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18 Nov 2003 : Column 794W—continued
Postcodes
Mr. Truswell: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what use the Department for Constitutional Affairs and its agencies make of postcode areas for (a) the collection and publication of data, (b) devising formulae for the distribution of grants and awards and (c) the delivery of services; and when such usages were last reviewed. [87771]
Mr. Lammy: I apologise for the delay in responding to my hon. Friend's question; this was due to an administrative error.
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My Department, the Northern Ireland Court Service and the Land Registry do not currently make use of postcode areas.
The Public Guardianship Office (PGO) has used postcode areas to help in the delivery of its services. During the financial year 2000–01, the PGO used the postcode information held in its case record system to help with the allocation of geographical areas to client visitors. The allocation of postcodes to each visitor was made so that an even number of clients was given to each of the visitors employed. This was intended to ensure fair and even coverage for the client base, as well as even workload for the visitors themselves. The use of postcodes has not been reviewed since this time.
The National Archives has used postcode areas for the publication and dissemination of data on a very limited basis within the Marketing Department and the Education and Interpretation and Department. It does not use postcodes for the collection of data, distribute grants and awards or distribute external services on a postcode basis.
The Legal Services Commission does not publish data at postcode level. However, the Commission collects postcode information for individual clients and suppliers holding contracts with the Commission for the Delivery of Legal Services. This information is held in the Commission's corporate information system and can be used by Community Legal Service Partnerships to identify geographical gaps in the supply of legal services.
The Legal Services Research Centre (LSRC) has recently begun work on a new project, funded by the Office for National Statistics and Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, to identify, and if possible, collate data relating to legal services. Data collated may be by postcode area, though any published data will be aggregated to electoral ward level. The data will be publicly accessible on the Neighbourhood Statistics website: www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk
Probate Procedures
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress his Department has made in implementing the recommendations of the review of probate procedures. [138686]
Mr. Lammy: Following the Probate Service Review in 2001, a consultation paper was published in November 2002 seeking responses on the Review's recommendations. The responses are being analysed by the Court Service. The outcome of the analysis will be put to Ministers early in the New Year. A public announcement is expected by Easter 2004.
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Advertisement Regulations
Lynne Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to empower local authorities to remove placards and posters displayed in contravention of advertisement regulations without the requirement to give two days' notice to the advertiser. [139696]
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Keith Hill: No. The statutory two days minimum period must elapse before a local planning authority may remove or obliterate a placard or poster where it has served notice, on the person responsible for the poster, of its intention to do so. This provides that person with the opportunity to challenge the local planning authority's notice or to comply with it. Less than 48 hours is an unreasonably short period of time in which to expect the notice to reach the advertiser and for him to take action.
Assisted Property Purchases
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many times local authorities have assisted people in buying properties in each of the last 10 years, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) amount spent. [139349]
Keith Hill: The information requested covers a number of low cost home ownership schemes including the Cash Incentive Scheme, Homebuy, Do It Yourself Shared Ownership and Right to Buy. As this comprises a considerable amount of data I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the reply in the Library of the House.
Care Homes
Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average funding offered by each county council and unitary authority to people who have been admitted to care homes was in 2002–03. [138161]
Dr. Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
The 2002–03 average gross weekly expenditure per person, in shire counties and unitary authorities, on supporting adults in residential and nursing care homes is shown in the table.
| Shire counties | Unitary authorities | |
|---|---|---|
| Older People | 351 | 352 |
| Adults with Learning Disabilities | 610 | 677 |
| Adults with Mental Illness | 429 | 412 |
| Adults with Physical Disabilities | 526 | 552 |
Community Land Trusts
Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the role of community land trusts as a vehicle for providing affordable housing, with particular reference to key worker housing. [139435]
Keith Hill: The Government have not yet fully assessed community land trusts and therefore have no immediate plans to pursue this model but agree in principle about the need to bring together site preparation, the provision of a mixture of social and private sector housing and development contributions where necessary. Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future signals a further move in this direction, for example through closer working between English Partnerships (EP) and the Housing Corporation. The Housing Corporation and English Partnerships have established a joint unit to bring together EP's land holdings expertise with the Corporation's affordable housing programme. And we
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are proposing to extend the Corporation's power to fund bodies other than housing associations, with a view to widening the opportunities for encouraging new housing development.
Correspondence
Mr. Steen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, dated 27 August 2003, concerning Dr. C. Taylor of Totnes and the Local Communities Sustainability Bill, which was transferred to his Department. [139764]
Keith Hill: I replied to the hon. Member on 17 November 2003.
Council Housing
Mr. Purchase: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 3 November 2003, Official Report, columns 497–98W, on council housing, what the 10 per cent. additional subsidy represents in cash terms to a local authority. [139140]
Keith Hill: The additional subsidy to support borrowing for expenditure by Arm's Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) for local authorities with ALMOs that qualified for funding in 2002–03 and those that have so far qualified in 2003–04 is as follows:
| Local authority | Subsidy 2002–03 | Subsidy 2003–04 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALMO qualified in 2002–03 | |||
| Ashfield | 1,012,603 | 2,400,000 | |
| Derby | 1,312,164 | 3,110,000 | |
| Hounslow | 1,179,452 | 3,500,000 | |
| Kirklees | 1,917,808 | 6,250,000 | |
| Rochdale | 835,397 | 2,420,000 | |
| Stockton-on-Tees | 1,353,288 | 4,450,000 | |
| Westminster | 745,260 | 2,030,000 | |
| Wigan | 1,788,932 | 5,830,000 | |
| ALMO qualified in 2003–04 | |||
| Barnsley | — | 2,773,770 | |
| Blyth Valley | — | 1,329,235 | |
| Bolton | — | 3,427,131 | |
| Brent | — | 2,342,213 | |
| Kensington and Chelsea— | 1,580,334 | ||
| Leeds (north east and west)— | 1,225,282 | ||
| Oldham | — | 3,033,211 | |
| TOTAL | 10,144,904 | 45,701,176 | |
Overall subsidy entitlements for later years, including those for ALMOs that have yet to qualify for funding, have yet to be determined.
Mr. Purchase: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what requirement there will be on regional housing boards to ring-fence additional subsidy provided for arm's length management organisations. [139575]
Keith Hill: Regional Housing Boards advise Ministers on the allocation of housing capital resources. They do not make recommendations on the allocation of funding specifically for arm's length management organisations (ALMOs).
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The additional funding awarded for ALMOs takes the form of Housing Revenue Account Subsidy to support borrowing. Housing Revenue Account Subsidy may be used only for Housing Revenue Account purposes.
Mr. Purchase: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 3 November 2003, Official Report, column 498W, on council housing, what plans he has to continue additional funding for arm's length management organisations beyond Rounds 1 and 2 of the current programme. [139576]
Keith Hill: I announced on 28 July 2003 (in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Press Notice 147) that 13 local authorities have been awarded places in Round three of the Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) programme. Conditional funding for these ALMOs totals £360 million for 2004–05 and 2005–06. This is in addition to the 20 authorities with confirmed or conditional 2-year allocations of ALMO funding totalling £700 million in Rounds one and two. Bids for places in Round four have been invited by 31 December 2003. Funding for ALMOs beyond 2005–06, including possible further Rounds, is subject to the outcome of the 2004 Spending Review.
Mr. Byers: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to ensure that equal funding is being made available for tenants who wish to remain within council ownership and control rather than stock transfer as an arm's length management organisation. [138894]
Keith Hill: The Sustainable Communities Plan made it clear that local authorities seeking additional investment in their housing stock are able to choose from three options: stock transfer, PFI and ALMOs.
The Plan also made it clear that authorities that do not pursue these options cannot expect increased investment above that provided for through mainstream housing funding.
The funding available for social housing, although greatly increased under this Government, is inevitably limited; and we wish to use it in ways that will most improve the lives of tenants.
To make best use of those resources the Government will only provide additional funding to councils that separate their landlord and strategic functions. This provides a strong incentive to better performance; ensures a sharper focus on the two distinct housing functions; and guarantees that tenants have a greater role in the future management of their homes.
Mr. Byers: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what procedures he has put in place to ensure that full and effective consultation takes place with council tenants during the appraisal of the option of stock disposal; and if he will make a statement. [138895]
Keith Hill: The Government are committed to bringing all social homes up to set standards of decency by 2010. The PSA Plus Review of the decent homes target emphasised that tenants must be at the heart of plans to deliver decent homes.
Arrangements for involving tenants should be set out in locally agreed Tenant Participation Compacts. These should be based on standards set out in the National
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Framework for Tenant Participation Compacts. Tenants must have access to independent advice and support and to capacity building and training throughout, from the investment appraisal stage to after transfer. An Independent Tenant Adviser (ITA) should be appointed at an early stage in the process and retained until after the ballot.
With ALMOs, local authorities should consult with tenants on the functions to be transferred and the continuing role of the local authority, and the rights of tenants and leaseholders. They should consult on the composition and status of the arms length body and its Board, including the selection and role of the tenant Board members.
In the case of a Transfer, tenants should be central to all stages of the investment appraisal and development of a proposal, including the selection of a prospective new landlord. Tenant consultation and participation should feature strongly in transfer proposals, and transfer landlords are expected to provide opportunities for tenants to have a real say in the management of their homes.
In order to inform tenants about the Decent Homes agenda the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is organising a series of regional roadshows that will help to develop their skills and knowledge so that they can participate effectively in the Options Appraisal process. We are also making arrangements to produce a video for tenants explaining the various stock options.
Jon Trickett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many council houses have been the subject of stock transfer since June 2001; and what the average capital receipt per property accruing to the local authority was. [139550]
Keith Hill: 205,483 dwellings have transferred from local authorities to registered social landlords since June 2001. The average tenanted market value per dwelling was £4,990. The tenanted market value reflects the requirement to maintain the property for social renting and to a decent homes standard in perpetuity.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the Audit Commission on the effects of large scale voluntary transfers. [139436]
Keith Hill: Officials work closely with the Audit Commission and were members of the study advisory group for the Commission's report on Housing after transfer: The local authority role which was published on 5 December 2002.
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