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MPG6
Mr. Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to revise Minerals Planning Guidance Note 6, Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England; and if he will make a statement. [95453]
Ms Beverley Hughes: Review of the Guidelines for Aggregates Provision in England has commenced and it is expected that a paper on the main issues will be published for public consultation early in the New Year. Following consideration of the responses, a revised draft of the guidance will be published for consultation later in 2000.
Housing (Voluntary Transfers)
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many housing units are currently the subject of proposals for large-scale voluntary transfers. [95914]
Mr. Mullin: Seventeen local authorities on the 1999-2000 Housing Transfer Programme are proposing, subject to the approval of tenants, to transfer 112,432 housing units in this financial year. Details are set out in the table.
| Local authority | Number of units |
|---|---|
| Boston BC | 5,015 |
| Burnley BC | 5,354 |
| Coventry CC | 20,479 |
| Elmbridge DC | 5,022 |
| Huntingdonshire DC | 7,134 |
| Manchester CC | 3,336 |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme DC | 10,042 |
| North Devon DC | 3,399 |
| Restormel BC | 3,781 |
| LB Richmond | 8,780 |
| Tameside MBC | 16,959 |
| Test Valley DC | 5,789 |
| Tynedale DC | 3,731 |
| Weymouth and Portland DC | 3,526 |
| Wyre Forest DC | 6,440 |
| LB Hackney | 2,394 |
| LB Tower Hamlets | 1,251 |
| Total | 112,432 |
27 Oct 1999 : Column: 873
Mr. Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many housing units were the subject of large-scale voluntary transfers in each of the last three years. [95912]
Mr. Mullin: The Housing Transfer Programme currently runs from 1 April each year until 31 March the following year. In 1996-97, 22,248 housing units were transferred. In 1997-98, 32,982 units were transferred, and 73,900 units transferred in 1998-99. Details are set out in the table:
| Local authority | Number of units |
|---|---|
| 1996-97 | |
| Stratford District Council | 6,003 |
| West Wilts DC | 1,769 |
| Cotswold DC | 4,282 |
| South Staffs DC | 5,273 |
| Lichfield DC | 4,921 |
| Total | 22,248 |
| 1997-98 | |
| South Oxfordshire DC | 5,018 |
| Eden DC | 1,510 |
| LB Lambeth(1) | 515 |
| LB Bexley | 8,215 |
| Congleton DC | 4,061 |
| Oldham DC(1) | 642 |
| Liverpool CC(1) | 493 |
| LB Merton(1) | 1,018 |
| LB Tower Hamlets(1) | 1,852 |
| Kerrier DC | 3,732 |
| LB Hackney(1) | 951 |
| LB Brent(1) | 1,481 |
| Basildon DC(1) | 708 |
| West Somerset DC | 1,869 |
| Stoke-on-Trent(1) | 917 |
| Total | 32,982 |
| 1998-99 | |
| Tewkesbury DC | 3,066 |
| Rother DC | 3,058 |
| LB Lambeth(1) | 681 |
| LB Tower Hamlets(1) | 2,431 |
| Wirral DC(1) | 1,082 |
| Tameside MBC(1) | 901 |
| West Devon BC | 1,446 |
| South Somerset DC | 8,883 |
| East Lindsey DC | 5,102 |
| Liverpool CC(1) | 646 |
| Manchester CC | 1,030 |
| LB Hackney(1) | 1,084 |
| South Hams DC | 3,096 |
| LB Hammersmith and Fulham(1) | 668 |
| LB Hackney(1) | 1,000 |
| Telford and Wrekin DC | 13,081 |
| LB Enfield | 1,194 |
| Worthing DC | 2,525 |
| Bath and North East Somerset | 9,887 |
| Manchester CC(1) | 6,667 |
| LB Greenwich(1) | 1,280 |
| LB Hackney(1) | 661 |
| Allerdale DC | 3,704 |
| Allerdale DC(1) | 727 |
| Total | 73,900 |
(1) Denotes a transfer facilitated with grant from the Estates Renewal Challenge Fund.
27 Oct 1999 : Column: 874
Thames Transport
Mr. Fearn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what action he is taking to ensure that London River Services and the Port of London Authority honour the contracts which they entered into with Thames riverboat operators under the Partners in Progress scheme; [95481]
(2) what powers he has to enforce sanctions against London River Services and the Port of London Authority should they fail to honour the contracts which they entered into with Thames riverboat operators under the Partners in Progress scheme. [95480]
Mr. Hill: As part of the Government's Thames 2000 initiative to revitalise passenger transport on the Thames, London River Services (LRS) took over key central London piers from the Port of London Authority (PLA) on 1 April this year. LRS has been in discussion with Thames riverboat operators about the arrangements to transfer the licence agreements reached with the PLA to LRS.
LRS hope to be able to reach agreements with all the Thames riverboat operators on the transfer of licences. Indeed, the majority of operators have now signed new LRS licences. However, I am aware that some operators are still in negotiation with LRS about contractual arrangements, and I understand that the possibility of legal proceedings has been raised. In view of this it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.
Railtrack
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the current status of the proposal to give Railtrack plc infrastructural control of the sub-surface lines of London Underground; and when he expects an agreement to be made. [95992]
Mr. Hill: Railtrack and London Underground are continuing to work together to explore the options for linking the sub-surface Underground lines with the national rail network in a Public Private Partnership.
Subject to the outcome of the discussions currently underway, Railtrack would submit a priced bid for the sub-surface railway PPP contract and the integration schemes next year. As with the two deep tube PPPs, no bid will be entertained that does not contribute significantly to Tube safety.
London Underground
Mr. Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what powers the Mayor for London will have to alter the terms of the proposed public-private partnership for London Underground Ltd. [95998]
Mr. Hill:
The Mayor and Transport for London will take over PPP contracts designed to secure the efficient maintenance and improvement of the Tube network. These will be contractually binding, but they will have built into them flexibility for the Mayor to make adjustments over time, to deliver changing performance requirements. The Mayor, through Transport for London, will have the necessary controls to ensure that the Tube plays its full part in a properly integrated strategy for
27 Oct 1999 : Column: 875
transport in London. Fares, ticketing, service levels and the operation of stations and trains will be the responsibility of the Mayor.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies he has undertaken into the operation of public/private partnerships in other countries similar to that proposed for London Underground Ltd. [95997]
Mr. Hill:
Public private partnership is an area in which the UK is leading the way. The London Underground PPP is a bespoke arrangement to cater expressly for the needs of our Underground.
Mr. Woodward:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many extra District Line trains were run each day during the closure of the Circle Line service. [95994]
Mr. Hill:
This is an operational matter for London Underground. However, I understand that two extra District Line trains ran each peak period during the closure of the Circle Line service. Demand in out-of-peak hours did not require the additional services.
Child Maintenance
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of absent parents who are liable to pay child maintenance following an assessment by the Child Support Agency but who do not do so; and if he will estimate the number of these who are currently in receipt of (a) income support/jobseekers allowance or (b) a disability benefit. [94697]
Angela Eagle: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Mike Isaac to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 26 October 1999:
27 Oct 1999 : Column: 876
I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the number of non-resident parents (NRPs) who do not pay child maintenance following an assessment by the Child Support Agency. You also asked how many of these non-resident parents are in receipt of Income Support(IS)/Job Seekers Allowance Income Based (JSAIB) or a Disability Benefit.
The most recent figures available show that at the end of May 1999 there were 863,960 NRPs with a full maintenance assessment and that 98,620 (11.4%) were known to be paying nothing at all. Included in this latter figure are 1,520 individuals on an Incapacity/Disability Benefit. As recipients of IS/JSAIB have nil maintenance liability, they will not therefore be included in the category of payers or non-payers. A contribution to maintenance may however be payable and may be deducted at source by the Benefits Agency.
When an NRP refuses to cooperate with the Agency in calculating a maintenance assessment we may impose a punitive Interim Maintenance Assessment (IMA). This may be for a much higher amount than would otherwise be due and is intended to encourage the NRP to provide the information needed. At the end of May there were 78,340 IMAs in force with 45,560 NRPs not making any payment. The very lack of information that led to the IMA prevents us knowing the precise number in receipt of Incapacity/Disability Benefit though we are aware of 240 such cases.
The Department's Analytical Services Division produces a CSA Quarterly Summary of Statistics that is available in the House of Commons Library and you may find the information it contains of further interest.
I am very keen to improve compliance levels and to this end CSA has entered into partnership with Deloitte Touche. Working together, we will develop a strategy to increase the number of maintenance payments made on time and reduce the build up of arrears. The Agency will introduce effective compliance and enforcement procedures that will get rid of the 'soft touch' image it has acquired with some people. Furthermore, appropriate earlier contact with NRPs, by telephone, letter or face to face will encourage natural compliance. These measures will generate improvements in the short term and contribute to a sound base for achieving maximum benefit from the Child Support Reforms.
I hope this is helpful.
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