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You are here: Publications and Records > Commons Publications > Commons Hansard > Bound Volume Hansard - Written Answers
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HOUSE OF COMMONS

HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what costs were borne by the House in respect of the funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. [65256]

Mr. Kirkwood: The costs for the lying in state of HM the Queen Mother will be shared between the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Commons share is estimated at £495,000. I understand that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport have agreed to bear at least part of this cost, and discussions about payment are under way.

WALES

Postal Services

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will next meet representatives from Consignia to discuss postal services in Wales. [63497]

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Mr. Paul Murphy: I am due to meet with a senior representative of Consignia in Wales later this month.

Air Transport

Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with (a) the National Assembly for Wales and (b) airlines about increasing the number of chartered flights in Wales. [64542]

Mr. Paul Murphy: I have regular discussions with Assembly Ministers about issues affecting Wales including a wide range of transport matters.

Assembly officials have been closely involved in the Regional Air Service studies the reports of which are to be published soon. These regional consultation documents will set out options for the development of air services and airports in the UK over the next 30 years.

The Regional Air Service studies include consideration of all forms of air traffic including charter flights. I understand that Welsh airports are actively marketing the facilities they are able to offer to charter operators.

Regulatory Impact Unit

Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many members of his Department have been employed in its regulatory impact unit in the past five years; and if he will make a statement. [65977]

Mr. Paul Murphy: My Department was created in July 1999. It does not have a regulatory impact unit.

Buildings Insurance

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost of buildings insurance to his Department was (a) before and (b) after 11 September 2001. [66928]

Mr. Paul Murphy: Consistent with Government accounting, my Department does not insure its building.

Female Staff

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the staff of his Department are women; and what the percentage was in June 1997. [66917]

Mr. Paul Murphy: My Department came into existence on 1 July 1999. At page 23 of the Departmental Report 2002 (Cm 5431) is a table showing the number of women at each grade. The overall percentage is 59 per cent.

Elan Valley SSSI

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what measures the Government are taking to protect the Elan Valley site of special scientific interest from development. [64707]

Mr. Paul Murphy: In Wales, planning and nature conservation are responsibilities of the National Assembly.

Bird Habitats

Mr. Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to safeguard the natural habitat of red kites and golden plovers in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [64706]

8 Jul 2002 : Column 659W

Mr. Paul Murphy: This is primarily a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.

In line with EC Directive (79/409/EEC) on the Conservation of Wild Birds, the Assembly is taking appropriate steps to preserve, maintain or re-establish a sufficient diversity and area of habitats for all species of naturally occurring birds.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

Public Building Design

Ms Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the timetable is for the publication of each of the departmental design action plans to deliver the Prime Minister's Better Public Building Initiative; [65068]

Dr. Howells: The Ministerial Design Champions group has been chaired by Lord Falconer of Thoroton since October 2000. The group consists of the following:


A Better Public Buildings website will be launched on 5 July. The following Departments will publish their action plans either on this website or in hard copy by that date:


The following Departments have already published action plans:


The former Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions was preparing an action plan for publication both in hard copy and on the new website in time for the launch on 5 July. Due to the recent departmental changes, new action plans will now need to be prepared for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and

8 Jul 2002 : Column 660W

the Department for Transport. The Department for Education and Skills plan to publish an Action Plan later this autumn.

Building Values

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the buildings owned by her Department and estimate the market value of each of them. [66949]

Dr. Howells: The Department for Culture Media and Sport does not own the buildings on its estate.

The majority of properties managed by the Royal Parks Agency are owned by the Sovereign in right of the Crown, and are therefore inalienable.

The Secretary of State has the following property interests in the Royal Parks Agency.



Buildings Insurance

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of buildings insurance to her Department was (a) before and (b) after 11 September 2001. [66931]

Dr. Howells: The Department for Culture Media and Sport and the Royal Parks Agency do not purchase insurance to cover buildings on their estates.

Clarence House

Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport who will meet the bill for the refurbishment of Clarence House; and what the total cost will be to public funds. [66690]

Dr. Howells: Detailed surveys are currently taking place to ascertain the extent of the Clarence House refurbishment works, which include work on fire compartmentation, automatic fire detection, upgrade of electrical and mechanical services and some redecoration. It is not possible to provide a firm estimate of the cost of the refurbishment until the completion of these surveys. The refurbishment will be funded from the current level of grant in aid for the maintenance of the Occupied Royal Palaces.

Statistics

Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the statistics that are collected by her Department by English parliamentary constituency; and if she will make a statement. [67098]

Dr. Howells: My Department collects statistics by Parliamentary Constituency on one topic, namely Lottery Awards, and these are based upon information provided by Lottery distributors.

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A database, which is available on my Department's website at www.lottery.culture.gov.uk, provides details of individual awards along with the total number and value. This can be analysed further by type of good cause, area details and distributing body.

Timber

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether grants for construction, restoration and refurbishment issued by the Lottery are covered by Government requirements regarding timber procurement; and if she will make a statement. [67033]

Mr. Caborn: This information is not readily available. I will, however, write to the hon. Member as soon as it becomes available, placing copies of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

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