| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Transport Funding
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) for what purpose the funding budgeted but not used in the 2000–01 financial year for transport has been used subsequently; [39431]
- (2) what his latest estimate is of the final figure for underspend in the 2001–02 transport budgets. [39430]
Dr. Whitehead: Amounts carried forward into 2001–02 under end year flexibility arrangements were published in the Public Expenditure 2000–01 Provisional Outturn White Paper (Cm 5243). Amounts taken up, and the programmes for which they were taken up, were announced in written answers preceding supplementary estimates on 22 June 2001, Official Report, columns 12–13W; 28 November 2001, Official Report, columns 948–52W and 13 February 2002, Official Report, columns 398–401W.
Estimated outturn for 2001–02 in respect of transport budgets will be published in my Department's annual report after the end of this financial year.
Shoreham Port Authority
Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what criteria members of the Shoreham Port Authority are appointed by him. [39237]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 28 February 2002]: Six appointments made by the Secretary of State to the Shoreham Port Authority are made after consultation with various stakeholder groups. These are: the Chamber of Shipping, Brighton and Hove council, Adur district council, the Shoreham Private Wharfingers and such
5 Mar 2002 : Column 179W
persons appearing to the Secretary of State to be representative of organised labour as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate.
Three appointments are made directly by the Secretary of State following public advertisement of these posts. The criteria for these posts will vary at the time of each vacancy depending on what skills, knowledge and experience are required on the board at that time.
Housing Market Renewal Fund
Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the proposed housing market renewal fund. [39038]
Ms Keeble [holding answer 28 February 2002]: Low demand for housing is adding to the decline of many of our inner cities and towns, particularly in the north. It blights communities, and the lives of those who live in the areas affected. We are determined to tackle this, and the Government have made a commitment to turn around the incidence of low demand by 2010.
A number of northern local authorities and housing associations have submitted a proposal to Government for a strategic housing market renewal fund to tackle areas of the country most adversely affected by low demand. We are considering the housing market renewal fund proposal in the context of the current spending review. We can make no commitments in advance of its conclusions.
Volunteers
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many members of his staff in each of the past two years have been granted a day's paid leave to work as a volunteer; and if he will make a statement. [39736]
Dr. Whitehead: This information is not recorded centrally. The Department supports volunteering and allows staff both paid and unpaid time off for a range of voluntary public service.
Fair Trade
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether fair trade products are sold in his Department. [39834]
Dr. Whitehead: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Angus (Mr. Weir) on 13 February 2002, Official Report, column 396W. The Department supports the sale of fair trade products; some of them are on sale in staff canteens.
Asbestos
Mr. Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what scientific evidence has been received in respect of white asbestos and the proposed control of asbestos at work regulations. [38869]
Dr. Whitehead [holding answer 28 February 2002]: Research by Professor Peto and Health and Safety Executive epidemiologists, published in The Lancet on 4 March 1995 confirmed that building and maintenance workers are the largest group at risk of exposure to
5 Mar 2002 : Column 180W
asbestos. At least a quarter of the 3,000 people now dying from asbestos related diseases have at some time worked in these trades. The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations are therefore being tightened to ensure workers know where asbestos is in premises and can take appropriate precautions. A copy of the research paper is available in the Libraries of the House.
Departmental Policies
(Cities of London and Westminster)
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will set out, including statistical information relating as directly as possible to the constituency, the effect on Cities of London and Westminster constituency of his Department's policies and actions since 2 May 1997. [40187]
Dr. Whitehead: The information requested can be obtained only at disproportionate cost, as such statistics are normally collected on the basis of administrative units (such as local authorities) rather than parliamentary constituencies.
Business Rates (Greater London)
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much revenue was raised from the business rate in the Greater London area during (a) the last 12 months and (b) each year since 1992. [40182]
Dr. Whitehead: The table gives the revenue raised from business rates in Greater London for 1991–92 to 2000–01, and estimated revenue from business rates for 2001–02 and 2002–03. This information is based on returns provided by London boroughs and the City to the Department.
| Net business rate yield | |
|---|---|
| 1991–92 | 3,211 |
| 1992–93 | 3,272 |
| 1993–94 | 3,149 |
| 1994–95 | 2,845 |
| 1995–96 | 2,802 |
| 1996–97 | 3,191 |
| 1997–98 | 3,090 |
| 1998–99 | 2,793 |
| 1999–2000 | 2,810 |
| 2000–01 | 3,117 |
| 2001–02 | 3,552 |
| 2002–03 | 3,804 |
Revenue from business rates between 1991–92 and 2000–01 is based on local authorities' outturn net yield figures shown on the national non-domestic rates return (NNDR3). Figures for 2001–02 and 2002–03 are based on the local authorities' net rate yield figure shown on the national non-domestic rates return (NNDR3). The net rate yield is the amount of business rates local authorities expect to collect.
Council Tax
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what
5 Mar 2002 : Column 181W
assessment he has made of the impact of increasing the number of council tax band rates; and if he will make a statement. [40183]
Dr. Whitehead: In the White Paper, "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" (CM5237), we said that we would legislate to require properties to be revalued for council tax purposes every 10 years, that work on the first revaluation would commence in 2005 and that it would be completed in time for the council tax bills issued in 2007. We said that we would listen to the views of taxpayers and local government about council tax bands and related matters.
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the change in levels of band D council tax since 1997. [40184]
Dr. Whitehead: I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, gave to the right hon. Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) on 9 January 2002, Official Report, column 849W.
Mr. Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the average band D council tax level in (a) Greater London and (b) the City of Westminster for each year since 1992. [40178]
Dr. Whitehead: Council tax was introduced in England in April 1993. The table shows the average band D council tax for the Greater London area, and the City of Westminster's own and area band D council tax for each financial year from 1993–94 to 2001–02. Council tax figures for 2002–03 are not yet available.
| Greater London | City of Westminster | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Average band D council tax(2) | Own band D council tax | Area band D council tax(2) | |
| 1993–94 | 558 | 131 | 295 |
| 1994–95 | 534 | 73 | 245 |
| 1995–96 | 576 | 189 | 275 |
| 1996–97 | 616 | 206 | 295 |
| 1997–98 | 651 | 203 | 304 |
| 1998–99 | 687 | 212 | 325 |
| 1999–2000 | 731 | 230 | 350 |
| 2000–01 | 778 | 235 | 375 |
| 2001–02 | 841 | 259 | 410 |
(2) The area council tax includes amounts collected for the Metropolitan Police and London Fire and Civil Defence Authority (1993–94 to 1999–2000), and the Greater London Authority (from 2000–01), as well as amounts collected for individual boroughs.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |