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Sport: Swimming
Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Swimming Forum represents a cross-section of interests in swimming-related matters. [HL6077]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting (Lord Carter of Barnes): The Swimming Forum comprises a wide cross-section of organisations with an interest in the development of swimming. The forum recognises that there are many aspects to swimming as a sport, including recreational swimming, disabled swimming, and swimming's educational aspects, as well as its many associated disciplines. The forum can consider all matters that can influence the delivery of its core objectives, specifically: swimming teaching and coaching, the development of volunteer and professional structures, facility strategy and management, and health and safety.
Lord Clement-Jones asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Swimming Forum's business is conducted so as to ensure that the Amateur Swimming Association exercises only appropriate influence. [HL6078]
Lord Carter of Barnes: The Swimming Forum is an independent forum and all member bodies have equal rights. Membership is open to any recognised body in the United Kingdom concerned primarily with the delivery of swimming activities in swimming pools,
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Turks and Caicos Islands
Lord Jones of Cheltenham asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, following Hurricane Ike, they plan to install a meteorological station in the Turks and Caicos Islands to give more comprehensive weather forecasts. [HL6388]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): There are no plans to install a meteorological station in the Turks and Caicos Islands. However, there are already three operational meteorological observing stations located at the islands’ principal airports; the information from these stations is integrated into the weather forecasts produced for the islands by the Bahamas Department of Meteorology and the regional hurricane warning service provided out of the National Hurricane Centre in Miami.
Voluntary Organisations: Grants
Baroness Warsi asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the minimum income or turnover that a charity or voluntary group must have in order to be eligible to bid for Empowerment Fund grants. [HL6352]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): Having ensured that they meet all the relevant criteria specified by the fund, applicants should have a minimum income of £170,000 pa. However, third sector organisations with a lower income may still be able to apply through a partnership where the lead applicant meets all the necessary criteria.
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Voluntary Work: Young People
Lord Cope of Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
What payments the government youth volunteering organisation v has made, or is contracted to make, to public relations consultants; and for what purposes. [HL6145]
Lord Patel of Bradford: In 2008-09 the Cabinet Office awarded a grant of £2.6 million for marketing to the independent youth volunteering charity v. The purpose of the grant is to promote youth volunteering, making it an accessible, attractive proposition to young people. V’s marketing activity drives young people to vinspired.com where they can discover opportunities to volunteer and their local v contact.
V has engaged an agency to develop and implement its ongoing communications activity including public relations. It is paid on a project by project basis.
Women in Prison
Lord Rana asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they will take to reduce the number of women in prison for minor offences, as highlighted by the United Nations Committee on the elimination of discrimination against women in its concluding observations in respect of the United Kingdom on 18 July. [HL6114]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): Sentencing and remand decisions in individual cases are entirely a matter for the independent judiciary within the law and any guidance issued by the Sentencing Guidelines Council and the Court of Appeal. The law already makes clear that prison sentences should be given only when the offending behaviour is so serious as to make that the only possible punishment. The Government have consistently expressed their view that offenders who are not violent or dangerous do not need to be in custody and their offending can better be addressed with a community order.
The Government have been focusing on finding effective, practical ways of diverting resources into community provision. The CEDAW recommendations will be considered in the context of implementation of the commitments set out in the Governments response to the Corston report.
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