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3 Dec 2009 : Column 852W—continued
Holiday Accommodation: Farms
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his latest estimate is of the monetary value to the economy of income generated by self-catering farm holiday accommodation in each of the last three years. [303361]
Margaret Hodge: VisitBritain is unable to provide the data requested, but has supplied the following figures for the annual value to domestic tourism of all overnight visits to farmhouses between 2006 and 2008.
| £ million | |
In addition, I am also aware of the tourism industry's concerns about potential impact of the furnished holiday lettings rule changes on the self catering sector, am continuing to discuss this matter with the Treasury.
Licensing Laws
Mr. Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects the consultation on entertainment licences for public venues with capacity for under 100 persons to be published. [303753]
Mr. Sutcliffe: We announced our intention to consult on an exemption for small live music events for audiences of no more than 100 people on 22 November and intend to publish the consultation before Christmas.
Museums and Galleries: Valuation
Mr. Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to ask national museums to undertake a valuation of their collections. [304029]
Margaret Hodge: We have no plans to ask national museums to undertake a valuation of their collections.
Public Houses: Closures
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on the number of pubs which have closed in each local authority area in England since 1 January 2008. [304190]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The DCMS Statistical Bulletin on Alcohol, Entertainment and Late Night Refreshment does not identify the number of pubs in England and Wales, as there is no official or established definition of a pub which distinguishes it from other premises which sell alcohol. The statistics bulletin provides detail of the number of premises authorising the sale or supply of alcohol by means of a premises license or a club premises certificate. These figures apply not only to public houses, but also to other licensed premises such as hotels, bars, restaurants, off-licenses and convenience stores.
However, industry estimates for the number of public houses in England and Wales are available from the market research company Market and Business Development using data from the British Beer and Pub Association,
We are unable to assess the quality of these statistics as these are not official government statistics.
Public Libraries: Wirral
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many officials of his Department were employed on the recent inquiry into the provision of library services on the Wirral. [303974]
Margaret Hodge: The recent inquiry into the provision of library services on the Wirral was carried out by an independent consultant, Sue Charteris. A number of departmental officials were involved in supporting the work of the inquiry, for example, in providing advice to Ministers, providing legal advice and arranging for the publication of the report. This support was provided by existing staff from within existing resources.
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by his Department on the recent inquiry into the provision of library services on the Wirral. [303975]
Margaret Hodge: The Department has spent approximately £80,000 on the recent inquiry into the provision of library services on the Wirral. This includes the cost of notifications placed in newspapers, consultant's fees, legal fees and the costs of staging the necessary oral hearings.
Sports: East of England
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many publicly maintained sports halls there are in each (a) district and (b) unitary council area in the east of England. [303640]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The information requested is as follows:
| Local authority district | Number of sports halls |
This information is supplied by Sport England with data from the Active Places website.
Sports: Leisure
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the estimated monetary value is of the capital assets of sports and leisure facilities in each (a) district and (b) unitary council area in the Eastern region. [303759]
Mr. Sutcliffe: The information requested is not held centrally in the manner requested; to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.
Tourism: VAT
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will consult representatives of the hospitality and tourism industry on the effect that the application of a reduced rate of value added tax would have on that sector. [303745]
Margaret Hodge: I have regular discussions with representatives from the Tourism Advisory Council and the Tourism Alliance and continue to work across government to represent the concerns of the tourism industry at the highest level.
The rate of value added tax is a matter for HM Treasury. I remain in discussion with the Treasury about the impact a reduced rate would have.
Visits Abroad
Mr. Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the (a) destination and (b) purpose was of each overseas visit by officials of his Department in 2008-09. [303869]
Mr. Simon: This information is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Capita
Mr. Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any contracts between Capita Group plc and his Department and its predecessors have been cancelled before completion since 1997; and whether Capita Group plc has been liable for any penalties arising from failings in the administration of contracts with his Department and its predecessors since 1997. [303086]
Dan Norris: DEFRA came into being in June 2001. From information held centrally the core-Department is not aware of any contracts with Capita Group plc. that have been cancelled before completion or that Capita Group plc. have been liable for any penalties arising from failings in the administration of contracts since June 2001.
Christmas
Mr. Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Christmas parties his Department plans to host in 2009; what has been budgeted for each such reception; what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) lamb, (b) beef, (c) chicken, (d) pork, (e) turkey, (f) other meats, (g) vegetables, (h) fruit and (i) alcohol to be served at each such function which is produced in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [300875]
Dan Norris: DEFRA's policy is that official funds should not be used for departmental Christmas parties, and the Department has no plans to host any Christmas parties in 2009 using public funds. Department expenditure has to be incurred in accordance with principles set out in Managing Public Money and HM Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
Climate Change
Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants of his Department plan to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen; how many will be travelling by air; and at what cost to the public purse. [302381]
Dan Norris [holding answer 30 November 2009]: The final detail of DEFRA's attendance at Copenhagen has not been finalised.
Departmental Consultants
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many external consultants work for his Department. [303228]
Dan Norris: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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