| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
10 Oct 2005 : Column 394W—continued
Video Conferencing
David Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many video conferencing units are installed in (a) his Department and (b) each agency of the Department; what percentage of offices have these facilities in each case; and what plans there are to increase the number of such units. [16149]
10 Oct 2005 : Column 395W
Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is as follows:
(a) The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has 14 video conferencing units installed with at least one in each of the 11 buildings occupied by its staff. One of these units is managed by another Government Department;
(b) The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's agencies have four video conferencing units installed, with units in each of its three occupancies. One of these units is managed by another Government Department;
100 per cent. of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's occupancies have access to video conferencing facilities.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies regularly review the requirement for video conferencing equipment, with each proposal being considered on a value for money basis. There are presently no plans to increase the number of units further.
This answer does not include the buildings occupied by Government offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Chess
Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on official recognition of chess as a sport. [15892]
Mr. Caborn: Chess is not currently recognised as a sport. The unanimous support of all four national Sports Councils and UK Sport is required in order for a sport or its governing body to receive official recognition.
The criteria that the Sports Councils use to decide whether an activity should be recognised as a sport are derived from their Royal Charters, and ultimately from the Physical Training and Recreation Act 1937. Legal advice has stated that chess does not fall within the meaning of the word sport" for the purposes of the
10 Oct 2005 : Column 396W
Royal Charter, or the meaning of physical training and recreation" in the Act. Recognition of chess would therefore require amendments to the Act.
Sport is now a devolved matter, so a change in the current position would require the unanimous support of both the Devolved Administrations (DAs) and the Sports Councils, before any progress could be made. It would be necessary to put a case to the DAs and the Sports Councils for legislative change that would include chess, and if necessary other mind games", within the criteria for recognition as a sport. The case put forward must be able to convince them that chess provides the same benefits to the public, such as improved health and fitness, as recognised sports, in order to merit equal status and the financial support that comes with it.
Commemorations
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list anniversaries for which her Department has begun planning commemorations for (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008, (d) 2009 and (e) 2010. [16707]
Mr. Lammy: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible on behalf of the Cabinet for the arrangements for the annual Remembrance day ceremony at the Cenotaph. As, Minister for Culture Iam working with Paul Goggins, Minister for Race Equality in the Home Office, to explore the most appropriate role for the Government in the bicentenary celebrations to mark the abolition of slave trade in 2007.
Consultation Papers
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the consultation papers her Department has published since 1997. [15985]
Mr. Lammy: At the 26 July 2005 my Department has published the following consultations, full copies of which can be found on our website:
10 Oct 2005 : Column 399W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |