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28 Oct 2003 : Column 208W—continued
Planning
Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to amend the Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order 1995 to include an additional condition to prevent development on grounds of intrusion; and if he will make a statement. [134796]
Keith Hill: As part of the planning reform agenda, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is undertaking a review of the permitted development rights granted by the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development Rights) Order 1995. A research report commissioned from Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners Ltd. (available on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website) makes a number of recommendations to address concerns about privacy and overlooking. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be seeking views on these recommendations as part of a wider consultation on possible changes to the Order.
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Planning Legislation (Northern Ireland)
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the role of the planning system in delivering sustainable development in Northern Ireland. [100175]
Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
The Regional Development Strategy for Northern Ireland 2025, which was formulated by the Northern Ireland Assembly on 20 September 2001, sets new directions to achieve a more sustainable pattern of development in the interests of future generations. The Department of Environment in Northern Ireland has a programme to provide a full suite of Planning Policy Statements by the end of 2005 and complete up-to-date Area Plan coverage by the end of 2006.
The Planning (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 requires all Planning Policy Statements and Area Plans to be in general conformity with the Regional Development Strategy.
In Northern Ireland, statutory provisions therefore ensure that the promotion of more sustainable forms of development is embedded in all emerging Planning Policy Statements and Area Plans.
Lembit Öpik: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce a statutory Purpose for Planning requirement into Northern Ireland planning legislation based on principles of sustainable development; and if he will make a statement. [100176]
Angela Smith: I have been asked to reply.
The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill imposes a statutory duty on persons and bodies responsible for preparing Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Development Documents in England and Wales to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.
In Northern Ireland, statutory provisions already require Planning Policy Statements and Area Plans to be in general conformity with the Regional Development Strategy 2025, which was formulated by the Northern Ireland Assembly in September 2001 and sets new directions to achieve a more sustainable pattern of development.
I can assure you, however, that consideration will be given to the need to include further provision in future planning legislation for Northern Ireland.
Regional Assemblies
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on which dates he intends to hold the referenda on the proposed regional assemblies in (a) the North West, (b) the North East and (c) Yorkshire and Humberside; and if he will make a statement. [134403]
Mr. Raynsford: No dates have been decided for the referendums on whether to establish elected regional assemblies in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and Humberside regions.
My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister cannot order referendums until six weeks after he receives the Boundary Committee for England's
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recommendations on options for restructuring two-tier local government in the regions, planned for 25 May 2004.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the expected cost (a) by region and (b) in Pendle is of the postal ballot in the referendums on regional assemblies. [134611]
Mr. Raynsford: Information in the Electoral Commission's report "The shape of elections to come" suggests that the direct cost of postal referendums on elected assemblies would be around £1.10 per elector.
On this basis the cost by region of the elected assembly referendum would be £5.7 million in the north west, £4.1 million in Yorkshire and Humberside and £2.1 million in the north east. These figures assume that everyone eligible to vote returns a ballot paper. In practice costs will depend upon turnout, as this will affect postal and processing costs. There will be some additional costs in those parts of the region which also have a local referendum.
It is too soon to estimate the costs in Pendle.
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his latest estimate is of the cost of holding a referendum on regional government in (a) the north west region and (b) the three northern regions, including the costs of postal ballots. [134661]
Mr. Raynsford: Information in the Electoral Commission's report "The shape of elections to come" suggests that the direct cost of postal referendums on elected assemblies would be around £1.10 per elector
On this basis the cost by region of the elected assembly referendum would be £5.7 million in the north west and £11.9 million in the three northern regions.
These figures assume that everyone eligible to vote returns a ballot paper. In practice costs will depend upon turnout, as this will affect postal and processing costs. There will be some additional costs in those parts of the region which also have a local referendum.
Regional Housing Boards
Laura Moffatt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what role the regional housing boards will play in ensuring that housing development takes place throughout the South East region. [135006]
Keith Hill: The South East Regional Housing Board will encourage local landowners, developers, registered social landlords and local authorities to work even more closely together to ensure that the region delivers the right type of housing development, in the right location, to meet the strategic needs of the region and maximise the level of public funding.
Starter Homes
Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many social workers, broken down by local authority area, have benefited from the Starter Home Initiative. [134812]
Keith Hill: The priority groups for assistance under the Starter Home Initiative (SHI) are teachers, police, nurses and other essential health workers. A small
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number of other key workers are being helped, including social workers in some areas. Funding was allocated in 2001 and 2002 based on the bids received, the recruitment and retention difficulties being experienced across different areas and the relative cost of housing. As at 30 September 2003, 45 social workers have been helped to purchase homes under the SHI.
The following table sets out the breakdown by local authority.
| Local Authority | Number of social workers assisted |
|---|---|
| Barnet | 1 |
| Basingstoke and Deane | 5 |
| Bexley | 1 |
| Brighton and Hove | 4 |
| Bristol | 3 |
| Broxbourne | 1 |
| Cambridge | 5 |
| Chichester | 2 |
| Ealing | 3 |
| Eastbourne | 1 |
| Guildford | 1 |
| Hackney | 1 |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | 2 |
| Harrow | 1 |
| Hastings | 2 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 1 |
| Lewes | 1 |
| Oxford | 1 |
| Reading | 2 |
| Reigate and Banstead | 1 |
| St. Albans | 1 |
| Southampton | 1 |
| Watford | 1 |
| Woking | 1 |
| Wokingham | 2 |
| Total | 45 |
Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many public service workers have been assisted by the Starter Home Initiative, broken down by profession. [134813]
Keith Hill: As at 30 September 2003, over 4,500 key workers have been helped to purchase homes under the Starter Home Initiative. The following table sets out the breakdown by key worker group.
| Number of key workers helped to purchase homes | |
|---|---|
| Health workers | 1,961 |
| Teachers | 1,896 |
| Police | 571 |
| Other(8) | 99 |
| Total | 4,527 |
(8) Other key workers being helped under the Starter Home Initiative are social workers, care workers, fire fighters, transport workers, occupational therapists and (from July 2003) prison and probation service staff.
TREASURY
Bond Payment Schemes
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 6 October 2003,
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Official Report, column 1097W, on bond payment schemes, if he will make such an assessment. [135105]
John Healey: There are no plans to make such an assessment on bond payment schemes.
Efficiency Review
Mr. Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will publish the findings of the Efficiency Review consultation; and what recent discussions he has had with Mr. Peter Gershon, Head of the Office Government Commerce, regarding the progress of the Efficiency Review. [135009]
Mr. Boateng: The Review of Efficiency in Public Services is being independently led by Peter Gershon and it is for him to decide when to publish the results of the consultation.
Discussions with Peter Gershon and his team are held on an ongoing basis as required.
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