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Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How they will respond to the view of the Royal National Institute for the Blind that the Office of
- Communications's future duties in respect of disabled peple should go beyond merely giving due weight to their interests and extend to making proper provision to meet their specific needs in relation to access to communications services.[HL1491]
Baroness Blackstone: As made clear in the Communications White Paper, Ofcom will be required to give due weight to the need for improved access to communications services for people with disabilities. Our detailed proposals will be set out in the draft communications Bill.
Physical Activity for the Over-50s:Cross-departmental Group
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What recommendations have been made by the cross-departmental group led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport whose remit is to consider ways of promoting physical activity for the over-50s; which departments are represented on that group; how many times it met during 2001; and on which date it held its last meeting.[HL1612]
Baroness Blackstone: The group have made the following recommendations which will be presented to the Cabinet Committee on Older People: a national focus point to oversee the promotion of physical activity for older people; education and training to reduce the shortfall in trained individuals to deliver physical activity for older people, and investment in activity for people in residential and day centre settings. Represented on the group are the Department of Health, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and the Department for Education and Skills. The group met twice in 2001. The last meeting was held on 30 October.
Works of Art: Government Indemnity Scheme
Lord Beaumont of Whitley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Answers by the Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 27 February (HL Deb, col. 395) and the Baroness Blackstone on 27 June (HL Deb, col. 12) on works of art, what steps they have now taken to amend the government indemnity scheme; and, if a decision has not yet been taken, when they intend to take one.[HL1617]
Baroness Blackstone: No decision has as yet been taken to amend the government indemnity scheme. Consultation is still being undertaken and the possible options to ensure that all objects that have been accepted in lieu are made fully accessible to the public are being evaluated. It is expected that the review will be completed sometime in 2002.
Business Tourism
Lord Harrison asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How they wil help promote business tourism in the United Kingdom and within the European Union.[HL1624]
Baroness Blackstone: The British Tourist Authority (BTA) has a dedicated Business Tourism department which brings together buyers and suppliers internationally and markets business tourism professionally.
The Government have also supported the creation of the Business Tourism Partnership as a voice for this diverse sector. We have encouraged the recent joint initiative between the partnership and Trade Partners UK (TPUK), in conjunction with the DTI, to stimulate trade development opportunities and attract more international conferences and exhibitions to the UK. Business tourism can also take advantage of a range of government schemes to help business promote innovation, regeneration and export earnings.
XMusic in Europe" Initiative
Lord Harrison asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether last October's XMusic in Europe" initiative under the Belgian Presidency of the European Union was designed to preserve, enhance and extend Europe's musical heritage; and what response the Government made to the initiative.[HL1652]
Baroness Blackstone: The Government recognise the importance of the music industry as a symbol of our cultural heritage, and are working to ensure its future economic and cultural success. We welcomed, therefore, the XMusic in Europe" conference arranged by the Belgian presidency as a way of bringing together representatives from the music industry across Europe to discuss current issues of common concern, share and disseminate examples of best practice and propose areas for possible action to promote the industry. We were pleased that many key figures from the UK music industry were able to speak at and attend the event, together with a representative from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Regional Cultural Consortiums
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's review of the regional cultural consortiums has been brought forward from the middle of 2002;
- what are the terms of reference for the review; and what is the date by which it will be completed.[HL1716]
Baroness Blackstone: The Government have decided to bring foward the review of the regional cultural consortiums so that their future can be considered in the context of current discussions about regional governance and the preparation of the White Paper on regional governance.
The terms of reference for the review are:
- to review the regional cultural consortiums, taking account of their achievements to date, and the wider framework being developed on regional governance, and to make recommendations to the Secretary of State before the White Paper on regional governance is finalised;
- to consider the success of the Consortiums in meeting their aims to date; how they are viewed by key players in the regions; the nature and impact of any changes that have taken place in the regions since the consortiums were established; the implications of one or more regions having some form of elected regional government in due course;
- and in the light of this information, to explore how to move forward from what has already been achieved, including changing the remit and/or aims of the consortiums, modifying their status, membership, method of appointment, sponsorship and funding, and merging or replacing them with some other organisation;
- and to make recommendations on the way forward to the Secretray of State.
World Athletics Championships 2005
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are their plans to assist a British bid to host the 2005 International Amateur Athletic Federation World Championships.[HL1718]
Baroness Blackstone: The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) decided at its council meeting on 26 November to reject the offer of Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium as an alternative to Pickett's Lock and to reopen the bidding for the 2005 World Athletics Championships. The IAAF's decision is clearly disappointing; Sheffield would have provided an outstanding venue for the 2005 World Championships. At a meeting attended by my right honourable friend the Minister for Sport, UK Athletics, Sheffield City Council, UK Sport, Sport England and the British Olympic Association on 27 November, it was agreed unanimously that UK Athletics should not enter a Sheffield bid.
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