§ Ms ShipleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) if she will list those bids for funding which have been turned down by her Department because they have failed to include a sustainability component in the last five years; [55174]
588W(2) if she will list projects which have been funded by her Department in the last five years which have had an environmentally sustainable component, indicating what it is in each case; [55177]
(3) what steps she has taken to promote environmental sustainability in the last five years; [55172]
(4) what measures she has taken to encourage public involvement in sustainable initiatives; [55176]
(5) what indicators her Department uses when assessing the sustainability component of funding bids to her Department. [55173]
§ Dr. HowellsThe Department for Culture Media and Sport is fully committed to sustainable development and promotes environmental sustainability through many of the public bodies it sponsors. These range from Royal Parks, which provide many examples of good practice, to the Science and Natural History museums which are increasingly instrumental in promoting public understanding of, and engagement with, sustainable development. On 30 April 2002, DCMS held a major conference at the Science Museum for representatives of all its sectors to create greater understanding of sustainable development issues and raise awareness of how each can respond to the challenges involved.
The Department does not directly operate funding schemes; applications for awards, mainly for lottery generated funds, are made to its non-departmental public bodies. Since 1998, DCMS has recommended to lottery distributors that the grants they award further the objectives of sustainable development, covering environmental, economic and social aspects. Bids are judged against the 15 quality of life indicators of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy (1999). As records of unsuccessful bids are not kept by distributors, there is no means of listing which bids were turned down.