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21 Nov 2005 : Column 1613W—continued
Licensing Applications
Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance the Government have provided to local authorities on informing local residents of a premises licence application made under the Licensing Act 2003. [24969]
James Purnell: The burden of advertising applications for premises licences falls on the applicants, rather than on local authorities. Articles 25 and 26 of the Licensing Act 2003 (Premises licences and club premises certificates) Regulations 2005 include detailed provisions covering the form and nature of advertisements required of applicants.
Should local authorities wish, additionally, to undertake any further advertisement of applications, it is a matter for them.
London Olympics
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has made to the Secretary of State for Transport on ensuring that train services to the South West are ready to meet the transport requirements of the 2012 Olympics. [30349]
Mr. Caborn: There has been regular communication between the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Department for Transport regarding the Olympic Transport Proposals that were set out in the Candidature File submitted to the International Olympic Committee in November 2004. The Government is confident that these proposals will be sufficient to meet the transport needs of the 2012 Games.
Public Libraries
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of loaned items were accounted for by the borrowing of (a) books, (b) videos, (c) DVDs and (d) CDs from libraries in (i) Brent and (ii) each borough in London in each year since 1997. [30112]
Mr. Lammy:
This information is not held centrally. However, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 29 June 2005 on book loans by London libraries and on 3 November about the loan of audio-visual items by Brent libraries and London libraries. The following table shows the number of book and total loans by Brent from 1997–98 and 2003–04 and total loans by London libraries as a whole for the same period. These figures are drawn from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's annual Public Library Statistics (Actuals) which also contain figures for individual library authorities. Copies are kept in the House of Commons Library.
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(28) No Total Audio-visual, electronic and other issues" figure shown by Brent for this year.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what total stock of (a) DVDs, (b) videos and (c) CDs was owned by libraries in (i) Brent and (ii) each borough in London in each year since 1997. [30169]
Mr. Lammy: This information is not held centrally. However, the following table shows the numbers of sound recordings (encompassing talking books and music) and videos/DVDs held by (i) Brent and (ii) all inner and outer London libraries (including Brent) from 1997–98 to 2003–04. These figures are drawn from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy's (CIPFA's) annual Public Library Statistics (Actuals) which also contain figures for London's 33 individual library authorities. Copies are kept in the House of Commons Library.
(29) Music only. Brent entered their audiobook holdings within their overall bookstock figure for this year.
(30) Music only for parity.
Note:
The above table includes loan items only. It does not take account of any materials held in this media for reference purposes. These are not easily identifiable within the CIPFA statistics.
Youth Shelters
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many council-funded youth shelters have opened in (a) England, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency in each year since 1997. [29914]
Mr. Lammy: Information is not held centrally on the number of council-funded youth shelters.
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she plans to fund the expansion of youth shelters in England. [29915]
Mr. Lammy:
I have no plans to fund the expansion of youth shelters in England. However, my Department is working closely with the Department for Education and Skills on the implementation of Youth Matters", the youth Green Paper which was published in July this year.
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A key strand in Youth Matters is the provision of more things to do and places to go" for young people in their local area and more choice and influence over what is available.
Youth Matters proposes the establishment of an Opportunity Fund" in each local authority to be spent at young people's discretion on projects they want to do to improve things to do and places to go in their area. This could include the provision of youth shelters.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
Youth Matters"
Mr. Malik: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she plans to make of the implications of Youth Matters for black and minority ethnic young people and organisations. [26643]
Maria Eagle: The proposals in Youth Matters will improve the lives of all young people, including those from black and minority ethnic groups. In preparing the Government's response to the consultation we are considering carefully the views from black and minority ethnic organisations and young people.
0870 Numbers
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how the revenue raised from her Department's 0870 prefix contact telephone number is spent. [26438]
Maria Eagle: The Department for Education and Skills does not participate in revenue share schemes associated with 0870 numbers and therefore derives no revenue from the use of these numbers.
Adult Education
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of colleges are charging fees to adults for level two education. [27955]
Bill Rammell: On the 21 October, I made an announcement, setting out the Government's strategic direction for the learning and skills sector for the coming period. My main purpose for doing so was to ensure the 2006/07 funding allocations process began with a clear and concise message on the principles that will underpin funding over the next two years. Our priorities include helping disadvantaged adults gain basic and Level 2 skills for employability and progression to Level 3. From 2005/06 all Further Education colleges are offering free tuition to learners undertaking a first full level 2 qualification.
Colleges will continue to collect fees from other adult learners unless they are exempt from tuition fees because they are receiving an income based benefit; the pension guarantee credit; or higher rates of the working tax credit. Adults studying literacy and numeracy, Skills for Life programmes, are exempt from all fees.
Adult Guidance Provision
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what adult guidance provision there is in each local authority area. [28573]
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Phil Hope: The Department's policy on information, advice and guidance services on learning and work for adults is delivered by the Learning and Skills Council primarily through an integrated information and advice service. This service comprises the national learndirect telephone and on-line advice service, and a network of 47 local nextstep information and advice providers, and is available to adults in each local authority area. In addition, adults participating in any LSC funded learning can access information and advice services through their learning provider.
Mr. Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her Department's policy is on adult guidance provision. [28578]
Phil Hope: The Department's policy is that every adult in England should have access to a free, integrated information and advice service on learning and work delivered through the national learndirect telephone and on-line advice service and local nextstep information and advice services. Priority is given within this service to those adults who do not have a qualification at Level 2, since they are more likely to lack the skills foundation for employability and lifelong learning, and are less likely to get a secure, well paid job. In addition, adults participating in any LSC funded learning can also access information and advice services through their learning provider.
The White Paper Skills: getting on in business, getting on at work" sets out a long-term ambition: that everyone should be able to get help if and when they want it to take stock of where they are in their lives and their careers; to review where they would like to get to; and assess what steps they can take to get there. We are jointly conducting a review with the Department for Work and Pensions, the DTI, the LSC, Ufi learndirect, Jobcentre Plus, and the Sector Skills Development Agency to help determine how best to achieve this goal, which will be concluded by the end of 2006. We are extending the learndirect telephone service on a trial basis from January 2006 to provide more intensive personal guidance to inform the review. Adults throughout England seeking to progress in their careers; wanting to gain the skills for jobs typically requiring a Level 3 qualification; and returning to work from career breaks, will benefit from the new service.
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