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9 Jan 2006 : Column 31W—continued
Departmental Jobs (Regional Distribution)
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what percentage of jobs in (a) her Department and (b) each (i) executive agency, (ii) non-departmental public body and (iii) other public body for which his Department is responsible are located in (A) Scotland, (B) each of the English regions, (C) Wales, (D) Northern Ireland and (E) overseas; and what proportion in each area has responsibilities which apply to (1) England only, (2) England and Wales and (3) the UK as a whole. [39938]
Mr. Lammy: Permanent staff numbers on a (FTE basis) are published in Table D Civil Service Statistics. This information is available on the Cabinet Office Statistics website: <http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management_ of_the_civil_service/statistics/civil_service_statistics/index.asp>
All jobs in DCMS and Royal Parks are based in the London region.
The other information is not held centrally i.e. that relating to:
Non Departmental Public Bodies and other public bodies for which the Department is responsible broken down by geographical regions, and
This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Staff
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture,Media and Sport how many civil servants inher Department worked from home for at least one day a week in the last year for which figures are available. [40295]
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Mr. Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not centrally monitor staff working patterns. However, of those we know, there are 25 people who regularly work from home for at least one day a week.
The Department continues in its commitment to Work Life Balance and has policies in place to encourage staff to take advantage of a wide range of alternative working patterns on offer, including working from home.
Elite Athletes (Funding)
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what submissions her Department has received concerning funding for elite athletes at the (a) 2008 and (b) 2012 Olympics; from whom those submissions came; what increase in funding they recommended; over what time period; and if she will make those submissions public. [38358]
Mr. Caborn [holding answer 19 December 2005]: DCMS has received advice in the form of a submission from UK Sport, the Government's lead agency on elite sport. The Government are looking carefully at the case for additional funding for elite athletes in advance of the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012. The Government are looking at a range of funding options, but are not in a position at this stage to make public the levels of funding under discussion.
We have not received any further submissions on this matter.
Free Television Licences
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households are in receipt of free television licences in Swansea East. [38850]
Mr. Caborn: TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in Swansea East in 2004–05 was 4,245, according to Department for Work and Pensions records.
Gambling Act 2005
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the timetable is for the implementation of the Gambling Act 2005, including (a) the publication of regulations, (b) the anticipated parliamentary timetable for the ratification of secondary legislation and (c) the timetable for licensing authorities to consult on their licensing policies and receive applications for premises licences for casinos. [40116]
Mr. Caborn: We plan to bring the Gambling Act 2005 fully into force with effect from September 2007.
The first two commencement orders were made at the end of August 2005. These brought into force on 1 October 2005 the provisions of the Act formally creating the Gambling Commission.
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My Department has been considering the remaining subordinate legislation needed to complete the process of implementation and the timetable for that legislation. We propose to publish details early in the new year.
We plan to lay regulations setting out the form that the licensing authorities' three-year licensing policy statements should take, on 10 March 2006. These regulations shall come into effect on 31 March 2006.
Licensing authorities must publish their policy statements at least one month before they come into effect, which will be on 31 January 2007.
We have established an independent Casino Advisory Panel to advise the Secretary of State on the exercise of her powers to specify which local authorities may issue the new casino premises licences created by the Act. The panel is due to make its recommendations by the end of 2006, and the Secretary of State will announce her decisions in spring 2007. Those licensing authorities which are selected are required to be specified in an order under section 175(4). That order will be subject to parliamentary approval by the affirmative resolution procedure.
Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance (a) her Department and (b) the Gambling Commission has issued on when licensing authorities may (i) consult on and (ii) adopt, a policy resolution not to issue casino licences under the Gambling Act 2005; and if she will make a statement. [40117]
Mr. Caborn:
Licensing authorities may have regard to any principle or matter in passing a resolution, made under section 166 of the Gambling Act 2005, not to issue a casino premises licence. They may consult local people
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at any time and in any manner on their views on casinos, and we envisage that many will want to do so when considering making a resolution under section 166.
Licensing authorities will not be able to pass a resolution until the relevant provisions in section 166 have been formally commenced. This will be done in good time for any resolution to be included in licensing authorities' three year licensing policy statements.
Draft guidance to licensing authorities about the exercise of their functions under the Gambling Act 2005was published by the Gambling Commission on 16 December 2005.
Gaming Regulation
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on the regulation of (a) fixed odds betting terminals and (b) adult gaming centres. [39496]
Mr. Caborn: During the passage of the Gambling Act through Parliament the Department received representations from the Association of British Bookmakers, other gambling industry bodies, and the British Greyhound Racing Board regarding the regulation of fixed odds betting terminals.
The Department has also received representations from British Amusement Catering Trades Association, faith groups and correspondence from members of the public regarding the regulation of both fixed odds betting terminals and adult gaming centres.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which casino premises are (a) licensed and (b) licensed and operational under the 1968 Gambling Act. [39497]
Mr. Caborn: The information requested is set out in the table.
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Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications the Gambling Commission has received for new casinos under the 1968 Gambling Act in each of the last 24 months. [39498]
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Mr. Caborn:
The Gambling Commission (previously the Gaming Board for Great Britain) considers applications for certificates of consent for casinos. Once a certificate of consent is issued, operators can then apply to the Licensing Justices for a Gaming Licence.
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The following table sets out the number of applications for certificates of consent in respect of new casinos that the Gaming Board has received during the period requested.
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