| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
6 Mar 2006 : Column 1075W—continued
Wind Farms
Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to make a decision on the application for the transfer of common land on Scout Moor to facilitate the building of a wind farm. [55400]
Jim Knight: Following a public inquiry into joint applications under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and section 147 of the Inclosure Act 1845, the inspector has submitted his recommendations to the relevant Secretaries of State. We are currently seeking to resolve a number of detailed issues relating to the application under section 147 of the 1845 Act and expect to reach a decision shortly.
PRIME MINISTER
British Overseas Territories
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Cabinet Minister with responsibility for British Overseas Territories. [55852]
6 Mar 2006 : Column 1076W
The Prime Minister: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary (Jack Straw) is the Cabinet Minister with responsibility for British Overseas Territories.
Council Tax
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers had council tax bills on official residences paid for by Government departments since May 1997; and for how long such payments have been made. [51072]
The Prime Minister: The detailed information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Expenditure
Mr. Laws: To ask the Prime Minister how much has been spent by his Office on media training in each year since 1997–98. [55223]
The Prime Minister: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Jim Murphy) today.
Flood Defences (Shrewsbury)
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Prime Minister if he will visit flood defences in Shrewsbury. [56500]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 December 2005, Official Report, column 1039W.
Guantanamo Bay
Lynne Jones: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with (a) the President of the United States and (b) the United Nations on the call from the United Nations Economic Social Research Council Commission on Human Rights, contained in paragraph 96 of report E/CN.4/2006/120, for the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay to be closed; and if he will make a statement. [54463]
The Prime Minister: It is important to remember the circumstances which led to Guantanamo Bay's establishment. Nearly 3,000 people were killed during the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. We remain determined to work with our allies to defeat the scourge of global terrorism.
We have made it clear that we regard the circumstances under which detainees continue to be held in Guantanamo Bay as unacceptable. Guantanamo Bay is an anomaly that should come to an end sooner rather than later. The US Government, and the UN, are fully aware of our views.
6 Mar 2006 : Column 1077W
Queen's Birthday
Anne Main: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen's 80th birthday in his official capacity; and what assessment he has made of plans for the celebration. [54184]
The Prime Minister: I shall be attending the official celebrations for Her Majesty The Queen's 80th birthday including the National Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral.
Sustainable Development Commission
Mr. Drew: To ask the Prime Minister how often he meets the UK Sustainable Development Commission. [55368]
The Prime Minister: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a wide range of subjects, including members of the UK Sustainable Development Commission.
Tibet
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister when he last raised human rights in Tibet with the Chinese Government. [56464]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 January 2006, Official Report, column 64W to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow).
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Museums
10. Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on public funding for regional museums. [55627]
James Purnell: The information is as follows.
My Department is committing a targeted £77 million to English regional museums in 2006–08, through the Renaissance in the Regions programme.
Regional museums are also able to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and, for those with Designated collections, the Designated Challenge Fund.
Section 106 Agreements (Sports Facilities)
11. Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many section 106 agreements have led to additional sports facilities since 1997. [55628]
Mr. Caborn: Information on the numbers of section 106 agreements that have led to additional sports facilities is not held centrally.
However, the Government believe that new developments should contribute to meeting the increased recreational needs of our communities through new and enhanced facilities for sport and this is clearly set out in the planning guidance for open space, sport and recreation—(PPG 17).
To that end Sport England work closely with local authorities to actively promote the use of planning obligations to bring benefits for sport.
6 Mar 2006 : Column 1078W
BBC
12. Mr. Gauke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport If she will make a statement on her plans for future funding of the BBC through the licence fee. [55629]
Tessa Jowell: As stated in the Green Paper, A strong BBC, independent of government", published in March 2005, the BBC will continue to be funded by the licence fee for the whole of the next Charter period.
The Government are currently conducting a funding review to determine the level of the television licence fee to apply from April 2007 and will announce the outcome in due course.
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the White Paper on the BBC is expected; and what arrangements she has made for its launch. [55801]
Tessa Jowell: I intend to publish the White Paper on BBC Charter review very shortly and will make appropriate arrangements for its launch.
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many complaints have been received by TV Licensing in the last 12 months in relation to records held by TV Licensing for postal addresses that do not exist; [56176]
(2) what progress has been made by TV Licensing towards maintaining accurate householder and postal address records. [56177]
James Purnell: The BBC has statutory responsibility for the administration of the television licensing system and TV Licensing carries out the day to day administration under contract to the Corporation. I have therefore asked the BBC's Head of Revenue Management to consider the questions raised by my hon. Friend and to write to her direct. Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
National Lottery
13. Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of funds awarded by the Big Lottery Fund in 2004–05 went to the four original good causes. [55630]
Mr. Caborn: I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave earlier to the right hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory).
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much lottery funding each ward in each local authority in Hampshire classified as disadvantaged has received over the last three years; and what percentage this represented of total lottery funding in each local authority area. [55536]
Mr. Caborn: There is no agreed definition that classifies an area as either deprived or not deprived.
However, information on the number and value of lottery awards by ward and local authority, including in Hampshire, is available on the Department's lottery awards database at www.lottery.culture.gsi.gov.uk
6 Mar 2006 : Column 1079W
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |