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Landfill (Expansion Areas)

Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultation there is between his Department and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on landfill in expansion areas. [184751]

Keith Hill: There is close working across Government Departments on matters relating to the growth areas, including on the sustainable management of waste.

Mr. Sayeed: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps the Government will be taking to ensure the Review of Old Mineral Permissions is not used to co-locate landfill with development of 4,500 homes at the Wixams, formerly Elstow Garden Villages in Bedfordshire. [184750]

 
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Keith Hill: Mineral planning authorities are required, under provisions in the Environment Act 1995, to undertake initial and periodic reviews of old mineral planning permissions in order to secure improved environmental and operating standards at mineral sites.

It is understood that Bedfordshire county council is currently considering an application for new planning conditions to apply to the restoration of former mineral workings at Elstow South. The hon. Member should make his views on the application known to the authority if he has not already done so.

Local Authorities' Performance Indicators

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place the unaudited data from the Best Value User Satisfaction Surveys 2003–04: General Survey Initial Topline Report for the 14 best value performance indicators for each of the 377 authorities available in the Library. [184975]

Mr. Raynsford: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her previous question on 12 July 2004, Official Report, column 868W.

National Housing Federation

Mr. Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the National Housing Federation's booklet The Evidence Update; and if he will take account of it in making future housing investment decisions about the South West region. [185183]

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister welcomes the work that the National Housing Federation (NHF) have done for their recent reports on housing needs in the, South East and South West. The general picture on housing pressures and the affordability of home ownership is in line with our analysis which under-pinned discussions of funding for affordable housing in the 2004 Spending Review. Officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be meeting with the NHF shortly to discuss these reports.

The NHF South West is represented on the South West Housing Body Steering Group and as such they will play a key role in the development of the region's new Regional Housing Strategy (RHS) due for publication in early 2005. The RHS will reflect all relevant evidence from a variety of sources and will form the basis for the Housing Body's recommendations to Ministers on the distribution of housing resources within the region.
 
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Regional Government (West Midlands)

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will hold public meetings in Herefordshire to discuss proposals for a West Midlands Regional Assembly. [184018]

Mr. Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Ministers soundings about the interest in holding a referendum on whether to establish an elected regional assembly showed that the level of interest in the West Midlands is low. We therefore have no proposals to hold a referendum in the West Midlands during this Parliament and see no merit in holding public meetings in Herefordshire.

Social Housing

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) affordable homes and (b) homes for rent have been built in Portsmouth in each of the last five years. [184313]

Keith Hill: Figures for affordable homes built and homes for rent built are not available centrally.
 
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Based on data reported by Portsmouth council and the National House-Building Council, the number of registered social landlord and council dwellings that have been built within Portsmouth in the last five financial years are as follows.

	Number
1999–2000	37
2000–01	92
2001–02	76
2002–03	88
2003–04	78

Mr. Hancock: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many lettings have been made by (a) the local authority and (b) housing associations in Portsmouth in each of the last five years, broken down by category. [184314]

Keith Hill: Information on the number of lettings to new tenants made by Portsmouth city council, and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) in the Portsmouth area; broken down by category excluding any transfers and mutual exchanges, is tabled as follows:
Number of local authority new lettings made by Portsmouth CC 1

Type of tenancy	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04 2
New secure	1,131	1,159	988	947	853	—
Introductory	0	0	0	0	0	—
Other (e.g. licence)	0	0	0	0	0	—
Total	1,131	1,159	988	947	853	—

⁽¹⁰⁾ These figures include any lettings made to the 5,300 dwellings that Portsmouth CC own in Havant.
⁽¹¹⁾ Data not yet available for 2003–04



Number of RSL new lettings made in Portsmouth area

Type of tenancy	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Fair rent (incl. secure)	5	0	0	0	0	0
Assured	264	251	240	251	213	136
Other	0	2	38	5	6	9
Assured shorthold	31	34	0	0	0	0
Licence agreement	0	0	0	0	0	0
Starter tenancy	0	0	2	3	8	16
Total	300	287	280	259	227	161

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

TRANSPORT

A21 Upgrade

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact on local communities of the delays in announcing his preferred route for the upgraded A21 at Hurst Green. [184652]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 16 July 2004]: No assessment has been made of the impact of delay in the announcement. I am aware of the local concern over the delays however, this section of the A21 is particularly sensitive and I have asked for further advice from the Highways Agency. When I have received their report I will make an announcement.

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce his preferred route for the A21 at Hurst Green. [184653]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 16 July 2004]: I have asked the Highways Agency to carry out further work on this scheme including a review of alignment, road standard and value for money. When I receive their report later this summer I will make an announcement.

Airport Security Act 1982

Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements are in place for the resolution of disputes between police forces and airports designated under the Airport Security Act 1982 regarding the costs to be included within the re-charge arrangements. [184900]

Mr. McNulty: Section 26(3) of the Aviation Security Act 1982 states that this is a matter for agreement between the manager of the designated airport and the police authority in question. Failing agreement, the Secretary of State for Transport will arbitrate. Following Sir John Wheeler's review of Aviation Security, this system is being reviewed with a view to
 
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making appropriate use of the Multi-Agency Threat and Risk Assessments (MATRAs) currently being undertaken at airports as a basis for agreement and, where necessary, arbitration.

Airports

Mr. Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will issue guidance to airport operators regarding the airport master plan referred to in paragraph 8.38 of the White Paper, The Future of Air Transport. [183762]

Mr. McNulty: Guidance on the Preparation of Airport Master Plans was published jointly by the Department for Transport, the Scottish Executive, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Department for Regional Development in Northern Ireland on 12 July. Copies have been placed in the House Library and can also be downloaded from the DfT website www.dft.gsi.gov.uk.

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