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21 Mar 2006 : Column 200W—continued
Wind Farms
Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what resources his Department is allocating to the review of section 36 consents for large offshore wind farms. [59757]
Malcolm Wicks: The Department's Electricity Development Consents Directorate has two dedicated case officers dealing with section 36 consents for renewable energy projects, including wind farms. Other staff also contribute toward section 36 work.
In assessing the applications, the EDC team can draw upon expert advice from their colleagues in the Department's Offshore Environment and Decommissioning Directorate. Advice is also provided by a range of consultees, including statutory bodies such as English Nature, the Countryside Council for Wales and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. DTI works closely with Defra and the Crown Estate who have related responsibilities for offshore wind farms.
The Department has established a Research Advisory Group (RAG), which brings together representatives from a number of Government Departments to co-ordinate the priorities for research work into the potential impact of offshore renewables projects. The results of this work will be available to Ministers in considering requests for consent from wind farm developers. The research is funded from a £2.5 million budget held by the DTI, but this money is supplemented by contributions from other parties, for example, other Government Departments and the wind farm industry.
DTI also facilitates a number of stakeholder groups which bring together the offshore renewable energy sector with environmental, navigation and fishing interests. These groups exist to consider how wind farms can be successfully integrated into the marine environment and provide evidence and analysis relevant to consent decisions.
World Trade Organisation (Emergency Summit)
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of (a) the outcome of the recent emergency summit of the World Trade Organisation in London and (b) its likely implications for developing countries. [58851]
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Ian Pearson: Talks at the G6 Ministers (EU, US, Brazil, India, Australia and Japan) meeting in London on 11 March were intense, but unfortunately delivered no major progress. As reflected in my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's joint statement with President Lula, the UK remains committed to an ambitious, balanced, pro-development outcome to the round. We believe that all the main parties in the talks need to take bold steps to go beyond established negotiating positions to improve their offers on agricultural market access and domestic support, NAMA and services. Those offers must also take account of the needs of developing countries by delivering improved market access in both agricultural and non-agricultural goods that is comparably high, but in a balanced and proportionate manner, consistent with the principle of special and differential treatment.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
2012 Olympics
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether any contaminated land has been designated in the footprint of the area assigned to the 2012 London Olympics. [59672]
Mr. Caborn: Initial site investigation and desk-top research work, undertaken in support of the Olympic and Legacy Planning Applications, identified some contamination within the footprint of the Olympic Park area. Much of the contaminated land is former Brownfield or derelict land that has been used for a variety of industrial activities. The appropriate decontamination work will take place before development of the site commences.
Libraries
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many libraries there are in England; and how many there were in 1997. [60518]
Mr. Lammy: The number of static public libraries in England 1997–98 and 2004–05 (most recently available figures) was as follows:
| 60+ | 45–59 | 30–44 | 10–29 | <10 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 6 | 449 | 1,278 | 1,323 | 157 | 3213 |
| 2004–05 | 69 | 727 | 1,139 | 1,106 | 96 | 3137 |
Sources:
Public Library Statistics 2004–05 Actuals, published by the Chartered Institute for Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) & LISU Annual Library Statistics 2005 (derived from CIPFA Actuals figures 1997–98 to 2004–05).
Local News Services
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the BBC's proposed ultra-local digital news services on local television stations. [59545]
James Purnell:
This is primarily a matter for the BBC. The White Paper we published on 14 March 2006 makes clear that, under the new Charter and Agreement, any
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proposed new service or significant change to an existing service will need to be subjected to a Public Value Test (PVT), which will include an assessment of impact on the market. We welcome the BBC's commitment to ensuring that the proposal for local news services undergoes a PVT before a decision is made on whether to roll them out.
Prejudice and Intolerance Campaigns
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what departmental assistance has been offered to Glasgow Rangers and Glasgow Celtic football clubs to help in their campaigns against prejudice and intolerance in the last two years. [59831]
Mr. Caborn: As you may know, sport is a devolved matter and the Scottish Executive, rather than the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, has responsibility for professional football in Scotland.
However, I am pleased to hear that that the Scottish Football Association (SFA) has recently introduced a National Club Licensing Scheme which places a responsibility on Scottish Premier League (SPL) and Scottish Football League (SFL) clubs to demonstrate they operate clear policies against sectarianism. Sportscotland also actively promotes ethical participation in sport and has produced an Ethics in Sport document providing basic information for sports organisations on ethical issues with a specific section covering faith, religion and sport.
My Department continues to support anti-racism campaigns such as Kick It Out and Show Racism the Red Card through funding for the Football Foundation which will receive £45 million in Government money between 2004 and 2007. We are also working closely with the Commission for Racial Equality who are developing race equality action plans with the Football Association, the Premier League, the Football League, the Professional Footballers Association and the Football Foundation.
CABINET OFFICE
Ministerial Code
22. Mr. Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations he has received on the ministerial code; and if he will make a statement. [59771]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The 'ministerial code' is normally revised and reissued after a general election. The current version was reissued in July 2005. It took account of comments made by the Public Administration Select Committee and the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Delivery Unit
23. Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the work of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit. [59772]
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Mr. Jim Murphy: The Prime Minister's Delivery Unit aims to ensure the delivery of the Government's top public service priority outcomes. The unit works in partnership with Government Departments to deliver improvements in public services.
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the work of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit. [59773]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The Prime Minister's Delivery Unit aims to ensure the delivery of the Government's top public service priority outcomes. The unit works in partnership with Government Departments to deliver improvements in public services.
Civil Service
24. Vera Baird: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on progress in increasing the number of women in the senior civil service. [59774]
Mr. Jim Murphy: The proportion of women in senior posts since 1998 has increased significantly. The civil service has met its target to double the proportion of women in top management posts (from 12.7 per cent. to 25.5 per cent. in 2005), but there is still more work to do. New and challenging targets have been set for 2008, underpinned by a Diversity 10 Point Plan; Delivering Diverse Civil Service".
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