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21 Jun 2010 : Column 13W—continued
Participation in Debate
10. Greg Hands: To ask the Leader of the House what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the House's procedures in enabling more hon. Members to participate in debates. [3031]
Mr Heath: The use of time limits on speeches has enabled more hon. Members to be called in popular debates. I would welcome any further ideas the hon. Gentleman may have.
Culture, Media and Sport
Football Club Governance
15. Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he plans to take to reform football governance rules to support the co-operative ownership of football clubs by supporters; and if he will make a statement. [3008]
Hugh Robertson: The Government will encourage the Football Association, Premier League, and Football League to work closely together to improve the governance and regulation of the game. This includes exploring better ways to involve supporters in their local clubs.
18. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the governing bodies of football on the governance of professional and amateur clubs. [3012]
Hugh Robertson: I have had introductory discussions with parts of the football family covering various issues, including governance. While it is not for Government to run football, I have made it clear that I expect football to address these issues internally.
Elite Sport
17. Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will meet representatives of further and higher education institutions to discuss their contribution to elite performance programmes in sport. [3011]
Hugh Robertson: I would be happy to do so.
Pornographic Imagery
19. Mr Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to protect children from exposure to pornographic imagery on television and the internet. [3013]
Mr Vaizey: Effective protection for children can only be achieved by parents, industry and Government working together. Ofcom has a specific duty in relation to broadcasting and the Government will continue to work with a range of organisations in promoting online safety.
Arts Council England: Finance
Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on future funding to the Arts Council; and if he will make a statement. [3057]
Mr Vaizey: We are committed to Government funding to the arts through Arts Council England. Our proposed reform of the National Lottery Distribution Fund will ensure that the arts good cause (Arts Council England, Arts Council Wales, Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Screen, Arts Council Northern Ireland, UK Film) receives 20% of funds in future. Current projections suggest this will increase Lottery funding to the arts by £50 million per year.
We recognise the importance of arts organisation operating on a mixed model of private giving, public funding and box office receipts and will aim to help arts organisations maximise their ability to raise money from private sources.
British Film Institute: UK Film Council
Mr Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he plans to merge the British Film Institute and the UK Film Council. [3552]
Mr Vaizey: There are no current plans to merge the UK Film Council and the British Film Institute. However, I am planning to reassess fundamentally how the Government support film in this country. I want to make sure that we are supporting the film industry so that it is ready for the challenges it will face in the decade to come, and that we make sure every pound of public money we spend gives the maximum benefit.
Departmental Official Cars
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2010, Official Report, column 27W, on departmental official cars, what estimate he has made of the reduction in expenditure resulting from his Department's decision not to allocate cars or drivers to its Ministers; what the cost of using Ministerial cars and drivers was to his Department in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what alternative forms of transport Ministers in his Department will be using to carry out official duties. [2959]
John Penrose: We estimate a saving of approximately £250,000 (subject to the resolution of contracts) from the Secretary of State's decision to cancel dedicated ministerial cars for this Department. The cost in 2009-10 was £367,181 (gross). It is for each Minister to arrange their own means of transport in carrying out their official duties, but Ministers are encouraged to use public transport where possible.
Digital Broadcasting: Radio
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects a Combined Station Guide to become standard on all digital radio receivers sold in the UK. [3588]
Mr Vaizey: A working prototype of an integrated station guide has been developed. While further refinement of the guide is required, we will work with manufacturers to encourage its inclusion in future devices as and when appropriate.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure that local radio stations which only transmit on FM do not lose prominence as digital radio penetration increases. [3589]
Mr Vaizey: The vast majority of digital radio sets on the market already receive FM as well as digital radio, but we are working with manufacturers to ensure that all future digital sets incorporate FM as standard. This will help ensure FM stations remain as accessible as digital stations.
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he next intends to meet representatives of local radio stations to discuss the digital switchover. [3590]
Mr Vaizey: No meetings with representatives of local radio are scheduled at present. However, we are keen to meet all key stakeholders, including representatives of local radio, to consider how a transition from analogue to digital radio could be delivered in a way that meets the needs of both listeners and the radio industry.
Digital Economy Act 2010
Mr Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which provisions of the Digital Economy Act 2010 he expects to include in a legislative proposal for repeal; and if he will make a statement. [3533]
Mr Vaizey: There are no plans to repeal any provisions in the Digital Economy Act 2010.
Listed Buildings: Coventry
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects to make a decision on the proposed listing by English Heritage of Coventry Market; what factors he is taking into account in his assessment of the suitability of that listing; what his most recent assessment is of the effects on the regeneration programme for Coventry of that listing; and what his most recent assessment is of the economic viability of the Coventry Market building. [3107]
John Penrose: I hope to be able to make a decision on the review of the listing decision regarding Coventry Retail Market before the end of June. In considering buildings for listing I am only able to take into account the statutory criteria of special architectural or historic interest, as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.
Music
Mr Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to assist the music industry. [2988]
Mr Vaizey: The music industry is an integral part of the creative industries, and a growth sector that will play a major part in rebalancing the economy, so we are determined to have the right support in place. We will therefore be working closely with the music industry on a wide range of specific issues, including reducing online copyright infringement through the implementation of the Digital Economy Act 2010. In addition, 14 community music rehearsal spaces are being set up around England to encourage and develop grass-roots talent.
Olympic Games 2012
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many meetings he has had with the Olympic Delivery Authority on the future use of the Olympic stadium following the London 2012 Olympic Games; and if he will publish minutes of each meeting. [2923]
Hugh Robertson [holding answer 17 June 2010]: The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), rather than the Olympic Delivery Authority, is responsible for determining the future use of the stadium after the London 2012 Games. I have already met with OPLC to discuss a variety of issues and they are currently undertaking a market testing exercise to gauge the commercial interest in the legacy use of the stadium. They are keeping my right hon. Friend and me apprised of progress.
Olympic Games 2012: Cheshire
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the likely effects of the London 2012 Olympics on the economy of (a) city of Chester constituency and (b) Cheshire West and Chester borough. [3085]
Hugh Robertson: I have not made a specific assessment of the effects of the Games on the economy of (a) city of Chester constituency and (b) Cheshire West and Chester borough. However, the north-west stands to gain from the wide range of opportunities created by the 2012 Games, through businesses winning games-related work, increased tourism and cultural celebrations.
Of the Olympic Delivery Authority's suppliers, 52 are businesses registered in the north-west, and more are winning work in the supply chains of its contractors.
The Old Trafford football stadium will be one of the key non-London venues, hosting football matches, and along with pre-games training camps will provide an opportunity to create further economic benefits, including inward investment through the international attention that will follow.
There are 68 facilities in the region which are included in the official London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide and seven of these are in Cheshire or Chester. To date, agreements are in place with members of the Oceania National Olympic Committees, the National Olympic Committee of Thailand and Australia's swimming team, formalising their intentions to use facilities in the region in the run-up to the games.
There are 85 games-inspired projects in the north-west which have been awarded the Inspire Mark and during 2012, as part of the UK-wide cultural celebrations, there will be live sites in Manchester and Liverpool. Additionally, there are several cultural legacy projects
in the north-west of which "We Play" is one. It combines digital, physical and virtual participation opportunities for people from all walks of life.
Olympic Games 2012: Renewable Energy
Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the effects of the cancellation of the Olympic Park wind turbine on the environmental sustainability of the London 2012 Olympics; for what reasons the turbine was cancelled; where the replacement photovoltaic panels and biomass gasification unit will be located; when they will be installed; what consultation of local residents on the matter is planned; and if he will make a statement. [3120]
Hugh Robertson: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) made careful assessment of the effects of the cancellation of the Olympic Park wind turbine on the environmental sustainability of London 2012 and has committed to meeting its 20% renewable energy target using the biomass boilers at the Energy Centre which will be commissioned in autumn 2010, together with alternative options.
The decision not to proceed with the turbine project was taken because of a number of factors in the industry, including new safety legislation introduced in 2010 applying to design elements of this particular wind turbine (specifically the internal operator lift), which the preferred bidder's turbine supplier for the project felt unable to meet before the Games. This led to them subsequently withdrawing from the project.
Subsequent industry feedback on the new safety directive, coupled with a challenging delivery timetable, revealed a limited commercial interest in the project, and led the ODA to conclude that the installation of a wind turbine was no longer feasible.
Photovoltaic panels and a biomass gasification unit are among the alternative options being considered, but no final decision about either of these has been made and a programme of consultation will be part of any required planning process.
S4C: Finance
Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what representations he has received on the compatibility of reductions in S4C's budget with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [3049]
Mr Vaizey: I have discussed the matter with S4C and the Wales Office.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 8 June 2010, Official Report, column 106W.
Scouts and Guides: Finance
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what support his Department provides to the (a) Scout Association and (b) Girl Guides; and if he will make a statement. [2793]
Hugh Robertson: Sport England has supported scout and guide groups in the past through their open funding streams and Sport Unlimited funding. I would encourage both sets of groups to consider applying in the future where they meet the objectives and eligibility criteria.
Tourism: Coastal Areas
Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on the encouragement of tourism in seaside towns and cities; and if he will make a statement. [3073]
John Penrose: The seaside remains an important part of our visitor economy. We recently announced a goal to increase the proportion of UK residents' tourism spend that goes on domestic holidays to 50% of their total tourism spend at home and abroad, and coastal destinations and attractions can contribute significantly to that achievement. VisitEngland are currently developing a seaside resorts action plan, as part of their broader planning to improve the growth and competitiveness of the visitor economy.
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing: Construction
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many affordable homes were built in each region in each of the last four years. [2864]
Andrew Stunell: The information requested is published in the following table.
Not all affordable housing is provided through new-build completions as supply can also come from the acquisition and refurbishment of private sector homes. In 2008-09, for example, a total of 55,770 additional affordable homes were provided in England.
The next CLG Affordable Housing statistical release containing figures for 2009-10 is scheduled to be published in the autumn of 2010.
| Additional new-build affordable home by region of England( 1,2) | ||||
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
| (1) Column totals may not sum as data are rounded to nearest 10 units. (2) By area in which home is located. (3) Figures for recycled capital grant fund, disposal proceeds fund, and remodelled units which cannot be broken down to show new build and acquisitions are excluded from this total. | ||||
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