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Works of Art (Indemnities)
Sir Patrick Cormack: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total sum paid to claimants under the Government Indemnity Scheme covering loans of works of art to museums, galleries and other such public institutions has been since the inception of the scheme in 1988. [55026]
Dr. Howells [holding answer 9 May 2002]: Since 1993–94, the first year after the formation of the Department of National Heritage, a total of £579,161.06 has been paid out to claimants under the Government Indemnity Scheme. Figures for the period 1988–89 to 1992–93 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
All Saints' Church, Kingston
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on English Heritage's decision not to support the restoration of All Saints' Church, Kingston-upon-Thames; and if she will make a statement. [55415]
Dr. Howells: I am aware of the strength of local support for the restoration of All Saints' Church. It is for English Heritage or the Heritage Lottery Fund to make a decision on the funding of the grant application. English Heritage are keen to see that the repairs needed to All Saints' Church are carried out and have recently met the vicar and the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Dr. Tonge) to discuss how to take the matter forward.
Environmental Sustainability
Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if she will list those bids for funding which have been turned down by her Department because they have failed to include a sustainability component in the last five years; [55174]
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- (2) if she will list projects which have been funded by her Department in the last five years which have had an environmentally sustainable component, indicating what it is in each case; [55177]
(3) what steps she has taken to promote environmental sustainability in the last five years; [55172]
(4) what measures she has taken to encourage public involvement in sustainable initiatives; [55176]
(5) what indicators her Department uses when assessing the sustainability component of funding bids to her Department. [55173]
Dr. Howells: The Department for Culture Media and Sport is fully committed to sustainable development and promotes environmental sustainability through many of the public bodies it sponsors. These range from Royal Parks, which provide many examples of good practice, to the Science and Natural History museums which are increasingly instrumental in promoting public understanding of, and engagement with, sustainable development. On 30 April 2002, DCMS held a major conference at the Science Museum for representatives of all its sectors to create greater understanding of sustainable development issues and raise awareness of how each can respond to the challenges involved.
The Department does not directly operate funding schemes; applications for awards, mainly for lottery generated funds, are made to its non-departmental public bodies. Since 1998, DCMS has recommended to lottery distributors that the grants they award further the objectives of sustainable development, covering environmental, economic and social aspects. Bids are judged against the 15 quality of life indicators of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy (1999). As records of unsuccessful bids are not kept by distributors, there is no means of listing which bids were turned down.
Criminal Offences
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many criminal offences have been (a) created and (b) abolished by her Department since 1997. [55438]
Dr. Howells: Since 1997, four offences have been created and one abolished in the areas for which the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has responsibility.
- (a) the failure to post a Special Occasions restriction order notice—article 8(3) of the Regulatory Reform (Special Occasions Licensing) Order 2001 (SI 2001/3937)
- (b) failure to comply with a park trading regulation—s.1 of the Royal Parks (Trading) Act 2000
- (c) two offences of disclosure of information—section 3 of the Television Licences (Disclosure of Information) Act 2000.
The offence repealed was that of failing to post a Millennium restriction order notice under paragraph 6(3) of Schedule 8B to the Licensing Act 1964, which was repealed by paragraph 2(6) of the Regulatory Reform (Special Occasions Licensing) Order 2001 (SI 2001/3937).
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Maladministration
Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many findings there have been of maladministration by ombudsmen with responsibility for agencies under the remit of her Department since 1997. [56319]
Dr. Howells: Information on the handling of complaints is set out in tabular form by the parliamentary ombudsman each year as an attachment to his annual report. For those complaints where there was evidence of maladministration which warranted a full investigation, the table sets out how many complaints were upheld as being fully or partially justified. Copies of the parliamentary ombudsman's annual reports for the period 1997–98 to 2000–01 inclusive can be viewed in the House Library, or on the parliamentary ombudsman's website at: www.ombudsman.org.uk/publications.
Golden Jubilee
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what policy guidance her Department has issued relating to the flying of the Union flag over public buildings on the occasion of the Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. [55473]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 13 May 2002]: My Department has issued guidance that the Union flag should be flown from central Government buildings from 8am on Saturday, 1 June 2002 to sunset on Tuesday, 4 June 2002 inclusive. Local authorities are not bound by these instructions. Many however, do chose to follow the Government's line and fly the flag on the specified days from their buildings.
Television Subtitling
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what regulations govern (a) the proportion of television programmes that have subtitling and (b) the provision of television services for deaf people. [55582]
Dr. Howells: Statutory requirements for the provision of subtitling on Channel 3 and Channel 5, and for the provision of subtitling and sign language translation on digital terrestrial television services are included in the 1990 and 1996 Broadcasting Acts respectively. The recently published draft Communications Bill proposes the extension of these services to digital cable and satellite services.
LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Sunset Clauses
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which Bills introduced by his Department in the last five years have contained sunset clauses; and what plans he has for the future use of such clauses. [49623]
Mr. Wills: No Bills introduced by this Department in the last five years have contained sunset clauses and I have no plans for the future use of such clauses.
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Overtime Payments
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what her policy is on overtime payments for staff in her Department. [49118]
Ms Rosie Winterton: This answer covers the Headquarters of the Lord Chancellor's Department and Associated Offices (LCDHQ), the Court Service (CS), and Public Guardianship Office (PGO). The standard working week across the Lord Chancellor's Department is 41 hours for offices in London and 42 hours for staff working outside London. Both these figures incorporate a daily lunch break of one hour. Part time and flexible working arrangements are agreed locally.
Overtime may be worked with prior management authority to carry out specific work that cannot be done within normal working hours. Part time staff and staff with flexible working hours are entitled to claim overtime for hours worked over and above their own personal contracted working week. Staff are entitled to claim time off in lieu as an alternative to claiming overtime.
Overtime is paid at the rates described as follows:
- LCDHQ Pay Bands A to D/CS Spans 1 to 5/PGO Ranges 1 to 4:
- Monday to Friday—at the hourly rate of time and a half.
- Saturday—at the hourly rate of time and a half plus Saturday premium (equivalent to double time).
- Sunday—double time.
- LCDHQ Pay Band E/CS Spans 6 and 7/PGO Ranges 5 and 6:
- Monday to Friday—at the hourly rate of plain time.
- Saturday—at the hourly rate of plain time plus Saturday premium (equivalent to time and a half).
- Sunday—double time.
- LCDHQ Pay Band F/CS Span 8:
- Staff in these grades qualify for excess hours payments. Additional hours worked by members of staff in this band can be recognised by excess hours payments if 25 or more extra hours are worked over a continuous three week period. The excess hours payment is the recipient's plain time rate.
- PGO Range 7:
- Minimum qualifying period is 25 excess hours over a continuous three week period at plain time rate. Pay Range 7 staff are eligible for weekend premium payments. Staff who have to work excess hours are given the opportunity to take time of in lieu as an alternative to claiming excess hours payment.
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