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22 Jul 2004 : Column 494W—continued

Marine Protection

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the impact of the creation of marine parks on tourism in England. [186282]

Mr. Caborn: The Department has made no assessment of the impact specifically of marine parks on tourism in England. There are tremendous opportunities for water-based tourism in England. In 2002, the last year that full figures are available, UK residents took 26 million holiday trips to the seaside and 19 million visits to UK wildlife attractions and zoos. The Deep attraction in Hull received 750,000 visitors in its first year, and the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth received around 380,000 visitors in 2002. Marine attractions are promoted in VisitBritain's current "Waterside England" campaign, which promotes water-based attractions and activities.

National Lottery

Andy Burnham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been awarded from the National Lottery to (a) rugby union and (b) rugby league in each year since 1994. [185488]

Estelle Morris: The table shows details of lottery grants awarded in England to support rugby union and rugby league since lottery funding streams began in 1995. The programmes referred to are Sport England's community and world class programmes and Awards for All, the joint lottery distributors programme.
 
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£

	Rugby union lottery awards			Rugby league lottery awards
	Community	World class	Awards for All	Community	World class	Awards for All
1995–96	4,396,212	0	0	226,201	0	0
1996–97	5,578,878	0	0	701,975	0	0
1997–98	678,228	0	0	185,439	0	0
1998–99	6,145,206	305,387	0	1,159,428	0	0
1999–2000	3,707,869	315,972	253,883	395,528	0	142,690
2000–01	2,360,269	586,029	348,302	1,981,519	731,883	365,111
2001–02	2,566,082	1,080,122	522,587	4,193,472	1,295,464	222,445
2002–03	5,393,585	5,194,636	626,073	683,171	1,500,000	282,319
2003–04	2,191,450	4,167,430	464,351	3,569,038	1,500,000	351,317
Total	33,017,779	11,649,576	2,215,196	13,095,771	5,027,347	1,363,882

Tourism

Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by how much the Government aims to increase participation in accommodation grading schemes by 2006. [186035]

Mr. Caborn: The improvement of the quality of tourism products is one of the five key priority areas agreed between the DCMS and the tourism industry. These are set out in the Tomorrow's Tourism Today document, which was launched by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State at the Tourism Alliance's Plenary Session on 19 July.

After detailed consultation, DCMS and its key partner organisations have agreed to aim to significantly increase the rate of participation in grading schemes in England from the present 43 per cent. of accommodation. Work towards this, and in respect of the other programmes outlined in Tomorrow's Tourism Today, will be guided and monitored by the Tourism Review and Implementation Group, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State also announced on 19 July. The Group will be informed by the recent Alan Britten report on common accommodation quality standards across Britain, which recommended that at least 75 per cent. of known accommodation stock should be included in the schemes by 2008.

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to encourage people living in towns to visit the countryside. [185751]

Mr. Caborn: In autumn last year, VisitBritain launched its 'Outdoor England' campaign which encouraged people to visit England's varied countryside. VisitBritain recently launched its 'Waterside England' campaign, which promotes England's coastline as well as its many inland waterways. The countryside will continue to feature strongly in VisitBritain's future campaigns. Further information can be found on the website www.visitengland.com.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Children's Commissioner

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the proposed children's commissioner will have powers which extend to Scotland. [185274]

 
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Margaret Hodge [holding answer 20 July 2004]: Under the Government's proposals, the Children's Commissioner will have powers in relation to non-devolved matters in Scotland and across the UK. We do not intend that the proposed Commissioner should have any role in devolved matters in Scotland. However we do intend that the Commissioner should carry out his or her general functions in relation to non-devolved matters across the UK—promoting awareness of the views and interests of children, and looking into and reporting on the matters which affect and concern them—as well as his or her inquiry functions.

Dentistry

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills for what reason the recent funding uplift for England's dental schools does not cover the backdating of extra programmed activity. [181644]

Ms Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.

Funding for the 2003–04 contractual changes for medical and dental clinical academics was agreed jointly between the Department of Health, the Department for Education and Skills and the Universities and Colleges Employers Association. The universities are now allocating the additional funds by reference to job plans prepared by individual consultants.

Recruitment Consultants

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Department spent on recruitment consultants in each year since 1996–97. [184359]

Mr. Charles Clarke [holding answer 15 July 2004]: The Department was established in June 2001. Information is available for the financial years of 2002–2003 and 2003–2004. In 2002–2003 the cost of recruitment consultants used to fill Departmental posts was £584,976. In 2003–2004 the cost was £335,321.

Disabled People (Services)

Mr. Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements he has in place for monitoring statistics concerning the supply of services by his Department to disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [183255]

Mr. Charles Clarke [holding answer 12 July2004]: The Government is committed to improving the position of disabled people in society and believes that
 
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public bodies should take the lead in promoting equal opportunities. That is why my Department has in place arrangements for monitoring the position, either directly or through delivery partners.

As part of the performance management arrangements on children's social services departments, we collect and monitor information on the number of disabled children receiving services which support them either in their families or to live independently. We also monitor statistics collected via the Department of Health, of the number of parents of disabled children and 16–17 year old disabled young people, who receive direct payments from Local Authorities.

The numbers of pupils with SEN are collected through the Pupil Level Annual Schools Census (PLASC). All maintained and non-maintained schools are asked to record pupils with statements of SEN, pupils at School Action and those at School Action Plus, using 11 categories of need.

Connexions Partnerships record the number of young people in their area who have been identified as having learning difficulties and disabilities, and their participation in education, employment and training. Statistics are also maintained on the number of young people with learning difficulties and disabilities in their
 
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last year of compulsory education who have received an assessment that meets the requirements of S140 of the Learning and Skills Act.

For Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funded post-16 learning, detailed information is collected by the LSC about each learner, the learning they are undertaking and qualifications success.

Information on HE students who are disabled is collected annually from all HE institutions in the UK by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

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