United Kingdom Parliament
HOME
ABOUT
MEMBERS & STAFF
BUSINESS
PUBLICATIONS
A-Z INDEX
GLOSSARY
CONTACT
Publications & records
Advanced search
 HansardArchivesResearchHOC PublicationsHOL PublicationsCommittees
You are here: Publications and Records > Commons Publications > Commons Hansard > Bound Volume Hansard - Written Answers
Previous Section Index Home Page

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Asset Management

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Commissioners have made of the cost benefit of co-ordinating management of assets with churches of other Christian denominations in England. [76043]

Mr. Stuart Bell: The Church Commissioners act as trustees for the management of their own endowment and have no general power to offer investment management for others. However, they are always willing, with their partners in the Archbishops' Council, to consider ways of furthering co-operation with other Churches.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

David Arundel

Mr. Randall: To ask the Attorney-General if, when deciding whether to refer back to the Court of Appeal the sentence imposed on David Arundel for causing death by dangerous driving (T980326), he had access to a transcript of the judge's summing up. [76024]

The Attorney-General: When I consider cases in the context of part IV of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (unduly lenient sentences) I am provided with all the necessary case papers. Ordinarily, this will not include a transcript of the judge's summing up and I did not have

15 Mar 1999 : Column: 443

such a transcript when considering the sentence imposed on David Arundel. I did have a transcript of the judge's remarks regarding sentence made on 9 June 1998 and a transcript of the judge's sentencing remarks on 3 July 1998.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Task Forces

Dr. Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish a list of (1) task forces and (2) policy reviews established by his Department since May 1997 which (a) had external members recruited by way of public advertisement, and details of any person so appointed and (b) engaged in public consultation exercises, and the form that these took. [74468]

Mr. Chris Smith: The following task forces and policy reviews have been established since May 1997:


















(a) Most task forces and reviews are short-term bodies established to give thorough consideration to important and difficult issues. External members are invited to sit on some reviews and task forces because they are able to contribute specific experience and expertise. In such cases, public advertising would be inappropriate and disproportionate. None of the appointments to the task forces and review groups listed above were made by way of external advertisement.

Since 1 October 1998, appointments to those task forces which qualify for classification as advisory NDPBs have come within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

15 Mar 1999 : Column: 444

(b) Public consultation exercises took place with the following:



    (ii) Review of Film Policy--An industry consultation on the work of the Film Policy Review Group took place in 1997. The consultation period was for 2 months and replies were received in writing, in addition to being submitted orally.


    (iii) Review of the National Lottery--The public was asked for views on the proposals in the White Paper.


    (iv) Eyre Review--The Department issued a press release inviting written views from the public.


    (v) Review of the future funding of the BBC--The Department issued a press release inviting written views from the public.


    (vi) Review of policy on admission charging by National Museums, subsumed into the DSR consultation--The Department issued a consultation document on 24 July 1998 inviting public views.

World-class Performance Programme

Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the level of the proposed reduction in the allocation from the Sports Council for the World-class Performance Programme following the apportionment of money from the National Lottery to the New Opportunities Fund. [75336]

Mr. Banks: There will be no reduction to the World-class Performance Programme. I can confirm that the amount of Lottery money available to sport has not reduced. In fact it has increased. When the Lottery was launched, the good causes expected to receive £9 billion in total over the licence period which ends in September 2001: that is £1.8 billion for each good cause, including sport. The National Lottery is now set to raise £10.6 billion for good causes over the current licence period. On this basis Sport will receive an extra £50 million over this period.

Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which World-class Performance Programme grants will be reduced following the apportionment of money from the National Lottery to the New Opportunities Fund; and which sports will be affected. [75337]

Mr. Banks: The amount of money available to sport has not reduced but will increase over the current licence period on the basis of current projections.

The allocation Lottery funding to sports and individuals who are in the World-class Performance Programme is a matter for the Sports Councils to decide at the moment on the basis of the forward plans submitted by the national governing bodies of sport and of the competing priorities. The hon. Gentleman may be assured that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I are determined to support our athletes. My right hon. Friend will announce shortly what share of the Lottery Sports Fund we propose the United Kingdom Sports Council should distribute in support of excellence in UK sport and other good causes.

After-school Sports

Mr. Pendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Government have to increase the availability of after-school sports provision. [75721]

15 Mar 1999 : Column: 445

Mr. Banks: There are a range of initiatives designed to increase the availability of after-school sports provision.

Through the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) we have committed £400 million of National Lottery money to out of school hours activities during the current licence period to September 2001. Of this, £180 million has been committed to education activities, £200 million to child care, and £20 million to projects combining child care and education. Out of school hours education projects should involve at least half of all secondary schools, at least a quarter of all primary schools, and at least half of all special schools by 2001. Out of school child care projects should provide places for 865,000 children by 2003.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has also announced an extra £400 million for the New Opportunities Fund between now and 2001. We have consulted on how this money should be spent and have proposed that part of the additional amount should be committed to an expansion of the existing out of school hours initiative, to enhance the contribution made by summer schools not only to literacy, numeracy but also opportunities for sport.

The Policy Directions issued to NOF ensure that it takes into account relevant national and local strategies in relation to each initiative. For out of school hours learning this includes "Extending Opportunity: a national framework for study support" (in England) and any similar guidance produced elsewhere. Study support is learning activity outside normal lessons and embraces many activities, including sports, games and adventurous outdoor activities.

The National Lottery Act 1998 required NOF to draw up a strategic plan containing its assessment of needs and its priorities in dealing with them, on which it must consult the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. This ensures that there is a proper strategy for distributing Lottery proceeds. No specific targets have been allocated to NOF for providing physical exercise opportunities at after-school clubs, but in reviewing NOF's strategic plan we shall ensure that the projects it supports promote young people's well-being through a range of activities, including sport and creative activities.

The TOP programmes are continuing to prove a valuable resource in enhancing the games element of the PE curriculum. Sport England, together with the Youth Sport Trust, are working with 126 Local Education Authorities and have put equipment and education/training into 10,000 schools. Sport England has provided funding of £1.8 million to support this delivery.

In addition to its extensive range of revenue programmes for young people, Sport England is committed to the Community Sports Co-ordinators. The Co-ordinators will act as a catalyst to assist young people to take maximum advantage of continued participation in sport by substantially improving the network between school, club and community.

The Lottery Awards for All, a unique small grants scheme, will be focused on groups who have missed out in the past. It will allow all distributors to give out grants of between £500 and £5,000 for capital revenue projects which involve people in their community and encourage school-club links. It will bring people together to enjoy sports and other activities.

15 Mar 1999 : Column: 446

Next Section Index Home Page