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Private Security Personnel

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what special circumstances private security operatives would have the powers of a constable listed in paragraph 3.159 of "Criminal Justice: The Way Ahead" (Cm 5074); and if he will make a statement. [158]

Mr. Denham [holding answer 25 June 2001]: Private security personnel, working alongside the police in providing greater public reassurance, will:

"not generally have the power of the constable" ("Criminal Justice: The Way Ahead" (Cm 5074) para. 3.159). Statutory provisions relating to harbours, docks and public parks allow supervisory staff to be sworn as constables, but there are no plans to give private security personnel the powers of constables.

Home Detention Curfew Scheme

Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, indicating the crimes committed and length of sentence received and served, the prisoners released on the home detention curfew scheme before they had served the requisite period; and if he will make a statement. [218]

Beverley Hughes [holding answer 25 June 2001]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given by the former Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng) to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 2 May 2000, Official Report, column 74W, and to the hon. Member on 8 May 2000, Official Report, column 312-13W.

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND

THE REGIONS

Aircraft Noise

Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his timetable is for taking forward policy in the light of the consultation paper "On control of aircraft noise from civil aircraft". [2]

Mr. Jamieson: My Department received some 590 responses to this detailed consultation. We shall announce our conclusions and bring forward legislation in due course.

Homelessness

Mr. Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action is being taken to reduce the levels of street homelessness in major cities. [341]

Ms Keeble: The Prime Minister set the tough target of reducing the number of people sleeping rough in England to as near to zero as possible and by at least two thirds by 2002.

In 1998, there were approximately 1,850 people rough sleeping in England. In June 2000, published figures indicated that approximately 1,180 people were sleeping rough, (546 in London and 634 outside of London). This

27 Jun 2001 : Column: 102W

represents a 36 per cent. reduction. The unit will publish updated figures in due course in relation to counts carried out this year.

"Coming in from the Cold", the Government's strategy on tackling rough sleeping, outlined a raft of new policies and services to deliver the target which are now all in place in all major cities.

These include helping people sleeping rough on the streets with drug, alcohol and mental health problems; helping former rough sleepers rebuild their lives through education, training and employment; and preventing a new generation of rough sleepers particularly those leaving care, the armed forces and prison.

Haulage Industry

Mr. Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the road haulage industry. [418]

Mr. Jamieson: The Government are committed to working with the road haulage industry to deliver a sustainable distribution system. The 2001 Budget announced a programme of measures, discussed in the Road Haulage Forum and supported by the key partners, to help the industry modernise and improve its environmental performance. We are now working with all parties to implement these. The next meeting of the forum, to be chaired by the Minister for Transport, will take place on 5 July.

Planning Gain

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has to improve regulations governing section 106 planning gain. [350]

Ms Keeble: We intend to introduce shortly amendments to the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 to require all section 106 agreements related to planning applications to be shown on Part II of the planning register.

We are committed to reviewing the system for agreeing planning obligations and we propose to issue a consultation document later this year.

Climate Change

Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to alter planning policy guidance to promote renewable energy as part of the UK's climate change strategy. [807]

Ms Keeble: It is already our policy to promote a positive approach to planning for renewable energy as part of the UK's climate change strategy. Last year we initiated the preparation of regional assessments and targets for renewable energy provision to encourage a more strategic approach to planning at regional and local levels.

We intend to review the existing planning policy guidance note on renewable energy (PPG 22) as soon as practicable.

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Rural Services

Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have to increase the scope of business rate relief for rural services. [836]

Dr. Whitehead: The Rating (Former Agricultural Premises and Rural Shops) Act 2001 will introduce a new scheme of rate relief for new, small-scale farm diversification enterprises. It will also extend the mandatory element of the village shop rate relief scheme to all food shops with rateable value of no more than £9,000 in a designated rural settlement with population up to 3,000. We intend to commence the provisions of the Act in the near future. At the same time, we will increase the flat rate discount for premises used for the breeding and rearing of horses and ponies to £3,000 rateable value.

Since 5 April 2001, mandatory relief under the village shop rate relief scheme has been available to the sole pub or petrol station with rateable value of no more than £9,000 in a designated rural settlement with population up to 3,000. Earlier this year we consulted on a proposal to extend the agricultural rating exemption to ensure it included share and contract farming and machinery rings. We are currently considering this in the light responses received. The extension would require primary legislation.

Local Government

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local government and the Regions what progress has been made by the taskforce on local government procurement announced in July 2000. [1457]

Mr. Raynsford: In July last year the Government announced the establishment of a joint DETR/Local Government Association taskforce to review procurement in local government in the light of the requirements of best value. This Government have given a clear commitment to improving public services and procurement lies at the heart of better services for local people.

The taskforce has completed its work and its report, "Delivering Better Services for Citizens", is being published today. Copies of the report have been placed in the House Libraries

I am grateful for the thorough manner in which Sir Ian Byatt, the chairman, and the members of the taskforce have conducted this review. The report provides a challenging analysis of current procurement practice and makes a number of recommendations for change. It is an important contribution to the debate on the modernisation of local government and the provision of high quality services to local people.

The DTLR and the LGA have agreed to consult jointly on the report. I intend to provide a detailed response to its findings in the autumn, together with an action plan for implementation.

Ordnance Survey Executive Agency

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local government and the Regions what agency performance targets have been set for the Ordnance Survey Executive Agency for the financial year 2001-02. [1104]

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Ms Keeble: The following performance targets have been set for Ordnance Survey in 2001-02:

1. To achieve a revenue target of £85.6 million (excluding the National Interest Mapping Service Agreement).

2. To achieve an efficiency gain of 6 per cent. over the period April 2000 to March 2004. The target for 2001-02 is 3 per cent. against the baseline of 1999-2000.

3. 93 per cent. of small scale products ordered are despatched with two working days of receipt of order: 98 per cent. are despatched within 10 working days.

4. To increase the number of users of Ordnance Survey websites by 50 per cent.

5. 99.5 per cent. of significant real world features are represented in the database within six months of completion.

6. To reduce the carbon emissions from the Ordnance Survey Headquarters building by at least 1 per cent. year on year.

These targets reflect Ordnance Survey's continuing commitment to customers and to improved value for many of its stakeholders.

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