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21 Feb 2005 : Column 240W—continued

Overseas Visitors

Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many overseas visitors to the UK there were in each quarter of the last five years. [217126]

Mr. Caborn: According to data published by the Office for National Statistics, the number of visits to the UK by overseas residents in each quarter of the last five years was as follows:
Total (Thousand)
2000
Q14,993
Q26,733
Q37,943
Q45,540
2001
Q14,863
Q26,279
Q37,100
Q44,593
2002
Q14,525
Q26,375
Q37,555
Q45,724
2003
Q14,944
Q26,073
Q37,534
Q46,165
2004
Q15,495
Q27,014
Q38,433
Q46,600

Playing Fields (Bridgwater)

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many playing fields that were in use in 1997 in the Bridgwater constituency are no longer used for that purpose. [217395]

Mr. Caborn: According to information provided by Sedgemoor district council, the following playing fields that were in use in Bridgwater in 1997 are no longer in use today—none of which have been sold for development:
Pitches LostLocationReasons
2 football pitchesBath RoadSold to Bridgwater college. The land is being used to create an artificial turf pitch and other field sport use.
1 football pitchVictoria ParkLack of use. One pitch was re-orientated to improve the quality of the remaining pitch. The land accommodating the second pitch reverted back to informal recreational open space within the park.
3 football pitchesBristol RoadLack of use. Pitches were also of poor quality and were prone to frequent flooding.









 
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Public Buildings

Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the ministerial group on better public buildings last met; what assessment she has made of the work of the group; and if she will make a statement. [215656]

Mr. Caborn: Since its launch in October 2000 the Better Public Buildings initiative has achieved much by better embedding design quality at the heart of Government construction programmes. Most Government Departments have produced action plans which outline their commitment to architectural design standards. The Ministerial Design Champions Group last met on 20 January 2003 at HM Treasury. The Ministerial Group is supported by a group of senior officials from all relevant Departments and the officials group last met in March 2004.

Officials and Ministers are considering new proposals for the future structure of the Better Public Buildings initiative.

Sports Clubs (Bridgwater)

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many amateur sports clubs there are in the Bridgwater constituency. [217400]

Mr. Caborn: The DCMS does not hold the information requested. The hon. Member may wish to direct his query to the local authority for Bridgwater.

Sports Facilities

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what Government funding is available towards the building of (a) full all-weather pitches, (b) running tracks and (c) sports stadiums for football and rugby. [216570]

Mr. Caborn: By 2006, Government will have committed over £1 billion to developing new or refurbished public sports facilities. This funding is being channelled through New Opportunities for PE and Sport, the Community Club Development Programme, Space for Sport and the Arts, Active England and the Football Foundation.

Building Schools for the Future will also invest £5.1 billion in new school facilities, including open and accessible multi-sport and physical activity facilities.

The national governing bodies for Rugby and Football and the Football Foundation provide advice on the funding available to build new football or rugby stadia.

Television Licences

Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many letters Television Licensing have issued in each of the last 10 years threatening legal proceedings; how many of these have led to prosecutions; and how many prosecutions have been successful. [216594]

Estelle Morris: The BBC has statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day-to-day
 
21 Feb 2005 : Column 242W
 
administration under contract to the Corporation. I have therefore asked the BBC's Head of Revenue Management to write to the hon. Member direct, placing a copy of the letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

Based on the currently available information, the number of people in England, Scotland and Wales 1 proceeded against for offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 2 in each of the last 10 years was:


Proceeded againstFound guilty
1993205,661179,253
1994195,644169,681
1995137,818120,482
1996193,899170,500
199795,73079,898
199898,04477,982
199969,395(76)56,402
2000123,153(77)107,702
200197,87785,098
2002111,671976,061
2003110,170(78)95,596


(76) Scottish figures based on incomplete data
(77) Some figures based on a sample of data covering one full week in each quarter for 2000. Estimates based on the sample are included and considered sufficiently robust.
(78) 2003 figures for Scotland are not available.


Mr. Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households in Leicester, South are receiving a free television licence for over-75s. [216941]

Estelle Morris: TV Licensing, which administers free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agent for the BBC, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Leicester, South constituency in 2003–04 was 4,660, according to Department for Work and Pensions records.

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people in each ward of Wallasey constituency (a) are entitled to free television licences and (b) have claimed free television licences. [217117]

Estelle Morris: TV Licensing, which administers free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agent for the BBC, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in the Wallasey constituency in 2003–04 was 5,445, according to Department for Work and Pensions records. Winter fuel payment data at ward level relate to census wards rather than electoral wards and consequently do not correspond precisely to constituency boundaries.

Visitor Attractions

Mrs. Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department is giving to visitor attractions in England. [216952]


 
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Mr. Caborn: DCMS provides a range of support. For example, visitor attractions benefit from VisitBritain's overseas and domestic marketing effort, to which DCMS contributed £45.9 million in 2003–04. Many attractions benefit from grant in aid to museums, galleries, the heritage sector and RDAs. In addition, DCMS works closely with this sector to support improvements in productivity, particularly through initiatives aimed at raising skills and quality levels as well as the standard of data.


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