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26 July 2007 : Column 1536Wcontinued
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of (a) the impact of trends in the numbers of swimming pools, jacuzzis and other water spa pools and decorative water features and ponds within the home and garden on per capita demand for water within individual households over the last 10 years and (b) the likely impact of such trends over the next 10 years. [151876]
Mr. Woolas: The Market Transformation Programme (MTP) allows us to assess the impact of a range of products on water use, including toilets, taps, showers and baths. The MTP is also undertaking a scoping study to determine which other products use significant amounts of water. This will include an assessment of the amount of water consumption associated with swimming pools, hot tubs and spa baths. There is currently no evidence to show that ornamental garden water features involve significant levels of water consumption.
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what discussions he has held with Severn Trent on restoring water supplies to households in the Tewkesbury constituency; and if he will make a statement; [152906]
(2) what discussions he has had with Severn Trent on securing extra supplies of bowsers to provide emergency water supplies to people in Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement. [152907]
Mr. Woolas: My Department is in close contact with Severn Trent Water about the restoration of piped water supplies, the provision of alternative supplies from bowsers, street based water tanks and the distribution of bottled water. We are helping to ensure the availability of extra bowsers and tanks where necessary. Work is under way at Mythe Water Treatment Works to enable mains water to be restored to 140,000 homes in Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Cheltenham. My officials are closely monitoring the situation.
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its agencies have spent on (a) advertising and other promotion, (b) grants for households and (c) research to promote more efficient use of water in the household since 1997. [151733]
Mr. Woolas: The Water Industry Act 1991 places a duty on water companies in England and Wales to promote the efficient use of water to their customers. This can include the distribution of free water saving devices and publicity and information on the efficient use of water.
Advice to customers is made available on websites and through articles in publications and the Environment Agencys Water Efficiency Awards. Efficient use of hot water also features in the current DEFRA Act on CO2 campaign.
Since 1997 the Department and the Environment Agency have spent an estimated £2.5 million combined on research directly or indirectly related to the efficient use of water in households.
The DEFRA-led Water Saving Group is formed by the key water industry stakeholders and was established in October 2005 to develop practical ways to promote the efficient use of water in households. Its action plan includes a workstream led by the Consumer Council for Water on Understanding and changing customers perceptions and raising awareness.
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the reasons for recent trends in the per capita demand for water in households. [151734]
Mr. Woolas: Ofwat publish per capita consumption (pcc) figures annually in their security of supply, leakage and water efficiency report, a copy of which is available in the library of the House. It is thought that between 1960 and 1995 pcc rose by about 1 per cent. per year. Since 1995 Ofwat report that pcc has been relatively stable. Variations occur between years, and at regional levels, which reflect influences on consumption such as climate variations, the number of metered customers and restrictions on usage.
DEFRAs Market Transformation Programme (MTP) presents scenario data on future water consumption in the domestic sector. This work includes the production of policy briefs and briefing notes on key products which include water demand forecasting models and related action plans. Actual consumption is influenced by both the standard of products and the water using behaviours of consumers.
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what (a) research his Department has undertaken into and (b) support his Department has given to the development of water saving products. [151932]
Mr. Woolas:
DEFRAs Market Transformation Programme (MTP) presents scenario data on future water consumption in the domestic sector. This work includes the production of policy briefs and briefing
notes which include water demand forecasting models and related action plans. MTP also undertakes research to support the evidence base for key water using products.
In 2003 the Government launched the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme for water efficient technologies, which provides accelerated tax relief to businesses investing in designated sustainable water technologies. These are listed on the ECA website and provide a list of proven water saving technologies that can be accessed by businesses and the public alike. The ECA scheme provides a financial incentive for businesses to invest in sustainable water technologies and also encourages innovation for the development of more environmentally beneficial technologies.
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to request the BBC to publish the Balen report. [153650]
James Purnell: No. The decision on whether to release the Balen report is a matter for the BBC.
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether there are any plans to transfer the association right if Glasgow wins the right to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games; and if he will make a statement. [152656]
Mr. Sutcliffe: I understand that the Scottish Executive is in discussion with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills about association rights for a Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, should it win the right to host them. DCMS is not involved in this matter.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when his Department plans to answer the letter sent to it by the Federation of Racecourse Bookmakers on 31 May. [153673]
Mr. Sutcliffe: A response has been sent today.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the name is of each special adviser in his Department. [153278]
James Purnell: I have not yet appointed special advisers.
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guarantees Ofcom has given to major broadcasters on access to the digital interleaved spectrum; and if he will make a statement. [153569]
James Purnell: The matter raised is the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom), as independent regulator for the communications sector. Accordingly, I have asked the Chief Executive of Ofcom to reply directly to my right hon. Friend. Copies of the Chief Executives letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether his exhortation to fly the Union flag over public buildings extends to public buildings in Scotland. [150390]
James Purnell: The Prime Minister's suggestion to fly the Union Flag over public buildings extends to Government buildings in Scotland. Flag flying at Scottish Executive and Scottish Parliament buildings is a matter for those bodies.
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what budget has been agreed for the new Government ambassador for the 2018 Football World Cup bid; and from which Department's budget it will come; [152653]
(2) what support will be provided from the public purse to the new Government ambassador for the 2018 Football World Cup bid. [152655]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Bidding to host a future World Cup is not a decision for Government but for the relevant football authority. The Department is committed to supporting viable bids to host major events in the UK and has made up to £50,000 available to provide staff support and travel expenses to the Prime Minister's World Cup ambassador until the end of the calendar year; the British Council has provided office space.
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions took place with the Football Association prior to the announcement of the new Government ambassador for the 2018 World Cup bid. [152654]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Football Association was given prior notification of the Prime Minister's intention to make this appointment.
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on sport and culture in (a) Southampton and (b) Hampshire since 1997. [151061]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The main body of this answer deals with Exchequer funds routed via DCMS. It does not include funding for cultural or sporting activities delivered via local authorities and funded via other Government Departments. Lottery funds, awarded by Lottery distributing bodies independently of the Department, are included for completeness and addressed separately at the end of this answer.
Financial support for sport from public sources is primarily channelled through Sport England and UK Sport, the two DCMS sponsored bodies which dispense Exchequer and Lottery funds for sport from DCMS, in line with their own policies and priorities for the development of sport.
Sport England has distributed the following amounts of Exchequer funding to Southampton and Hampshire in the period since 1997 to support and promote sporting activities and projects:
Southampton: £529,600
Hampshire: £983,542
It is not possible for UK Sport to determine an amount of Exchequer funding allocated to Southampton and Hampshire as its funding is not directed to specific counties or regions.
Arts Council England has made the following awards from Exchequer funding:
£000 | |||||
2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |
Due to a merger between the Arts Council and Regional arts boards in 2002-03, previous figures are not readily available. As Southampton is a unitary authority, funding for the authority is excluded from the Hampshire totals.
Culture: Museums and Libraries
It is not possible to provide a complete financial breakdown at the county or District level for all aspects of expenditure by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. This includes the Renaissance in the Regions programme for museums, which focuses on need and impact at the regional level, where the South East Regional Hub (with Hampshire County Museums Service as lead partner) has received:
£ | |||||
2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
However to date, museums in Southampton have directly benefited from £207,144 of Renaissance investment in their collections of national significance and similarly museums within the county boundary of Hampshire, including Southampton, have received £1,351,453.
The following grants were offered by English Heritage between 1 April 1997 to date:
1. Southampton - total of £2,651,864 offered (53 cases)
2. Hampshire - total of £296,807 offered (five cases).
The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has made grants totalling £8,075,710.50 to the South East region since 2001, but further disaggregation is not possible without incurring disproportionate cost.
National Lottery funding (non-Exchequer)
The following totals have been provided by National Lottery Distributors, and are not Exchequer funds:
£ | |
Lottery awards (total) | |
Region | |
National Lottery: via Sport England
£000 | ||
Southampton | Hampshire | |
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