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Housing Corporation
Mr. Steinberg: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what criteria the Housing Corporation used in determining the 1996-97 grant allocations apart from the guidelines in the bidding forum and the regional policy statement; [21238]
- (2) what influence Housing Corporation regional directors have in allocating Housing Corporation grant; and to what extent this influence was applied in the 1996-97 allocations; [21239]
(3) what criteria apply to schemes seeking Housing Corporation funding where standards exceeded the published scheme work development standards; [21240]
(4) what guidelines the Housing Corporation issues to local authorities in regard to competition between associations for Housing Corporation funding; [21242]
(5) what consultation arrangements on investment priorities with individual associations and local authorities is undertaken by the Housing Corporation. [21243]
Mr. Clappison: The Housing Corporation's regional directors are responsible for allocating approved development programme resources within their regions in response to competitive bids from housing associations. They do so within a policy and procedural framework which, for 1996-97, was published by the corporation in its:
- 1. "Guide to the Allocation Process"
2. Regional Policy Statements
3. "invitation bid" letter.
Local authorities are expected to involve housing associations in drawing up their housing strategies in accordance with the housing investment programme guidance issued annually by the Department. The Housing Corporation discusses the investment priorities arising from the strategies with local authorities, and publishes the outcome of these discussions in the regional policy statements. Following receipt of bids, and prior to
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finalising investment decisions, corporation regional directors and their staff discuss with local authorities the proposed allocations.
Mr. Callaghan:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to tackle homelessness amongst 16 to 20-year-olds. [21520]
Mr. Clappison:
Under the Children Act 1989, local authority social services departments have a duty to provide accommodation for any child in need within their area who has reached the age of 16 and whose welfare the authority consider is likely to be seriously prejudiced if they do not provide accommodation. Local authorities have a duty to advise and assist young persons aged under 21 who have left local authority care after reaching the age of 16; this assistance can include help with accommodation.
My Department provides grants under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 to a range of voluntary organisations throughout England which offer practical help to homeless people. Many of these projects will assist homeless young people. In 1995-96, £6.9 million has been made available and a further £25 million will be made available over the next three years. Since 1990, my Department has also provided £182 million through the rough sleepers initiative to help rough sleepers in central London. Independent research shows that this has been particularly effective in helping young people to start a new life away from the streets. Plans for the third phase of the initiative were announced by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration in his reply to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 4 March 1996.
In addition, various Government programmes including the rough sleepers initiative and the single regeneration budget have funded the development and operation of a range of foyer projects, hostels based on a French model which provide accommodation linked with training and job opportunities for homeless and unemployed young people.
Mr. David Nicholson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the shortfall since September 1995 in available places for applicants to hostels intended to provide shelter for homeless people in central London; and if he will make a statement on his policies to deal with this problem. [21689]
Mr. Clappison:
This information is not held centrally. I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration on 4 March 1996, Official Report, columns 8-10, about the Government's plans for the next phase--1996-99--of the rough sleepers initiative. These plans include the offer to fund up to 200 additional beds in temporary hostel accommodation, and continued funding for some hostel and night shelter accommodation already funded under the initiative.
Mr. MacShane:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department is taking to ensure that its contractors and suppliers (a) pay their employees a wage which ensures such employees do not
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need supplementary welfare payments via various state benefits and (b) meet workplace health and safety regulations; and if he will make a statement. [21472]
Sir Paul Beresford:
Terms and conditions of employment, including wages, are a matter between the contractor or supplier and his employees, subject of course to any relevant legal requirements. Compliance with health and safety regulations is a legal requirement for the contractor or supplier.
Mr. Allason:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take on the drinking water inspectorate's report into the pollution of South West Water's supply in South Devon in August 1995. [21693]
Mr. Clappison:
The drinking water inspectorate is still investigating this incident and will, as is usual in such cases, consider whether to recommend prosecution of the company for the offence of supplying water unfit for human consumption.
Mr. David Nicholson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the financial support available from (a) his Department and (b) elsewhere for the rough sleepers initiative in 1995-96; and what changes will take place to this support in 1996-97. [21688]
Mr. Clappison:
In 1995-96, my Department has made available revenue funding of £5.479 million in support of the rough sleepers initiative; and the Housing Corporation has made available capital funding of £24.862 million and revenue funding of £1.9 million for the provision and management of permanent move-on accommodation. Plans for the third phase--1996-99--of the initiative are set out in the strategy paper issued on 4 March 1996. Housing associations and voluntary sector organisations working with rough sleepers are being invited to bid for further resources of £73 million being made available by my Department over this three year period. This financial support will be complemented by £4.2 million for each of the next three years being made available by the Department of Health to continue and develop the homeless mentally ill initiative.
Mrs. Anne Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce legislation to enable local councils to pay a cycling allowance to elected members. [21591]
Sir Paul Beresford:
We have no plans to introduce legislation on the payment of cycling allowances by local authorities to their elected members.
Mr. Gordon Prentice:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many persons in his Department worked in excess of 48 hours per week in any of the last 52 weeks; and what percentage of the staff employed this represents. [21506]
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Sir Paul Beresford:
There is no central record of the number of hours worked each week by staff in my Department. Conditioned hours are generally 41 gross in London and 42 gross elsewhere.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average council tax for a band D property in each authority in England for 1996-97. [22009]
Mr. Curry:
The average council tax for band D two-adult dwellings in England in 1996-97 is £647. This is before any reductions for council tax benefit and transitional relief, and represents an increase of 6.2 per cent on 1995-96 levels.
Council taxes in shire areas will be £632 on average, an increase of 5.9 per cent. on last year.
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