3 Jul 2002 : Column 313W
Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 3 July 2002
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Refugees
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (a) how much and (b) what forms of aid have been provided by her Department to help refugees and displaced persons in (i) Armenia, (ii) Azerbaijan and (iii) Georgia. [66353]
Clare Short: The table sets out, by country and by purpose, the support my Department has provided to help refugees in the south Caucasus since 1999 (the first year in which direct assistance with the refugee problem was provided).
| Humanitarian | Naturalisation/ Community development | Conflict prevention | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Armenia | |||
| 2000 | — | 660,000 | — |
| 2001 | — | — | 18,150 |
| Azerbaijan | |||
| 1999 | 208,500 | — | — |
| 2000 | 240,000 | 70,000 | — |
| 2001 | — | — | 18,150 |
| Georgia | |||
| 1999 | 97,850 | — | 250,620 |
| 2000 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 124,145 |
| 2001 | — | — | 180,000 |
My Department also provided block funding to UNHCR totalling £9.46 million in 2000–01 (the latest year for which figures are available). It is not possible to make a direct attribution, but a proportion of this funding will have supported the UNHCR refugee programmes in the south Caucasus.
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with (a) UN, (b) Russian and (c) EU representatives regarding the refugee situation in (i) Armenia, (ii) Azerbaijan and (iii) Georgia. [66355]
Clare Short: Regular discussions are held with UNDP, UNHCR and UNFPA about the progress of south Caucasus refugee programmes to which my Department has contributed. My Department also responds to appeals made by those agencies on a case-by-case basis.
There has been no discussion of the issue with representatives from the Russian Federation, nor any substantive discussion with the European Union.
Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with (a) Armenian, (b) Azeri and (c) Georgian authorities regarding (i) the refugee situation, (ii) the return of people to their homes and (iii) improving living conditions in the refugee camps. [66354]
3 Jul 2002 : Column 314W
Clare Short: My Department's assistance towards alleviating the refugee problem in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia is directed through the Red Cross, UN agencies and non-governmental organisations.
Discussions with the Governments of the region are therefore wholly concerned with reviewing the progress of those programmes to which my Department has contributed.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
National Stadium
Mr. Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if she will place in the Library a copy of correspondence between Ministers and officials in her Department and Mr. Ken Bates on the subject of (a) Wembley National Stadium Ltd. and (b) an English national stadium since 1 May 1997; [58115]
- (2) if she will place in the Library a copy of correspondence between Ministers and officials in her Department and the (a) chairman and (b) directors of Wembley National Stadium Ltd. since 1 May 1997. [58114]
Mr. Caborn [holding answer 21 May 2002]: No. Such correspondence is covered by the exemptions set out in Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information which cover third party commercial confidences and information given in confidence. This is in line with the practice observed by previous Governments. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has already placed in the Library of the House an exchange of correspondence between herself and Sir Rodney Walker, the then chairman of Wembley National Stadium Ltd., in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Ann Keen) on 14 February 2002, Official Report, columns 597–98W. This exchange contained an explanation of the Government's commitment to the project for the benefit of WNSL's then bankers and others who were or might become involved in the Football Association's project. Given it was essentially a public commitment, my right hon. Friend considered it important that Parliament should see its contents. This was done with the consent of Wembley National Stadium Ltd.
Historic Buildings (Public Access)
Mr. Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what action the Government are taking to link receipt of funding to improve buildings of historical interest to increased access for members of the public; and if she will make a statement; [63938]
- (2) which properties in London have received funding from (a) English Heritage and (b) the Heritage lottery fund in each of the last 10 years for improvement works; and how many of these properties allow access to members of the public for (a) one day a year, (b) one week a year and (c) more than one week a year. [63937]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 24 June 2002]: Over the last 10 years English Heritage has grant-aided 295 properties in London. Of these 166 were administered under the Historic Buildings and Monuments Act 1953. These grants are conditional on the provision of public
3 Jul 2002 : Column 315W
access. The level of access depends on the circumstances of the case and the size of the grant. Opening arrangements for the properties which receive grants are available on English Heritage's website at www.english-heritage.org.uk and in "Hudson's Historic Houses and Gardens" directory.
Grants to the remaining 129 properties were administered under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Local Government Act 1985 for exterior work and essential structural repairs. These grants were to Grade II listed buildings or buildings in conservation areas. There is no automatic access requirement, although some of these properties are open to the public.
Since 1994 the Heritage lottery fund has made 238 awards to historic buildings in London. Public access is an important consideration in awarding grants. The Heritage lottery fund recognises the central role of access in achieving its overall aim to use heritage funding to improve people's quality of life. The organisation is committed to developing the widest possible constituency for heritage, and to promoting access, equality of opportunity and inclusion in all activities.
EU Directives
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the EU directives relating to her Department which have been (a) amended and (b) repealed in 2002. [64944]
Dr. Howells: Council directive 93/7/EEC on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a member state was amended by directive 2001/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.
Council Regulation (EEC) No. 3911–92 on the export of cultural goods was amended by Council Regulation (EC) No. 974–2001.
No EU directives relating specifically to my Department have been repealed in 2002.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the EU directives and regulations that have been implemented through her Department in 2002; and what was the cost of each to public funds. [64994]
Dr. Howells: Directive 2001/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, which amended Council directive 93/7/EEC on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a member state, was implemented by SI 3972–2001 which came into force on 1 January 2002. There was no cost to public funds.
Ice Rinks
Mr. Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many ice rinks have (a) closed and (b) opened since 1995. [65528]
Mr. Caborn: Three ice rinks have closed since 1995, one each in Sunderland, Stevenage and Richmond. The ice rink in Altrincham is due to close in April 2003.
3 Jul 2002 : Column 316W
Three ice rinks have also opened since 1995, one each in Nottingham (National Ice Centre), Coventry and Birmingham. A fourth ice rink is due to open in Sheffield in May 2003.
National Lottery
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will make a statement on the review of procedures for the allocation of the operating licence for the National Lottery provider. [65742]
Mr. Caborn: We published last week a consultation document setting out a number of possible changes to the future licensing and regulation of the Lottery which is available on the DCMS website at www.culture.gov.uk Copies may also be obtained, free of charge, from the Department.
Tourism (Lancashire)
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tourists visited Lancashire in the last year. [65609]
Dr. Howells: Provisional figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in 2001 210,000 visits were made to Lancashire. Overnight stays in the county are shown as 1.4 million and visitor spend is £56 million.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |