House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 7 Sept 2004 (pt 58)

7 Sept 2004 : Column 1162W—continued

Departmental Accounts

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when his Department's resource accounts for 2004–05 will be published; and if he will make a statement. [187565]

Phil Hope: The accounts preparation is progressing according to timetable and publication will be before the statutory deadline of 31 January 2005.

Departmental Travel

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of (a) air travel by and (b) overnight accommodation for his Department's officials on departmental business was in 2003–04. [186594]

Phil Hope: In 2003–04 the cost of (a) air travel was £356,500 and (b) overnight subsistence and accommodation was £1.437 million.

Derelict Homes

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate has been made of the number of derelict homes; what proportion of these are council owned; what proportion of these are in (a) urban areas and (b) in the south east region; and if he will make a statement. [187328]

Keith Hill: The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Designated Accommodation

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many rooms are set aside for (a) the use of smokers, (b) worship, broken down by religion and (c) nursing mothers and pregnant women in each building and set of offices for which his Department is responsible. [187320]

Phil Hope: The data requested is set out in the following table for the buildings occupied by officials of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. As indicated, a number of the rooms are shared with other Government Departments (OGDs).

Name Number of rooms for smoking Number of rooms for Worship Number of rooms for Nursing mothers and pregnant women

26 Whitehall—London 1—Shared with OGD 1—Shared with OGD 1—Shared with OGD

Ashdown House—London 1—Shared with OGDs 1—Shared with OGDs 1—Shared with OGDs

Eland House—London 1 1 1

Portland House—London 0 1—Meeting room 1—First aid room.

Exchange Tower—London 2—Shared with OGD 0—(under discussion with OGD) 1—First aid room—Shared with OGD

Ashdown House—Hastings 3—Shared with OGDs 1—"Drop in" room available—shared with OGDs 2–1 "Drop in" room and 1 Medical room can be used—shared with OGDs

Hempstead House—Hemel Hempstead 1—Shared with OGD 1—Room available on request 0

Fire Experimental Unit—Moreton-in-Marsh 0 0 0

Fire Service College—Moreton-in-Marsh 0 1—Muslim Prayer Room 1—multi-denominational chapel 1

Fire Statistics and Research Division—BRE Garston 0 1—Room available on request 1—Room available on request

Housing Care and Support Division—Glossop 0 1—Quiet room available on request 1—Quiet room available on request

Emergency Fire Service—Marchington 1—External Smoking Shelter 0 1—First aid room.

Temple Quay House—Bristol 1 0 0

QEII Conference Centre—London 1 1—private room available on staff request 1—private room available on staff request

Government Offices 8 2—dedicated (multi-faith) 3—Meeting rooms (can be used for prayer) 7—First aid rooms in 7 locations

7 Sept 2004 : Column 1163W

Name	Number of rooms for smoking	Number of rooms for Worship	Number of rooms for Nursing mothers and pregnant women
26 Whitehall—London	1—Shared with OGD	1—Shared with OGD	1—Shared with OGD
Ashdown House—London	1—Shared with OGDs	1—Shared with OGDs	1—Shared with OGDs
Eland House—London	1	1	1
Portland House—London	0	1—Meeting room	1—First aid room.
Exchange Tower—London	2—Shared with OGD	0—(under discussion with OGD)	1—First aid room—Shared with OGD
Ashdown House—Hastings	3—Shared with OGDs	1—"Drop in" room available—shared with OGDs	2–1 "Drop in" room and 1 Medical room can be used—shared with OGDs
Hempstead House—Hemel Hempstead	1—Shared with OGD	1—Room available on request	0
Fire Experimental Unit—Moreton-in-Marsh	0	0	0
Fire Service College—Moreton-in-Marsh	0	1—Muslim Prayer Room 1—multi-denominational chapel	1
Fire Statistics and Research Division—BRE Garston	0	1—Room available on request	1—Room available on request
Housing Care and Support Division—Glossop	0	1—Quiet room available on request	1—Quiet room available on request
Emergency Fire Service—Marchington	1—External Smoking Shelter	0	1—First aid room.
Temple Quay House—Bristol	1	0	0
QEII Conference Centre—London	1	1—private room available on staff request	1—private room available on staff request
Government Offices	8	2—dedicated (multi-faith) 3—Meeting rooms (can be used for prayer)	7—First aid rooms in 7 locations

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to providing an environment in which staff are able to work in safety and with religious tolerance.

Although the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the buildings occupied by Government Offices, they carry out functions on behalf of 10 Departments.

East of England

Mr. Ruffley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of the East of England was classed as urban area (a) 30 years ago, (b) 10 years ago, (c) five years ago and (d) at the most recent date for which figures are available. [187212]

Keith Hill: The following information is available for land area designated for urban settlements with an associated population of 1,000 or more in the East of England.

7 Sept 2004 : Column 1164W

Year Percentage

1981 6.0

1991 6.5

2001 7.0

Year	Percentage
1981	6.0
1991	6.5
2001	7.0

These figures relate to built-up areas, irrespective of administrative boundaries.

Empty Properties

Mr. Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many empty properties there were in each tenure sector in each authority in Tyne and Wear, according to the latest returns available. [186955]

Keith Hill: The latest available information on empty properties in Tyne and Wear is tabled below. This data has been provided from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Housing Investment Programme returns.
Number of vacant dwellings in Tyne and Wear (Met County) at 1 April 2004

Local authority Registered social landlord Other public sector Other private sector Total dwellings

Gateshead 525 94 7 2,936 3,562

Newcastle upon Tyne 1,413 350 385 3,020 5,168

North Tyneside 404 196 6 1,745 2,351

South Tyneside 449 48 0 922 1,419

Sunderland 0 1,401 0 1,185 2,586

Tyne and Wear 2,791 2,089 398 9,808 15,086

Source:
ODPM's Housing Investment Programme (HIP) returns.

	Local authority	Registered social landlord	Other public sector	Other private sector	Total dwellings
Gateshead	525	94	7	2,936	3,562
Newcastle upon Tyne	1,413	350	385	3,020	5,168
North Tyneside	404	196	6	1,745	2,351
South Tyneside	449	48	0	922	1,419
Sunderland	0	1,401	0	1,185	2,586
Tyne and Wear	2,791	2,089	398	9,808	15,086

EU Groups/Committees

Mr. Hayes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the working groups and committees at European Union level upon which his Department sits; and if he will list the current agenda of each. [187324]

Phil Hope: The working groups and committees at European Union level upon which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sits together with their current agendas are listed in the following table.

Name of working group Current agenda

European Working Group on Land-Use Planning in the context of Article 12 of the Seveso II Directive 1 To provide guidance on the implementation of Article 12 of the Seveso II Directive addressing the issue of land-use planning in the vicinity of establishments handling dangerous substances.

National EIA and SEA experts Committee To provide updates and exchange examples of good practice in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA).

Raw Materials Supply Group To discuss a wide range of issues concerning the extractive industries with European industry trade associations. The Group examines improvements to industry environmental performance, such as restoration and aftercare, and other initiatives which may impinge in this sector and its competitiveness.

Working Group of the Environment Council on the proposed EU Directive on management of waste from the extractive industries To debate and negotiate proposals for new European environmental legislation, and to forward dossiers to the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper).

Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Committee To assist the Commission in the implementation of the directive.

Standing Committee on Construction (SCC) To examine any questions posed by the implementation and the practical application of the Construction Products Directive (CPD).

Eurocodes National Correspondents Group To assist in the implementation of the structural eurocodes.

The Committee on the Development and Conversion of Regions (CDCR) To implement Structural Funds Regulations, as required under Article 48 of EU Regulation 1260/1999. It considers issues such as the simplification of funding rules, and other policy issues affecting funding programmes.

The Structural Actions Working Group To address the reform of the Structural Funds for the next round of funding (post 2006), in the light of the "Report on the Economic and Social Cohesion of the EU". The committee will be negotiating the terms of the draft Structural Funds Regulations from September, which are likely to be finalised in the second half of 2005.

Urban Environment Expert Group The current agenda is the Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment, which is part of the 6th Environmental Action Plan.

7 Sept 2004 : Column 1165W

Name of working group	Current agenda
European Working Group on Land-Use Planning in the context of Article 12 of the Seveso II Directive 1	To provide guidance on the implementation of Article 12 of the Seveso II Directive addressing the issue of land-use planning in the vicinity of establishments handling dangerous substances.
National EIA and SEA experts Committee	To provide updates and exchange examples of good practice in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA).
Raw Materials Supply Group	To discuss a wide range of issues concerning the extractive industries with European industry trade associations. The Group examines improvements to industry environmental performance, such as restoration and aftercare, and other initiatives which may impinge in this sector and its competitiveness.
Working Group of the Environment Council on the proposed EU Directive on management of waste from the extractive industries	To debate and negotiate proposals for new European environmental legislation, and to forward dossiers to the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper).
Energy Performance of Buildings Directive Committee	To assist the Commission in the implementation of the directive.
Standing Committee on Construction (SCC)	To examine any questions posed by the implementation and the practical application of the Construction Products Directive (CPD).
Eurocodes National Correspondents Group	To assist in the implementation of the structural eurocodes.
The Committee on the Development and Conversion of Regions (CDCR)	To implement Structural Funds Regulations, as required under Article 48 of EU Regulation 1260/1999. It considers issues such as the simplification of funding rules, and other policy issues affecting funding programmes.
The Structural Actions Working Group	To address the reform of the Structural Funds for the next round of funding (post 2006), in the light of the "Report on the Economic and Social Cohesion of the EU". The committee will be negotiating the terms of the draft Structural Funds Regulations from September, which are likely to be finalised in the second half of 2005.
Urban Environment Expert Group	The current agenda is the Thematic Strategy on the Urban Environment, which is part of the 6th Environmental Action Plan.

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