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Local Authority Houses
28. Mr. David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many local authority houses there were (a) immediately prior to the coming into force of the right to buy legislation in 1981, (b) on 1 April 1987, (c) on 1 April 1992, (d) on 1 April 1997 and (e) on 1 April 2000. [133329]
Mr. Mullin: The right to buy came into effect on 3 October 1980. The number of properties reported by local authorities as in their ownership and available for rent on the dates specified is as follows.
| Number of properties | |
|---|---|
| 1 April 1980 | 4,763,500 |
| 1 April 1987 | 4,412,600 |
| 1 April 1992 | 3,844,400 |
| 1 April 1997 | 3,400,600 |
| 1 April 2000 | 3,012,000 |
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The change between 1 April 1980 and 1 April 2000 is not accounted for solely by the right to buy, but also by other changes such as voluntary sales and transfers to other social landlords.
Local Deprivation Index
29. Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to improve the accuracy of the local deprivation index. [133330]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The new Indices of Deprivation 2000 were published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in August. The indices, based on 33 ward level indicators of deprivation, were developed after careful research, data testing and extensive consultation with users. They provide local authorities and others with information on deprivation within their area as well as providing national Government and regional bodies with a picture of deprivation across the whole of England. I am confident that they represent the best that is possible at the current time. The indices will be kept under review and will be revised when significantly better information on deprivation for small areas becomes available.
VAT Harmonisation
30. Mr. Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with the Treasury about the revenue implications of harmonising VAT on repairs, restoration, conservation and new-build at between 5 and 8 per cent. [133331]
Mr. Mullin: Lord Rogers' Urban Taskforce recommended that we should harmonise VAT on new- build and repair and maintenance. The forthcoming Urban White Paper will outline the Government's response to Lord Rogers' recommendations, but final decisions on taxation will be for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor.
London Underground
31. Mr. Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met representatives of London Underground Ltd. to discuss transport investment in London. [133332]
Mr. Hill: I meet regularly with London Underground's senior management.
Areas of Deprivation
32. Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his Department's policy on tackling areas of deprivation. [133333]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The Government are committed to tackling deprivation through the Spending Review
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2000's specific targets. The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit will drive forward cross-departmentally the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal Action Plan due in the autumn. The new Neighbourhood Renewal Fund's £800 million will provide extra resources for the 88 most deprived authorities and Local Strategic Partnerships will ensure local people play a part.
Safer Communities
33. Mr. Gareth R. Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund providing new housing for vulnerable people. [133334]
Mr. Mullin: This fund of £137 million will finance an expansion of housing and support for young people at risk, people fleeing domestic violence, people with a history of substance misuse and ex-offenders. It is part of the Government's wider action to tackle social exclusion and build safer communities.
Affordable Housing (South Essex)
34. Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what support and assistance he plans to give to key workers seeking affordable accommodation in south Essex. [133335]
Mr. Raynsford: In April this year, in our Housing Green Paper, we sought comments on our proposals for a starter home initiative, which will help key workers in high price, high demand areas to buy their own homes, while helping their employers address their recruitment needs. We announced in July that £250 million would be available over the next three years to fund this initiative and we will be announcing further details about it later this year. In the meantime, the increased investment through local authorities and the Housing Corporation, together with our planning policies for housing, will also help to increase the supply of affordable housing where it is most needed.
Climate Change Report
35. Mr. Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's 22nd report, Energy--The Changing Climate. [133336]
Mr. Meacher: We welcome the Royal Commission's contribution to the discussion on climate change. Together with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe and other colleagues, I will be giving careful consideration to the recommendations contained in the report. We aim to respond to the report within a year of its publication.
Mobile Homes
36. Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress is being made in improving the rights of the occupants of mobile homes. [133337]
Mr. Mullin: We have consulted on, and are considering, the recommendations of the Park Homes working party. We have already published good practice
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guidance for local authorities on dealing with harassment and site licensing, and we intend to commission research into the economics of the park homes industry.
Road Safety
37. Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what recent representations he has received regarding spending on safety improvements on A roads. [133338]
Mr. Hill: My Department receives representations from time to time, including those from the hon. Member in respect of the A14.
The Secretary of State is the highway authority for the trunk road network and will be spending £47 million a year on safety schemes. These will include schemes on both motorways and all-purpose A roads.
The Highways Agency safety strategy, published in March 2000, is to target expenditure to give best value for money with a maximum reduction in accidents, having due regard for our customers. To achieve this objective, the Agency have identified target user groups and is working with other Government Departments, the police, local highway authorities and others with regard to their concerns in helping to inform the programme.
The prioritisation of expenditure is ultimately for local authorities to decide in light of priorities within their local transport plan. The recent Spending Review 2000 provided £4.5 billion over the next three years for local transport capital expenditure--a 90 per cent. increase on the previous CSR period.
South Central (Refranchising Process)
38. Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the south central refranchising process will be completed. [133340]
Mr. Hill: The Franchising Director announced on 24 October that the shadow Strategic Rail Authority had signed heads of terms with GoVia as the preferred counterparty for the new replacement South Central franchise. GoVia are expected to run the business for 20 years and over that period they are expected to implement an investment programme valued at up to £1.5 billion.
North West Development Agency
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answers of 27 July 2000, Official Report, columns 757-67W, when the valuation of North West Development Agency freehold and leasehold assets was last undertaken. [133966]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The valuation of North West Development Agency freehold and leasehold assets was last undertaken on 31 March 2000.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
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if he will place in the Library the register of interests as it applies to each development agency in the United Kingdom. [133961]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The English Regional Development Agencies' (RDAs) registers of members interests are the responsibility of the RDAs themselves and are available to the public on request. As such, the Secretary of State is not in a position to place them in the Library of the House.
The Devolved Administrations are responsible for development agencies outside England (e.g. Scottish Enterprise, Welsh Development Agency).
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the names of the (a) ad hoc and (b) permanent subcommittees and subgroups of the North West Development Agency which deal with regional issues; and what is the remit of each such committee. [133964]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The Board of the North West Development Agency (NWDA) has established a number of sub committees and sub groups as follows:
An Audit Committee is the only formal committee of the Board and was officially established in February 2000. The Audit Committee is authorised by the Board to investigate any activity within its duties and may obtain outside legal or other independent professional advice. Its remit is as follows:
- Discuss with the auditor the nature and scope of each forthcoming audit to ensure that the auditor has the fullest co-operation of staff.
Review the annual statement before submission to the Board.
Discuss problems and reservations arising from the audit and any matters that the auditor may wish to discuss.
Review the NWDA's statement of internal control systems prior to endorsement to the Board.
Make recommendations to the Board of the NWDA.
The Health Partnership
The Rural Sub Group to the Board of the North West Development Agency was established in November 1999 and has the following purposes:
- To provide advice and information to the Board on rural issues and to take full account of the rural dimension within the North West Development Agency's policies, strategies, action plans and programmes.
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To ensure as far as possible that the needs of the rural population of the North West are part of the social inclusion agenda.
To ensure as far as possible that the rural economy is integrated into the mainstream provision of business support services and that the contribution it makes to the regional economy is fully recognised.
To ensure that rural communities receive a fair share of resources both from the North West Development Agency and from other regional funds.
- To monitor and evaluate the North West Development Agency's rural policies, action plans and programmes.
To encourage partnerships to address rural issues and the problems of rural areas.
The Social and Economic Inclusion Sub Group
- To provide advice and information to the Board of the North West Development Agency on Social Inclusion.
To strengthen the capacity of the North West Development Agency and its partners across the region to deliver social inclusion and economic development and to increase access and influence by those groups hitherto excluded from decision making.
To monitor and evaluate the Agency's performance on social and economic inclusion and where appropriate offer advice on strategy and delivery.
The Urban Sub Group
- Matters arising from the publication of the forthcoming Urban White Paper.
Matters arising from the publication of the forthcoming Housing Green Paper.
The Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) Sub Group
North West Innovation and Technology Advisory Board (NWITAB)
NWITAB is a formal advisory board which was commissioned by the North West Development Agency to:
- Provide strategic advice and guidance to the NWDA Board on Innovation and Technology issues
Develop and implement the North West Innovation Strategy. (NWIS)
- To advise the NWDA Board, via the NWITAB Chair, on all matters relating to the development and implementation of the NWIS.
To develop and maintain a regional consensus view on the NWIS and its implementation.
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To endorse NWIS business plans, monitor progress and guide the NWIS Executive accordingly.
To explore the longer term changes in the Region, nationally and globally, and advise on opportunities, threats and appropriate changes to NWIS and the implementation plan (NW Foresight Group).
To co-ordinate all innovation and technology activities in the North West region.
The North West Innovation Strategy was launched on 8 September 2000.
Minutes from each sub committee and sub group meeting are submitted to the NWDA Board regularly for their approval and, when appropriate, for items of ratification. The NWDA Board regularly review the appropriateness of each of the Sub Groups as well as the administrative arrangements.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answers of 27 July 2000, Official Report, columns 757-67W, what is the name of the tenant at Lakeland Business Park, Cockermouth, whose letting commenced on 20 March. [133971]
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Ms Beverley Hughes: The name of the tenant at Lakeland Business Park, Cockermouth whose letting commenced on 20 March is North Cumbria Health Authority.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answers of 27 July 2000, Official Report, columns 757-67W, to whom the North West Development Agency is accountable on the provision of information on decisions, and estimates of efficiency gains and financial benefits that arose out of moving the location of its offices. [133962]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The North West Development Agency is accountable to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and must provide such information as the Secretary of State may require.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his answers of 27 July 2000, Official Report, columns 757-67W, if he will list those interests in relation to which members of the board of the North West Development Agency stood aside from consideration of agency business in the 12 month period used in answer. [133960]
Ms Beverley Hughes: Board Members of the North West Development Agency declared an interest and stood aside (left the Board room) from consideration of North West Development Agency Board business on 13 occasions, for the following reasons:
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| Board member | Number of occasions | Interest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maggie Chadwick | 2 | Skills Development Fund | May 1999 |
| SRB local bids | June 1999 | ||
| John Dunning | 2 | Skills Development Fund | May 1999 |
| SRB Round six bids | July 2000 | ||
| Felicity Goodey | 1 | SRB local bids | June 1999 |
| Clive Jeanes | 2 | Skills Development Fund | May 1999 |
| SRB Round six bids | July 2000 | ||
| Richard Leese | 2 | SRB local bids | June 1999 |
| SRB Round Five--Commonwealth Games bid | November 1999 | ||
| Alan Manning | 1 | Skills Development Fund | May 1999 |
| Dennis Mendoros | 2 | Skills Development Fund | May 1999 |
| SRB Round six bids | July 2000 | ||
| Judy Robinson | 1 | SRB Round six bids | July 2000 |
31 Oct 2000 : Column: 393W
Clive Jeanes also left the meeting for part of an item on the Small Business Service which was discussed at the Board meeting of the North West Development Agency in March 2000.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is the scale and nature of the financial and other support provided by the North West Development Agency in the case of (a) Workington Town Centre, (b) Maryport Endowment, (c) Dovenby Hall, (d) Hills of the North, (e) Westlake Science Park, (f) Kingmoor Park, Carlisle, (g) Lillyhall Partnership, (h) Alston Foundry, (i) Cumbria Credits, (j) Guided Steps to Lifetime Learning, (k) Regeneration of Maryport Averdale, (l) Building Bridges, (m) Cleator Regeneration, (n) Cumbria Rural Regeneration and (o) Heart of Barrow. [133959]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The North West Development Agency funded the acquisition of the St. John's Precinct and Arcade at Workington Town Centre at a cost of £4.2 million. Funding support in respect of the Maryport
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Endowment, Dovenby Hall, Hills of the North, Westlakes Science Park, Kingmoor Park, Carlisle, Lillyhall Partnership and Alston Foundry was provided by English Partnerships prior to the establishment of the North West Development Agency. Financial assistance towards Cumbria Credits, Guided Steps to Lifetime Learning, Regeneration of Maryport Averdale, Building Bridges, Cleator Regeneration, Cumbria Rural Regeneration and Heart of Barrow was provided by Government Office for the North West under the Single Regeneration Budget programme prior to the establishment of the North West Development Agency. The North West Development Agency has now been given responsibility for the continuing management of English Partnerships and Single Regeneration Budget schemes in Cumbria.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many square feet are available under the terms of the lease being negotiated by North West Development Agency for occupation at Penrith. [133969]
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Ms Beverley Hughes: The net lettable area being negotiated by the North West Development Agency for occupation at Penrith is 4,950 sq ft.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what purposes the Chief Executive of the North West Development Agency visited Copeland and Allendale in the last 12 months. [133968]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The purpose of the visit made by the Chief Executive of the NWDA to the Copeland and Allerdale areas in the last 12 months was to attend a meeting in Cockermouth with the Chief Executives of Allerdale borough council and Groundwork to discuss a feasibility study for the reclamation/redevelopment of Broughton Moor.
The Chief Executive of the NWDA also visited:
- The Cumberland Pencil Factory in Keswick to discuss potential support to help keep the company in the town;
- A site in Backbarrow, where the Agency was offering support to a potential inward investor through the Partnership Investment Programme; and
- The Chief Executive of Cumbria Tourist Board to discuss various aspects of Tourism in Cumbria.
Ms Beverley Hughes: The North West Development Agency is committed to building a managed workspace scheme at Lillyhall in 2001 as its contribution to the Lillyhall Partnership. Approximately 1,000 sq ft of the accommodation will be occupied by its Estate Management Staff. Design work has only just commenced but the cost of the building is projected to be in the region of £55 per sq ft gross (£35 per sq ft net of ERDF recovery).
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what indication he has received of the cost per square foot of office space being negotiated by North West Development Agency for occupation at Penrith. [133970]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The indicated office rent at Penrith is £12/sq ft.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations were made by the North West Development Agency to the DTI on the reductions in percentage levels of regional assistance payable in West Cumbria. [133965]
Ms Beverley Hughes: The North West Development Agency made strong representations on the case for West Cumbria, drawing on the Regional Strategy for the North West. The representations were considered by the DTI in developing a case to put to the EU Commission.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the names of the consultancies employed by the North West Development Agency over the last 12 months. [133963]
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Ms Beverley Hughes: Over the last 12 months the North West Development Agency used the following consultancy services:
- Eversheds
KPMG Management Consulting
Segal Quince Wickstead Ltd.
DTZ Pieda Consulting
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Addleshaw Booth & Co.
Asian Pacific Research Ltd.
T. Gill Consultancy
John Glester Consultancy Services
GVA Grimley
Cogent Strategies International Ltd.
Platt & Fishwick
Jill Berry
University of Salford
Dibb Lupton Alsop
Amitek UK Ltd.
Hay Management Consultants
HFT Gough & Co.
- A. Scott
J. P. Clarke
MSL Search and Selection
Strategem Ltd.
Gary Gould
King Sturge & Co.
Angle Technology Ltd.
Turner & Townsend
John Jones
George Bowness
The North West Business Leadership
Sustainability North West
Dunlop Heywood & Co. Ltd.
Carigiet Cowen
John Diggle
Wigan MBC
Cumbria Tourist Board
Roger Tym & Partners
Manchester Innovation Ltd.
Business and Market Research
Colin McGrath
STMP Marketing Solutions Ltd.
- Lambert Smith Hampton
Armstrong Watson & Co.
Povall Flood & Wilson
Gibson Thorpe Associates
Todd & Ledson
Business Interiors Group
- Plunkett Foundation
Hammond Suddards
The Change People
Baker Associates
Enterprise 2000 Solutions plc
TSK Workplace Ltd.
Harry Wilson
Craig Associates
Onesource Information Services
Moody & Stanley
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Jim Sherlock
P. S. Hill & Co.
Nimtech Malaysia
Intuition Training & Consultancy Ltd.
Pauline Soulsby
Stainforth Public Relations
B&I Artingstoll
Ashley Helme Associates Ltd.
Status (GB) Ltd.
W. M. Law & Son
Hayward Associates
Environmental Advice Centre Ltd.
Ann Fairclough Association
The Duckworth Group.
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