| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
OCCAR Projects
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the in-service date slippage in the production of the COBRA project to date has been due to problems in partner countries; what measures he is undertaking to prevent similar problems in other OCCAR projects; and if he will make a statement. [17914]
Mr. Spellar: The slippage against the original in service date for the Counter Battery Radar (COBRA) system is 108 months. The principal reasons for the slippage are explained in the National Audit Office Major Project Report 1996 (HC238, session 1997-98, 15 August 1997). As the report notes:
- (a) The timetable was first estimated when the Project Definition phase approved in 1986. The in-service date was reassessed at the end of that phase as a result of a better understanding of the programme and the work involved. This gave rise to a 23 month slippage from the original estimate.
(b) There were protracted negotiations between the three Governments, UK, France and Germany, and industry before the placement of the Development contract in 1990, which resulted in a further slippage of 36 months.
(c) The original in-service date was based on the assumption that there would be a seamless transition from development to production. This could not be achieved because a reduction in the number of Radars required by Germany invalidated the maximum price production option and led to the need for further development work, the Cost Reduction Programme, to reduce production costs. This programme resulted in a further slippage of 42 months.
There are currently no UK collaborative projects being managed by Organisme Conjoint de Cooperation en matiere d'Armament (OCCAR), although we hope progressively to integrate projects, including COBRA, into the organisation. It is a primary aim of OCCAR to improve on past performance in the management of collaborative programmes. We will actively press for the adoption of best practice procurement techniques as part of our contribution to the development of OCCAR's procedures.
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Housing (Staffordshire)
Mr. Jenkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how much the Government spent in each of the last 10 years on (a) new social housing stock and (b) maintenance of social housing stock in (i) Staffordshire, (ii) the West Midlands and (iii) England. [16871]
1 Dec 1997 : Column: 29
Mr. Raynsford
[holding answer 20 November 1997]: The available information on allocation or outturns for expenditure on social housing stock made by the government since 1988-89 is set out below. A revised local authority capital finance regime and housing revenue subsidy system was introduced from April 1990, and thus
1 Dec 1997 : Column: 30
prior years' figures are not directly comparable. Some of the resources allocated through the Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund and City Challenge are used for investment in social housing but this element is not separately identified in the allocations made, and they are therefore not included below.
1 Dec 1997 : Column: 29
| 1988-89 | 1989-90 | 1990-91 | 1991-92 | 1992-93 | 1993-94 | 1994-95 | 1995-96 | 1996-97 | (2)1997-98 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | ||||||||||
| Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme (ADP) Net outturns | 652 | 810 | 1,154 | 1,639 | 2,306 | 1,795 | 1,487 | 1,153 | 1,031 | 676 |
| Housing Annual Capital Guidelines (ACG)/Basic Block allocations | 1,119 | 874 | 1,396 | 1,343 | 1,290 | 1,378 | 1,038 | 994 | 943 | 628 |
| Estate Action outturns | 140 | 190 | 180 | 268 | 348 | 357 | 373 | 316 | 252 | 170 |
| Cash Incentive Scheme allocations(3) | -- | -- | -- | -- | 30 | -- | 30 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Estates Renewal Challenge Fund allocations | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 30 | 118 |
| Other local authority allocations(4) | 52 | 20 | 121 | 187 | 80 | 45 | 39 | 30 | 30 | -- |
| Management and maintenance (M and M) allowances for LA stock | 1,897 | 2,007 | 2,955 | 3,070 | 3,206 | 3,266 | 3,298 | 3,332 | 3,375 | 3,307 |
| Housing Action Trusts outturns | -- | -- | -- | 10 | 27 | 78 | 92 | 93 | 90 | 89 |
| West Midlands Region | ||||||||||
| Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme (ADP) Gross outturns | n/a | n/a | 100 | 112 | 154 | 162 | 134 | 100 | 88 | 57 |
| Housing Annual Capital Guidelines (ACG)/Basic Block allocations | 118 | 92 | 122 | 120 | 120 | 130 | 101 | 102 | 100 | 69 |
| Estate Action outturns | n/a | n/a | 25 | 35 | 41 | 47 | 49 | 41 | 25 | 5 |
| Cash Incentives Scheme allocations(3) | -- | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Estates Renewal Challenge Fund allocations | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 7 | 25 |
| Other local authority allocations(4) | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | -- |
| Management and maintenance (M and M) allowances for LA stock | 192 | 205 | 328 | 342 | 359 | 363 | 361 | 366 | 375 | 359 |
| Housing Action Trusts outturns | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 18 |
| Staffordshire | ||||||||||
| Housing Corporation Approved Development Programme (ADP) Gross outturns | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | 23 | 21 | 19 | 13 | 14 | n/a |
| Housing Annual Capital Guidelines (ACG)/Basic Block allocations | 17 | 13 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 10 |
| Estate Action outturns(5) | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | -- |
| Cash Incentive Scheme allocations(3) | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Estates Renewal Challenge Fund allocations | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 2 | 5 |
| Other local authority allocations(4) | 1 | 1 | -- | -- | -- | 1 | -- | 1 | 1 | -- |
| Management and maintenance (M and M) allowances for LA stock | 24 | 25 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 54 | 56 | 48 |
| Housing Action Trusts outturns | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
(2) All outturns for 1997-98 are latest estimates.
(3) Resources were provided for cash incentives schemes in 1990-91 and 1991-92, but within a package of measures directed at homelessness which are included in the 'other local authority' row.
(4) Covers special programmes for homelessness, rural housing, energy efficiency, New Town defective dwellings, Flats over Shops, the Housing Partnership Fund and the Private Sector Initiatives.
(5) Estate Action figures for Staffordshire 1988-89 to 1992-93 inclusive are allocations.
1 Dec 1997 : Column: 29
Housing
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the Barclays Bank report concerning shortages of homes to buy. [17161]
Mr. Raynsford:
Barclays Bank is one of a number of organisations reporting that there are currently more prospective buyers than there are homes for sale. Part of the reason is that confidence in the housing market has returned. Increasing numbers of first time buyers and people in rented accommodation are looking to buy but will have no home to sell. This imbalance is likely to level off as the market adjusts. The Government's planning policy guidance (PPG3: Housing) advises local planning authorities to ensure the availability of a continuous five year supply of housing land to cater for on-going housing requirements.
1 Dec 1997 : Column: 30
Mrs. Ballard:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the activities of Lowell Park Mortgages. [17529]
Mr. Raynsford:
My Department can find no trace of any representations relating specifically to this company.
Mr. Mackinlay:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 3 July 1997, Official Report, column 255, if he will now instruct the Highways Agency to send a substantive reply to Mr. Chris Fisher of FLAME consequent on the publication of the accelerated review. [17346]
1 Dec 1997 : Column: 31
Ms Glenda Jackson:
In my previous answer to my hon. Friend on 3 July 1997, Official Report, column 255, I said that the Highways Agency would reply once the outcome of the accelerated review was announced. In the event, the decision was to carry out a further review of the M25 widening scheme, that work is continuing and I would not wish to prejudice the outcome. The Highways Agency will give a substantive response to FLAME once that review has been completed. In the meantime FLAME's letter did raise some factual questions and I have asked the Highways Agency to respond to these issues directly to FLAME. A copy of the letter will be placed in the House Library.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |