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26 Apr 2006 : Column 1130W—continued
UK Trade and Investment
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the contracts won in 2004–05 by British companies from (a) China, (b) Japan, (c) Turkey, (d) the Far East and (e) the Middle East following the Duke of York's travels for UK Trade and Investment. [63156]
Ian Pearson: HRH The Duke of York is the UK's special representative for international trade and investment. In this role HRH makes a significant contribution in promoting the interests of UK industry and the UK as a whole, through an extensive programme of targeted engagements both in the UK and overseas. It is not possible to try to directly attribute contracts won to any individual contribution, as contracts are achieved through the efforts of many individuals and agencies, often over some years.
There is a high demand from British business for The Duke's assistance in lobbying for both inward and outward investment.
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Women in Work
Ed Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of women in (a) Wakefield district and (b) Normanton constituency are working (i) part-time and (ii) full-time. [66026]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The following table shows the proportion of all women (aged 16 and over) in either full-time or part-time employment 1 , for Wakefield and Normanton. Estimates refer to place of residence and are from the Annual Population Survey from the Office for National Statistics and cover the period from April 2004 to March 2005.
(16) Employment includes: employees, self-employed, Government employment and training programmes, and unpaid family workers.
(17) Not in employment" includes unemployed and economically inactive women.
Source:
ONS Annual Population Survey
SCOTLAND
Departmental Leave (Stress)
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff have been on sick leave suffering from stress in the Department in each of the last three years; and what percentage of the total staff number this represents. [63530]
David Cairns: Fewer than five people have been affected; to avoid disclosure, the Office does not specify actual figures where the number is below five.
Grievance Procedures
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many grievance procedures have been initiated in the Department in each of the last three years. [63531]
Harassment Procedures
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many complaints of (a) bullying and (b) sexual harassment have been investigated in the Department in each of the last three years; and how many complaints have been upheld. [63532]
David Cairns:
No complaints have been received.
26 Apr 2006 : Column 1132W
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
British Library
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the future role of the British Library at Boston Spa. [66051]
Mr. Lammy: The future role of the British Library at Boston Spa is a matter for the British Library Board.
Mr. Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the respective roles of the reading rooms at the British Library premises in (a) London and (b) Boston Spa. [66052]
Mr. Lammy: The British Library reading rooms at St. Pancras provide 1,100 reader seats. The reading room at Boston Spa provides 76 reader seats. There are no current plans to alter the reading room provision at Boston Spa.
Commonwealth Games
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the performance of the British Commonwealth teams in the recent Commonwealth Games. [65307]
Mr. Caborn: The Games were a marvellous occasion, both for the participants and spectators, and there were some truly excellent and inspiring performances by the British teams. As sport is a devolved issue, I will not comment further on the performance of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish teams.
The English team had some considerable successes, not least in the swimming pool, the boxing ring and the velodrome, and consolidated its position as the number two Commonwealth nation.
The team's performance also gave some indications of success at future competitions, including the Beijing Olympics in two years' time, the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010, and London 2012. UK Sport, the Government's lead agency for elite sport, will be working with the English and UK National Governing Bodies to help bring performances in line with the very best.
Digital Switchover
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent progress her Department has made on digital switchover; and if she will make a statement. [65378]
Tessa Jowell: Good progress continues to be made. The Government have confirmed the regional timetable for switchover and announced support schemes to help the most vulnerable households to make the switch. The not-for-profit organisation Digital UK, which will co-ordinate the switch to digital television, has now been set up.
We will shortly publish the report of the trial conducted in the Bolton area in association with the BBC. The conclusions of the trial together with other research and discussions with the consumer experts group and other stakeholders will inform the development of the nationwide support scheme.
26 Apr 2006 : Column 1133W
High Definition Television
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when high definition television is expected to be available to viewers across the UK. [65873]
James Purnell: The equipment needed to receive High Definition TV is already available to all Telewest consumers. Customers with such equipment can access free of charge a limited amount of High Definition content from the on-demand library. There are plans to roll out similar equipment to ntl customers but no specific timescales are currently available.
Sky plan to offer high definition services nationally via satellite from late May.
Internet Gambling
Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has held with the Remote Gambling Association on the effectiveness of its code of practice in discouraging internet gambling addiction. [65471]
Mr. Caborn: The Remote Gambling Association contacted the Department with a draft version of their social responsibility code prior to its publication and asked for comments, which officials provided.
Later this year I will be hosting a Government level international summit to consider the scope for building on best practice and developing international norms in social responsibility for remote gambling operators around the globe.
Olympic Games
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Exchequer funding forms part of the funding package for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games. [65040]
Mr. Caborn: As is normal practice, the local organising committee will be largely funded through sponsorship; sale of tickets; and directly from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
There are no plans to provide Exchequer funding for the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) although the Government have, as required by the IOC, given an assurance that they will act as the ultimate financial guarantor should there be a shortfall between Olympic costs and revenues. However, over £50 million from the Public Sector Funding Package will be going to LOCOG to fund the delivery of the Paralympic Games.
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