House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 15 Dec 2003 (pt 33)

15 Dec 2003 : Column 751W—continued

Legislation

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by the Department in 2002–03 was introduced to implement EU requirements. [141132]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister did not sponsor any primary or secondary legislation during the 2002–03 session that implemented EU requirements.

Local Authority Management Organisations

Mr. Coleman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the local authorities which have sought to set up Arms Length Management Organisations in 2003–04. [143944]

Keith Hill: The local authorities that have or are due to set up Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) in 2003–04 to improve the condition and management of their housing stock are those for which was announced conditional funding on 28 July. These are: Barnet, Camden, Easington, Gateshead, Harrow, High Peak, Islington, Newcastle, Poole, Sheffield, Solihull, South Lakeland and Warrington. Bids from local authorities seeking to set up ALMOs in 2004–05 are due by 31 December 2003.

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Local Government Funding

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will list the (a) Inner London boroughs, (b) Outer London boroughs and (c) Metropolitan districts who will have no increase in the level of grant for local authority service components, as defined in the Local Government Finance 2004–05 Revenue Support Grant Settlement, excluding the settlement for education; [143860]

Mr. Raynsford: Formula grant distributed through the Local Government Finance settlement is not ring fenced for any purpose.

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on resolving shortfalls in income between the level of grant allocated to local authorities and the actual cost of the provision of services. [142038]

Mr. Raynsford: Grant support to local authorities covers on average some 75 per cent. of their costs. The balance is funded through council tax. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister seeks to ensure that where new burdens are placed on councils by central government they are fully funded through the grant system.

Helen Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) when he will finish his review of local government funding following the Audit Commission report; [143933]

Mr. Raynsford: The Government's Balance of Funding Review, which I chair, is looking at how local government should be funded in future. It is taking evidence on a number of proposals for change identified in responses to the Review's public consultation. The Review is due to produce a final report of its work in summer 2004.

Projects (St. Helens)

Mr. Woodward: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which projects have been (a) wholly and (b) partly funded by his Department in St. Helens since 1997; when each project was announced; when it started or was expected to start; what funding was provided by (i) Government and (ii) a third party; what third party provided funding; what the target group of the project was; what the projected outcome of the project was; and what the name of the project was. [141270]

Yvette Cooper: Project support information is tabled as follows.

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Project name Period Governmentfunding Other funding Source ofother funding Target group Projected outcomes

Single Regeneration Budget (SRB)⁽²⁸⁾ (round 1) St. Helen's Southern Corridor 1995–06 to 1999–2000 £4.5 million Details not available — St. Helen's Town Centre Comprehensive regeneration strategy building on: road links with M62, existing public private partnerships. Wide range of employment and other benefits to residents.

SRB (round 2) Newton 21 St. Helens 1996–07 to 2000–01 £14.08 million Details not available — Newton-le-Willows Intended to create a self sustaining community through a programme of economic, environmental, housing, training and education initiatives preparing residents for employment opportunities created by commercial development.

SRB (round 4) The Parr Partnership St. Helens 1998–09 to 2003–04 £5.25 million £12.82 million Other public funding and private sector leverage Parr area of St. Helens Addressing problems faced by Parr residents including health and living environments, the needs for skills and training, and improvements to social, transport and recreation facilities.

SRB⁽²⁹⁾ (round 5) St. Helens Count Me In 1999–2000 to 2003–04 £13.65 million £52.5 million Other public funding and private sector leverage Former Coalfield Community of St. Helens Major new centres of economic activity— stadium/leisure/conference centre; strategic site for employment; innovation centre to create new job opportunities. Environmental improvements. Capacity building, health initiatives and improved public transport links will address social inclusion.

Community Empowerment Fund 2001–02 to 2003–04 £390,000 n/a n/a St. Helens local authority area To assist in establishing a Community Network to allow the community and voluntary sector to play a full and effective role in their Local Strategic Partnerships.

Community Chest 2001–02 to 003/4 £518,000 n/a n/a St. Helens local authority area Provides grants to groups in Neighbourhood Renewal Fund areas for grass roots community activity.

Community Learning Chest 2002–03 to 2003–04 £104,000 n/a n/a St. Helens local authority area Aims to increase the capacity, skills and knowledge of local residents to engage in Neighbourhood Renewal.

Neighbourhood Renewal Fund⁽³⁰⁾ 2001–02 to 2003–04 £8.71 million n/a n/a St. Helens local authority area Aims to enable the local authority in collaboration with the Local Strategic Partnership to improve services, narrowing the gap between deprived areas and the rest of England.

Project name	Period	Governmentfunding	Other funding	Source ofother funding	Target group	Projected outcomes
Single Regeneration Budget (SRB)⁽²⁸⁾ (round 1) St. Helen's Southern Corridor	1995–06 to 1999–2000	£4.5 million	Details not available	—	St. Helen's Town Centre	Comprehensive regeneration strategy building on: road links with M62, existing public private partnerships. Wide range of employment and other benefits to residents.

SRB (round 2) Newton 21 St. Helens	1996–07 to 2000–01	£14.08 million	Details not available	—	Newton-le-Willows	Intended to create a self sustaining community through a programme of economic, environmental, housing, training and education initiatives preparing residents for employment opportunities created by commercial development.

SRB (round 4) The Parr Partnership St. Helens	1998–09 to 2003–04	£5.25 million	£12.82 million	Other public funding and private sector leverage	Parr area of St. Helens	Addressing problems faced by Parr residents including health and living environments, the needs for skills and training, and improvements to social, transport and recreation facilities.

SRB⁽²⁹⁾ (round 5) St. Helens Count Me In	1999–2000 to 2003–04	£13.65 million	£52.5 million	Other public funding and private sector leverage	Former Coalfield Community of St. Helens	Major new centres of economic activity— stadium/leisure/conference centre; strategic site for employment; innovation centre to create new job opportunities. Environmental improvements. Capacity building, health initiatives and improved public transport links will address social inclusion.

Community Empowerment Fund	2001–02 to 2003–04	£390,000	n/a	n/a	St. Helens local authority area	To assist in establishing a Community Network to allow the community and voluntary sector to play a full and effective role in their Local Strategic Partnerships.

Community Chest	2001–02 to 003/4	£518,000	n/a	n/a	St. Helens local authority area	Provides grants to groups in Neighbourhood Renewal Fund areas for grass roots community activity.

Community Learning Chest	2002–03 to 2003–04	£104,000	n/a	n/a	St. Helens local authority area	Aims to increase the capacity, skills and knowledge of local residents to engage in Neighbourhood Renewal.

Neighbourhood Renewal Fund⁽³⁰⁾	2001–02 to 2003–04	£8.71 million	n/a	n/a	St. Helens local authority area	Aims to enable the local authority in collaboration with the Local Strategic Partnership to improve services, narrowing the gap between deprived areas and the rest of England.

⁽²⁸⁾ SRB funded through the North West Development Agency from April 1998.

⁽²⁹⁾ Scheme ends 2005–06.

⁽³⁰⁾ Funding allocated to 2005–06.

Small Businesses

Brian Cotter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department uses a database of individual small businesses for consultation purposes. [142478]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister regularly consults the Small Business Service.

Travellers

Mr. Paice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures are taken to ensure that members of the traveller community occupying unauthorised sites pay council tax. [143923]

Mr. Raynsford: Council tax liability is based upon the identification of a "chargeable dwelling". Unauthorised sites are generally too transient to establish that a dwelling exists for the purposes of council tax. If, however, a caravan remains on private land for a period of at least six months, the listing officer may include an entry in the valuation list for council tax purposes. Council tax will then be collected by billing authority, based on the band in the list, by using their normal recovery procedures.

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West Sussex County Council

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will give the percentage change in spending share for highways for West Sussex county council in 2003–04; and by how much this differs from the level of inflation. [143862]

Mr. Raynsford: In 2003–04, West Sussex County Council's Highway Maintenance Formula Spending Share (FSS) was £25,071,558. Formula Spending Shares were introduced in 2003–04 and are not directly comparable with Standard Spending Assessments. In order to provide a comparison, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published Formula Spending Share Comparators. These are based on a control total that includes the additional resource equalisation amounts (comparable to 2003–04) but based on the 2002–03 formulae. The 2002–03 Highway Maintenance Formula Spending Share Comparator for West Sussex county council was £26,837,923. The percentage decrease in Highway Maintenance FSS for West Sussex county council was therefore 6.6 per cent. The October 2003 value of Retail Price Index Excluding Mortgages (RPIX)was l.7 per cent.

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Formula Spending Shares are neither grant nor the Government's estimate of how much an authority should spend on a particular service. West Sussex county council received a formula grant increase of 4.0 per cent. in 2003–04. It is up to each individual authority to set their budgets taking into account their local circumstances.

Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the percentage change in spending share for waste (EPCS) for West Sussex county council was in 2003–04; by how much this differs from the level of inflation; and if he will estimate what percentage of the change in spending share for waste (EPCS) would be spent on (a) implementing recycling targets and (b) increases in landfill taxes. [143863]

Mr. Raynsford: Waste disposal and waste collection are covered by the general Environmental, Protective and Cultural Services (EPCS) Formula Spending Share (FSS).

In 2003–04, West Sussex county council's EPCS FSS was £57,045,365. Formula Spending Shares were introduced in 2003–04 and are not directly comparable with Standard Spending Assessments. In order to provide a comparison, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published Formula Spending Share Comparators. These are based on a control total that includes the additional resource equalisation amounts (comparable to 2003–04) but based on the 2002–03 formulae. The 2002–03 EPCS Formula Spending Share Comparator for West Sussex county council was £56,119,688. The percentage increase in EPCS FSS for West Sussex county council was therefore 1.6 per cent. The October 2003 value of RPIX was 1.7 per cent.

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