House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 1 Mar 2005 (pt 28)

1 Mar 2005 : Column 1114W—continued

Building Regulations

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) changes and (b) additions have been made since 1993 to the Building Regulations; when each (i) change and (ii) addition came into effect; and what the estimated change to (A) the annual cost of new house construction and (B) the overall annual cost of construction resulting from each change or addition was. [218321]

Phil Hope: The principal Building Regulations were revised in 1991 and 2000, with amendments in each year except 1993 and 1996. A list of the relevant statutory instruments, is published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and can be reached at http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_buildreg/documents/page/odpm_breg_600270.hcsp.

The text of all the instruments, including their detailed content and the date they came into force is available on the website of Her Majesty's Stationery Office by search at: http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/stat.htm The text of and amendments to the 2000 Regulations are also available from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's webpage mentioned above.

Compiling estimates of the costs of all the actual changes since 1993 would incur disproportionate costs, as these are not kept as a running record. However, all proposals for change have been subject to a cost benefit or regulatory impact assessment to ensure they are justified.

Mr. Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) additions and (b) changes to building regulations are under development; when each is planned to take place; and what the estimated change to the annual cost of new house construction resulting from each would be. [218358]

Phil Hope: The following parts of the Building Regulations are under review:

B (Fire safety)—public consultation expected this spring.

F (Ventilation)—revised Approved Document expected to be published summer 2005, to come into force 31 December 2005.

G (Hygiene)—public consultation expected early 2006.

L (Conservation of fuel and power)—amendment to Approved Document (L1—condensing boilers) April 2005; revised regulations expected to be made summer 2005. to come into force 31 December 2005.

M (Access and use of domestic buildings)—public consultation expected summer 2006.

In addition, proposals for regulations on sustainability and security are being developed following the passing the Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004.

For parts F and L a partial regulatory impact assessment, including estimated costs of the various options for change, was published last year as part of the consultation exercise on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and is available, as part of the

1 Mar 2005 : Column 1115W

relevant consultation document, at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_control/documents/contentservertemplate/odpm_index.hcst?n=l68&1=1.

However, until final decisions have been taken, it would be premature to regard these estimates as definitive. For the remaining parts listed above, a partial regulatory impact assessment will be published which will assess the estimated costs and benefits of recommended changes, as part of the public consultation.

Business Rates (London)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the likely average increase in business rates for 2005 for commercial properties in each London borough following revaluation of properties in October 2004. [218832]

Mr. Raynsford: No such estimate has been made.

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) how many properties in each London borough will benefit from the new business rate relief scheme, based on the revaluation of commercial property in 2004; [218833]

(2) what the average relief given to businesses under the new business rate relief scheme will be in each London borough. [218834]

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

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average increase in rateable value for commercial properties in each of the London boroughs is following the revaluation of businesses in October 2004. [218831]

Dawn Primarolo: The Valuation Office Agency has published an analysis of the Draft Rating Lists, which were published on 1 October 2004. An analysis of the changes in rateable value, arising from the revaluation, can be found on their website www.voa.qov.uk under Business Rates Information—Non Domestic Revaluation 2005 Draft Lists Statistics.

Consent Regimes

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2005, Official Report, column 1576W, on consents, if he will list the consent regimes that regulate the activities of local government that the Government have resolved to maintain. [217867]

Mr. Raynsford: Of those consent regimes identified by the 1997 Efficiency Scrutiny, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no immediate plans to deregulate the 56 powers listed as follows. 36 of those 56 powers were recommended for retention by the scrutiny. Our announcement on consent regimes in September 2002 provided explanations for our retention of the additional 20 powers.

1 Mar 2005 : Column 1116W

Description Number of powers

Power to consent to employment based teacher training programmes 1

Power to approve the placing of a child with special needs in a non-approved independent school 1

Power to consent to use of ionising radiation in schools and colleges 1

Approval of the provision of welfare services 5

A power to approve the licensing of secure accommodation for children 1

A power to approve an order to direct that a disease is locally notifiable, and to vary or revoke such an order 1

Agreements between authorities to undertake public health functions at airports and ports 1

A power to consent to the provision by a police authority of advice and assistance to international organisations and overseas bodies 1

A power to implement a proposal to establish, vary or revoke a sea fisheries district order 1

Power to approve a reorganisation of small holdings 1

A power to consent to the exercise of land drainage powers by local authorities 1

Power to consent to the delegation of housing management to an agent 1

Power to approve a variation to the model registration scheme for houses in multiple occupation 1

Power to set statutory upper limits on defective housing grants, but also to relax those limits in certain circumstances 3

Housing Act 1985, s294. Extinguishment of public rights of way over land acquired under s290 (land acquired for clearance) 1

Control over areas of special control of advertisements 1

A power (Article 4 Direction") to consent to withdrawal of permitted development rights 1

A power to consent to various planning matters in respect of the local planning authority itself, other than planning permission to develop land" 1

Three powers to confirm various orders revoking, modifying or otherwise affecting existing planning permissions or existing uses of land or existing buildings or works 3

A power to confirm orders revoking or modifying listed building consent 1

Approval of orders removing caravan site licence exemptions 1

A power to confirm an order giving access to open country 1

Confirm orders amending definitive maps 1

Confirm public path orders and orders to extinguish or divert footpaths or bridle-ways to enable development 2

A power to approve industrial improvement areas 1

A power to confirm, amend, or revoke limestone pavement orders 1

A power to introduce a requirement to seek consent relating to management schemes for marine sites involving relevant local authorities 1

A power to consent to capitalisation of redundancy costs 1

A power to consent to the sale or appropriation of statutory allotment land, or its use for other purposes 1

A power to consent to commencing certain statutory nuisance proceedings in relation to prescribed industrial processes 1

Police use of wheel clamps on highways in a local traffic authority's area 1

Approval of the transfer of responsibility for enforcing on- street parking controls from the police to local traffic authorities 1

Confirming orders stopping up or diverting right of way for alterations to side roads 1

Two powers to consent to sale or financial restructuring of local authority-owned bus companies 2

Construction of bridges/tunnels on navigable waters/ to divert a non-navigable watercourse 2

Four powers to confirm traffic regulation orders (TROs) and other measures where the Secretary of State is the highway authority 4

Altering tolls at statutory undertakings 1

A power to approve TROs on Crown roads 1

Three powers to consent to establish/maintain or acquire shares in an aerodrome, or operate an ancillary business 3

A power to approve non-standard traffic calming measures 1

1 Mar 2005 : Column 1117W

Description	Number of powers
Power to consent to employment based teacher training programmes	1
Power to approve the placing of a child with special needs in a non-approved independent school	1
Power to consent to use of ionising radiation in schools and colleges	1
Approval of the provision of welfare services	5
A power to approve the licensing of secure accommodation for children	1
A power to approve an order to direct that a disease is locally notifiable, and to vary or revoke such an order	1
Agreements between authorities to undertake public health functions at airports and ports	1
A power to consent to the provision by a police authority of advice and assistance to international organisations and overseas bodies	1
A power to implement a proposal to establish, vary or revoke a sea fisheries district order	1
Power to approve a reorganisation of small holdings	1
A power to consent to the exercise of land drainage powers by local authorities	1
Power to consent to the delegation of housing management to an agent	1
Power to approve a variation to the model registration scheme for houses in multiple occupation	1
Power to set statutory upper limits on defective housing grants, but also to relax those limits in certain circumstances	3
Housing Act 1985, s294. Extinguishment of public rights of way over land acquired under s290 (land acquired for clearance)	1
Control over areas of special control of advertisements	1
A power (Article 4 Direction") to consent to withdrawal of permitted development rights	1
A power to consent to various planning matters in respect of the local planning authority itself, other than planning permission to develop land"	1
Three powers to confirm various orders revoking, modifying or otherwise affecting existing planning permissions or existing uses of land or existing buildings or works	3
A power to confirm orders revoking or modifying listed building consent	1
Approval of orders removing caravan site licence exemptions	1
A power to confirm an order giving access to open country	1
Confirm orders amending definitive maps	1
Confirm public path orders and orders to extinguish or divert footpaths or bridle-ways to enable development	2
A power to approve industrial improvement areas	1
A power to confirm, amend, or revoke limestone pavement orders	1
A power to introduce a requirement to seek consent relating to management schemes for marine sites involving relevant local authorities	1
A power to consent to capitalisation of redundancy costs	1
A power to consent to the sale or appropriation of statutory allotment land, or its use for other purposes	1
A power to consent to commencing certain statutory nuisance proceedings in relation to prescribed industrial processes	1
Police use of wheel clamps on highways in a local traffic authority's area	1
Approval of the transfer of responsibility for enforcing on- street parking controls from the police to local traffic authorities	1
Confirming orders stopping up or diverting right of way for alterations to side roads	1
Two powers to consent to sale or financial restructuring of local authority-owned bus companies	2
Construction of bridges/tunnels on navigable waters/ to divert a non-navigable watercourse	2
Four powers to confirm traffic regulation orders (TROs) and other measures where the Secretary of State is the highway authority	4
Altering tolls at statutory undertakings	1
A power to approve TROs on Crown roads	1
Three powers to consent to establish/maintain or acquire shares in an aerodrome, or operate an ancillary business	3
A power to approve non-standard traffic calming measures	1

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the consent regimes that regulate the activities of local government that have been created since May 1997. [217785]

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

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