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IT Security

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to review the security of the Department's IT system; and how many digital attacks there were on the Department's system in (a) October and (b) 2002. [80776]

Mr. Rammell: FCO IT security advisers have carried out limited reviews of the FCO's IT system in the UK. A full penetration test will be conducted on the upgraded system in 2003.

The number of cases of digital attacks detected was (a) nil in October and (b) nil in 2002.

John Bredenkamp

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations British Government officials in (a) Zimbabwe and (b) other African countries have received over the last two years from John Bredenkamp and other representatives of ACS with regard to the sale of military equipment manufactured by BAe Systems; and when such representatives were received. [81320]

Mr. Rammell: None since the UK arms embargo of May 2000.

Zimbabwe

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will launch an investigation into the supply of spare parts for the Zimbabwean Air Force's Mark 60 Hawk fighters. [80927]

Mr. Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 4 November 2002, Official Report, column 72W.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on what legislative and other changes he proposes to make to the sanctions arrangements in relation to Zimbabwe. [80928]

Mr. Rammell: EU sanctions on Zimbabwe have been extended twice since 18 February, on 22 July and 13 September. We keep the policy under constant review.

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether British Government officials in (a) Zimbabwe and (b) other African countries have had discussions over the last two years with John Bredenkamp (i) with regard to facilitating sales of military equipment from the UK and (ii) other matters; [81319]

(2) what discussions his Department has had with BAE Systems concerning the supply of spare parts to the Zimbabwean Air Force for their Mark 60 Hawk fighters. [80926]

Mr. Rammell: In the last 12 months, we are aware of two meetings and two telephone conversations between John Bredenkamp and British High Commission officials in Zimbabwe, all at Mr. Bredenkamp's

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initiative. In one meeting, Mr. Bredenkamp raised the allegations that had been made against him in the House on 6 March.

We are not aware of any conversations between Mr. Bredenkamp and officials in other African countries. I will write to the hon. Member if I receive any further relevant information.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

BBC (Scotland)

Annabelle Ewing : To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Director-General of the BBC concerning the BBC's forthcoming review of news and current affairs output in Scotland. [81373]

Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend has not held any such discussions with the Director-General of the BBC.

Alcohol Licences

Mr. Steen : To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the additional cost to local authorities if responsibility for alcohol licences is transferred from the magistrates courts. [81384]

Dr. Howells: There will be no additional burden on local authorities. Following the transfer of responsibility for alcohol licensing from the licensing justices to local authorities as proposed in the Licensing Bill, licensing fees will be set at a level that fully recovers the costs to local authorities and industry.

Charter Marks (Libraries)

12. Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public libraries have received a Charter Mark award. [81379]

Mr. Caborn: 61 Charter Marks have been awarded to library services since the scheme came into operation 10 years ago.

National Lottery

13. Dr. Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on improvements to the distribution of lottery grants. [81380]

Tessa Jowell: We have received over 400 responses to the review of Lottery funding consultation paper launched in July. These include views from voluntary and community organisations, charities, local government, hon. Members, distributors and individual members of the public.

Licensing Hours

14. Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to tackle binge-drinking associated with the 11 o'clock closing of pubs. [81381]

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Dr. Howells: The Licensing Bill will introduce flexible opening hours—with the potential for up to 24 hour opening seven days a week, although we expect most premises to extend their opening hours to a more modest extent. This will discourage the culture of binge-drinking before last orders, stimulate a more mature attitude towards alcohol consumption, and help reduce public disorder resulting from artificially early fixed closing times.

School Sport

15. Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support the Government is giving to sport in schools. [81382]

Mr. Caborn: #459 million is being invested by DCMS and DfES to transform physical education, school sport and club links over the next three years. The funding will help deliver a joint DfES/DCMS Public Service Agreement target to increase the percentage of children who spend at least two hours a week on high quality PE and school sport in and beyond school—to 75 per cent. by 2006.

Youth Sport

16. Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she intends to take to improve sports opportunities for young people. [81383]

Mr. Caborn: We are working with DfES, Sport England, governing bodies and other partners to transform sports opportunities for young people both in school and in their communities. Initiatives include building on the foundations of the Specialist Sports College and School Sport Co-ordinator programmes, investing in local sports clubs facilities and junior provision and improving the range and quality of provision for gifted and talented young sports people.

27. Phil Sawford: What her Department has done to improve participation rates of young people in sporting activities. [81395]

Mr. Caborn: The Government is supporting a variety of initiatives to encourage and assist participation in sport by young people. For example, in September 2002 some 750 school sport co-ordinators and 3,500 primary or special school link teachers were in place working in 142 partnerships across England. In the community, the 45 county sports partnerships have developed 279 junior sport development plans and Sport England has been helping young people to improve their sporting skills through a co-ordinated programme that will provide access to organised sport.

Tourism

18. Mr. Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the promotion of UK tourism, while respecting the district identities of Scotland, England and Wales. [81385]

Dr. Howells: On 31 October we announced plans to develop a lead Government body for inbound tourism to Britain and the marketing of England within Britain. This will create a more coherent marketing focus across Britain, one that ensures that England, Scotland and

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Wales retain and develop strong separate brand identities to attract both domestic and overseas holidaymakers.

Under-age Drinking

19. Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she is taking to clamp down on under-age drinking. [81386]

Dr. Howells: The licensing Bill has a clear focus on protecting children from harm. For the first time, it will be an offence to sell alcohol anywhere to under 18s. In addition, the package of measures in the White Paper, around which the Bill is based, made provision to legalise test purchasing to aid enforcement.

Museums and Galleries

20. Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures her Department is taking to improve museums and galleries in the regions. [81387]

Tessa Jowell: We will be providing #70 million for regional museums from this year until 2005–06.

Extra funding will also be made available to the national museums to enable them to work in partnership with regional museums. Additionally there will be funds from the Department for Education and Skills to support museums' education.

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