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19 May 2003 : Column 623W—continued
Elections
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on how all-postal election pilots will operate next year under the Government's
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proposals for the 2004 English local elections and European parliamentary elections to take place on the same day. [113543]
Mr. Raynsford: Subject to Parliament's approval of the provisions in the local government Bill, it is the Government's intention that the European parliamentary elections, Greater London Authority elections and the English local elections in 2004 will be combined. In these circumstances, further legislative provisions would be needed to allow piloting of any sort to take place. As indicated in the consultation paper 'Combining English Local Authority, Greater London Authority and European Parliament Elections in 2004' announced to the House in October 2002, the Government is currently considering very carefully whether we should hold pilots at the proposed combined elections in 2004.
For local elections generally, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will decide what steps to take on extending all-postal voting at local elections in the light of the Electoral Commission's evaluation of each of the 2003 pilot schemes, and will consult widely on any such proposals. In the meantime the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will continue to consider applications from local authorities seeking to conduct all-postal pilots at by-elections.
High Hedges (No. 2) Bill
Mr. Chope: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the statement on 7 April 2003, Official Report, column 94, when he will publish the draft guidance on the High Hedges (No. 2) Bill. [114564]
Mr. McNulty: The draft guidance on the High Hedges (No. 2) Bill will be available before the Report stage on 20 June 2003.
Local Government Finance (Shropshire)
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of total costs were represented by administration costs for (a) Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council and (b) Shropshire County Council, in each of the last five years; and what the average percentage for local government was. [113050]
Mr. Raynsford: Gross expenditure on administration and support services, expressed as a percentage of net current expenditure for Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, Shropshire County Council and all England, in the last five years, were as shown in the following table. Averages for shire counties and shire districts are also shown for comparison.
| Shropshire | Average shire county | Shrewsbury and Atcham | Average shire district | All England | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | 7.8 | 4.1 | 21.9 | 40.3 | 8.6 |
| 2000–01 | 7.5 | 4.1 | 23.4 | 42.5 | 9.1 |
| 1999–2000 | 6.4 | 4.9 | 30.1 | 44.8 | 10.3 |
| 1998–99 | 6.1 | 5.3 | 27.6 | 46.4 | 11.0 |
| 1997–98 | 5.3 | 5.8 | 28.1 | 46.9 | 11.2 |
Source:
RS and RO6 forms 1997–98 to 2001–02
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Ordnance Survey
Mr. Gordon Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultations were undertaken by Ordnance Survey with (a) English Heritage, (b) the Church Conservation Trust, (c) archaeological groups and (d) religious organisations and churches about the proposed deletion of symbols of churches no longer used as places of worship; and what guidance he gave to Ordnance Survey on the consultation process. [113661]
Mr. McNulty: The recent review of the 1:25 000 OS Explorer map series specification by Ordnance Survey has been conducted with an extensive consultation with users. This was carried out through focus groups and also in discussions with around 50 organisations whose members are major users of mapping at this scale.
Ordnance Survey has resolved not to proceed with any change to the way places of worship are shown on Explorer maps. Current and former places of worship with towers, spires, minarets or domes are helpful navigational aids and these buildings will continue to be shown with the traditional symbols. However, the description 'place of worship' in the key will be amended to read 'building/place of worship with . . . etc' to reflect the fact that some have changed their status.
Mr. Gordon Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Macclesfield on 10 March, Official Report, column 111W, on Ordnance Survey maps, if he will ensure that Ordnance Survey publishes the results of consultation and research among users to which he referred. [113663]
Mr. McNulty: Ordnance Survey has consulted widely on proposed changes to the 1:25 000 OS Explorer map series and has decided upon a number of specification changes. The outcome of the consultation is currently being made known to those individuals and organisations that contributed views and information. A summary of the changes has been posted on the Ordnance Survey web site.
Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the operation of outline planning permission and its replacement by the statement of development principles as contained in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill. [114015]
Mr. McNulty: The statement made in July last year, "Sustainable Communities: Delivering through Planning", said that statements of development principle might eventually replace outline planning permission. Outline planning permission will not be abolished until statements of development principles have been shown to be an effective alternative. Until then the two systems will work in parallel. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will review the take up and success of statements of development principles two years after they come into effect. At that time the consequences would be of removing outline planning permission will be considered. Full consultation will take place before removing outline planning permission.
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Regional Government Proposals
Mr. George Howarth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from (a) business organisations, (b) trade unions and (c) community groups in support of his regional government proposals; and if he will place copies in the Library. [90004]
Mr. Raynsford: Responses to the White Paper on regional governance—"Your Region, Your Choice"—were received from 20 business organisations, 10 trade union groups and 143 interest groups. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister did not record responses from community groups separately from those of other interest groups.
A full analysis of responses to the White Paper was made available in the Library of the House on 12 February 2003. The analysis document is entitled: "White Paper Your Region, Your Choice—Revitalising the English Regions. Summary of the comments and enquiries received following the publication of the White Paper on Regional Governance". The document can also be found on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website at http://www.regions.odpm.gov.uk/governance/progress/response/index.htm
Responses to the soundings exercise on the level of interest in each English region in holding a referendum on an elected regional assembly are still being received. We asked for responses by 16 May. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will publish a summary of responses to the soundings exercise in due course.
Regulatory Reform Orders
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what accumulated reduction in compliance costs for United Kingdom business has resulted from the passage of Regulatory Reform Orders. [113656]
Mr. Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
The Cabinet Office oversees the Regulatory Reform Order programme. All Regulatory Reform Orders made have to be accompanied by a full Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) when laid before Parliament for scrutiny, setting out the costs and benefits of that proposal. These RIAs are shown on the Cabinet Office Website: http://www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/regulation/act/made2.htm and Departments have been asked to make these available to the House of Commons Library.
Right to Buy
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will make a statement on plans to extend the reduction in right to buy discounts; [113564]
- (2) how many authorities have applied to his Department to have the reduction in right to buy discounts extended to their local authority area. [113565]
Mr. McNulty: The Government's recent decision to lower maximum Right to Buy discounts in 41 areas that are under the greatest housing market pressure led to calls for further, more widespread, reductions, including from 11 local authorities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not rule out further changes and will keep the matter under review. However, the
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Government is committed to the principle of the Right to Buy and to helping social tenants into home ownership in ways that do not damage the interests of others in housing need. The Home Ownership Task Force, announced by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister in February as part of the Sustainable Communities action plan, is currently considering the various schemes currently available to potential homeowners on low or modest incomes, with the aim of identifying the most effective ways of promoting sustainable home ownership.
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