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Fire Safety

Mrs. Helen Clark: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes he plans to make to the level of advice produced on house fire safety. [189979]

Phil Hope: Government home fire safety information and advice is widely disseminated and promoted in England and Wales through the campaigns of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's National Community Fire Safety Centre. The campaigns are developed in partnership with the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) and are kept under constant review.

Mrs. Helen Clark: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of employing consultants to deal with elements of work currently undertaken by staff in relation to fire safety (a) has been in this financial year and (b) is expected to be in 2005–06. [189980]

Mr. Raynsford: Staff, consultants and researchers are employed on a wide variety of projects connected to fire safety, for example in relation to home fire safety advertising campaigns, the revision of building regulations' Approved Document B, the preparation of guidance on the implementation of the Regulatory Reform Order, behavioural research and the evaluation of policy. The mix varies between project and project, and from time to time. The requested comparison could be made only at disproportionate cost.

Firebuy

Ann Winterton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what strategy his Department has set in place for companies not currently within the Fire Service Procurement Association to be included in FiReBuy. [189915]

Phil Hope: EU Tender regulations and conditions of contract do not allow a re-engagement of any company who is currently outside the contractual arrangements without returning to a tender process. Current contracts, and the contract terms held by Fire Service Procurement Agency (FSPA), would be carried over and continue to operate under FiReBuy. Once the current contracts and their terms cease, any company would be eligible to re-tender along with other suppliers.

Firelink Communications System

Jim Knight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the timetable for the remaining stages of the procurement and roll-out of the Firelink communications system. [190222]

Mr. Raynsford: As a result of a review of the project plan and timetable, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to award the Firelink contract around the end of this financial year, and to complete roll-out during 2008.

Fires (Deaths)

Tom Cox: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many deaths in fires there have been in residential properties in the Greater London area in each of the last three years. [190252]

 
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Mr. Raynsford: The number of deaths in dwellings fires in the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority area are set out as follows:
Deaths reported in dwelling fires attended by the London Fire Bridgade

2001–03
2001	68
2002	56
2003	(34)62

⁽³⁴⁾ (provisional figure)

Fraud

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate his Department has made of the cost of fraud to (a) his Department, (b) the Executive agencies affiliated to his Department and (c) the Government offices of the regions in each of the last three years. [185776]

Phil Hope: Losses due to fraud in each financial year since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created are as follows:

			£
Financial year	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (C)	Executive agencies	Regional Co-ordination Unit/Government offices
2002–03	8,592	0	134,117
2003–04	3,622	200	252,875
2004–05	0	0	0

With regards to thefts, mainly of assets, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 27 July 2004, Official Report, column 751W. The figures include losses due to fraud by staff and external parties. The amounts for the Co-ordination Unit/Government offices include only those losses for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is accountable for. The Government offices are sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and nine other Departments, any losses on programmes delivered on behalf of the other Departments will have been reported to them. Recoveries from perpetrators have been netted off. Some incidents are still under investigation and final values may change.

Gypsies/Travellers

Mr. Battle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 31 March 2004, Official Report, column 1501W, on gypsies/travellers, whether his Department's review of gypsy and traveller policy has been completed; and if he will make a statement. [190027]

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's review of gypsy and traveller policy is nearing completion. Ministers will wish to consider the review's findings before making any further announcements.

Highway Installations

Bob Russell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will list the categories of commercial organisations which are permitted to place installations on the highway; [187985]
 
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(2) if he will require commercial organisations which are permitted to place installations on the highway to pay local authorities for such use; and if he will make a statement. [187986]

Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.

Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980 makes it an offence to obstruct a highway without lawful authority. The footway is part of a highway.

However, local authorities may license the following to be placed on or over the highway, and in each case there is provision for authorities to charge reasonable fees:

skips (section 139 Highways Act 1980

scaffolding (section 169)

materials (section 171)

erection of building over a highway (section 177).

In addition, section 115B of the 1980 Act enables a council to place objects or structures on a highway for the purposes of giving effect to a pedestrian planning order, enhancing the amenity of the highway and its immediate surroundings or providing a service for the benefit of the public. Section 115C enables a council to provide, maintain and operate facilities for recreation or refreshment or both on a highway. By virtue of section 115E a council may grant permission to a person to do what it has the power to do under sections 115B and 115C. In granting a permission under section 115E a council may, by virtue of section 115F, impose such conditions as they think fit, including conditions requiring the payment to the council of such reasonable charges as they may determine.

Historic Areas (New Buildings)

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to ensure the quality of new building in historic parts of the City of London. [190159]

Keith Hill: Responsibility for considering new buildings within the City of London rests in the first instance with the Corporation of London. In determining planning applications the Corporation are required to take account of the policies contained in their Unitary Development Plan and to also have regard to regional and national planning policy guidance. Policies of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the historic environment are contained in PPG15 and on design in PPG1 and draft PPS1.

Homelessness (Leeds)

Mr. Battle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his latest estimate is of the number of people homeless in Leeds. [189943]

Keith Hill: Information collected about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is in respect of households, rather than persons. The number of households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, as reported by Leeds city council during 2003–04, and April to June 2004, is tabled as follows.
 
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	Households accepted as homeless 1 in Leeds
2003–04	4,948
April to June 2004	846

⁽³⁵⁾ Households eligible under homelessness legislation and found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category
Source:
ODPM P1E homelessness returns (quarterly)

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