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24 Oct 2006 : Column 1732W—continued
Elite Sport
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in raising the £100 million from private sponsors for elite sport announced in the 2006 Budget; and if she will make a statement. [96547]
Tessa Jowell: UK Sport, the Government's lead agency for elite sport, submitted an options paper in the summer to DCMS on raising £100 million from the private sector for elite athletes.
DCMS is discussing these and other options with HM Treasury.
Ethnic Minorities
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department gives to encourage students from ethnic minorities to take up (a) careers and (b) training in (i) music, (ii) the media and (iii) sport. [96196]
Mr. Lammy: My Department is active in a number of ways. We continue to work very closely with the Department for Education and Skills on the Music Manifesto, which sets out a series of shared aims for music education including improving opportunities for young people to broaden their musical interests and skills, and to develop a world-class work force. These aims are about improving music making opportunities and pathways for progression for all young people, including those from ethnic minority backgrounds.
In addition, the Creative Economy Programme diversity strand has been looking at breaking down barriers to entry into the creative industries for people from disadvantaged and minority groups. This
includes, but is not exclusively dedicated to, ethnic minorities and entry into careers in the music and media industries.
In relation to the media, section 27 of the Communications Act 2003 places a duty on Ofcom (the Office of Communications) to promote training and equal opportunities in employment by television and radio broadcasters. The Cultural Diversity Network (CDN) was also launched in October 2000 by television broadcasters with the aim of promoting cultural diversity both on and off-screen.
The UK Film Council’s document, “Success through Diversity and Inclusion” (published 2003) is specifically designed to help increase the diversity of the British film industry’s work force across the film industry value chain. That strategy very clearly references the actions needed to encourage students from black and minority ethnic groups in particular to take up careers in the film industry.
The council’s joint film skills training strategy with Skillset, The Bigger Picture, has also fully integrated the industry’s equality and diversity commitments. In addition, the UK Film Council/Skillset Graduate Fellowship Programme provides graduates from minority ethnic groups with funded work placements for up to one year in film companies that represent different aspects of the film business.
DCMS aims to increase the number of ethnic minorities who participate in sport. A crucial factor of this is to ensure a sufficient and highly skilled workforce supported by a core curriculum and career pathway that will encourage students to work, train, and stay in the sector. It should also represent the communities to allow engagement of ethnic minorities from grassroots participation to the training of coaches.
Our non-departmental public body Sport England, works to build capacity within the delivery system for sport with key partners such as SkillsActive, the National Governing Bodies of Sport and County Sports Partnerships. An important part of this is the promotion of equality in sport, which underpins their work. In addition, Sport England funds the leading sports equity agencies which assist in implementing the Equality Standard for Sport aimed at increasing involvement from ethnic minorities among other groups. The delivery system also provides a framework for training coaches and volunteers.
SkillsActive is licensed by the Government as the Sector Skills Council for active leisure and learning to lead the skills and productivity drive in these sectors through the development of fit for purpose, industry-led qualifications. Their partnership work has developed sports apprenticeship programmes and other endorsed qualifications which must adhere to strict guidelines on ethnic minority registrations.
European Sports Review
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress she has made in implementing the findings of the European Sports Review. [96508]
Mr. Caborn:
The Independent European Sport Review is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate
on how the special nature of sport can best be recognised in both national and EU policy-making. A revised version was published on 16 October.
While it outlines the right direction of travel, it raises some complex and challenging issues that are the subject of ongoing discussion across Whitehall and at European level. The Commission’s forthcoming White Paper on Sport will be key to taking the issues raised forward.
Many of the Review’s recommendations fall directly to the football authorities for implementation. UEFA have already made good progress, recently announcing the European roll out of the UK’s Supporters Direct initiative. I look forward to seeing further progress in the near future and to working with stakeholders and EU colleagues to take these important issues forward.
Gambling
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the prevalence studies on problem gambling relating to (a) bingo, (b) betting shops and (c) casinos. [95722]
Mr. Caborn: The latest data available about the levels of problem gambling in Britain are drawn from the last national prevalence survey, published in 2000. They do not permit definitive conclusions to be drawn for particular gambling activities, but have been used in conjunction with other data to assess relative risks.
The Gambling Commission is conducting a further prevalence study and will report in September 2007.
London Olympics
Mr. Skinner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what locations in the East Midlands are being considered by her Department to serve as training sites for athletes for the 2012 Olympics. [96109]
Mr. Caborn: The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) is putting together a Pre Games Training Camp Guide in which facilities in the UK that have been selected as providing a suitable training environment are listed by location and by sport.
LOCOG have released details on their website, inviting expressions of interest from potential host facilities. Applications can be made on the London 2012 website: www.london2012.com/trainingcamps. Applications will initially be assessed locally with selection coordinated by the Nations and Regions Group Coordinator. A proposed list of facilities will then be submitted to LOCOG for final selection. This guide will be the primary means of informing National Olympic Committees (NOC) and National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) when choosing where to stage their pre-games preparation camps for 2012. The guide will be distributed to NOCs and NPCs in July 2008.
Parliamentary Questions
Sir Michael Spicer:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will reply to the hon. Member for West Worcestershire’s letter of
24 August 2006, reference CMS 47989/gh, concerning a constituent. [95699]
Mr. Woodward [holding answer 20 October 2006]: I replied to the hon. Gentleman’s letter of 24 August, reference CMS 50109 on 23 October.
Sportsmatch
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was provided to Sportsmatch by her Department in each year since 1992; and if she will make a statement. [96548]
Mr. Caborn: Funding for Sportsmatch was originally granted direct from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Since 1 April 1999 this funding has been channelled to Sportsmatch via Sport England. The annual funding since 1992 is as follows:
| Funding (£ million) | |
Television Rights (Cricket)
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on arranging a meeting between her Department, the English Cricket Board and the broadcasters to discuss television rights; and if she will make a statement. [96550]
Mr. Caborn: The Department has contacted the relevant parties for their availability to attend a meeting and await responses.
Defence
Afghanistan
Mr. Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what quantity of stores and equipment are being locally sourced in Afghanistan; [94871]
(2) where the local purchase team of the Royal Logistics Corps supplying troops in Helmand Province is located. [94872]
Mr. Ingram
[holding answer 17 October 2006]: There is no Royal Logistic Corps local purchase team in Helmand Province. Where necessary, local purchases
are made by the Civil Secretariat team, which is part of the National Support Element and based in Kandahar.
The Defence Logistics Organisation provides the majority of supplies to troops in theatre. Only a very small quantity of supplies is purchased locally. Articles such as mobile phones are purchased locally on an ad hoc basis. In remote locations troops may also purchase local produce to supplement their ration packs.
Additionally, a weekly souk has been set up at both Kandahar and Camp Bastion, where cleared local market traders sell local products.
British Nuclear Tests (Australia)
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has discussed the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests (Treatment) Bill 2006 with the Australian Government. [93065]
Derek Twigg: Defence Ministers have not discussed the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests (Treatment) Bill 2006 with the Australian Government though provisions of the Bill have been discussed at official level.
Correspondence
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to provide the hon. Member for North East Milton Keynes with a substantive reply to his letter of 2 October to Wing Commander Conway, Station Commander RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. [96826]
Mr. Ingram: I replied to the hon. Gentleman on 20 October, in accordance with our stated 15 working day target for answering correspondence.
Departmental Accounts
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of the National Audit Office's management letters relating to his Department's annual accounts for each financial year since 1997-98. [93035]
Mr. Ingram: I will write to the hon. Gentleman, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Departmental Strategic Plan
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's Strategic Plan for 2005-06; [94513]
(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's Corporate Plan for 2005-06. [94514]
Mr. Ingram:
There is no single Defence document either titled ‘Department's Strategic Plan 2005-06’ or ‘Department's Corporate Plan for 2005-06’. The Department's strategic direction is set out in the Defence White Paper “Delivering Security in a Changing World” (Cm 6041-1). We will be publishing a further Defence White Paper this Parliament. The Departmental Plan 2005-09, which sets out in detail
how we as a Department fulfil the aspirations we have set out in the Defence White Paper, has already been placed in the Library.
Elias Judgment
Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a statement on his Department's reaction to the Elias judgment with regard to the Far East Internees Ex-Gratia Scheme. [94899]
Derek Twigg: I refer my hon. Friend to my written statement of 17 October 2006, Official Report, columns 46-47WS.
Iraq
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what investigations are taking place into extrajudicial assassinations in Basra; and how many (a) arrests and (b) convictions have resulted from such investigations; [91462]
(2) what steps have been taken to remove the influence of sectarian political parties from the Basra Police Service; [91464]
(3) what steps have been taken to prevent extra-judicial killings in Basra; and if he will make a statement. [91465]
Mr. Ingram: We work closely with the Iraqi Security Forces, including with the Iraqi Police, to maintain security in Basra and to prevent acts of violence. The removal of militia influence within the Iraqi Security Forces is a key element of the programme of reform in the security sector.
UK forces do not have the ability to prosecute Iraqis, though we do, where it is deemed essential, intern small numbers on the grounds that they represent an imperative threat to security. Where there is an evidential case against individuals, we aim to transfer them to the Iraqi judicial system for investigation and prosecution.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training is being given to British troops to ensure that they respect the rights of civilians in Iraq. [92943]
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