asked Her Majesty's Government:How many applications were received during the course of 1998 from charities requesting the use of the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle to hold a fund-raising charity event. [HL3111]
Since 1 January 1998 requests have been received from five charities seeking approval to use the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle. Two of these applications relate to this financial year and three relate to 1999–2000.
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish in the
Official Report a list of the charities granted the use of the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle to hold a fund-raising event; together with the dates of the events. [HL3112]
The information requested is provided in the following table:
| Organisation | Date of function |
| Shelter | 3 March 1997 |
| Riding for the Disabled | 10 October 1997 |
| Leukaemia and Cancer Children's Fund | 17 October 1997 |
| Edinburgh International Festival | 6 November 1997 |
| Barnardo's | 27 November 1997 |
| British Heart Foundation | 28 November 1997 |
| Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | 15 May 1998 |
| Leonard Cheshire Foundation | Date to be arranged |
| Carers National Association | Date to be arranged |
| The Royal Blind Asylum and School | Date to be arranged |
| Cancer Research Campaign, Scotland | Date to be arranged |
| Marie Curie Cancer Care | Date to be arranged |
asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date each successful applicant for the use of the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle submitted its application to hold a fund-raising event for charity; and on what date they were advised that their application had been granted. [HL3113]
The information requested is provided in the following table:
| Organisation | Date of application | Date of approval |
| Shelter | 18 November 1996 | 6 February 1997 |
| Riding for the Disabled | 3 December 1996 | 17 March 1997 |
| Leukaemia and Cancer Children's Fund | 27 January 1997 | 17 March 1997 |
| Edinburgh International Festival | 13 January 1997 | 21 March 1997 |
| Barnardo's | 26 February 1997 | 17 March 1997 |
| British Heart Foundation | 2 December 1996 | 17 March 1997 |
| Leonard Cheshire | 20 December 1996 | 17 March 1997 |
| The Royal Blind Asylum and School | 11 March 1997 | 17 March 1997 |
| Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | 16 December 1996 | 17 March 1997 |
| Cancer Research Campaign, Scotland | 19 January 1997 | 17 March 1997 |
| Carers National Association | 3 April 1997 | 22 July 1998 |
| Marie Curie Cancer Care | 8 May 1998 | 22 July 1998 |
asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will publish in the
Official Report a list of organisations whose application to have the use of the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle to hold a fund-raising event for charity was refused. [HL3114]
Those organisations which made an application which on that occasion was unsuccessful are:
- YMCA Scotland
- The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals
- Birdlife International
- Strathallan School
- Marie Curie Cancer Care
- The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
- Tenovus Scotland
- National Art Collection Fund
- Brahmar Kumaris
- Scottish Adoption Association
- St. Columba's Hospice
- National Meningitis Fund
- Children in Scotland
- Edinburgh Sick Children's NHS Trust
asked Her Majesty's Government:On what date each unsuccessful applicant for the use of the Great hall of Edinburgh Castle submitted its application to hold a fund-raising event for charity; and on what date they were advised that their application had been refused. [HL3115]
The information requested is provided in the following table:
| Organisation | Date of application | Date of refusal |
| YMCA Scotland | 14 January 1997 | 14 March 1997 |
| The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals | 23 January 1997 | 14 March 1997 |
| Birdlife International | 4 February 1997 | 14 March 1997 |
| Strathallan School | 21 February 1997 | 17 March 1997 |
| Marie Curie Cancer Care | 27 February 1997 | 17 March 1997 |
| The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society | 28 February 1997 | 25 March 1997 |
| Tenovus Scotland | 5 May 1997 | 22 July 1998 |
| National Art Collection | 29 July 1997 | 22 July 1998 |
| Brahmar Kumaras | 14 September 1997 | 22 July 1998 |
| Scottish Adoption Society | 31 October 1997 | 22 July 1998 |
| St. Columba's Hospice | 6 November 1997 | 22 July 1998 |
| National Meningitis Fund | 18 November 1997 | 22 July 1998 |
| Children in Scotland | 28 November 1997 | 22 July 1998 |
| Edinburgh Sick Childrens NHS Trust | 25 May 1998 | 22 July 1998 |
asked Her Majesty's Government:What criterion is applied in deciding which organisations should be granted the use of the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle to hold a fund-raising event for charity and which others should be refused. [HL3116]
When the scheme was introduced by my right honourable friend's predecessor in the autumn of 1996 it was made clear that the number of events would be restricted to six per year and that it would be limited to registered charities. The purpose of the scheme is to enable national charities to hold evening events in the prestigious setting of Edinburgh Castle. The events may be to mark some noteworthy anniversary or achievement and should be in keeping with the historical importance and dignity of the castle. Demand has been heavy and very difficult choices have therefore had to be made. In making decisions on applications, the aim has been to achieve a balance across the broad range of national charitable activity in Scotland. There are inevitably a number of organisations which do worthwhile and much needed work which have been unsuccessful and I recognise that they will be disappointed.