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Licensing Act

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in reviewing the guidance on the Licensing Act 2003 to enable local ward councillors to speak at hearings for applications affecting their ward without the need to have first received representations from residents; and if she will make a statement. [35030]

James Purnell: It is the 2003 Act and the regulations that set out who may make representations, and other matters about hearings. It is, therefore, not possible for the Guidance to licensing authorities to amend such statutory provisions.

However, we are currently reviewing the Guidance and, as part of that process, will consider whether there is a need to provide further clarification around this issue. We will also consider it as part of our wider monitoring of the Act, including the detailed review with the 10 Scrutiny Committee.

Our review of the Guidance commenced on 1 December and will be in two stages. An initial review, focussing on issues where there is a high degree of consensus among stakeholders, will be completed and supplementary Guidance laid before Parliament in early spring 2006.

A comprehensive formal review of the Guidance, including a full public consultation will be completed by summer 2006 and a revised version will be laid before
 
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Parliament by the end of 2006. This comprehensive review will include consideration of matters that cannot be easily resolved during the initial review.

Licensing Committees

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will issue guidance to local authorities on the circumstances when councillors (a) may and (b) may not make representations to a licensing committee dealing with a licensing application in their ward. [37039]

James Purnell [holding answer 12 December 2005]: Local councillors who themselves live in the vicinity of premises applying for the grant or variation of a premises or club premises certificate are clearly entitled to make representations to the licensing authority in their own right as interested parties.

Paragraph 5.32 of the Guidance issued under Section182 of the Licensing Act 2003 makes it clear that interested parties can specifically request a representative such as a local ward councillor to make a representation on their behalf. This could include making written representations, applying for a review or by speaking on their behalf at a hearing.

We are currently reviewing the Guidance and, as part of that process, will consider whether there is a need to provide further clarification on this issue.

Licensing/Gambling Laws

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what means the Government's new licensing regime ensures that village hall managers and other responsible persons are informed of the number of applications for temporary event notices for events to be held in their premises; and if she will make a statement. [37676]

James Purnell: Village hall managers and other responsible persons seeking to inform themselves about the number of temporary event notices (TENs) given for events to be held in their premises can consult their licensing authority's register.

A person with a property interest in a premises, such as a freeholder, leaseholder or occupier, can, on submission of the prescribed form and fee (£21), give the licensing authority notice of their interest. The licensing authority must then notify them forthwith of any changes to the entry for that premises on the register. Such a notice has effect for 12 months.

No-one would be able to use a village hall without the permission of the hall management. Managers of village halls can make their own arrangements to require potential users to inform them of their proposed use of TENs and might wish to include this as a requirement in their hire or booking agreement.

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the implications of the interaction between changes to licensing and gambling laws. [38511]

Mr. Caborn: The reform of licensing and gambling laws share many of the same guiding principles. These include better protection for children, the prevention of
 
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crime and disorder and a generally tougher regime to deal with rogue operators. Changes also provide for increased local decision making, and will deliver more choice for the citizen. We therefore consider the reforms in each area to be mutually supportive.

Of course, as with all major reforms, we will closely monitor and evaluate the impact of the changes in the coming months and years.

London Development Agency

Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 16 November 2005, Official Report, column 1250W, on the London Development Agency (Vendors), what criteria the London Development Agency (LDA) will use to decide whether to publish shortlists for contracts; and if she will ask the LDA to publish either a shortlist or the reasons for not publishing a shortlist in relation to each contract. [38938]

Mr. Caborn: The decision as to whether shortlists will be published will be considered on a case by case basis and ultimately depend on if it helps or hinders effective and fair competition between suppliers.

These decisions are, and will be, a matter for the London Development Agency and for the Olympic Delivery Authority once it is established.

Ministerial Visits

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what ministerial visits have been undertaken since May by (a) the Minister for Sport, (b) the Minister for Culture and (c) the Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism; what the purpose was of each; and if she will make a statement. [24119]

Tessa Jowell: I am arranging for a list of ministerial visits undertaken since May by (a) the Minister for Sport, (b) the Minister for Culture and (c) the Minister for Creative Industries to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Olympics (Procurement Strategy)

Mr. Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will publish the initial draft of the procurement strategy drawn up by the Olympic Delivery Authority team; and whether it will include criteria for determining which contracts shortlists will be published. [39234]

Mr. Caborn: The interim Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) published procurement principles in September 2005 which underpin the development of the ODA's procurement strategy. The procurement strategy for the ODA is currently being drafted. The strategy will be published when it has been approved by the newly-appointed chair and chief executive of the ODA and its board. This is likely to be in spring 2006.

Parliamentary Questions

Sir Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will reply to the
 
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letter of 23 September (ref: 23821) from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire. [29793]

Mr. Caborn [holding answer 21 November 2005]: I am sorry for not replying sooner to the written question from the hon. Member. I replied to the hon. Member's letter of 23 September yesterday 19 December.

Tourism

Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent in promoting tourism in rural areas in England in each of the last five years. [38932]

James Purnell: My Department funds the overseas marketing and promotion of all parts of Britain through VisitBritain. VisitBritain also markets England's tourism industry to the British under the auspices of the England Marketing Advisory Board. The promotion of rural areas is a significant part of this work.

Much of VisitBritain's international work is generic marketing of the British offer, and it is not possible to put precise figures on the proportion of its marketing spend which directly relates to the promotion of rural areas.

In the domestic market, VisitBritain's Enjoy England and Outdoor England marketing campaigns have clear rural themes. A total of £1 million was spent on directly promoting rural areas through these campaigns in 2004–05. Further rural promotion was carried out through the Taste, Waterside England, and Just Relax campaigns, on which a total of £750,000 was spent in 2004–05.

In view of the generic nature of much of VisitBritain's marketing work, which is intended to attract visitors to Britain and England rather than to specific locations, it is not possible to provide figures for years prior to 2004–05.

In addition, as part of the Tourism Reform Programme, since 2003, the regional development agencies have undertaken significant tourism promotion of England's rural areas and of course many councils covering rural areas invest in promoting local tourism as well.

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