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Syria
John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance her Department has given to the Government of Syria for the rehabilitation of the country's irrigation system since the collapse of the Zeyzoun dam. [68813]
Clare Short: My Department has not provided any direct assistance to the Government of Syria for the rehabilitation of the country's irrigation system following the collapse of the Zeyzoun dam. Information from agencies on the ground, including the Red Cross and the EC, indicate that the immediate needs of the affected population have been well attended to.
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Tanzania
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to resume giving aid to Tanzania. [69241]
Clare Short: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on Monday 8 July, Official Report, column 616W.
International Development Targets
Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress towards international development targets. [68762]
Clare Short: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Mr. Wyatt) on 7 May 2002, Official Report, column 15W.
Knowledge for Development Challenge Fund
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will provide a breakdown of her Department's expenditure since 2000–01 on the Knowledge for Development Challenge Fund. [67525]
Clare Short: Our latest estimate of DFID expenditure in 2001–02 on the Knowledge for Development Challenge Fund was £671,130. The breakdown was:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Programme/project | Expenditure |
| Commonwealth Science Council | 258,425 |
| SciDevNet Pilot: Pilot to increase access to scientific news and information and more informed debate by scientists, policy makers and users of science and technology. | 77,017 |
| GDNet Pilot: Pilot for internet project to strengthen the capacity of research institutes | 72,254 |
| Other knowledge activities: | |
| 1. Research report | 1,200 |
| 2. Research guide | 5,373 |
| 3. Knowledge management and international development workshop | 35,471 |
| 4. Workshop on China and Clean Development Mechanism | 26,777 |
| Other activities: | |
| 2. Wilton Park Conference WP644 | 45,000 |
| 3. LDC3 meeting | 25,073 |
| 4. White Paper team | 43,984 |
| 5. Information and Communication Technologies Study | 11,209 |
| 6. Greater Donor Harmonisation | 44,144 |
| 7. Utstein Meeting | 5,203 |
| 8. Sector-wide Approaches training consultancy | 20,000 |
| Total | 671,130 |
Overseas Visits
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the overseas trips on departmental business that have been undertaken in each of the last five years by officials in her Department; and what the (a) cost, (b) purpose and (c) result was in each case. [68734]
Clare Short: The detailed information requested is not readily available and to compile it would involve a disproportionate cost. DFID has some 25 country and regional offices located overseas, and this, as well as the international nature of our activities, makes overseas travel a normal part of our business.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Local Government Finance
Mr. Stevenson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will announce the details of the new system of local government finance due to be introduced in the next financial year; and if he will make a statement. [66162]
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Mr. Raynsford: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gillingham (Paul Clark) on 8 July 2002, Official Report, columns 680–81W.
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received from unitary authorities in respect of changes to the standard spending assessment formula. [68888]
Mr. Leslie: We have received written representations from a number of unitary authorities recently, as well as discussing SSA-related issues with councils face-to-face on occasion. As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and the Regions announced to Parliament on 8 July, we are now in a period of formal consultation on options for the new grant distribution system. We will carefully consider all of the responses to the consultation before taking decisions.
Infrastructure Projects Green Paper
John McDonnell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what communications took place between his Department and Mr. Richard Everitt with regard to the preparation of and drafting of the Government's recent planning Green Paper on major infrastructure projects. [68247]
Council Tax
Mr. Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what the average amount of Council Tax charged per household is in each (a) metropolitan area, (b) Government office region and (c) local authority; [68895]
- (2) what the average amount of Council Tax paid per household at Band D is in each (a) metropolitan area, (b) Government office region and (c) local authority. [68896]
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Mr. Leslie: Figures for the average council tax payable per dwelling and the average council tax payable per Band D property in 2002–03 are given in the DTLR News Release on "Council Taxes in England—2002/03" (2002–0124, 21 March 2002).
Figures for each government office region are given in Table 1, and those for each local authority area—including each metropolitan district area—are given in Table 2.
Copies are available in the Libraries of the House and from the website of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister at http://www.local.dtlr.gov.uk/finance/ctax/ ctax023.htm.
Urban Allotments
Ian Lucas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the total acreage of urban allotments in (a) 1972, (b) 1990 and (c) the latest year for which figures are available. [68882]
Mr. McNulty: Based on the "English Allotments Survey—1997", commissioned by the then Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, estimates are that the area of allotments in England in 1970 was 54,000 acres and in 1996 was 25,393 acres. The figures for 1972 and 1990 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Rural Housing
Mr. Breed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer of 2 May 2002, Official Report, column 902W, on rural housing, how many households were identified as being in priority need for housing in (a) 1996, (b) 1997, (c) 1998, (d) 1999, (e) 2000, (f) 2001 and (g) 2002 in English local authorities by region. [68757]
Mr. McNulty: National and regional information on the number of households accepted by local authorities under the homelessness provisions of Housing Acts, as being unintentionally homeless and in priority need, is published in a quarterly Statistical Release. Latest figures, issued on 17 June 2002, are as follows:
| 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 5,430 | 4,380 | 4,460 | 4,850 | 5,220 | 5,580 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 8,940 | 9,130 | 8,260 | 8,370 | 9,150 | 10,820 |
| East Midlands | 8,940 | 7,550 | 7,770 | 7,120 | 7,370 | 7,230 |
| Eastern | 8,380 | 8,120 | 8,680 | 8,720 | 9,800 | 10,120 |
| London | 25,930 | 24,570 | 26,470 | 28,440 | 29,630 | 31,130 |
| South East | 13,540 | 12,170 | 12,690 | 12,810 | 14,760 | 14,430 |
| South West | 9,450 | 9,000 | 8,920 | 9,790 | 11,210 | 11,200 |
| West Midlands | 15,510 | 14,670 | 13,970 | 13,210 | 13,860 | 14,600 |
| North West | 14,690 | 13,060 | 12,930 | 12,820 | 13,350 | 13,260 |
| England total | 110,810 | 102,650 | 104,150 | 106,130 | 114,350 | 118,360 |
Notes:
1. Figures prior to January 1997 reflect decisions under the 1985 Housing Act; subsequent decisions are under the 1996 Housing Act, plus any residual 1985 Act cases.
2. Totals may not equal the sum of components because of rounding.
Source:
ODPM P1(E) quarterly housing activity returns.
Transport Works Authorisation Branch
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the current applications for orders to the Transport Works Authorisation Branch of his Department, giving for each (a) the date the application was made, (b) the expected date the order will be made and (c) for what reason the order has not yet been made. [69497]
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Mr. McNulty: Current applications for orders under the Transport and Works Act 1992 are listed in the table. The expected date of the decision is shown, rather than
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that for the making of the order, because I cannot prejudge that an order will be made in any particular case.
| Title of proposed order | Date of application | Expected date of decision | Reason for no decision to date |
|---|---|---|---|
| London International Freight Exchange (LIFE). (Two consolidated applications) | (8)28 June 1999 | August 2002 | Inspector's report under consideration. Further information had to be sought from parties after close of inquiry. |
| Railtrack (Thameslink 2000). (Two consolidated applications) | (8)23 September 1999 | Autumn 2002 | Inspector's report under consideration. Major case raising complex issues. |
| Alconbury Airfield (Rail Facilities and Connection to East Coast Main Line) | 30 December 1999 | Within six months of receipt of inspector's report | Awaiting inspector's report. Inquiry closed 16 October 2001. |
| Railtrack (West Coast Main Line) | 29 February 2000 | By January 2003 | Inspector's report just received (5 July 2002). |
| Fawley Branch Line Improvements | 2 October 2000 | Within six months of receipt of inspector's report | Part of ongoing inquiry into proposed Dibden Bay deep water terminal. |
| Yorkshire Marina (Bridlington) | 9 October 2000 | Within six months of receipt of inspector's report | Inquiry continuing. |
| Railtrack (West Coast Main Line) (No.2) | 28 February 2001 | Within six months of receipt of inspector's report | Awaiting inspector's report. Inquiry closed 28 March 2002. |
| Strand Road, Preston Railway | 31 October 2001 | August 2002 | Decision being finalised. |
| Channel Tunnel Rail Link (Thames Tunnel Approach) | 9 November 2001 | July 2002 | Decision imminent. |
| Greater Manchester (Leigh Busway) | 31 January 2002 | Within six months of receipt of inspector's report | Public inquiry to open on 10 September 2002. |
| London Gateway Logistics and Commercial Centre | 14 February 2002 | Within six months of receipt of inspector's report | Public inquiry to be arranged. |
| River Tyne (Tunnels) | 31 May 2002 | See next column | Objection period continuing; procedure yet to be determined. |
| Docklands Light Railway (Woolwich Arsenal Extension) | 10 July 2002 | See next column | Application just received; procedure yet to be determined |
(8) Date of amending application
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff work in the Transport Works Authorisation Branch of his Department. [69484]
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