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Television Licences
Mr. Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the number of residents living in multiple dwelling units who own a television licence. [211737]
Estelle Morris [holding answer 31 January 2005]: The Government have made no such estimate. We understand from the BBC that the data held by TV Licensing on television licences in force does not distinguish between licensable addresses on the basis of whether or not they form part of a building in multiple occupancy.
Tourism
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by her Department and the agencies for which she is responsible to promote tourism in (a) the UK as a whole and (b) each of the UK regions in 2003–04. [211555]
Mr. Caborn:
Grant in aid from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to VisitBritain totalled £45.9 million in 2003–04, of which £35.5 million was allocated to promoting Britain overseas, and £10.4 million to promoting England within Britain.
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In addition, the Greater London Authority received funding of £1.9 million from DCMS to promote tourism in 2003–04.
In 2003, the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were given strategic responsibility for tourism in the regions. Of the total estimate of £58.9 million allocated to tourism by the RDAs in 2003–04, the following amounts were paid by DCMS specifically for tourism:
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Bangladesh
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what (a) cross-ethnic and (b) cross-faith projects were (i) financed, (ii) planned and (iii) run by his Department in Bangladesh in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [211773]
(2) what assessment his Department has made of the (a) current level and (b) development since 1997 of religious freedom and tolerance in Bangladesh; what effect the changes have had on the effectiveness of development projects; and if he will make a statement. [211774]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: The UK's current assessment is that there is some cause for concern regarding human rights in Bangladesh, including religious freedom and tolerance. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office maintains close contact with minority groups and together we have raised issues of religious freedom at high-level meetings with the Bangladesh Government. My hon. Friend, the Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Mr. Alexander) raised the issue of minority rights during his visit in December 2004.
DFID's support to Bangladesh is for poverty reduction and for poor people's social and economic rights irrespective of their religious or ethnic background. Since 1997 all projects financed, planned and run by DFID have been for cross-faith and cross-ethnic populations. As DFID projects are open to all, none are explicitly cross-ethnic or cross-faith.
DFID monitors effectiveness on the basis of povertyreduction as measured through the millennium development goals and so do not analyse performance according to faith- based and ethnic-based categories. In addition, DFID specifically supports civil society organisations that promote the realisation and protection of social and economic rights, including for minorities. Some examples are:
To enhance the capacity of, and opportunities for, poor men, women and children to demand improved governance and recognition of their rights.
To increase pressure on government, politicians and others, to provide better access for poor men and women to decision-making processes, resources and services.
Burma
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the (a) economic, (b) social and (c) humanitarian impact of tourism on the people of Burma since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [211763]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID has not carried out an assessment of the impacts of tourism on the people of Burma. However, we have read with interest, the work of others, for example Respect (www.respect.at) and Tourism Concern (www.tourismconcern.org.uk).
It is Her Majesty's Government (HMG) policy not to encourage tourism to Burma. HMG has drawn to the attention of travel organisations the views of the Burmese democratic opposition that tourism is inappropriate at present due to the political and human rights situation there. As part of this policy, Burmese tourism officials are included in the European Union visa ban and asset freeze.
Engineers Without Borders
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment his Department has made of the projects undertaken by (a) Engineers Without Borders UK (EWB-UK) and (b) Engineers Without Borders International since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [211775]
(2) how much (a) funding, (b) logistical aid and (c) aid in kind his Department has (i) pledged and (ii)contributed to projects (A) planned and (B) run by (1) Engineers Without Frontiers UK and (2) Engineers Without Frontiers International in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement; [211776]
(3) what (a) financial assistance, (b) logistical assistance and (c) assistance in kind his Department has given to Engineers Without Borders UK for the Sunseed Desert Technology programme in Almeria, Spain; and if he will make a statement; [211819]
(4) what assessment his Department has undertaken of the (a) economic, (b) social and (c) humanitarian impact of the Sunseed Desert Technology project undertaken by Engineers Without Borders UK in Almeria, Spain; and if he will make a statement; [211823]
(5) what assessment his Department has made of the long-term viability of the Sunseed Desert Technology project undertaken by Engineers Without Borders UK in Almeria, Spain; and if he will make a statement; [211824]
(6) what assessment his Department has made of the (a) marketplace value of and (b) technological and scientific advancement achieved by the Sunseed
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Desert Technology project run by Engineers Without Borders UK in Almeria, Spain; and if he will make a statement; [211825]
(7) what assessment his Department has made of the value to the (a) rural and (b) environmental workforce of the Sunseed Desert Technology project run by Engineers Without Borders UK in Almeria, Spain; and if he will make a statement; [211826]
(8) what assessment his Department has undertaken of the (a) economic, (b) social and (c) humanitarian impact of the World Health Organisation, Pan-American Health Organisation and Medical Mission project undertaken by Engineers Without Borders UK in Paramaribo, Surinam; what assessment he has made of the long-term viability of the programme; and if he will make a statement; [212193]
(9) what assessment his Department has made of the long-term viability of the Pastoral Social and University of Ibarra project undertaken by Engineers Without Borders UK in Ecuador; and if he will make a statement; [212272]
(10) what assessment his Department has undertaken of the (a) economic, (b) social and (c) humanitarian effect of the Pastoral Social and University of Ibarra project undertaken by Engineers Without Borders UK in Ecuador; and if he will make a statement; [212271]
(11) how much (a) financial assistance, (b) logistical assistance and (c) assistance in kind was provided to Engineers Without Borders UK by his Department for the programme in Paramaribo, Surinam with the World Health Organisation, Pan-American Health Organisation and Medical Mission in each year since its inception in 2004; and if he will make a statement. [212273]
Mr. Gareth Thomas: DFID is aware of the good work undertaken by Engineers without Borders UK and also through the international network of associate organisations. Initiatives such as placements to expose engineering students to work in developing countries while making a positive impact on peoples' lives, and related small-scale research projects are welcomed. The universities and companies that support the scheme and students who volunteer are to be congratulated. DFID has not provided funding for EWB and so has not undertaken assessments of their projects including EWB's activities in Ecuador and Surinam.
Regarding the Sunseed Desert Technology programme in Spain, its aims of demonstrating appropriate ways of living sustainably in semi-arid environments are useful and it provides valuable exposure for the volunteers who go to work there. DFID is not involved in this programme and so has not undertaken any assessments of its activities or long term viability.
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