§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for each of the buildings under his Department's control how many rooms are set aside for(a) ethnic minority religious use, (b) pregnant and nursing mothers and (c) smokers. [102333]
§ Mr. Chris SmithMy Department has four buildings which are under its direct control and occupied by DCMS staff. These are: 2–4 Cockspur Street; Grove House, 2–6 Orange Street; 6th floor Haymarket House, Oxendon Street; and Queen's Yard, 179a Tottenham Court Road.
280WQueen, that Government buildings fly the Union flag. While there is no formal definition of a Government building for this purpose, it is generally accepted to mean a building owned or used by the Crown and predominately occupied or used by Civil Servants or Her Majesty's armed forces. The headquarters of public bodies, police stations and schools are exempt from these instructions, but the police have chosen to follow the Central Government arrangements.
The days required are:
Smoking rooms are provided in accordance with departmental policy, with the exception of the new premises at Tottenham Court Road for the Government Art Collection. At these premises, smoking anywhere within the building is deemed an unacceptable fire hazard and none of the staff currently employed there are smokers.
First aid rooms are available for pregnant and nursing mothers. Although no rooms are specifically set aside for ethnic minority religious use, the Department is flexible in accommodating such needs.