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20 July 2009 : Column 796W—continued
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many personal protection weapons are held in Northern Ireland. [287623]
Paul Goggins: The Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland has informed me that there were 3,224 personal protection weapons held on firearm certificates in Northern Ireland at the end of June 2009.
Culture, Media and Sport
Bingo Industry
14. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received on the future of the bingo industry; and if he will make a statement. [287450]
Mr. Sutcliffe: We have not received any recent representations on the future of the bingo industry, but I am aware of such representations being made to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
We recognise the important social role bingo clubs play in many communities and continue to engage with the industry on a range of issues affecting the state of the sector.
Royal Opera House: Thurrock
15. Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had on future uses of the Royal Opera House production campus in Thurrock. [287451]
Barbara Follett: I have had no discussions on the future uses of the Royal Opera House production in Thurrock.
However, I have recently discussed with the Minister for Skills (Kevin Brennan) at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills the progress of the capital bid that the Creative and Cultural Nationals Skills Academy has put in for a national training centre in Thurrock in partnership with the Royal Opera House.
Tourism Industry
16. Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the tourism industry of changes to the furnished holiday lettings rules. [287452]
Barbara Follett: My Department has been working with the tourism and hospitality industry to produce a detailed assessment of the impact that the changes made to the furnished holiday lettings rules in this year's Budget could have on the 50,000 individuals who declare income from them each year.
Although a range of other reliefs continue to be available under property income rules, I am making representations on behalf of the industry to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury on this matter.
Local and Regional Newspapers
17. Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support his Department plans to provide to local and regional newspapers during the recession. [287453]
Mr. Simon: The Government have taken action to support local and regional newspapers including a local media summit held in April; a recent OFT review of the media merger rules; an invitation to the audit commission to look at local authority free sheets; Killian Pretty's recommendations on planning and advertising and a commitment in the Digital Britain White Paper to introduce independently funded news consortia which would be broadcast and syndicated more widely across the local and regional news environment.
Community Sports
18. Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of levels of revenue and capital funding for community sport projects in the regions in the period to 2012; and if he will make a statement. [287454]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The new Sport England strategy focuses investment predominantly through the national governing bodies of sport. This funding is used to deliver Government's key community sport objectives across the country. £480 million has been made available to these national governing bodies for the period between 2008-09 and 2012-13. A further £220 million of mixed and open funding will also come on line throughout the period.
Pub Closures
19. Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of public houses which have closed in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [287455]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The DCMS Statistical Bulletin on Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment does not identify the number of pubs in England and Wales; but rather the number of premises authorising the sale or supply of alcohol by means of a premises licence or a club premises certificate. We understand that CGA Strategy, the pub and drinks market analyst, which tracks the pub closure rate on behalf of the British Beer and Pub Association, currently estimates that between 51 and 53 pubs a week are closing. At 53 per week, the pub closure level would equate to around 2,750 per year.
Ministerial Visits
Mr. Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what sites (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department plan to visit in Crewe and Nantwich constituency in July and August 2009. [287716]
Mr. Bradshaw: We have no current plans to do so.
Departmental Accountancy
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to publish his Department's resource accounts for 2008-09. [287338]
Mr. Bradshaw: The Department's annual report and resource accounts for 2008-09 will be published by the end of July 2009.
Departmental Postal Services
Mr. Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on Royal Mail services in each of the last two years. [288740]
Mr. Bradshaw: In the last two financial years the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has paid the following amounts to the Royal Mail:
| £ | |
Digital Broadcasting: Northern Ireland
Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps have been taken to prepare Northern Ireland for digital switchover. [287476]
Mr. Bradshaw: As digital switchover in Northern Ireland in 2012 draws closer, Digital UK will run a communication programme about switchover and what people can do to ensure that they receive digital television in the area covered by the Ulster TV region.
In respect of digital radio, we will be working with broadcasters and transmission providers in the coming months to consider how and when the coverage of digital audio broadcasting (DAB) will be extended and improved across all parts of the UK. We plan to deliver the digital radio upgrade programme by the end of 2015, as set out in the recently published Digital Britain White Paper, but the top-level principle of the programme is that it should not result in reduced access to radio services.
Hotels: DVD
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with VisitEngland on its guidance to hoteliers on the DVD concierge licence. [287906]
Barbara Follett: VisitEngland recently explained in its 'Quality Edge' magazine (which is distributed to all properties quality assessed by VisitEngland) that under copyright law businesses such as bed and breakfast accommodation should purchase a licence if DVDs are made available to guests.
I have had no discussions with VisitEngland about this matter.
Tourism
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to encourage people to take a greater proportion of their holidays in the UK. [287839]
Barbara Follett: In partnership with other Government Departments, the tourism industry and the wider public sector, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has a clear and coherent policy framework for industry growth. This includes branding and marketing improvement led by VisitBritain; the national tourism skills strategy; and work across Britain on driving up product quality through the accommodation grading schemes.
Central Government are committed to providing £130 million between 2008 and 2012 for marketing Britain overseas and England to the British. In addition, between £3.3 million and £3.5 million is provided annually to the regional development agencies for tourism support. In addition to this, Government have committed £350 million to helping small businesses get the training they need to get through the economic downturn. This investment is across the economy but we encourage small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism industry to take full advantage of it.
Specifically, in recent months VisitBritain has emphasised its "Value Britain" message, which aims to impress on potential overseas visitors the wide range of affordable accommodation, transport and attractions available in Britain. VisitEngland has also launched its "Enjoy Every Minute, Enjoy England" campaign, designed to inspire and stimulate consumers to take day visits, short breaks and holidays in England this year based on the range of experiences, fantastic quality and value on offer.
Tourism: Morecambe
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding from the public purse has been made available for tourism regeneration projects in Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency in the last five years. [287833]
Barbara Follett: I have been informed by the North West Development Agency that spending on tourism regeneration projects in Morecambe and Lunesdale in the last five years is as follows:
Winter Gardens Project: Morecambe
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding from the public purse has been given to the Winter Gardens Project in Morecambe since its inception. [287834]
Barbara Follett: The Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) funding the Winter Gardens in Morecambe started in 1996 and was managed by Government office for the north-west. The SRB Programme was passed to the North West Development Agency (NWDA) to manage, upon its inception in 1999. I am informed by the NWDA that the total SRB funding between 1996 and 2001 was £546,864, and that additional investments totalling £313,381 were made by the NWDA after the closure of the specific SRB.
World Heritage Sites
Mr. Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to visit (a) Blaenavon and (b) other UK World Heritage sites. [288802]
Mr. Bradshaw: I have no current plans to visit Blaenavon Industrial Landscape World Heritage Site, but I will be undertaking a series of regional visits in the coming months and hope to be able to include some of the UK's World Heritage Sites. The Minister for Culture and Tourism recently visited Stonehenge.
Leader of the House
Damian McBride
Mr. Maude: To ask the Leader of the House on what date she last met Mr Damian McBride in the course of her official duties. [287407]
Ms Harman: I have had no contact with Damian McBride since his resignation from the post of special adviser to the Prime Minister.
Glasgow
John Mason: To ask the Leader of the House whether she plans to visit Glasgow on official business during the summer adjournment. [288925]
Barbara Keeley: My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans, at this time, to visit Glasgow on official business.
Members: Allowances
Mr. Maude: To ask the Leader of the House how much has been spent under the communications allowance in each year since it was established. [287210]
Barbara Keeley: The communications allowance-renamed the communications expenditure on 1 April 2009-was established on 1 April 2007. Since then, the following amounts have been spent in each financial year:
| Amount (£000) | |
Mr. Maude: To ask the Leader of the House when she plans to introduce proposals to amend controls on the communications allowance payable to hon. Members to take into account the pre-candidacy spending limits introduced by the Political Parties and Elections Bill. [287362]
Barbara Keeley: My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to bring forward the necessary amendments after the summer adjournment.
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