---

7 Jun 2004 : Column 252W—continued

Borrowing (Assets)

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when councils will be allowed to borrow against their assets in the same way as housing associations. [175949]

Keith Hill: Local housing authorities may not borrow against housing assets because if they were to default on the loan repayment, it could result in the lender taking control of local authority housing stock, which is unacceptable. There are no plans to change this rule.
 
7 Jun 2004 : Column 253W
 

Bridlington Council (Rates)

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the implications of Bridlington council charging 90 per cent. second home rateable value for wooden chalets. [176109]

Mr. Raynsford: Council tax is payable on a daily basis. If a dwelling is no one's sole or main residence and is substantially unfurnished it is exempt from council tax for a period of up to six months. A dwelling which is furnished and is no one's sole or main residence is subject to council tax at a discounted rate. From the financial year 2004–05, the Government have given local billing authorities the discretion to set the council tax discount offered on furnished unoccupied homes at any point between 10 per cent. and 50 per cent. This followed a consultation exercise in 2001 when there was overwhelming support for the idea of second homeowners paying full council tax on their second home. The regulations allow local authorities to differentiate between those properties which have a planning restriction preventing occupancy all year round and those which do not.

It is up to local billing authorities to decide how to use this new freedom as the Government believe that they are best placed to make decisions on second homes discounts.

Business Rates (Respite Care)

Mr. Dawson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has made about the higher levels of business rates charged to the providers of respite care. [176554]

Mr. Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received no such representations.

Council Tax (Second Homes)

John Mann: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he defines a seafront wooden chalet as a second home for the purposes of council tax liability. [176432]

Mr. Raynsford: Council tax is only payable on a domestic property which is on the valuation list. It is for the Valuation Office Agency to decide whether a dwelling should be included on the list. In doing this they would take account of the case Lewis v Christchurch Borough Council [1996] RA.229 in which 340 beach huts resting on a sand bank were found to be dwellings for the purpose of council tax and should be included separately in the valuation list. If a property is on the valuation list, the local billing authority will determine council tax liability.

Counterfeit Goods

Brian White: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to ensure that local authority trading standards departments take action against people selling counterfeit goods. [171108]

Ms Hewitt: I have been asked to reply.

Counterfeit goods are a serious threat to consumers, industry and the economy as a whole. Last year we introduced a number of very effective measures to help business tackle counterfeiting. For example we removed
 
7 Jun 2004 : Column 254W
 
the restrictions on Customs passing information on counterfeit foods to Trading Standards Departments, and all Intellectual Property Right registration fees with Customs were abolished.

The priorities for local authority trading standards departments are not uniform and will vary according to local circumstances. The National Performance Framework for Trading Standards introduced by my department in consultation with other government departments and the service recognises the need to ensure local services have scope to determine how to create a fair and safe trading environment taking into account local circumstances and local consumer and business expectations. The work of Trading Standards in combating the problem of counterfeit goods will be part of this framework.

The Patent Office has also worked with the Trading Standards Institute to produce a new intellectual property module for the Diploma in Consumer Affairs. The Patent Office in conjunction with Trading Standards North West has developed an interactive CD package that guides trading standard's officers through the investigation process.

Departmental Annual Report

Norman Lamb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the production of his Department's latest annual report cost; how many copies were printed; how many copies of it were sold at its cover price; to whom copies of the report have been provided free of charge; and how many copies were provided free of charge. [171141]

Yvette Cooper: The latest available figures are those for the 2003 Annual Report published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in May 2003.

704 copies of the 2003 Annual Report have been distributed in total. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister paid £16,400 for the design and production of the Report and the printing and distribution of 355 copies free of charge to MPs, various stakeholder groups and internally to officials within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. In addition the publisher, The Stationery Office Ltd. sold a further 349 copies.

Departmental Buildings

Mr. Flight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many buildings in England his Department owns that were used at less than 25 per cent. capacity for more than three months in 2003–04. [174981]

Yvette Cooper: The only buildings owned or leased by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister which were used at less than 25 per cent. capacity for more than three months in 2003–04 were six buildings in the Eastern Region from which Government Office-based staff transferred to new premises. Since that time one of these offices has been sub-let, one has been two thirds let, one has been handed back to the landlord, two are in the process of being let and one remains on the market. Although the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has overall responsibility for Government Office East, the Government Offices carry out functions on behalf of ten Government Departments.
 
7 Jun 2004 : Column 255W
 

Information relating to NDPB's with their own land holding powers could be gathered only at disproportionate cost.

Domestic Violence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Supporting People programme with respect to tackling domestic violence. [177564]

Yvette Cooper: Adults who have experienced domestic violence or who are at risk of domestic violence are one of the groups of people helped by the Supporting People programme. Administering local authorities research, plan and commission housing-related support services for vulnerable people, including the survivors of domestic violence. These services form part of the package of help which survivors need.

Energy Performance (Buildings)

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what studies he has commissioned of the policies being adopted by other EU member states concerning obligations on owners of larger privately-owned buildings to implement Article 7.3 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, with specific reference to the labelling of buildings open to the public. [176927]

Phil Hope: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 13 January, Official Report, column. 723W. In the period since then officials of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have enquired about other Member States' intentions on the labelling of buildings open to the public both at European Commission meetings and in informal contacts with officials in other States. There have been few clear signals, but the Commission has clarified the meaning of the Article, and more Member States are expected to announce their positions in the coming months.

Extra Care Housing

Dr. Whitehead: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding plans he has for the development of extra care sheltered housing. [175250]

Dr. Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.

The development of extra care housing is being supported by £87 million made available for 2004–05 and 2005–06 through the extra care housing fund. The fund is run by the Department in partnership with the Housing Corporation, supported by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. £29 million has been allocated for 2004–05 to successful bids from 19 councils with social services responsibilities (CSSRs). This will create 1,532 additional extra care housing places, to be delivered through local partnerships with housing associations and other bodies.

A further £17.7 million has been pre-allocated to five CSSRs for 2005–06.

Bidding guidance and a timetable for bids for the remaining £40.3 million to be allocated for 2005–06 will be published shortly.
 
7 Jun 2004 : Column 256W
 

---