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2 Mar 2009 : Column 1262W—continued
Free Swimming Schemes
11. Mr. Plaskitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many local authorities are planning to take part in both the under 16-year-old and over 60-year-old free swimming initiatives. [259237]
Mr. Sutcliffe: Of the 354 eligible local authorities, 208 are planning to take part in both the under 16-year-old and over 60-year-old elements of the Government’s Free Swimming Programme.
Cricket
13. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the England and Wales Cricket Board on the future of cricket in this country; and if he will make a statement. [259239]
Andy Burnham: I regularly meet the England and Wales Cricket Board to discuss current issues and the future of the sport in this country.
The increased popularity of cricket in England and Wales combined with the strength of the domestic and international game will ensure that cricket in this country has a strong future.
Sport: Young People
14. Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many young people participated in regular sport (a) in 1997 and (b) in the latest period for which figures are available. [259240]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The percentage of pupils aged five to 16 that have participated in at least two hours of high quality PE and school sport a week has increased from 62 per cent. to 90 per cent. between 2003-04 and 2007-08. Comparable data are not available prior to 2003-04.
Audio Description
15. Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to publicise the availability of audio description via a single button on set-top boxes in advance of the digital switchover in south Wales. [259241]
Andy Burnham: Information about the benefits of audio description and easy-to-use remote controls is contained in material that is sent to all people eligible for the Help Scheme.
Horse Racing
19. Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the current economic downturn on the future of horse racing; and if he will make a statement. [259246]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government recognise the important contribution of horse racing to national and local economies and my Department is working closely with the British Horseracing Association and others to monitor the impact of the economic downturn on the industry.
It is too early to make any assessment of economic trends in relation to horse racing, but we will continue to monitor the situation as we will do for other sectors for which my Department is responsible.
Publishing
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the recommendations contained in the interim "Digital Britain" report on the publishing industry; and if he will make a statement. [259238]
Andy Burnham: The Government recognise the importance of a vibrant publishing sector which contributes not only to the cultural and educational needs of our society but also with a turnover in excess of £18 billion, makes a significant contribution to the economy. It is a core part of the creative industries sector and a significant export earner.
The importance of publishing is reflected in the objectives laid out in the interim report of the Digital Britain initiative.
Gloucester City AFC
Mr. Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will visit Gloucester City AFC to discuss the relocation of its ground. [259244]
Mr. Sutcliffe: I have no plans to visit Gloucester City Football Club however I commend my hon. Friend for his continued efforts on behalf of the club and for his recent success in securing an adjournment debate on this subject.
The Department is aware of this issue and I understand Gloucester City Football Club has been working with the Football Association, Gloucester city council and county council to find a permanent home ground for the club.
Understandably there is a desire for a site to be found in the Gloucester area, not least to preserve local support, so I strongly advise the club to continue its discussions with the city and county councils as they are in the best position to assist in arriving at a positive outcome.
Local Television News
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his policy is on the future provision of local television news; and if he will make a statement. [259245]
Andy Burnham: Ofcom is creating more opportunities for local TV in the UK by releasing geographically targeted interleaved spectrum for auction. Ofcom has also commissioned analysis of the economic sustainability of different types of local television services. It will be important in considering local TV services to do so in the context of a sustainable local media ecology, also including print, radio, the internet and other relevant media.
Arts: Government Assistance
Hilary Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made towards meeting each of the objectives of the creative economy programme. [258503]
Andy Burnham: Working with our partners in other Government Departments and public and private sector organisations, DCMS’ Creative Economy Programme has made good progress on realising the ambitions of Creative Britain in the year since publication. Covering talent, supporting creative businesses and clusters, Intellectual Property and innovation, the 26 commitments in Creative Britain seek to increase the contribution of the 13 creative sectors to the UK economy. Of the 26 commitments, 18 are now either well under way or completed.
I am arranging for copies of a document providing a specific update on each of the 26 commitments to be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.
Hilary Armstrong: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial support his Department is making available to small and medium-sized enterprises in the creative industries which are in difficulties during the economic slowdown. [258504]
Andy Burnham: The Government are providing real help now to small and medium based enterprises which are in difficulties during the economic slowdown, including those within the creative industries.
Information on the support and advice available to all small and medium based enterprises can be accessed via the portal on the Business Link website:
Support available includes free health checks for businesses, help with accessing finance, and advice on a range of business issues, including cash flow and training.
Much of the real help on offer is part of solutions for business - the Government’s streamlined portfolio of publicly-funded business support products and services, delivered via Business Link, which provides comprehensive assistance to help companies start, grow and succeed.
In February 2008 the Government published “Creative Britain: New Talents for the New Economy” which set out 26 commitments to support the creative industries. One of the commitments of Creative Britain has been to look at how Business Link works with the creative industries. It will also produce a framework for evaluation of future work with creative industries, allowing individual business links to monitor their performance which should lead to an improvement of the support given to creative industries businesses by business links. This report will be completed by the end of April.
Departmental Data Protection
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy for his Department to sign the Information Commissioner’s Personal Information Promise. [258946]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Government welcomed the promise as a commendable initiative to raise awareness of the importance of effective data protection safeguards, particularly for those organisations with no similar commitments already in place.
The Government take data protection very seriously. Following the Cabinet Office Review of Data Handling Procedures in Government, Departments have implemented a raft of measures to improve data security.
The Ministry of Justice is considering actively with the Information Commissioner’s Office how the promise might add additional value to those measures we have already signed up to. These include the information charters, the recommendations of the data handling review and the Thomas/Walport Review and, of course, our legal obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 and other legislation and regulations.
Departmental Regulation
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his latest estimate is of the cost to UK businesses of regulation within the responsibility of his Department. [258983]
Andy Burnham:
The current estimate of the administrative burden of regulation which is the responsibility of DCMS, as measured by the Standard Cost Model, is £187.5 million. This figure represents a reduction of 45 per cent. against the baseline of legislation
in place in May 2005. Further information on these costs and action to make further savings can be found in the Department’s latest simplification plan, published in December 2008:
Digital Broadcasting
Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate he has made of the overlap between the 2 per cent. of households that cannot receive digital satellite services and the estimated 1.5 per cent. who will not have to be provided with a digital terrestrial signal after switchover; and if he will make a statement. [258455]
Andy Burnham: There has been no formal assessment of this overlap. However, research to estimate digital satellite coverage was carried out by Ofcom’s predecessor, the Independent Television Commission, in 1999.
This research arrived at the 98 per cent. coverage figure which found that the main contributory factor which resulted in 2 per cent. of households being unable to receive any satellite signals was man-made obstructions in built-up areas. For terrestrial transmission, the opposite situation to satellite applies, with transmitters located so as to serve population centres. The locations not covered by these transmitters are largely in remote, sparsely populated areas. This means that the overlap between the 2 per cent. for satellite and 1.5 per cent. for terrestrial digital TV should be very small.
Digital Broadcasting: Disadvantaged
John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research his Department has undertaken into the UK digital divide since 2001; and if he will make a statement. [257078]
Mr. Paul Murphy: I have been asked to reply.
Since 2001 the Government have commissioned a number of research reports on the UK digital divide through various UK Government Departments.
A copy of the full list will be placed in the Library.
Empty Property
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the estimated cost in empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by his Department is in 2008-09. [258528]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Department has one vacant property, Oceanic House, recorded on the e-PIMS database. This has been vacant throughout 2008-09. Oceanic House is a listed building and is exempt from business rates while it is empty.
Gambling Commission: Pay
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the Gambling Commission spent on bonuses for its staff in each of the last three years. [258509]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The Gambling Commission have advised that the following amounts have been paid to Gambling Commission employees in bonuses in each of the last three years. Bonus payments relate to performance in the period from 1 October to 30 September each year and are paid in November of that year.
| Financial year | £ |
| (1) The bonus payments in 2006-07 relate to the year preceding September 2006 when the Gambling Commission was still recruiting its full complement of staff. | |
Heathrow Airport: Tourism
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the implications of the Government’s proposals to develop Heathrow Airport on tourism to the UK. [259242]
Barbara Follett: No specific assessment has been carried out. However, the response from the tourism travel sector to the decision by the Department for Transport to approve the development of a third runway for Heathrow airport has been broadly positive.
Olympic Games 2012: Finance
Mr. Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the £1,650,000 transferred to his Department from the Department for International Development in respect of projects connected to the London 2012 Olympics will be spent on. [258098]
Andy Burnham: The transfer of £1.65 million from the Department for International Development formed part of the DFID funding commitment for the International Inspiration programme.
The International Inspiration programme has received the formal backing of the International Olympic Committee and funding commitments were announced in November 2008.
Recreation: Coastal Areas
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public open space there is in (a) each principal seaside town and (b) each (i) ward and (ii) lower layer super output area in each seaside town. [257460]
Mr. Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested is not held centrally.
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