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5 Mar 2007 : Column 1654Wcontinued
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether he plans to reply by personal e-mail to each of the petitioners who have signed up to each of the petitions posted on the Number 10 website; [123632]
(2) what criteria he uses to decide (a) which petitions merit a response from him and (b) the timing of a response. [125361]
Mr. Heald: To ask the Prime Minister how many e-petitions have been posted on the Downing street website; and what proportion of closed e-petitions have received a non-automated email response on the issue of the petition. [123769]
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Prime Minister how many individuals have signed Downing street e-petitions since the system went live. [124606]
The Prime Minister: Information on the number of e-petitions and the number of individuals who have signed e-petitions is a matter of public record, and is available on the No. 10 website.
Information on replies to e-petitions is also available on the No. 10 website, and a copy of the relevant webpage has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Heald: To ask the Prime Minister whether the Government plan to hold the (a) names, (b) contact details and (c) e-mail addresses of the individuals who sign a Downing street e-petition after the petition is closed. [123770]
The Prime Minister: The privacy policy for e-petitions is available on the No. 10 website (http: //petitions.pm.gov.uk/privacy). A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Heald: To ask the Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of the Downing street e-petition initiative; and whether he plans to give a bonus to the staff members responsible for the project. [123772]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 8 February 2007, Official Report, column 1097W. Details of any individual bonuses are not disclosed in order to protect the privacy of the individuals concerned.
Justine Greening: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much was spent on (a) involuntary and (b) voluntary staff exit schemes in (i) her Department and (ii) each agency of the Department in each year since 1997-98; how much is planned to be spent for 2007-08; and if she will make a statement. [123928]
Vera Baird: The information is as follows:
(a) There have been no involuntary staff exit schemes since 1997-98 and none are planned for 2007-08
(b) While there have been some voluntary early departures between 1997 and 2005, information about redundancy costs is not held centrally due to previous machinery of government changes and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Voluntary staff exit schemes have been undertaken during 2006-07 and £13.4 million has been committed to date. Further voluntary exit schemes may be undertaken during 2007-08 but the overall cost is not yet known.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the Secretary of State last met Baroness Usha Prashar to discuss judicial appointments. [123963]
Ms Harman: The Secretary of State meets with Baroness Prashar on a regular basis. He last met her on 6 February 2007.
Mr. Swire: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the likely effect of siting the new Supreme Court at the Middlesex Guildhall on the architectural status of the building. [122794]
Ms Harman: Our plans to renovate the Middlesex Guildhall for use as the Supreme Court have been developed by renowned conservation architects Feilden and Mawson. They will reverse recent interventions that have left the building feeling cluttered and gloomy. This will improve the look of original features such as the ornate ceilings and improve visitor access and orientation. The exterior will be cleaned, yet changed very little. The buildings listed status will not be affected. Our plans will achieve the long-term conservation objective of securing the upkeep of an historic building by maintaining it in beneficial use, in a sustainable manner.
9. Chris Mole: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had on the role of culture in urban regeneration. [124569]
Mr. Lammy: My right hon. Friend set out her vision at the Thames Gateway Forum in November for embedding culture firmly into planning regeneration. We want to see a similar approach in all growth areas.
10. Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her assessment is of the impact of specialist sports colleges on the level of physical activity undertaken by young people. [124570]
Mr. Caborn: Most of the 422 specialist sports colleges are hub sites for school sport partnerships within the national school sport strategy. Their key aim is to raise the standards of teaching and learning of PE and school sport, and help to enhance young peoples opportunities to participate in sport. The 2005-06 annual survey of school sport partnerships found that 95 per cent. of pupils in sports colleges do at least two hours high quality PE and school sport each week. This is 15 percentage points higher than the national average of 8 per cent. Also, 8 per cent. of pupils in sports colleges do two hours of PE within curriculum time.
11. Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when the revised budget for the 2012 Olympic games will be published; and if she will make a statement. [124571]
12. Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate she has made of the cost of hosting the 2012 Olympic games in London. [124572]
19. James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her most recent estimate is of the budget for the London Olympics. [124579]
Tessa Jowell: Work is still under way on a number of issues, including security, contingency and the question of tax liability. I hope to be able to make an announcement in due course, when this work is concluded.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2007, Official Report, column 104W, on the Olympics, what each cost saving identified between July and October 2004 was; and what the value of each saving was. [120562]
Tessa Jowell: Reductions in the region of £235 million were identified in the costs of Infrastructure and Legacy Conversion in the period July to October 2004.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2007, Official Report, column 713W, on the London Olympics, if she will place the minutes of all meetings of the Budget and Revenues Sub-Group in the Library. [122983]
Tessa Jowell: The remit of the Budget and Revenues Sub-Group (February 2004 to July 2004) was to look at the costs, revenues and strategic issues affecting the proposed Olympic budget prior to the bid. The notes of the meetings of the sub-group contain information which is directly relevant to current commercial negotiations which could be prejudiced by its release.
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what effect an overspend on the Olympics would have on the National Lottery. [124794]
Tessa Jowell: The Government are considering how additional Olympic costs should be met. No conclusion has yet been reached about any further lottery contribution to the Games.
Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects the revised Olympic budget to be published; and if she will make a statement. [124138]
Tessa Jowell: Work is still under way on a number of issues, including security, contingency and the question of tax liability. I hope to be able to make an announcement in due course, when this work is concluded.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what advice PricewaterhouseCoopers provided on (a) VAT and (b) the level of contingency for the Games in their Olympics Cost Review in 2004. [111932]
Tessa Jowell: The PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report excluded VAT and did not provide advice on it. PwC have confirmed that in respect of the construction of new venues their report included an allowance for contingencies and preliminaries amounting to 23.5 per cent. This assumption was reflected in the Candidate File. PwC made no recommendation about additional programme contingency. The figure of £272 million in the redacted version of the report in the House Library is PwCs assessment of the aggregate level of project contingency, including venues and infrastructure, at 2004 prices.
13. Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what impact overspend on the London Olympics would have on the national lottery. [124573]
18. Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what impact overspend on the London Olympics would have on the national lottery. [124578]
Tessa Jowell: I am confident we will stage an excellent and well organised Games. I have been clear from the outset that the Lottery will meet some of the costs. I will inform Parliament when there is news about the costs.
14. Mrs. Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of school sport partnerships. [124574]
Mr. Caborn: The 449 school sport partnerships we now have are a fundamental part of the infrastructure to deliver the national school sport strategy. The partnerships' key aim is to increase the percentage of five to 16-year-olds spending at least two hours a week doing high quality PE and sport. The last annual survey of school sport partnerships showed that 80 per cent. of the pupils in partnerships were doing at least two hours of high quality PE and sport in a typical week. All maintained schools are now in a school sport partnership.
15. Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what initiatives her Department has supported to promote the regeneration of the tourism and leisure industry in seaside towns. [124575]
Mr. Woodward: My Department invests over £50 million a year in tourism marketing through VisitBritain, which recognises the continuing importance of the seaside within British tourism.
Likewise, my Department's support for other cultural sectors, such as built heritage, museums and leisure facilities benefits coastal towns as it does the rest of the country.
And I am working with stakeholders outside London, including the British Resorts and Destinations Association to ensure that the country as a whole takes full advantage of the tourism opportunities of the 2012 Games.
16. Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support her Department provides for sports at the grassroots level. [124576]
Mr. Caborn: Since 1997, the Government and lottery distributing bodies between them have invested over £3 billion in physical activity and sport. £60 million of this investment has established over 3,000 community sports coach posts supported by a network of coach development officers. £100 million has been specifically invested in community sports clubs to widen access and increase participation. We have also invested in over 4,000 sports facilities.
In addition, we have invested £34.5 million between 2006-08 in the National Sport Foundation. This investment is match funded pound for pound by the private sector, and will fund a range of projects to benefit grassroots sport.
17. Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on telephone quiz shows on television. [124577]
Mr. Woodward: We have received a number of representations from the public and industry regarding telephone quiz shows on television. However, responsibility for the regulation of these services rests with the independent regulators, Ofcom and ICSTIS. ICSTIS is currently consulting on new regulations for Call TV quiz shows which aim to secure greater transparency for consumers and further encourage best practice in the industry.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Services with regard to (a) the legality of and (b) the regulation of Call TV quiz shows; when these discussions took place; what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the current regulation; and if she will make a statement. [124260]
Mr. Woodward: None. Officials have discussed the operation of Call TV quiz shows with the independent Committee for the Supervision of Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS) and the Office of Communications (Ofcom), the bodies responsible for the regulation of these services.
Following an extensive review of the sector, ICSTIS is currently consulting on new regulations for Call TV quiz shows, aimed at ensuring greater transparency for consumers and to further encourage best practice in the industry.
20. Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with representatives of the music industry on the secondary selling of tickets on the internet. [124580]
Mr. Woodward: Over the past year, Ministers have had discussions with SJM Concerts, Mean Fiddler Music Group, the Concert Promoters Association and the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) as part of the DCMS ticketing summits. These discussions have focused on finding solutions to the problems associated with ticket resale on the internet and elsewhere, and Government have been working with the industry to deliver measures to improve the ticketing marketplace and tackle ticket touts.
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what powers are available to the Government to ensure high definition television broadcasting is available free to air on digital terrestrial television. [124819]
Mr. Woodward: The broadcasting of high definition services and the acquisition of any additional spectrum necessary for their introduction, are matters for the broadcasters. Spectrum allocation is the responsibility of Ofcom, subject to a power of direction by the Secretary of State.
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has made an estimate of the average cost to an individual consumer of a move to satellite or cable digital television in order to receive high definition television broadcasting. [124821]
Mr. Woodward: The Department has made no such assessment.
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has to ensure that the free to air digital terrestrial television platform is sustainable; and what plans she has to enable viewers using it to access high definition broadcasting. [124823]
Mr. Woodward: The digital switchover programme will enable digital terrestrial television (DTT) coverage to be extended so that it substantially matches that of current analogue services, i.e. 98.5 per cent. of the population.
Broadcasting in high definition is essentially a decision for broadcasters. High definition uses more radio spectrum than standard definition, so broadcasters will need to consider their future spectrum use within the context of wider business needs and Ofcoms digital dividend review.
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