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15 July 2008 : Column 294W—continued
Strip Clubs
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 12 May 2008, Official Report, column 1375W, on strip clubs, to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles), how many licensable activities have been carried out under the Licensing Act 2003; and what activities are included in that category. [215332]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The following table shows the number of licences and certificates in force on 31 March 2007 in England and Wales which permitted regulated entertainment. This shows responses from 68 per cent. of licensing authorities. Around 53 per cent. of licensing authorities provided the further break down by type of permitted regulated entertainment.
Entertainment is regulated by the Act if it includes the performance of live music or dance, recorded music or entertainment comparable to these activities. It must be available to the public or members and guests of a qualifying club (whether a charge is made or not), or to a private audience if there is a charge with a view to making a profit.
Premises offering entertainment in the form of striptease or similar dancing must, therefore, apply for a licence to cater for the performance of dance (or entertainment of similar description), live or recorded music and, if it has a bar, alcohol sales.
Tourism: Career Structure
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will bring forward policies to promote career development strategies in the tourism industry. [219188]
Margaret Hodge: People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for the tourism industry, is promoting career development opportunities as part of the National Skills Strategy for hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism—an employer-led strategy launched by my Department in March 2007. Government have signed up to the strategy’s 10-point plan to improve skills, retention and career development, which is a key part of my Department’s broader tourism strategy for 2012 and beyond.
Within the National Skills Strategy, People 1st has developed an on-line skills and employment resource—the UKSP (previously the UK Skills Passport)—which includes a detailed and easy-to-use career map of the sector, and allows individuals to match themselves and their skills to the best employers who have signed up to the industry’s ‘Good Employer’ standards. UKSP marketing is also targeted to attract new talent by showing potential recruits the career opportunities available right across the sector. People 1st is also giving clarity to the role of qualifications in an individual’s career pathway, from pre-entry to employment, through to workplace development and progression.
Finally, the National Skills Academy for Hospitality was approved by Government in May. Over the next five years over 65,000 learners will go through academy programmes, helping learners develop good careers in the industry through UKSP and by linking up with the network of Good Employers.
Travel Information: Human Rights
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps to encourage travel companies to inform their customers of the human rights records of countries to which they are travelling. [217558]
Margaret Hodge: My Department's interests in relation to tourism are to champion the tourism and leisure industries, helping everyone make the most of the UK as a tourist and leisure destination.
My Department is not responsible for regulation of the outbound tourism industry, and I have no plans to impose or encourage travel companies to provide information to customers on the human rights records of countries they intend to visit.
Information on the Government's human rights policy overseas is available through the FCO website. Some aspects of human rights are covered in local laws and customs in FCO Travel Advice as they relate to Britons travelling abroad.
The Association of British Travel Agents advise that their code of practice for tour operators encourages them to adhere to the FCO travel advice for their customers who are travelling abroad, but it is ultimately down to customers to make informed decisions about were they choose to holiday.
World Book Day: Finance
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on promoting World Book Day in each of the last five years. [218529]
Margaret Hodge: World Book Day is not a Government initiative, but a partnership of publishers, booksellers and others.
However the promotion of literacy and the love of reading remain central to the purpose of the modern public library, so we fully support the Day’s efforts and focus for children, adults and family learners about the benefits that reading can bring.
World Heritage Sites
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to publish the review of the tentative list of World Heritage sites in the UK. [218202]
Margaret Hodge [holding answer 14 July 2008]: The paper on the Review of World Heritage Policy is currently under consideration. A decision on publication will be made shortly.
World Heritage Sites: Climate Change
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will review the management plan for World Heritage Sites in the UK with regard to their effects on climate change. [218197]
Margaret Hodge: In accordance with UNESCO’s adopted recommendations on climate change at its 2006 World Heritage Committee in Vilnius (WHC-06/30.COM/7.1), UK World Heritage Site Steering Groups are considering the effects of climate change when reviewing their management plans. Management plans are reviewed every five years.
Defence
7 Regiment
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tasks were completed by 7 Regiment in the last six months. [218392]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: In the last six months 7 Regiment Army Air Corps undertook various tasks including: support to training for operational deployment, support to UK operations, support to non-operational training, recruiting activities and communication flights.
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) private security companies, (b) nations and (c) intergovernmental organisations are involved with training Afghan national police; and how many British citizens participate in each training initiative, broken down by (i) military and (ii) civilian personnel. [217255]
Dr. Howells: I have been asked to reply.
The Government hold contracts with Global Strategies Ltd. and G4S (formerly Armour Group) to deliver elements of our work with the Afghan police. The US Government contract a number of private security companies to deliver training, including Blackwater Worldwide and DynCorp International. We do not hold a full list of the companies used by other nations.
A total of 25 nations provide training to the Afghan police. The European Police Mission to Afghanistan (EUPOL) currently includes officers from 21 nations, specifically Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
The US, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Turkey also have personnel providing training to the Afghan national police on a bilateral basis, as do the UN Office of Drugs and Crime and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
The Government have deployed a total of 84 personnel to work with the police in Afghanistan. Of these, 11 are deployed as part of EUPOL, three are deployed as police advisors to the US reform programme and 70 work on bilateral projects.
Out of 84 UK personnel, 24 are from the military and the remainder are civilians.
Air Force: Training
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-commissioned officers in the RAF have achieved the National Examining Board for Supervision and Management Award at diploma level since 1998. [217589]
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.
Aircraft Carriers
Mr. Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what assessment has been made of the through-life cost of powering the new aircraft carriers with (a) conventional gas turbine/diesel engines and (b) nuclear reactor plants; [218241]
(2) what studies his Department has undertaken on suitability of nuclear reactor power for the new aircraft carriers. [218430]
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