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10 Dec 2002 : Column 251W—continued

Entertainment Licences

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the cost of the licensing provisions to churches and chapels; and if she will make a statement. [84505]

Dr. Howells: The estimated fees in the Regulatory Impact Assessment published with the Licensing Bill were between #100 and #500 for a premises licence with a subsequent annual charge of between #50 and #150. Fees would be set centrally by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State in secondary legislation and would not be made final until that secondary legislation has been brought into force. Any variation in fee levels would most likely relate to the size of the venue so that smaller venues pay less than large ones.

The Government are aware of the concerns that some people have about the licensing of churches. We have had discussions about this issue with the Church of England and, along with other faith groups, will seek to ensure that the new licensing system does not impose an unnecessary burden on them while still providing the necessary safeguards for the public.

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consultations she has had with representatives of faith organisations about the Government's proposals for entertainment licences for buildings whose prime purpose is religious. [84618]

Dr. Howells: This Department has received 11 representations from different representatives of religious organisations concerning the proposal to extend the licensing requirement beyond Greater London. Among these representations, only one was from an organisation, whom officials have since met to discuss their concerns.

We sent the White Paper, that was published in April 2000, to 231 organisations in order to gain their responses in respect of our proposals. We received eight responses to this consultation from religious organisations, including one from the Churches Main

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Committee. None of these were concerned with the proposal to create a level playing field for churches and other places of religious worship.

The Government are aware of the concerns that some people have about the licensing of churches. We have had discussions about this issue with the Church of England and, along with other faith groups, will seek to ensure that the new licensing system does not impose an unnecessary burden on them while still providing the necessary safeguards for the public.

Mr. Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if the licensing of religious buildings for entertainments under the provisions of the Licensing Bill extends to (a) churchyards and other open ground within the curtilage of the building and (b) other secular buildings within the curtilage of the religious building; and if she will make a statement. [84619]

Dr. Howells: A premises licence or temporary provision would be required for any place where a licensable activity is to take place, be it a church, a secular building within the curtilage of the church, or an open area within the curtilage of the church, such as a churchyard.

The application for the premises licence would have to be accompanied by an operating plan which would specify the areas that would be licensed.

The Government are aware of the concerns that some people have about the licensing of churches. We have had discussions about this issue with the Church of England and, along with other faith groups, will seek to ensure that the new licensing system does not impose an unnecessary burden on them while still providing the necessary safeguards for the public.

Ladbrook Report

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will publish the Ladbrook Report on BBC News 24; whether the report has been sent to the BBC; and whether she plans to initiate similar reviews of the BBC digital channels. [85083]

Dr. Howells: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State published Richard Lambert's independent review of BBC News 24 on 5 December and has placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses. The report was sent to the BBC on 2 September 2002. My right hon. Friend intends to hold similar reviews of all new BBC public services. The next service to be reviewed will be BBCi (formerly BBC Online).

Lottery Funding (Sport)

Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to increase the amount of Lottery funding available for sport. [86136]

Dr. Howells: The Government has guaranteed that sport will continue to receive its current 16 2/3 per cent. share of the funds the Lottery raises for good causes until the end of the current licence period in 2009 at the very least. Sport has benefited significantly from the creation of the newer good cause of health, education and the environment through, for example, the #750 million PE and sport in schools initiative by the New Opportunities Fund (NOF). My Department,

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the National Lottery Commission and Camelot are continuing to work to maximise income for all the good causes.

Parliamentary Questions

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many oral questions her Department has answered on sport in each parliamentary session since May 1997. [86511]

Dr. Howells: 293 oral questions on sport have been answered by my Department since May 1997. These are broken down by parliamentary year as follows:

YearNumber
1997–9861
1998–9946
1999–200054
2000–0141
2001–0291

Figures include those oral questions which received either oral or written answers.

Pigeons

Mr. Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Greater London Authority regarding a proposed fine for feeding pigeons in Trafalgar Square; and if she will make a statement. [84445]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 4 December 2002]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with the Greater London Authority regarding a proposed fine for feeding pigeons in Trafalgar Square.

The Mayor for London wrote to my right hon. Friend on 21 November informing her of his wish to introduce a Bylaw to prohibit the feeding of pigeons on Trafalgar Square. The Greater London Authority have published formal notice of their intention to apply to the Secretary of State for confirmation of the Bylaws. My right hon. Friend is the confirming authority for Bylaws relating to Trafalgar Square.

Social Inclusiveness

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures her Department has taken to extend social inclusiveness by increasing the involvement of identified priority groups in each of the sectors her Department has responsibility for; and if she will make a statement. [83746]

Mr. Caborn: Opening up our institutions to the wider community, to promote lifelong learning and social cohesion, is now a strategic priority for the Department. Progress on that priority will be assessed through one of the Department's four Public Service Agreement targets for the 2003–06 period:


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As set out in the DCMS Service Delivery Agreement, the cultural and sporting opportunities will include those provided by arts facilities funded via the Arts Council of England, the national and regional museums and galleries, community sport, the historic environment, and the internet via Culture Online. These initiatives will build on existing projects such as Creative Partnerships and Space for Sport and Arts, which are bringing new opportunities to deprived areas around the country.

Sports (Recognition)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the sports recognised by her Department. [86512]

Mr. Caborn: Recognition of sports is a matter for the sports councils which currently recognise 112 activities. Recognition is based on a number of criteria including primarily Xphysical effort" and Xskills". A full list which is publicly available, as follows.






































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