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19 Nov 2003 : Column 1088W—continued
Supermarkets (Planning)
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what investigations the Government have carried out into the extent to which existing planning applications for supermarkets have a condition stating the maximum retail floor space; and how many applications have had such conditions attached. [138746]
Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not collect information on the amount of floor space granted in planning permissions or what conditions were attached, because to do so would be an excessive burden on local authorities. Our policy is to minimise the data demands we place on local planning authorities.
From the cases that my officials have seen, which are mainly the largest retail cases, and from advice they have sought, their assessment agreed with that of the hon. Member in Standing Committee that the vast majority of consents since 1996 have maximum floor space stipulated in conditions, whereas for those prior to 1996 it may have been less frequent.
Tenancy Deposit Scheme
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what evaluation his Department has made of the pilot Tenancy Deposit Scheme; and if he will make a statement. [140043]
Keith Hill: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 10 November in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Caton), Official Report, column 164W.
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Mr. Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the case for a statutory Tenancy Deposit Scheme; what plans he has to introduce legislation; and if he will make a statement. [140044]
Keith Hill: On the first part of the question I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gower (Mr. Caton) on 10 November 2003, Official Report, column 164W.
On the second part, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are currently considering the case for legislation in the context of the Law Commission's proposals for tenure reform.
Traffic Noise (PPG 24)
Mr. Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will reduce the maximum noise thresholds in PPG 24 for aircraft noise to below those for other traffic noise sources; [139710]
- (2) if he will set lower maximum traffic noise thresholds for rural areas than for urban areas in PPG 24 when assessing new development areas; [139711]
(3) if he will remove the two to three decibel allowance included in PPG 24 for aircraft noise; [139712]
(4) if he will amend PPG 24 to bring the maximum recommended traffic noise levels for assessing new development areas into line with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation. [139713]
Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of Planning Policy Guidance Note 24: "Planning and Noise". The review will include a re-assessment of the Noise Exposure Categories (NECs) in the light of the World Health Organisation's guidelines and other recommendations and research.
With regards to traffic noise thresholds for rural areas as compared with urban areas, the existing guidance already contains provision for local authorities, where appropriate, to vary the recommended levels contained in the NEC tables by up to three dB(A) (decibels of average weighted sound.
Urban Landscapes Project
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on UK participation in the EU Sustainable and Accessible Urban Landscapes Project. [139424]
Yvette Cooper: SAUL(2) is a transnational project funded under the European INTERREG III initiative involving partners from the UK, Germany, Netherlands and Luxembourg.
It is led by the UK partner 'Groundwork UK'. Its aim is to improve the public realm and public open space through a collaborative planning and design approach. It involves a range of urban landscape demonstration projects; development of regional strategies; a transnational programme to promote learning, knowledge and experience transfer and planning for new urban landscapes.
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Warrington Borough Council
Helen Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the rate of local income tax which would be necessary to fund services provided by Warrington Borough Council (a) if such a tax were levied on all those employed in Warrington and (b) if such a tax were levied on residents of Warrington. [140035]
Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made no estimate of these matters. The Steering Group of the Balance of Funding Review, chaired by my rt. hon. Friend the member for Greenwich and Woolwich, has asked external organisations to give evidence on a number of issues put to it by consultees, which include the case for introducing some form of local income tax. We have made clear that the fact that the group is looking at the issues put to it does not mean that the Government endorses them.
Website
John Barrett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent assessment he has made of the content and design of his Department's website. [139370]
Yvette Cooper: The current Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's web site went on line in July this year. It's design and content is consistent with Cabinet Office guidelines and the development process included usability testing, online user research and extensive content evaluation.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be reviewing the content and design of the site on a regular basis.
Wilson Marriage Centre, Colchester
Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 6 October 2003, if he will call in public inquiry Application CC/COL/03/1437 by Essex County Council in respect of land it owns at the Wilson Marriage Centre, Barrack Streeet, Colchester. [138142]
Keith Hill: The planning application in question represents a departure from the local development plan. Essex County Council have confirmed that the application, should they be minded to approve it, will be submitted to my rt. hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister in due course, so that he can consider whether the proposals raise any issues which would warrant his intervention.
In considering whether his intervention may be justified, all representations received will be given very careful consideration.
TREASURY
Suicide
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many suicides there were in each month in (a) England and (b) each region in each of the last six years. [139867]
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Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 19 November 2003:
- As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many suicides there were in each month in a) England and b) each region in each of the last six years. (139867)
- The most recent available mortality data are for the calendar year 2002. I will arrange for figures for each year from 1997 to 2002, by month and Government Office Region, to be placed in the House of Commons Library.
Teenage Pregnancy
John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many teenage pregnancies there were in (a) the UK, (b) coalfield communities and (c) Bassetlaw in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [140052]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to John Mann, dated 19 November 2003:
- As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many teenage pregnancies there were in a) UK, b) Coalfield communities and c) Bassetlaw, for the last 12 months for which figures are available. (140052) Figures for the United Kingdom are not available because conception statistics are not calculated for Northern Ireland, and those for Scotland are not produced on a comparable basis to England and Wales. The information available for England and Wales is shown in the table below.
- The number of teenage pregnancies in England and Wales are compiled routinely by calendar years. The latest year for which figures are available is 2001*.
| Number of pregnancies | |
|---|---|
| England and Wales | 40,966 |
| Coalfield communities | 5,534 |
| Bassetlaw | 80 |
Unemployment Rates
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of (a) unemployment, (b) seasonally adjusted unemployment and (c) long-term unemployment for the Isle of Wight was for each month since 2000. [139977]
Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Andrew Turner, dated 19 November 2003:
- As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking for the level of (a) unemployment (b) seasonally adjusted unemployment and (c) long-term unemployment for the Isle of Wight each month since 2000. (139977)
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- The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following the internationally standard International Labour Organisation definition.
- However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of long-term unemployment for the Isle of Wight, or Parliamentary Constituency estimates on a monthly basis.
- ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for local areas including Parliamentary Constituencies. The attached table gives the number of JSA claimants and long-term claimants, those who have been claiming for at least 12 months, in the Isle of Wight Parliamentary Constituency for the period January 2000 to October 2003. Claimant count figures are not seasonally adjusted at Parliamentary Constituency level.
| All claimants | Claimants over 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | ||
| January | 3,729 | 906 |
| February | 3,596 | 885 |
| March | 3,279 | 840 |
| April | 2,892 | 775 |
| May | 2,616 | 753 |
| June | 2,433 | 725 |
| July | 2,403 | 722 |
| August | 2,325 | 683 |
| September | 2,249 | 679 |
| October | 2,347 | 673 |
| November | 2,660 | 662 |
| December | 2,945 | 653 |
| 2001 | ||
| January | 3,305 | 646 |
| February | 3,189 | 633 |
| March | 2,876 | 610 |
| April | 2,419 | 598 |
| May | 2,228 | 594 |
| June | 2,039 | 565 |
| July | 1,970 | 544 |
| August | 1,940 | 532 |
| September | 1,911 | 513 |
| October | 2,059 | 497 |
| November | 2,332 | 488 |
| December | 2,622 | 482 |
| 2002 | ||
| January | 3,008 | 481 |
| February | 2,867 | 478 |
| March | 2,587 | 452 |
| April | 2,359 | 442 |
| May | 2,220 | 439 |
| June | 1,973 | 412 |
| July | 1,915 | 379 |
| August | 1,874 | 346 |
| September | 1,887 | 331 |
| October | 1,927 | 329 |
| November | 2,198 | 309 |
| December | 2,451 | 322 |
| 2003 | ||
| January | 2,785 | 325 |
| February | 2,741 | 308 |
| March | 2,438 | 298 |
| April | 2,125 | 296 |
| May | 1,939 | 291 |
| June | 1,775 | 282 |
| July | 1,714 | 282 |
| August | 1,662 | 260 |
| September | 1,689 | 279 |
| October | 1,709 | 273 |
Source:
Jobcentre Plus administrative system.
19 Nov 2003 : Column 1093W
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