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18 Nov 2008 : Column 256W—continued
Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the policy is of English Heritage on planning applications for renewable energy projects. [234844]
Barbara Follett: English Heritage has a statutory role in the planning process to provide advice to local authorities on planning applications that impact on the historic environment. Within that context, English Heritage is supportive of renewable energy projects. It has been successfully encouraging pre-application discussion for all development proposals, including for renewable energy schemes, with the aim of ensuring that by the time a formal application is submitted, it takes full account of the historic environment and is therefore more likely to be successful.
Public Libraries
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public libraries have opened in the last 10 years. [233946]
Barbara Follett: Information on the number of public library openings is not held centrally. But the data on the number of libraries open more than 10 hours is collected as part of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), Public Library Statistics. Therefore, the only way to obtain an accurate figure for the balance between library openings and closures is to consider the CIPFA statistics over this period, copies of which are available in the House Library.
In 1996-97, 3,572 libraries were open more than 10 hours. In 2006-07, 3,494 libraries were open more than 10 hours, a net difference of 78.
Racial Harassment
David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many complaints of racial abuse relating to staff for which his Department is responsible have been (a) investigated and (b) upheld in the last 12 months. [236891]
Mr. Sutcliffe: There have been no complaints of racial abuse relating to DCMS staff in the last 12 months.
Television: Licensing
Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many pensioners in Enfield North constituency received a free television licence in each year since the introduction of the scheme. [235412]
Andy Burnham: TV Licensing, which administers free television licences for people aged 75 or over as agents for the BBC, is not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what powers the Television Licensing Authority has to instruct bailiffs to collect unpaid television licence fees. [236181]
Andy Burnham: The Television Licensing Authority does not have powers to instruct bailiffs to collect unpaid television licence fees.
Olympics
Departmental Buildings
Mr. Maude: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East of 6 October 2008, Official Report, columns 635W, on departmental buildings, what the cost of this refurbishment was. [233880]
Tessa Jowell: The rooms in 26 Whitehall were redecorated as part of the redecoration programme covering the whole of the building (26 Whitehall). Further additional costs specifically relating to the relocation into the building by the Office of the Minister for the Olympics were incurred to a value of £8,485 plus VAT.
Since then, my office has moved to co-locate with officials from the Government Olympic Executive in 2-4 Cockspur street to enable more integrated and efficient work. Here a new office was constructed and furnished between July and September 2008, at a cost of £40,625 plus VAT. These costs cover both my own ministerial office and that occupied by my private office.
Members: Correspondence
Mr. Winnick: To ask the Minister for the Olympics when she plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 30 September 2008 regarding a constituent. [234487]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 10 November 2008]: A letter of response has been sent to the hon. Member for Walsall, North today.
Olympic Games 2012: Caravan Sites
Mr. Amess: To ask the Minister for the Olympics (1) what steps she (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to provide stop-overs for caravans on (i) the M20 and (ii) other routes from Channel ports to the Olympic venues; what recent representations she has received on this issue; and if she will make a statement; [235489]
(2) what steps she (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to provide campsites to cater for caravans, motor caravans and trailer tents for persons attending the Olympic Games in 2012; what recent representations she has received on this issue; and if she will make a statement; [235490]
(3) what recent discussions she has had with the Caravan Club about the provision of caravan sites for those attending the Olympic Games in 2012; and if she will make a statement; [235491]
(4) what discussions she has had since January 2008 with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) Transport for London on the provision of caravan sites for those attending the Olympic Games in 2012; and if she will make a statement. [235688]
Tessa Jowell: Along with the Greater London Authority, Transport for London and others the Government will be considering visitor plans as host city for the games.
We recognise that motor home and caravan users may wish to visit the UK for the 2012 games. The Olympic Delivery Authority has had initial discussions with the Caravan Club about existing and possible caravan sites with a view to considering how the provision of public transport and licensed sites can be integrated for 2012.
Olympic Games 2012: Contracts
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Olympics which contractors have won landscaping contracts for the London 2012 Olympics; in which (a) country and (b) county each is based; and what proportion of landscaping work on the site has been awarded to each. [235921]
Tessa Jowell: The landscaping management contract for the north of the Olympic Park has been awarded to BAM Nuttall Ltd., a UK-based company with offices in Surrey.
The contract covers approximately 42 hectares of hard and soft landscaping works on the Olympic Park. It is worth noting that this award provides for the Tier 1 management function only; the tier 2 works packages are yet to be let by BAM Nuttall and will offer the landscape industry further London 2012 opportunities.
The landscaping contract for the south of the Olympic Park is due to be awarded in 2009.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what (a) environmental and (b) other criteria were considered in deciding on the bids for landscaping contracts for the London 2012 Olympics. [235922]
Tessa Jowell: The North Park has been evaluated to date and environmental considerations taken into account in the selection of BAM Nuttall Ltd. as contractor for management of delivery the North Park.
The evaluation criteria used to award that contact fall under two main headings of Commercial and Technical. Under these two headings, the Technical evaluation is further broken down to consider Quality and Functionality, Experience and Capability and Project Delivery whilst the Commercial evaluation is further broken down to consider Price and acceptance of Contractual Terms.
Tier 2 works packages are yet to be let by BAM Nuttall and will be evaluated under ODA criteria for inclusion, equality and diversity, environment, and sustainability.
Olympic Games 2012: Finance
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what outstanding requests from the Olympics Delivery Authority for resources from contingency funding are under consideration; and if she will make a statement. [229333]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 23 October 2008]: The next London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Annual Report will be produced in January and will include fully updated financial information, including the outcomes of agreed contingency requests. Thereafter, we will publish a quarterly financial update which will include any changes to published budgets.
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2008, Official Report, column 690W, on Olympic Games: finance, how much is to be given to each Home Country Sports Council; and to what types of projects the money will be allocated. [232277]
Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 3 November 2008]: I have been asked to reply.
The Home Country Sports Councils’ contribution of £290 million to elite and community sport as part of the overall Olympic budget is from their existing national lottery resources.
It is for the Home Country Sports Councils to determine how this money is spent on support for elite athletes and coaches, facilities for elite and community use, and community sport programmes. Sport England, for example, have provided funding for the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, which is used by the local community and elite athletes, contributing to our world class performance goals as well as to the legacy goal of getting 2 million people more active by 2012, including 1 million through sport.
Performance Appraisal
David Simpson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many staff for whom she is responsible did not achieve an acceptable assessment grade in their annual report in the latest reporting year for which figures are available. [235215]
Racial Harassment
David Simpson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many complaints of racial abuse relating to staff for which her Office is responsible have been (a) investigated and (b) upheld in the last 12 months. [236903]
Tessa Jowell: There have been no complaints of racial abuse investigated or upheld in relation to any of my staff in the last 12 months.
Northern Ireland
Departmental Older Workers
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people over the age of (a) 55 and (b) 60 were recruited to his Department in the last 12 months; and what percentage of all recruits this represented in each case. [234256]
Paul Goggins: Of the 58 people recruited to the Northern Ireland Office in the last 12 months, one (1.7 per cent.) has been aged between 55 and 60 years of age. None has been over the age of 60.
Until recently, age requirements for appointment to the Civil Service were that appointees should have reached the age of 16 on or before 1 July prior to the date of appointment, and be less than 65 years of age at the date of appointment. This policy has recently been reviewed and, with effect from 1 September 2008, there is no longer an upper age limit for appointees.
Departmental Sick Leave
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of hours of work lost through sickness absence on the part of staff working in his Department in the last 12 months. [234258]
Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office records sickness absence in days and not in hours; the estimated figure relating to working days lost by NIO staff for the 12 month period from 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2008 is 15,287.57 days.
Drugs: Crime
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of measures to combat drug-related crime in Northern Ireland. [233492]
Paul Goggins: Drug misuse in Northern Ireland, which has a lower incidence of Class A drug use than elsewhere in the UK, is falling. However, Government take the harm caused by drugs very seriously and will continue to prioritise the targeting of criminal gangs involved in the supply of illegal drugs.
The PSNI is committed to building on recent successes in disrupting the supply of drugs in Northern Ireland with an increased number of significant arrests and seizures. During 2007-08 the PSNI were responsible for frustrating, disrupting and dismantling 58 crime gangs involved in importing drugs into Northern Ireland and supplying them onto the streets. The PSNI and NIO work in partnership with devolved Departments, agencies and community and voluntary organisations to tackle alcohol and drug misuse, as part of the DHSSPS ‘New Strategic Direction for Dugs and Alcohol’.
Tackling the supply and sale of illegal drugs in Northern Ireland is a key priority for the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF). OCTF partners work closely together with their counterparts in the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland to tackle the scourge of drugs. Government’s focus is on closing down the supply chain and stopping drugs reaching our streets.
Since the beginning of 2008 the PSNI have uncovered 77 cannabis factories; as a result of these operations, drugs to the value of £15.5 million have been seized and 72 people charged.
Olympic Games 2012
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the (a) First Minister and (b) Deputy First Minister on Northern Ireland's contribution to the 2012 Olympics. [234296]
Mr. Woodward: I have had had no recent discussions with the First and Deputy First Ministers on this matter.
Plain English
Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department has spent on Plain English Campaign training courses in each year since 2005. [231234]
Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office has not commissioned or delivered Plain English Campaign courses from 2005 to date.
Saville Inquiry
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much the Saville Inquiry has cost to date; and how much it is expected to cost. [234177]
Mr. Woodward: I am advised that the cost of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry is £184.9 million up to the end of October 2008. The Inquiry’s most recent estimate of the final cost is £191 million. The Inquiry is working with the Northern Ireland Office to introduce additional measures controlling future costs as a matter of urgency. If this estimate alters, I undertake to notify the House.
Transport
Airports: Construction
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department's planned spend on matters related to the expansion of Heathrow and Stansted airports is in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11. [234900]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The 2003 Future of Air Transport White Paper made clear that the Government would not fund airport development. That would be the responsibility of the airport operator. However, we are committed to the delivery of the policies in the White Paper and for 2008-09 our non-staff costs for Heathrow and Stansted expansion related work is budgeted at £1.5 million. This includes provision for follow-up work to the “Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport” consultation exercise and preparation for the Department's potential involvement in the Stansted second runway planning inquiry.
Resources for subsequent years are currently the subject of internal business planning which will take account of the latest position on developments with both airports.
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