House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 18 Jan 2006 (pt 19)

Departmental Estate

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the former (a) buildings and (b) land of (i) her Department and (ii) (A) non-departmental public bodies, (B) agencies and (C) independent statutory bodies for which her Department is responsible which have been sold since 7 May 1997; what the sale price of each (1) was at the time of sale and (2) is at current prices; and whether the money accrued was (x) retained by her Department and (y) claimed by the Treasury. [40145]

Mr. Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport sold the freehold of the North East Corner of the Royal Garden Hotel, London in 2005 for the sum of £2.5 million.

In addition, in 2003 the Department sold the freehold of 33 Park Street, Windsor for £30,000; and in 2005 it sold the freeholds of 30, 31 and 32 Park Street for a total of £110,000.

The Department sold 10 Chantry Close, Windsor in 2003 for £232,000.

The Royal Parks sold 183 Kidbrooke Park Road, London in March 1999 for £120,000.

In each case the money was retained by the Department or The Royal Parks as an appropriation in aid".

Information about the current value of property or land, or about sales of property or land, could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

18 Jan 2006 : Column 1392W

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost was of pension contributions incurred by (a) her Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which she is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06. [39996]

Mr. Lammy: Details of the cost of pension contributions are published annually in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Resource Accounts and the Royal Parks Agency's Resource Accounts. Copies are placed in the Libraries of the House.

For 2005–06, employers' contributions are payable to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) at one of four rates in the ranges 16.2 to 24.6 per cent. of pensionable pay, based on salary bands. The Scheme Actuary reviews employer contributions every four years following a full scheme valuation; last carried out as at 31 March 2003. The contribution rates reflect the cost of benefits as they accrue (net of employee contributions), not the costs as they are actually incurred, and reflect past experience of the scheme.

The information requested for non-departmental public bodies and other public bodies for which the Secretary of State is responsible is not collected centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by her Department on refreshments in each year since 1997. [41254]

Mr. Lammy: All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.

The following table shows expenditure on refreshments, including working breakfasts or lunches, refreshment at meetings and official entertainment by the Department since 1997–98. In 2002–03 changes were made in the way refreshment expenditure was captured to include associated staff costs following the contracting out of the hospitality service.

Financial year Expenditure (£)

1997–98 15,269.81

1998–99 24,496.51

1999–2000 33,359.78

2000–01 51,666.75

2001–02 32,586.56

2002–03 87,150.29

2003–04 90,007.37

2004–05 97,803.39

2005–06 (to December 2005) 37,823.40

Financial year	Expenditure (£)
1997–98	15,269.81
1998–99	24,496.51
1999–2000	33,359.78
2000–01	51,666.75
2001–02	32,586.56
2002–03	87,150.29
2003–04	90,007.37
2004–05	97,803.39
2005–06 (to December 2005)	37,823.40

Digital Television (Wales)

David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings the Department has held with representatives of the BBC

18 Jan 2006 : Column 1393W

relating to Freeview coverage in (a) Monmouthshire and (b) Wales in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement. [42452]

James Purnell: Officials meet regularly with Ofcom, spectrum planners and broadcasters about detailed plans for digital terrestrial coverage at digital switchover. These discussions often include the BBC and cover a wide range of issues including digital terrestrial coverage in Wales.

Energy Efficiency

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of electricity used bybuildings in (a) her Department and (b) its agenciescame from renewable sources in each year from 1997. [42795]

James Purnell: The information requested is as follows.

(a) The proportion of electricity used by the Department that was from renewable sources was as follows:

Percentage

2004–05 86

2003–04 83

	Percentage
2004–05	86
2003–04	83

The Department was not supplied with renewable energy prior to 2003, but is now supplied with 100 per cent. renewable energy.

(b) The proportion of electricity used by The Royal Parks that was from renewable sources was as follows:

Percentage

2004–05 100

2003–04 100

2002–03 100

18 Jan 2006 : Column 1394W

	Percentage
2004–05	100
2003–04	100
2002–03	100

The Royal Parks do not hold data for periods prior to 2002.

Gaming Act

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications to the Gaming Board were (a) submitted and (b) approved for gambling licences under the Gaming Act 1968 in each year since 1996–97, including 2005–06 to date. [42590]

Mr. Caborn: The tables set out the number of applications by sector that the Gambling Commission (previously the Gaming Board for Great Britain) received and approved for gambling licences during the period requested.

Bingo Consent

Applications received Applications issued⁽²⁰⁾

1996–97 86 90

1997–98 83 48

1998–99 43 43

1999–2000 56 48

2000–01 41 25

2001–02 56 46

2002–03 26 54

2003–04 30 30

2004–05 21 17

2005–06 (to January 2006) 13 13

Total 455 414

⁽²⁰⁾ Once a certificate of consent is issued, operators can then apply to the Licensing Justices for a Gambling Licence.

Casino Consent

Applications received Applications issued⁽²¹⁾

1996–97 15 11

1997–98 15 16

1998–99 14 11

1999–2000 16 15

2000–01 20 16

2001–02 12 9

2002–03 28 23

2003–04 17 19

2004–05 30 18

2005–06 (to January 2006) 49 35

Total 216 173

⁽²¹⁾ Once a certificate of consent is issued, operators can then apply to the Licensing Justices for a Gaming Licence.

Gaming machines new

applications received applications issued Gaming machines renewal applications received Gaming machines certificates renewed

1996–97 28 23 110 105

1997–98 38 22 126 109

1998–99 31 22 100 102

1999–2000 20 22 118 98

2000–01 16 17 98 92

2001–02 26 19 115 105

2002–03 22 22 82 78

2003–04 22 29 85 96

2004–05 24 20 88 75

2005–06 (to January 2006) 22 24 111 124

Total 249 220 1,033 984

Employees certificate of approval (Section 19)

Applications received Applications approved

1996–97 5,518 5,051

1997–98 3,992 3,574

1998–99 5,509 5,056

1999–2000 4,637 4,106

2000–01 5,541 4,906

2001–02 5,220 4,777

2002–03 3,113 2,771

2003–04 4,206 3,671

2004–05 4,276 3,736

2005–06 (to January
2006) 2,789 2,531

Total 44,801 40,179

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Lotteries registration

Applications received Applications approved

1996–97 85 89

1997–98 65 57

1998–99 24 44

1999–2000 55 52

2000–01 48 46

2001–02 37 40

2002–03 38 35

2003–04 39 38

2004–05 45 42

2005–06 (to January
2006) 21 20

Total 457 463

Total gaming applications received Total gaming applications approved

1996–97 6,985 6,421

1997–98 5,368 4,855

1998–99 6,739 6,224

1999–2000 5,866 5,260

2000–01 6,690 5,986

2001–02 6,398 5,887

2002–03 4,239 3,885

2003–04 5,337 4,803

2004–05 5,391 4,870

2005–06 (to January
2006) 3,879 3,643

Total 56,892 51,834

18 Jan 2006 : Column 1396W

	Bingo Consent
	Applications received	Applications issued⁽²⁰⁾
1996–97	86	90
1997–98	83	48
1998–99	43	43
1999–2000	56	48
2000–01	41	25
2001–02	56	46
2002–03	26	54
2003–04	30	30
2004–05	21	17
2005–06 (to January 2006)	13	13
Total	455	414

	Casino Consent
	Applications received	Applications issued⁽²¹⁾
1996–97	15	11
1997–98	15	16
1998–99	14	11
1999–2000	16	15
2000–01	20	16
2001–02	12	9
2002–03	28	23
2003–04	17	19
2004–05	30	18
2005–06 (to January 2006)	49	35
Total	216	173

	Gaming machines new
	applications received	applications issued	Gaming machines renewal applications received	Gaming machines certificates renewed
1996–97	28	23	110	105
1997–98	38	22	126	109
1998–99	31	22	100	102
1999–2000	20	22	118	98
2000–01	16	17	98	92
2001–02	26	19	115	105
2002–03	22	22	82	78
2003–04	22	29	85	96
2004–05	24	20	88	75
2005–06 (to January 2006)	22	24	111	124
Total	249	220	1,033	984

	Employees certificate of approval (Section 19)
	Applications received	Applications approved
1996–97	5,518	5,051
1997–98	3,992	3,574
1998–99	5,509	5,056
1999–2000	4,637	4,106
2000–01	5,541	4,906
2001–02	5,220	4,777
2002–03	3,113	2,771
2003–04	4,206	3,671
2004–05	4,276	3,736
2005–06 (to January 2006)	2,789	2,531
Total	44,801	40,179

	Lotteries registration
	Applications received	Applications approved
1996–97	85	89
1997–98	65	57
1998–99	24	44
1999–2000	55	52
2000–01	48	46
2001–02	37	40
2002–03	38	35
2003–04	39	38
2004–05	45	42
2005–06 (to January 2006)	21	20
Total	457	463

	Total gaming applications received	Total gaming applications approved
1996–97	6,985	6,421
1997–98	5,368	4,855
1998–99	6,739	6,224
1999–2000	5,866	5,260
2000–01	6,690	5,986
2001–02	6,398	5,887
2002–03	4,239	3,885
2003–04	5,337	4,803
2004–05	5,391	4,870
2005–06 (to January 2006)	3,879	3,643
Total	56,892	51,834

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if a date has been determined for when applications for a casino licence under the Gaming Act 1968 will cease to be considered or issued. [42591]

Mr. Caborn: A draft order was published on the DCMS website for consultation on 23 December 2005. This proposes setting a final date of 28 April 2006 for applications under the Gaming Act 1968 for certificates of consent in respect of new casinos.

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