12 Apr 2002 : Column 625W
Written Answers to
Questions
Friday 12 April 2002
TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
THE REGIONS
Congestion Charging (London)
Mr. Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what studies his Department has conducted into the effects on the environment of the London area of the proposed introduction of congestion charging by the GLA. [39846]
Mr. Spellar [holding answer 4 March 2002]: The Government commissioned and published early in 2000 a report by an independent group of experts called Road Charging Options for London—A Technical Assessment (known as the ROCOL report). Copies are available in the library. The report covers environmental effects. It says that there could be environmental and amenity benefits from the reduced traffic volumes but much would depend on the how the benefits of reduced traffic were allocated. Emissions of CO 2 would be reduced, but there would be no significant improvement in local air quality.
Rail Investment
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the private sector rail investment in the 10 year plan is expected ultimately to be on the balance sheet of Railtrack's successor. [47395]
Mr. Jamieson: This will be determined through the SRA's development of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and through negotiations with Network Rail and other possible bidders for Railtrack Plc on their proposed Business and Financing plans.
Housing (South-east)
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the Government's total targets for new housing in the south-east has been provided for in the strategic plans of local authorities; and what proportion remains to be allocated provisional sites. [47519]
Ms Keeble: Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9), issued in March 2001, sets out the level of housing provision to be made in the region. Housing
12 Apr 2002 : Column 626W
provision in existing strategic plans—namely county structure plans—is broadly in line with guidance in RPG9 for the Government Office South East area, although usually only for the period up to 2011 and in some cases only up to 2006. Some County Councils have started the process of reviewing their structure plans. At the same time, about a third of all local plans have already expired and half are due to expire by 2006. District authorities need to update their local plans in order to allocate sufficient land for housing.
Housing Transfers
Mr. Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the cost is to the Department of writing off the over-hanging debt for local authorities transferring their housing stock to RSLs in (a) the current year and (b) each of the past five years; and what the projected cost is in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04. [46363]
Ms Keeble [holding answer 26 March 2002]: The overhanging debt payments made to date are £21 million in 1999–2000 and £256 million in 2000–01. No payments were made in 2001–02. The projected costs are £500 million in 2002–03 and £800 million in 2003–04. These are estimates and are likely to change as details of transfer proposals are finalised.
Brownfield Developments
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how close the house-building industry is to meeting the Government's target of brownfield site development. [48592]
Ms Keeble: The Government's target is that by 2008, 60 per cent of additional housing should be provided on previously developed land and through conversions of existing buildings. The latest statistics (for 2000) show that achievement against target is 57 per cent.
Finance (Liverpool)
Mrs. Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much funding he has made available for social services and community care in Liverpool through (a) the local authority, (b) the Health Service and (c) the voluntary sector in each of the last five years; and what funding he has indicated will be made available in 2002–03. [44394]
Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
The table provides details of funding which the Department has made available for social services and community care to Liverpool Health Authority and Liverpool City Council, in each of the last five years and for 2002–03.
| 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–00 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £000s | £000s | £000s | £000s | £000s | £000s | |
| Liverpool Health Authority(1) | 243,040 | 253,814 | 350,296 | 379,504 | 410,236 | 453,913 |
| Liverpool City Council | 5,262 | 7,005 | 8,098 | 8,698 | 12,882 | 25,417 |
Note:
(1)1999–2000 was the first year of unified allocations covering hospital and community health services, prescribing and general practitioner infrastructure. Therefore they are not comparable to earlier years' allocations.
12 Apr 2002 : Column 627W
The section 64 general scheme of grants is the Department's main avenue of support for national voluntary organisations in England. Grants are not awarded on a geographical or regional basis.
Children's Homes
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many local authority children's homes there were in (a) 1990, (b) 1995 and (c) on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [43233]
Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
Information for the years ending 31 March 1995 and 31 March 2000, latest information available, is shown in the table. Information for 1990 is not available.
| Type of LA home | 1995 | 2000 |
|---|---|---|
| Maintained | 741 | 672 |
| Controlled | 28 | 28 |
| Assisted | 30 | 21 |
| Total Community Homes | 799 | 721 |
HOME DEPARTMENT
Smallpox
Mr. Robert Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to law enforcement agencies in the event of a large-scale smallpox outbreak. [33336]
Mr. John Denham [holding answer 5 February 2002]: I apologise for the delay in replying. Smallpox has been eradicated world-wide and no specific guidance has been issued to law enforcement agencies. Guidance on smallpox, accessible both to public and professionals is available from the Public Health Laboratory Service.
A major outbreak of non-terrorist origin would be co-ordinated at the national level through the Civil Contingencies Committee; a terrorist incident would be handled through Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR).
Secondments (Energy Industry)
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were seconded between (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Enron, (d) Exxon-Mobil, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf and his Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available. [33198]
Angela Eagle: No staff were seconded between the Home Department and the companies identified for the periods in question.
Animal Experiments
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to
12 Apr 2002 : Column 628W
improve the care standards for non-human primates in the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Animals Used in Scientific Puposes; and if he will make a statement. [47998]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 10 April 2002]: Standards for the housing and care of laboratory animals, including non-human primates, are currently the subject of review under the auspices of the Council of Europe. This work is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2002. We will review the relevant codes of practice applicable in the United Kingdom in the light of the outcome of the Council of Europe review and any consequential changes to European directive 86/609/EEC.
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many breeding establishments in Mauritius are authorised as sources of non-human primates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement. [47997]
Angela Eagle [holding answer 10 April 2002]: There is currently authority for non-human primates from one breeding establishment in Mauritius to be used in programmes of work licensed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |