---

22 Mar 2006 : Column 432W—continued

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Libraries

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment she has made of the merits of library self-service systems; and if she will make a statement; [60293]

(2) what steps she is taking to encourage local authorities to install library self-service systems; and if she will make a statement. [60294]

Mr. Lammy: There has been no formal assessment. In the right locations self-service issues can speed user throughput, free-up staff for other public facing duties and, in conjunction with other technology, aid the effective and efficient management of stock.

However, there are known to be a number of potential issues around the installation of self-service facilities in public libraries. As well as the cost of the equipment line", these encompass such things as the possible need for the re-design of library layouts, including their entrances, and the reluctance of some users to engage with the new equipment.

These issues will be different in each location, so the parent authorities are best placed to weigh up the cost-effectiveness of installing self-service issue facilities in their libraries.

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many self-service library systems there are in England; and if she will make a statement. [60514]

Mr. Lammy: This information is not held centrally.

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was collected in public library fines in each London borough in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [60556]

Mr. Lammy: The table shows how much was collected in public library fines by local authorities across all London boroughs in each of the last five years. This information is drawn from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Public Library Statistics Actuals. The CIPFA statistics show totals for individual library authorities. Copies are held in the House of Commons Library.

	Overdue charges across all London boroughs (£)
2000–01	3,114,476
2001–02	3,129,331
2002–03	2,974,082
2003–04	2,834,162
2004–05	2,758,965

 
22 Mar 2006 : Column 433W
 

Olympic Lottery Distributor

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who made the final decision to appoint the chair of the Olympic Lottery Distributor. [58952]

Tessa Jowell: The appointment of the chair of the Olympic Lottery Distributor was a public appointment. The final decision was taken by me, after consultation with the Mayor of London and the British Olympic Association. This is consistent with the requirements set out in Schedule 5 to the Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004. The appointment was made following an open competition and taking account of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments Code of Practice. The decision was governed by the overriding principle of selection based on merit and by the well-informed choice of individuals whose abilities, experience and qualities matched the need of the public body in question.

Physical Activity

Mr. Andy Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department has spent on (a) promoting regular physical activity and (b) physical activity projects since 1997. [59950]

Mr. Caborn: Sport England is the primary distributor of funding for community and grass roots sport in England.

In the period since 1997 Sport England has distributed £2.4 billion Lottery funds and over £400 million Exchequer funding for promoting physical activity and sport.

Small Firms

Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what definition her Department uses of a small firm. [59291]

Mr. Lammy: There is no standard definition of a 'small firm'. However, commonly used in DCMS is the notion of 'small and medium sized enterprises' or 'SMEs'. These are often defined as organisations having 250 employees or less. However, this is not set in stone and definitions of small firms or SMEs vary depending on the context.

Theatre Museum

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions have taken place between her Department and the trustees of the Victoria and Albert Museum regarding the proposed closure of the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden. [59939]

Mr. Lammy: The Theatre Museum review currently underway is considering the options for where, and how best, to display the Theatre Museum's Collection. The final decision is a matter for the Trustees of the V&A, who have not raised the issue directly with the Department. The Museum continues to keep the Department updated on the position.
 
22 Mar 2006 : Column 434W
 

World Heritage Website

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the running costs of the UK world heritage website were in 2005. [60169]

Mr. Lammy: It is not possible to give a figure for the running costs of the UK world heritage website in 2005 as the costs of developing and operating this website are contained in the total figure for all the Department's websites. In 2005 this was £47,000 which covered all 17 of the Department's websites.

DEFENCE

Afghan Poppy Farmers

Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential for violence from Afghan poppy farmers as a consequence of the eradication of their fields. [57714]

Mr. Ingram: We continuously monitor and assess potential threats to our forces. Afghan-led poppy eradication is an important element of the Government of Afghanistan's strategy for the elimination of narcotics production and trafficking. To reduce the potential for resistance from Afghan farmers affected by eradication, it is essential to target wealthy producers in particular ("the greedy not the needy") to offer opportunities to develop alternative rural livelihoods, or to persuade farmers to opt for legal livelihoods where they are already available.

Darfur

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is willing to commit troops to a UN peace-enforcement mission to Darfur. [58847]

Mr. Ingram: We fully support the proposed transition from the AU monitoring mission to a UN peacekeeping mission. MOD currently has four personnel contributing to the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS). Furthermore, we have deployed a military officer to the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations to assist with strategic planning. However, given our present commitments we are not planning to deploy frontline troops to Darfur. Any further requests for specific assistance will be considered on a case by case basis.

Defence Intelligence Staff

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many persons in the Defence intelligence staff have been found to have taken actions without proper authorisation in each year since 1997; [60174]

(2) what mechanism his Department has in place to identify actions taken by the Defence intelligence staffwithout approval from (a) Ministers and (b) the chief of Defence intelligence where such approval is required. [60199]

Mr. Ingram [holding answer 21 March 2006]: All military and civilian personnel of the Defence intelligence staff (DIS) in the Ministry of Defence are required to undertake duties as detailed in their terms of reference. DIS civilian personnel are required to
 
22 Mar 2006 : Column 435W
 
conform to the terms of the 'Civil Service Code' and departmental procedure on conduct and meeting standards of behaviour expected of public servants, in conjunction with departmental guidance on the handling of matters of conscience and the reporting of concerns at work. Military personnel of the DIS are guided in the performance of their duties by Queens Regulations.

Information is not held in the form requested, but where the DIS are aware of any action being taken without proper authority, disciplinary or other appropriate action is taken.

Information is not held in the form requested, but where the DIS are aware of any action being taken without proper authority, disciplinary or other appropriate action is taken.

---