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20 Jan 2003 : Column 166W—continued
English House Condition Survey
Ms Walley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will publish the results of the 2001 English House Condition Survey. [91065]
Mr. McNulty: The report is currently being drafted with an aim to being published in spring 2003.
Fire Deaths
Adam Price: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many deaths there were due to fires in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years between (a) 10.00 pm and 6.00 am, (b) 6.00 am and 2.00 pm and (c) 2.00 pm and 10.00 pm. [91895]
Mr. Raynsford: The latest data for the information requested on the number of deaths due to fires in the United Kingdom broken down by the times requested are in the following tables.
These data indicate the importance of fire prevention. The Government believe that each household should have a properly considered escape plan and working smoke alarms; this is key to reducing deaths and injuries while people sleep.
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| Yearly totals | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | |||
| Fires | Deaths | Death rate per 1,000 fires | |
| 1997 | 200,559 | 723 | 3.6 |
| 1998 | 199,928 | 656 | 3.3 |
| 1999 | 218,404 | 623 | 2.9 |
| 2000(23) | 219,535 | 623 | 2.8 |
| 2000(24) | — | (595) | — |
| 2001(23) | 228,136 | 627 | 2.7 |
| 2001(24) | — | (606) | — |
| Number | Proportion of yearly total (Percentage) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fires | Deaths | Fires | Deaths | Death rate per 1,000 fires | |
| 1997 | 58,855 | 283 | 29 | 39 | 4.8 |
| 1998 | 60,089 | 246 | 30 | 38 | 4.1 |
| 1999 | 67,957 | 207 | 31 | 33 | 3.0 |
| 2000(23) | 70,076 | 237 | 32 | 38 | 3.4 |
| 2000(24) | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001(23) | 73,753 | 226 | 32 | 36 | 3.1 |
| 2001(24) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Number | Proportion of yearly total (Percentage) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fires | Deaths | Fires | Deaths | Death rate per 1,000 fires | |
| 1997 | 92,455 | 205 | 46 | 28 | 2.2 |
| 1998 | 92,519 | 192 | 46 | 29 | 2.1 |
| 1999 | 101,109 | 199 | 46 | 32 | 2.0 |
| 2000(23) | 101,616 | 191 | 46 | 31 | 1.9 |
| 2000(24) | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2001(23) | 105,396 | 215 | 46 | 34 | 2.0 |
| 2001(24) | — | — | — | — | — |
(21) A primary fire is any fire in a building or vehicle and/or a fire which involved casualties or rescues.
(22) The time of the fire is denoted as the time the emergency call was received by the local authority fire brigade.
(23) Provisional
(24) The 2000 and 2001 data for fatalities are estimated to account for the revisions as later information is received. Calculations are based on the provisional total of deaths.
Historic Environment Scheme
Ms Walley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress of the Historic Environment Scheme Notification within the European Community. [89469]
Dr. Howells: I have been asked to reply.
I understand from the Department for Trade and Industry that the United Kingdom responded in November 2002 to the European Commission's most recent request for information on the various heritage aid schemes. The Commission is still considering this response. The DTI believes the Commission has been given sufficient information to reach an early decision. Officials from the United Kingdom Permanent Representation are in contact with the relevant desk officer in the Commission and are monitoring progress.
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Local Government Finance
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average grant entitlement increase awarded to county councils for the forthcoming financial year has been; and what the percentage increase provided for Essex was. [91396]
Mr. Raynsford: The Government's proposals for the funding of local authority revenue expenditure, as set out in the provisional local government finance settlement 2003–04 announced on 5 December 2002, provide for an average formula grant increase for county councils of 5.7per cent. The increase for Essex is 3.7per cent.
Sir Teddy Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what average domestic rates were paid to local councils in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what the average amount of rates paid in Essex was in the same period. [91398]
Mr. Leslie: The average council tax in England in 2002–03 for a Band D dwelling (occupied by two or more adults) is £976.
The average council tax in Essex (including Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock) in 2002–03 for a Band D dwelling (occupied by two or more adults) is £965.
Local Government Finance (London)
Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list for (a) London Borough of Waltham Forest, (b) London Borough of Redbridge and (c) London boroughs as a whole (i) the amount of grant received in the 2002–03 settlement and what percentage this was of the overall national settlement; and (ii) the amount of grant received in the 2003–04 settlement and what percentage this is of the overall national settlement. [91094]
Mr. Raynsford: The table shows the amount of Revenue Support Grant, nationally redistributed non-domestic rates and principal formula Police Grant received in 2002–03, and the proposed amount for 2003–04. The House will have the opportunity to debate the final amounts for 2003–04 in due course.
| 2002–03 | 2003–04 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ million | Percentage of total | £ million | Percentage of total | |||
| Waltham Forest | 203.903 | 0.5 | 216.753 | 0.5 | ||
| Redbridge | 175.930 | 0.4 | 190.573 | 0.4 | ||
| London boroughs | 6,228.817 | 15.4 | 6,728.282 | 15.3 | ||
| England | 40,323.132 | 100.0 | 43,892.049 | 100.0 | ||
Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which London local authorities have received the floor level of grant in the recent local authorities financial settlement; and if he will make a statement on the reasons underlying the decision in each case. [91095]
Mr. Raynsford: The following authorities had the minimum 3.5 per cent. like-for-like increase in grant (excluding capital adjustments) in the provisional settlement: Barnet, Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Havering, Kensington and Chelsea, Richmond-upon-Thames, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and Westminster.
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The principal reasons for these outcomes are substantial losses of population in many boroughs arising from the 2001 Census and relative reductions in wage levels in the outer eastern boroughs affecting their area cost adjustment. There are many other factors affecting these authorities, both positively and negatively.
Non-departmental Public Bodies
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which of the non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (a) have a statutory base, (b) publish their advice to Government, (c) publish an annual report and (d) lay an annual report before Parliament; and whether this is a statutory requirement in each case. [91624]
Mr. Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sponsors a range of executive, advisory and tribunal non-departmental public bodies. Of these:
(a) the Audit Commission, Building Regulations Advisory Committee, English Partnerships, Housing Action Trusts, Housing Corporation, the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions, the Rent Assessment Panels and the Standards Board for England have a statutory base;
(b) the Audit Commission, Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils, Advisory Panel on Standards in the Planning Inspectorate and the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions publish their advice to Government. This is a statutory requirement for the Audit Commission and the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions;
(c) All NDPBs sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister publish an annual report. This is a statutory requirement for the Audit Commission, English Partnerships, Housing Corporation and the Standards Board for England;
(d) the Audit Commission, English Partnerships, Housing Action Trusts, Housing Corporation and the Standards Board for England lay their annual report before Parliament as a statutory requirement.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which of his Department's non-departmental public bodies the Government are required to (a) consult prior to legislative proposals and (b) publish their response to advice from. [91626]
Mr. Leslie: The Government consults with relevant NDPBs prior to legislative proposals and publishes their response to any advice given by NDPBs as appropriate.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department have a statutory base; which of those bodies (a) admit members of the public to all board and committee meetings and (b) hold open meetings for the public; and whether in each case this is a statutory requirement. [91627]
Mr. Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sponsors the following executive non-departmental public bodies; Audit Commission, English Partnerships, Housing Action Trusts, Housing Corporation and Standards Board for England, all of which have a statutory base. Of these (a) Housing Action Trusts
20 Jan 2003 : Column 170W
admit members of the public to all board and committee meetings except where items are of a confidential nature and (b) Housing Action Trusts, Audit Commission and English Partnerships hold open meetings for the public. These are not statutory requirements for any of these bodies.
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