit from her Department to the Scotland Office. [59525]

Mr. Caborn: There are no plans to transfer any reserved powers and functions to the Scotland Office.

Scottish Executive

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times her Office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) department approached, (b) subject and (c) date. [59527]

Mr. Caborn: This information is not collated by the Department. The Department has regular contact with the Scottish Executive at all levels across the full range of subjects for which the Department is responsible.

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to her Department since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive department, (b) subject and (c) date. [59526]

Mr. Caborn: This information is not collated by the Department. The Department has regular contact with the Scottish Executive at all levels across the full range of subjects for which the Department is responsible.

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Press Releases

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press releases have been issued by her Department to date in each month of 2002. [59501]

Mr. Caborn: The number of press releases issued by the Department for Culture Media and Sport to date in each month of 2002 is as follows:

Press Releases for 2002 per Month
January27
February15
March33
April26
May (so far)15
Total to present date87

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many press releases were issued by her Department (a) in each month between May and December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive. [59500]

Mr. Caborn: The number of press releases issued by the Department for Culture Media and Sport in each month (a) between May and December 1997 and (b) in each year from 1998 to 2001 inclusive is as follows:

(a)

May—December 1997
May27
June29
July40
August14
September27
October41
November34
December35
Total247

(b)
1998–2001
1998319
1999315
2000332
2001324
Total1290

Golden Jubilee

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr. Yeo) on 11 February 2002, Official Report, column 58W, if she will list the events ministers will attend as part of the Queen's Golden Jubilee celebrations. [60261]

Tessa Jowell: My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, Ministers from other Departments and I will attend a number of the national events in central London over the Jubilee Weekend of 1–4 June 2002 including the Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral on 4 June 2002.

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The Prime Minister will also be celebrating with his constituents over the Jubilee Weekend and with others elsewhere in the region. Other Ministers have already accepted invitations to attend Jubilee events in their constituencies during The Queen's programme of visits around the United Kingdom and taking place as part of the celebrations in local communities throughout the summer months.

Details of The Queen's visits and many other Jubilee events can be found on the official Golden Jubilee website at www.goldenjubilee.gov.uk

British Board of Film Classification

Mr. Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the British Board of Film Classification's Annual report will be published. [60260]

Tessa Jowell: The British Board of Film Classification's Annual Report is published today and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Parliamentary Advisers

Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the (a) names and (b) responsibilities are of parliamentary advisers appointed to serve her Department. [56983]

Mr. Caborn [holding answer 22 May 2002]: Ministers in this Department have made no such appointments. The following Members have, however, been asked to act as sport liaison Members, providing a conduit of communication in order to extend relations with particular sports, integrating contacts and increasing mutual understanding. These are unpaid, non-governmental positions.

Member for . . . Sport
Birmingham, NorthfieldMotor Sports
Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small HeathCricket
EcclesDefence Sports
JarrowFootball
Luton, NorthYachting
MansfieldHorse Racing
Newcastle upon Tyne, NorthAthletics
Nottingham, SouthTennis
Reading, EastCycling
Reading, WestShooting & Fishing
Rugby and KenilworthGolf
Sittingbourne and SheppeyRugby Union
Tyne BridgeGreyhound Racing
WakefieldRugby League

Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the duties are of hon. Members appointed as sponsors to her Department; and what assistance is given by officials in her Department to them in carrying out these duties; [59978] (2) which hon. Members have been appointed as sponsors to her Department since 7 June 2001; and when each of them were appointed. [59963]

Mr. Caborn: I refer the hon. Member to the Answer above to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith).

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