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13 Feb 1997 : Column: 257

Written Answers to Questions

Thursday 13 February 1997

ENVIRONMENT

Departmental Policies (Bournemouth)

Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effect of his Department's policies on the residents of Bournemouth since 1992, with special reference to the effects of changes in the resources provided in real terms. [14952]

Sir Paul Beresford: The local government review is an opportunity for improved services and more effective local government for the people of Bournemouth. As of 1 April 1997, Bournemouth borough council will be responsible for delivering the full range of local authority services, enabling improved services with efficiency savings.

Bournemouth borough council's standard spending assessment for the financial year 1997-98 will be £119,120,000. This represents an increase of £1,382,000, or 1.2 per cent. on the comparable figure for 1996-97. The Department does not have data for earlier years with which to calculate a SSA for a unitary Bournemouth so it is not possible to make a like-for-like comparison with 1992-93.

It is possible to compare the sum of the SSAs per head of Bournemouth borough council and Dorset police authority in 1997-98 with the sum of SSAs per head of Bournemouth borough council, Dorset county council and Dorset police authority in 1992-93. Although this is not entirely accurate, because it approximates to Bournemouth the average SSA per head of the county and police authority rather than the proportion relating to Bournemouth's needs, it is a reasonable approximation. On this basis, the total SSA per head of Bournemouth and the authorities which precept on it was £684 in 1992-93 and £789 in 1997-98. These figures do not take account of changes in local government functions, for example the transfer of further education from local authorities 1993-94.

Bournemouth borough council was successful in its bid for funding under the pilot capital challenge scheme. The council will receive a credit approval of £1.9 million for environmental works to enhance Bournemouth town square.

Bournemouth is benefiting from two schemes which have received funding from the Government's single regeneration budget challenge fund.

Dorset training and enterprise council's bid, "Community Focus--Turlin Moor and Boscombe", was one of 172 schemes awarded funding under round 2 of the challenge fund. "Community Focus--Turlin Moor and Boscombe" is a four-year scheme to meet training and educational needs in two areas which suffer from high

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crime rates and low employment. Over the full four years, it should receive a total of £406,000 in support from the challenge fund. This money, complemented by £395,000 of private sector funding and other public money, should create six jobs; involve 100 employers in collaborative education projects; and benefit 720 young people.

Bournemouth borough council's bid, "Making Small Firms Big Business--Dorset", was also awarded funding under round 2 of the challenge fund. "Making Small Firms Big Business--Dorset" is a three-year scheme to improve the infrastructure and competitiveness of the tourist industry in Dorset. Over the full three years, it should receive a total of £314,000 in support from the challenge fund. This money, complemented by £312,000 of private sector funding and £177,000 of other public money, should create or safeguard 51 jobs; advise 1,050 businesses; and help 1,100 people to obtain qualifications.

Residents of Bournemouth who live in houses in multiple occupation such as bedsits, shared houses, hostels and some houses converted into flats, will benefit from measures to improve fire safety and other standards in their homes introduced under the Housing Act 1996. The measures, which will come into force on 3 March, will make it easier for local authorities to ensure that HMOs meet acceptable standards. Bournemouth borough council will also be able to apply to the Department of the Environment for special powers to close down HMOs if they cause a nuisance or annoyance to the neighbourhood and to prevent new HMOs opening if they would be detrimental to the area.

Local Authority Services (Mergers)

Mr. David Nicholson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what requests for assistance his Department has received from neighbouring or overlapping local authorities considering merging their treasurers, legal services and property services departments; what guidance he has issued on this subject; and if he will make a statement. [15012]

Sir Paul Beresford: While the Government recognise the value of sensible co-operation between the tiers of local authorities, no specific guidance has been issued. However, as part of the exercise on the extension to compulsory competitive tendering, my Department wrote to local authorities on 18 May 1995 outlining the main statutory framework within which authorities may make joint arrangements. No requests for assistance have been received.

Metropolitan District Budgets

Sir Irvine Patnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the budget of the metropolitan districts for the current financial year, ranking them from the largest increase over the previous year to the smallest; and if he will make a statement. [15232]

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Mr. Curry: The information requested is as follows:

	1995-96 Budget £ million	1995-96 Adjusted budget(1) £ million	1996-97 Budget £ million	Percentage change(2)
Rotherham	191.886	197.234	204.456	3.7
Bury	119.735	120.028	124.278	3.5
Doncaster	218.759	224.525	231.721	3.2
Solihull	132.629	135.811	140.013	3.1
Wigan	215.282	215.809	222.400	3.1
Calderdale	148.223	153.066	157.615	3.0
Barnsley	152.626	157.989	162.581	2.9
Wirral	261.938	273.540	281.336	2.9
Wakefield	219.034	226.390	232.768	2.8
Bolton	203.982	204.591	210.114	2.7
Walsall	206.172	212.314	218.041	2.7
Tameside	165.757	166.501	170.989	2.7
Dudley	204.690	211.519	217.205	2.7
Oldham	186.594	187.047	191.994	2.6
St. Helens	139.371	144.814	148.636	2.6
Trafford	149.211	149.520	153.437	2.6
Knowsley	146.319	150.259	154.007	2.5
South Tyneside	125.289	128.250	131.398	2.5
Leeds	523.139	541.969	555.234	2.4
Birmingham	924.316	948.155	971.119	2.4
Sefton	216.669	225.553	230.927	2.4
North Tyneside	148.463	151.991	155.538	2.3
Sheffield	392.763	406.705	415.883	2.3
Gateshead	163.877	167.542	171.093	2.1
Kirklees	286.117	295.504	301.671	2.1
Manchester	441.632	444.664	453.889	2.1
Coventry	247.102	253.405	258.660	2.1
Liverpool	469.714	485.842	495.894	2.1
Rochdale	166.918	167.553	171.014	2.1
Newcastle upon Tyne	233.991	239.336	244.280	2.1
Bradford	402.125	413.955	422.482	2.1
Wolverhampton	209.220	215.043	219.466	2.1
Sunderland	231.774	236.867	241.695	2.0
Salford	194.050	195.606	199.572	2.0
Sandwell	241.733	249.201	254.205	2.0
Stockport	196.271	196.382	199.761	1.7

(1) Adjusted to take account of community care special grant payable in 1995-96; the ending of metropolitan rail grant; and the opting-out of passenger transport executives from rail service support.

(2) Calculated based on the adjusted budgets.

Ceramic Fibres

Mr. Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy on the classification of ceramic fibres in respect of the review by the EU Commission's Technical Progress Committee; and if he will make a statement on the opportunities for ministerial representations to the committee. [15391]

Sir Paul Beresford: A series of EU technical meetings have examined a number of different possible proposals for the classification of a range of man-made mineral fibres, including ceramic fibres. The meetings have been attended by officials of the Health and Safety Executive who have followed the general policy adopted in these discussions that any proposals should be based on a sound analysis of the scientific evidence.

The purpose of the meetings is to assist the Commission in the preparation of a formal proposal which will then be submitted to a technical progress committee for a vote. When the proposal is made, it will be examined by Ministers, who will then determine the line to be taken by the UK officials who will attend the Committee and vote on behalf of the UK.

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Poll Tax and Council Tax

Mr. Richard Shepherd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the amount of poll tax currently outstanding for each of the seven west midlands metropolitan authorities; and if he will list the collection costs for the council tax in the last year for which figures are available in each of those authorities. [15492]

Sir Paul Beresford: Estimates of the levels of community charge arrears for individual authorities are published regularly by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. The latest information relates to the position at 31 March 1995 and is available in the revenue collection statistics 1994-95 publication in the Library. The figures for the west midlands authorities are as follows:

			£000
	Arrears of community charge at: Council tax collection costs budgeted
	31 March 1995	31 March 1994	(3)1996-97
Birmingham	19,725	--	5,604
Coventry	14,351	--	2,630
Dudley	4,752	--	1,540
Sandwell	11,155	--	3,143
Solihull	3,505	--	1,469
Walsall	(4)--	12,959	1,676
Wolverhampton	(4)--	(4)--	1,594

(3) Source: Revenue Accounts (RA) 1996-97 return.

(4) No information was published by CIPFA for Walsall for 31 March 1995 or for Wolverhampton since community charge was abolished.

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