| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Cornish Language
25. Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has to support the Cornish language. [32894]
Mr. Banks: Cornish is of Celtic origin and has not been spoken as a living language since the 18th century and we have no current plans to promote it. However, I recognise my hon. Friend's close interest in such matters and trust he will use his customary zeal and imagination to draw wider attention to the plight of Cornish.
Theatre
26. Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he will next review Her Majesty's Government's policy for funding theatres and theatre companies in England; and if he will make a statement. [32922]
Mr. Chris Smith: It is for the Arts Council of England and the regional arts boards, in conjunction with local authorities and other funding partners, to formulate policy for theatres within the overall levels of funding available.
Social Exclusion
27. Ms Blears: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the role of his Department in contributing to the Government's policies to combat social exclusion. [32923]
Mr. Chris Smith: All the sectors represented by my Department--including sport, the arts and broadcasting--offer opportunities to tackle the problems of social exclusion. We are working with the Social Exclusion Unit to ensure that we fully exploit those opportunities.
Local Authority Services
Mr. Stott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to assist local authorities in applying the principles of best value to the provision of cultural and leisure services. [32903]
Mr. Chris Smith: My Department will work closely with local government to determine how the principles of best value can best be applied to cultural and leisure services. We shall encourage local authorities to produce cultural strategies which will lead them to challenge the purpose of services, compare their performance with others, consult their communities, and introduce competition where appropriate.
PE (National Curriculum)
Mr. Pendry:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assurances he has sought from the Secretary of State for Education and Employment concerning the role of the PE profession in developing
16 Mar 1998 : Column: 466
sport for young people through National Curriculum PE following recent decisions affecting the National Curriculum. [30440]
Mr. Banks:
I have regular discussions with colleagues in the Department for Education and Employment to discuss a whole range of matters of mutual interest. We are well aware of the important role the PE profession plays in developing sport for young people and will continue to work with them to ensure that the PE and sporting opportunities children get are of the highest standard possible, whether they are delivered through the curriculum or by out-of-school activities.
Right to Roam
42. Mr. Bayley: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, if he will make a statement about the Church Commissioners' policy towards the right to roam on land which they own. [32938]
Mr. Stuart Bell: The Commissioners are committed to protecting public rights of way over their land. Where it would not adversely affect their tenants, they are also in favour of the creation of voluntary access opportunities.
MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO
Site Decontamination
30. Mr. Cash: To ask the Minister without Portfolio what representations he has received on decontamination of the Millennium Dome site. [32927]
Mr. Mandelson: The decontamination of this site is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and its agency, English Partnerships. The remediation works for the Millennium Experience site have been completed within the agreed timetable and within the original budget.
Cost
31. Mr. Bercow: To ask the Minister without Portfolio what is his Department's latest estimate of the cost of the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. [32928]
Mr. Mandelson: The budget for the Millennium Experience comprises a grant of £399 million from the Millennium Commission and income totalling £395 million from private sector sponsorship and commercial revenue. The project remains within this budget.
Spirit Zone
33. Mr. Boswell: To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will make a statement on progress in attracting sponsorship for the Spirit Level zone in the Millennium Dome. [32930]
Mr. Mandelson:
In addition to the sponsorship commitments announced on 24 February, the New Millennium Experience Company is currently in negotiation with 40 potential sponsor companies for zones in the Dome. I understand that efforts are being made
16 Mar 1998 : Column: 467
through the Second Church Estates Commissioner to establish a fund-raising committee, and I warmly welcome this.
34. Dr. Julian Lewis:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what plans he has to include material of significant historical interest in the Millennium Dome. [32931]
Mr. Mandelson:
In looking forward to how we can all make a difference in the Third Millennium, we shall try to ensure that the Dome's content will reflect many aspects of our rich heritage.
Additionally the associated national programme of projects and activities will include an oral history programme which will provide an extraordinary archive of memories recorded by individuals; and a Millennium Treasures project which will identify and celebrate the nation's favourite sites and objects.
35. Mr. Blizzard:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what plans he has to ensure that all parts of the United Kingdom benefit from the Millennium Experience at Greenwich. [32932]
Mr. Mandelson:
Everyone in the UK will get a chance to take an active part in the Millennium Experience through the associated national programme of events and activities around the country. The programme's aim is to inspire and engage people under the theme Time to make a Difference. It will bring people and communities together in projects which will reflect and contribute to the themes of the Dome. The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is also working with the Millennium Commission and the other National Lottery distributors to deliver a Millennium Festival. This programme was launched on 27 February in Bristol and a £100 million fund has been created from which it will support millennial celebrations throughout the UK in the year 2000.
36. Mrs. Virginia Bottomley:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio how he intends to emphasise the Christian character of the millennium celebrations at Greenwich. [32933]
Mr. Mandelson:
The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is working closely with the Lambeth Consultation Group to ensure that the contents of the Millennium Experience reflects the significance of the Millennium as a Christian anniversary whilst remaining accessible and relevant to those of other faiths and beliefs. The Archbishops' Officer for the Millennium, a member of the Lambeth group, is working with the Company on a part-time basis to advise on how best this can be achieved.
37. Mr. Evans:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will estimate the number of people from the north-west who will visit the Dome. [32934]
16 Mar 1998 : Column: 468
Mr. Mandelson:
The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) estimate that 12 million visits will be made to the Millennium Experience. About eight million of those will be from the UK, and I hope that many of those will come from the North West. I also hope that as many people as possible from the North West and across the country participate in the associated Challenge and the Millennium Festival programmes.
Mr. Mitchell:
To ask the Minister without Portfolio what consultations he has had with (a) the Women's Institutes and (b) the Mothers' Union about his plans for the Millennium Experience. [33809]
Mr. Mandelson:
The New Millennium Experience Company has not held formal consultations with either body. The company is, however, working with a number of expert panels and groups--including the Advisory Group on accessibility, the Lambeth Group, and the Creative Review Group--to ensure that as broad a range of interests as possible are reflected in developing the content of the Experience, both at the Dome and in the national Challenge programme.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |