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2 Dec 2002 : Column 539W—continued
National Stadium
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the Wembley project and the funding programme for the project. [84060]
Mr. Caborn: Financial close on the Football Association's English National Stadium project at Wembley was achieved on 26 September and demolition of the existing stadium commenced on 30 September. Full details of the National Stadium project's costs and funding are set out in the final report of the English National Stadium Review led by Patrick Carter, copies of which were placed in the House Library on
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16 October and which can be downloaded from my Department's website at http://www.culture.gov.uk/sport/.
Art (New Opportunities)
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many new opportunities to experience the arts were introduced in (a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000, (c) 2000–01 and (d) 2001–02; and if she will make a statement. [83748]
Dr. Howells: We have contacted the Arts Council of England to request the information required, and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available, placing copies of her letter in the Libraries of both Houses.
Performing Arts
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many new visitors attended the performing arts in (a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000, (c) 2000–01 and (d) 2001–02; and if she will make a statement. [83737]
Dr. Howells: We have contacted the Arts Council of England to request the information required, and my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for the Arts will write to the hon. Member as soon as it is available, placing copies of her letter in the Libraries of both Houses.
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Sports Budget
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the Department's Exchequer budget for sport and related projects was in each of the last three years; how much underspend there was in the Exchequer budget; and how much funding was carried over under end-year flexibility arrangements. [80963]
Mr. Caborn: The information the hon. Gentleman requested is as follows:
| Budget | Spend | Underspend | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 51,958 | 51,593 | 365 |
| 2000–01 | 52,609 | 52,571 | 38 |
| 2001–02 | 68,829 | 63,898 | 4,931 |
Since 2000–01 the Department has also jointly provided funding for Spaces for Sport and Art.
The Department's contribution is as follows:
| Year | Budget | Spend | Underspend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 15,000 | 13 | 14,987 |
| 2001–02 | 60,000 | 579 | 59,421 |
Amounts eligible for End Year Flexibility (EYF) carry forward are based on unspent Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) provision less, where appropriate, DEL Reserve claims agreed during the course of the year. Resource underspend from 1999–2000 and 2000–01 was carried forward in full; but as published in the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper 2001–02 (CM5574) the Department's Resource EYF carry forward from that year, other than for administration costs, is nil. However, the Department is covering UK Sport and Sport England's Resource underspend from current year provision.
All the Department's unspent Capital DEL is available to carry forward. This includes Spaces for Sport and Art underspend.
Tourism
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of her Department's promotion of quality tourism development which (a) is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable and (b) supports the Government's employment objectives; and if she will make a statement. [83744]
Dr. Howells: Good quality accommodation, attractions and service are all vital pre-requisites for a flourishing, sustainable tourism industry. The existing accommodation quality assurance schemes are good but have insufficient impact on the consumer, and so we intend shortly to commission a review of quality to address that. We are already pursuing our Fitness for Purpose initiative to tackle quality issues at less satisfactory premises, to provide assurance to customers that sub-standard accommodation will not be tolerated. We are also working with other Departments on establishing a Sector Skills Council for the tourism,
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hospitality and leisure sector, and in increasing the number of New Deal clients who find work in the hospitality industry. This will help build a more positive image of the sector and attract and retain good quality staff.
Underwater Archaeology
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures her Department has taken to transfer responsibility for underwater archaeology; and if she will make a statement. [83754]
Dr. Howells: The National Heritage Act 2002 extended English Heritage's powers, with effect from 1 July 2002, to include ancient monuments in, on, or under the seabed within the seaward limits of the UK territorial waters adjacent to England and gives English Heritage powers to provide assistance in relation to wrecks protected under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 which are situated within the seaward limits of UK territorial waters adjacent to England.
Section 3 of the National Heritage Act 2002 gives the Secretary of State power to direct English Heritage to exercise administrative functions on her behalf in relation to ancient monuments in, on or under the seabed within the seaward limits of the UK territorial waters. DCMS is in the process of drafting directions, in consultation with Historic Scotland, Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments, the Environment and Heritage Service in Northern Ireland and English Heritage. Formal transfer of responsibility is expected to take place shortly.
NORTHERN IRELAND
IFI/Richardsons Plant
David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he plans to investigate the closure of the IFI/Richardsons Plant in Belfast; and if he will make a statement. [83001]
Mr. Pearson: I have taken a keen interest in the situation and have asked Invest NI to work with the liquidator to try to identify an investor for the Belfast factory. I have also met with representatives of the shareholders, the Irish Government and ICI, to stress the need for the Belfast workers to be treated in a fair and equitable manner following the closure and to secure their entitlements. In addition, officials from the Department for Employment and Learning have been in close contact with the Belfast employees to ensure that they are kept fully aware of their entitlements.
Asbestos
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the extent of asbestos used in the construction of school buildings. [84457]
Jane Kennedy: At this time full details of schools buildings that have asbestos are not available. However, in accordance with the new Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (which come into force in 2004),
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Education and Library Boards will be undertaking a phased programme of audits across the schools' estate to determine the extent of asbestos in schools and other premises.
Belfast City Hospital
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to ensure there are enough specialised nursing staff in the neurology department of the Belfast city hospital. [83041]
Mr. Browne: The Royal hospitals trust manages neurology services with a limited service provided to the outpatient department of the Belfast city hospital. This includes specific clinics for multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and a muscle clinic.
£300,000 has been provided from Priorities for Action moneys to support regional neurology services throughout NI and this included £25,000 for a specialist epilepsy nurse for outpatient activity.
Also included was a sum of £28,000 to support six outpatient clinics-two in NHSSB, two in SHSSB and two in EHSSB.
A sum of £100,000 was recently allocated to support multiple sclerosis nursing infrastructure in NI.
Children's Commissioner
Mr. Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will lay before Parliament draft legislation for (a) the establishment of a Children's Commissioner in Northern Ireland and (b) housing. [83104]
Mr. Paul Murphy : A draft Housing Support Services Order was laid on 15 November. It is expected that draft Orders on a Commissioner for Children and Young People and on Housing should be laid early in the New Year.
Down Lisburn Trust (Dermatology)
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (a) how many people are waiting for an appointment for the dermatology clinic in the Down Lisburn trust; (b) what the average waiting time for an appointment is; (c) what the longest time an individual has waited for an appointment is; and (d) what further measures will be taken to reduce waiting times for an appointment with the dermatologists in the trust. [83709]
Mr. Browne: The information is as follows:
(a) 654 patients are waiting for an appointment at the dermatology clinics in Down Lisburn trust.
(b) It is not possible to provide an average waiting time for appointment as this depends on the clinical priority of the patient. However, urgent cases are normally seen within six weeks of referral.
(c) The longest time an individual has waited for an appointment is two years.
(d) A number of measures are being taken to improve dermatology services in the Down Lisburn trust. These include the monitoring and redistribution of patients on consultants' waiting lists; the setting up of a dermatology sub-group of the Eastern Health and
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Social Services Board Cancer Implementation Group; and a current review of consultant workloads and waiting lists across the board area.
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