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17 Dec 2007 : Column 926W—continued
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the Gambling Act 2005 on the (a) revenue and (b) employment levels of (i) adult gaming centres, (ii) family entertainment centres, (iii) gaming machine manufacturers, (iv) gaming machine suppliers and operators, (v) bingo halls and (vi) licensed betting offices since its implementation; [174464]
(2) what plans his Department has to review (a) gaming machine stake and prize levels and (b) numbers of gaming machines permitted in different types of gambling premises following the publication of the British Gaming Prevalence Survey 2007. [174560]
Mr. Sutcliffe: My Department is engaging in a constructive dialogue with the British Amusement Catering Trade Association, the main trade body which represents the gaming machines sector, and other trade bodies with an interest in the sector. I have made it clear to these organisations that I will be happy to consider any evidence they can provide, in relation to the difficult trading conditions that some operators say they are currently experiencing, and any proposals for remedial action.
However, the Government’s principal priority remains to protect the public. We will need to be satisfied that any proposals put forward for remedial action by the industry do not have an adverse impact in terms of the licensing objectives of the Act.
Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the evidential basis was for the determination of the stake and prize levels for category B2 and B3 gaming machines; [174496]
(2) what the evidential basis was for the decision to restrict the number of B3 machines permitted in adult gaming centres and bingo halls of any size to four under the Gambling Act 2005; [174497]
(3) if he will bring forward proposals to amend the existing B3 machine entitlement in adult gaming centres and bingo halls to allow larger premises an increase in the number of B3 machines in proportion to the total number of gaming machines. [174498]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The number of category B gaming machines permitted in different types of premises is provided for in section 172 of the Gambling Act 2005. The Act was approved by Parliament following extensive consultation with industry, and many other interested parties, and lengthy pre-legislative scrutiny.
The stakes and prizes applying to category B gaming machines, and all other categories of gaming machine, and the different sub-categories of category B gaming machines that can be made available in different types of gambling premises, are set by the Categories of Gaming Machine Regulations 2007. The regulations were made following extensive public consultation and were subject to the affirmative resolution procedure requiring debates in, and approval by, both Houses of Parliament.
Under the Act, adult gaming centres are, for the first time, permitted to make up to four B3 gaming machines available, and can continue to make available an unlimited number of category C and D gaming machines. Bingo
halls have retained their entitlement of up to four category B3 gaming machines, and to an unlimited number of category C and D gaming machines.
The maximum stake and prize levels for, what became under the Act, category C gaming machines were increased to 50p and £35 in October 2006. The maximum stake for what became category B3 machines was doubled to £1 at the same time.
My Department is engaging in a constructive dialogue with the British Amusement Catering Trade Association, the main trade body which represents the gaming machines sector, and other trade bodies with an interest in the sector. I have made it clear to these organisations that I will be happy to consider any evidence they can provide, in relation to the difficult trading conditions that some operators say they are currently experiencing, and any proposals for remedial action.
However, the Government’s principal priority remains to protect the public. We will need to be satisfied that any proposals put forward for remedial action by the industry do not have an adverse impact in terms of the licensing objectives of the Act.
Mr. Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of whether the introduction of the Gambling Act 2005 has caused migration from soft to hard forms of gambling. [175197]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Gambling Act 2005 came into force on 1 September 2007. The new Act introduces, for the first time, appropriate safeguards for the different forms of gambling permitted by the Act to ensure that children and vulnerable people are protected. It is too early to assess the impact of the Act, since it has only been in effect for a little over three months.
Licensing
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations his Department has received from police representatives on the effects of the Licensing Act 2003. [174830]
Mr. Sutcliffe: We frequently receive views from bodies representing the police, such as the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), and from individual police forces on how the Licensing Act 2003 (the 2003 Act) is working. Recent feedback has included examples of how the new powers are being used to make a positive impact and how flexible closing times have helped spread dispersal and reduce peaks of alcohol-related disorder.
I value the input of the police in identifying where the 2003 Act could do better, which is why we actively seek their views when considering adjustments to the regime.
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he plans to review the Licensing Act 2003; and if he will make a statement. [174831]
Mr. Sutcliffe: As the Prime Minister reiterated in July, we are monitoring and reviewing the impact of the Act and have been since it came into force. We expect to complete an evaluation of the impact of the Act in the new year.
Lifeguards: Qualifications
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many lifeguards have (a) trained for and (b) passed their National Pool Lifeguard Qualification in England (i) since 1997 and (ii) in the latest 12 month period for which figures are available. [173792]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The National Pool Lifeguard Qualification in England is the responsibility of the Institute of Qualified Lifeguards (IQL), which is affiliated to the Royal Life Saving Society UK, the recognised national governing body for Life Saving. The IQL has advised that:
(i) since 1999, 301,000 people were awarded the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification in the United Kingdom (pre-1999 figures were unavailable);
(ii) between January and the end of November this year, 31,000 people were awarded the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification in the United Kingdom.
These figures include both newly qualified lifeguards and lifeguards renewing their qualification.
The numbers of people training for the qualification and England-only figures were not available from the IQL.
Olympic Games 2012
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public funding has been allocated to promoting Britain as a tourist destination through the 2012 Olympics. [173034]
Margaret Hodge [holding answer 11 December 2007]: VisitBritain's strategic review of tourism, announced by my Department on 24 October 2007, will look at priorities for British tourism including the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. Better coordination of resources and focusing on priorities will help us deliver the tourism legacy of the 2012 Games.
Funding to promote Britain as a tourist destination in 2012 comes from many sources, of which VisitBritain is just one.
Olympic Games 2012: Voluntary Work
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the likely effect the London 2012 Olympic Games will have on levels of participation in voluntary work. [172082]
Tessa Jowell: I have been asked to reply as Minister for the Olympics.
The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games estimate that they are likely to require up to 70,000 volunteers for the 2012 Games. Since the bid 160,000 people have registered an interest in volunteering on the London 2012 database. The Personal Best Programme, which has just completed its pilot phase, aims to encourage participants from deprived backgrounds with low level qualifications into training and volunteering using the power of the Games.
In addition, the Government are currently examining other ways to promote volunteering more widely using the excitement and enthusiasm generated by the Games as part of the preparations for the launch of the Legacy Action Plan in the new year.
Reviews
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) reviews, (b) consultations and (c) taskforces his Department is (i) responsible for and (ii) scheduled to initiate; on what date each (A) started and (B) is expected to be completed; and what the purpose is of each. [169938]
Margaret Hodge: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 10 December 2007, Official Report, columns 106-10W.
Sports Direct: Finance
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2007, Official Report, column 661W, on Sports Direct: finance, if he will place in the Library a copy of the feasibility study. [174134]
Mr. Sutcliffe: I will place a copy of the Sport Direct feasibility study (from 2005) in the House Library.
Since the study was completed, alternative options were considered to fulfil the Sport Direct manifesto commitment, one of which has now been implemented.
From 19 November 2007, information on accessing sports facilities has been made available on the NHS Choices website www.nhs.uk. This option was considered the most effective and efficient way of meeting the manifesto commitment.
Sports: Coventry
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Government have spent on sports facilities in Coventry since 1997. [170305]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Since 1997 sports facilities in Coventry have benefited from £8,454,030 from DCMS Exchequer and Sport England lottery funding.
Sportsgrounds
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government have taken to improve safety at football stadiums since 1997. [170303]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Safety at football grounds is the responsibility of the clubs. The Government, through the Football Licensing Authority, licenses spectator accommodation, keeps under review safety certification by local authorities and provides guidance on good practice relating to the management both of the grounds and of spectator safety.
The main improvements in England and Wales since 1997 in which the FLA has played a key role have been as follows:
the increase in the number of all-seated Premier League, Championship and international football grounds from 47 to 69;
the upgrading of all remaining standing accommodation to ensure that it has continuous crush barriers of the appropriate design, strength and spacing between radial gangways;
the development and promulgation of national steward training qualifications at NVQ level 2 or equivalent;
the revision of the 1997 edition of the Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds (to be published early in the new year); and
the issue of detailed guidance on accessible stadia, control rooms, concourses, safety certification, contingency planning, exercise planning and briefing/debriefing.
These improvements have been introduced alongside a range of measures that have been taken to control disorder which have also contributed significantly to improving public safety in grounds.
Swimming
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to encourage people to participate in swimming. [173790]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Swimming is the country's largest participation sport and, since 1995, over £251 million of National Lottery funding has been invested in capital and revenue community projects.
Sport England supports Everyday Swim, a national initiative run by the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) aimed at breaking down barriers to swimming and getting more people into the swimming pool. Sport England is contributing £3 million of Lottery funding to the programme, with the ASA providing an equal amount of partnership funding.
Sport England also provides £1.7 million per annum of National Lottery funding to the ASA to support the delivery of its One Stop Plan. This funding is used to improve the sport's infrastructure by focusing on clubs, coaches and volunteers.
Swimming is part of the Community Club Development Programme and, since 2003, more than £1.9 million of Exchequer funding has been provided to support capital improvements in 15 swimming clubs.
Video Games: Children
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to his answer of 29 October 2007, Official Report, column 643W, on video games: children, who expressed concerns over the relationship between video games and behaviour; and when and to whom such concerns were expressed. [173784]
Margaret Hodge: Our consideration of this issue reflects wider public concern expressed in a range of forums. In addition to this, we have received correspondence from a range of individuals and groups of school children—often through their constituency MP—who express concern about a possible link between playing video games that feature violence and violent behaviour in real life.
Young People: Lifeguards
Mrs. James: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to encourage young people to train as lifeguards. [173791]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Sport England currently recognises Life Saving and Surf Life Saving, but neither governing body—the Royal Life Saving Society UK and the Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain—receives funding from Sport England.
The Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain was awarded £8,000 in 2006-07 to support the employment of a sports development officer in the south-west to coordinate events aimed at increasing participation in Surf Life Saving. This award was made from the ‘Impact and Improvement Fund’, which is operated by the Central Council for Physical Recreation and funded by Sport England.
Since 2005, one award of £210,723 has been made by Sport England to Hayle Surf Life Saving Club in Cornwall for the construction of new premises.
Work and Pensions
Children: Poverty
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to meet the (a) 2010 and (b) 2020 child poverty targets. [172088]
Caroline Flint: The Department is committed to helping to achieve the ambitious targets set by the Government to halve child poverty by 2010 on the way to eradicating it by 2020. Significant progress has been made with 600,000 children lifted out of relative poverty since 1998-99 but there remains much more to be done.
Work, for those who can, remains the best and most sustainable route out of poverty and this sits at the heart of the Department's child poverty strategy. In March 2007 the Department published its refreshed child poverty strategy “Working for Children” which focuses around three broad themes. These are: increasing support for lone parents through increased rights and responsibilities; helping people to stay in work and make progress in their jobs; and increasing the family focus of employment programmes. In “Ready for Work: Full employment in our generation”, published on 13 December as a result of the responses to our Green Paper “In Work, Better Off: next steps to full employment”, we have announced increased support and obligations for lone parents who are claiming income support solely based on being a lone parent. They will have to move onto a more appropriate benefit when their youngest child is aged 12 and over from October 2008; 10 and over from October 2009; and seven and over from October 2010.
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