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7 Nov 2005 : Column 152W—continued

Road Schemes

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the economic impact of the Bexhill to Hastings link road on the local community; and if he will make a statement. [25238]

Ms Buck: The Economic Impact Report submitted by East Sussex county council in 2004 as part of their bid for funding for the Bexhill to Hastings link road demonstrated that this scheme would make a significant contribution to the strategy for the regeneration of Hastings. This is one of the factors we took into account in giving Provisional Approval for this scheme in December 2004 for funding through the Local Transport Programme.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts Council England

Mr. Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much grant-in-aid funding was allocated by Arts Council England to culture in (a) London and (b) Croydon in the financial year 2005–06. [24544]

Mr. Lammy: Arts Council England allocates grant-in-aid funding to their portfolio of regularly funded organisations.

The following figures supplied by Arts Council England provide a breakdown of the information requested.
 
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Arts Council England, London—regularly funded organisation budget

2005–06£
London152,343,445
Of which:
Croydon—regularly funded organisations
Croydon Clocktower82,500
London Mozart Players153,750
Total236,250

Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much grant-in-aid funding was allocated by Arts Council England to recipients in (a) Hertfordshire and (b) Dacorum in 2005–06. [25820]

Mr. Lammy: Arts Council England allocates grant-in-aid funding to their portfolio of regularly funded organisations.

The following figures supplied by Arts Council England provide a breakdown of the information requested.
Regularly funded organisationHertfordshire2005–06 (£)
Old Town Hall, Hemel HempsteadDacorum23,650
SNAP People's TheatreEast Hertfordshire62,375
Trestle Theatre CompanySt. Albans248,337
Independent Publishers' GuildNorth Hertfordshire25,650
Watford Palace TheatreWatford679,752
Total1,039,764

Big Lottery Fund

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the (a) cost to date and (b) projected cost is of the merger of the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund to create the Big Lottery Fund. [24927]

Mr. Caborn: The cost to date of the administrative merger of the Community Fund and the New Opportunities Fund to create the Big Lottery Fund is £4,976,235. The administrative merger of the funds is now effectively complete, though some minor costs will be incurred in effecting the legal merger, if the National Lottery Bill before Parliament is passed.

Correspondence

Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism will reply to the letter of 18 August from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire (Ref: CMS 21066/DC). [22137]

James Purnell [holding answer 27 October 2005]: I wrote to the hon. Member on 26 October 2005.

Departmental Meetings

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what meetings Members of her Department have had with representatives from (a) the Natural History museum, (b) the Royal Armouries, (c) Sir John Soane's museum, (d) Sport England,
 
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(e) the Tate Gallery, (f) the UK Film Council, (g) the British Library, (h) UK Sport, (i) the Victoria and Albert museum, (j) Visit Britain and (k) the Wallace Collection since 1 January; and what issues were discussed in each meeting; [21156]

(2) what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) Officials of her Department have had with representatives from the (i) National Lottery Commission, (ii) National Maritime museum, (iii) National Museum of Science and Industry, (iv) National Portrait Gallery, (v) National Gallery, (vi) National Heritage Memorial Fund (Heritage Lottery Fund), (vii) Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, (viii) Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, (ix) Museum of London, (x) Millennium Commission, (xi) Imperial War museum, (xii) the Tate, (xiii) Horserace Betting Levy Board, (xiv) Football Licensing Authority, (xv) Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust, (xvi) Historic Royal Palaces, (xvii) Gaming Board, (xviii) Geffrye museum, (ixx) English Heritage, (xx) CABE, (xxi) Big Lottery Fund, (xxii) Arts Council England, (xxiii) Alcohol Education and Research Council, (xxiv) Churches Conservation Trust and (xxv) British Museum since 1 January; and what issues were discussed in each meeting. [21157]

Mr. Lammy: Ministers and Officials hold regular meetings with representatives of the Department's sponsored bodies on a wide range of issues. The detailed information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Digital Switchover

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her plans for help and follow-up support with digital switchover for people aged 75 years and over extend to providing free (a) installation, (b) equipment and (c) telephone helpline advice in relation to digital television reception. [24372]

James Purnell: We have made clear that targeted support will be available to households where someone is aged 75 or over; and to households where someone has a severe disability—defined as those people eligible for either disability living allowance or attendance allowance.

The full details of the scheme are being developed, but the assistance will consist of providing the necessary equipment to convert one television set and the relevant support to install and use such equipment. This help will be free for the poorest eligible households, those on income support, jobseeker's allowance or pension credit; other qualifying households will pay a modest fee.

Football Funding (Northern Ireland)

Mr. Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) lottery and (b) Foundation for Sport and the Arts funding was allocated to (i) soccer and (ii) the Gaelic Football Association in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [24161]

Mr. Caborn: The Sports Council for Northern Ireland has provided the following table that gives a breakdown of figures for lottery funding allocated to (i) soccer and
 
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(ii) the Gaelic Football Association in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. I understand that the Foundation for Sport and the Arts does not currently fund soccer or the Gaelic Football Association in Northern Ireland.
£

SoccerGaelic Football Association
2001–02442,908657,869
2002–03696,561884,462
2003–04322,149118,112
2004–05765,048750,947
2005–069,000101,330




Note:
The old lottery capital funding programmes closed during 2004–05. The new programme was launched in January 2005; however no offers were made until October 2005.



Freelance Musicians (National Insurance)

Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Treasury first informed (a) her and (b) her Department that freelance musicians would be required to pay higher national insurance contributions. [24926]

Mr. Lammy: Implementation of the regulations on national insurance contributions is normally a matter for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Arts Council England and my officials are working with HMRC to find the most practicable solution while keeping me fully informed.

Lottery Tickets

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many retailers sell National Lottery tickets; and how many of those retailers also sell Olympic Lottery tickets. [25487]

Mr. Caborn: We have been informed by Camelot Group plc. the National Lottery operator, that currently 27,686 retailers sell lottery tickets and 88 per cent. of them hold stocks of Go For Gold" Olympic Lottery scratchcards.

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many retailers selling National Lottery tickets have declined to sell Olympic Lottery tickets. [25488]

Mr. Caborn: Camelot Group plc. have informed us that they do not collect this information. However, they are not aware of any retailers having declined to sell Go For Gold" Olympic Lottery scratchcards.

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance has been given to retailers selling National Lottery tickets on the sale of Olympic Lottery tickets. [25491]

Mr. Caborn: Camelot Group plc. have informed us that guidance for retailers is the same as for other games in the scratchcard portfolio. However, retailers have been informed that Good Cause revenue generated through the Go For Gold" Olympic Lottery scratchcard would help to raise the funding required to stage the London Games. Camelot maintains on-going dialogue with retailers, who are able to seek help and advice from the operator via the retailer hotline.
 
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