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Licensing

Mr. Gordon Marsden: What representations she has received from churches on the potential impact of the proposed new licensing arrangements for live performances. [85581]

Dr. Kim Howells: I have received one letter form the Archbishop's Council of the Church of England and a number of other letters and e-mails from churches about the effects of the Licensing Bill on their provision of live music which is not associated with religious worship.

Lottery Funding (Cumbria)

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much lottery funding has been received in the last three years in (a) the Workington constituency and (b) Cumbria; and what the average amount of lottery money received in each constituency was in that period. [86918]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 12 December 2002]: According to the information supplied to us by the distributing bodies for the national lottery awards database, the Workington constituency has been awarded 5,042,599 and Cumbria has been awarded 42,150,64 in Lottery funding between 11/12/99 and 10/12/02. The average amount awarded to each UK constituency over the same period has been #5,362,359.

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Royal Palaces

Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate has been made of the cost of proposed refurbishment and redecorative work at Clarence House; and how much of this is to be charged to Grant-in-Aid. [83907]

Dr. Howells: The estimated cost of the proposed refurbishment and redecorative work is #3.45 million (excluding VAT). In addition, #175,000 has been budgeted for removing, storing and reinstating the contents of the house and #356,000 for professional fees (also excluding VAT). All the above costs will be met from the current Grant-in-Aid allocation.

The Prince of Wales will personally fund costs relating to the furnishing of Clarence House.

Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what changes are planned in the use of accommodation at (a) St. James's Palace and (b) Clarence House. [83908]

Dr. Howells: From August 2003, Clarence House will become the official residence for The Prince of Wales and the London home for Prince William and Prince Harry. Clarence House will also house the Private Office of The Prince of Wales. The main parts of Clarence House will be opened to the public in the summer months. The office space in St. James's Palace, vacated as a result of the move of the Private Office of The Prince of Wales, will be occupied by the Royal Collection. The future of the apartment in St. James's Palace currently occupied by The Prince of Wales is under review.

22. Mr. Alan Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what accommodation there is at (a) St. James's Palace and (b) Clarence House. [83909]

Dr. Howells: At St. James's Palace, there is the following accommodation: state rooms, two chapels (Chapel Royal and The Queen's Chapel), office accommodation and 22 apartments (occupied by Members of the Royal Family, staff, or currently vacant, with two currently let to the Ministry of Defence). In addition, there is a picture restoration studio, guardroom and messing facility for the guard.

Clarence House comprises 16 main rooms plus office, staff and ancillary accommodation. Following refurbishment of Clarence House, this accommodation will be used by The Prince of Wales (a) to perform his official duties, which include meetings, receptions and other events; (b) as his official London residence; and (c) as offices for 30 of his official staff, as well as by the Princes as their London home.

School Sports

Mr. Viggers (Gosport): What recent efforts her Department has made to promote sport in schools. [85589]

Mr. Caborn: The amount of #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

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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.

Sport (National Lottery Funding)

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department and its predecessors has spent at 2002 prices through (a) Grant-in-Aid funding and (b) National Lottery funding on (i) sport funding bodies, (ii) elite sport support, (iii) local sport initiatives and (iv) others in each year since 1992; and if she will make a statement. [86375]

Dr. Howells: The data required are not readily available, but my right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport will write to the hon. Member with detailed information as soon as possible.

Television Production (Regions)

Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to expand television programme production in the regions. [86566]

Dr. Howells: The Government's policy is to retain and strengthen the regional dimension to public service broadcasting to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of different communities and cultural interests. The Communications Bill contains detailed provisions designed to achieve this.

Under the Bill, Channel 3 companies will have targets for programmes produced in the regions for the regions, programmes made regionally for national audiences and investment in programme production in the regions. Channel 4 will have targets for programme production and investment in the regions. Obligations in this area will also be applied to the BBC, through the agreement with the Secretary of State.

In addition, the ITC UK programme supply review was published on 26 November 2002. The review recommended a number of changes to support regional production. We are currently considering these recommendations and will make any necessary amendments to the Communications Bill.

Television Services

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her policy on the promotion of media literacy includes references to hearing and sight-impaired people having access to television services. [85814]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 10 December 2002]: Our policy on media literacy, set out in the statement published on October 2001 and developed in the duty to be laid on OFCOM under the Communications Bill, is not focussed specifically on people with sensory impairements. It is to help everyone manage the new media environment more safely. In carrying out this duty, as indeed in their other work, OFCOM must as appropriate have regard to the needs of people with disabilities.

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Other specific provisions set new, higher targets for subtitling and audio-description and require OFCOM to produce a code promoting the understanding and enjoyment of television services by those with hearing or sight impairment.

Tourism

Mr. John Smith: How many tourists visited British seaside resorts in the last five years. [85577]

Dr. Howells: The majority of trips to the British seaside are made by British people. From 1997 to 2001, the UK Tourism Survey recorded 161 million such trips.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Reinstated Clergy

37. Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement on the rights of clergy who have been reinstated with regard to salary and pension provision. [85606]

Mr. Bell: Clergy are not reinstated as such. If they were temporarily suspended or offered leave of absence while in office, payment of stipend and accrual of pensionable service would be linked to whether the clergy concerned continued to hold the Bishop's licence.

Clergy (Employment Status)

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what advice the Church Commissioners have given to the Department of Trade and Industry in its review of the employment status of members of the clergy. [85608]

Mr. Bell: The Archbishops' Council has responded on behalf of the Church of England, after consulting bishops. A copy of its response will be made available in the Library.

Public Events (Cathedrals)

Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what advice is given by the Church Commissioners to the deans and chapters of English cathedrals concerning revenues from the use of their premises for public events other than worship; and if he will make a statement. [85607]

Mr. Bell: The Church Commissioners do not give advice concerning revenues from the use of cathedral premises for public events in relation to the proposed licensing Bill introduced in another place. It would rest with the cathedrals' representative body, the Association of English Cathedrals, to do so and to make whatever submission they thought appropriate in relation to the proposed Bill.

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