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Transport (Deprived Areas)
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much public money has been invested in transport provision for deprived areas in each of the last five years. [69378]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
The following table compares total capital allocations for local transport provision in England with the amounts allocated to those local transport authorities which include within their boundaries one or more of the 88 local authorities in the most deprived areas of England which are eligible for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF). London is excluded.
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| Total | NRF area authorities | |
|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | 541 | 256 |
| 1999–2000 | 540 | 276 |
| 2000–01 | 657 | 367 |
| 2001–02 | 1,360 | 698 |
| 2002–03 | 1,580 | 817 |
For London, capital allocations for local transport provision for the years 1998–99 to 2000–01 were £82 million, £84 million and £102 million respectively. Of this, £46 million, £47 million and £52 million was allocated to authorities in the most deprived areas which are eligible for the NRF. From 2001–02 onwards, capital allocations for local transport provision in London have been the responsibility of the Mayor and Transport for London.
Indices of Deprivation
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what indices of deprivation he will use to allocate funds within the proposed new formula for the SSA for education. [71743]
Mr. Miliband: I have been asked to reply.
The options illustrated in the consultation paper issued on 8 July use the following indices of deprivation: the proportion of children of parents on income support; the proportion of children of parents in receipt of working families' tax credit; English as an additional language and ethnicity, as recorded in the annual schools' census; and the proportion of live births less than 2.5kg. All indices have been calculated at local authority level.
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment has been made of the accuracy of the figures used for deprivation in the DETR report "Indices of Deprivation 2000"; and what use is made of these figures. [73000]
Mr. McNulty: The "Indices of Deprivation 2000" was based on a robust review of methods and data sources in 1999. Where possible, the data underpinning the indices have been published via the Neighbourhood Statistics website hosted at the Office for National Statistics. The indices have been used to inform the allocation of resources that are directed to areas affected by multiple deprivation, including the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund administered by my Department. They are also used in the formulation of the Government policy towards deprived areas, such as the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal.
Children Act
Ms Buck: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many families with children have been assisted with accommodation through the provisions of the Children Act 1989 in each of the last 10 years. [67684]
Jacqui Smith: I have been asked to reply.
This information is not collected centrally.
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Housing Statistics
Hugh Bayley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a document specifying for each of the last three years (a) the number of people presenting as homeless, (b) the number of council homes sold under the right to buy, (c) the number of new affordable homes completed, (d) the capital value of public investment in affordable housing and (e) the number of new lets of affordable homes, and at a specified date in each of the last three years (i) the number of people on the housing waiting list and (ii) the stock of affordable homes in each (A) English region and (B) housing authority in England. [72014]
Mr. McNulty: Data on the requested items can be found in various ODPM publications, available in the House of Commons Library and electronically via the ODPM website. The publications provide the data for each local authority in England and regional totals include estimates for any incomplete or missing data.
(a) ODPM publication "Statutory Homelessness: England", quarterly statistical release and associated "Supplementary Tables";
(b) ODPM publication "Progress on Council Houses Sales" quarterly report;
(c), (d) and (e) ODPM "Housing Investment Programme: Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix 2001" return and "Operational Information" return for earlier years; Housing Corporation "Annual Review" report.
Information about stock completions or acquisitions of additional affordable housing by local authorities (LA), Registered Social Landlords (RSL) and the private sector for rental, outright or shared equity for each year since 1997–98 were collected for the first time on the 2001 return. Summary data on recent years' LA and RSL lettings is also presented.
Local authority capital investment in housing, including HRA dwelling stock and support to RSLs, since 1997–98 is summarised on the 2001 return. Equivalent information about RSLs' expenditure is included in each of the Housing Corporation's "Annual Review" reports.
LA and RSL dwelling stock as at 1 April is reported on each year's HIP return. Total private sector dwelling stock is also reported, although there is no centrally collected information on those classified as affordable.
Property Statistics
Mr. Neil Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of properties are in (a) Band A, (b) Band B and (c) Band H in (i) Wigan MBC, (ii) the North West Region, (iii) inner-London boroughs, (iv) outer-London boroughs and (v) England. [71894]
Mr. Leslie: Information on the number of properties in each council tax band is shown on the valuation list, compiled by the Valuation Office Agency. The number and percentage of properties in council tax Bands A, B and H as at 26 March 2002, for Wigan Metropolitan borough council, the North West Region, inner-London boroughs (including the City of London), outer-London boroughs and England are shown in the table below.
Note:
Percentage figures are subject to rounding.
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Open Space and Playing Fields
Claire Ward: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he intends to take to increase the protection for open space and playing fields through the planning system. [73376]
Mr. McNulty: The Government have today published revised planning policy on open space, sport and recreation. Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) Note 17 replaces PPG17 published in 1991. It contains a range of policies designed to protect and enhance open spaces and sports and recreational facilities.
PPG17 sets out how the Government expect local authorities to plan for the delivery of high quality open space, sport and recreational facilities in a sustainable manner. The policies it contains are crucial to our efforts to deliver an urban renaissance and rural renewal by ensuring that everyone has access to high quality and well maintained and managed open spaces, sports and recreational facilities. It will be a vital tool in delivering the Government's agenda for sport by providing an up-to-date strategic framework within which local authorities can plan effectively for new sports and recreational facilities. The policies in PPG17 will be supported by Good Practice Guidance on how to plan effectively for open space. This will be published shortly.
The Government remain fully committed to the protection of playing fields. PPG17 sets strict criteria to limit the circumstances in which playing fields can be developed for non-sporting and recreational purposes. Additionally I intend to reduce the threshold for the size of playing field upon which Sport England must be consulted when a planning application for development is submitted from 0.4ha to 0.2ha. This will enable Sport England to be consulted on planning applications affecting these smaller playing fields, and help to protect these important facilities which are used by young people for the small sided games of football and rugby.
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