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China
Mr. Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions which human rights issues he raised with the Chinese Government during his recent visit to China. [135512]
Mr. Prescott: I raised with Vice Premier Wu Bangguo the concerns which exist in the United Kingdom over human rights, but welcomed the dialogue that exists between our two countries on the issue, and the fact that it was being discussed by our officials on that very day in London.
Area Cost Adjustment
Mr. Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will set out the New Earnings Survey data on which his proposed adjustment to the Area Cost Adjustment is based; and if he will provide data for earnings in the South Gloucestershire Unitary Authority area on the same basis and over the same period. [135128]
Ms Beverley Hughes [holding answer 30 October 2000]: The data used to calculate the proposed update to the Area Cost Adjustment (ACA) indicator is taken from the April 1999 New Earnings Survey (NES). We are unable to release the disaggregated data for individual authorities, as this would breach the confidentiality agreement under which the data is collected as it could reveal the identity of an individual firm or person.
Under the ACA methodology, the data for South Gloucestershire Unitary Authority contributes to the population-weighted average hourly wage calculation for
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the 'Rest of England'. The table sets out the average hourly wages for the five ACA areas using the April 1999 NES data.
| ACA area | 1999 NES £ per hour |
|---|---|
| City of London | 15.55 |
| Inner London | 12.83 |
| Outer London | 11.40 |
| South East Region | 10.89 |
| Rest of England | 9.91 |
Local Government Finance
Mr. Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will be consulting local authorities on his proposals for the Housing Revenue Account and HRA Subsidy for 2001-02; and if he will make a statement. [135940]
Mr. Raynsford: We are issuing details of our proposals for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and HRA Subsidy for 2001-02 to all local housing authorities in England today. We are asking for comments by 30 November. Copies of the consultation documents are being placed in the Library of the House.
Next year will see the introduction of resource accounting within the HRA, including the new Major Repairs Allowance (MRA). Resource accounting is part of the new, more businesslike approach to local authority housing and the delivery of better quality services. The MRA will provide resources through the HRA subsidy system, of some £1.6 billion next year, to enable all authorities to maintain the condition of their housing stock
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over the longer term. The resources are being drawn from the significantly increased provision for capital expenditure by local authorities announced as part of the Government's spending plans for 2001-02 to 2003-04 by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18 July.
Our proposals for 2001-02 also include an additional £67 million to spend on day-to-day housing maintenance; the third year in which we have proposed increases. In addition, there will be further resources next year of £15 million to help authorities introduce resource accounting, with another £6 million to help tenants get involved in managing their homes through tenant participation compacts.
We are combating years of under-investment in the fabric of our council stock. We are determined to improve the quality of council housing and the services to tenants.
Refrigerants
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to phase out refrigerants with a high global warming potential. [135775]
Mr. Meacher: A new EC Regulation (2037/2000) on the control of ozone depleting substances came into force on 1 October. Ozone depleting substances such as CFCs and HCFCs, most commonly used in refrigeration systems, also have a high global warming potential (GWP)--CFC 12 and HCFC 22 have GWPs of 8100 and 1500 respectively; for comparison the GWP of carbon dioxide is defined as 1. From 1 January 2001 there will be a ban on the use of CFCs to maintain existing refrigeration equipment. Also, the use of HCFCs as refrigerants will be banned in most new equipment from 1 January 2001.
Industry has replaced CFCs and HCFCs with a variety of alternative refrigerants--many with a low GWP. However, in some applications there are no suitable alternatives currently available other than HFC 134a, which has a high GWP (1300), but does not deplete the ozone layer. We announced in the draft Climate Change Programme how we intend to deal with the growth in use of HFCs. The policy gives industry and users a clear signal to look closely at all the alternatives and to use HFCs only where other safe, technically feasible, cost-effective and more environmentally acceptable alternatives do not exist. The final Programme is to be published shortly.
Population Estimates
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimates of the population in 2016 in each English region and London have been used in devising the projected level of household formations proposed for the current round of draft regional planning guidance. [135738]
Ms Beverley Hughes: Draft reviews of regional planning guidance (RPG) submitted to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State since July 1999 have taken account of the Office for National Statistics 1996-based sub-national population projections. The projected
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population for each English region and London in 2016 are as shown. They have informed the Department's 1996-based household projections. However, household projections are only one of the factors to be taken into account in preparing the housing strategy in RPG (see Chapter 5 of PPG11 published on 17 October 2000).
| Population | |
|---|---|
| North East | 2,521.4 |
| North West and Merseyside | 6,812.6 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 5,164.7 |
| East Midlands | 4,455.4 |
| West Midlands | 5,391.4 |
| East of England | 5,823.2 |
| London | 7,608.5 |
| South East | 8,721.9 |
| South West | 5,332.8 |
| England | 51,831.9 |
Source:
ONS 1996-based Sub-national population projections
Railway Station Refurbishment
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has held with Railtrack plc regarding railway station refurbishment in West Sussex. [133243]
Wembley Task Force
Mr. Faber: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions since April 2000 the Wembley Task Force has met; and if he will list those present at each meeting. [134835]
Ms Beverley Hughes [pursuant to her reply, 30 October 2000, c.298-99W]: The list shows the people who attended the meeting on 25 October 2000.
- Chairman Sir Nigel Mobbs
Deputy Chairman Councillor Paul Daisley (LBB)
Acting Chief Executive--Tony Winterbottom (LDA)
Mike Appleton (EP)
John Duffy (GLA)
Mariana Spater (WPP)
Observers:
Niall Mackenzie (DCMS)
Ian O'Neill (DCMS)
Geoff Raw (LBB)
Guy Thornett (LDA)
Kieran McStravick (LDA).
- Derek Casey (Sport England)
Ian Fytche (Sport England)
Jonathan Branson (Sport England)
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TREASURY
Pensions Mis-selling
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total administrative cost to date of the Pensions Mis-selling Review. [134265]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The estimates of administrative costs, first provided by the FSA to the Treasury Select Committee in early 1998, are £500 million for phase 1 of the review and £520 to £750 million for phase 2.
Mr. Love: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the sources were of the funds used by the largest six companies who mis-sold personal pensions to reinstate their pensions; and if he will make a statement. [135659]
Miss Melanie Johnson: The Government's policy follows that outlined in the reply by the then Economic Secretary to my hon. Friend the Member for Halton (Mr. Twigg) on 24 July 1998, Official Report, columns 750-51W.
The Government view is that, in principle, the costs of compensating victims of pensions mis-selling should be shared and borne in the same proportion as profits arising from mis-selling would have been.
NIRS2
Mr. Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will make a statement on the progress which has been made in resolving the problems arising from the implementation of the NIRS2 computer system. [134511]
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if full functionality of the NIRS2 computer system has been achieved. [134646]
Dawn Primarolo: Following the well documented problems experienced with NIRS2 when it was first introduced, considerable progress has since been made and the Inland Revenue now regards the system as stable. Since April 1999, when the Inland Revenue took responsibility for the system, it has worked with the suppliers to ensure that full functionality is in place.
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