| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
24 Feb 2003 : Column 57W—continued
SOLICITOR-GENERAL
Child Abuse
Vera Baird: To ask the Solicitor General how many children were (a) killed and (b) non-accidentally injured while in the care of their parents or carers in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002. [97118]
Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
Information detailing the number of children who were killed or suffered non-accidental injury while in the care of their parents or carers in 2001 and 2002 is not held centrally.
However, by revamping its database of serious cases, the Department of Health has a record of serious case notifications from 1 April 2002. A serious case notification concerns the death of, or serious injury to, a child where abuse and/or neglect may have been a factor. As at 11 February 2003, there have been 133 recorded serious case notifications to the database. Of these notifications, 103 were of deaths and 30 were of serious injuries.
Information detailing the number of children under 16-years-old, who are currently recorded as being victims of homicide, a category which covers murder, manslaughter and infanticide, over the last 10 years, classified by relationship of victim to principal suspect, has been placed in the Library.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Archaeological Sites (Cornwall)
Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to protect (a) underground, (b) overground and (c) underwater archaeological sites in Cornwall. [96584]
Dr. Howells: The remains of the past, whether above ground, underground or underwater are currently identified and protected by a framework of designation regimes. This includes the listing of buildings of special architectural and historic merit, the scheduling of ancient monuments and the designation of conservation areas and historic wreck sites. Separate systems also exist for the identification of historic parks, gardens and battlefields and for the inscription of World Heritage Sites.
Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action she has taken regarding archaeological sites in Cornwall in the last five years. [96822]
Howells: During the last five years nearly 200 sites in Cornwall have been designated as Scheduled Ancient Monuments, ranging from prehistoric burial mounds to 19th century mining remains associated with the tin industry. A Scheduled Monument comprises of one or more individual archaeological items, and in the case of these Cornwall monuments, 572 separate archaeological items have been protected.
English Heritage has additionally undertaken evaluation work to identify nationally important 20th century military sites, industrial monuments and
24 Feb 2003 : Column 58W
bridges in Cornwall, as well as throughout England. This work has contributed to our understanding of such archaeological sites and has identified sites for statutory designation in Cornwall. There has also been increasing involvement in more recent years with the World Heritage Site bid for Cornish Mining and a programme to protect nationally important mining remains within the selected bid areas is under way.
Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her policy on the protection of underwater wrecks that are of archaeological interest. [96586]
Dr. Howells: The Department's responsibility for underwater archaeology primarily extends to administering the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 in England and designating wrecks off English waters under the Act. It is the Department's policy to protect the best examples of our underwater heritage while encouraging greater access to it. To achieve this, we seek to work constructively with both the archaeological and diving communities, and to encourage co-operation between the two groups.
Licensing Bill
Mr. Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what impact assessment she has made of the effect of the proposals in the Licensing Bill on not for profit sports clubs; [97405]
- (2) what assessment she has made of the likely additional cost on the voluntary sports club sector of being required to (a) obtain licences for club entertainment and (b) comply with the annual inspection fees as proposed in the Licensing Bill; [97403]
(3) what plans she has to assist voluntary sports clubs to meet with the costs imposed by the proposals within the Licensing Bill; [97401]
(4) for what reasons she will require clubs to apply for licences for club entertainment under the proposed Licensing and Entertainment Bill; and how many clubs will be required to obtain such a licence. [97404]
Dr. Howells: Voluntary or not for profit sports clubs do not enjoy any special status under current alcohol or entertainment licensing law. They may, however, operate as registered clubs under the Licensing Act 1964 and therefore enjoy a different status to those operating under justices' licences. Under the Licensing Bill the separate system for authorisations for qualifying clubs will continue through the new club premises certificate. The Regulatory Impact Assessment that accompanies the Bill states that there are currently just over 22,000 registered clubs.
Registered clubs are not currently completely exempt from the need for permission to have live entertainment. They need a certificate of suitability from the local authority and a special hours certificate from the magistrates if they currently wish to provide entertainment for extended hours.
Qualifying clubs will be required to obtain authorisation to provide regulated entertainment under the Bill, this is to ensure that the activity is carried on in accordance with the requirements necessary to promote
24 Feb 2003 : Column 59W
the licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm.
The Government estimate that under the provisions of the Licensing Bill an application for a club premises certificate would cost between £100 and £500 with an annual charge of between £50 and £150 to maintain a revenue stream and cover continuing inspection and enforcement. It will cost no more, in terms of time or money, to apply for a certificate permitting the sale of alcohol and the provision of regulated entertainment than it would to apply for one permitting the sale of alcohol only. The Licensing Bill will not, therefore, impose additional costs for clubs. No specific impact assessment was carried out on not for profit sports clubs. The Regulatory Impact Assessment that accompanies the Bill estimates that voluntary associations and other non-profit making bodies would save around £150 million over the first 10 years of operation.
Correspondence
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 20 December from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. G. Davies. [94698]
Tessa Jowell: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 10 February 2003.
EU Intercultural Understanding
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the programmes and schemes funded by her Department aimed at enhancing inter-cultural understanding among EU member states. [97897]
Mr. Caborn: The Department does not contribute directly to any EU-funded programme or scheme aimed at enhancing inter-cultural understanding or co-operation among EU member states. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer holds responsibility for the United Kingdom's contribution to the EC Budget, and from this budget the following programmes are funded:
- Culture 2000, which aims to foster and fund cooperation between artistic and cultural organisations and projects within the European Union and the Candidate Countries;
Media Plus, the aim of which is to strengthen the competitiveness of the European audiovisual industry by training of professionals, development of production projects, and distribution and promotion of cinematographic works and audiovisual programmes throughout the EU and candidate countries.
Departmental Budgets
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the combined allocated budgets are for her Department's non-departmental public bodies in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06; [97527]
- (2) what the allocated budgets are for each of her Department's executive agencies in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06. [97525]
24 Feb 2003 : Column 60W
Dr. Howells: Details of allocated budgets up to 2005–06 will be published in the spring 2003 departmental report. The information will include how budgets are allocated to deliver the Department's functions and objectives.
Tourism Industry
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans are in place to compensate for the fall in foreign visitors to the UK since (a) 11 September 2001 and (b) the Bali terrorist attacks. [97927]
Dr. Howells: In April 2002, the British Tourist Authority launched 'Only in Britain, Only in 2002', a campaign to promote Britain in our seven biggest overseas markets. It was funded by £20 million from the Government and over £5 million in cash contributions from the industry, and featured extensive television, radio and press advertising. In addition, BTA offices around the world continue to undertake a full range of marketing and promotional activities, including consumer, travel trade and press liaison work.
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps have been taken to increase the numbers of North American tourists to the UK since September 2001. [97926]
Dr. Howells: In April 2002, the British Tourist Authority launched 'Only in Britain, Only in 2002', a campaign to promote Britain in our seven biggest overseas markets, including the USA and Canada. The BTA continues to build on positive campaign feedback in North America and undertakes a full range of marketing and promotional activities, including consumer, travel trade and press liaison work.
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effect military action in Iraq will have on the UK tourism industry. [97932]
Dr. Howells: No decision has been taken on military action and it is not possible to make accurate predictions of any impact on the tourism industry. Some overseas visitors might be more reluctant to travel, but more British people might choose to holiday in the UK. We are working closely with the British Tourist Authority and the tourism industry to share information and to ensure that clear and consistent messages are provided to our potential overseas visitors.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |