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RAF Boulmer

Mr. Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the land occupied by RAF Boulmer other than for married quarters is (a) publicly owned and (b) rented; and whether any of it is governed by (i) lease conditions under which the landowner can require reinstatement to agricultural condition and (ii) other restrictions which if enforced would lead to a cut to public funds when the lease is surrendered. [169173]

Mr. Caplin [holding answer 4 May 2004]: In total, RAF Boulmer comprises an area of some 59 ha, of which around 46 ha is Crown freehold and 13 ha is leased. The station is split into three separate areas: a main site, the old administrative site and an accommodation site.

The main site is publicly owned. No restrictions apply. The old administrative site, which is also publicly owned, is in the process of disposal and the Ministry of Defence is committed to reinstate it to its original condition. The accommodation site, which includes the Search and Rescue Unit, is partially leased.

Of this leased area, just over 4 ha could be left as existing or at the landlord's request be returned to original (agricultural) condition. The remainder has to be returned to original (agricultural) condition or compensation paid in lieu.

It is too early to assess the precise impact on receipts, but this is only one of a number of factors which would be taken into account in taking decisions.

UN Operations

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what ongoing British involvement there will be in Iraq after the 30 June 2004 transfer of power. [174518]

Mr. Hoon: Following the assumption of authority by the Interim Iraqi Government on 30 June, British troops will contribute to the Multi National Force carrying out a range of tasks including the provision of security and building the Iraqi security forces. The detailed arrangements under which the Multi National Force will operate are set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1546 and the letters to the Security Council from Prime Minister Allawi and Secretary Powell.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Fire Brigades Union

Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what part he has played in mediating a settlement between the Fire Brigades Union and the fire authorities. [179340]

 
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Mr. Raynsford: Following the May 2002 pay claim from the Fire Brigades Union, Ministers encouraged the two sides to reach a negotiated settlement. The June 2003 agreement which ended the firefighters dispute set out a clear path for pay improvement linked to modernisation of the Fire and Rescue Service subject to some further negotiations. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister hopes that the parties will recognise that a negotiated settlement is the only way forward.

Housing

Dr. Pugh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many housing units were built in 2003–04 in the Pathfinder areas of Merseyside; and how many are expected to be built in 2004–05. [179729]

Keith Hill: No housing dwellings were completed in 2003–04 in the Sefton area of the Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder. The forecast for 2004–05 is 52 housing dwellings. In Wirral, 42 dwellings were completed in 2003–04 and the forecast for 2004–05 is 105. Figures are not yet available for the Liverpool Pathfinder area in 2003–04, but the HMRI Delivery Plan forecasts that 1,301 dwellings will be provided over the period 2004–06.

Adam Price: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities in England have chosen (a) stock transfer, (b) Arms Length Management and (c) Private Finance Initiative. [180185]

Keith Hill: The information is as follows:

Since 2001:

(a) 35 local authorities have transferred some or all of their housing stock to Registered Social Landlords, with 29 others on stock transfer programmes that have not yet transferred their stock.

(b) 33 local authorities have established one or more Arms Length Management Organisations, with 12 other authorities on programmes waiting to do so.

(c) three local authorities have signed Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts for the management of their housing stock, with a further nine local authorities in the procurement stage.

Included in the figures are 13 local authorities that have chosen two of the available solutions for part of their stock, and one local authority that has used all three programmes.

Adam Price: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from local authorities in England seeking direct Government investment options to improve standards in their housing stock. [180187]

Keith Hill: Hammersmith and Fulham and Camden are the only local authorities who themselves have requested direct investment from the Government to meet the Decent Homes programme.

Adam Price: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the number of empty homes in each local authority in England in the last year for which figures are available. [180193]

Keith Hill: The information requested has been made available in the Library of the House.
 
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Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect of (a) large scale voluntary stock transfers of council housing and (b) Arms Length Management Organisations on the provision of low cost housing. [180037]

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made no direct assessment since we do not expect the transfer of existing council housing to Registered Social Landlords (RSL) or its management by an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) in itself to directly affect the provision of low cost housing for key sector workers. Where a local authority receives a receipt from a housing transfer it may be used to contribute towards the provision of additional low cost housing.

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what policy on investment in decent homes standards is followed by his Department for council homes where the tenants and residents have voted neither to transfer to a registered social landlord nor to establish an Arms Length Management Organisation. [180350]

Keith Hill: Stock Transfer, Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) and Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) are the only options available to local authorities and tenants to access any extra resources they need to deliver Decent Homes.

Where tenants have voted against all these options following full tenant engagement in determining the option voted on, the Government will respect that decision, but no extra funding will be provided. The resources available for investment in Decent Homes will be those currently provided through Housing Subsidy, the Major Repairs Allowance, and what the local authority chooses to make available through the single capital pot and through receipts from any other income.

India

Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his official visit to India. [180152]

Yvette Cooper: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will be visiting India later this month on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. The visit is an early chance to meet Senior Members of the new Indian Government and to emphasise to them the importance of our strategic partnership with India.

Planning (Fees)

Mrs. Brooke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities in England have introduced fees for pre-planning application consultation; and if he will make a statement. [179915]

Keith Hill: No central information is available on numbers of local authorities charging for pre-application advice. Councils may make such charges at the present time under their powers to charge for
 
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discretionary services in section 98 of the Local Government Act 2003. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently undertaking a review of the scope and level of planning fees and will be publishing a consultation document later in the summer.

Playgrounds

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the impact of European standards (a) BS EN 1176 and (b) BS EN 1177 on (i) the number of playgrounds in the UK and (ii) the cost of maintaining playgrounds by local authority. [179665]

Mr. Caborn: I have been asked to reply.

This department has made no assessment of the impact of European standards BS EN 1176 and BS EN 1177 on the number of playgrounds in the UK or on the cost of maintaining those playgrounds.

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