Written Answers to Questions
Monday 4 February 2008
Olympics
Olympic Games 2012: Construction
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what the bid book estimate is for construction of (a) the broadcast/media centre and (b) the athletes village for the London 2012 Olympics. [184387]
Tessa Jowell: The bid book capital investment estimate for the International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre (IBC/MPC) was $215 million (approx. £134.4 million at a USD/GBP exchange rate of 1.6). The bid book capital investment estimate for the Olympic Village was $1.04 billion (approx. £650 million at a USD/GBP exchange rate of 1.6).
The bid book figures were calculated at 2004 prices in US Dollars (an IOC requirement) and did not include VAT.
Olympic Games 2012: Disabled
Mr. Harper: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with the Olympic Delivery Authority on the accessibility of the Olympic Village for people with disabilities; and if she will make a statement. [184384]
Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Village will be fully accessible to disabled people and comply with both the spirit and the intent of all relevant legislation, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and its supporting code of practice and will exceed the requirements of the UK’s Building Regulations (Part M).
I am fully committed to ensuring that the Village is a model of accessibility. To that end, the ODA’s Access and Inclusion Forum meets on a quarterly basis to advise on areas of inclusive design through the sharing of knowledge and experience. It has representation from a lead disability organisation within each of the five boroughs, as well as the Borough Access Officers and key external stakeholders.
In addition to the forum, the ODA Access Panels—one for the built environment and one for transport—target the more specific issues around those areas. The Panels provide specialist disability and inclusive design experts to review and advise upon Park commitments—both at Games time and in legacy—and have final sign-off on ODA build commitments. In support of this, the ODA has also appointed two Principal Access Officers, one specialising in transport accessibility, and one specialising in the built environment. These Officers are responsible for the development of inclusive design within the ODA’s programme.
Mr. Harper: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many residences in the Olympic Village will be accessible to disabled people. [184385]
Tessa Jowell: London 2012’s Olympic and Paralympic Village have been designed from the outset as an accessible and inclusive community. During Games time, the Village will provide over 17,320 beds to athletes and officials and 8,700 during the Paralympic Games, all of which will be wheelchair accessible.
The Village will comply with both the spirit and the intent of the relevant legislation, including the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)1995 and its supporting code of practices. In addition, it will exceed the requirements of the UK’s Building Regulations (Part M). For example, the design of bathrooms throughout the Village will exceed the IPC minimum requirements.
In legacy, the Olympic Village will provide approximately 4,000 residential units. These units are all being designed to ensure that all people, young and old, single or in families, disabled and non-disabled can benefit. As many of the Village units as is practicable will be built to Lifetime Homes Standards. In addition, at least 10 per cent. of these units also will be fully accessible to wheelchairs.
Olympic Games 2012: Land
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what legal arrangements have been made for the sale of surplus land after the 2012 Olympics to pay back moneys taken from the Lottery; and if she will make a statement. [184397]
Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to my written statement to the House on 27 March 2007 in which I announced the revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government and the Mayor of London.
This MOU sets out how the land acquired for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be sold and the moneys realised. It puts in place arrangements for sharing the profits that are expected to be generated by the increase in land and property values in the Olympic Park as a result of the investment for the Games. Both the Government and the Mayor have stated their shared intention to abide by the terms of the MOU.
The Memorandum shows details of the amounts we expect to be recovered, from the sale of land acquired by the London Development Agency for the purposes of delivering the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and how these funds will be allocated between the London Development Agency and the National Lottery.
Copies of the Memorandum are available in the Library of the House.
Leader of the House
Road Traffic Offences
Mr. Jeremy Browne: To ask the Leader of the House how many (a) parking tickets and (b) speeding fines were issued for vehicles used by her Office in each of the last 10 years; and what the cost to the public purse of those penalties was in each year. [183354]
Helen Goodman: Following a machinery of government change, detailed information on expenditure incurred prior to 2007-08 is available only at disproportionate cost.
Since June 2007, there have been no parking tickets or speeding fines issued to the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons.
Women and Equality
Crimes of Violence: Females
Mrs. May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what meetings she has held since 27 June 2007 with representatives of (a) rape crisis centres, (b) women’s refuges, (c) sexual assault referral centres, (d) prostitution, trafficking and sexual exploitation support services and (e) other third sector organisations dealing with violence against women. [182678]
Barbara Follett: Since 27 June 2007, the Ministers for Women and Equality have had meetings and maintained contact with stakeholders and third sector organisations on a range of issues, including violence against women.
Prostitution
Mrs. May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what meetings (a) she and (b) the deputy Minister for Women and Equality has had with Ministerial colleagues on the Government’s policy on prostitution in each of the last three months. [181932]
Barbara Follett: The Ministers for Women and Equality are in close and regular contact with ministerial colleagues about this issue. In addition, the deputy Minister for Women and Equality sits on the Inter-departmental Ministerial Group on Sexual Violence, to which progress on the Prostitution Strategy is reported.
Prime Minister
China
Mr. Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister which British business leaders accompanied him on his recent visit to China and India; on what basis they were invited; what bilateral business agreements were made during the visit; what the outcomes from the trip were; and if he will make a statement. [183862]
The Prime Minister: The following business leaders accompanied me on my trip to China and India:
| Name | Organisation |
Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers
Mr. Walker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the special advisers employed in his Office since 6 May 1997; and what the (a) start and (b) end date of employment was in each case. [184379]
The Prime Minister: Since 2003, the Government have published on an annual basis the names and overall cost of special advisers and the number in each payband. Information on the number of special advisers before 2003 was provided at regular intervals. This information is available in the Libraries of the House.
Departmental Responsibilities: Floods
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Prime Minister what progress has been made in giving one Government Department responsibility for all flooding matters. [178790]
The Prime Minister: The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs is the lead department for all flooding matters in England. This includes ensuring that the Environment Agency and local responders such as the emergency services and local authorities have suitable arrangements and capabilities in place to respond to flood emergencies on the ground.
Work to co-ordinate the wider Government flood recovery effort is led by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Energy
Mr. Spring: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he met representatives of (a) Npower, (b) EDF, (c) Powergen, (d) British Energy, (e) Scottish Power and (f) Scottish and Southern Energy in each of the last five years. [183386]
The Prime Minister: The information requested is not held by my Office.
National Security Strategy
Mr. Keith Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what the reasons were for the decision to change the publication of the National Security Strategy from its announced publication date of autumn 2007; [184212]
(2) when he plans to publish the National Security Strategy. [184454]
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the content of my statement on national security on 14 November 2007, Official Report, column 667.
Wales
Suicide: Males
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent meetings have been held with National Assembly for Wales Government Ministers to discuss the number of male suicides in Wales. [183368]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have discussed the issue of suicides in Wales with the First Minister.
Such tragic incidences are of great concern and distress to me. I congratulate my hon. Friend for successfully securing an adjournment debate for Thursday this week to raise awareness and to discuss this important issue.
In the meantime, a taskforce, which includes police, children’s services and mental health experts, is examining other so-called copycat suicides by young people in Bridgend since 2004. The taskforce will determine if there are any links between the suicides and ensure that other young people, many of them friends of the victims, have access to counselling and other support services.
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