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8 Jul 2003 : Column 750W—continued
Asthma
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidelines have been issued to local authority swimming pools concerning the possible link between chlorinated water and asthma. [118158]
Mr. Browne: I have been asked to reply.
The Health and Safety Executive have issued general guidance, 'Managing health and safety in swimming pools' (ISBN 0–7176–1388–7). A copy is available in the Library.
Compulsory Purchase
Mr. Randall: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects the review of compulsory purchase policy to be published. [123267]
Keith Hill: The policy statement, "Compulsory Purchase Powers, Procedures and Compensation: The Way Forward", was published on 18 July 2002, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.
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Demographics
Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many households there were in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years. [122846]
Keith Hill: The information requested is as follows:
| Number of households | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland | |
| 1991 | 19,213 | 1,128 | 2,052 | n/a |
| 1992 | 19,392 | 1,136 | 2,067 | n/a |
| 1993 | 19,592 | 1,146 | 2,085 | n/a |
| 1994 | 19,818 | 1,156 | 2,102 | n/a |
| 1995 | 20,032 | 1,164 | 2,119 | n/a |
| 1996 | 20,186 | 1,170 | 2,136 | n/a |
| 1997 | 20,364 | 1,178 | 2,153 | n/a |
| 1998 | 20,540 | 1,186 | 2,170 | n/a |
| 1999 | 20,743 | 1,190 | 2,186 | n/a |
| 2000 | 20,972 | 1,200 | 2,203 | n/a |
| 2001(15) | 20,451 | 1,209 | 2,192 | n/a |
(15) Figures are the most recent best estimates from the 2001 Census. Figures up to 2000 are derived from earlier mid-year population estimates, hence the apparent falls in household numbers between 2000 and 2001.
Departmental Policies (Battersea)
Martin Linton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the impact on the Battersea constituency of his Department's housing and planning policies and actions since April 2001. [123669]
Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has called in three planning applications in the last two years where it was considered that a planning application conflicts with the guidance and advice on the provision of affordable housing in PPG3—"Housing", and Circular 6/98—"Planning and Affordable Housing". The affordable housing policy in Wandsworth council's draft revised Unitary Development Plan (UDP) has also been objected to.
Growth Area Assessments
Phil Sawford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the three regional planning bodies will complete their growth area assessments in respect of the Milton Keynes and South Midland Study; and when the sub-regional spatial strategy will be published for public consultation. [123974]
Keith Hill: The East of England, East Midlands and South East England Regional Assemblies have completed their growth area assessments and have prepared draft alterations to Regional Planning Guidance. These draft alterations have been endorsed by the East Midlands and South East Regional Assemblies and will be considered by the East of England Regional Assembly on 9 July 2003. The Regional Planning Guidance Alterations are due to be launched for public consultation on 18 July 2003.
Housing
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact
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(a) redundant guest houses and (b) houses in multiple occupation have on regeneration in (i) coastal resorts and (ii) Morecambe. [120472]
Keith Hill: The Government have made no assessment of the impact of redundant guest houses and houses in multiple occupation have on regeneration (i) coastal resorts and (ii) Morecambe.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the number of blocks of multi-storey flats over 10 floors high in England; and where they are located. [121818]
Keith Hill: This information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the number of multi-storey blocks that have been demolished and replaced with lower density dwellings in the last five years. [121820]
Keith Hill: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Local Authority Housing PFI Projects
David Wright: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Local Authority Housing Pathfinder PFI projects. [123335]
Keith Hill: Of the eight Local Authority Housing Pathfinder Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects originally approved, two have so far signed contracts. Manchester city council and the London borough of Islington both signed contracts in March of this year for the refurbishment of council houses and the provision of housing services. Officials are working with the remaining authorities to ensure that further pathfinder projects are signed between now and March 2004. It has been a long process for those involved, but based on their experience, schemes that follow will be able to proceed at a much quicker pace.
Regional Assemblies
David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost of conducting regional assembly referendums for (a) the north-east, (b) the north-west and (c) Yorkshire and the Humber; what factors he used to estimate the cost in each case; and if he will break down the cost in each case by factor. [123269]
Mr. Raynsford: The cost of a referendum will depend on the population of the region concerned, whether there is a traditional ballot vote or an all-postal vote, whether a poll is combined with, for example, local authority elections on the same day and decisions taken by the Electoral Commission on, for example, financial support for the designated "yes" and "no" campaigns. It is therefore too early to make a firm estimate of the costs.
Assuming a projected cost of £1 per elector, the total cost of a regional referendum would be around £2 million in the north-east, £5 million in the north-west and £4 million in Yorkshire and the Humber.
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Mr. Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether additional funding will be given to regions which vote in favour of an elected regional assembly as compared to those regions which reject the option of an elected regional assembly. [124179]
Mr. Raynsford: Chapter 5 of the White Paper, "Your Region, Your Choice: Revitalising the English Regions" (Cm 5511), sets out the funding arrangements for elected assemblies.
Elected regional assemblies will take responsibilities for programmes that are currently carried out at regional level and their funds will be calculated on the same basis as other regions.
Government grant will meet part of the administration costs of elected assemblies and extra money will be available to reward elected assemblies which achieve or exceed targets agreed with central Government. This money will not be taken from regions without an elected assembly.
Regional Planning Guidance
Phil Sawford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many responses have been received by the Government Office East Midlands on the Revised Regional Planning Guidance for the East Midlands from (a) local authorities, (b) health authorities, (c) hon. Members, (d) parish town councils, (e) members of the public, (f) businesses and (g) others. [123926]
Keith Hill: In total 216 responses have been received on the Draft Revised Regional Planning Guidance for the East Midlands. The breakdown of responses is:
- (a) Local authorities: 60 responses
(b) Health authorities: 0 responses
(c) Hon. Members: One response
(d) Parish town councils: 43 responses
(e) Members of the public: 18 responses
(f) Businesses: 52 responses
(g) Others: 42 responses
Shared Ownership Schemes
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to allow owners and tenants of Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership schemes to gain right to buy discounts when purchasing the full share of their home. [123471]
Keith Hill: Shared owners are not eligible for the right to buy scheme for social tenants. The Government have no plans to allow shared owners who purchased their home under the Do-It-Yourself Shared Ownership (DIYSO) scheme to buy further shares in their property with the benefit of a discount equivalent to that provided under the right to buy. Shared owners already benefit from the public subsidy in providing the scheme and pay a subsidised rent.
However, DIYSO and the right to buy scheme are two of the schemes being examined by the Home Ownership Task Force, that was announced by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister in the Sustainable Communities Plan on 5 February 2003. The Task Force is looking at the whole range of programmes aimed at helping people into home ownership. It will
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examine who is being helped through current initiatives, to what extent these initiatives free up social tenancies for other occupants, and the scope for better targeting and design. The Task Force is expected to report in the autumn.
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