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CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Charitable Status

Lembit Öpik: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) for what reasons the Budget proposal to offer mandatory 80 per cent. rate relief to amateur sports clubs has been limited to clubs prepared to register as charities; and if she will make a statement; [67080]

Mr. Caborn: For those clubs who do not fulfil the criteria for charitable status, the Chancellor has announced a package of tax reliefs, available directly from the Inland Revenue. The main features are: fundraising income up to £15,000 exempt from tax; income from interest exempt from tax; rental income up to £10,000 exempt from tax; disposals exempt from capital gains tax; gift aid on individual donations; inheritance tax relief on gifts; gifts of assets on no-gain, no-loss basis for capital gains; business relief on gifts of trading stock. Eligible sports will initially be defined with reference to those recognised by the national Sports Councils.

The presentation of taxation policy is a matter for HM Treasury and the tax relief package for amateur sports clubs proposed in the Treasury consultation document "Promoting Sport in the Community" did not include mandatory rate relief. However, any non-profit making sports clubs that do not meet the expanded definition of charitable purposes remain eligible for the existing 100 per cent. discretionary rate relief. They could also benefit from the new mandatory relief of up to 50 per cent. proposed for small businesses and non-profit making bodies, where they fall within the rateable value limits of that scheme. This scheme was introduced by the Department of Transport, London and the Regions in the White Paper "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" published in December 2001.

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Supporters Direct

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the work of Supporters Direct; and what Government resources are available to it. [67677]

Mr. Caborn: I fully support the work of Supporters Direct, and I congratulate its staff and Board on their efforts in helping to establish supporters' trusts at 57 of the 92 professional clubs in England. I am also very pleased that, with the assistance of funding from the Scottish Executive, the work of Supporters Direct is to be extended to Scotland.

Supporters Direct receives £250,000 per year from income from the Reduction in Pool Betting Duty under arrangements which expire in March 2003. My Department has, in principle, approved the extension of funding from this source until March 2004. This is subject to the provision of a satisfactory business plan. I expect to receive this shortly with Supporters Direct's assessment of its 2003–04 funding needs.

Drug Testing

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the report produced for the Chief Executive of UK Sport by Dr. Roger Jackson on the UK system of drug testing; and if she will place a copy in the Library. [67682]

Mr. Caborn: The issues raised by Dr. Roger Jackson in his informal commentary to UK Sport's Chief Executive were fully considered by UK Sport during its review of anti-doping procedures in the UK. The review formed part of two years' intensive work undertaken by UK Sport in the preparation of the new national anti-doping policy, launched in January 2002. DCMS officials have been in regular discussions with UK Sport about all aspects of the development and implementation of the national anti-doping policy.

It would not be appropriate to place a copy in the Library as it was not commissioned by UK Sport as a public document. It was a private, informal commentary prepared for the Chief Executive of UK Sport.

Gaming Industry

Mr. Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if she will make a statement on the gaming industry and its potential role in the regeneration of coastal towns in the UK; and what recent discussions she has had with gaming companies; [68240]

Mr. Caborn: Under our proposals for reform of the laws governing gambling in Great Britain, as set out in "A Safe Bet for Success", current statutory barriers to the establishment of resort casinos—whether in coastal towns or elsewhere—would be removed. Whether such casinos

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are established will be primarily determined by local authorities, exercising planning and premises licensing responsibilities, and prospective operators themselves, in considering whether and where to make the necessary investment. My Department has had a number of discussions with prospective operators, who anticipate that resort casino developments could have a part to play in local regeneration strategies. It is not, however, the Government's intention to establish a pilot project or to make any special arrangements to encourage the establishment of a resort casino in any individual location.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

World Bank

Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she expects the World Bank's research, supported by the British Government, into the impact of service liberalisation in developing countries to be published. [67689]

Clare Short: The World Bank Research Programme on Trade in Services started in 1997 and is due to continue until 2004. The programme aims to generate and draw together data and research, with the objective of improving services trade policy formulation and facilitating the services negotiations at the WTO. One of the central components of the programme is the creation of a database on measures affecting trade in services. Other components include policy research projects, which are expected to result in a series of conceptual and empirical papers.

All papers and studies produced by the Programme are published on the World bank website http:// www1.worldbank.org/wbiep/trade/services.htm/#overview as they are completed. This website will also provide access to the Trade in Services database, for which the first results are expected to be available by the end of August.

Jenin Refugee Camp

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in the Jenin Refugee Camp in the occupied territories. [67036]

Clare Short: Jenin remains under military curfew, and has been subject to intermittent military incursions since the beginning of April 2002, when the Government of Israel began Operation Defensive Shield in the west bank. UNRWA estimates ten per cent. of the camp was destroyed. Over four hundred families have been made homeless, while another 1,200 shelters are in urgent need of repair. The social and economic well being of both the camp and town residents is deteriorating as the incursions and restrictions continue. UNRWA is responding to the situation in Jenin Camp by providing humanitarian supplies, clearing unexploded munitions and rubble, and reinforcing, or removing, damaged buildings. We are in the process of recruiting and funding, on behalf of UNRWA, a small team of engineers to manage the camp rebuilding process.

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Dengue Fever

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans are in place to provide funding for the development of a vaccine for dengue fever. [67034]

Clare Short: We recognise that dengue is a major public health concern in many developing countries. Global prevalence has grown dramatically in recent decades, with the disease now endemic in more than 100 countries. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 500,000 people are hospitalised with dengue haemorrhagic fever and shock every year.

In response, vector control and clinical management strategies for dengue require further strengthening. New vaccines would also be of considerable benefit, if used appropriately. Vaccine development for dengue is difficult because any of four different virus strains may cause disease. However, progress is being made in developing vaccines which may protect against all four strains. WHO estimate it may be at least 7–10 years before vaccines are available for public health use.

The WHO Tropical Disease Research programme and Health Technology and Pharmaceutical Cluster are leading international efforts to develop an effective and safe dengue vaccine. DFID support to these efforts is through our partnership with WHO, assisting them to develop a collective, coherent organisational response and to work closely with other agencies. DFID has also prioritised the strengthening of health systems to effectively deliver vaccines and other interventions.

Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has committed in 2001–02 to control programmes for dengue fever. [67035]

Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer on dengue (67034).

My Department's support to dengue control is principally through our partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO). In addition to their priority work on dengue vaccine development and other research, WHO are engaged in disease surveillance, prevention and control. DFID's contribution to WHO in 2001–02 was £10.4 million. We are also providing support to tackling dengue in Central America through a Communicable Disease Control Project with the Pan American Health Organisation, for which £500,000 was disbursed in 2001–02.

We have also prioritised efforts to strengthen developing country health systems and improve environmental health, both essential in tackling dengue and other communicable diseases of poverty.

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