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23 Mar 2005 : Column 843W—continued
Local Compacts
Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the role the Local Compacts with the voluntary and community sector will play in delivering his Department's five-year programme, 'Sustainable Communities: People, places and prosperity'. [222953]
Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister supports the Compact Action Plan target for all areas to develop a local compact as a framework within which the voluntary and community sector can work in partnership with other local stakeholders for the benefit of local people. The detail of how each local compact can assist in delivering the various policies and programmes outlined in 'Sustainable Communities: People, places and prosperity' is for local stakeholders to agree.
Renewable Energy
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's assessment is of the contribution that solar photovoltaics can make to reducing carbon emissions in new build housing built to latest Part L Building Regulations. [220705]
Phil Hope: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has determined that solar photovoltaic generating systems are not yet cost-effective. They were not, therefore, specifically mentioned in the Part L consultation document last year as being appropriate to the achievement of reasonable provision in compliance with the Building Regulations.
The Part L proposals include setting minimum overall building performance standards at levels much higher than at present and providing new technical guidance on low and zero carbon systems. PV is not ruled out and remains one of the technologies that builders can choose to adopt to comply with the regulations.
Mr. Chaytor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will extend permitted development status to the installation of small scale renewables by householders, subject to adequate controls to ensure no or minimal visual intrusion; if he will make representations to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to include this measure in the draft microgeneration strategy due to be published shortly, pursuant to section 82 of the Energy Act 2004; and if he will make a statement. [221638]
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Keith Hill: In January, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister launched a review of the legislation that governs minor development by householders. Meanwhile, it is already the case that, as a general rule, those in dwellinghouses can install solar panels and photovoltaic cells without needing to make a planning application, provided the panels do not project significantly above the plane of the roof.
Where a planning application is required, Planning Policy Statement 22, Renewable Energy, urges local planning authorities and developers to consider renewable energy projects in all new developments. There are opportunities for installing solar panels, photovoltaic cells, biomass heating, small wind turbines, and combined heat and power schemes in a great many new—and some existing—buildings. Authorities should encourage such technologies through policies in local development documents.
Supporting People Programme
Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his plans are for funding the Supporting People Programme over the next five years. [222047]
Yvette Cooper: Funding for the Supporting Programme is £1.72 billion in 2005–06, £1.7 billion in 2006–07 and £1.7 billion in 2007–08.
From the inception of the Supporting People programme it has been the intention to move away from the inherited distribution of funding, to ensure that funding better reflects relative need. It was recognised at the outset that services had grown up in an ad hoc way and whiles many quality services were in existence there was a need to develop a programme that would allow for a more structured approach to be adopted across the country.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is developing a needs based formula for the distribution of Supporting People funding in the longer term. We are working with local authority representative bodies and will consult widely on a revised version later this year. The extent of the increases or reductions in grant to Authorities and the rate at which they are introduced will form part of the contribution.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will monitor the impact on Administering Authorities of introducing any new needs based distribution formula.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of changes to the way funds are allocated to Supporting People from a historically based allocation formula to a needs based one on the level of support housing units provided in West Sussex. [222048]
Yvette Cooper:
The Government commissioned an Independent Review into the Supporting People programme following significant late growth in estimated costs from £1.4 billion in December 2002 to £1.8 billion by March 2003. The Review reported that there are wide variations in unit costs between authorities and that £1.8 billion was too much to pay for the services provided.
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Service packages work and Audit Commission inspections demonstrate that there is significant potential for making efficiency savings in the current pattern of service provision while safeguarding valuable services. Where authorities face reductions in grant as a result of moving to a pattern which better reflects needs we expect them to use the service review process to achieve these savings.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working closely with local authority representatives on the development of a needs based formula for the distribution of Supporting People funding in the longer term. We will consult widely on a revised version later this year, including on the extent of increases or reductions in grants to authorities and the rate at which they are introduced. West Sussex will be invited to contribute to that consultation.
Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people currently benefit from Supporting People in West Sussex. [222049]
Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister estimates that the Supporting People programme in West Sussex currently funds housing related support services to approximately 12,000 individuals and households.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
European Union (International Sport)
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with EU counterparts regarding the establishment of an EU identity in international sport. [223014]
Mr. Caborn: Neither I, nor my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State have had any discussions with our EU counterparts regarding the establishment of an EU identity in international sport.
Regional Sports Boards
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Regional Sports Boards. [223453]
Mr. Caborn: As part of the overall restructuring of both Sport England and the delivery of sport in England, the nine Regional Sports Boards (RSBs) were reconstituted to determine for each region the targets that will deliver the national objective to increase participation in sport and physical activity. Since their reconstitution, each RSB has fulfilled this role by publishing its regional plan for sport and setting out its investment priorities. On the basis of these priorities, RSBs have budgeted in 2004–05 to make awards from Sport England's Community Investment Fund worth some £120 million.
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total public expenditure on Regional Sports Boards has been in each year since their creation. [223469]
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Mr. Caborn: Regional Sports Boards were reconstituted in their current form as part of Sport England's modernisation process and took responsibility for the distribution of Sport England's Community Investment Fund in April 2004. Details of their planned public expenditure (Exchequer and Lottery) in 2004–05 are provided in the table.
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