Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Dr. Pugh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the change in the number of planning appeals has been in the last three years. [207883]
Keith Hill: The information requested, which has been extracted from the Planning Inspectorate's Annual Report and Accounts, is tabled as follows:
200001 | 15,336 |
200102 | 16,776 |
200203 | 18,554 |
200304 | 22,550 |
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what was the estimated aggregate revenue from planning fees in England for each year since 199697. [207928]
Keith Hill: Aggregated receipts to local planning authorities for planning applications in England for the financial years 199697 to 200304 are tabled as follows.
£ million | |
---|---|
199697 | 110 |
199798 | 132 |
199899 | 132 |
19992000 | 135 |
200001 | 142 |
200102 | 144 |
200203 | 173 |
200304 | 187 |
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government has to change the level of planning delivery grant in the financial years following 200506; and if he will make a statement. [207929]
Keith Hill: As announced in the Spending Review settlement, £255 million has been allocated to Planning Delivery Grant for 20067 and 20078.
Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria he takes into account when determining whether or not an elected regional assembly would be appropriate for a region. [209294]
Mr. Raynsford:
The reasons why the Government proposed that some regions would proceed to a referendum on establishing an elected assembly were set out in my right hon.. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's statement to Parliament of 16 June 2003, Official Report, columns 2123. The accompanying documentation
17 Jan 2005 : Column 767W
"Your Region, Your Say"is available at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_regions/documents/page/odpm_regions_023485.hcsp
Following the north east referendum, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister informed Parliament on 8 November 2004, Official Report, columns 58789, that the Government would not be introducing the Regional Assemblies Bill and would not be proceeding with referendums in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West.
John Cryer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what guidance was issued to civil servants in his Department regarding their activities prior to and during the referendum on the North East Regional Assembly; [208561]
(2) what steps he took to ensure that information provided by his Department prior to the North East Regional Assembly referendum was politically neutral. [208562]
Mr. Raynsford:
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given in the other place by my right hon. Friend Lord Rooker on 2 December 2004, Official Report, House of Lords, column 17WA. The guidance is also available on the Cabinet Office website at: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/publications/pdf/nerarg.pdf
17 Jan 2005 : Column 768W
Information provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in respect of the North East Regional Assembly referendum was prepared in accordance with the requirements of Guidance on the Work of the Government Information and Communication Service. These requirements can be seen at: http://www. cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/civil_service/government_information_service/index.asp
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the regional spatial strategies will be finalised for each region. [207930]
Keith Hill: Section 1 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 provides that for each of the regions outside London there should be a regional spatial strategy (RSS). On commencement of the Act the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister prescribed which regional planning guidance should become the RSS for each region. Thereafter, the Regional Planning Body (RPB) will prepare a draft revision of the RSS when it is necessary or expedient to do so. The timetable for finalising a draft revision is agreed between the Regional Planning Body and the Government Office. The latest estimated issue dates of the final RSS for revisions currently in process are tabled. It must be stressed that these are indicative dates only.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what methodology was used to calculate local authority residential rates in England prior to their abolition. [207972]
Mr. Raynsford: Each unit of property was given a rateable value using a valuation, which for domestic property was usually based on rental evidence just prior to 1973 when the last revaluation on this basis was undertaken. Every year, district and London borough councils would make a general rate to meet the difference between the total of anticipated expenditure (including sums payable to other authorities by way of precepts) less any other income. The rate was expressed in pence per pound sterling. The rates payable were calculated by multiplying this poundage by the rateable value. Rates on domestic property were reduced by a domestic rate relief scheme and could be further reduced by national or local rate rebate schemes.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect of changes in the Right to Buy discounts and floors on take-up of the Right to Buy; and if he will make a statement. [207990]
Keith Hill:
The School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol and the Centre for Urban and Regional Studies, University of Birmingham, carried out a thorough assessment of the impact of the changes to Right to Buy discounts that took effect in February
17 Jan 2005 : Column 769W
1999. Copies were placed in the Libraries of both Houses in May 2003. The report is also available on the website of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house_023293.hcsp
In March 2003, the Government reduced the maximum Right to Buy discount available to tenants in 41 areas in London and the South of England that appeared to be under the greatest housing market pressure in terms of high levels of homelessness and high property prices. It is keeping under review the position on maximum discounts generally.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what central Government funding has been provided to shared ownership schemes in England in each year since 1992. [207987]
Keith Hill: The information about what central Government funding has been provided to shared ownership schemes in England in each year since 1992 is being collated. I will write to the hon. Member with the relevant information and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House once the information is collated.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes his Department has made to the provision of shared ownership schemes in England since May 1997. [207989]
Keith Hill: 30,000 shared ownership units were provided between 1997 and 2004, largely funded by the Housing Corporation through grants to registered social landlords.
Since 1997 the Government has:
from 1999, refocused the shared ownership programme on areas of greatest housing need in line with regional and local housing strategies and investment priorities;
from 1999, replaced the Do-it-Yourself Shared ownership (DIYSO) model in the Housing Corporation's programme with the Homebuy equity loan scheme;
from 2004, expanded shared ownership through the Key Worker Living Programme, with £72 million being spent on schemes in 200405;
through the Housing Act 2004, provided for developers and others to receive grant from the Housing Corporation for the provision of affordable housing, including shared ownership properties, and enabled social landlords to include a right of first refusal in their leases when the shared owner wishes to sell;
enabled improvements to shared ownership leases in 2004, following the recommendations of the Home Ownership Task Force, including allowing shared owners to staircase up to full ownership in smaller 10 per cent. tranches; and
increased funding through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme from £106 million in 199798 to £227 million in 200304. The Spending Review 2004 funding, together with efficiency savings, will provide 40,000 homes for essential public sector workers and low cost home ownership (including shared ownership) over the three years to 200708;
Next Section | Index | Home Page |