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Licensing

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate the Government have made of the number of (a) village halls, (b) sports clubs and (c) community centres which have applied for a full premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003. [32499]

James Purnell: Initial feedback from licensing authorities suggests that the vast majority of the 9,000 village halls in England and Wales applied to convert their old licences into new premises licences. We do not hold the information on the number of community centres that applied for premises licences or the number of sports clubs that applied for premises licences rather than club premises certificates.

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer of 17 November 2005, Official Report, column 1403W, on licensing appeals, what guidance has been provided to magistrates courts by (a) the Magistrates' Association and (b) the Justices Clerks' Society. [32716]

 
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James Purnell: The main guidance that has been provided to magistrates courts on the Licensing Act 2003 is through a training pack designed by the Justices Clerks' Society and issued by the Judicial Studies Board. The procedure for magistrates' courts is one that they are familiar with as they already deal with appeals arising from local authority decisions for example, on hackney carriage licences and entertainment licences.

National Water Sports Centre

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the outcome was of the recent inquiry into the future of the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierpoint; and if she will make a statement. [34988]

Mr. Caborn: Sport England is carrying out a review of the future of the National Sports Centres, including the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepont. The Holme Pierrepont site is owned by Nottinghamshire county council (NCC) and leased to Sport England through the Sports Council Trust Company. A joint Sport England and NCC study of the wider strategic development options for Holme Pierrepont has been carried out, taking into account sporting requirements and local and regional stakeholder interests.

These options are still being evaluated. Discussions between Sport England and NCC continue with the aim of developing a strategy that offers a stronger long-term future for the site.

Olympic Games

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the contribution of London council tax payers will be to the 2012 Olympics. [30614]

 
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Mr. Caborn: The Memorandum of Understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London (Command Paper CM5867 laid before the House in June 2003) provides for a contribution to the Olympics from the London council tax payer of up to £625 million over a period of eleven years.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the latest estimate of the costs of holding the Olympic games in London in 2012. [30650]

Mr. Caborn: The most recent figures for the costs of holding the Olympic games in London in 2012 are published in the candidature file. These costs are currently under review as part of process of robust cost management that is being put in place following the successful Olympic bid.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Olympic Delivery Authority is expected to (a) select its chairman and (b) be a functioning body. [31172]

Mr. Caborn: On 18 November my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the selection of Mr. Jack Lemley as the chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority. From 1989 to 1993 Mr. Lemley was chief executive of Trans-Manche Link, the consortium responsible for the construction of the channel tunnel. The appointment was made in accordance with the code of practice of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The timing of the establishment of the Olympic Delivery Authority is subject to the passage of the London Olympic games and Paralympic Games Bill.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the relationship is between the Olympic Delivery Authority and the Olympic Transport Authority; and to whom each is accountable. [31173]

Mr. Caborn: The Olympic Transport Authority will be part of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), which will itself be accountable to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport as a member of the Olympic Board. In addition, the ODA's annual report and statement of accounts will be laid before Parliament.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the state is of negotiations between the London Development Agency and London and Continental Railways Limited regarding land needed for the 2012 Olympics over which London and Continental Railways Limited has development rights. [31174]

Mr. Caborn: Negotiations have resulted in the parties reaching an agreement. The agreement ensures that all the land and infrastructure required for the Olympics on the Stratford City land can be delivered and that the first phase of the Stratford City development, known as zone 1, can proceed.

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures have been taken to ensure that unemployed people in inner London constituencies benefit from increased employment opportunities connected to construction work prior to the 2012 Olympics. [31175]

 
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Mr. Caborn: The Government are committed to ensure that the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games maximise the potential for job creation, training and business growth so that the games leave a lasting social and economic, as well as physical, legacy for London and the rest of the UK. This is reflected in the Procurement Principles" published by the interim Olympic Delivery Authority in September which will form the basis of the draft procurement strategy to be adopted by the Olympic Delivery Authority.

The London Development Authority is also now finalising a framework of initiatives with the London boroughs of Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Waltham Forest and Greenwich designed to give local people the skills they need to access Olympic-related jobs (including those in construction). This is an important pre-condition of the Olympic and legacy planning permissions granted by the boroughs in 2004. The details of how this programme will be delivered, match funding arrangements, and how the programme will operate within the existing construction training environment will need to be finalised and agreed with the boroughs as part of the ongoing planning process.

Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with (a) the International Olympic Committee and (b) National Olympic Committees on the prevention of exploitation of and cruelty to children training in Olympic sports. [34626]

Mr. Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no such discussions with the International Olympic Committee or other National Olympic Committees.

However, the Government firmly believes that parents and their children have a right to believe that they will be safe and well protected whilst participating in all sport. All sports organisations that receive statutory funding through Sport England must have an active child protection policy in place. The Child Protection in Sport Unit—a partnership between the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Sport England, sportscotland, the Sports Council for Northern Ireland and the Sports Council for Wales—works with the various National Governing Bodies of sport on their child protection policies to ensure that this happens.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what preparations and planning her Department has undertaken in connection with events to mark Her Majesty the Queen's diamond jubilee in 2012. [34439]

Mr. Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is not currently involved in preparations to commemorate The Queen's diamond jubilee in 2012. Any announcement of plans will be made closer to the time.
 
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