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London Underground
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what records are kept of temperatures in carriages on London Underground trains. [6025]
Mr. Jamieson: This is an operational matter for London Underground, who inform me that they do not routinely record temperatures in trains and stations. In all instances of customers taken ill on trains and stations, where heat may be a contributing factor, this will be recorded as such.
Section 28
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to repeal Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988. [7641]
Mr. Raynsford: The Government are committed to the repeal of Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988. We shall do so as soon as parliamentary time is available.
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Planning
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the implications of the Human Rights Act 1998 for planning appeals and, in particular, for third-party objectors to planning applications. [7506]
Ms Keeble: We assessed the implications of the Human Rights Act (HRA) for planning legislation and procedures before the Act came into force. We do not consider that there is any need on HRA grounds for changes to the appeals system generally or specifically in relation to third party objectors.
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what powers local authority planning officers have to require those proposing to convert existing buildings into flats to provide new shop fronts, pay for repairs to pavements and make a contribution towards local educational provision; and what powers local authority planning officers have to fix rents in respect of the new flats. [7675]
Ms Keeble: Under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as substituted by the Planning and Compensation Act 1991, a planning obligation may be agreed between a Local Planning Authority and a developer. A planning obligation may require or restrict specified activities to be carried out and may require payments to be made to the authority either in a single sum or periodically. Such obligations could therefore cover provision of new shop fronts; payment for repairs to pavements; contributions towards local education provisions; and the fixing of rents, if this amounted to a restriction on the use of land. However, planning obligations should only be sought where they are necessary to make a proposal acceptable in land-use planning terms. In addition, they must be: relevant to planning; directly related to the proposed development; fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the proposed development; and reasonable in all other respects.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many planning applications have been refused by local authorities and the planning inspectorate on the basis of human rights violations as set out in the Human Rights Act 1998, section 6(1) and in the Maastricht treaty, article 130r2; what action he will take against local authorities that refuse planning applications on such grounds; and if he will make a statement. [7990]
Ms Keeble: The information requested is not available. Planning applications and appeals are decided taking into account all of the relevant planning issues—one of which may in some cases be human rights. The introduction of the Human Rights Act means that all public authorities, including central Government and local authorities, must act compatibly with convention rights. It is ultimately for the courts to decide whether an individual's human rights have been unfairly interfered with in a particular case.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many planning applications in Hampshire have been called in by him on grounds relating to the proposed housing densities in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000, indicating the specific reasons in each case. [6019]
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Ms Keeble: No planning applications were called in 1998 or 1999 in Hampshire on grounds relating to housing densities. In year 2000, two planning applications in Hampshire relating to the provision of housing were called in for the Secretary of State's decision. In both cases the Secretary of State indicated that he wished to be informed, among other things, about the relationship of the proposed development to Government policy in Planning Policy Guidance Note PPG3, in particular in respect of the proposed density of the development, the advice in the PPG on a sequential approach to brownfield/greenfield sites, car parking provision and the provision of affordable housing.
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what average time was taken by the Secretary of State to decide upon a planning appeal against a decision made by Fareham borough council once an inspector had submitted his report to him in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000; [6271]
- (2) what average time was taken for an inspector to report to the Secretary of State on an appeal against a planning decision made by Fareham borough council in (a) 1998, (b) 1999 and (c) 2000. [6268]
Ms Keeble: In 1998 two planning appeals arising in Fareham borough council area were recovered for decision by the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. The average time taken for the Inspector to report to the Secretary of State was 78 days. The average time taken by the Secretary of State to decide the appeals once the Inspector had submitted his report was 46 days.
No recovered planning appeals in Fareham were decided by the Secretary of State in 1999 or 2000.
Train Franchises
Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the refranchising of South West Trains to Stagecoach was agreed by the SRA; and when it is planned to sign the franchise agreement. [7994]
Mr. Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority signed Head of Terms with Stagecoach as the preferred counterparty for the replacement South West Trains franchise on 30 March 2001. The parties are working towards signature of a franchise agreement and an announcement will be made in due course.
Night Flights
Mr. Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what plans he has to assess the environmental disbenefits of night flights; [8022]
- (2) what plans he has to assess the contribution that night flights make to the (a) national and (b) London economy; [8021]
(3) what plans he has to implement the decision of the European Court of Human Rights on night flights; and if he will make a statement. [8020]
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Mr. Trend: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the Government will issue their response to the ruling of the European Court on Human Rights on the future of night flights at Heathrow Airport; and if he will make a statement. [7535]
Mr. Jamieson: We will study the judgment carefully before deciding what action may be necessary. The judgment cannot become final for at least three months. There will be no immediate changes to the present situation.
The Government are already in the process of commissioning a major study to reassess attitudes to aircraft noise, which will include further research into subjective responses to annoyance by night and by day. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Ainsworth) on 8 May 2001, Official Report, column 41W, to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Andy King). It would be premature to initiate further studies into any other aspects of night flights while we are considering the implications of this judgment.
Housing Stock
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the average expenditure on capital improvements of (a) council and (b) registered social landlords in each year since 1997 is; and what plans he has to change the rule on capital investments in local authority housing. [7626]
Ms Keeble: The average expenditure on capital improvements by council landlords in each year since 1997 are 1997–98: £446 (22 per cent. of dwellings received work), 1998–99: £490 (23 per cent. of dwellings received work), 1999–2000: £479 (23 per cent. of dwellings received work). 2000–01 is £627 (this is a provisional figure based on authorities planned expenditure). Corresponding data are not collected centrally from Registered Social Landlords. We announced our intention to end direct control of local authority borrowing as part of a wider move to reform the local authority capital finance system. Details on the operation of the revised arrangements will be included in a White Paper, due to be published in the next few months.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what his estimate is of the cost of holding housing stock transfer ballots per dwelling affected by local authority district that have conducted ballots in the last five years. [7063]
Ms Keeble: We do not hold this information.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list for each of the past five years the total housing stock for English local authorities held by (a) local councils, (b) registered social landlords and (c) housing companies. [7064]
Ms Keeble: The estimated total of the housing stock of local authorities and registered social landlords in England are given in the table.
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| As at 1 April | Local authority | Registered social landlords |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 3,470 | 942 |
| 1997 | 3,401 | 989 |
| 1998 | 3,309 | 1,049 |
| 1999 | 3,178 | 1,162 |
| 2000 | 3,012 | 1,278 |
The number of dwellings held by housing companies is much smaller and is not distinguished from the numbers given.
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what information he has collated on the number of (a) families in bed and breakfast, (b) families in other temporary accommodation and (c) total waiting lists for each London borough. [7627]
Ms Keeble: My Department seeks information about local authorities' activities under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1996 on the quarterly P1 (E) housing returns. Data, which relate to households
15 Oct 2001 : Column: 878W
rather than individuals, include the number of households being temporarily housed by the authority, and separately distinguish those in bed-and-breakfast hotels, as well as other types of property such as hostels or privately leased accommodation. This information is summarised in a quarterly Statistical Release, the most recent of which was published on 12 September 2001 covering results up to the end of June 2001. Copies are available in the Library of the House and are on the DTLR website.
Annual Housing Investment Programme (HIP) returns also seek basic data on the total number of homeless households accommodated on 31 March, and this year additionally asked for confirmation of those in bed-and-breakfast accommodation. As in previous years, the 2001 HIP return also sought a range of summary information about the number of households on local authorities' housing registers. HIP data are made available on the DTLR website normally in December once the data have been checked and confirmed by the authorities.
The latest available information as reported by London boroughs is presented in the table. This represents households without distinguishing between family groups and individuals.
| Decisions made during the period(10) April to June 2001 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accepted as being homeless and in priority need | Eligible, homeless and in priority need, but intentionally so | Eligible, homeless but not in priority need | Accommodated by the authority on 30 June 2001 in bed and breakfast | Number of households on the Housing Register(11) as at 1 April 2000 | |
| Barking and Dagenham | 38 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 1,925 |
| Barnet | 331 | 11 | 101 | 139 | 5,489 |
| Bexley | 104 | 3 | 150 | 84 | 3,592 |
| Brent | 282 | 11 | 59 | 625 | 12,603 |
| Bromley | 198 | 11 | 103 | 102 | 3,264 |
| Camden | 288 | 25 | 87 | 46 | 5,884 |
| City of London | 4 | (12)— | (12)— | 4 | 787 |
| Croydon | 275 | 12 | 347 | 500 | 6,265 |
| Ealing | 211 | 14 | 203 | 436 | 7,709 |
| Enfield | 315 | 4 | 57 | 268 | 6,001 |
| Greenwich | 297 | 15 | 82 | (12)— | 5,473 |
| Hackney | 209 | 3 | 25 | 160 | 7,011 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 189 | 3 | 22 | 423 | 4,726 |
| Haringey | 320 | 6 | (12)— | 191 | 9,510 |
| Harrow | 98 | 16 | 81 | 101 | 2,610 |
| Havering | (13)— | (13)— | (13)— | (13)— | 1,738 |
| Hillingdon | 313 | 10 | 103 | 473 | 3,656 |
| Hounslow | (13)— | (13)— | (13)— | (13)— | 5,017 |
| Islington | 277 | 13 | 229 | 118 | 11,590 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 165 | 12 | 31 | 699 | 8,206 |
| Kingston upon Thames | (13)— | (13)— | (13)— | (13)— | 3,113 |
| Lambeth | 312 | 24 | 61 | 261 | 16,220 |
| Lewisham | 263 | (12)— | 143 | (12)— | 9,774 |
| Merton | 44 | 4 | 36 | 36 | 3,920 |
| Newham | 375 | 18 | 98 | 820 | 11,107 |
| Redbridge | 109 | 7 | 3 | 242 | 3,555 |
| Richmond upon Thames | 76 | 11 | 32 | 106 | 4,992 |
| Southwark | (13)— | (13)— | (13)— | (13)— | 5,543 |
| Sutton | 124 | 14 | 69 | 54 | 2,154 |
| Tower Hamlets | 357 | 13 | 14 | 212 | 6,751 |
| Waltham Forest | 289 | 25 | 67 | 144 | 7,476 |
| Wandsworth | 202 | 8 | 126 | 282 | 2,441 |
| Westminster | 291 | 17 | 172 | 901 | 8,099 |
(10) Decisions during the quarter are those where applicant households were found to be homeless and eligible for assistance under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1996 and associated legislation.
(11) Local authorities have different practices for compiling and managing housing register/waiting lists which mean that simple comparisons between authorities can be misleading.
(12) Nil
(13) Information not reported
Source:
DTLR quarterly P1 (E) housing activity and annual Housing Investment Programme returns
15 Oct 2001 : Column: 879W
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the average investment by (a) registered social landlords and housing companies and (b) local authorities per dwelling where a large scale stock transfer ballot has been held. [6999]
Ms Keeble: The information requested cannot be provided for registered social landlords and housing
15 Oct 2001 : Column: 880W
companies because neither the Department nor the Housing Corporation collect or hold data in this form. For those local authorities where there has been a "no" vote in respect of large scale voluntary transfer, the table sets out average investment per local authority dwelling on an annual basis, derived from local authority Housing Investment Programme returns.
| 1989–90 | 1990–91 | 1991–92 | 1992–93 | 1993–94 | 1994–95 | 1995–96 | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochford—November 1988 | 261 | 197 | 177 | 310 | 372 | n/a | 302 | 376 | 167 | 326 | 205 |
| Salisbury—December 1988 | 364 | 59 | 111 | 82 | 161 | 195 | 196 | 257 | 489 | 241 | 265 |
| Arun—January 1989 | 738 | 716 | 494 | 734 | 668 | 1,103 | 1,009 | 542 | 672 | 908 | 568 |
| Three Rivers—March 1986 | 124 | 384 | 193 | 293 | 421 | 1,139 | 1,334 | 966 | 1,030 | 1,552 | 1,695 |
| Canterbury—November 1989 | — | 666 | n/a | 538 | 444 | 755 | 619 | 631 | 851 | 616 | 1,141 |
| Brentwood—November 1989 | — | 146 | n/a | 237 | 267 | 317 | 272 | 190 | 225 | 225 | 256 |
| Redbridge—December 1989 | — | 833 | 1,108 | 1,165 | 821 | 883 | 1,315 | 1,206 | 921 | 1,089 | 964 |
| Bournemouth—January 1990 | — | 416 | 553 | 452 | 376 | 419 | 383 | 287 | 206 | 182 | 181 |
| Wokingham—April 1990 | — | 154 | 248 | 618 | 647 | 583 | 700 | 319 | 445 | 452 | 435 |
| South Holland—July 1990 | — | — | 392 | 461 | 442 | 485 | 485 | 514 | 559 | 579 | 490 |
| North Kesteven—December 1990 | — | — | 447 | 589 | 735 | 825 | 667 | 617 | 543 | 604 | 554 |
| Hillingdon—July 1992 | — | — | — | — | 723 | 796 | 904 | 864 | 824 | 773 | 895 |
| Kingston—August 1992 | — | — | — | — | 992 | 681 | 697 | 846 | 849 | 592 | 516 |
| North Somerset—August 1992 (Woodspring) | — | — | — | — | 708 | 722 | 783 | 589 | 584 | 572 | 518 |
| Westminster—October 1993 | — | — | — | — | — | 1,281 | 1,283 | 1,158 | 1,536 | 1,628 | 1,342 |
| Maidstone—November 1993 | — | — | — | — | — | 463 | 619 | 682 | 778 | 340 | 331 |
| Poole—November 1993 | — | — | — | — | — | 400 | 330 | 298 | 405 | 506 | 245 |
| Cherwell—April 1994 | — | — | — | — | — | 219 | 280 | 445 | 202 | 653 | 328 |
| Castle Point—September 1994 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 239 | 148 | 237 | 317 | 286 |
| Berwick—July 1996 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 419 | 377 | 309 |
| Cheltenham—August 1997 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 179 | 239 |
| Cambridge—February 1999 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 228 |
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