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Housing (South-West)

Mr. Key: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to review his policies affecting the provision of affordable housing in the south-west. [180777]

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's sustainable communities plan, published in February 2003, established regional housing boards (RHBs) in each of the nine English regions. The communities plan set out that RHBs would ensure regional housing strategies are co-ordinated with economic and planning strategies, allowing sub-regional approaches to housing problems extending beyond individual local authority boundaries.

Affordable housing is the south-west housing body's number one priority. It announced on 24 March this year how £188.2 million will be invested over the next two years to deliver over 6,000 affordable homes.

The provision of future funding for affordable housing in England is being considered as part of spending review 2004.

Mr. Key: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the stock in Salisbury District of (a) council dwellings, (b) housing association dwellings and (c) housing association dwellings where the district council had nomination rights was in (i) 1984, (ii) 1994 and (iii) 2004. [180781]

Keith Hill: There were 8,581 council dwellings in Salisbury district at 1 April 1984 and 7,018 council dwellings at 1 April 1994. The figures for 2004 are not
 
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yet available. There were 304 housing association dwellings in Salisbury district at 1 April 1984 and 772 housing association dwellings at 1 April 1994. The figures for 2004 are not yet available. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information on the number of housing association dwellings where Salisbury district council has nomination rights.

Mr. Key: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice he has given Salisbury district council as the local housing authority on how to increase the quantity of affordable housing. [180782]

Keith Hill: Government Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (PPG3) requires that local planning authorities should plan to meet the housing requirements of the whole community, including those in need of affordable and special needs housing. The provision of affordable housing is then a local authority responsibility and should be made on the basis of robust local assessments of needs. Where need is clearly demonstrated for affordable housing, this should be taken into account in formulating development plan policies and in deciding planning applications involving housing.

Salisbury district council consulted earlier this year on supplementary planning guidance for affordable housing. Government office for the south-west (GOSW) responded, re-enforcing the need to follow national and local plan policies.

The Government are also consulting on changes to PPG3 (Housing) in order to widen the range of housing opportunity: size, type and affordability. This will underline that the planning system must enable the provision of new homes in the right place (focusing on brownfield sites first) and at the right time to meet planned supply targets.

Mr. Key: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the role is of the Government office of the south-west in the provision of affordable housing in Salisbury District. [180783]

Keith Hill: The Government office for the south-west (GOSW) is a member of the South West Housing Body (SWHB) and provides secretariat support to the steering group, working group and regional housing forum. Along with partner organisations on the SWHB, GOSW will be heavily involved in drawing up the SW Regional Housing Strategy 2004. This document will have an influence on local policies on housing provision (including affordable housing).

GOSW staff also assess all local authority housing strategies against standard fit for purpose criteria. The fit for purpose criteria require local authorities to ensure that provision of affordable housing is made on the basis of robust local assessments of needs. A demonstrable lack of affordable housing to meet local needs is a material planning consideration, which should be taken into account in formulating development plan policies and in deciding planning applications involving housing. Government have issued guidance on how to undertake local housing needs and market assessments.

The Housing Corporation, who are also a member of each regional housing board (RHB) and are responsible for investing public money in housing associations, have a much more involved and direct role in the provision of
 
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affordable housing and work closely with each individual local authority and their partner housing associations.

Housing (North-West)

Dr. Pugh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what research his Department has conducted into the availability of housing in areas of economic expansion in the North-West; [179683]

(2) what monitoring of building moratoriums in the North West is carried out by the Government Office for the North West. [179771]

Keith Hill: Housing provision will be one of the issues that will be examined during the development of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the North West.

Mental Health

Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the recent report on social exclusion and mental health, with particular reference to discussions he has had with the Department of Health on greater support for people with mental health problems. [180392]

Yvette Cooper: The Social Exclusion Unit report "Mental Health and Social Exclusion" was published on 14 June 2004. For the first time, action will be taken across Government to address the full range of issues affecting people with mental health problems. Rather than focusing solely on medical needs, the report addresses stigma and discrimination, employment, education, housing, family needs and community participation. At national level, over 20 Government Departments, agencies and other national organisations will be involved in driving forward the report's action plan in six key areas:

stigma and discrimination—a sustained programme to challenge negative attitudes and promote awareness of people's rights;

the role of health and social care in tackling social exclusion—implementing evidence-based practice in vocational services and enabling reintegration into the community;

employment—giving people with mental health problems a real chance of sustained paid work reflecting their skills and experience;

taking part in the local community—enabling people to lead fulfilling lives the way they choose;

getting the basics right—access to decent homes, financial advice and transport; and

making it happen—clear arrangements for leading this programme and maintaining momentum.

Development of the report was overseen by a Ministerial Group jointly chaired by my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Rooker and my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton). The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department of Health have worked closely together throughout the project, and in partnership with other Departments. The report's action plan includes commitments from the Department of Health to tackle social exclusion through:

a sustained programme to challenge discrimination against people with mental health problems set out in "From Here to Equality" launched by Rosie Winterton on 23 June 2004;

 
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modernised vocational services which reflect evidence-based practice and provide a choice of services to meet diverse needs;

working towards access to an employment adviser and social support for everyone with severe mental health problems;

redesigning mental health day services to promote social inclusion;

improved access to vocational and social support in primary care;

strengthened training on social inclusion for health and social care professionals; and

measures to tackle inequalities in access to health services.

Implementation of the Social Exclusion Unit report will be led by a cross-government team located within the Department of Health's National Institute for Mental Health in England.

Parish Councils

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) average, (b) mean and (c) median values are for numbers of electors represented by parish councils in England. [180495]

Mr. Raynsford: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, research undertaken in 1991 for the then Department of Environment sampled 1,000 parish councils in England. The research found that the 'typical' or average parish council represented 1,700 people.

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what public consultation he requires to be undertaken prior to the establishment of a new parish council. [180509]

Mr. Raynsford: Procedures to be followed by district councils when consulting on reviews of parish arrangements in their area including the establishment of a new parish and parish council are contained in the Local Government and Rating Act 1997.

District councils must take steps they consider sufficient to inform interested parties, both in parished and unparished areas, of reviews and proposals. This may include advertising in the local press, notices in local libraries and, particularly in smaller areas, an individual notification to affected households.
 
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Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria are considered in the decision to establish a new parish council. [180510]

Mr. Raynsford: The criteria for district councils to follow when considering the establishment of a new parish and parish council either by district review or public petition is contained in the Local Government and Rating Act 1997, section 22 (2) which states that regard must be had to the need to reflect the identities and interests of local communities and to secure effective and convenient local government.

Published guidance (Environment Circular 11/97) explaining the criteria to be followed for the establishment of a new parish and parish council is available from the Stationery Office.

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will set out the procedures to be followed in the election of parish councils. [180511]

Mr. Raynsford: The election of parish councils is conducted in accordance with the Representation of the People Acts 1983 and 1985, and the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rules 1986.

Parish council elections are held every four years at the same time as ordinary district council elections or, where districts elect their councillors each year by thirds, in the same year as the election for the district ward in which the parish is situated.

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the funding (a) mechanisms and (b) levels for (i) the administration and (ii) the functions of parish councils in England. [180512]

Mr. Raynsford: The main source of a parish council's income is its precept on the district council. The level of precept is at the discretion of the parish, although Government have the power to cap the precept in exceptional circumstances. The precept is 'added' to the total council tax bill for those living within the parish and is collected by the district council on behalf of the parish council.

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he set out the powers and responsibilities of parish councils. [180513]

Mr. Raynsford: As a tier of local government, parish council's functions are set out in statute. Tabled as follows are lists of parish council's main statutory functions.
Appendix 1: List of parish council powers

Function	Powers and duties	Statutory provisions
Allotments	Powers to provide allotments. Duty to provide allotment gardens if demanded unsatisfied	Small Holding and Allotments Act 1908, ss. 23, 26, and 42
Baths and washhouses	Power to provide public baths and washhouses	Public Health Act 1936, ss. 221, 222, 223 and 227
Burial grounds, cemeteries and crematoria	Power to acquire and maintain Power to provide Power to agree to maintain monuments and memorials Power to contribute towards expenses of cemeteries	Open Spaces Act 1906, ss. 9 and 10; Local Government Act 1972, s. 214; Parish Councils and Burial Authorities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1970, s. 1 Local Government Act 1972, s. 215(6)
Bus shelters	Power to provide and maintain shelters	Local Government (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 1953, s. 4
Bye-laws	Power to make bye-laws in regard to pleasure grounds Cycle Parks Baths and Washhouses Open spaces and burial grounds Mortuaries and post-mortem rooms	Public Health Act 1875, s. 164 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s. 57(7) Public Health Act 1936, s. 223 Open Spaces Act 1906, s. 15 Public Health Act 1936, s. 198
Charities	Duty to receive accounts of parochial charities	Charities Act 1960, s. 32
Clocks	Power to provide public clocks	Parish Councils Act 1957, s. 2
Closed churchyards	Powers as to maintenance	Local Government Act 1972, s. 215
Commons and common pastures	Powers in relation to enclosure, as to regulation and management, and as to providing common pasture	Enclosure Act 1845; Local Government Act 1894, s. 8(4); Smallholdings and Allotments Act 1908, s. 34
Conference facilities	Power to provide and encourage the use of facilities	Local Government Act 1972, s. 144
Community centres	Power to provide and equip buildings for use of clubs having athletic, social or educational objectives	Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 s. 19
Crime prevention	Powers to spend money on various crime prevention measures	Local Government and Rating Act 1997, s. 31
Drainage	Power to deal with ponds and ditches	Public Health Act 1936, s. 260
Education	Right to appoint school governors	Education (No. 2) Act 1986, s. 4
Entertainment and the Arts	Provision of entertainment and support of the arts	Local Government Act 1972, s. 145
General powers	Power to spend up to 5 per elector each year on items that are of 'direct benefit to the area'	Local Government Act 1972, s. 137
Gifts	Power to accept	Local Government Act 1972, s. 139
Highways	Power to repair and maintain public footpaths and bridle-ways Power to light roads and public places Provision of litter bins Power to provide parking places for vehicles, bicycles and motor-cycles Power to enter into agreement as to dedication and widening Power to provide roadside seats and shelters, and omnibus shelters Consent of parish council required for ending maintenance of highway at public expense, or for stopping up or diversion of highway Power to complain to district council as to protection of rights of way and roadside wastes Power to provide traffic signs and other notices Power to plant trees etc. and to maintain roadside verges	Highways Act 1980, ss. 43, 50 Parish Councils Act 1957, s. 3; Highways Act 1980, s. 301 Litter Act 1983, ss. 5,6 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, ss. 57, 63 Highways Act 1980, ss. 30, 72 Parish Councils Act 1957, s. 1 Highways Act 1980, ss. 47,116 Highways Act 1980, s. 130 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, s. 72 Highways Act 1980, s. 96
Investments	Power to participate in schemes of collective investment	Trustee Investments Act 1961, s. 11
Land	Power to acquire by agreement, to appropriate, to dispose of Power to accept gifts of land	Local Government Act 1972, ss. 124, 126, 127 Local Government Act 1972, s. 139
Litter	Provision of receptacles	Litter Act 1983, ss. 5,6
Lotteries	Powers to promote	Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976, s. 7
Mortuaries and post mortem rooms	Powers to provide mortuaries and post mortem rooms	Public Health Act 1936, s. 198
Nuisances	Power to deal with offensive ditches	Public Health Act 1936, s. 260
Open spaces	Power to acquire land and maintain	Public Health Act 1875, s. 164 Open Spaces Act 1906, ss. 9 and 10
Parish property and documents	Powers to direct as to their custody	Local Government Act 1972, s. 226
Postal and telecommunications facilities	Power to pay the Post Office, British Telecommunications or any other public telecommunications operator any loss sustained providing post or telegraph office or telecommunication facilities	Post Office Act 1953, s. 51; Telecommunications Act 1984, s. 97
Public buildings and village hall	Power to provide buildings for offices and for public meetings and assemblies	Local Government Act 1972, s. 133
Public conveniences	Power to provide	Public Health Act 1936, s. 87
Recreation	Power to acquire land for or to provide recreation grounds, public walks, pleasure grounds and open spaces and to manage and control them Power to provide gymnasiums, playing fields, holiday camps Provision of boating pools	Public Health Act 1875, s. 164 Local Government Act 1972, Sched. 14 para. 27 Public Health Acts Amendment Act 1890 s. 44 Open Spaces Act 1906, ss. 9 and 10 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, s. 19 Public Health Act 1961, s. 54
Town and country planning	Right to be notified of planning applications	Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Sched.1, para. 8
Tourism	Power to contribute to organisations encouraging	Local Government Act 1972, s. 144
Traffic calming	Powers to contribute financially to traffic calming schemes	Local Government and Rating Act 1997, s. 30
Transport	Powers to spend money on community transport schemes	Local Government and Rating Act 1997, s. 26–29
War memorials	Power to maintain, repairs, protect and adapt war memorials	War Memorials (Local Authorities' Powers) Act 1923, s. 1; as extended by Local Government Act 1948, s. 133
Water Supply	Power to utilise well, spring or stream and to provide facilities for obtaining water therefrom	Public Health Act 1936, s. 1 25

 
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Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he set out the procedures to be followed to establish a new parish council. [180514]

Mr. Raynsford: There are two ways in which a new parish and parish council can be established. The procedures for this are set out in the Local Government and Rating Act 1997.

Section 9 of the Act provides that a district council may conduct a review of parish arrangements in their area and make recommendations to the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister for the establishment of a new parish.

Section 11 of the Act provides for a petition to be raised for the creation of a new parish in a previously unparished area. For a petition to be considered valid it must be signed by not less than 250 or 10 per cent. of local government electors in the area of the proposed parish, whichever is the greater.

The Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister may by Order give effect to (with or without modifications), or may reject, the recommendations made to him under section 9 or a petition for a new parish submitted under section 11. New parishes are constituted on 1 April of any year with the elections to the parish council being held on the ordinary day of election after that date.

Section 16 of the Act requires parishes with over 200 local government electors to establish a separate parish council.

Published guidance (Environment Circular 11/97) setting out the procedures to be followed for the establishment of new parishes and parish councils is available from the Stationery Office.

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many parish councils there are in England; and if he will list them. [180586]

Mr. Raynsford: There are about 8,700 parish and town councils in England. Volume Two of the latest edition of the Municipal Year Book lists parishes under the relevant county and district council area.

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