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Sports Tourism
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the value of sports tourism to the economy of the United Kingdom; and on what research they base their estimate of that value.[HL1843]
Baroness Blackstone: A recent study by the Sports Tourism Unit at the University of Luton has found sports tourism to be worth some £2.5 billion annually. This year, for the first time, the ONS is researching sports tourism to provide a clearer picture of its value to the economy of the United Kingdom.
BBC3 Television Service
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What were their reasons for refusing to approve the BBC3 television service for 16 to 34 year-olds; and what deadline they have given to the BBC for the re-submission of their proposals.[HL1844]
Baroness Blackstone: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced her decision on the BBC's proposed new digital services on 13 September. She did not approve BBC3 because it was not clear that the proposals were truly distinctive in an already crowded market. The BBC was invited to put forward fresh proposals; no deadline was given, but the BBC submitted a new proposal on 4 December.
Hospitality Industry: Work/Life Balance
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What measures they are taking to give advice to those who work in the hospitality industry on how to deal with the problems of achieving a satisfactory work/life balance.[HL1845]
Baroness Blackstone: The Government have produced guidance on work/life balance specifically tailored to the needs of the hospitality industry. The guide, Creating a Work-Life Balance—a good practice guide for the hospitality industry, published in October this year, is aimed at employers and individuals within the industry and was developed through a partnership between the Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) and the DTI. Copies of the guide are available from DTI Publications, tel. 0870 1502 500, or on the DTI website (www.dti.gov.uk/publications email:dtipubs @eclogistics.co.uk).
Tourism: Impact of Terrorist Attacks
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their estimate of the impact of the terrorist attacks of 11 September on the tourism industry of the United Kingdom; how this estimate compares with the impact on tourism in other European Union countries; and, if there is a disparity in the figures, what is their explanation for the disparity.[HL1847]
Baroness Blackstone: It is too early for comprehensive analysis, but clearly there have been adverse effects on British tourism. The BTA has predicted that tourist numbers from Britain's key long-haul markets will fall by 15 to 25 per cent. Those businesses most dependent on higher spending long-haul visitors have been hardest hit. Other parts of the industry are doing rather better. A recent survey showed a 17.2 per cent fall in occupancy in London hotels but only 1.7 per cent in regional hotels, and an ETC survey found that since 11 September nearly 1 million people in Britain have changed their plans from holidaying abroad to taking a trip at home.
The European Commission compiled a report [(13976/01) COM(2001) 668 final] which found a mixed picture across the EU, with those markets more heavily reliant on higher spending long-haul visitors, such as the UK, most affected.
Lottery Funds: Isle of Gigha
The Duke of Montrose asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have a system for monitoring the use of National Lottery funds; and, if so, whether they have been advised how much of the £3.5 million contributed by the Scottish Land Fund towards the purchase of the Isle of Gigha came from the lottery.[HL1875]
Baroness Blackstone: The Government's financial directions require lottery distributors to monitor and evaluate lottery resources to ensure that the projects and schemes they support represent value for money. Statutory policy directions set by the Government determine the type of activities the New Opportunities Fund can support under its programmes. Under its directions for the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities programme, the New Opportunities Fund has committed £10.78 million of lottery funding to the formation of the Scottish Land Fund. The New Opportunities Fund's Scottish Land Fund Committee approved a request for funding of £3.5 million to support the acquisition of the Isle of Gigha.
DCMS: Freedom of Information Act
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps they have taken to ensure that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has made adequate and appropriate preparations for the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000; and whether the non-departmental public bodies which are accountable to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have completed such preparations.[HL1881]
Baroness Blackstone: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is fully aware of its responsibilities under the forthcoming legislation, not only on its own
account but also in respect of its sponsored bodies, and will ensure that all appropriate action is taken to prepare both the department and its NDPBs for implementation.We wrote to our NDPBs in June 2001 to ensure they were aware of the then timetable and of the implications for them of the Act's provisions. We will continue to keep them informed to help them meet their obligations.
Osborne House
Lord Luke asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Given that the statutory requirement under the Osborne Estate Act 1902 to devote part of Osborne House for the benefit of members of the Armed Forces and the Civil Service is not at present being fulfilled, and has not been for over a year, what they are proposing to do to redress the situation; and[HL1900]
When they anticipate that the repair and refurbishment of the accommodation at Osborne House, formerly used as the King Edward VII Convalescent Home for Officers, will be completed; and[HL1901]
What representations they have received on the future use of rooms at Osborne House which were formerly occupied by the King Edward VII Convalescent Home for Officers.[HL1902]
Baroness Blackstone: The extent and, therefore, the cost of repairs to the former convalescent home area at Osborne House have been greater than anticipated and will not now be completed until December 2003. Some rooms will be available for new uses after the initial phase of work is completed in early 2002. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport will be considering the options and the associated costs for using these rooms to meet her obligations under the 1902 Act.
English Heritage, which is responsible for the maintenance and management of the Osborne Estate, has made proposals to open to the public a substantial part of the former convalescent home accommodation and the gardens previously restricted to convalescent home use. No other representations have been received concerning the future use of the accommodation.
Individual Learning Accounts
Baroness Blatch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 13 November (WA 74) and 15 November (WA 101-102), given that the first information about irregular applications for individual learning accounts was received on 11 June this year, what was the nature of the 2,019 complaints received between September 2000 and 31 May 2001.[HL1431]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): From March 2001, complaints received by the ILA Centre were categorised by type and covered a wide range of issues such as the learning eligible for discounts, requests for ILA membership to be backdated, service provision and providers. Prior to March 2001, the ILA Centre had not been required to categorise complaints in its records. Recorded complaints received between these dates in respect of non-compliance with the rules of the programme included aggressive marketing, improper use of the ILA and DfES logos and offers of free training to which individuals were not required to contribute.
Baroness Blatch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have any information that terrorists either individually or as part of an organisation have been involved with illicit applications either as providers for, or as recipients of, individual learning accounts; and, if so, when it was brought to their notice.[HL1728]
We have no evidence that ILA funds have been used for terrorist activity.
Investors in People
Lord Northbourne asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will enlarge the remit of the Investors in People Award Scheme to include consideration of the policy and practice of each business in relation to (a) family friendly employment practices such as job sharing, parental leave and flexible working; and (b) equality of opportunity for mothers and fathers in the context of balancing work and family responsibilities.[HL1848]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Investors in People UK is developing a voluntary model on work/life balance for Investors in People recognised organisations. Development of the model will begin in January 2002.
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