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18 Feb 2008 : Column 330W—continued
and uses information supplied by the lottery distributors.
Obesity
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his Department's target is for reducing obesity; and what baseline figure was set. [185255]
Mr. Sutcliffe:
Last year's comprehensive spending review set a new public service agreement (PSA) to "Improve the Health and Wellbeing of Children and
Young People", which is co-owned by the Department of Health and the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
As part of this new PSA, there is the commitment to reduce the rate of increase in obesity among children under 11 as a first step towards a long-term national ambition by 2020 to reduce the proportion of overweight and obese children to 2000 levels in the context of tackling obesity across the population.
The baseline figure is still in development and will be confirmed by the Department of Health by April this year.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport remains a key partner in delivery of this commitment.
Portable Antiquities Scheme: Finance
David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the effect a real terms reduction in funding for the Portable Antiquities Scheme would have on the reporting of treasure finds in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [186391]
Margaret Hodge: The Museums Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) recognises that the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) is of national importance. The British Museum and the MLA are fully committed to the continued success of the PAS and are working together with other stakeholders to ensure that this is achieved.
The PAS is funded by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and administered on their behalf by the British Museum (BM). Any assessment regarding the scheme is therefore a matter for the MLA and the BM. The contribution of the PAS to the reporting of treasure finds is recognised and will be a factor in ensuring the scheme’s future strength.
Public Libraries: Standards
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made in reducing the striking variation in the standard of library services in different parts of the country identified in his Department's 2003 publication Framework for the Future: Libraries, Learning and Information in the Next Decade. [186949]
Margaret Hodge: At a national level my Department continues to advocate for the valuable role libraries play in every community, and to share best practice within the sector to raise national standards. DCMS does not, however, individually manage public library authorities. Libraries are a locally managed and delivered service, and therefore subject to local funding decisions.
In 2004-05 only 55 per cent. of authorities passed more than five Public Library Service Standards (PLSS). This figure rose to 70 per cent. by 2006-07, indicating an overall improvement in national service quality. Among the authorities that have improved most notably are Oldham and the East Riding of Yorkshire—having each passed only three out of 10 Standards in 2004-05, they now pass nine. Improvements in library opening hours have been
particularly significant since the introduction of PLSS 2, which challenges authorities to open their libraries for 128 hours per 1,000 population: since the publication of Framework for the Future in 2003 the number of libraries open for more than 60 hours per week has more than doubled, from 42 to 97.
In implementing the Government's strategy for libraries, Framework for the Future, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) has introduced a number of programmes to promote improvement in the public library service. 661 people have completed MLA leadership training, ensuring effective delivery of library services into the future. 16 authorities have benefited from the experience and support offered through their successful peer review programme, helping them to improve services.
The MLA also manages The People's Network Service, at:
Launched in October 2005 the network presents a national online presence for public libraries, offering 24 hour access to innovative services, plus campaigns and features.
MLA is currently developing a public library strategy for 2008-11 that will build on the successful delivery of Framework for the Future.
Regional Arts Councils: Public Participation
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what requirement there is for Arts Council regional meetings to be held in public; and if he will make a statement. [186814]
Margaret Hodge: Currently there is no requirement for Arts Council regional meetings to be held in public and meetings of both the national and the regional arts councils are not open to members of the public. However, the Arts Council publication scheme sets out the information it is committed to make publicly available, which includes the minutes of national council and regional council meetings. The Arts Council's publication scheme is available on the website:
Copies of this document have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 on open age sport. [185748]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department for Children Schools and Families, the Department of Health and the Home Office share responsibility for the implementation of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
We are aware that these Departments received feedback on the issue of under 18-year-olds playing in open age sport from a wide range of stakeholders in the sports sector during the course of last year. We are also aware that they have no intention to make any
activity a regulated activity unnecessarily, particularly if that means children could be denied access to a wide range of sporting activity.
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which ministerial colleagues he consulted over the consequences for sport of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. [185749]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department for Children Schools and Families, the Department of Health and the Home Office share responsibility for the Independent Safeguarding Authority scheme and the implementation of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
DCMS was involved in the consultation and continues to be involved in discussion on the implementation of the scheme and its impact on the sports sector.
Sexual Harassment
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many complaints of (a) sexual harassment and (b) sexual discrimination have been made by staff in (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies in the most recent year for which figures are available. [184688]
Mr. Sutcliffe: There have been no cases of sexual harassment or sexual discrimination in DCMS since 2002. There have been four cases in the Royal Parks since 1991—two cases of sexual discrimination and two cases of sexual harassment.
Shropshire
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the value was of each grant provided by his Department, its associated agencies and non-departmental public bodies to (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council, (b) Shropshire county council and (c) Telford and the Wrekin borough council in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08; and what grants have been planned for 2008-09. [184105]
Margaret Hodge: DCMS has provided no direct grants to these local authorities in the financial years 2006-07, 2007-08 and has no plans to do so in 2008-09. Information on grants provided by the Department’s agencies and non-departmental public bodies is held by the bodies themselves. This information is not held centrally.
Sports
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of progress towards his Department's public service agreement target to increase significantly the take-up of sports opportunities by users from priority groups; and if he will make a statement. [Official Report, 7 March 2008, Vol. 472, c. 27MC.] [185845]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The DCMS ‘Taking Part’ survey is being used to measure progress against this public service agreement.
The most recent results were published in December 2007 and are in the tables. They provide a comparison between the baseline figures and the second year results of the survey.
The moderate level intensity sport indicator is defined as participation in moderate intensity level sport for at least 30 minutes on three separate days during the past week.
| Percentage | ||
| Priority group | Year 1 | Year 2 |
The active sport indicator is defined as at least one occasion of participation in an active sport during the past four weeks.
| Percentage | ||
| Priority group | Year 1 | Year 2 |
Sport England have been working to increase the number of participants in sport through a range of interventions across sports organisations at a regional and local level; including national governing bodies, county sports partnerships, community sports networks, sports clubs and others. Since 1997-98, over £4 billion has been invested through Government and the lottery on sport in England.
Participation will be an integral part of Sport England's new strategy to build a world-class community sport infrastructure.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people aged 16 and above (a) from black and ethnic minority groups, (b) with a limiting disability, (c) from low socio-economic groups, (d) who are women and (e) in total did not participate in any form of sport (i) in each year for which figures are available and (ii) in the latest period for which figures are available. [185846]
Mr. Sutcliffe: According to the Taking Part survey, the following data represents those who did not participate in any sport or recreational physical activity during the preceding 12 months.
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | |||
| Priority g roup | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number |
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people aged 16 and over (a) from black and ethnic minority groups, (b) with a limiting disability, (c) from low socio-economic groups, (d) who are women and (e) in total (i) participated in active sports at least 12 times a year and (ii) engaged in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity level sport at least three times a week (A) in each year for which figures are available and (B) at the latest date for which figures are available. [Official Report, 7 March 2008, Vol. 472, c. 28MC.] [185847]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The DCMS ‘Taking Part’ survey provides national data on sports participation.
The most recent results were published in December 2007 and are in the tables. They provide a comparison between the baseline figures and the second year results of the survey.
The moderate level intensity sport indicator is defined as participation in moderate intensity level sport for at least 30 minutes on three separate days during the past week.
| Percentage | ||
| Priority group | Year 1 | Year 2 |
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