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13 July 2006 : Column 1967W—continued
London Olympics
Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) whether there are plans to allow members of the public to stay overnight in the Royal Parks during the 2012 Olympic games; [84698]
(2) what plans there are for public events in the Royal Parks during the 2012 Olympic games; [84699]
(3) what discussions have been held between her Department and representatives of the Royal Parks on use of those parks by members of the public during the 2012 Olympic games; [84700]
(4) what discussions have been held on the use of Richmond park during the 2012 Olympic games. [84712]
Mr. Lammy [holding answer 12 July 2006]: Richmond park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve—as well as a candidate European Special Conservation Area—and there are no plans to use it for the Olympic games.
Some of the other Royal Parks—Greenwich park, Hyde park, Regent's park and Horse Guards Parade in St. James's park—will be hosting Olympic events, and these are bound to affect whether, and how, the public will be able to use certain areas of these parks.
Planning for the cultural programme and the details of the role that the Royal Parks will play in it is still at an early stage. However, my officials have already been discussing with the Royal Parks how the games will impact on the parks, and will continue to involve them in the planning of aspects of the games, and their attendant events, which might affect them before during and after the games take place.
There are no plans to make the Royal Parks available for overnight accommodation during the games. There are thousands of hotels, guest houses and hostels in and around London, offering excellent accommodation.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many parliamentary questions tabled to her Department were awaiting a reply on 10 July 2006; which of those had been waiting longer than (a) two and (b) three weeks for a reply; and what the reason for the delay was in each case. [85201]
Mr. Lammy: Forty-two parliamentary questions tabled to DCMS were awaiting a reply on 10 July 2006. None of these had been waiting longer than two weeks for a reply.
Philip Anschutz
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she was informed of the Deputy Prime Minister’s intention to stay with Philip Anschutz during his visit to the US in July 2005. [84174]
Tessa Jowell: I was not informed of the Deputy Prime Minister’s intention to stay with Philip Anschutz, nor would I expect to have been.
Public Libraries
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2006, Official Report, columns 1608-9W to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on library closures, how many libraries (a) closed, (b) were scheduled for closure and (c) opened in (i) rural areas and (ii) non-rural areas in that period; and if she will make a statement. [84615]
Mr. Lammy: The table in the answer to which the hon. Member refers was derived from the Public Library Statistics published annually by the Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). These do not break down the numbers of public libraries by rural and non-rural areas, however defined.
Nevertheless, the CIPFA statistics contain year on year figures allowing comparisons to be made between the numbers of libraries operated by the London boroughs (inner, outer and the City), metropolitan
districts, counties and unitary authorities. The statistics also offer breakdowns by English region. Copies are held by the House Library.
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the (a) performance and (b) popularity of Sutton’s self-service public library. [83829]
Mr. Lammy: There has been no such assessment. Day to day operational issues are for the judgment of the 149 library authorities in England.
However, I understand that the self-issue facilities in place at Sutton’s libraries have proved popular with the majority of users and, along with other improvements, have contributed to an increased number of visits and issues as well as helping with stock management.
Part of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council’s (MLA’s) role is to investigate and disseminate good practice. Some of the improvements at Sutton libraries are featured on the Designing Libraries website, jointly funded by the MLA, at www.designinglibraries.org.uk.
TV Advertising
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what meetings Ofcom has held with organisations and individuals to discuss restrictions on television advertising for food products targeting children; and which meetings were (a) initiated by Ofcom and (b) attended by Ofcom in response to requests from a third party; [85241]
(2) what the length was of each meeting attended by Ofcom to discuss restrictions on television advertising of food products targeting children; and which meetings were with organisations (a) in favour of, (b) opposed to and (c) neutral on restrictions of such advertising. [85244]
Mr. Woodward: The matters raised are the responsibility of the Office of Communications as independent regulator. Accordingly, my officials have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to reply. Copies of the Chief Executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
TV Licence Savings Card
Mr. Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assistance her Department is giving to elderly people to transfer from television licence savings stamps to the new savings card before the deadline of 31 July; and if she will make a statement; [84651]
(2) how many and what proportion of people have transferred from television licence savings stamps to the new savings card to date; and if she will make a statement; [84652]
(3) what estimate she has made of the number of elderly people who will have transferred from television licence savings stamps to the new savings card by 31 July; and if she will make a statement; [84653]
(4) what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the decision to replace television licence savings stamps with a savings card on (a) people residing in rural areas and (b) elderly people; and if she will make a statement. [84654]
Mr. Woodward: The provision of assistance to licence fee payers switching from savings stamps to savings cards is a matter for the BBC, as television licensing authority, rather than the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The corporation is also responsible for maintaining licensing records. I have asked the BBC’s head of revenue management to reply.
The Department’s assessment of the impact of replacing savings stamps is likely to be limited. Stamp sales have been falling for several years, being 60 per cent. lower in 2005-06 than in 1999-2000. The introduction of free TV licences for over-75s has relieved some 3.5 million older citizens of the need to pay the licence fee.
TV Licences
Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people (a) received free television licences and (b) evaded payment of a television licence in West Lancashire in each year since 1997. [84892]
Mr. Woodward: TV Licensing, which administers free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, does not record the number of free licences issued, or the estimated evasion rate, by parliamentary constituency. However, the number of households with at least one person aged 75 or over claiming the winter fuel payment in 2004-05 in the West Lancashire constituency was 4,975, according to Department for Work and Pensions records.
Transport
Aviation Emissions
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has held with his foreign counterparts about measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from aviation. [82343]
Gillian Merron: The subject of reducing carbon dioxide emissions from aviation was last discussed by EU Transport Council members in October 2005. Subsequently the December 2005 Environment Council recognised that the inclusion of the aviation sector in the EU Emission Trading Scheme seemed to be the best way forward and urged the Commission to bring forward a legislative proposal by the end of 2006. We intend to work closely with foreign counterparts as the details of this proposal take shape.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 967W, on roads, what modelling has been applied to the road schemes in the Highways Agency targeted programme of improvements on carbon dioxide emissions; whether the estimate from the “Future of Transport” White Paper included such modelling; and why this figure remained unchanged from the original 10-year Transport Plan of 2000 despite the inclusion of additional new schemes. [84685]
Dr. Ladyman: Modelling has been applied at two levels to the road schemes in the targeted programme of improvements (TPI): first at the individual scheme level where carbon dioxide assessments are carried out in accordance with the guidance in the Design Manual of Roads and Bridges (DMRB) volume 11.3.1, and secondly, at the national level (for all schemes) using the Department’s National Transport Model.
The road build included in our national modelling is the Highway Agency’s illustrative forward programme of schemes. This includes schemes in the targeted programme of improvements (TPI), plus an estimate of schemes that may make their way into the TPI going forward.
The modelling carried out for the “Future of Transport” White Paper included this HA illustrative programme, with it adding around 0.15 million tonnes of carbon in 2010, in England. The carbon added from just the current TPI would, therefore, be somewhat less than this, as my estimate of the 12 June response reflects.
The modelling carried out for the 10-year Transport Plan gave an aggregated figure for the carbon impact of the plan as a whole (including sustainable distribution
etc.) and did not split out the road build impact. However, given that the amount of road build in the 10-year plan is of a similar magnitude to that modelled for the White Paper, the carbon impact is likely to be of similar size as well.
Cars
Mr. Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) percentage of households without access to a car (i) in total, (ii) in each region, (iii) in each local authority area, (iv) in each income quintile and (v) in each classification of residential neighbourhoods in (A) the latest year for which figures are available and (B) 1997. [84442]
Dr. Ladyman: Data available from the National Travel Survey on the number of households without access to a car in each region, and the percentage of households without access to a car, (i) in Great Britain, (ii) in each region, (iii) in each income quintile and (iv) by the Office for National Statistics area classification, are given in the following table.
| Households without access to a car in Great Britain, by region, income quintile and ONS area classification | ||||
| Number (Thousand) | Percentage | |||
| 1997 | 2003 | 1996-98 | 2004 | |
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