House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 9 Apr 2003 (pt 18)

9 Apr 2003 : Column 310W—continued

Zimbabwe

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent developments in Zimbabwe. [106863]

Mr. Rammell: Politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe has increased, predominately against opposition supporters. The MDC organised a successful stayaway on 18 and 19 March. Following the stayaway there were over 500 arrests and over 250 people required hospital treatment. We joined our EU partners in condemning the violence and called on the Government to ensure that by-elections in two Harare constituencies on 29 and 30 March were free and fair. Despite violence and intimidation ahead of these elections, the MDC retained both seats.

We welcome the Southern African Development Community's recent decision to send a task force to Zimbabwe to investigate human rights abuses and state repression. The Zimbabwean Government needs to end violence, intimidation, and the arrest of key opposition figures; and to work with the opposition and civil society to address Zimbabwe's political, humanitarian and economic crisis.

9 Apr 2003 : Column 311W

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Archaeology

Mr. Oaten To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department has to introduce a voluntary code of conduct to cover archaeological investigations in support of Article 3 of the Valletta Convention. [107843]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 8 April 2003]: The Government supports the introduction of a voluntary code of conduct and has agreed with Welsh and Scottish counterparts that such a code should be developed jointly between all three countries. English Heritage has already begun work to develop a voluntary code of conduct with Historic Scotland and Cadw. This work will be undertaken in consultation with all parts of the archaeological community and it is hoped that a draft code of conduct will be available for consultation in the summer.

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to establish an interdepartmental committee on archaeology at ministerial level. [107844]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 8 April 2003]: There are no plans to establish an inter-departmental committee on archaeology at Ministerial level. Government Departments continue to work together on issues concerning the historic environment, including archaeology. For example, ODPM and DEFRA are closely involved in the current review of heritage protection legislation led by DCMS and are co-sponsors of English Heritage's new funding agreement.

Departmental Pay

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made with the pay review in her Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which she is responsible, with particular reference to the gender pay gap; and if she will make a statement. [106742]

Dr. Howells: In response to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) Task Force 'Just Pay' Report the Government committed departments and agencies to review their pay systems and prepare any necessary action plans to close any equal pay gaps by April 2003. The Cabinet Office issued comprehensive guidance in January 2002 to assist departments and agencies in carrying out these reviews. Additional guidance on completing equal pay action plans was issued in early March 2003.

DCMS completed its review in July 2002. No significant difference between the salaries of males and females was found. Proposals for change and other recommendations were accepted by the trade unions, subject to pay negotiations.

The Royal Parks Agency has completed an initial review but has yet to discuss the outcome with its Trade Union Side. No particular gender pay issues have been identified.

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The Department's NDPBs have either completed equal pay reviews or are in the process of finalising them and drawing up action plans. If any equal pay issues are identified, these will be addressed through the pay negotiation process.

English Heritage

Mr. Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment she has made of whether English Heritage's Images of England project impinges on the human rights of the owners of listed buildings; and if she will make a statement. [102092]

Dr. Howells: Images of England is an English Heritage scheme funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. While my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has been consulted by English Heritage she has not been directly involved in the design or running of the project. However, my right hon. Friend has been assured by English Heritage that the project has been designed to be consistent with Human Rights legislation.

Sport Action Zones

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement in respect of sport action zone designation for Stoke on Trent. [108146]

Mr. Caborn: In December 2002 Sport England announced a stock take and freeze on all completely new Lottery awards until a thorough review of its operations and business objectives has been completed as part of the process of modernising the organisation. That review is ongoing and is expected to be completed by late Summer. I understand that all applications for designation as Sport Action Zones, including the one for Stoke-on-Trent, form part of the stock take exercise.

National Lottery

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many charities in the Buckingham constituency have (a) applied for and (b) claimed awards from the Heritage Lottery Fund in each year since the National Lottery began. [107778]

Dr. Howells: The information is as follows:

Number of charities which applied for awards Number of charity projects approved

1995–96 1 0

1996–97 2 1

1997–98 2 2

1998–99 2 2

1999–2000 2 1

2000–01 1 1

2001–02 1 1

2002–03 0 0

	Number of charities which applied for awards	Number of charity projects approved
1995–96	1	0
1996–97	2	1
1997–98	2	2
1998–99	2	2
1999–2000	2	1
2000–01	1	1
2001–02	1	1
2002–03	0	0

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much grant funding was located by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund for the conservation of listed buildings in Buckinghamshire in 2001–02. [106987]

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Dr. Howells: £592,733 was allocated by English Heritage and £5,340,300 by the Heritage Lottery Fund for the conservation of listed buildings in Buckinghamshire in 2001–02.

Portable Antiquities Scheme

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department has to provide long-term support to the network of finds liaison officers to be established under the Portable Antiquities Scheme after April 2006. [107845]

Dr. Howells [holding answer 8 April 2003]: DCMS is giving active consideration to the question of long-term sustainability of the Portable Antiquities Scheme. We will consider sympathetically the Scheme's future funding requirements in the course of the normal Spending Review process, as part of our analysis of all our resource needs.

Preventive Health Care

Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health on increasing the effectiveness of preventive health care through the encouragement of greater participation in sporting and fitness activities. [107064]

Mr. Caborn: I chair monthly cross-governmental ministerial meetings, attended by Ministers from the Department of Health, where issues relating to sport policy are discussed, including the role that greater participation in sport and physical activity can have in

9 Apr 2003 : Column 314W

improving health. My Department has also been working closely with the Department of Health to ensure effective co-ordination of sport and health policy.

Public Lending Rights

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received about the Public Lending Right (Increase of Limit) Order. [107791]

Dr. Howells: To date the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, has received two representations, one from the Chairman of the Society of Authors, Philip Pullman and one from a member of the public about the Public Lending Right (Increase of Limit) Order.

Tourism

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the top 15 tourist attractions in Lancashire and the attendance figures for each attraction in each of the last six years. [107953]

Dr. Howells: The top15 tourist attractions in Lancashire as listed by the North West Tourist Board are shown as follows. With regard to attendance figures, attractions are under no obligation to the Tourist Board to provide such figures but these are shown where available over the last six years. I should point out that in some cases figures are provided but on the understanding that they are not published hence those shown as 'confidential'. Figures for 2002 are not yet available.

Attraction 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

1. Blackpool Pleasure Beach ⁽³²⁾7,500,000 ⁽³²⁾7,800,000 ⁽³²⁾7,100,000 ⁽³²⁾7,200,000 6,800,000 6,500,000

2. Blackpool Tower 1,200,000 1,200,000 ⁽³²⁾750,000 ⁽³²⁾750,000 Confidential Confidential

3. Winter Gardens ⁽³²⁾750,000 ⁽³²⁾750,000 — 750,000 — —

4. Beacon Fell Country Park — 300,000 — — ⁽³²⁾750,000 750,000

5. Botany Bay — — ⁽³²⁾500,000 ⁽³²⁾525,000 — —

6. Sea Life Centre ⁽³²⁾497,000 ⁽³²⁾497,000 Confidential 497,000 — —

7. Oswaldtwistle Mills ⁽³²⁾35,000 ⁽³²⁾35,000 ⁽³²⁾450,000 450,000 — —

8. Camelot Theme Park ⁽³²⁾500,000 ⁽³²⁾500,000 ⁽³²⁾441,000 450,000 400,000 380,000

9. Blackpool Sandcastle ⁽³²⁾400,000 ⁽³²⁾400,000 261,000 400,000 — —

10. Louis Tussauds Waxworks ⁽³²⁾400,000 ⁽³²⁾400,000 350,000 300,000 Confidential Confidential

11. Blackpool Zoo 277,172 ⁽³²⁾200,000 — ⁽³²⁾200,000 270,000 ⁽³²⁾275,000

12. Lancaster Leisure Park 278,000 ⁽³²⁾250,000 300,000 210,000 240,000 Confidential

13. Harris Museum and Art gallery ⁽³²⁾150,000 ⁽³²⁾150,000 ⁽³²⁾150,000 150,000 125,000 125,000

14. Martin Mere Wildlife 175,262 140,000 132,670 132,670 Confidential Confidential

15. Williamson Park 140,000 125,000 98,000 98,000 Confidential Confidential

	Attraction	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001
1.	Blackpool Pleasure Beach	⁽³²⁾7,500,000	⁽³²⁾7,800,000	⁽³²⁾7,100,000	⁽³²⁾7,200,000	6,800,000	6,500,000
2.	Blackpool Tower	1,200,000	1,200,000	⁽³²⁾750,000	⁽³²⁾750,000	Confidential	Confidential
3.	Winter Gardens	⁽³²⁾750,000	⁽³²⁾750,000	—	750,000	—	—
4.	Beacon Fell Country Park	—	300,000	—	—	⁽³²⁾750,000	750,000
5.	Botany Bay	—	—	⁽³²⁾500,000	⁽³²⁾525,000	—	—
6.	Sea Life Centre	⁽³²⁾497,000	⁽³²⁾497,000	Confidential	497,000	—	—
7.	Oswaldtwistle Mills	⁽³²⁾35,000	⁽³²⁾35,000	⁽³²⁾450,000	450,000	—	—
8.	Camelot Theme Park	⁽³²⁾500,000	⁽³²⁾500,000	⁽³²⁾441,000	450,000	400,000	380,000
9.	Blackpool Sandcastle	⁽³²⁾400,000	⁽³²⁾400,000	261,000	400,000	—	—
10.	Louis Tussauds Waxworks	⁽³²⁾400,000	⁽³²⁾400,000	350,000	300,000	Confidential	Confidential
11.	Blackpool Zoo	277,172	⁽³²⁾200,000	—	⁽³²⁾200,000	270,000	⁽³²⁾275,000
12.	Lancaster Leisure Park	278,000	⁽³²⁾250,000	300,000	210,000	240,000	Confidential
13.	Harris Museum and Art gallery	⁽³²⁾150,000	⁽³²⁾150,000	⁽³²⁾150,000	150,000	125,000	125,000
14.	Martin Mere Wildlife	175,262	140,000	132,670	132,670	Confidential	Confidential
15.	Williamson Park	140,000	125,000	98,000	98,000	Confidential	Confidential

⁽³²⁾ Indicates the figures are estimated.

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