---

29 Jun 2004 : Column 216W—continued

Staff Costs

Mr. Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the ratio of staff costs
 
29 Jun 2004 : Column 217W
 
to aid delivered (a) directly by the Department, (b) through the EU budget, (c) through civil society organisations and (d) through other multilateral and bilateral channels was in the last year for which figures are available. [180587]

Hilary Benn: The overall ratio of staff costs to programme in 2002–03 was 1.5 per cent. For DFID's European Union Department, which is responsible for aid resources we provide through the EC, the ratio in 2002–03 was 0.07 per cent. For the department responsible for aid provided centrally through UK civil society organisations, the ratio was 0.8 per cent. The ratio for departments dealing with multilateral channels other than the EU was 0.2 per cent., while that for country programmes was 1 per cent. Changes in DFID's Administration Costs from the start of 2003–04 to include costs that were previously chargeable to the programme will increase these ratios; detailed figures are not yet available.

These ratios do not include the staff costs incurred by multilateral and civil society organisations in managing the resources provided by DFID.

Widows

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research his Department has (a) conducted and (b) commissioned on the number of women widowed as a result of conflict. [181084]

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not conducted or commissioned research specifically to determine the number of women widowed as a result of conflict. However, the issue of women affected by conflict is important to DFID, and support is given to agencies such as the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, to address these issues.

CABINET OFFICE

Magistrates (Wirral)

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the recruitment of magistrates in the Wirral. [180766]

Mr. Alexander: When considering magisterial appointments for the Wirral Bench, I am advised by my Wirral Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace. The procedures on magisterial appointments undertaken by the Duchy Office are the same as those used by the Department for Constitutional Affairs in the remainder of the Country. Regular meetings between the Duchy Office and the Department for Constitutional Affairs ensure a continued close working relationship and consistency of approach on magisterial issues.

Public Appointments (Lancashire)

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the process is for selection of the High Sheriff in Lancashire. [181109]

 
29 Jun 2004 : Column 218W
 

Mr. Alexander: As Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, I approve the appointment of the High Sheriff of Lancashire each year. The Lord-Lieutenant for Lancashire, as the representative of Her Majesty the Queen, makes a recommendation to me after taking soundings from the local area.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Affordable and Social Housing

Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) affordable and (b) social housing units were available in rural areas in each of the last three years, broken down by local authority area. [180391]

Keith Hill: Information is not held centrally on the number of affordable housing dwellings, nor does the information available specify whether social housing dwellings are located within rural areas of a local authority.

A table presenting information reported by local authorities in England on the number social housing dwellings at 1 April has been made available in the Library of the House. Figures are presented for local authorities categorised as either "mixed rural" or "deep rural", according to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's classification list.

Brownfield Sites

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list each of the planning applications for development on brownfield land that he or his predecessor has refused since May 1997. [180521]

Keith Hill: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, or his predecessor, has refused 178 called in planning applications or recovered appeals for development involving previously developed land between April 1999 and March 2004. A list of these developments has been made available in the libraries of the House. Comprehensive information on called in applications and recovered appeals is not available for the period May 1997 to March 1999.

Building Control Surveyors

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what procedures are in place to assess the competency of work carried out by building control surveyors; [181085]

(2) what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the regulatory regime for building control standards; and if he will make a statement; [181093]

(3) how the rate of compliance with the building regulations in the construction of new homes is assessed by his Department. [181096]

Phil Hope: Responsibility for the delivery of competent building control rests with the local authority and approved inspector building control bodies. It is for each building control body to decide on the qualifications and experience of inspectors employed by them. They are encouraged to work within the
 
29 Jun 2004 : Column 219W
 
framework of best practice established in the Building Control Performance Standards published in 1999 and endorsed by Ministers.

In May 2000 the Building Control Performance Standards Advisory Group was established to keep the Performance Standards under review and to advise on performance indicators, the effective delivery of building control and procedures for the monitoring of all types of building control bodies. Officials of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister continue to play a full part in the Advisory Group.

Further work is currently underway, with the assistance of external advisers, to assist the Advisory Group in the development of a series of performance indicators to assist building control bodies to assess their own service quality, and to develop a means of identifying comparative performance.

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Building Control Standards Advisory Group on the effect of the introduction of competition for building control surveys on the rate of compliance with the building regulations. [181094]

Phil Hope: No recent discussions have taken place with the Building Control Performance Standards Advisory Group nor has the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received any representations from them. The Group are welcome to raise with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister at any time any matters relating to standards in building control.

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what support his Department provides to the Building Control Standards Advisory Group. [181095]

Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister provides the venue for meetings of the Advisory Group, sends representatives to its meetings, and is funding work on the development of key performance indicators.

Care Homes

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what regulations apply to residential homes for the elderly in respect of the number of satellite dishes that can be placed onto the side of the home; and if he will make a statement. [181227]

Keith Hill: The regulations for the number of satellite dishes applying to residential homes depends on the physical height of the building. For buildings less than 15 metres (approximately 50 feet) in height, one satellite dish is permitted; for taller buildings, two dishes are permitted.

Coalfields Regeneration Trust

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what (a) the total and (b) his Department's funding was for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for financial years 2000–01 and 2001–02; [179305]

(2) what (a) the total and (b) his Department's funding is projected to be for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust for financial year 2005–06; [179306]

 
29 Jun 2004 : Column 220W
 

(3) what funding plans his Department has for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in financial years (a) 2006–07 and (b) 2009–10. [179307]

Yvette Cooper: Funding for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust has been provided as follows:
£ million

	ODPM funding	Total funding
2000–01	15.650	20.170
2001–02	23.300	27.852
2002–03	14.996	18.432
2003–04	17.000	20.993
2004–05	17.650	22.589
2005–06	17.650	21.078

The total figures include funding provided by the Scottish Executive, for the Trust in Scotland, the Welsh Assembly for the Trust in Wales and other funding sources.

Decisions by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on funding for the Trust in England beyond March 2006 will be taken in the light of the on-going Spending Review, the Trust's continued good performance and evidence of the beneficial impact of the Trust on the coalfield communities.

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what (a) the total and (b) his Department's funding was for the National Coalfields Programme in financial years 2003–04 and 2005–06; [179308]

(2) what funding plans his Department has for the National Coalfields Programme in financial years 2006–07 to 2009–10. [179309]

Yvette Cooper: The National Coalfields Programme is funded by Government and delivered by English Partnerships working with the Regional Development Agencies. Actual investment in the programme's sites for 2003–04 and planned investment in subsequent years is as follows:

	£ million
2003–04	46.0
2004–05	54.0
2005–06	80.0
2006–07	75.0
2007–08	50.0
2008–09	25.0
2009–10	15.0

The figures from 2004–05 onwards are for planned gross expenditure. They exclude reinvestment of receipts from the sale of sites, and are subject to on-going review.

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what (a) the total and (b) his Department's funding was for the Coalfields Enterprise Fund in each financial year since 1999–2000; and what the projected funding is for 2005–06; [179310]

(2) what funding plans his Department has for the Coalfields Enterprise Fund in (a) 2006–07 and (b) 2009–10. [179311]

 
29 Jun 2004 : Column 221W
 

Yvette Cooper: The Coalfields Enterprise Fund is a venture capital fund targeted at the former Coalfield areas. The fund is expected to operate for the next 10 years. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister made a one-off investment of £10 million into the fund in 2004–05.

---