| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
20 Jun 2003 : Column 523W—continued
Strategic Lift Capability
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Government will make assessment of (a) the risks of relying on the ready availability of civilian strategic lift assets and (b) the possibility of arrangements with civilian suppliers to guarantee strategic lift capacity during times of crisis; and if he will make a statement. [110556]
Mr. Ingram: Strategic air and sealift capability is examined annually by the Department as part of a wider assessment of logistic capabilities. This represents a thorough risk assessment process. The current assessment confirms the benefits of recent major investments in both C-17 aircraft and RoRo shipping, both of which provided strategic lift in support of operations in Iraq.
To supplement military lift capability, the Department also has enabling contracts in place with commercial brokers for airlift charter that can be activated at very short notice, as and when required. These arrangements proved to be highly effective during operations in Iraq. Contracts for strategic sealift can also be activated rapidly.
War Pensions
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of those at present in receipt of pensions under the war pensions scheme would, if their
20 Jun 2003 : Column 524W
claim had been presented under the proposed change in burden of proof, have had their claim rejected; and if he will make a statement. [119997]
Mr. Caplin: We have not reviewed the cases of all those currently in receipt of a War Pension to assess how their claims would have been decided under the proposals for the new scheme. A key consideration in Ministers' final decision on the new proposals will be whether the proposed scheme arrangements could be expected to deliver fair decisions in terms of providing proper compensation for those whose illness or injury has been caused or significantly aggravated by their Service.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with his reviews of the (a) war and (b) armed forces pensions scheme with particular reference to the burden of proof. [120001]
Mr. Caplin: Ministers are currently considering the recommendations arising from the reviews of armed forces pension and compensation arrangements. We are aware of the concerns of ex-Service groups with regard to the standard of proof for determining compensation claims and will take these fully into account in reaching final decisions.
Warship Support Agency
Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people work for the Warship Support Agency; how many are employed in Scotland; what the personnel costs of the agency are; and how these figures compare to 2002. [119298]
Mr. Caplin: As at May 2003, the latest date for which detailed figures are readily available, there were 7,611 people working for the Warship Support Agency, of whom 2,259 were employed in Scotland. This compares with 10,307 and 4,263 respectively in May 2002. The reduction in the number of staff employed in the Agency since early 2002 is due largely to the transfer, in late 2002 of some 3,000 civilian posts to the Dockyard owners at Devonport, Portsmouth and Clyde under the Warship Support Modernisation Initiative (WSMI).
In the answer provided by my predecessor (Dr. Moonie) to the hon. Member on 27 February 2002, Official Report, column 1288W, the Agency personnel cost for financial year 2001–02 was an estimate. The actual cost was £318 million, while the actual cost for financial year 2002–03 was £286 million.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Andrew Selous: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Government intend to make changes to the regulations covering new building in areas of outstanding natural beauty. [120311]
Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no current plans to change planning regulations that would specifically affect new building development in areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). A review of statutory permitted development rights for minor
20 Jun 2003 : Column 525W
development, to determine whether these rights are still appropriate, including in areas such as AONBs is currently being conducted. A research report will be published shortly. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consider its conclusions carefully and any proposed changes to existing rights will be subject to public consultation.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also reviewing national Planning Policy Guidance for the Countryside (PPG7), which includes policies on new development in AONBs, with the aim of replacing this document with a more concise and up-to-date Planning Policy Statement (PPS) for rural areas. A draft of the new PPS will be issued soon for public consultation.
Boiler Maintenance
Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has for further regulation of household boilers; and if he will (a) encourage and (b) require annual maintenance checks, including a search for sources of carbon monoxide. [120926]
Phil Hope: Amendments to the Building Regulations that came into effect on 1 April 2002 significantly improved the requirements for the safe accommodation and energy efficiency of new and replacement domestic boilers. We announced in the Energy White Paper (EWP) that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will raise the energy performance standard even further to the level of the most efficient types of condensing boilers, and that we aim to bring the next major review of the Building Regulations into effect in 2005.
The Government are well aware of the hazards associated with combustion appliances and encourage periodic maintenance checks. It is the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's view that the frequency of inspections should be determined by appliance manufacturers having regard to the type of fuel used. Guidance and encouragement supporting this position is conveyed in:
- the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister leaflet, "Solid Fuel, Wood and Oil Burning Appliances : Get Them Checked, Sweep Your Chimneys and be Safe". This warns of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and encourages appropriate maintenance for solid fuel and oil appliances which includes checking for gas tightness; and
the HSE leaflet, "Get Them Checked—Keep Them Safe". This provides similar advice for gas users.
In addition to this general guidance and encouragement, the increased risks to health and safety in rented accommodation are addressed through the requirement in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations for annual checks. Advice to landlords is available from Letlink.
These sources can be accessed on the internet at the following addresses and copies are available in the library of the House: www.safety.odpm.gov.uk/bregs/pdf/carbonm.pdf, www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg238.pdf, www.saveenergy.co.uk/about/energyeff.cfm, and www. letlink.co.uk/Facts/Lfacts7.htm
20 Jun 2003 : Column 526W
Council Tax
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost to local authorities was of collecting and enforcing the council tax in England for each financial year since 1991–92. [119994]
Mr. Raynsford: Council tax collection costs as reported by local authorities are tabled as follows:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1993–94 | 347.3 |
| 1994–95 | 410.6 |
| 1995–96 | 352.0 |
| 1996–97 | 333.4 |
| 1997–98 | 321.0 |
| 1998–99 | 315.2 |
| 1999–2000 | 309.6 |
| 2000–01 | 301.5 |
| 2001–02 | 301.5 |
| 2002–03(15) | 318.4 |
(15) Budgeted figures.
Note:
Council tax did not exist before 1993–94.
Source:
RO6 forms 1993–94 to 2001–02 and RA form 2002–03.
Energy Efficiency
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what targets his Department has for improving energy efficiency; and how he intends to achieve them. [119948]
Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's targets for improving energy efficiency and the ways in which we intend to achieve them are set out in Chapter 3 of the Energy White Paper, published on 24 February this year. We propose action to tighten Building Regulations with the aim of bringing forward the next revision of the Building Regulations in 2005. This will raise building fabric and services standards and enable developers to take the benefits of using low carbon solutions such as solar water heating and photo-voltaics in overall building solutions. We will also encourage greater energy efficiency in homes through the decent homes target to ensure that all social housing is made decent by 2010 and through our delivery of the Sustainable Communities Action Plan.
Housing
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated, on the supply of affordable housing in the south-east; and if he will make a statement. [120315]
Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not commissioned or evaluated any research on the supply of affordable housing in the south-east.
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) when he next plans to revise (a) Circular 6/98, (b) the definition of affordable housing and (c) the size thresholds which trigger affordable housing planning gains from developers; and if he will make a statement; [120317]
20 Jun 2003 : Column 527W
- (2) when he plans to issue revised good practice to local authorities on planning obligations, with a view to increasing the amount of affordable housing provision in the south-east. [120318]
Keith Hill: "Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future" announced our intention to update the existing guidance on planning for affordable housing and, in particular, consult on allowing local authorities to seek affordable housing on smaller sites where this is justified. Any revision of the definition in Circular 6/98 would form part of this update. The update will be supported by practice advice. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to issue a consultation document on planning obligations in the near future. Following the consultation, it is intended that a policy document on planning obligations to replace Circular 1/97 will be published.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |