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18 July 2006 : Column 327W—continued
Libraries
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made since the wider efficiency review into libraries carried out by the accountants and consultants PKF in June 2005. [86216]
Mr. Lammy: The PKF report recommended that there were particular efficiencies to be found within the stock procurement systems. The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) therefore commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to undertake a detailed study of the potential for efficiencies in this area and to develop a model to realise them. PwC will report on its proposals shortly. Work will then follow to implement its proposed model.
We envisage that the work on stock procurement will provide lessons that could be transferred to other areas of public library management and service delivery—for example, in increased joint working and procurement of services such as marketing materials and reading promotions.
PKF also recommended that library authorities should review staff management and staff structures towards optimum efficiency. Although this recommendation was directed at individual authorities, MLA is seeking to encourage the adoption of efficient working practices through current programmes such as peer reviews and through a number of proposed activities in the new 2006-08 “Framework for the Future” action plan.
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the funding of public libraries was spent on books in the last period for which figures are available; and what the planned figure is for 2006-07. [86217]
Mr. Lammy: According to the Public Library Statistics for 2004-05, published by the Chartered Institute for Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), the 149 library authorities in England spent £69,010,676 on books and pamphlets and a further £6,201,131 on newspapers, periodicals and magazines out of total revenue expenditure of £912,620,958. These are the latest “actuals” figures available.
Planned expenditure figures for 2006-07 are not held centrally.
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the role of the Advisory Council for Libraries will differ from that of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. [86219]
Mr. Lammy: The Advisory Council on Libraries (ACL) is currently being re-constituted. When this process is complete there will be an equal number of serving public librarians and non-librarians with knowledge or expertise relevant to the work of public libraries. The ACL will advise DCMS Ministers and officials, and also Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) officials, on a range of public libraries issues. The ACL will meet two or three times a year.
The MLA also advises DCMS and its Ministers as the full-time lead strategic agency for museums, libraries and archives. Working in partnership with its nine regional agencies, the MLA works to improve people's lives by building knowledge, supporting learning, inspiring creativity and celebrating identity. The MLA Partnership acts collectively for the benefit of the sector and the public, leading the transformation of museums, libraries and archives for the future.
Current improvement programmes for public libraries include the various work strands of the Framework for the Future Action Plan, such as the leadership programme, peer reviews and the stock procurement project. It is also leading on work to review the Public Library Service Standards and Impact Measures.
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what is the planned annual budget of the Advisory Council for Libraries. [86220]
Mr. Lammy: The Advisory Council on Libraries (ACL) is currently being re-constituted. When this process is complete there will be 12 members with an equal number of serving public librarians and non-librarians with knowledge or expertise relevant to the work of public libraries.
The ACL will not have an annual budget as its members will be unremunerated, receiving only reasonable travelling and subsistence expenses. These will be paid from DCMS running costs.
London Olympics
Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in what ways she expects Northern Ireland to benefit from the 2012 Olympic Games. [85441]
Mr. Caborn: The Government are determined that the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland, can contribute to and benefit from the games in 2012.
Anticipated benefits include: increased interest and participation in sport, employment and business opportunities generated by hosting pre-event training camps, volunteering opportunities, an increase in tourism throughout the whole of the UK and the cultural festivities relating to the Cultural Olympiad.
A Nations and Regions Group (NRG), has been established to provide leadership and strategic direction in ensuring that the whole of the UK is engaged with these benefits. Each nation and region, including Northern Ireland, is represented on the NRG and has been tasked with developing a delivery plan to ensure that the many opportunities are realised for their nation or region.
Northern Ireland has established its own task force to drive forward this agenda. The group chaired by the permanent secretary of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), includes representation from sport, culture, tourism, Invest NI, local government and other interested bodies who will be responsible for delivering the benefits for Northern Ireland.
Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of the number of tourists visiting the South West region during the 2012 Olympics. [86098]
Mr. Woodward: My Department has made no estimate of the number of tourists who will visit the South West region during the 2012 Olympics.
Public Appointments
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public appointments are within her patronage; what (a) salary and (b) other emoluments are attached to each; and what the comparable figures were in (i) 1976, (ii) 1986 and (iii) 1996. [83190]
Tessa Jowell: Details of public appointments to public bodies sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) can be found in Public Bodies, copies of which are in the Library. Public Bodies has been published annually since 1980 and the most recent edition provides figures for 2005. Public Bodies includes remuneration levels for all public appointments between 1980 and 2001, and remuneration levels for chairs for 2002-05.
Information for 1976 in respect of bodies now sponsored by DCMS, and additional information on remuneration and emoluments which is not contained in the most recently published version of Public Bodies could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Small Businesses
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2006, Official Report, columns 719-20W, on advertising expenditure, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the information campaign targeted at small independent businesses. [84670]
Mr. Lammy: In early June 2005, my Department launched a licensing communications campaign including PR, advertising and direct mail which targeted small independent businesses. The awareness-raising campaign proved highly effective and, together with the efforts of local authorities, trade associations and other stakeholders, helped increase the overall rate of applications from less than 5 per cent. in May 2005 to an estimated 98 per cent. of expected applications having been made by the time the new regime came into effect on 24 November.
Swimming Pools
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many 50 metre swimming pools there are in England; and where each is located. [85991]
Mr. Caborn: There are currently 37 50 metre swimming pools in England. The table details where they are located:
| Location | |
A further three 50 metre indoor pools are under construction and another is at the planning stage.
Theatre Funding
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of the grant-in-aid to Arts Council England was allocated to theatre in each year from 1997 to 2005. [85331]
Mr. Lammy: The following figures supplied by Arts Council England provide a breakdown of the information requested.
| Arts Council England grant in -aid funding—theatre | |
| £000 | |
Prior to the merger of the Arts Council of England and the regional Arts Boards, funding for theatre was distributed nationally by the Arts Council and regionally by the Arts Boards. For this reason it is not possible to provide an accurate figure for overall national funding for theatre before 2002-03. Figures for 1996-97 and 2001-02 are therefore indicative.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of the Arts Council England allocation to subsidised theatre in each year from 1997 to 2005 was paid to (a) actors, (b) musicians and (c) writers. [85332]
Mr. Lammy: Arts Council England does not analyse expenditure by subsidised theatre organisations in the detail requested.
However, Arts Council England's 2004-05 annual survey of regularly funded organisations provides information about income and expenditure on artistic programme costs and staff.(1)
In 2004-05, £152.7 million was spent on artistic programme costs, including £67.5 million (44 per cent.) on artistic staff including actors, musicians and writers.
During this period, theatre organisations employed 805 permanent artistic staff and 7,825 freelance/contractual staff.
(1 )In 2004-05, valid survey returns were received from 216 theatre organisations, representing approximately 80 per cent. of Arts Council England's full theatre portfolio. Data from the 2004-05 survey are currently unpublished.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received from (a) theatre managers, (b) orchestras and (c) entertainment trade unions on the impact on theatre of the comprehensive spending review for 2008 and 2011. [85333]
Mr. Lammy: Arts Council England (ACE), in its role as lead body for the arts in England, has consulted the wider arts sector in formulating its contribution to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) process to date. I have also met with representatives from the theatre and orchestral unions to discuss potential impacts of the CSR.
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