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19 Oct 2006 : Column 1375W—continued
Licensing Act
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 24 July 2006, Official Report, columns 956-7W, on the Licensing Act, what meetings the Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism has held since 24 May with representatives of (a) the licensing trade, (b) local authorities, (c) residents’ groups, (d) magistrates, (e) police officers, (f) village hall associations, (g) sports clubs, (h) performing arts, (i) the tourism industry, (j) fire services and (k) the retail sector to discuss the Licensing Act 2003 and related legislation; and if she will make a statement. [93824]
Mr. Woodward: The answer of 24 July wrongly attributed a meeting with stakeholders as taking place on 24 May. This happened on 6 June. Since then the following meetings have taken place to discuss the Licensing Act.
Historic Houses Association
Asda, Sainsbury’s, Retail of Alcohol Standards Group, Morrisons, Co-op, United Co-op, Somerfield, Tesco, Wine and Spirits Trade Association, British Retail Consortium, Association of Convenience Stores, Musgrave, Budgens, Londis, Association of Chief Police Officers, Trading Standards Institute, LACORS, Home Office and DCMS.
Alcohol Concern
Better Regulation Commission
I wrote to representatives of several key stakeholder organisations in September inviting them to a meeting which is scheduled for 26 October to discuss the Licensing Act. The following organisations are scheduled to attend:
Home Office; Department for Communities and Local Government; Association of Chief Police Officers; LACORS; LGA; British Retail Consortium; British Beer and Pub Association; Mitchells and Butlers plc; Nexum Leisure; Central Council for Physical Recreation; and Action with Communities in Rural England.
Ministerial Visits
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions she has visited (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. [94962]
Mr. Lammy: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has, during the last 12 months, visited Wales once, Scotland twice but not Northern Ireland.
Obscene Material
Ms Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will assess the merits of introducing a classification system for obscene materials for print media mirroring that in place for classifying film materials. [94905]
Mr. Woodward: There is no classification system in place for obscene material in films. Both films and printed material are covered by the Obscene Publications Act 1957. Ultimately it is a matter for the courts to determine what exactly is covered, but obscene material in films or in newspapers is illegal, and could not appear in a classified film, or in any publication. We have no proposals to introduce a classification scheme for newspapers and magazines; because of the extremely tight production deadlines involved, it would quite simply not be possible to factor in the time required for scrutiny. DCMS officials continue to monitor the situation for any evidence of a significant problem that might require Government intervention.
Ofcom
Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were interviewed for the job of chief executive of Ofcom. [94191]
Tessa Jowell: Under the terms of the Office of Communications Act 2002, the chief executive of Ofcom is appointed by the Ofcom board, subject to approval by the Secretaries of State. I am informed that Ofcom’s selection panel invited six candidates for interview, two of whom later withdrew their applications, so four candidates were interviewed. The selection process was conducted by Ofcom in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice.
Olympic Games
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the 2012 Olympic Games on Surrey. [94996]
Mr. Caborn: The Government are determined that the whole of the UK, including Surrey, can contribute to and benefit from the 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games.
In order to maximise the potential benefits arising from the games across the UK, a Nations and Regions Group (NRG), comprising representatives from every nation and region, has been established. The south east is represented by Mary McAnally, Chair of the South East Regional Sports Board and board member of the Regional Development Agency.
In April 2006 the South East England Development Agency commissioned Locum Consulting to prepare a preliminary review of the potential impacts arising from the games, Review of the Impacts of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games on the South East Region. A copy of the report is available online at the following web address:
http://www.seeda.co. uk/Work_in_the_Region/2012_Games/
The report concluded that potential areas of benefit would include business and inward investment opportunities, the hosting of pre-games training camps, the four-year cultural festival prior to the games, volunteering opportunities, and tourism.
Premises Licence/Temporary Events Notice
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance she has produced on whether an (a) premises licence and (b) temporary events notice is required when a private organisation or individual holding a private not-for- profit event uses commercial caterers who supply alcohol. [94635]
Mr. Woodward: DCMS officials have provided advice in response to individual inquiries about similar circumstances.
A premises licence or temporary event notice will be needed wherever any “sales by retail” of alcohol take place. Whether an event is held privately or for profit is not relevant. If alcohol was given away for free at a private event such as a wedding it would not need a licence. However, where there is a “cash bar”, or where a ticket is sold for a private event and alcohol is provided as a result of the purchase of the ticket, then a licence would be required. A caterer selling alcohol will need a premises licence for the place where the sales take place.
If event organisers are not sure whether an authorisation is required, they should contact their licensing authority (usually the local authority). However, we are currently drawing up guidance to assist people who are organising community based activities and small fundraising events and we will look at including guidance on this kind of scenario.
Sustainable Development Strategy
Mr. Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on her Department’s sustainable development strategy. [94139]
Mr. Woodward: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport followed publication of a sustainable development strategy two years ago with an action plan published this year. We will report formally against the four main target areas (Policy, Estates Management, Communication and the Olympic Games) next spring. The Department is making good use of the opportunities afforded by the refurbishment of its main building to reduce carbon emissions. We are installing energy saving equipment and educating staff in good energy management practice. DCMS is also actively encouraging all its associated non-departmental public bodies, which include the national museums and galleries, the lottery distributors and the national sports bodies, to produce sustainable development action plans and to use their influence to raise public awareness and change patterns of behaviour.
Theatre Museum
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department made a submission to the recent Victoria and Albert Museum consultation on the Theatre Museum; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the submission. [95303]
Mr. Lammy: No submission was made by DCMS to the recent Victoria and Albert consultation on the Theatre Museum.
Prime Minister
Bilderberg Group
Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 12 October 2006, Official Report, column 862W, on the Bilderberg Group, if he will provide the information requested in respect of himself since 1997. [95308]
The Prime Minister: I have not attended any such meetings.
Engagements
Mr. Ancram: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has visited members of the British armed forces who have been wounded either in Afghanistan or Iraq in hospital since 2001; what the dates were of these visits; and which hospitals he visited. [94797]
The Prime Minister: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper) on 27 February 2006, Official Report, column 36W.
Ministerial Code
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 9 October 2006, Official Report, column 5W, on the Ministerial Code, what information relating to the number of complaints received may be divined from section 1 of the Ministerial Code; what his policy is on (a) recording and (b) publishing the number of complaints received alleging possible breaches of the code; for what reason his answer did not contain the information sought; and which paragraph of section 1 of the code refers to the process for handling alleged breaches. [95309]
The Prime Minister: As section 1.4 of the Ministerial Code makes clear, I do not expect to comment on every allegation brought to my attention.
Ministerial Visits
David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has visited (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) Northern Ireland in the last 12 months. [94956]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 October 2006, Official Report, column 4W.
Official Residences
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Prime Minister what the guidelines are on (a) Ministers and (b) relatives of Ministers using official ministerial residences for commercial purposes. [94865]
The Prime Minister: Guidance on the use of official residences is set out in the Ministerial Code.
Queen's Speech
Ms Abbott: To ask the Prime Minister if he will include a Bill on climate change in the Queen’s Speech. [94539]
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Conwy (Mrs. Williams) at Prime Minister’s Questions on 11 October 2006, Official Report, columns 299-300.
Solicitor-General
R v. Lindis Percy (Prosecution Costs)
Norman Baker: To ask the Solicitor-General how much the prosecution in the case of R v Lindis Percy at Harrogate Magistrates Court on 18, 19 and 21 September 2006 is estimated to have cost in public funds. [94610]
The Solicitor-General: Ms Percy appeared before Harrogate magistrates court on 18, 19 and 21 September 2006, facing trial on two separate charges of obstructing the highway at RAF Menwith Hill. She was convicted on both charges and was ordered to contribute £150 towards the cost of the prosecution.
It is estimated that the prosecution costs in this case were in the region of £600 (excluding VAT). This figure comprises the advocate’s costs. It does not include witness costs, as all witnesses were police witnesses. Neither does this figure include staff or running costs, which are attributable to the operation of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as a whole and cannot be assessed on an individual case basis. I am also unable to comment on police, court and defence costs as these figures are not kept by the CPS (which is solely responsible for the prosecution). Prosecutions are not about cost, but justice.
Northern Ireland
Cancer Services
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the take-up is of (a) breast and (b) cervical cancer screening in rural areas by women in their (i) 50s and (ii) 70s; and if he will make a statement. [94113]
Paul Goggins: Information is not available in the form requested as data cannot be disaggregated any lower than board level. Data are provided for the three board areas, which include mainly rural areas.
Data are not available regarding breast screening uptake rates for women in their 50s. However, the uptake rate for breast screening for women in rural areas in the 50-64 age group is detailed in the table:
| HSS board breast screening uptake rate | |
| Percentage | |
The uptake rate for cervical screening for 50-59 year old women in rural areas is 69.8 per cent.
It is not possible to provide information for the number of women screened in their 70s as the Northern Ireland breast and cervical screening programmes do not routinely invite these women for screening.
The target uptake rate for breast screening in Northern Ireland is 75 per cent. The target uptake rate for cervical screening is 76 per cent.
Departmental Expenditure
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on taxis in the last 12 months. [93110]
Mr. Hain: The Northern Ireland Office, excluding its agencies and NDPBs, has spent £28,307 on taxis in the last 12 months (October 2005 to September 2006).
Energy Performance Certificates
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at what stage of the home buying process an energy performance certificate will be required in Northern Ireland once the regulations are implemented. [95805]
Mr. Hanson: Article 7(1) of the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings requires that an energy performance certificate is made available to the prospective buyer when a dwelling is constructed or sold.
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