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6 Feb 2008 : Column 1164W—continued

Casinos

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many casinos there were in the UK in each year since 1997. [183325]


6 Feb 2008 : Column 1165W

Mr. Sutcliffe: The list shows the number of casinos operating in Great Britain as at 31 March for each year since 1996-97 and at the latest available date.

To 31 March Number of casinos operating

1997

116

1998

116

1999

116

2000

118

2001

118

2002

122

2003

126

2004

131

2005

138

2006

140

2007

138

29 January 2008

144


Departmental Data Protection

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what requirements his Department and its agency place on contractors in relation to audit of personal data and IT equipment. [176627]

Mr. Sutcliffe: My Department requires an annual audit of IT equipment by its outsourced IT providers. This is done on DCMS premises.

Personal data are audited on a monthly basis by our payroll contractors.

Secure point to point courier services are used to transfer data between DCMS and its service suppliers. The suppliers are contractually bound to keep data safe and secure, and limit access to personal data while in their custody.

The Royal Parks Agency does not have formal procedures but exercise caution when sharing sensitive data.

Digital Switchover Help Scheme: Copeland

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2008, Official Report, column 1809W, on Digital Switchover Help Scheme: Copeland, when the detailed evaluation of the programme to switch off analogue television services in the Copeland area will be completed; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [184472]

Andy Burnham: Digital UK are conducting a rigorous evaluation of the switchover process in Copeland which they plan to publish around the end of March.

Olympic Games 2012: Tourism

Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding has been ringfenced for promoting tourism in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics; and if he will make a statement. [181984]


6 Feb 2008 : Column 1166W

Margaret Hodge [holding answer 25 January 2008]: Following the publication of the DCMS-led Tourism Strategy for 2012 last September, VisitBritain is currently leading a Strategic Review of the £350 million spent by public bodies to support tourism.

The Review will consider among other things the best mechanisms for promoting the UK between now and the 2012 Games. The Review includes full consultation with devolved, regional, and local governments and the tourism industry, and is designed to maximise the impact of public funding for 2012-related tourism work. It is also considering the role of the industry itself in funding the tourism promotion of the Games.

Public Libraries: Closures

Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which public libraries have closed in each London borough since 1997; and in which year each closed. [184175]

Margaret Hodge: This information is not compiled centrally. The total number of library service points within each local authority (but not their names or locations) is published annually in the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) report Public Library Statistics. The House of Commons Library holds copies of the report for the period in question.

Video Games: Violence

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) people and (b) under 18-year-olds have participated in the Byron Review of the effects of video games to date; what percentage of the population this represents; how many people he expects to participate in the Review in total; when he expects the Review to be published; and what plans for further research on the effects of violent video games on (i) adults and (ii) children his Department has. [178684]

Margaret Hodge: Dr. Byron is expected to complete her independent review looking at risks to children from exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games in March 2008.

Dr. Byron has engaged a wide range of stakeholders, largely through the involvement of around 150 umbrella organisations. Some of these groups have undertaken their own consultations or commissioned quantitative research.

In addition, Dr. Byron held two public calls for evidence, one specifically aimed at children and young people under 18, for which received around 350 responses. We expect the review to publish a list of contributors, including details of focus group research carried out with children and parents and discussions with children’s boards.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has no current plans to conduct further research in this area, although we may reconsider this when we see the findings of the review, if it is deemed appropriate.


6 Feb 2008 : Column 1167W

Wicksteed Park

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will visit Wicksteed Park in Kettering to discuss with the Wicksteed Trust how his Department might assist the promotion and development of the UK’s first leisure park for the benefit of the local and wider community. [184810]

Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 5 February 2008]: My Department and its partner non-departmental public bodies are of course keen to assist the promotion and development of attractions such as those provided by the Wicksteed Trust. Indeed, Wicksteed Park is promoted by VisitBritain’s websites (which promote Britain abroad and England to the domestic markets). The Park was also featured in the recent ‘Family Fun’ campaign.

The Wicksteed Trust has received funding from English Heritage, through a substantial grant in 2006 for the repair of the orangery. The Trust has also received grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2003 and 2006.

Regarding children’s play facilities specifically, the Children’s Play Information Service produces a fact sheet on potential sources of funding, ‘How to raise funds for children’s play’. It is available through the National Children’s Bureau website.

There are many projects and organisations across the Cultural sectors which deserve support. As outlined, the Trust does in fact receive support from my Department and its partners through existing programmes. If the Trust were to write to me with an invitation, I would be happy to consider visiting Wicksteed Park should other commitments permit it.


6 Feb 2008 : Column 1168W

International Development

Afghanistan

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's performance against objectives in (a) Afghanistan and (b) Iraq has been in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [184208]

Mr. Douglas Alexander [holding answer 4 February 2008]: The information requested can be found in the DFID annual report. Copies of this are available in both Libraries of the House.

Departmental Advertising

Mr. Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of his Department's expenditure was on advertising in each of the last 10 years. [182998]

Gillian Merron: DFID does not hold a separate advertising budget and we do not hold figures for advertising expressed in financial years prior to 2002-03. The majority of our advertising relates to recruitment advertising in newspapers and journals. Since 2002-03 less than 0.02 per cent of DFID's total expenditure was on advertising.

Departmental Marketing

Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2008, Official Report, column 2080W, on departmental marketing, what the dimensions are of the display in the Palace Street offices. [184993]

Mr. Malik: The dimensions of the photographs and frames used in the display of former Ministers in Palace Street are in the following table. This display is not for, and has never been used for, any departmental marketing purposes.


6 Feb 2008 : Column 1169W

6 Feb 2008 : Column 1170W
Ministerial photograph and caption Frame size Image size

Mr A E Gram MP , Parliamentary Secretary, Minister of Overseas Development: October 1964 to October 1969

33cm x 39 cm tall

15 cm x 17 cm

Mr. Ben Whittaker, MP, parliamentary Secretary, Minister of Overseas Development: October 1969 to June 1970

33 cm x 39 cm

15 cm x 20 cm

Right hon. Barbara Castle MP, Minister of Overseas Development: October 1964 to December 1965

33 cm x 39 cm

20 cm x 15 cm

Right hon. Robert Carr MP, Secretary for Technical Co-operation: May 1963 to October 1964

33 cm x 39 cm

20 cm x 15 cm

Right hon. Denis Vosper TD MP, Secretary for Technical Co-operation: June 1961 to May 1968

33 cm x 39 cm

15 cm x 20 cm

Mr John Tomlinson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister of Overseas Development: June 1977 to May 1979

33 cm x 39 cm

15 cm x 20 cm

The Right hon. Anthony Greenwood MP Minister of Overseas Development: December 1965 to August 1966

33 cm x 39 cm

15 cm x 19.5 cm

The Right hon. Arthur Bottomley MP, Minister of Overseas Development: August 1966 to August 1967

33 cm x 39 cm

15 cm x 19.5 cm

The Right hon. Richard Wood MP, Minister for Overseas Development: June 1970 to March 1974

33 cm x 39 cm

22 cm x 19 cm

Right hon. W. Price MP, Parliamentary Secretary, Minister of Overseas Development: March 1974 to September 1974

33 cm x 39 cm

15 cm x 19 cm

Mr John Grant MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister of Overseas Development: October 1974 to April 1976

33 cm x 39 cm

15 cm x 19 cm

The Right hon. Reginald Prentice J.P MP, Minister of Overseas Development: August 1967 to October 1969, June 1975 to December 1976

33 cm x 39 cm

16 cm x 21 cm

Frank Judd MP, Minister of Overseas Development: December 1976 to February 1977

33 cm x 39 cm

15 cm x 19.5 cm

The Right hon. Judith Hart MP, Minister of Overseas Development: October 1969 to June 1970, March 1974 to June 1976, February 1877 to May 1979

33 cm x 39 cm

15 cm x 15 cm

The Right hon. Sir Neil Martin MP, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Minister for Overseas Development: May 1969 - January 1983

33 cm x 39 cm

15 cm x 20cm

The Right hon. Timothy Raison MP, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Minister for Overseas Development: January 1983 - September 1986

33cm wide x 39cm tall

15 cm x 20cm

Christopher Patten MP, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Minister for Overseas Development: September 1986 - July 1989:

33cm wide x 39cm tall

15 cm x 18.5 cm

The Right hon. The Baroness Chalker of Wallasey, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and Minister for Overseas Development: July 1987-April 1989

33cm wide x 39cm tall

15 cm x 19cm

The Right hon. Clare Short MP, Secretary of State for International Development: May 1997-May 2003

33cm wide x 39cm tall

13.5 cm x 19 cm

The Right hon. Baroness Valerie Amos, Secretary of State for International Development: May 2003 - October 2003

33cm wide x 39cm tall

13 cm x 16 cm


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