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5 Jul 2004 : Column 454W—continued

Learning and Skills Councils

Mr. Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress he has made in his discussions with the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on his proposals for devolving responsibility for learning and skills councils to the English regions. [181569]

Mr. Raynsford: The learning and skills responsibilities of elected regional assemblies were set out in Chapter 4 of the White Paper, "Your Region, Your Choice: Revitalising the English Regions", published in May 2002 (Cm 5511).

The Government have always made their intentions clear to publish a draft Bill on assemblies' powers, functions and structure before any referendums, to help inform people voting. We are on course to do this in July, subject to Parliament's view on the Orders providing for the referendums.
 
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Local Government Reorganisation

Mr. Beith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether it is his intention that county council elections should take place in May 2005 in counties in which local government reorganisation is taking place as a consequence of the setting up of a regional assembly. [182281]

Mr. Raynsford: Where following regional referendums the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is considering implementing any local government reorganisation, we shall need to consider the implications for the electoral cycles of the councils concerned. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consult widely before pursuing any proposals to change a council's pattern of elections. In the meantime there are no proposals to change county council elections due to take place in May 2005.

Mobile Phone Emissions

Mr. Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent research his Department has commissioned into the health risks posed by (a) mobile telephone emissions and (b) mobile telephone mast emissions; and if he will make a statement. [182314]

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not itself commission research into the health risks posed by mobile telephone technology. The Government have established the Mobile Telephone Health Research (MTHR) Programme, which is costing around £7.36 million, is funded jointly by Government and industry. The Department of Health and Department for Trade and Industry provide the secretariat for the programme. The programme is being directed and overseen by an independent management committee led by Professor Lawrie Challis OBE and made up of leading UK and international experts. It is carrying out research into the effects of mobile phone technology on health and encompasses handsets, base stations and emerging radio-based technologies. The process will ensure that Government and the public are kept up to date with new research findings.

New Developments (Landscaping)

Mr. Swire: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with (a) developers and (b) local authorities about landscaping new developments. [182054]

Keith Hill: None. However, the Government recognise the important role of proper landscaping in the delivery of well-designed, high-quality and sustainable developments. Government planning policies have for some time emphasised the importance of good design; and in "By Design" and "Better Places to Live" we have issued good practice guidance on achieving good design, which includes advice on landscaping issues. And through establishing CABE Space we are ensuring that good design, management and maintenance of the whole built environment is increasingly built into the communities we create.
 
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Northampton

Ms Keeble: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what change in addition to the natural population growth of Northampton he expects will take place as a result of the development proposed by the Government over the next (a) 10 and (b) 20 years. [181657]

Keith Hill: The draft Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy proposed that some 26,400 houses should be built in Northampton between 2001 and 2021 (12,550 for 2001–11 and 13,850 for 2011–21). This included growth that was already planned for in Northampton.

The additional growth is still subject to formal confirmation by inclusion in Regional Planning Guidance for the East Midlands. As the panel appointed to examine issues arising from the draft Strategy has not reported yet and figures are still subject to further public consultation no definite conclusions about additional population growth can currently be drawn.

Ms Keeble: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimates he has made of the projected population change of Northampton over the next (a) 10 and (b) 20 years. [181660]

Keith Hill: The 1996-based sub-national population projections estimated that the population of Northampton would grow from 198,300 in 2001 to 210,500 in 2011 and 221,800 in 2021. The 2001 Census, however, recorded a figure of 194,458 for Northampton. New sub-national projections, based on the Census, which will replace the 1996-based projections, are expected to be issued in August.

Ms Keeble: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimates he has made of the natural change in the population of Northampton, excluding people moving into the town, over the next (a) 10 and (b) 20 years. [181661]

Keith Hill: The 1996-based sub-national population projections estimated that the population of Northampton would grow from 198,300 in 2001 to 210,500 in 2011 and 221,800 in 2021.

Of the estimated population growth between 2001 and 2011 an increase of about 7,000 was estimated to be due to natural increase. For the period 2011–21 the natural increase was estimated to be about 6,000.

The 2001 Census, however, recorded a total population of 194,458 for Northampton. New sub-national projections, based on the Census, which will replace the 1996-based projections, are expected to be issued in August.

Planning Appeals

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 28 June 2004, Official Report, column 100W, what constitutes an enterprise for the purposes referred to. [182254]

Keith Hill: 'Enterprise' is not defined, but a good example of a situation where the financial viability of an enterprise is a relevant planning consideration is at Annex I of Planning Policy Guidance Note 7. This indicates that new permanent housing in the countryside
 
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cannot be justified on agricultural grounds unless (among other things) the farming enterprise is economically viable.

Regional Assemblies

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether it would be possible to hold the proposed referendums on regional assemblies using conventional voting in polling stations rather than all-postal voting. [181526]

Mr. Raynsford: It is the Government's intention to hold the referendums by all-postal ballots. Orders to that effect were laid on Thursday, 24 June 2004. To hold referendums this autumn, as widely expected, and to allow an adequate campaigning period and timely public information, Parliament needs to approve those Orders before Summer recess.

The Orders do not allow for the referendums to be held by traditional ballot. However, the draft Orders contain a requirement for one assistance and delivery point per 50,000 electors, to be open on polling day between 7am and 10pm and the preceding five working days for normal working hours. So, electors will have the choice as to whether to return their vote by post, to deliver it by hand, or to vote at a place supervised by electoral officials.
 
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Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information electors will receive with their ballot papers in the forthcoming referendums on the proposed regional assemblies. [181527]

Mr. Raynsford: In addition to their ballot paper and security statement, electors would receive the following information—subject to parliamentary approval:

Instructions to Voters, set out in Form 5 of the draft Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums Order 2004; and,

Explanatory material, which will describe the local government options using text and maps. The explanatory material will be set out in the draft Order, setting the date of the referendums and the local government options. The Government intends to lay this Order shortly.

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