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16 Jan 2006 : Column 955W—continued
German Football Grounds
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the Government have requested an independent assessment of the safety of German football grounds to be used for the 2006 World cup; and if she will make a statement. [42703]
Mr. Caborn: The Government have not requested an independent assessment of the safety of German football grounds to be used for this summer's World cup.
While it is a matter for FIFA to decide whether any independent assessment is appropriate, the German FA has agreed to look at the concerns highlighted in the German consumer watchdog's report and I understand that the English FA will closely monitor the situation as necessary.
Gyms (Disabled Access)
Tim Farron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 9 January
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2006, Official Report, columns 39–40W, on gyms (accessibility), in which parliamentary constituencies the 180 local authority gyms which have received Sport England investment are located; what recent meetings Sport England and the English Federation of Disability Sport have had with Cannons and Fitness First to discuss improving provision for disabled people in private sector facilities; what was discussed; and whether they propose to meet other gym providers. [41921]
Mr. Caborn: Sport England and the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) have met the Chair and chief executive of the Fitness Industry Association to discuss the implementation and delivery of a number of pilot projects in private sector gym facilities. Their aim is to encourage the implementation of the principles of the Inclusive Fitness Initiative to all providers.
Sport England is currently working with the following private gym providers: Fitness First, Colchester; Esporta, Guildford; Cannons, Paddington; Fitness Express, Kelling Heath; LA Fitness, Fornby; and Livingwell, Barnsley.
A list of the 180 local authority gyms supported by the Inclusive Fitness Initiative will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, columns 39–40W, on gyms (accessibility), what (a) submissions she has made to and (b) discussions she has had with the Department for Work and Pensions inter-departmental group on disability regarding disabled user access to gymnasia. [42009]
Mr. Caborn: DCMS has made no submissions about disabled user access to gymnasia to the inter-departmental group on disability, nor has it raised this issue as a specific discussion topic for the group.
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, columns 39–40W, on gyms (accessibility), which local authorities responded to her correspondence in August 2005. [42135]
Mr. Caborn: Our August 2005 letter to local authorities about the Disability Discrimination Act did not solicit a response. However, some local authorities have chosen to reply and these include:
Historic Sites
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many historic sites were on English Heritage's Buildings at Risk list in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in each of the last five years. [41612]
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Mr. Lammy: The number of historic sites on English Heritage's Building at Risk register for the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in each of the last five years is as follows:
| Sites | |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2001 | 7 |
During this period, three sites have been removed from the Register and a further three have been added.
Office Equipment
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many (a) personal computers, (b) laptops, (c) servers, (d) printers, (e) scanners, (f) photocopiers and (g) fax machines (i) her Department, (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which her Department is responsible in each English region owned in (1) 2003–04 and (2) 2004–05; [40068]
(2) how many (a) personal computers, (b) laptops, (c) servers, (d) printers, (e) scanners, (f) photocopiers and (g) fax machines (i) her Department, (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which her Department is responsible in (1) Scotland, (2) Wales, (3) each of the English regions and (4) Northern Ireland owned in (x) 2003–04 and (y) 2004–05. [40110]
Mr. Lammy: My Department does not hold a record of the IT and telecommunications assets of its NDPBs, Agency or any other public body. The information could be collated only at disproportionate cost.
Olympic Development Authority
Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she has taken to ensure potential suitably qualified candidates for the Board of the Olympic Development Authority (ODA) are informed of the prospective recruitment; and whether she plans to make it her policy that each country within the United Kingdom is proportionately represented on the ODA board. [41543]
Mr. Caborn: The advertisements for membership of the Board of the Olympic Development Authority were published in National newspapers and on the Web and several hundred applications were received.
Board members will be selected from among the applicants according to how well they meet the requirements of the post. There are no plans to recruit board members on a geographical basis but we are committed to assembling the best talent from across the UK.
Press Complaints Commission
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the term of office of the current chairman of the Press Complaints Commission is due to end. [41870]
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James Purnell: The Press Complaints Commission is an independent body, and Government plays no role in the appointment of any of its officers. However, I understand from the PCC that Sir Christopher Meyer's term of office will run until 31 March 2009.
Theatre Audiences
Mr. Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the percentage of audiences representing black and minority ethnic communities at (a) the National Theatre, (b) the Royal Opera House and (c) the English National Opera in the last year for which figures are available. [41132]
Mr. Lammy: 9 per cent. of English National Opera's (ENO) audience for the period 2004–05 were from the black and minority ethnic community. In addition, a February 2003 to May 2004 snapshot shows that 44 per cent. of participants in projects run by ENO Baylis (ENO's education programme) were from the black and minority ethnic community.
No comparable statistics were available for the Royal Opera House or National Theatre.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, working in partnership with its non-departmental public body partners, has commissioned the Taking Part" survey which aims to improve our current knowledge of engagement in our sectors. The data collected will enable a robust measurement of the departmental Public Service Agreement (PSA) target on increasing participation and attendance amongst priority groups. These include people from the black and minority ethnic community.
Tourism
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the financial contribution of the tourist industry to London's economy in the last year for which figures are available. [40804]
James Purnell: The English regions 'First Steps Tourism Satellite Account' report (August 2005), sponsored by the English Regional Development Agencies, estimated that, in 2000, the contribution of tourism to regional Gross-Value Added (GVA) in London was around £7 billion, or 5.3 per cent.
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many jobs she estimates the tourist industry creates in London. [40805]
James Purnell: The English regions 'First Steps Tourism Satellite Account' report (August 2005), sponsored by the English Regional Development Agencies, estimated that tourism industry employment in London was around 740,000 workers in 2000.
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