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5 Jun 2003 : Column 564Wcontinued
Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) nurses, (b) teachers and (c) social workers have benefited from the key worker initiative for affordable accommodation in West Sussex. [116460]
Mr. McNulty: As at the end of April 2003, 34 key workers in West Sussex have been helped to purchase homes under the Starter Home Initiative. The following table breaks down the figure by local authority and by key worker group.
Number of key workers assisted | |||
---|---|---|---|
Local authority | Nurses/health workers | Teachers | Others |
Chichester | 7 | 1 | 1 |
Crawley | 4 | 4 | 0 |
Horsham | 0 | 6 | 0 |
Mid Sussex | 7 | 4 | 0 |
Total | 18 | 15 | 1 |
Note:
Other key workers being helped under the Starter Home Initiative are social workers, care workers, fire fighters, transport workers and occupational therapists.
Mr. Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in 200203. [109490]
Mr. Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) was created on 29 May 2002. Between that date and end March 2003 the amount spent on accountancy services was £359,000.
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the electronic document and electronic record management systems which have been procured by the public authorities listed in Parts I to V of Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for which he is responsible. [116391]
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Mr. Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not keep central records of systems bought by the authorities listed in Parts I to V of Schedule 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister currently uses Diagonal Solutions Ltd. IMPReS product for records management, and has recently selected Valid Information Systems R/KYV product for electronic document and record management. This product will be tested to see if it meets our requirements for an integrated electronic document and records management solution to meet the 2004 Modernising Government target for electronic record keeping.
David Wright: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of local housing units constructed in each region between 199798 and 200203 were built to Lifetime Homes Standards. [114140]
Mr. McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information on the proportion of housing units that are built to Lifetime Homes Standards. However, information on many aspects of housing including accessibility is available from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at: http://www.housing.odpm.gov.uk/statistics/publicat/summaries/index.htm
Ms Shipley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of proposed new homes in the South East will be built on (a) brownfield sites and (b) green belt. [116222]
Mr. McNulty: The Government have set a national target of 60 per cent. of new development to be on previously developed land. Regional Planning Guidance for the South East also expects at least 60 per cent. of new development to be on previously developed land.
The proportion of development to be built on previously developed land will vary at more local levels as planning guidance asks each local authority to produce a local land recycling target, in light of their own circumstances.
Current Regional Planning Guidance states that there is no regional case for reviewing Green Belt boundaries. The recently produced Sustainable Communities Plan also contains a commitment to maintain or increase the current area of land designated as Green Belt in local plans.
Ms Shipley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new dwellings per hectare are proposed for the South East. [116223]
Mr. McNulty: Government policy states that new housing developments should be built at a density of at least 30 dwellings per hectare. Higher densities are also expected, particularly in areas with good transport links and in town centres. Planning policy also stresses the role of good design in achieving higher density.
Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department is planning to take to ensure that
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the proposed Regional Housing Board housing allocations include environmental, social and financial provisions to deliver the transport, education and health infrastructure to serve the increased population that will result from these proposals. [115935]
Mr. McNulty: In order to deliver the step change in progress in tackling shortages of housing and problems of abandonment and low demand, stronger links between related regional strategies and investment plans are needed, particularly on planning and economic development. One of the key roles of the Regional Housing Boards, that have been established to advise Ministers on the allocation of housing capital resources, and the bodies responsible for overseeing activity in the four identified growth areas, will be to ensure that related strategies and plans are properly integrated. Where housing development is planned the potential will depend on the provision of infrastructure and a sustainable approach to growth, tested through regional plans and implemented through local development plans and local partnership. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working with other Government Departments and local partners on the infrastructure required.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many sick days were lost in the last year by his Department through staff mental health problems; [112002]
Mr. Leslie: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002. Since that date 52 staff (an equivalent to slightly over 2,000 days) in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, excluding the Government Offices and its four Executive Agencies, have taken sick leave for causes which may be considered of this nature.
Information for the Government Offices and the Office's Agencies is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister recognises its legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for employees and has a commitment to meeting targets for reducing the number of working days lost due to work related injuries and illness arising from the Government's 'Revitalising Health and Safety' initiative.
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the way PPG17 contributes to the development of sporting infrastructure in England and Wales. [117067]
Mr. McNulty: PPG 17 indicates that local authorities should undertake robust assessments of the existing and future needs of their communities for open space, sports and recreational facilities. Local authorities should then plan to meet those identified needs. PPG17 also provides strong protection for existing open space, sport and
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recreational land and building and provides guidance on the location of new facilities. In Wales this is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.
Mr. Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what building regulations concerning sprinkler systems are (a) in place and (b) planned for (i) houses of multiple occupation, (ii) care homes, (iii) hospitals, (iv) council offices, (v) listed buildings and (vi) domestic properties. [116850]
Mr. Leslie: The Building Regulations 2000 (as amended) make no specific requirements regarding the provision of sprinklers. Guidance on measures that will meet the fire safety requirements of the Building Regulations is given in Approved Document B (Fire safety). Approved Document B is intended to provide guidance for some of the more common building situations. This guidance is not mandatory and there may well be alternative ways of achieving compliance with the requirements.
The current Approved Document does not suggest that sprinklers should be provided in houses of multiple occupation, care homes, listed buildings or domestic properties. For guidance on the design of hospitals, the Approved Document refers to the NHS "Firecode" series of documents, which suggest that sprinklers should be installed in certain parts of a hospital and in specific circumstances. In respect of the construction of new office buildings generally, the Approved Document suggests the provision of sprinklers for those buildings of a height greater than 30 metres. The Building Regulations only apply to most building work undertaken in England and Wales. Therefore they would not be applicable to existing listed buildings unless building work was being undertaken.
A major review of Approved Document B is due to commence next year. As part of this review it is our intention to consider the potential of extending the provisions for sprinkler protection to new residential premises including houses, flats and maisonettes, houses in multiple occupation, old person's rest homes, children's homes and homes for disabled people. The issue of fire safety generally in hospitals and offices will also be considered as part of the review.
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