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Culture, Media and Sport
Braille/Audio/Large Print Publications
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the provision of Braille books, newspapers and magazines in libraries in (a) England, (b) the North East, (c) Tees Valley and (d) Middlesbrough, South and East Cleveland constituency. [73658]
Mr. Lammy: DCMS is working in conjunction with English local authority library services to recognise the position of those with sight problems. There is no ring-fenced core central Government funding for public libraries, but there is an expectation that a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library service as set out in the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, will address the needs of visually impaired people. This includes the provision of alternative format materials.
We are not aware of any published regional or local data regarding provision of Braille. While there are no holdings of Braille books at Middlesbrough borough council or Redcar and Cleveland borough council, both can quickly source Braille content from the National Library for the Blind on request. Both authorities offer alternatives to Braille such as Supernova, which enhance access to both mainstream on-line and printed content (via scanner). Middlesbrough also partner with “Action for the Blind” to obtain Braille content typically within 24 hours.
Circuses
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the impact of legislative reforms to the licensing regime on circuses (a) prior to the introduction of the Licensing Bill to Parliament, (b) during the passage of the Bill through Parliament and (c) since the Licensing Act 2003 received Royal Assent. [71609]
Mr. Woodward: The Department has made no specific assessment of the impact of the legislative reforms to the licensing regime on circuses. We are currently monitoring and evaluating the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 nationally, but it is too early as yet to draw firm conclusions.
My predecessor and the Department's officials have met the Association of Circus Proprietors of Great Britain and other circuses representatives, the Arts Council and Equity, on several occasions. We will continue to work with circuses in order to help them to maximise the benefits of the licensing reforms.
Drought Orders
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what discussions she has had with representatives of the tourism, hotel and conference industry in London and the South East on measures which could be taken to mitigate the effect on the industry if drought orders were to be introduced; [72806]
(2) what assessment she has made of the likely impact of a drought order in the Thames Water region on the number of tourists coming through London and its airports; [72807]
(3) when she last met the Mayor of London to discuss the possible impact of drought orders on London's tourist, conference and hotel industries. [72808]
Mr. Woodward: VisitBritain and the UK tourism industry, including the Mayor of London who has responsibility for tourism in London, have strong and well rehearsed mechanisms in place for dealing with events which can impact on the visitor economy; my Department is closely involved in these arrangements.
VisitBritain is consulting partners in London and the South East, such as the Tourism Alliance and Tourism South East, about the possible implications for the tourism industry of drought orders. The information and advice from this exercise will be discussed with the Secretary of State and myself as necessary. We see no need as yet for a meeting with the Mayor of London to discuss possible drought orders but will keep this, along with other potential actions, under review as circumstances demand.
Football
Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her answer of 8 May 2006, Official Report, column 48W, on football, how the 92 Premier and Football League Club Chairmen responded to the previous letters from the Minister for Sport. [73418]
Mr. Caborn: In my previous letters to the 92 Premiership and Football League Chairmen I asked them to remind their players of the issue of fair play and of the responsibilities they have in being positive role models for the game.
I was not expecting responses, but of the few that did respond, and in my ongoing conversations with the football club Chairmen, they have been broadly supportive of my views.
Gambling Act
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the Gambling Commission will issue its guidance on compliance and enforcement responsibilities in respect of the Gambling Act 2005. [73328]
Mr. Caborn: The Gambling Commission is aiming to consult in the next few weeks on its arrangements for licensing, compliance and enforcement under the Gambling Act 2005. It plans to publish its finalised guidance in the autumn 2006. Copies of the published guidance will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Information Technology
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on information technology (IT) sourced from outside her Department in each of the last five years; who is responsible for such projects in her Department; and what IT (a) expertise and (b) qualifications they possess. [71801]
Mr. Lammy: My Department has fully outsourced IT so the figures given represent the total expenditure on information technology.
| £ million | |
Responsibility for information technology projects rests with the Department's CIO who has over 20 years experience of working in information technology.
Licensed Premises
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many licensed premises in (a) Greater Manchester, (b) Tameside metropolitan borough and (c) Stockport metropolitan borough have had renewal licences refused under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003. [72648]
Mr. Woodward: This information is not held centrally.
Licensing Act
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many (a) public houses, (b) convenience stores and (c) off licences have had their licences revoked under the Licensing Act 2003 for (i) the sale of alcohol to people under 18 years of age and (ii) causing antisocial behaviour related to the sale of alcohol in each licensing authority area; [71027]
(2) how many reviews of alcohol licences have been requested by local residents under the Licensing Act 2003; and how many of these reviews have resulted in licences being revoked in (a) public houses, (b) convenience stores and (c) off licences in each licensing authority area; [71028]
(3) how many (a) public houses, (b) convenience stores and (c) off licences have had their licences revoked by the police under the Licensing Act 2003 in each licensing authority area; [71030]
(4) what the average fine issued to (a) public houses, (b) convenience stores and (c) off licences under the Licensing Act 2003 has been to date to premises found guilty of selling alcohol to people under 18 years of
age; and what the average fine was for this offence in each type of premises in each of the previous five years in each licensing authority area. [71031]
Mr. Woodward: This information is not held centrally.
Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many new licences have been issued under the Licensing Act 2003; and how many licences were issued for (a) public houses, (b) convenience stores and (c) off licences in each of the previous five years in each licensing authority area. [71029]
Mr. Woodward: Statistics concerning new licences issued under the Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act), which came into force on 24 November 2005, are not available. However, the Department estimates that some 190,000 premises have been licensed under the 2003 Act, the majority of which are for the sale of alcohol.
Data for the number of new licences issued in England and Wales under the Licensing Act 1964, which has now been replaced by the 2003 Act, were collected every three years and are available for a 12 month period to the 30 June 2004 as detailed in the following table:
| Total licences issued | Total public houses | Total off-licensed premises | |
| Source: DCMS Statistical Bulletin: Liquor Licensing: England and Wales, July 2003-June 2004, Table 5. |
Separate data for convenience stores are not available.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when her Department will publish its first review of the guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003. [71610]
Mr. Woodward: The guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 is being reviewed in two stages. Following the initial review, which covers issues where a broad consensus exists among stakeholders, it is expected that supplementary guidance will be laid before Parliament in June 2006.
In parallel with this, a full review is being conducted, including a formal public consultation. As a result of this process, we expect to lay a revised version of the guidance before Parliament by the end of 2006.
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many outlets in Greater London have been prosecuted under the Licensing Act 2003. [71845]
Mr. Woodward: This information is not held centrally.
Licensing Applications
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the Answer of28 November 2005, Official Report, column 89W, on licensing applications, whether an event, a garden fete or function of a similar nature held solely to raise money for a charity or local church would be considered as ‘not for private gain’ and therefore be exempt from the requirement for a licence. [72826]
Mr. Woodward [holding answer 22 May 2006]: The provision of entertainment at a garden fete or similar event is not ‘regulated entertainment’ for the purposes of the Licensing Act 2003. Such an event would therefore be exempt from the requirement for a licence.
However, this exemption does not apply if the fete or similar function is promoted with a view to applying some or all of its proceeds for the purposes of private gain.
The provision of a benefit to one or more individuals is not regarded as being for private gain if made in the course of the activities of a non-commercial society established and conducted: (a) for charitable purposes, or (b) for the purpose of enabling participation in, or of supporting, sport, athletics or a cultural activity. In addition, no exemption from licensing would arise if the fete, event or similar function involved the sale or supply of alcohol.
London Olympics
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the different inflation rates were which were applied by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, referred to in the Minister for Sport's letter of 17 May 2006 to the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid Kent, when raising its budget from £1.5 billion to £2 billion. [72817]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 22 May 2006]: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) budget reflects an average annual rate of inflation over the seven-year period from 2004 to 2011 of approximately 4 per cent.
I am advised by LOCOG that they have used prudent but not excessive rates of inflation dependent upon the nature of the relevant costs. LOCOG has also taken into consideration the fact that the costs will be spent at different points in the lifecycle of the project.
National Heritage Memorial Fund
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the National Heritage Memorial Fund has spent on acquiring works of art for British museums in each of the last 10 years. [73233]
Mr. Lammy: The National Heritage Memorial Fund has awarded the following amounts to British museums and galleries for acquisitions of works of art in each of the last 10 financial years:
| Financial year | Value of awards (£) |
Portland PR
Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings officials in her Department have had with representatives of the public relations company Portland PR; what contracts Portland PR has with her Department and agencies for which she has responsibility; and what the nature of the contract is in each case. [70050]
Mr. Lammy: DCMS has no contracts with Portland PR and the department does not maintain a central list of such meetings. Civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and business delivery. All such meetings are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Code and Guidance for civil servants on contacts with lobbyists and people outside Government.
Schools' Olympics
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many organisations applied to run the Schools’ Olympics; and on what criteria the winner was selected. [73620]
Mr. Caborn: The selection of an operator to organise the UK School Games this September was a matter for the Millennium Commission. In my other capacity as chair of the Commission, I will write to the hon. Member and arrange for copies of my reply to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
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