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14 May 2003 : Column 280W—continued
Firefighters
Mr. Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many firefighters there were per head of population in (a) Lancashire, (b) the North West of England and (c) Wales in each year since 1997. [112056]
Mr. Raynsford: The number of firefighters per 10,000 of population are tabled as follows:
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | ||||||
| Wholetime | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| Retained | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 1.9 |
| North West | ||||||
| Wholetime | 8.2 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Retained | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| Wales | ||||||
| Wholetime | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 |
| Retained | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 5.1 |
Notes:
1. Based on annual returns to HM Fire Service Inspectorate and population figures published by the Office for National Statistics.
2. Wholetime strength expressed in full-time equivalents and retained strength in 24-hour units of cover.
3. North West figures comprise fire brigade areas of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.
Heating Systems
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 10 April 2003, Official Report, column 355W, on heating systems, what the nature is of the research referred to; what stage the research is at; whether there is a mechanism for people to submit comments or evidence to that research; and when the results will be known. [113225]
Mr. Leslie: The research underlying SEDBUK, the UK's database of domestic boiler seasonal efficiency indices, which was developed to facilitate SAP energy ratings, was carried out as a collaborative venture by industry and Government in 1997 to 1999. Collaboration has continued since then and this has focused on improvements and rectifying anomalies.
Research into the evaluation of the energy performance of micro-combined heated and power (micro-CHP) units is at an early stage. A laboratory test procedure is being developed through consultations that have been commissioned by a group set up by the Energy Saving Trust. The procedure is close to completion and it is anticipated that the next stage will be to turn it into a 'Publicly Available Specification' (PAS) through the offices of BSI. It is akin to the standards in the Boiler Efficiency Directive, used to evaluate full and part load performance for boilers, and aims to establish similar performance parameters for microCHP systems. The results obtained could be used to determine a seasonal performance index for microCHP systems. However, while this index would be similar to the SEDBUK for boilers it would be inappropriate to make direct comparisons between these products on an efficiency basis. Consideration is therefore being given to the development of a comparison system based on total carbon emissions, total energy or total energy costs.
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As the rating development will be reliant upon microCHP field trials, it is not possible to say precisely when the further research results will be known, but the aim is to have the SEDBUK equivalent in place in time for inclusion in the next major revision of the Building Regulations Part L in 2005. There will, of course, be consultation with the interested parties on these initiatives during the intervening period.
Home Improvement Agencies
Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for the letting of the new contract for the national co-ordinating body for Home Improvement Agencies. [113053]
Mr. McNulty: In accordance with EU competition rules and Government procurement policy, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will shortly be going out to tender for a new contract to be funded centrally. The new contract will be in place from 1 April 2004.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what evaluation he has undertaken of the effectiveness of Foundations, the national co-ordinating body for Home Improvement Agencies. [113054]
Mr. McNulty: As part of a continuing dialogue, officials of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister agree an annual plan with Foundations and have detailed quarterly round-up meetings with them to ensure that they are meeting the requirements of the contract.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding central government has allocated for Home Improvement Agencies in each of the last three years; and what its projected budgets are for each of the next three years. [113055]
Mr. McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister funding for the years requested are tabled as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 6.7 |
| 2001–02 | 8.5 |
| 2002–03 | 8.5 |
| 2003–04 | 8.5 |
| 2004–05 | 10.5 |
| 2005–06 | 10.5 |
This funding is ring-fenced within the Supporting People programme for 2003–04. Thereafter, it will be for local authorities (county councils in the case of two-tier administrations) to manage funding for Home Improvement Agencies within their budgets for Supporting People services, in line with the strategy agreed by the local Commissioning Body.
Over the period 2003–04 to 2005–06 the Department of Health will be providing £9.5 million earmarked for Home Improvement Agencies so that they can become key players in the provision of services to older people on discharge from hospital.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the written statement of 6 May 2003, Official Report, columns 28–29WS, on the Home Improvement Agency, what consultation was undertaken in advance of
14 May 2003 : Column 282W
the statement; with whom; and if he will publish the local commissioning models and statements consulted upon. [113052]
Mr. McNulty: The written statement issued on 6 May reflects the outcome of the public consultation exercise launched in September 2002, and a series of meetings of a Home Improvement Agency (HIA) policy group at which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Department of Health, agencies and other key stakeholders were represented. That group also had the opportunity to consider draft recommendations from Foundations' separate research project, which looked to establish optimum structures and commissioning arrangements for HIA services. It is expected that the final recommendations from Foundations will be made available on their website in due course.
Local Elections (Young People)
Linda Perham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to increase the number of young people participating in local elections. [112537]
Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
The Government are keen to encourage young people to participate in elections. My Department contributed to the Children and Young People Unit's work on the engagement of young people in democracy, and we support fully the Electoral Commission's campaigns and competitions aimed specifically at young people. The addition of citizenship studies to the national curriculum and the piloting of new technologies such as text messaging and digital television for voting should also help to engage, and appeal, to young people, as well as increasing their interest, understanding and involvement in the democratic process.
Objective 1
Mr. Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the criteria for Objective 1 funding. [112598]
Alan Johnson: I have been asked to reply.
The eligibility criteria for Objective 1 are specified in Article 3, paragraph 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds as follows:
- The regions covered by Objective 1 shall be regions corresponding to Level II of the Nomenclature of Territorial Statistical Units (NUTS level II) whose per capita GDP, measured in purchasing power parities and calculated on the basis of Community figures for the last three years available on 26 March 1999, is less than 75 per cent. of the Community average.
The outermost regions (the French overseas departments, the Azores, the Canary Islands and Madeira), which are all below the 75 per cent. threshold, and the areas eligible under Objective 6 for the period 1995 to 1999 pursuant to Protocol 6 to the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden shall also be covered by this Objective.
14 May 2003 : Column 283W
head using data for 1994 to 1996. These are Merseyside, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, South Yorkshire and West Wales and the Valleys.
Special Advisers
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the costs have been in (a) salary, (b) administrative support and (c) travel of special advisers employed in his Department since May 2002. [91620]
Mr. Leslie: The costs to public funds for special advisers employed in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the period 1 June 2002 until 31 March 2003 is (a) £189,633 salary costs, (b) £43,725 administrative support costs and (c) £17,877 travel costs.
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