Written Answers to Questions
Wednesday 28 November 2007
Scotland
Remploy
9. Mr. Doran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department’s procurement policy is in relation to Remploy factories in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [167465]
David Cairns: As one of the smallest Government Departments with a limited procurement budget, the Scotland Office does not currently procure goods or services from Remploy although we are currently reviewing our procurement policies. It is the case that this Government will contribute £555 million over the next five years as part of Remploy’s restructuring programme. This will ensure the future of many Remploy factories, including that in my hon. Friend’s constituency.
Public Expenditure
10. Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what public expenditure per person is planned for Scotland in each of the next five years. [167466]
Des Browne: Spending plans for the next three years were included in the recently released comprehensive spending review providing Scotland with total departmental expenditure limits of £27.2 billion in 2008-09, £28.4 billion in 2009-10 and £29.7 billion in 2010-11.
Scotland also benefits from direct spend from Whitehall Departments in reserved areas, which accounts for just under half of all public spending in Scotland.
Devolution
11. Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Scotland on further devolution of powers to Scotland. [167467]
Des Browne: I have had discussions with the First Minister on a range of issues and I look forward to further constructive discussions in the interests of the people of Scotland in the future.
Constitution
12. Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on constitutional arrangements affecting Scotland. [167468]
Des Browne: I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice whose Department is responsible for, among many other things, the overall management of the UK’s constitutional arrangements and relationships including with the devolved Administrations.
Commonwealth Games: Glasgow
13. Mr. Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what support the Government intend to provide for the holding of the Commonwealth games in Glasgow in 2014. [167470]
Des Browne: Scotland Office officials are currently working closely with the Scottish Executive, taking forward secondary legislation in the UK Parliament ensuring that requirements of the Commonwealth Games Federation are met.
Mr. Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his Department will bring forward proposals for the Government to assist with the holding of the Commonwealth games in Glasgow in 2014; and if he will make a statement. [167464]
David Cairns: The Scotland Office will take forward secondary legislation in the UK Parliament to ensure that the requirements laid down by the Commonwealth Games Federation are met. Scotland Office officials are working closely with colleagues in the Scottish Executive.
Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth games. [167469]
David Cairns: I wrote to the Scottish Ministers on 21 September offering our full support for the bid and officials in the Scotland Office are working closely with the Scottish Executive on a number of issues to ensure the successful preparation for the games. This will include secondary legislation to protect intellectual property rights.
Departmental Assets
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what departmental assets are planned to be sold in each financial year from 2007-08 to 2010-11; what the (a) description and (b) book value of each such asset is; what the expected revenue from each sale is; and if he will make a statement. [164163]
David Cairns: The Scotland Office has little by way of disposable assets, and we have no plans to dispose of any between 2007-08 and 2010-11.
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mike Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who the special advisers in his Department are; what expertise each has; and what the cost of employing them was in the latest year for which figures are available. [163419]
David Cairns: I refer the hon. Member to the written statement given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 22 November 2007, Official Report, column 147WS.
Culture, Media and Sport
Anniversaries
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which historical anniversaries his Department intends to mark in each of the next four years. [167963]
Margaret Hodge: DCMS plans to mark Remembrance day each year by organising, in concert with other stakeholder bodies, a commemoration ceremony at the Cenotaph, London on the nearest Sunday to 11 November, the anniversary of the first world war Armistice. Further details will be issued shortly before each of those commemorations.
The Department has no plans to mark other historical anniversaries at this time.
Churches: Finance
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport further to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), what funds he expects to be available for churches of heritage value over the CSR period. [167171]
Margaret Hodge: Allocations under the Comprehensive Spending Review to those bodies with responsibilities that include the heritage of places of worship have been notified to those bodies.
The Churches Conservation Trust, which cares for redundant Church of England churches of heritage value, will receive £3.1 million per year in 2008-9 to 2010-11, an increase of £100,000 per year.
We announced on 18 October that English Heritage's funding will be £124.7 million in 2008-09, £126.7 million in 2009-10, and £130.7 million in 2010-11, which will allow them to maintain grants at current levels and progress specified initiatives as outlined in the ‘inspired!’ campaign on historic places of worship.
The listed places of worship grant scheme, which makes grants equivalent to the VAT incurred in making repairs to listed buildings in use for worship, will continue to operate until March 2011, unless a permanent reduced VAT rate for such repairs is agreed by the European Commission in the interim. Under this scheme, all eligible applications are met, and the funding made available will depend on the number of applications made.
Commonwealth Games: Glasgow
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the digital dividend will affect the availability of radio spectrum for the staging needs of the 2014 Commonwealth games in Glasgow; and if he will make a statement. [168392]
James Purnell [holding answer 26 N ovember 2007]: 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 the hon. Member. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Creative Pioneer Academy
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) how many people attended the Creative Pioneer Academy in each of the last three years; [164473]
(2) how many awards have been given as part of the Creative Pioneer Academy; and for what purposes these awards have been used; [164475]
(3) what the total cost was of the Creative Pioneer Academy in each of the last three years. [164476]
Ian Pearson [holding answer 15 November 2007]: I have been asked to reply.
The Creative Pioneer Academy was a programme set up by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and responsibility for NESTA transferred to my Department in June 2007.
I have been advised by the chief executive of NESTA that the academy, which has now closed, was attended by 30 pioneers in 2004, 25 in 2005 and 30 in 2006. A total of 48 awards of up to £35,000 were awarded to enable the participants to put the knowledge acquired into practice and to implement their business plan. The total cost of the academy was £824,000 in 2004-05, £912,000 in 2005-06 and £757,000 in 2006-07.
Departmental Property
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by his Department on renovation and refurbishment of its properties in each of the last five years. [164375]
Mr. Sutcliffe: In each of the last five years the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has spent the following on the renovation and refurbishment of its properties.
2006-07—£6.7 million (aggregate figure for work finalised in this year subject to account negotiation). These costs were in pursuance of the recommendations of the “Lyons Report” and allowed the Department, after a refurbishment and modernisation project, to rationalise the size of its estate. This enabled the Department to move most staff from existing outlying properties into the single building which had been refurbished. The Department has closed two outlying properties plus additional floors in its two other remaining properties. The properties and areas that are now relinquished have either been returned to their landlords, or are pending disposal.
Digital Broadcasting: Gaelic Language
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer of 24 October 2007, Official Report, column 329W, on Digital Broadcasting: Gaelic Language, what the outcome was of the BBC Trust’s consideration of the proposals. [168726]
James Purnell: On 21 November the BBC Trust provisionally concluded that, while the Gaelic Digital Service could deliver public value, further evidence was needed to demonstrate the service’s educational benefits and appeal to a wider audience. The Trust requested that further evidence should be provided by the BBC Executive before the public consultation on the service closes on 19 December. If that evidence proves satisfactory the Trust would approve the service, subject to certain specific requirements and conditions being met.
Flags
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the grade is of the most senior official in his Department who has responsibility for policy on flag flying. [168884]
Margaret Hodge: The most senior DCMS official, responsible for all departmental matters, is its Permanent Secretary, Jonathan Stephens.
National Security
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the Statement by the Prime Minister of 14 November 2007, Official Report, columns 667-72, on national security, when he expects the guidance to museums, libraries and archives councils on extremist material referred to by the Prime Minister to be issued. [168363]
Margaret Hodge: The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) will develop this guidance, in partnership with the public library sector, and intends to publish by the end of the calendar year, 2007.
S4C: Finance
Mr. Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding his Department gave to S4C in each of the last five years. [168736]
James Purnell: S4C has a statutory, calendar year grant entitlement under section 61 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (as amended). Under this formula, DCMS grant to S4C in each of the last five years has been:
| Grant (£ million) | |
Spaces for Sports and Arts Programme: Finance
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department gave to the Spaces for Sports and Arts programme in each of the last five years. [165805]
Margaret Hodge [holding answer 19 October 2007]: The information is shown in the following table.
| Space for Sports and Arts (£ million) | |
The scheme commenced in October 2000 and it was expected that all but one of the projects would be completed and open by November 2005.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Food
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of (a) beef, (b) lamb, (c) pork and (d) dairy products used in his departmental headquarters were imported products in the most recent period for which figures are available. [166648]
Mr. Woodward: My Department does not provide catering services at its departmental headquarters building therefore this information is not available.
In respect of the catering services provided at other NIO premises it is not possible to identify the percentage of produce which is imported as such data are not held.
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