House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 8 Feb 2005 (pt 23)

8 Feb 2005 : Column 1434W—continued

Building Regulations

Mr. Horam: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what conclusions he has reached following the collation of issues raised by the consultation on amendments to PartL of the Building Regulations. [214153]

Phil Hope: Officials within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister completed the collation of over 400 separate responses to the Part L consultation in

8 Feb 2005 : Column 1435W

December and are considering the issues raised in conjunction with the Building Regulations Advisory Committee. As yet no conclusions have been reached.

Mr. Horam: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whatrepresentations he has received relating to the consultation on amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations on (a) the number of surveyors required to issue annual certificates and (b) the training required to implement these amendments. [214154]

Phil Hope: The consultation included proposals for implementing the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive as well as amending Part L. It is the Directive that calls for the engagement of surveyors to issue certificates but there is no requirement for these to be annual. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received some representations in response to the consultation on the numbers of surveyors that may be needed and the means for training them and has just received a comprehensive report from industry and others addressing the issues.

Mr. Horam: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received urging for a delay in the implementation of revised building energy standards; what main reasons were given for the need for such a delay; and if he will make a statement. [214155]

Phil Hope: During the consultation on amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations and implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive we received some representations for deferring revised building energy standards citing this would allow more time for training resulting in better levels of compliance. Mindful of the need to implement the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive by 4 January 2006 we are considering how best to handle this and are progressing a project to develop better guidance, dissemination and training to improve compliance.

Mr. Horam: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether in preparing the fuel cost data for amendments to Part L of the Building Regulations he took account of recent variations in domestic energy prices; and whether he plans to make regular future updates of such data. [214156]

Phil Hope: The fuel cost data used in the draft RIA published in July 2004 as part of the consultation on the proposed amendments of Part L of the Building Regulations were based on published data that did not take recent variations into account. The final RIA to be published when the amendments are laid will be based on 2005 data. The fuel cost data used is reviewed at intervals of between three and five years.

Business Rates

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) rateable value thresholds, (b) rate relief levels and (c) multipliers operated (i) before and (ii) after the business rate revaluation. [213573]

Mr. Raynsford: The rate relief thresholds for 2004–05 and from 1 April 2005–06 are outlined as follows.

8 Feb 2005 : Column 1436W

£

2004–05 2005–06

Former agricultural premises 6,000 7,000

Unoccupied property 1,900 2,200

Rural

Petrol filling stations and public houses 9,000 10,500

Other 6,000 7,000

LAs discretionary relief 12,000 14,000

Stud farms 3,000 3,500

	2004–05	2005–06
Former agricultural premises	6,000	7,000
Unoccupied property	1,900	2,200

Rural
Petrol filling stations and public houses	9,000	10,500
Other	6,000	7,000
LAs discretionary relief	12,000	14,000
Stud farms	3,000	3,500

Transitional arrangements

For the purposes of the transitional arrangements, a small property is defined as properties with a rateable value less than £12,000 outside London and £18,000 inside London. For 20005–06 this was increased to £15,000 outside London and £21,500 inside London. The thresholds were raised in line with the overall increase in rateable values resulting from the revaluation.

Non-domestic rate multipliers/poundage

2004–05 Multiplier:

Single multiplier of 0.456 or 45.6 pence in the pound

2005–06 Multipliers:

Small business rate relief multiplier of 0.415 or 41.5 pence in the pound

Non-domestic rating multiplier of 0.422 or 42.2 pence in the pound

Civil Servants

Mr. Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in his Department and its agencies was in each year from 1997–98 to 2003–04 and what the estimated cost will be in each year from 2004–05 to 2007–08; and if he will make a statement. [211651]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister includes the cost of early departures in its published Resource Accounts. Figures for years up to and including 2003–04 are therefore accessible from these accounts. Guidance on the accounting treatment of early departure costs can be found in sections 4.6 and 15.7 of the Treasury's (published) Resource Accounting Manual. Future years budgets are currently being considered in business planning.

Consents

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the discretionary activities of local authorities which require consent of central Government to proceed in 2004–05. [213578]

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

Disabled Facilities Grants

Mr. Pike: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding has been available for disabled facilities grants in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement. [213301]

Yvette Cooper: The Government contributes towards 60 per cent. of local authority expenditure on disabled facilities grants (DFG) up to the limit of the allocation

8 Feb 2005 : Column 1437W

made to the authority at the beginning of the financial year, with the remaining 40 per cent. being met from elsewhere in local authorities' budgets.

Total DFG payments to local authorities in England by the Government over the last three years are tabled as follows:

£ million

2001–02 88

2002–03 95

2003–04 112

	£ million
2001–02	88
2002–03	95
2003–04	112

Fire Brigade (Lancashire)

Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the future of the Lancashire fire brigade. [214804]

Mr. Raynsford: The Lancashire fire and rescue service operates under the direction of a fire and rescue authority made up of elected councillors from Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool. There are no plans to change these arrangements.

Fire Service

Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions have taken place in each region between fire,

8 Feb 2005 : Column 1438W

ambulance and police services on how they will co-operate in the eventuality of regional control centres being set up for the fire service. [214010]

Mr. Raynsford: Cooperation between the emergency services, both at strategic level and at operational level, will be unaffected by the introduction of regional control centres. Existing channels for communications between emergency service control rooms will continue to be used. In addition, the three emergency services, defined as category 1 responders under the Civil Contingencies Act, have duties placed on them to co-operate with each other and other local responders to enhance co-ordination and efficiency.

Housing

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many empty residential dwellings there have been in each Greater London borough in each year since 1997. [214558]

Keith Hill: The available information on empty residential dwellings in Greater London boroughs is tabled as follows. This data has been provided from a combination of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Housing Investment Programme return and Housing Corporation's Regulatory and Statistical return.
Total vacant dwellings at 1 April in London boroughs: 1997 to 2004

Local authority 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Barking and Dagenham 1,509 1,727 2,005 2,172 1,329 1,117 775 656

Barnet 4,211 4,442 4,673 4,068 3,153 4,915 5,179 4,122

Bexley 2,410 2,467 2,203 1,185 1,982 1,644 2,064 1,787

Brent 4,792 3,754 5,151 6,174 5,504 5,670 5,115 5,104

Bromley ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— 3,715 3,718 4,318 4,256 4,297 5,296

Camden 4,033 4,745 6,261 4,703 4,335 4,018 3,605 2,305

City of London 32 22 ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— 31 32 75 40

Croydon 5,594 5,505 4,598 4,130 4,401 4,650 4,526 4,942

Ealing 5,433 5,705 5,397 2,308 2,449 1,749 1,630 2,956

Enfield ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾—

Greenwich 4,523 4,508 4,421 4,541 3,058 3,096 3,308 3,287

Hackney 5,165 4,486 3,284 3,970 3,254 ⁽²⁸⁾— 4,307 3,757

Hammersmith and Fulham 4,108 4,026 3,710 4,138 4,557 4,141 3,191 2,180

Haringey 5,419 4,413 5,604 4,417 4,815 3,538 ⁽²⁸⁾— 2,883

Harrow 983 1,081 1,325 1,231 1,218 1,180 1,196 1,631

Havering ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— 2,702 505 2,777 2,697

Hillingdon 2,628 2,273 2,497 2,468 2,511 3,003 2,454 2,190

Hounslow 2,306 2,211 2,012 1,903 1,050 2,056 1,950 1,778

Islington 5,392 2,970 2,897 2,773 3,237 3,719 2,643 2,201

Kensington and Chelsea 8,387 ⁽²⁸⁾— 1,655 1,715 6,067 6,040 6,025 5,978

Kingston upon Thames ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— 1,152 ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾—

Lambeth 5,213 4,656 4,646 4,639 2,572 4,262 3,851 3,769

Lewisham 5,246 ⁽²⁸⁾— 3,259 3,251 4,025 3,643 4,072 3,964

Merton 1,733 1,625 1,793 2,310 2,114 2,332 2,597 ⁽²⁸⁾—

Newham 3,424 5,183 5,717 4,663 5,102 3,140 3,276 2,779

Redbridge ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— ⁽²⁸⁾— 2,335 ⁽²⁸⁾— 2,115

Richmond upon Thames 2,420 1,714 1,600 1,629 1,757 1,947 1,953 687

Southwark 3,665 4,658 6,649 6,917 6,367 3,840 4,112 4,480

Sutton 1,826 2,205 2,342 1,243 2,238 2,489 2,542 2,356

Tower Hamlets 4,894 5,071 5,507 5,306 5,429 4,620 4,519 6,430

Waltham Forest 4,840 4,939 2,601 3,004 2,739 3,969 1,470 3,397

Wandsworth 2,783 1,991 2,511 2,314 2,079 2,229 2,293 2,545

Westminster 3,128 3,295 3,407 3,063 2,957 3,176 4,378 4,018

London 121,298 111,952 112,665 105,016 105,181 101,017 100,648 99,892

⁽²⁸⁾Denotes missing data. London total includes imputation for these missing values.
Sources:
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's annual Housing Investment Programme (HIP) returns and the Housing Corporation's annual Regulatory and Statistical return (RSR).

8 Feb 2005 : Column 1439W

Local authority	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Barking and Dagenham	1,509	1,727	2,005	2,172	1,329	1,117	775	656
Barnet	4,211	4,442	4,673	4,068	3,153	4,915	5,179	4,122
Bexley	2,410	2,467	2,203	1,185	1,982	1,644	2,064	1,787
Brent	4,792	3,754	5,151	6,174	5,504	5,670	5,115	5,104
Bromley	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	3,715	3,718	4,318	4,256	4,297	5,296
Camden	4,033	4,745	6,261	4,703	4,335	4,018	3,605	2,305
City of London	32	22	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	31	32	75	40
Croydon	5,594	5,505	4,598	4,130	4,401	4,650	4,526	4,942
Ealing	5,433	5,705	5,397	2,308	2,449	1,749	1,630	2,956
Enfield	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—
Greenwich	4,523	4,508	4,421	4,541	3,058	3,096	3,308	3,287
Hackney	5,165	4,486	3,284	3,970	3,254	⁽²⁸⁾—	4,307	3,757
Hammersmith and Fulham	4,108	4,026	3,710	4,138	4,557	4,141	3,191	2,180
Haringey	5,419	4,413	5,604	4,417	4,815	3,538	⁽²⁸⁾—	2,883
Harrow	983	1,081	1,325	1,231	1,218	1,180	1,196	1,631
Havering	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	2,702	505	2,777	2,697
Hillingdon	2,628	2,273	2,497	2,468	2,511	3,003	2,454	2,190
Hounslow	2,306	2,211	2,012	1,903	1,050	2,056	1,950	1,778
Islington	5,392	2,970	2,897	2,773	3,237	3,719	2,643	2,201
Kensington and Chelsea	8,387	⁽²⁸⁾—	1,655	1,715	6,067	6,040	6,025	5,978
Kingston upon Thames	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	1,152	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—
Lambeth	5,213	4,656	4,646	4,639	2,572	4,262	3,851	3,769
Lewisham	5,246	⁽²⁸⁾—	3,259	3,251	4,025	3,643	4,072	3,964
Merton	1,733	1,625	1,793	2,310	2,114	2,332	2,597	⁽²⁸⁾—
Newham	3,424	5,183	5,717	4,663	5,102	3,140	3,276	2,779
Redbridge	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	⁽²⁸⁾—	2,335	⁽²⁸⁾—	2,115
Richmond upon Thames	2,420	1,714	1,600	1,629	1,757	1,947	1,953	687
Southwark	3,665	4,658	6,649	6,917	6,367	3,840	4,112	4,480
Sutton	1,826	2,205	2,342	1,243	2,238	2,489	2,542	2,356
Tower Hamlets	4,894	5,071	5,507	5,306	5,429	4,620	4,519	6,430
Waltham Forest	4,840	4,939	2,601	3,004	2,739	3,969	1,470	3,397
Wandsworth	2,783	1,991	2,511	2,314	2,079	2,229	2,293	2,545
Westminster	3,128	3,295	3,407	3,063	2,957	3,176	4,378	4,018
London	121,298	111,952	112,665	105,016	105,181	101,017	100,648	99,892

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much previously developed land has been (a) vacant and (b) derelict in each Greater London borough, in each year since 1997. [214560]

8 Feb 2005 : Column 1440W

Keith Hill: The following table shows amounts of land from the national land use database of previously-developed land. The information was collected from local authorities in 1998 and annually from 2001. Some London boroughs did not provide information in one or more years.
Vacant and derelict land and buildings by London borough: 1998 to 2003 Hectares

Vacant land and buildings
Derelict land and buildings

London borough 1998 2001 2002 2003 1998 2001 2002 2003

Barking and Dagenham 7 46 45 n/a 19 89 86 n/a

Barnet 25 14 21 14 40 41 40 40

Bexley 13 2 11 15 10 10 10 13

Brent 35 n/a 20 14 11 n/a 10 9

Bromley 2 n/a ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a

Camden 9 9 8 n/a ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a

City of London 1 1 n/a ⁽²⁹⁾— 1 1 n/a ⁽²⁹⁾—

City of Westminster 14 n/a 9 5 3 n/a ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾—

Croydon n/a 28 28 38 n/a 16 13 14

Ealing ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a ⁽²⁹⁾— 25 ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾—

Enfield 46 n/a n/a 83 40 n/a n/a 30

Greenwich 50 83 83 92 155 107 126 42

Hackney 2 1 1 1 ⁽²⁹⁾— 3 3 2

Hammersmith and Fulham 3 16 14 ⁽²⁹⁾— 32 n/a ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾—

Haringey 11 12 10 n/a ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a

Harrow 18 31 14 14 ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾—

Havering 41 48 59 31 34 15 15 15

Hillingdon 9 52 36 30 ⁽²⁹⁾— 3 5 5

Hounslow 34 12 n/a 6 ⁽²⁹⁾— 5 n/a 1

Islington 10 9 n/a 21 ⁽²⁹⁾— ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a ⁽²⁹⁾—

Kensington and Chelsea 1 n/a ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a 4 n/a 4 n/a

Kingston upon Thames 7 1 n/a 3 ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a n/a ⁽²⁹⁾—

Lambeth 11 n/a n/a 8 ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a n/a ⁽²⁹⁾—

Lewisham 6 10 8 4 2 1 1 1

Merton ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a 4 4 ⁽²⁹⁾— n/a 5 5

Newham 104 90 52 n/a 32 31 4 n/a

Redbridge n/a 10 4 4 n/a 5 5 5

Richmond upon Thames 7 n/a 30 n/a 1 n/a 2 n/a

Southwark n/a 22 5 n/a n/a 1 4 n/a

Sutton 28 n/a 3 2 7 n/a 1 1

Tower Hamlets n/a 20 9 n/a n/a 7 4 n/a

Waltham Forest 27 25 16 13 2 2 1 ⁽²⁹⁾—

Wandsworth 7 8 5 3 2 31 26 21

n/a=Not available
⁽²⁹⁾Nil or less than 0.5 hectares
Totals are as reported by the London borough

	Vacant land and buildings	Derelict land and buildings
London borough	1998	2001	2002	2003	1998	2001	2002	2003
Barking and Dagenham	7	46	45	n/a	19	89	86	n/a
Barnet	25	14	21	14	40	41	40	40
Bexley	13	2	11	15	10	10	10	13
Brent	35	n/a	20	14	11	n/a	10	9
Bromley	2	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a
Camden	9	9	8	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a
City of London	1	1	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—	1	1	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—
City of Westminster	14	n/a	9	5	3	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—
Croydon	n/a	28	28	38	n/a	16	13	14
Ealing	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—	25	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—
Enfield	46	n/a	n/a	83	40	n/a	n/a	30
Greenwich	50	83	83	92	155	107	126	42
Hackney	2	1	1	1	⁽²⁹⁾—	3	3	2
Hammersmith and Fulham	3	16	14	⁽²⁹⁾—	32	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—
Haringey	11	12	10	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a
Harrow	18	31	14	14	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—
Havering	41	48	59	31	34	15	15	15
Hillingdon	9	52	36	30	⁽²⁹⁾—	3	5	5
Hounslow	34	12	n/a	6	⁽²⁹⁾—	5	n/a	1
Islington	10	9	n/a	21	⁽²⁹⁾—	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—
Kensington and Chelsea	1	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a	4	n/a	4	n/a
Kingston upon Thames	7	1	n/a	3	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—
Lambeth	11	n/a	n/a	8	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a	n/a	⁽²⁹⁾—
Lewisham	6	10	8	4	2	1	1	1
Merton	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a	4	4	⁽²⁹⁾—	n/a	5	5
Newham	104	90	52	n/a	32	31	4	n/a
Redbridge	n/a	10	4	4	n/a	5	5	5
Richmond upon Thames	7	n/a	30	n/a	1	n/a	2	n/a
Southwark	n/a	22	5	n/a	n/a	1	4	n/a
Sutton	28	n/a	3	2	7	n/a	1	1
Tower Hamlets	n/a	20	9	n/a	n/a	7	4	n/a
Waltham Forest	27	25	16	13	2	2	1	⁽²⁹⁾—
Wandsworth	7	8	5	3	2	31	26	21

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the effect in Crosby of the changes to council tenants' rights since 1997. [214595]

Keith Hill: Council tenants enjoy a number of robust individual and collective rights which are protected through the legislative and regulatory framework. These statutory rights were introduced under the Housing Act 1980 and subsequent housing legislation. Although there has been no specific strengthening of these rights since 1997, the Human Rights Act and Freedom of Information Act do confer additional powers for all sections of society, including council tenants.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much was received by Sefton in 2003–04 to help fund housing related services for vulnerable people through the Supporting People" programme. [214596]

Yvette Cooper: In 2003–04 Sefton metropolitan borough council received £7,274,310 through the Supporting People" programme of which, £6,995,282 was programme grant and £279,028 administration grant.

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