Written Answers to Questions
Monday 6 October 2008
Olympics
Public Expenditure
4. James Duddridge: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what her most recent estimate is of the public expenditure on the London 2012 Olympics. [224393]
Tessa Jowell: The estimate of public expenditure on the London 2012 Games remains within the £9.325 billion package that I announced in March 2007.
I provided further details of the budget in my statement of December 2007; and my progress updates of January and July 2008.
Environment
5. Linda Gilroy: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had on the environmental effects of the London 2012 Olympics. [224394]
Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Board has set out its ambition to make the London 2012 Games the most sustainable in modern times.
Our Sustainability Plan, ‘Towards a One Planet 2012’ details how we intend to achieve this—for example, by cutting carbon emissions in the Olympic Park by 50 per cent. by 2013, by ensuring that 20 per cent. of energy on-site comes from local, renewable energy, and by creating a park that will encourage people to live more healthily and sustainably.
The Board discusses and monitors progress against these commitments and the many others which are contained in the plan.
The first annual update of the plan is due to be published later this year. Progress includes: the ODA exceeding its target to reclaim 90 per cent. of demolition waste for reuse or recycling, new wildlife refuges being created from the timber of demolished buildings, and construction of the new facilities in Weymouth minimising disruption to local wildlife.
Olympic Complex
6. David Taylor: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent progress has been made in the design and construction of the 2012 Olympic complex in east London. [224395]
Tessa Jowell: Excellent progress continues to be made on both the design and construction of the Olympic Park in East London.
In particular, construction work on the two principle sporting venues—the Olympic Stadium and Aquatics Centre—is well advanced for this stage of the programme, with both remaining ahead of schedule.
Beijing Olympics: Lessons
7. Mr. Bone: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what lessons learned from the Beijing Olympics will be incorporated into preparations for the London Olympics in 2012. [224396]
8. Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what the main lessons learned from the Beijing Olympics are for the London 2012 Olympics. [224397]
Tessa Jowell: Beijing 2008 was a truly fantastic Games which gave the key stakeholders involved in the preparation of London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games the chance to learn valuable lessons to help us stage the best Games possible in London.
Some of the key lessons learned from Beijing include: placing athletes at the heart of the Games; providing a complete spectator experience; the vital role that volunteers play at the Games; an effective ticketing strategy to ensure that the majority of venues are full; and commencing detailed planning now with all key stakeholders for the Paralympic Games.
All stakeholder organisations are pulling together their lessons learned, and the process has been discussed by the Olympic Board. We will be sharing experiences between partners, and the culmination of this process will be a briefing session in London at the end of November by the Beijing Organising Committee (BOCOG) for the UK, and other host and bidding cities, when we will have a greater understanding of the issues involved.
Departmental Alcoholic Drinks
David Simpson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what measures are in place in her Office to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes. [219592]
Tessa Jowell: The Minister for the Olympics' Office is part of the Cabinet Office.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope) on 1 September 2008, Official Report, column 1433W.
Departmental Paper
David Simpson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what percentage of paper used (a) for photocopying and (b) in printed publications by her Office was from recycled sources in each of the last two years. [220742]
Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope) on 22 July 2008, Official Report, column 1257W.
Departmental Procurement
David Simpson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what her Office's policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices. [220427]
Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Corby (Phil Hope) on 22 July 2008, Official Report, column 1258W.
Departmental Written Questions
David Simpson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how long on average her Office took to answer (a) ordinary written and (b) named day questions since its inception. [215474]
Tessa Jowell: Information on the average number of days taken to answer parliamentary questions is not readily available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Olympic Games 2012
Sarah Teather: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with London boroughs on the route of the 2012 Olympic torch relay. [210280]
Tessa Jowell: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) are responsible for planning a torch relay but have recently been focused on the Beijing Games and the last chance to witness a Summer Games before it is London's turn. LOCOG will begin planning for the 2012 Torch Relay in 2010, and as part of this planning will work with a range of partners including central and local government across London and the UK.
Olympic Games 2012: Contracts
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much CLM has been paid since its appointment as an Olympic contractor; and how much it is expected to be paid over the duration of the contract. [219260]
Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has reported in its accounts for 2007-08 a payment to CLM of £106 million, including VAT, for the period up to 31 March 2008. The final total payment to CLM will depend on the organisation's performance in achieving incentive targets. CLM resources are agreed on a period by period basis and the ODA is currently negotiating the resources for the period 28 July to 31 December 2009. An update on the payments made to CLM will be given each year in the ODA's Annual Report and Accounts.
Olympic Games 2012: Disabled
Mr. Harper: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what standard of accessible facilities the London Olympic village will have for (a) spectators and (b) participants with profound and multiple learning disabilities; and whether those facilities will include (i) hoists, (ii) benches and (iii) sufficient space for a wheelchair and two carers. [219324]
Tessa Jowell: The London 2012 Games will be the first to fully integrate the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games making no distinction between them in the approach to planning, delivery and standard of service to both participants and spectators.
As part of inclusive and accessible design, the Olympic Village will comply with all relevant legislation, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and its supporting code of practice; and exceed the requirements of the UK's Building Regulations (Part M—Access and facilities for disabled people). Design will incorporate wheelchair space requirements and facilities and aids to ensure accommodation is flexible and appropriate to the comfort and varying requirements of Paralympic athletes.
The ODA's Access and Inclusion Forum has representation from a lead disability organisation within each of the five boroughs, as well as the borough Access Officers and key external stakeholders. It meets on a quarterly basis and advises on areas of inclusive design through the sharing of knowledge and experience.
In addition to the forum, ODA Access Panels provide specialist disability and inclusive design experts to review and advise on design—both at Games time and in legacy—and have final sign-off on ODA build commitments. In support of this, the ODA has appointed two Principal Access Officers—one specialising in the built environment and one specialising in transport accessibility—responsible for the development of inclusive design within the ODA's programme.
Olympic Games 2012: St. Albans
Anne Main: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps the Government plan to take to encourage children and young people in St. Albans to participate in events that are part of the London 2012 Olympics. [222029]
Tessa Jowell: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) are working hard to ensure that the benefits of 2012 reach across the UK and have established a Nations and Regions Group (NRG) to oversee this work.
The East of England representative is Cllr Stephen Castle, who chairs the Nations and Regions East (NRE) Board. In Hertfordshire, the Ready for Winners Partnership Board (HRFWP), led by Hertfordshire county council has been set up to maximise the benefits from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As part of their legacy ambitions, they have particularly committed to encouraging children and young people to participate in 2012 related events.
Schools in Hertfordshire have already started using material from LOCOG's UK-wide London 2012 education programme, ‘Get Set', which launches on Thursday 18 September and have registered to be part of LOCOG's Paralympic Handover celebrations on Wednesday 17 September. Additionally, the “Sports in the Park” programme in St. Albans will form part of the region's plans for cultural events taking place over the Handover weekend in August. This will offer up to 2,000 children aged two to 12 the opportunity to be active and have fun over a period of six weeks this summer. Across the St. Albans district, children will design a handover flag that represents their community and what the Games means to them to take to the official 2012 flag raising ceremony on 24 August. Young people from St. Albans and the county will also have the opportunity to be amongst the 70,000 volunteers needed to help run the Games in London.
Local sports facilities for all age groups are also being improved across the county as part of the “Active Hertfordshire strategy”, with new facilities being built in Watford and St Albans. HRFWP is also developing a talented young athlete scheme and has so far channelled £12,000 to support 23 young athletes up to 2012 identified by their governing bodies as having sporting talent and high potential. Each athlete will receive nutritional advice, physiotherapy assessments, individual and group training sessions, performance lifestyle advice and free membership to Hertfordshire Sports village and some other facilities in the county.
Wales
Departmental Air Travel
James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether those staff of his Department who are entitled to business class or first class air travel are permitted to (a) travel in a cheaper class to the destination and (b) benefit in monetary terms or kind from the saving. [222160]
Mr. Paul Murphy: Staff within my Department are always encouraged to travel economy but are not entitled to benefit from any savings made.
Departmental Appeals
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions his Department has instructed the Treasury Solicitor to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords from (a) the Court of Appeal and (b) the House of Lords itself in each of the last 10 years; and on how many occasions the application was rejected. [220828]
Mr. Paul Murphy: We have identified one case since the establishment of the Wales Office in 1999 in which the Department, jointly with the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, sought leave to appeal to the House of Lords. Leave was granted and the appeal was successful.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 14 July 2008, Official Report, column 27W, on carbon emissions: Government Departments, how much air mileage incurred through departmental travel was used to calculate the departmental payment to the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund in each year that his Department has participated in the fund, broken down by (a) domestic, (b) short-haul and (c) long-haul flights. [222155]
Mr. Paul Murphy: My Department has offset air miles in the last two financial years through Pure, The Pure Carbon Trust. In 2006-07 we offset 8,888 miles. This was made up of:
2,002 miles domestic
0 miles short-haul
6,886 miles long-haul
In 2007-08 we offset 6,173 miles made up of:
4,556 miles domestic
1,617 miles short-haul
0 miles long-haul
We will be offsetting through the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund in the future.
Departmental Data Protection
James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what types of data have been sold by his Department under the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations in the last 12 months. [222161]
Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings
Mr. Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the five most serious disciplinary breaches in his Department were in the last 12 months; and what steps were taken in response to each breach. [223045]
Mr. Paul Murphy: There have been no disciplinary breaches at the Wales Office in the last 12 months.
Departmental Official Residences
James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the location is of each office occupied by his Department which has been (a) newly occupied and (b) refurbished in the last 24 months; and what the floor area in square metres is of each. [221928]
Mr. Paul Murphy: My Department is located in both London and Cardiff; their floor area in square metres is:
London: 640.96
Cardiff: 531.47.
Neither location is newly occupied; my London office received minor refurbishment in August 2007.
James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what permanent residential accommodation is provided for use by civil servants in his Department; how many residential dwellings are provided; where they are located; and for what grade of civil servant they are provided. [222159]
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