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Housing

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what percentage of (a) local authority and (b) registered social landlord rents in Hammersmith and Fulham he estimates will be in excess of £100 per week in (i) 2002, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 2010. [2987]

Ms Keeble: Estimates will be available only when the landlords have completed their rent plans, which are due by April 2002. However, later this summer the results will be available from the case study research into the practical issues arising from the rent reforms in west London. These will include initial estimates of the effects of the reforms on the rents of properties owned by London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and Notting Hill Housing Trust.

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what consultation his Department has carried out to date over his policy on rent restructuring with (a) local authority tenants, (b) registered social landlord tenants, (c) local authorities and (d) registered social landlords; [3002]

(2) what plans his Department has to consult the representatives of local authority and registered social landlord tenants over his plans for rent restructuring; and if he will make a statement. [3000]

Ms Keeble: My Department's approach to bring a fairer and more coherent structure to social rents is set out in the December 2000 policy statement "Quality and Choice: A decent home for all—the way forward for housing". This drew on response to the April 2000 Green Paper "Quality and Choice: a decent home for all" which almost universally agreed on the need to bring more coherence into the structure of social rents. The Green Paper was sent to all local authorities, registered social landlords and national tenant groups.

We are now in the implementation stage. The Housing Corporation is considering the results to its March 2000 consultation paper on its proposals for implementing the rent restructuring framework among registered social landlords and will shortly be publishing interim guidance. It plans to issue final guidance in the autumn.

In the local authority sector, a consultation paper is being published on changes to the housing revenue account subsidy system to support rent restructuring.

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his Department's most recent estimate is of the average increase of housing association tenants' rents in the next 10 years in real terms (a) in total and (b) in Hammersmith and Fulham. [3003]

Ms Keeble: The December 2000 policy statement "Quality and Choice: A decent home for all—the way forward for housing" stated that from 2002–03 the rents of registered social landlords (RSLs) should, on average, rise by 0.5 per cent. above inflation (RPI + 0.5 per cent.) per annum. Over a 10-year period this will result in average RSL rents rising by around 6 per cent. in real terms. Estimates for housing association tenants' rents in the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham will only be available once their landlords have completed their rent plans. However, later this summer the results

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will be available from the case study research into the practical issues arising from the rent reforms in west London.

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discretion in percentage terms his Department intends to give to local authorities in respect of the overall level of rents. [2986]

Ms Keeble: Local authorities will continue to be free to set rents at whatever level they consider appropriate. However the approach to social rent reforms set out in the December 2000 policy statement "Quality and Choice: A decent home for all—the way forward for housing" encourages social landlords to set rents on individual properties which are normally within a band of up to 5 per cent. higher or lower those indicated by the new rents formula.

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when his Department expects to publish the consultation document on restructuring the housing revenue account subsidy system; and if he will make a statement. [3067]

Ms Keeble: We published this consultation paper on 13 July. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House. The closing date for comments on our proposals is 8 October.

We have announced a policy for achieving fair and affordable rents in the social rented sector. As part of this we have set out a common basis on which all rents in the social sector should be set and announced a 10-year transitional period in which the changes should as far as possible be made.

The housing revenue account (HRA) subsidy system needs to be changed so that it supports rent restructuring. At the same time the opportunity can be taken to relieve stresses in the system that have become apparent as a result of the way in which rent rebate subsidy limitation was introduced in 1996–97.

Trans-Pennine Rail Franchise

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to make a decision on the Trans-Pennine rail franchise; and if the franchise will be determined on the basis of the guidelines to be issued on 16 July. [3014]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 10 July 2001]: A decision on whether to make a direction under section 26 of the Railways Act 1993—that would allow the Strategic Rail Authority to proceed to the next stage of the franchising process for its proposed Trans-Pennine franchise—will be made in due course.

We will make clear the scope and application of the franchising policy statement when it is published, shortly. It will not apply to replacement franchises for which the SRA has already invited best and final offers. This consultative statement will complement our draft directions and guidance to the authority and will also set out the Secretary of State's policy with regard to his powers under section 26.

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Air Traffic Control

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his latest estimate is of the income to be generated by the sale of a 46 per cent. stake in NATS to the Airline Consortium. [3693]

Mr. Jamieson: Completion of this Public Private Partnership is subject to the satisfaction of a number of conditions. In finalising these, the Government will ensure that the deal continues to deliver real value to the Government and to taxpayers.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on his progress in appointing Government nominees as directors of the company formed to provide air traffic control services following the sale of NATS to the Airline Consortium. [3694]

Mr. Jamieson: I hope to be able to make an announcement about the Government directors shortly.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the sale of National Air Traffic Services to the Airline Consortium will be completed. [3695]

Mr. Jamieson: Completion of the Public Private Partnership for National Air Traffic Services is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. We are working with the Airline Group to ensure that these conditions are satisfied at the earliest opportunity.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the opening date for the air traffic control centre at Swanwick, Hampshire. [3692]

Mr. Jamieson: NATS have advised the Government that the new En Route Air Traffic Control Centre (NERC) at Swanwick is still on course to come into operation on 27 January 2002.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guarantees have been sought by the Airline Consortium purchasing National Air Traffic Services with regard to the opening of the new air traffic control centre at Swanwick, Hampshire. [3697]

Mr. Jamieson: No guarantees have been given to the Airline Group in connection with the Swanwick centre. However, the Airline Group will be under a contractual obligation to complete and operate the new centre.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Mr. Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the timetable for the introduction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. [3554]

Mr. Jamieson: I am pleased to report that CTRL Section 1 (Channel Tunnel to Fawkham Junction in north Kent) is on schedule and on budget for completion

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in October 2003. Construction of CTRL Section 2 (Southfleet to St. Pancras) started on 2 July 2001, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2006.

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