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19 Jul 2004 : Column 7W—continued

Councillors' Allowances (London)

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total amount paid in allowances to councillors was in each of the London boroughs in 2003–04. [184281]

Mr. Raynsford: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The setting of local allowance levels is a matter for each local authority, taking into account its local circumstances and the views of its independent remuneration panel.
 
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House Prices (Portsmouth)

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the percentage change in house prices in Portsmouth was in each of the last five years. [184351]

Keith Hill: The annual percentage change in residential property prices in Portsmouth for each of the last five years is tabled as follows:

	Average price (all dwellings) (£)	Percentage change over previous year
1999	71,185	+8.9
2000	185 85	+20.0
2001	95.911	+12.3
2002	117.161	+22.2
2003	137,435	+17.3

Notes:
1. The figures exclude any transactions believed to be below market value;
2. Over the period 1999–2003 the average number of property sales included in the figures was about 5,400 per annum.
Source:
Land Registry

Housing (Right to Buy)

Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he will make an assessment of the success of the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (Amendment) Order 2003. [184609]

Keith Hill: Reliable information on the effect of the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (Amendment) Order 2003 on Right to Buy sales is not yet available. Many sales in 2003–04 resulted from applications made by tenants before the order came into effect on 27 March 2003. The Government are keeping the question of maximum Right to Buy discounts under review.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to expand into new areas the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (Amendment) Order 2003. [184610]

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to lower the maximum discount available to tenants under the Right to Buy scheme in any other areas, but we are keeping the question under review.

Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received on the Housing (Right to Buy) (Limits on Discount) (Amendment) Order 2003. [184611]

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has received a number of representations on this order, from individual tenants, social landlords, and other organisations. Some have criticised the Government's decision to lower the maximum amount of discount available to tenants under the Right to Buy scheme in 41 areas under the greatest housing pressure, while others have supported it.

Housing Investment

Dr. Naysmith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Treasury on boosting affordable housing investment in the South West in the Comprehensive Spending Review 2004. [183991]

 
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Keith Hill: I refer my hon. Friend to the Deputy Prime Minister's statement to the House on 13 July. By 2008, we will have more than doubled spending on new affordable housing in England since 1997, reaching £2.25 billion in 2008. This will be funded through direct investment, the private finance initiative programme and efficiencies in procurement.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be looking carefully at how the funds for direct investment, including the additional funding for 2006–07 and 2007–08 for high demand areas, are split between regions. This needs to reflect the pattern of needs between regions and the Government's national priorities and targets. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is looking to complete this work by the end of the year.

Housing

Llew Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much additional brownfield land he expects to be used for home building as a result of his announcement of 13 July. [184827]

 
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Keith Hill: Planning Policy Guidance Note 3: "Housing" sets a national target that by 2008, 60 per cent. of additional housing should be provided on previously-developed land and through conversions of existing, buildings. In the Spending Review statement published in the House on 12 July 2004, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer reaffirmed the Government's commitment to the 60 per cent. target. The provisional estimate for 2003 is 66 per cent.

Mr. Tony Clarke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many lettings have been made by (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations in Northampton in each of the last five years, broken down by category. [184843]

Keith Hill: Information on the number of lettings to new tenants made by local authorities and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) in the Northampton area, broken down by category excluding any transfers and mutual exchanges, is tabled as follows:
Number of local authority new lettings made in Northampton area

Type of tenancy	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04 1
New secure	1,316	1,186	1,295	1,218	1,080	—
Introductory	0	0	0	0	0	—
Other (e.g. licence)	12	14	13	8	2	—
Total	1,328	1,200	1,308	1,226	1,082	—

⁽⁸⁾ Data not yet available for 2003–04.



Number of RSL new lettings made in Northampton area

Type of tenancy	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Fair rent (incl. secure)	1	1	0	0	0	0
Assured	222	184	239	208	176	192
Other	41	13	13	5	9	1
Assured shorthold	11	15	0	0	0	0
Licence agreement	1	8	25	3	0	0
Starter tenancy	0	0	2	14	12	23
Total	276	221	279	230	197	216

Source:
ODPM's Housing Investment Programme returns and Housing Corporations CORE return

Housing Waiting Lists

Mr. Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in housing waiting lists in the South West Region in the last year; and how he intends to reduce the waiting lists. [185184]

Keith Hill: Social housing waiting lists and the reasons for changes in them are a key part of the evidence considered by local housing authorities while carrying out assessments of local housing need. These assessments are used by the authorities in developing their housing strategies and should also influence local planning policies for the provision of affordable housing.

The provision of new affordable housing is the number one priority of the South West Housing Body who will be investing £188 million in the financial years 2004–05 and 2005–06 to deliver approximately 6,000 affordable homes within the South West.

Key Workers (Housing)

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many key workers have received (a) equity loans, (b) higher value loans, (c) help with shared ownership and (d) help with intermediate renting in (i) each scheme zone and (ii) each English region from the Key Worker Living scheme, broken down by key worker group. [184141]

Keith Hill: The following table sets out details of the equity loans paid under the Key Worker Living (KWL) scheme between it going live on 1 April and the end of June. No transactions involving higher value equity loans have been finalised at this stage. The shared ownership and intermediate renting schemes available through KWL are on newly built properties and will be coming on stream gradually during the life of the programme.
 
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		Key worker group
Zone	Region	NHS	Teacher	Police	Other
Essex	East	2	2	1	—
South East Consortium	South East	18	25	3	(9)1
East London	London	2	—	1	—
North London	London	2	—	1	—
South East London	London	5	2	3	—
South West London	London	—	—	1	—
West London	London	1	1	1	—
Total		30	30	11	1

⁽⁹⁾ Social worker.

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) budget, (b) funding from his Department and (c) funding from other Government Departments is for the Key Worker Living scheme in the current financial year. [184142]

Keith Hill: £690 million (including Zone Agent administration costs) will be spent through Key Worker Living, of which around £25 million is being contributed by participating employers. Discussions are also ongoing with employers and other Government Departments about additional land contributions and access to accommodation on the NHS Estate.

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on (i) administration and (ii) consultants' fees by each of the zone agents in the Key Worker Living scheme. [184143]

Keith Hill: Four products are available under the Key Worker Living programme: market purchase 'Homebuy'; new build 'Homebuy'; new build shared ownership and, intermediate renting at subsidised levels. NHS owned units are also being made available more widely. The zone agents (ZAs) act as a one-stop shop by providing information for all such schemes as well as administering market purchase (MP) Homebuy. The ZA administration cost for each completed MP Homebuy case is expected to average £2,218.

Although directly linked to market purchase Homebuy, the fee covers on-costs incurred by zone agents e.g. consultancy, to operate the full one stop shop service, including directing key workers to new build schemes and rental accommodation.

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