Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential risks to undersea internet and telephony cables; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Government continually assesses a range of possible risks to the UK’s infrastructure, and arrangements are in place across Government and industry to ensure the ongoing resilience and availability of services.
Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the (a) current and (b) capital expenditure was for Kew Palace in financial years 2001-02 to 2014-15.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
Current and Capital Expenditure for Kew Palace - 2001-02 to 2014-15.
As a self-financing, Royal Charter Body with charitable status, Historic Royal Palaces' definition of current and capital expenditure may differ from those used within government. The representation expenditure represents the final phase of the overall £6.6 million repair and representation project culminating in the re-opening of Kew Palace in 2006. All figures in the table exclude non-recoverable VAT (currently an additional 13%.)
Due to HRP's success at Kew, it has taken on and is now representing the Royal Kitchens and is in the process of planning the same for the Great Pagoda, both transferred from the Royal Botanic Gardens. Spending increases since 2006 are as a result of these openings.
Year | Current expenditure £000s | Representation expenditure £000s | Capital Expenditure £000s |
2001/2 | 6 | ||
2002/3 | 26 | ||
2003/4 | 11 | 20 | |
2004/5 | 11 | 371 | |
2005/6 | 30 | 2,630 | 327 |
2006/7 | 295 | 6 | 95 |
2007/8 | 349 | (19) | 248 |
2008/9 | 329 | (10) | |
2009/10 | 324 | 10 | |
2010/11 | 292 | ||
2011/12 | 283 | ||
2012/13 | 315 | 173 | |
2013/14 | 387 | ||
2014/15 | 412 | ||
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Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress the Government is making in rolling out broadband in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
The Government funded programme rollout of superfast broadband is progressing well and is on track to provide access to superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by the end of 2017. Over 2.5m premises how have access to superfast broadband for the first time and it is being made available to a further 40,000 homes and businesses every week.
Asked by: Lord Soames of Fletching (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the value to the tourist economy of military, ceremonial and pageantry activities in London; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
My Department has not made an assessment of the value to the tourist economy of military, ceremonial and pageantry activities in London. However, VisitBritain estimates that visitors drawn here by the appeal of our culture and heritage spend over £6.8 billion annually (out of a total overseas visitor spend of £21.8 billion in 2014). Around £500 million of that figure can be attributed to attractions and events with a connection to Britain’s royal heritage.