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19 Jun 2006 : Column 1609W—continued
Licensing Act
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many licences have been issued in respect of charity fund-raising events which did not provide alcohol since the implementation of the Licensing Act 2003; and if she will make a statement. [77659]
Mr. Woodward: This information is not held centrally.
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent consideration she has given to seeking to amend the Licensing Act 2003 to allow ‘cumulative effect’ to be considered in licensing decisions. [78402]
Mr. Woodward: The cumulative impact of multiple licensed premises on crime and disorder has always been, and continues to be, a matter which licensing authorities are entitled to take into account when representations are made to them about applications for the grant or variation of a premises licences or club premises certificates. This was confirmed by the decision of Mr. Justice Beatson on 11 April 2006 in the unreported case of R (J D Wetherspoon plc) v. Guildford borough council. The Government therefore have no plans to amend the Licensing Act 2003 for this purpose.
Listed Buildings
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether primary legislation is required to delist (a) the Commonwealth Institute building and (b) other Grade II* listed buildings. [78148]
Mr. Lammy: Primary legislation is not required to delist Grade II* listed buildings. Buildings can be removed from the statutory list if the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport considers, having consulted with her statutory advisers, English Heritage, and others as appropriate, that the building no longer has special architectural or historic interest. This is not the case with the Commonwealth Institute. Due to the unique and wider considerations which apply to the Commonwealth Institute, the Government are considering whether special measures are appropriate in this case. No decisions have yet been taken.
London Olympics
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the London Olympics on (a) Stroud and (b) the South West, with particular reference to (i) events, (ii) use of training facilities and (iii) opportunities for tourist visits. [77824]
Mr. Caborn: My Department has not made a specific assessment of the impact to Stroud, or the South West, of holding the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
However, the 2012 games will have a positive impact on investment, tourism and business opportunities across the UK, and will be a boost in our drive to create a healthier and more active nation.
Each region has been asked to develop a plan to ensure that they take full advantage of these benefits.
With close proximity to London and the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy in neighbouring Dorset as the venue for all the 2012 sailing events, the games will be a terrific boost for Stroud and all the South West.
Staff Absenteeism
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many working days were lost to her Department and its executive agencies in each year since 1997 due to staff absenteeism, expressed as the average annual number of absent days per employee; and what the estimated total cost to her Department and its agencies of absenteeism was in each year. [77254]
Mr. Lammy: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Sick absence figures are contained in the annual report Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service published by the Cabinet Office. Table A of the report gives details of both the average working days absence per staff year and the number of staff years on which that calculation is based on. The most recent report for the calendar year 2004 was announced by ministerial statement on 15 November 2005, and copies placed in the Library of the House. This report and those for 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 are available on the Cabinet Office website at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/occupational_health/publications/index.asp.
TV Licence
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to compensate those who will lose the value of the stamps on a television licence savings card because they were unable to transfer to a new savings card by 31 July. [77825]
Mr. Woodward: The BBC, as television licensing authority, is responsible for administering both the savings stamp scheme and the new savings cards. I understand from the corporation that savings stamps will remain redeemable from TV Licensing without limit of time. Holders of savings stamps will not therefore lose their savings in the event of delays in transferring the balance to a savings card.
Whole Sport Plan
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 946W, on the Whole Sport Plan, how much of the £158.5 million has been spent; how much is allocated to each of the 34 priority and development sports; and how much is allocated to each of the other 12 sports. [78233]
Mr. Caborn [holding answer 16 June 2006]: Of the £158.5 million so far committed by Sport England through Whole Sport Plans £65.3 million has been spent to date.
Of the £158.5 million a total of £157 million has been committed to the 34 priority and development sports and £1.5 million has been committed to 12(1) other sports.
The table shows a breakdown of funding ‘committed’ and ‘committed in principle to each sport.
(1) The table shows 16 ‘other’ sports but four of those are no longer funded or did not submit a whole sport plan.
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