Asked by: Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many visits were made by Ministers of his Department to Torbay constituency in the 12 months to 14 October 2014; whom the invitation for each such visit was issued by; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such visit.
Answered by Helen Grant
The Secretary of State visited the Torbay constituency on 17th September 2014. His visit was to Kents Cavern, part of the Geopark in Torbay. The invitation came from the local Conservative candidate for Torbay, Kevin Foster. All travel was provided by the Conservative party with no cost to the public purse.
Kevin Foster also passed on an invitation to visit Torbay to the previous Secretary of State, Maria Miller. This invitation came from the Torbay Tourism Association and was taken up on 5th March 2014. She attended and spoke at a lunch event hosted by the Torbay Tourism Association marking their Annual Open Day/Exhibition. The minister took the train from Paddington to Exeter St David’s and returned via the same route. The cost of three return tickets (including officials) was £192.75, so £64.25 per person. The minister was driven to Torbay from Exeter at no cost to public purse.
In both these cases, the Secretaries of State were driven by Kevin Foster, with the costs borne directly by him.
Asked by: Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost was of the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities' recent visit to Brazil; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
Details of Ministers' visits overseas are published quarterly and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/expenses-and-hospitality
The latest data available at this time is:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-meetings-and-hospitality-data-october-to-december-2013
Asked by: Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the official appointments which took place during the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities' recent visit to Brazil; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
Details of Ministers' visits overseas are published quarterly and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/expenses-and-hospitality
The latest data available at this time is:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-meetings-and-hospitality-data-october-to-december-2013
Asked by: Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many foreign visits the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities has made arising from her departmental roles; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
Details of Ministers' visits overseas are published quarterly and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/expenses-and-hospitality
The latest data available at this time is:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-meetings-and-hospitality-data-october-to-december-2013
Asked by: Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the cost is of all foreign visits undertaken by the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities as part of her official duties to date.
Answered by Helen Grant
Details of Ministers' visits overseas are published quarterly and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/expenses-and-hospitality
The latest data available at this time is:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-meetings-and-hospitality-data-october-to-december-2013
Asked by: Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what future foreign visits the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities has planned in relation to her departmental duties; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Helen Grant
A number of visits have been proposed by other government departments but I currently have no plans for any further foreign visits at this time.
Asked by: Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps his Department has taken to further the provision of high speed broadband in the Heart of the South West area.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Devon and Somerset has already received nearly £32 million to provide superfast broadband to 95% of premises by early 2016. We have recently announced a further £22.75 million to extend coverage to 95% by 2017 . Devon and Somerset will also be the location for one of the pilots looking at the potential to go beyond 95% coverage.