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Home Information Packs

Dr. Gibson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what (a) representations his Department has received from and (b) what meetings his Department has had with the housing industry regarding the proposed introduction of home information packs; [165114]

(2) what estimate he has made of the percentage change in the number of failed housing market transactions that would result from the proposed introduction of home information packs; [165115]

(3) how many home inspectors will be required to fulfil the requirement of the home information pack proposals; how they will be trained; how they will be insured; and over what timescale they will be available; [165116]

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(4) what research has been (a) commissioned and (b) undertaken by his Department to assess the economic costs and benefits to the housing market, in particular in areas of low-demand, of the introduction of home information packs; [165117]

(5) what assessment his Department has made of the pilots carried out on home information packs for house sales. [165118]

Keith Hill: All the main professional and trade bodies involved in the home buying and selling process have been actively involved in helping steer research and develop proposals for home information packs. These organisations frequently express views to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. They are closely involved in finalising arrangements for the smooth implementation of home information packs.

Research carried out in 1998 showed that 28 per cent. of home sale transactions failed after terms have been agreed, costing buyers and sellers about £350 million each year in wasted expenditure. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expect home information packs to reduce significantly this failure and waste.

Between 7,500 and 8,500 home inspectors will be needed to prepare home condition reports and 90 per cent. of these have already been identified within the property professions. Candidates will be trained within the educational sector and property industry in accordance with approved National Occupational Standards. They will be covered by indemnity insurance and the required number will be available before the implementation of the home information pack.

A regulatory impact assessment published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister following consultation with the industry provides details of anticipated costs and benefits arising from home information packs. Following extensive research on this subject, we published a consultation paper "the home information pack in low demand low value areas" in March 2003. A summary of responses to the consultation was published on 3 February 2004. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

In December 1999 we launched a pilot scheme in Bristol to test the practical operation of packs. This showed that home information packs can be assembled quickly, inject transparency into the home buying and selling process and help with the early identification and resolution of problems.

Home Initiatives

Mr. Alan Campbell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) the Starter Home Initiative and (b) the Abandoned Home Initiative in North Tyneside. [165360]

Keith Hill: Since September 2001, the Starter Home Initiative (SHI) has been helping key workers into home ownership in areas where the high cost of housing serves to undermine recruitment and retention of skilled staff in our key public services. It has not been available to key workers in the North East. The SHI was superseded from 1 April by a new key worker housing programme—Key Worker Living. This is also not available in the North East.

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The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of an Abandoned Homes Initiative. However, our Market Renewal Pathfinders are a comprehensive programme to tackle low demand and abandonment in nine areas of England, including Tyneside. The boundaries of the Tyneside scheme, which include parts of Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead, but not the North Tyneside council district, were drawn up following an analysis of local housing markets, using a "worst first" approach. The integrated approach to spatial and economic issues being adopted by the pathfinders should bring substantial benefits to the wider sub-region.

Houses in Multiple Occupation

Mr. Reed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to permit local authorities to charge landlords council tax for houses in multiple occupation occupied solely by students; and if he will make a statement. [162017]

Mr. Raynsford: No. Dwellings occupied entirely by students are exempt from council tax because unlike other groups of people on low incomes, students are not normally entitled to income related benefits such as housing and council tax benefit. If the Government were to make owners of student accommodation liable for council tax, it would not necessarily follow that they would ultimately bear the costs of the tax. This is because landlords could simply pass on the extra costs to the students through their rent.

Key Workers

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what definition he uses of the category key worker. [164650]

Keith Hill: For the purposes of the recently announced Key Worker Living programme, a key worker is defined as someone employed by the public sector; in a frontline role delivering an essential public service where there are serious recruitment and retention problems; and in a group recommended for inclusion by Regional Housing Boards.

Local Authority Standards (Training)

Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will provide central funding to ensure that there is consistency in the level of training offered to local authority standards committee members. [165626]

Mr. Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister already funds the Standards Board for England, which has issued guidance to assist members of standards committees to carry out their role. The Board will continue to issue guidance as it considers appropriate on matters relating to the conduct of members of authorities, including guidance to standards committee members. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister relies on the Board's guidance, which has been well received by authorities, to promote consistency of standards.

Local Government (Local Labour Agreements)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which councils operate local labour agreements. [164888]

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Mr. Raynsford: This information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

M11/Stansted Corridor

Mr. Burns: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list those parts of the Chelmsford local authority area in the West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency which are included in the M11/Stansted corridor as a designated area for development; and if he will make a statement. [165066]

Keith Hill: Chelmsford local authority area is not included in the London-Stansted-Cambridge-Peterborough corridor. My hon. Friend the Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper), made a statement on 2 February 2004 listing the local authorities in the corridor. A copy of this statement is available in the Library of the House.

Regional Assemblies

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of the set-up costs of elected regional assemblies he estimates will be (a) premises, (b) wages and salaries, (c) equipment and stationery and (d) other costs. [164831]

Mr. Raynsford: The costs of setting up an elected regional assembly will vary between regions, largely because the cost of referendums and elections depends upon the size of the region's electorate. For these reasons the proportions of the various elements of the estimated set-up costs will also vary between regions.

Regional Government Staff

Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 168W, on regional government, whether those figures included (a) casual staff, (b) staff on fixed-term appointments, (c) staff seconded out, (d) staff on career breaks, (e) staff on maternity leave and (f) staff on special leave without pay. [164827]

Yvette Cooper: The figures in the answer included casual staff and fixed term appointments, as well as permanent staff then working in the Government Offices. The numbers of staff seconded out, on maternity leave and on special leave without pay was as follows:

Governmentoffice	Staff seconded out	Career breaks	Maternity leave	Special leave without pay
London	12	5	2	1
East	4	7	4	0
West Midlands	10	2	8	1
East Midlands	9	2	2	0
North West	17	5	4	0
North East	6	1	2	0
Yorkshire and the Humber	4	3	4	0
South West	0	0	0	0
South East	18	10	4	0

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