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23 Jun 2004 : Column 1459W—continued

Work-related Diseases

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims for (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and (b) vibration white finger have been submitted by (i) Richmonds of Worksop and (ii) Richmonds of Doncaster. [179913]

Nigel Griffiths: All coal health claims handled by Richmonds are registered via their Worksop Office.

173 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease claims and 267 vibration white finger claims have been submitted.
 
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DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Mobile Advertising (Planning Permission)

8. Colin Burgon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he issues to local authorities on planning permission requirements for mobile advertising sites along major road routes. [179836]

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does give guidance to local planning authorities on the control of outdoor advertisements. Before giving their consent to an advertisement local planning authorities have to consider the amenity and public safety aspects. Advertisements which are likely to distract motorists on a motorway or trunk road are unlikely to be approved.

Affordable Housing (North-west)

9. Mr. Jack: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to review his policies affecting the provision of affordable housing in the north-west. [179837]

Keith Hill: National policies for affordable housing are currently under review. A review of Regional Planning Guidance for the North West, including housing provision in the region, will begin later this year.

Business Improvement Districts

10. Ms Christine Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what support his Department offers communities interested in piloting business improvement districts. [179838]

Mr. Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is supporting a three-year project, managed by the Association of Town Centre Management, piloting 22 Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in England and Wales. The experiences of the pilots have been very helpful to us in framing the enabling Regulations for BIDS, on which we have recently consulted.

Regional Assembly (North-west)

11. Ann Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to hold a referendum on establishing an elected regional assembly in the north-west of England. [179839]

Mr. Raynsford: The Government intend to bring forward orders enabling referendums to be held in the three northern regions this autumn.

Supporting People Programme

12. Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Supporting People programme. [179841]

Yvette Cooper: The Supporting People programme, introduced on 1 April 2003, provides housing-related support to over 1.2 million vulnerable people to help them sustain their tenancy and live more independently in their home. Over £3.5 billion has been allocated through the Supporting People programme in 2003–04 to 2004–05.
 
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Public Service Delivery

13. Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to ensure that decisions about delivery of public services are made at (a) regional and (b) local authority levels. [179842]

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is initiating a debate on the future of local government which will build on the current responsibility of authorities to make decisions about the delivery of a wide range of public services in their areas and to influence the delivery of others.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to hold referendums this autumn on whether people in three northern regions want an elected regional assembly.

Local Council Benefits Administration

14. Mrs. Humble: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps his Department is taking through the award of beacon status to raise the standard of local council benefits administration. [179843]

Mr. Raynsford: In April I awarded beacon status to Blackpool borough council and Salford city council, in recognition of their excellent performance in benefits administration. Both councils have now begun work to share their good practice with others.

Barker Review

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish the Government's response to the Barker Review of Housing Supply in the UK. [179884]

Keith Hill: The Government do not intend to publish a single response to the Barker Review of Housing Supply in the UK. Kate Barker made a number of recommendations and, as my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer indicated in an initial reaction to the report when it was published, the time scale for responding to each of these will vary. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intend to announce our decision on new regional arrangements for planning by the end this year, following a consultation exercise to be launched next month, and have them in place by September 2005. Also in September 2005, we will publish a national housing market affordability goal, again, following consultation. Our aim will be to keep stakeholders fully informed as the work develops and to publish regular reports on overall progress.

Domestic Violence

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures his Department has taken to raise awareness of the 24-hour domestic violence helpline. [178811]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Home Office have worked with Refuge, Women's Aid and Comic Relief to publicise the 24-hour national domestic violence helpline through a £1 million publicity campaign using radio, women's press, washroom posters and supermarket till receipt advertising.
 
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English Heritage

Mr. Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Chief Executive of English Heritage on the implications of its decision to abandon its regional structure. [175353]

Yvette Cooper: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has not recently discussed the regional structure of English Heritage with its Chief Executive.

Housing Funding (Warrington)

Helen Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much housing funding has been allocated to Warrington Borough Council in each year since 1997. [180085]

Keith Hill: Warrington Borough Council have been allocated a total of almost £43 million in housing funding in the financial years 1997–98 to 2004–05. The allocations on a year by year basis are as set out in the following table:

Financial Year	Total £000
1997–1998	2,779
1998–1999	3,584
1999–2000	3,744
2000–2001	4,834
2001–2002	7,197
2002–2003	7,245
2003–2004	6,882
2004–2005	6,733

In addition, Warrington provisionally have a place on the Arms Length Management Organisation programme. A total of £18.3 million of extra funding for 2004–05 and 2005–06 has been allocated to Warrington to help achieve the Decent Homes standard in their own housing stock. This is conditional upon the outcome of an inspection of Warrington's housing service by the Audit Commission.

Infill Housing

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will allow small infill houses to be built where there is a building moratorium in place. [180054]

Keith Hill: This will be a matter for Chorley Borough Council in the first instance, taking into account the policies in its Local Plan and Supplementary Planning Guidance.

Postal Ballots (10 June)

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to receive the report of the Electoral Commission on the all-postal election pilots on 10 June. [178718]

Mr. Raynsford: The Government expect to receive the report from the Electoral Commission on the June all-postal election pilots by 13 September 2004.

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