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DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Alcohol-related Crime

David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what local authority Best Value performance indicators in relation to alcohol-related crime (a) were complied in 2003–04 and (b) will be compiled in (i) 2004–05 and (ii) 2005–06. [209263]

Mr. Raynsford: In 2003–04, one Best Value Performance Indicator (BVPI) was set in relation to alcohol related crime. BVPI 127 records the number of violent crimes per 1,000 population. This figure is further broken down to separately show acts of violence which occur in connection with a licensed premises and acts of violence committed under the influence of an intoxicating substance. The same data will be collected for 2004–05. Details of the BVPIs which will apply in 2005–06 will be announced shortly.

Central Government Funding

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much central Government funding was allocated to the London borough of Havering in (a) 1997, (b) 1999, (c) 2001 and (d) 2002. [209364]

Mr. Raynsford: The amount of central Government funding allocated to the London borough of Havering in the years specified is tabled as follows.
Government revenue funding to LB Havering

	£000
1997–98	120,663
1999–2000	137,320
2001–02	160,585
2002–03	166,805

The data are outturn figures and are as reported by the local authority. The grants included are special and specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance, revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates.

Mr. Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much central Government money the London borough of Havering received per citizen in 2003–04. [209435]

Mr. Raynsford: In 2002–03, the London borough of Havering received £744 of central Government revenue funding per citizen. The data are outturn figures for 2002–03 and are as reported by the local authority. The grants included are special and specific grants inside Aggregate External Finance, revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates.

Outturn data are not yet available for 2003–04.
 
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Civil Service Property

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many items of civil service property within his Department are unaccounted for, broken down by type. [205568]

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Correspondence

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will obtain from the Chairman of the Audit Commission a reply to the letter sent to the Chairman on 4 November 2004 by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. J. White. [208884]

Mr. Raynsford: The Chair of the Audit Commission has advised that, following receipt of the letter of 4 November 2004, his office had spoken to my right hon. Friend's office and agreed no response was needed in the light of a letter sent by Manchester city council to my right hon. Friend also on 4 November 2004.

If my right hon. Friend still has concerns about his constituent's case then the Audit Commission will be happy to look into it.

Council Tax

Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average cost of an appeal against council tax banding was in the last period for which figures are available. [208533]

Mr. Raynsford: The average cost of an appeal against council tax banding in 2003–04 was approximately £340 (of which £300 relates to the Valuation Office Agency and £40 relates to the Valuation Tribunal Service).

Disabled Facilities

Gregory Barker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what assessment has been made of the merits of abolishing the Disabled Facilities Grant means test for children in England and Wales; [207775]

(2) what representations he has received regarding the possible abolition of the disabled facilities grant means test for children in England and Wales; [207776]

(3) if he will abolish the Disabled Facilities Grant means test for children in England and Wales. [207777]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, jointly with the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) programme. The Review will look at the operation and outcomes of the DFG Programme and make proposals to improve its efficiency and fairness. This will include a review of the DFG means test.

A wide range of representations have been received from interested parties including MPs, local authorities and parents of disabled children. These will be considered as part of the Review which will report to Ministers in May.
 
18 Jan 2005 : Column 867W
 

A similar, but separate, review is also being undertaken by the Welsh Assembly.

Electronic Devices

Mr. George Osborne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many electronic devices are owned by the Department, broken down by type. [207681]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold the information requested centrally and could only provide it at disproportionate cost.

All expenditure incurred by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in the purchase and procurement of services and items is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting. Where possible purchases of electronic devices are made through centrally negotiated contracts.

E-mails

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his Office's policy regarding the retention of e-mails in electronic form (a) after and (b) up to 1 January 2005; and what instructions have been given regarding the deletion of e-mails prior to 1 January 2005. [206958]

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Guildford (Sue Doughty) on 10 January 2005, Official Report, column 221W.

Fire Service

Mr. Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire and rescue authorities in England have substantially abandoned the 2–2-4 shift pattern since the introduction of the integrated risk management plans. [206063]

Mr. Raynsford: As far as the Office Deputy Prime Minister is aware, none of the draft Integrated Risk Management Plans published for consultation have moved away from the 2–2-4 shift pattern since the introduction of the Integrated Risk Management Planning system. However, a number of fire and rescue authorities are reviewing their crewing arrangements.

Mr. Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many beds have been removed from fire stations in England as a result of the implementation of Integrated Risk Management Plan 1 plans. [206064]

Mr. Raynsford: A number of Fire and Rescue Authorities had proposed in their Year 1 Integrated Risk Management Plans to remove beds from certain fire stations. However, to date as far as the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is aware, none has done so.

Living Spaces Programme

Ms Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to reopen the Living Spaces programme for fresh applications. [209008]

 
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Phil Hope: Living Spaces was set up as an innovative approach to helping communities make tangible and lasting changes to their local environment. Due to the large demand from community groups for support from Living Spaces, funding for the three-year programme has been exhausted and, therefore, there are currently no plans to reopen the scheme for fresh applications. We are working across Government and elsewhere to ensure that Living Spaces, or a similar type of funding scheme, will continue in the future.

The lessons learnt from the success of Living Spaces will help to inform future policies and programmes that seek to involve local people in improving the quality of their local communities.

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