HC Deb 15 December 1997 vol 303 cc18-20W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what representations he has received in respect of regional and cultural imbalances in the projects given funding by the Millennium Commission to date; [19169]

(2) if he will make a sttaement on the progress of Millennium Commission bids from the east midlands; [19167]

(3) what steps he proposes to take to ensure equity between regions in the projects given funding by the Millennium Commission; [19168]

(4) What steps have been taken by the Millennium Commission to work with the Asian community on the ethnic minority bids which have been submitted; [20951]

(5) if he will review the decision to exclude the Akshardham project from further examination for millennium funding; [20956]

6) which millennium commissioners were present at a meeting on Wednesday 10 December; and what time was allocated to discuss ethnic minority projects; [20953]

(7) in what ways the Millennium Commission publicised the change of criteria to encourage more ethnic minority applications for funding; [20954]

(8) if he will list the individuals and organisations supporting bids by the (a) Belgrave Baheno, (b) Akshardham and (c) the Asha projects for millennium funding; [20948]

(9) when the proposals for the Asha project were (a) received and (b) evaluated by the Millennium Commission; [20960]

(10) how many projects considered for funding millennium commissioners have visited to date; [20956]

(11) if groups on the Millennium Commission reserve list will be able to proceed to detailed assessment if they so wish; [20955]

(12) in how many languages the Millennium Commission issued their application forms for funding; [20886]

(13) how many meetings officials of the Millennium Commission have had with representatives of the projects considered by the Millennium Commission on 10 December; with which projects they were associated; and on what dates; [20961]

(14) what discussions took place between the Millennium Commission and ethnic minority groups prior to the change of criteria to encourage more ethnic minority groups to put forward applications; [20884]

(15)if he will publish the number of people of Asian origin who are employed at the Millennium Commission and the grade at which they are employed; [20950]

(16) if the Swaminarayan Hindu Mission's project Akshardham can proceed to detailed appraisal; [20885]

(17) how much funding was allocated to ethnic minority projects by the Millennium Commission at its meeting on 10 December. [20949]

Mr. Chris Smith

This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I shall write to my hon. Friend in my capacity as Chairman of the Commission and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.