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Events Industry Alliance

Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she or one of her Ministers will meet the recently formed Events Industry Alliance. [58176]

James Purnell: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I have plans to meet the Events Industry Alliance. We will be pleased to consider an invitation to do so in the future.

Gambling Industry

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of (a) the total income generated for the gambling industry by sporting events and (b) which sports generate the most income. [58191]

Mr. Caborn: The Government do not hold information on total income generated for the gambling industry by sporting events.

Horseracing remains the sport on which most bets are made.

Job Relocation (Wales)

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many jobs in her Department have been relocated to Wales since 2001. [57674]

Mr. Caborn: None.

King James Bible

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans her Department has to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the King James version of the Bible in 2011. [57451]

Mr. Lammy: There are not yet any plans in place to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the King James version of the Bible in 2011.

Licensing

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many appeals of refusals to grant licences by local authorities under the Licensing Act 2003 have been considered by magistrates' courts; how many have been upheld; and on how many occasions costs have been awarded against the local authority. [56332]

James Purnell: My Department does not hold information on the number of appeals considered by magistrates, the number upheld or the position regarding the award of costs.

However, based on early feedback from licensing authorities, and in particular the Department's work with the 10 scrutiny councils, we estimate the overall level of appeals under the new regime is small and less than 1 per cent. of all applications. The number of appeals specifically against a refusal to grant a licence by a local licensing authority will be even smaller.

We believe the appeals process is working as envisaged and we will continue to monitor progress over the coming months.
 
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Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2005, Official Report, columns 2532–33W, on the Licensing Act, what the current position is regarding a councillor who has made a representation on a licensing application on his own behalf as a resident attending and speaking at a licensing committee on that application. [56432]

James Purnell: As stated in the answer to the previous question, there is no express provision in the Licensing Act 2003 or the councillors code of conduct which precludes a councillor who has made representations on his own behalf from attending and speaking at a licensing committee on that application either as a resident or as a representative of other residents. However, in the planning case of Richardson and Orme v. North Yorkshire county council and others [2003 EWCA Civ 1860], the Court of Appeal confirmed that it is a consequence of the code that, in circumstances where a councillor has a prejudicial interest in a matter, he is required to withdraw from the committee meeting at which that matter is discussed. This would not preclude the councillor from giving written representations to the committee or asking a colleague to speak on his behalf to it.

My officials are discussing with colleagues in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister the precise application of the code and the Court of Appeal judgment to the licensing regime. Operation of the rules is a matter for local authorities and their members, taking into account the relevant legislation.

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance she has issued to (a) local authorities and (b) the Magistrates Association concerning the Licensing Act 2003. [56227]

James Purnell: The Government have not issued guidance to the Magistrates Association concerning the Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act). Guidance has been issued to licensing authorities (who are mainly local authorities) under Section 182 of the 2003 Act. It is available from: www.culture.gov.uk/global/publications/archive_2004/guidance_issued_under_section_182_of_ the_licensing_act_2003.htm.

Lisbon Agenda

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what policies her Department has adopted to assist the United Kingdom's fulfilment of the Lisbon Agenda criteria. [55675]

James Purnell: The Government strongly support the renewed Lisbon focus on jobs and growth" as the best way to meet the challenges of globalisation and boost prosperity and living standards for all. The UK National Reform programme details our policy response to these challenges. My Department is fully engaged in the Government-wide commitment to better regulation and is also playing a key part in raising skills levels, particularly in the art and creative sectors. My Department also has a number of projects connected to the PSA target to maximise the contribution which tourism and the creative and leisure industries can make to the economy which will also help the UK to achieve its Lisbon Agenda targets.
 
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We expect the spring Council in March to emphasise the importance of implementation of national commitments to reform.

Lottery Funding

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Lottery distributing bodies on the funding of voluntary and community sector organisations after 2009. [58021]

Mr. Caborn: None. However, the Big Lottery Fund, the operating name of the National Lottery Charities Board and the New Opportunities Fund, working jointly together, has given an undertaking that 60–70 per cent. of its funding will go directly to voluntary and community sector organisations.

Olympics 2012

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the value is of contracts awarded by the (a) London Development Agency and (b) Transport for London for the 2012 London Olympics; and what proportion of contracts have been awarded to black and ethnic minority businesses. [54758]

Mr. Caborn: Two contracts have been let by the London Development Agency (LDA) up to the value of £236.8 million. These are for work for undergrounding powerlines and for the Olympic park designers. Both contracts are for specialised services, and were awarded under European Union procurement rules. Neither went to contractors or suppliers who are black, asian and minority ethnic (BAME) owned. Transport for London has not let any contracts that solely relate to the 2012 games.

Government, the Mayor and the LDA are keen to ensure that London and UK businesses, including BAME led businesses, are successful in accessing contracting and subcontracting opportunities associated with the Olympics.

The LDA is establishing BAME and SME training programmes to ensure these businesses have the requisite skills to bid for contracts.

Princess Diana Memorial Fountain

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the total cost of repairing the cracks in the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain; and if she will make a statement. [54661]

Tessa Jowell: Two types of cracks have appeared in the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain, but they pose no threat to the integrity of the structure. The Royal Parks Agency will continue to monitor the situation, but no remedial action is anticipated.

The memorial is constructed of 545 blocks of Cornish granite dowelled into a reinforced concrete foundation.

Watermarks, or natural colour seams, have appeared in three of the slabs of granite.
 
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Hairline cracks have appeared in the grouted joints between some of the blocks, but the structure is designed to tolerate the natural movement which has caused this. The cracks do not extend to the stonework and do not affect the waterproofing of the structure, which is ensured by a compressible seal beneath the joints.

To combat the wear and tear of regular pressure washing and natural weathering, it will be necessary to replace up to five metres of grout on the memorial annually at a cost of around £1,000. This work will be done during the annual maintenance shutdown in November.

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