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8 Jul 2003 : Column 709W—continued

Private Office Costs

Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the running costs of Ministers' private offices have been in his Department in each year since 1997. [123106]

John Healey: I refer to the answer the Financial Secretary gave to the hon Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 29 April 2003, Official Report, column 305W.

Smuggling

Mr. Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated cost to public finances of the smuggling of (a) beer, (b) spirits and (c) cigarettes into the United Kingdom was in each of the last three years. [123565]

John Healey: I refer my hon. Friend to Table 3.17 of the Customs and Excise paper "Measuring Indirect Tax Losses" published in November 2002, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

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VAT Rates

Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he intends to have with (a) the European Commission and (b) ECOFIN concerning changes to European law to permit more substantial VAT rates. [121548]

John Healey: The current provisions in EC Directives regarding the level of VAT standard rates which may be set in individual member states are discussed in the Treasury publication 'Fiscal Stabilisation and EMU', published on 9 June, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. There are no current plans to amend these provisions, which are next due to be reviewed in 2005–06.

World Bank

Mr. Cameron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to ensure that developing countries have increased influence within the World Bank; and if he will make a statement. [123401]

John Healey: The UK has been taking a lead role in promoting measures to increase the voice of developing countries in the World Bank and the IMF. The Department for International Development (DfID) has lead responsibility for issues related to the World Bank, and the Treasury has been working closely with it on this issue. In the 2000 DfID White Paper, the Government committed to

"work with others to build a stronger, more open and accountable international system, in which poor people and countries have a more effective voice."

"Voice" is not only an important step in our partnership with developing and transition countries, but also makes a strong contribution to increasing the effectiveness of the development effort.

The UK played a key role in gaining agreement in the Board of the World Bank to provide additional staff to increase the capacity of the Sub-Saharan African representatives at the World Bank and the IMF, and is supporting further capacity-building proposals currently under discussion.

The Government also believe that further action is necessary, both at the institutional level and at the level of the Executive Board, and we are discussing proposals in these areas with our international partners in the World Bank and IMF.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Clarence House

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who owns Clarence House; how much public money has been spent on the recent renovation; and for what reasons public money was used for this renovation. [119117]

Mr. Caborn: Clarence House, as part of St. James's Palace, is held by the Queen as Sovereign on behalf of the nation, not as a private individual. It has always been included as part of the Occupied Royal Palaces' Estate.

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A total of £3.9 million, comprising works and fees, but excluding VAT, is being spent on the redecoration and refurbishment of Clarence House from the existing public funding made available every year through grant in aid for the maintenance of the Occupied Royal Palaces.

As Heir to Throne, the Prince of Wales is moving from his present London residence, where the accommodation is very limited, to Clarence House which offers better facilities for him to fulfil his official duties. The Grant-in-aid has been used for the renovation as it pays for the maintenance of the Occupied Royal Palaces in order to enable the Queen and members of the Royal Family to undertake official duties and fulfil their important official role.

Crown Green Bowling

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many crown green bowling facilities she estimates are in use in west Yorkshire. [123517]

Mr. Caborn: According to statistics provided by the Yorkshire Crown Green Bowling Association, there are an estimated 400 crown green bowling greens in use in west Yorkshire.

There may be a small number of additional facilities registered with the British Parks Crown Green Bowling Association (BPCGBA). The Department has contacted the BPCGBA to request this information, and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is available, placing copies of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support Sport England gave to crown green bowling in each of the last three years. [123518]

Mr. Caborn: Over the last three financial years, Sport England has awarded a total of £657,596 to crown green bowls. In 2000–01, three awards were made totalling £161,247. In 2001–02, seven awards were made totalling £496,349. No awards were made in 2002–03.

Elite Sports Funding

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the progress of her Department in implementing the recommendations of the Elite Sports Funding Review Group. [122249]

Mr. Caborn [holding answer 30 June 2003]: The Elite Sports Funding Review chaired by Dr. Cunningham made over 50 recommendations, the large majority of which are for the Sports Councils and National Governing Bodies of sport to take forward. The Review was discussed at the Sports Cabinet on 31 October 2001, chaired by the Secretary of State. The Cabinet brings together the Sports Ministers and Chairmen of the Sports Councils from each of the Devolved Administrations. At the Cabinet, the Sports Councils accepted and are now implementing the overwhelming majority of the recommendations.

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Following the recent Spending Review a ring fenced allocation of £4.7 million for 2004–05 and 2005–06 has been provided to UK Sport to enable them to take forward some of the outstanding recommendations that involved an increase in expenditure. Some of the recommendations relate to the World Class Plans and cannot be implemented until the current four year plans have been completed. This Department will continue to works with UK Sport, the Devolved Administrations and Sport England to ensure that implementation of the recommendations is effective and continues to remain relevant to the changing environment of high performance sport.

Euro Roadshow

Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the events she plans to attend as part of the Government's euro roadshow. [121400]

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. and learned Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Mr. Howard) on 20 June 2003, Official Report, columns 458–59W, by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey).

Film Industry

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support she is providing to the British film industry to increase the number of UK productions. [124490]

Estelle Morris: DCMS established the UK Film Council in April 2000 as the Government's strategic lead body. The creation of the UK Film Council brought together, for the first time, responsibility for the film industry, film culture and education.

The UK Film Council uses grant in aid and money from the National Lottery to support film production, as well as film development, training, education and film culture. Film production is also supported by tax relief for British qualifying films under the Finance (No. 2) Act of 1997.

Millennium Commission

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer of 12 May 2003, Official Report, column 31W, on the Millennium Commission, (1) what the estimated final cost of running the Millennium Commission is; and what the estimated final cost of consultants employed by the Commission is; [124455]

(2) what the final cost of consultants on each of the completed major projects was; and what the estimated final cost of consultants on those projects still under construction is; [124456]

(3) how much was received in private finance by each major project; and when each payment was received. [124457]

Tessa Jowell: I will write to the hon. Member in my capacity as Chair of the Millennium Commission, and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of both Houses.

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