| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Departmental Staff (Scotland)
Mrs. Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff are employed in Scotland by his Department, or executive agencies responsible to his Department; and where those staff are located. [48359]
Mr. Tom Clarke [holding answer 6 July 1998]: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Royal Parks Agency do not employ any staff in Scotland.
Historic Buildings (Cheltenham)
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to publish the new list of buildings of historic or architectural interest for the Borough of Cheltenham. [49245]
Mr. Banks: The Cheltenham list is one of 140 which have been reviewed by English Heritage. The responsibility for checking, processing and agreeing these revised lists lies within the Department. This, together with the resolution of queries with English Heritage, is a time consuming task. We are about to start work on the Cheltenham list which includes over 1,000 buildings and expect to publish it before the end of November.
Local Authority Sports Strategies
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he is taking to encourage local authorities to develop sports strategies. [50232]
Mr. Banks: The Department is working with local government to develop guidance on cultural strategies embracing all areas of its responsibility, including sport. The English Sports Council has also produced a wide range of strategic guidance intended to assist local authorities and other bodies involved in planning for sport, both in terms of building facilities and sports development programmes.
Outdoor Sports
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he is taking to encourage participation in outdoor sports. [50235]
14 Jul 1998 : Column: 114
Mr. Banks:
Through our policy of 'Sport For All', we are determined to encourage and improve participation in all sports.
Government support for sport is channelled through the Sports Councils. In 1998-99 almost £45 million of exchequer funding will be made available to the United Kingdom Sports Council and the English Sports Council. In addition, around £250 million will be awarded to sport through the Lottery Sports Fund.
With this funding, the Sports Councils undertake a range of activities to promote and develop a number of sports at all levels. The Sports Councils aim to support both indoor and outdoor sports when giving grants to sports governing bodies or making awards from the Lottery Sports Fund.
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he is taking to improve the financial accountability of sports governing bodies. [50233]
Mr. Banks:
This Department's funding for sport is channelled through the United Kingdom and English Sports Councils. The Sports Councils make decisions on awards to sports governing bodies and must ensure that organisations in receipt of funding are administered in an efficient manner and have rigorous financial controls in place. The Councils are required to give assurances to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to this effect.
The Councils carry out an audit programme of governing bodies to monitor performance. In addition, the Councils undertake advice and support activities, including conferences, seminars and workshops to help with corporate governance, financial planning and objective setting.
Mr. Gareth R. Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action he is taking to improve standards in sports (a) administration and (b) coaching. [50236]
Mr. Banks:
In addition to audit work, the English Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, seeks to improve standards in the general administration of sport through its Running Sport programme. The programme offers courses and guidance material across a wide range of sports management and administration issues. The programme has been developed and delivered in partnership with a wide range of organisations, including governing bodies and local authorities. The ESC's Volunteer Investment Programme also includes training and advice on administration and management issues for the many volunteer officials and coaches who help run sport at all levels. 2,800 volunteer managers benefited from training in 1997-98. The ESC also keeps in regular contact with the British Institute for Sports Administration and collaborates with it on specific projects.
The United Kingdom and the English Sports Councils are providing £2.261 million in grant-aid to the National Coaching Foundation (NCF) during the current financial year. I am pleased that the Councils are continuing to support the NCF's work in providing education,
14 Jul 1998 : Column: 115
instruction, and training to professional and volunteer coaches at all levels of British sport. Around half the ESC's £1.561 million grant to the NCF will be used to support two major projects under the ESC's National Junior Sport Programme: the Champion Coaching Scheme which seeks to recruit and train more coaches for young people; and, Coaching for Teachers, by which over 8,500 primary and secondary teachers will be given the opportunity to develop their coaching skills in 12 different sports. The United Kingdom Sports Council has been working closely with the NCF in particular to ensure that the needs of elite athletes and their coaches are properly met.
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will take steps to reduce potential damage caused by blows to the head in boxing in the United Kingdom. [50257]
Mr. Banks:
While I appreciate the interest boxing creates, the Government are keen to see that the proper medical safeguards and regulations are in place for all sports. It is especially important for those who carry a higher level of physical contact, and believe that the sport's governing bodies are well equipped to keep these in place. The British Boxing of Control are currently undertaking a further review of their medical and safety procedures and have sought views from all their members across the country. I have requested a full report on the outcome.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the sleeping car on the Royal Train will be made available for hire. [49524]
Ms Glenda Jackson:
Yes. For Governmental and other uses to further the national interest. Up to four sleeping cars, together with the rest of the Royal Train would be available. The four coaches used by The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales would not be available for alternate use.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 5 March 1998, Official Report, column 696, during which period is the wider set of cross-system and cross-site year 2000 validation tests for the NATS systems expected to take place. [49864]
Dr. Strang:
Cross-system and cross-site year 2000 validation testing on NATS systems is due to take place in the period September to December 1998.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 5 March 1998, Official Report, column 696, if he will make a statement on the progress of the independent audit of the NATS year 2000 activities. [49865]
14 Jul 1998 : Column: 116
Dr. Strang:
The initial stage of the independent audit has been conducted and a report was produced in early May. Agreed recommendations are now being implemented. Further audit stages are due to be conducted at approximately 3 month intervals.
Mr. Brake:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 5 March 1998, Official Report, column 696, how many of the 99 NATS software items found to be Year 2000 non-compliant have been fixed; and what is the expected completion date for the fixing and testing of these changes. [49863]
Dr. Strang:
By the end of July 1998, remedial work on 79 of the 99 non-compliant operational systems and equipment will have been completed. The plan remains to have all non-compliant items fixed and tested by the end of December 1998.
Mr. Nigel Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what funding his Department will be providing for local authority Safe Routes to School initiatives in Gloucestershire. [50058]
Dr. Strang:
Funds are not normally earmarked for "Safer Routes to School" initiatives. In the 1998-99 Local Transport Capital Settlement, my Department allocated Gloucestershire County Council £700,000 for minor works in Cheltenham and Gloucester package areas. The Council has the freedom to use these resources for Safer Routes to School if it wishes.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |