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26 Nov 2007 : Column 11W—continued


(b) The number of visits by overseas tourists to (i) museums and (ii) art galleries sponsored by DCMS are set out in the following table.

Million
(i) Museums (ii) Art galleries

1998-99

2.54

3.51

1999-2000

2.56

3.49

2000-01

4.61

4.74

2001-02

4.93

4.21

2002-03

5.31

4.28

2003-04

7.19

4.61

2004-05

6.82

4.06

2005-06

6.57

4.35

2006-07

8.91

5.34


A breakdown of visits by UK and overseas residents to DCMS sponsored museums and art galleries is not available for 1997-98, as those data were not collected prior to 1998-99.

Figures on the number of UK residents and overseas tourists that visit all museums and art galleries in the UK each year is not available.

Museums and Galleries: North East Region

Mrs. Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for funding of Renaissance in the Regions in the North East; and if he will make a statement. [166519]

Margaret Hodge: Investment in the programme as a whole will rise from £45 million this year to £48.7 million in 2010-11. The specific allocation for museums in the North East will be decided by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.


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National Lottery: Sports

Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was distributed to sport from the National Lottery, excluding investment income, in each year since 1994-95. [165802]

James Purnell [holding answer 19 November 2007]: The following table shows the total operator proceeds raised for and held in the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) for the sport lottery distributors, for each complete financial year. The figures are taken from the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) annual accounts, except for the figure for 2006-07 which is a provisional figure subject to audit. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds.

Financial year Total operator proceeds( 1) (£)

1994-95

58,100,000

1995-96

293,376,000

1996-97

289,172,000

1997-98

321,955,000

1998-99

253,244,000

1999-2000

244,729,000

2000-01

257,987,000

2001-02

276,022,000

2002-03

229,461,000

2003-04

216,474,000

2004-05

226,077,000

2005-06

230,415,000

2006-07

200,930,000

(1) Rounded to nearest thousand

National Security

Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the statement by the Prime Minister on 14 November 2007, Official Report, columns 667-72, on national security, when he expects the Royal Television Society and Society of Newspaper Editors to hold the conference and regional debates on how to ensure accurate and balanced reporting of issues related to terrorism in the media, announced by the Prime Minister; what contribution his Department expects to make to the costs of these debates; and if he will make a statement. [168350]

James Purnell: The timing and format of the conference and debates are a matter for the organisations concerned. The Government have not received any request for a contribution towards the costs but would be happy to consider what support might be necessary to make them successful.

Opinion Leader Research

Mrs. May: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many contracts were awarded by his Department to Opinion Leader Research in each year since 1997; and what was (a) the title and purpose, (b) the cost to the public purse and (c) the dates of (i) tender, (ii) award, (iii) operation and (iv) completion and report to the Department in each case. [165260]

Margaret Hodge: There have been no contracts awarded by my Department to Opinion Leader Research since 1997.


26 Nov 2007 : Column 13W

Public Service Broadcasting

Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the obligations of the public service broadcasters in respect of television text services. [165288]

James Purnell: Teletext is the commercial public service broadcaster which is required under the terms of its licence to make a text service available, currently in both analogue and digital formats. The holder of the Channel 3 licence, Channel 4 and the Welsh Authority are currently required to grant access to the analogue public teletext provider to the facilities reasonably required for the purposes of the provision of that service. Under its Charter and Agreement, the BBC has currently undertaken to provide analogue Ceefax. The analogue Teletext service and BBC Ceefax will not be available after digital switchover but I understand that digital Teletext and a digital BBC text service will be.

Royal Opera House: Finance

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much grant aid the Arts Council for England has provided to (a) the Royal Opera House and (b) English National Opera in each of the last five years. [166963]

Margaret Hodge: The grant in aid figures are as follows:

£ million
Royal Opera House English National Opera

2003-04

21,754,450

15,000,000

2004-05

23,110,841

16,078,500

2005-06

24,866,154

16,556,220

2006-07

25,550,000

17,011,516

2007-08

26,252,600

17,479,300


Somerset House

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has for modification of the head lease of Somerset house to permit a wider range of potential uses. [166360]

Margaret Hodge: In line with its mission to open up Somerset house to the public and complete the restoration of the 18(th) century buildings round the courtyard, Somerset house Trust has invited bids from potential partners to re-develop the adjoining new wing. The Trust is currently analysing the options to achieve the best solution and will then put proposals to Ministers for them to consider.

Sports: Peterborough

Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding his Department allocated to sport in (a) Peterborough constituency and ( b) Peterborough city council area in each year since 1997. [165917]


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Margaret Hodge: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not fund sport directly. In this instance funding has been provided by Sport England to:

(a) Peterborough constituency
£

1998

152,889

1999

9,758

2000

16,916

2001

25,676

2002

16,222

2003

64,484

2004

116,000

2005

3,000

Total

404,945


(b) Peterborough city council
£

1998

442,689

1999

54,328

2000

21,915

2001

32,326

2002

25,378

2003

64,484

2004

116,000

2005

3,000

2006

30,000

Total

790,120


Travel Information

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many tourist information centres there were in (a) 1997, (b) 2002 and (c) 2007; and if he will make a statement. [166572]

Margaret Hodge: There are currently around 500 Tourist Information Centres (TICs) in England. Historical information about TIC numbers is not held centrally.

The vast majority of TICs are managed by local authorities, as part of their discretionary support for the sector. Decisions about provision will continue to be made at a local level.

Transport

Airports: Public Participation

Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations on airport development are planned; and what the expected date of each consultation is. [167912]

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department is currently consulting on proposals to add capacity at Heathrow airport. This meets a commitment in the 2004 ‘Future of Air Transport’ White Paper, which was itself developed following wide consultation. The Department has no plans to consult on specific development proposals at other airports though individual airport operators will need to consult in accordance with planning requirements as and when they bring forward their proposals.


26 Nov 2007 : Column 15W

Aviation: Security

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what the outcomes were of discussions she has had with the aviation industry on ensuring that the UK’s aviation security regime is properly enforced without causing unnecessary inconvenience to passengers; and how her Department is implementing these outcomes; [163236]

(2) what consultations she has had with the (a) aviation and (b) security industries on the future of the one item of hand luggage rule; and if she will make a statement; [163237]

(3) what her plans are relating to the one item of hand luggage rule. [163238]

Jim Fitzpatrick: Ministers meet regularly with members of the industry, both bilaterally and through relevant committees.

The Secretary of State discussed cabin baggage restrictions with senior aviation industry representatives at the Aviation Security Summit and also with individual airline and airport operators.

My right hon. Friend’s written statement of 14 November explained that airports may permit passengers to carry more than one item of hand luggage from 7 January 2008, provided they have been able to show that they have in place the screening capacity needed to handle the additional bags without any adverse impact on the standard of security achieved. It will be for each airport to bring its plans to the Department for approval, as and when it is ready to do so.


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