12 May 2004 : Column 323W
Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 12 May 2004
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Advisers/Consultants
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on external consultants and advisors in each of the last three years. [171876]
Mr. Caborn: The use of external consultants and advisers over the period 2000 to 2003, the last full years of accounting, were as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 358,000 |
| 2001–02 | 693,000 |
| 2002–03 | 323,820 |
These figures include the Royal Parks Agency. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has over 66 sponsored bodies and compiling the figures for them could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Archaeological Sites
Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to proceed with the case against Mr. Robert Duqueria for the alleged removal of objects from the scheduled site of Cunetio, Wiltshire on her strategy to protect archaeological sites in England; and if she will make a statement. [172212]
Estelle Morris: It is for the Crown Prosecution Service to determine whether any prosecutions are in the public interest and it judges each case on its individual merit. Through the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and the Treasure Act 1996, there is a framework of legislation in place to protect important heritage sites. I would expect those who operate in this area would do so in accordance with the law.
In addition, the recently expanded Portable Antiquities Scheme, through its network of Finds Liaison Officers, is designed to encourage closer working relations between archaeologists and metal detector users.
Bingo Hall Conversions
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of bingo halls which occupy more than 10,000 sq ft and would be eligible to convert to a casino under the terms of the draft Gambling Bill. [172046]
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Mr. Caborn: There is no central record of the total area which each licensed bingo club covers; but we have seen estimates that over half of the current total of about 700 clubs have a total area in excess of 10,000 sq ft. We indicated last August that, under the proposed Gambling Bill, the minimum size of the area set aside for table games in a new casino should be 5,000 sq ft. We are now looking again at that requirement in the light of the views of the Joint Scrutiny Committee on the Bill and the points made by interested bodies and individuals in commenting on the Bill proposals. It is, however, relevant to note that a 5,000 sq ft minimum table gaming area would entail a total casino size considerably in excess of that, particularly if the casino also wanted to provide bingo for its customers.
Early Retirement
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many employees in her Department took early retirement, and at what total cost, in the last financial year. [172185]
Mr. Caborn: In DCMS one employee was granted approved early retirement terms in the financial year 2003–04 at a cost of £9,361. In addition, two employees were awarded compensation payments at a cost of £61,887.
Ice Hockey UK
Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance is provided by her Department to Ice Hockey UK. [172077]
Mr. Caborn: Ice Hockey is classified as an Olympic sport and as such funding decisions are a matter for UK Sport.
The top priority for UK Sport is the provision of support for those senior athletes/teams operating at a UK/GB level who have realistic chances of winning medals at the highest level (Olympic Games/World Championships within the current Olympic cycle).
UK Sport have informed us that in recent years, GB Ice Hockey has been unable to provide evidence that it can meet this criteria and has not, therefore, received support from UK Sport.
There is scope for developing talent via the home country Sports Councils but sports would be assessed against a number of criteria. Ice Hockey has not been deemed a priority at present by Sport England.
However, UK Sport does acknowledge that if GB athletes are to win medals in the Winter Olympics, in the longer term, some form of support needs to be provided. In recognition of this, UK Sport is in discussion with a number of partners, including an Olympic Winter Sports Group. Ice Hockey UK is represented on the Winter Olympic Sports Group.
Productivity
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is for (a) increasing the productivity and (b) cutting the costs of (i) her Department and (ii) its agencies and non-departmental public bodies. [172190]
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Mr. Caborn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 10 May 2004, Official Report, columns 148–49W.
Regional Tourism
Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been spent on the digitisation of content in libraries in South Ribble since 1997. [172143]
Estelle Morris: This information is not held centrally.
The New Opportunities Fund £50 million Digitisation of Learning Materials Programme has delivered 150 projects across the UK to enable resources which support learning of all kinds held in libraries as well as museums, archives and other public-sector institutions, to be made available online through the People's Network and the National Grid for Learning. This initiative has created a body of material containing over 2 million images, tens of thousands of sound and video clips and documents and over 1,000 learning packages. All projects can be accessed via the EnrichUK portal at http://www.enrichuk.net.
Information on grants awarded to individual local authorities and their expenditure can be obtained from the relevant authority.
Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the work of regional development agencies in developing tourism in South Ribble. [172144]
Mr. Caborn: The North West Development Agency (NWDA) is working closely with the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board, the nominated Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Lancashire. The new DMOs are, in effect, smaller versions of tourist boards. They aim to ensure a strong visitor and market focus to all that is done within the region and strengthen the connection between businesses and other organisations in the tourism sector.
During 2003–04, the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board received £275,000 from the agency's tourism budget for a variety of tourism marketing and development projects. South Ribble has also benefited from the agency's contribution of £60,000 during 2003–04 towards the construction of a visitor centre in Cuerden Valley Park.
Mr. Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money from the New Opportunities Fund was allocated to South Ribble in each year since 1997. [172153]
Estelle Morris: The New Opportunities Fund began making grants in 1999. The awards to South Ribble are shown in the table.
| Financial year | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 482,994 |
| 2000–01 | 273,735 |
| 2001–02 | 0 |
| 2002–03 | 0 |
| 2003–04 | 31,296 |
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The information is freely available from the Department's searchable Lottery award database at www.lottery.culture.gsi.gov.uk, which uses information supplied by the Lottery distributors.
Sports Funding (Chorley)
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what grants are available to build (a) a running track and (b) rugby football and other sports stadia in Chorley; and what other assistance her Department can give to such projects in Chorley. [172332]
Mr. Caborn: Grants for the provision of sports facilities, including running tracks and sports stadia, are available through the following programmes: Community Club Development Programme and Active England, administered by Sport England; and the New Opportunities Fund for PE and Sport, administered by the New Opportunities Fund. In addition, grants are available to support football facilities through the Football Foundation.
Chorley Cricket Club has benefited from a Community Club Development Fund grant of £53,000 to provide cricket practice areas and nets.
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