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19 Nov 2003 : Column 935W—continued
State Visit (Protests)
Mr. Colman: To ask the Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure that peaceful protest against the visit of the President of the United States is facilitated. [139902]
The Prime Minister: The Metropolitan Police will facilitate peaceful protest during the visit of the President of the United States.
Work-related Stress
Dr. Cable: To ask the Prime Minister how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his office in each of the last three years; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [136840]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) gave to him today.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
BBC Governor Elections
Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will put mechanisms in place for the election of a number of BBC governors by viewers and listeners. [139239]
Tessa Jowell: The Queen currently appoints the BBC Governors, on recommendation of the Prime Minister following advice from the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport. Candidates are identified through an open and transparent process that is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
There are no current plans to change the appointments mechanism, although the Commissioner regularly reviews her Code. However, the forthcoming review of the BBC's Royal Charter will provide an opportunity to examine all aspects of the Corporation's role and function, including the appointment of Governors.
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Childhood Obesity
Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with sports and leisure representatives on the role of her Department in tackling obesity among children; and if she will make a statement. [139449]
Estelle Morris: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has a key role to play in addressing child obesity. The cross-Departmental Activity Co-ordination Team, which is co-chaired by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport and Tourism, is currently preparing a national physical activity strategy. The Team is consulting widely across the sports, leisure and fitness sectors. Representatives from these sectors will be attending a stakeholders' meeting facilitated by ACT and Sport England on 19 November. Measures for addressing obesity among children will be discussed at that meeting.
Film Locations
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action her Department is taking to promote sites in (a) the North East and (b) England as film locations. [139398]
Estelle Morris: The UK Film Council, the Government's strategic adviser for film, has established a network of nine Regional Screen Agencies (receiving £7.5 million per year), to help create a sustainable film and moving image industry throughout England and to work together to promote England as a film location. Each Regional Screen Agency provides a locations service, to promote locations and offer practical assistance for television companies and filmmakers wishing to work in their region.
Northern Film and Media (NFM) is the regional screen agency for the North East. NFM encourages both inward investment and indigenous production and promotes the use of locations, crews and facilities in the North East.
Licensing Laws
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what advice has been given to local authorities on the administration of the new licensing laws for premises selling alcohol. [139059]
Estelle Morris: The Licensing Act 2003 provides that the Secretary of State must issue guidance to licensing authorities on the discharge of their functions under the Act and she expects to present this to both Houses for approval shortly. In the meantime the Department is working with the Local Government Association and the Local Authorities Coordinating Office on Regulatory Services in advising licensing authorities on their forthcoming functions under the Act.
Lottery Funds (Orkney and Shetland)
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total value was of applications for Lottery money made by groups in (a) Orkney and (b) Shetland in each of the past five years for which figures are available. [139489]
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Estelle Morris: The Department does not collect this information.
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total value was of Lottery grants made to groups from (a) Orkney and (b) Shetland in each of the past five years for which figures are available. [139490]
Estelle Morris: The total value of Lottery awards made to the constituency of Orkney and Shetland in the past five years has been:
| Calendar Year | £ |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1,690,757 |
| 1999 | 1,647,985 |
| 2000 | 1,346,536 |
| 2001 | 1,898,912 |
| 2002 | 8,247,946 |
| January 2003 to date | 2,989,411 |
We are not able to disaggregate the Lottery funding that has gone to the islands individually without disproportionate cost.
This information is derived from the Department's Awards Database and is based on information supplied by the distributing bodies.
Olympic Games
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many of the Olympic facilities in London announced in November will be permanently available for sports use. [139754]
Tessa Jowell: In line with guidance from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), London 2012 Ltd are working with Sport England and local government to ensure that the sporting legacy of the Olympics will be sustainable. This work is ongoing and an initial assessment will be sent to the IOC on 15 January as a part of the candidature acceptance procedure.
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps will be taken to improve hotel and tourist facilities outside London in the event of a successful Olympic bid for 2012. [135844]
Tessa Jowell: For tourism, as with other sectors, it is important to realise the full range of opportunities that hosting the Olympics would offer and ensure that the whole country is in a position to capture these benefits fully if the Bid is successful. We have already briefed the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) on the Bid and the opportunities the Games would create and Visit Britain is looking further at the potential tourism benefits with the tourism industry. London 2012 will also be taking forward further work on the regional benefits in discussion with the RDAs.
Tourism Revenue
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the tourist revenue generated in 2002 from visits
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to (a) the Palace of Westminster, (b) Buckingham Palace, (c) the London Eye and (d) the Tower of London; and if she will set out the methodology she uses to calculate such figures. [137680]
Estelle Morris: We have not made an estimate of the tourism revenue generated by visits to these places. However, this Department is responsible for the maintenance and presentation of the Tower of London through its contract with Historic Royal Palaces, which relies on revenue generated by the palaces. Buckingham Palace is one of the Occupied Royal Palaces: the Royal Household receives Grant-in-Aid to meet property and service costs. We have obtained the following figures from the bodies responsible concerning tourist revenues:
- The Tower of London: gross revenue in 2002 from admissions, retail and concessions was £23,319,000.
Buckingham Palace: the State Rooms were open during August, September and part of October 2002. Gross total revenue from visitors was £5,491,000, comprising £2,993,000 for admissions, and £2,498,000 for shop sales.
Palace of Westminster: House of Commons Officials have advised that, according to unaudited accounts, gross revenue from tickets and merchandise for tours of the Palace in 2002 was £605,000.
The London Eye: is a commercial attraction and we do not have its revenue figures.
Velodrome
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the proposed velodrome will be a permanent facility for cycling; and whether it will be built in the event of an unsuccessful bid for the 2012 Olympics. [139755]
Tessa Jowell: London 2012 Ltd, the company tasked with preparation of the Olympic bid, is in discussion with key stakeholders, including the British Cycling Federation, Lea Valley Regional Park Authority and Sport England, about possible non-Olympic use of the Velodrome, both before and after a 2012 London games. Those discussions encompass the question of whether the building of the velodrome is dependent on a successful London bid.
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