To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how she expects Essex to participate in the Cultural Olympiad initiative. (134577)

The Cultural Olympiad has been designed in such a way that creative and cultural organisations at all levels, from the largest national bodies to the smallest community groups, can participate. We are working with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to deliver this.

The Nations and Regions are developing plans to maximise the benefit of the London Games to all parts of the UK. In addition, I have recently announced that a network of Regional Creative Programmers in eight of the English Regions is to be established. Their role will contribute to the delivery of cultural events in all the regions in the run-up to and during the 2012 Games.

The Greater London Authority is also developing proposals on how to co-ordinate and deliver a pan-London cultural programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures are being taken by her Department to ensure that the 2012 Olympic Games is a drug-free event. (134586)

The Department sponsors UK Sport, the UK’s national anti-doping organisation, which is responsible for delivering the UK's national anti-doping programme. In the run-up to the 2012 Games, UK Sport will continue to deliver its anti-doping programme for all Olympic and Paralympic sports.

The chief medical officer at the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG), who was appointed in February, is responsible for the anti-doping programme during the 2012 Games, under delegation from the International Olympic Committee.

In light of this appointment, LOCOG has begun work on arrangements for the testing programme, and will continue to do so in collaboration with UK Sport and DCMS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether Olympic regional creative programmers will be assigned to (a) London, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland. (134588)

We are planning cultural events in the run-up to and during the 2012 Games to span the UK. The "Nations and Regions Group" of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games is developing plans to maximise the benefits of and engagement in the 2012 Games for their respective nations and regions. Participation in the Cultural Olympiad will be included within these plans.

The network of Creative Programmers being established will cover the eight English regions outside London. Colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are considering what arrangements would fit their plans to participate in the cultural programme. The Greater London Authority is also developing proposals on how to co-ordinate and deliver a pan-London cultural programme.