HC Deb 13 November 2001 vol 374 cc636-7W
Geraldine Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to implement the Resorts Taskforce report on seaside towns, "Sea Changes". [13739]

Dr. Howells

The Government welcomed the English Tourism Council's (ETC) report, "Sea Changes", which was produced in the light of advice from the ETC's Resorts Task Force. The report makes 20 recommendations, which would involve various bodies at a national, regional and local level, as well as the industry itself. This Department has asked the ETC to consider how that report can best be implemented and to what timescale. To that end the ETC is working closely with the British Resorts Association and relevant tourism officers.

Geraldine Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will consider the(a) establishment and (b) funding of a Seaside Regeneration Trust modelled on the Coalfields Regeneration Trust. [13740]

Dr. Howells

The English Tourism Council's report, "Sea Changes", published last February, makes a number of recommendations about how to approach regeneration that could be of use to resort towns.

The Government consider that the prime responsibility for resort regeneration, which often has some tourism focus, lies with those who administer individual resorts—working with local and regional partners. There is a variety of funding and organisational mechanisms now in place to help achieve this, for instance, Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies (for those eligible) and Local Strategic Partnerships. We encourage local authorities to make use of these mechanisms. However, while acknowledging the level of deprivation that has developed in some of our resorts over the years, we do not consider it directly

Total number of New Opportunities Fund awards made to the Buckingham constituency—12 November 2001
Distributing body/recipient Project title/Desc.Long Award date Award amount(£)
New Opportunities Fund
Buckingham After School Teens Club The grant would be used to extend the group's existing provision (for 5 to 12-year-olds) by providing a total of 60 after school and holiday child care places catering for 11 to 14-year-olds. The schools served would be Buckingham School and Royal Latin School 12 July 1999 19,071
Southcourt and Walton Court Community Project The applicant is a community project with charitable status in Aylesbury. It is managed by committee and has operated for eight years providing a range of child care as well as advice and activities for adults. It employs four part-time staff 20 October 1999 6,600
Drayton Parslow Playgroup The grant would be used to provide an extra 24 places at the after-school club for children aged 3 to 4-years-old. The project would be situated in Drayton Parslow Buckinghamshire. School served would be Drayton Parslow County First School 10 December 1999 1,179
Southcourt and Walton Court Community Project The grant would be used to provide three new breakfast clubs in the Aylesbury area which would create 128 places in total for children between the ages of 4–11 years. The places would benefit children attending three local schools 16 June 2000 20,020
Buckingham After School Club—Winslow The grant would be used to create 34 after school places for children aged 5 to 11-years-old in Buckingham. School served would be Winslow Combined School, a contribution to the cost of employing a play leader and four play assistants 25 October 2000 18,001
Buckingham Secondary School Our of School Hours Learning Programme 7 November 2000 42,654
Total value of NOF awards 107,525