House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 6 Apr 2005 (pt 4)

6 Apr 2005 : Column 1468W—continued

Roadside Advertising

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has held with Cheshire county council on the removal of unlawfully placed roadside advertising. [224724]

Keith Hill: No recent discussions have been held with Cheshire county council on this subject.

Mr. Ben Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has held with other Departments on the potential for distraction caused by temporary wheeled billboards placed next to motorways. [224725]

6 Apr 2005 : Column 1469W

Keith Hill: Officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have had regular contact with the Department for Transport and the Highways Agency on the road safety aspects of siting advertisements alongside motorways.

Social Housing

Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much central funding has been invested in (a) social and

6 Apr 2005 : Column 1470W

(b) council housing in (i) the Jarrow constituency, (ii) South Tyneside, (iii) the North East and (iv) England in each year since 1997. [224722]

Keith Hill: Details of the capital allocations made for housing investment in South Tyneside, the north-east region and England as whole since 1997–98 are tabled as follows. Information is not readily available for the Jarrow constituency.
£ million

1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01

South Tyneside

Housing investment Programme⁽¹⁾ 3.6 6.3 6.2 10.6

Major Repairs Allowance⁽²⁾ — — — —

Arms Length Management Organisation⁽²⁾ — — — —

Market renewal⁽³⁾ — — — —

Approved Development programme⁽⁴⁾ 1.1 1.1 1.8 0.8

Other⁽⁵⁾ 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.2

Total 5.2 7.9 8.5 11.6

North East

Housing investment Programme⁽¹⁾ 49.8 73.7 77.3 130.4

Major Repairs Allowance⁽²⁾ — — — —

Arms Length Management Organisation⁽²⁾ — — — —

Market renewal⁽³⁾ — — — —

Approved Development programme⁽⁴⁾ 21.7 18.9 18.4 20.5

Other⁽⁵⁾ 11.5 10.0 10.1 3.4

Total 83.0 102.6 105.8 154.2

England

Housing investment Programme⁽¹⁾ 803 1,113 1,179 2,019

Major Repairs Allowance⁽²⁾ — — — —

Arms Length Management Organisation⁽²⁾ — — — —

Market renewal⁽³⁾ — — — —

Approved Development programme⁽⁴⁾ 683 606 638 717

Starter Home Initiative — — — —

Other⁽⁵⁾ 301 256 232 72

Total 1,787 1,975 2,049 2,807

2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06

South Tyneside

Housing investment Programme⁽¹⁾ 3.1 3.5 3.1 3.4 3.0

Major Repairs Allowance⁽²⁾ 11.1 11.0 10.9 10.9 11.0

Arms Length Management Organisation⁽²⁾ — — — — —

Market renewal⁽³⁾ — — — — —

Approved Development programme⁽⁴⁾ 1.3 2.8 4.4 4.9 2.6

Other⁽⁵⁾ 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3

Total 15.6 17.6 18.7 19.4 16.9

North East

Housing investment Programme⁽¹⁾ 43.8 47.0 41.0 46.5 47.9

Major Repairs Allowance⁽²⁾ 114.4 109.4 105.6 105.8 95.5

Arms Length Management Organisation⁽²⁾ — 5.6 42.1 48.8 98.6

Market renewal⁽³⁾ — — 7.0 28.0 38.0

Approved Development programme⁽⁴⁾ 22.9 22.3 41.3 37.4 38.0

Other⁽⁵⁾ 4.2 4.3 4.5 4.4 4.8

Total 185.3 188.6 241.4 270.9 322.8

England

Housing investment Programme⁽¹⁾ 891 945 792 795 842

Major Repairs Allowance⁽²⁾ 1,587 1,529 1,459 1,459 1,417

Arms Length Management Organisation⁽²⁾ — 56 321 575 956

Market renewal⁽³⁾ — — 40 170 290

Approved Development programme⁽⁴⁾ 775 918 1,613 1,618 1,676

Starter Home Initiative 2 67 173 8 —

Other⁽⁵⁾ 105 96 107 107 107

Total 3,361 3,611 4,505 4,732 5,288

⁽¹⁾ Housing Annual Capital Guidelines/Supported Capital Expenditure and Capital Receipts Initiative—funding to support local authorities overall housing capital programmes.
⁽²⁾ For maintaining and improving council housing.
⁽³⁾ Funding to support long-term strategies for tackling low demand/abandonment.
⁽⁴⁾ Resources provided to registered social landlords for new/replacement affordable housing.
⁽⁵⁾ Allocations to local authorities for disabled facilities grants, private sector renewal grant and cash incentive schemes; there are no longer separate allocations for the last two of these.

6 Apr 2005 : Column 1471W

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01
South Tyneside
Housing investment Programme⁽¹⁾	3.6	6.3	6.2	10.6
Major Repairs Allowance⁽²⁾	—	—	—	—
Arms Length Management Organisation⁽²⁾	—	—	—	—
Market renewal⁽³⁾	—	—	—	—
Approved Development programme⁽⁴⁾	1.1	1.1	1.8	0.8
Other⁽⁵⁾	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.2
Total	5.2	7.9	8.5	11.6

North East
Housing investment Programme⁽¹⁾	49.8	73.7	77.3	130.4
Major Repairs Allowance⁽²⁾	—	—	—	—
Arms Length Management Organisation⁽²⁾	—	—	—	—
Market renewal⁽³⁾	—	—	—	—
Approved Development programme⁽⁴⁾	21.7	18.9	18.4	20.5
Other⁽⁵⁾	11.5	10.0	10.1	3.4
Total	83.0	102.6	105.8	154.2

England
Housing investment Programme⁽¹⁾	803	1,113	1,179	2,019
Major Repairs Allowance⁽²⁾	—	—	—	—
Arms Length Management Organisation⁽²⁾	—	—	—	—
Market renewal⁽³⁾	—	—	—	—
Approved Development programme⁽⁴⁾	683	606	638	717
Starter Home Initiative	—	—	—	—
Other⁽⁵⁾	301	256	232	72
Total	1,787	1,975	2,049	2,807

	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06
South Tyneside
Housing investment Programme⁽¹⁾	3.1	3.5	3.1	3.4	3.0
Major Repairs Allowance⁽²⁾	11.1	11.0	10.9	10.9	11.0
Arms Length Management Organisation⁽²⁾	—	—	—	—	—
Market renewal⁽³⁾	—	—	—	—	—
Approved Development programme⁽⁴⁾	1.3	2.8	4.4	4.9	2.6
Other⁽⁵⁾	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.3
Total	15.6	17.6	18.7	19.4	16.9

North East
Housing investment Programme⁽¹⁾	43.8	47.0	41.0	46.5	47.9
Major Repairs Allowance⁽²⁾	114.4	109.4	105.6	105.8	95.5
Arms Length Management Organisation⁽²⁾	—	5.6	42.1	48.8	98.6
Market renewal⁽³⁾	—	—	7.0	28.0	38.0
Approved Development programme⁽⁴⁾	22.9	22.3	41.3	37.4	38.0
Other⁽⁵⁾	4.2	4.3	4.5	4.4	4.8
Total	185.3	188.6	241.4	270.9	322.8

England
Housing investment Programme⁽¹⁾	891	945	792	795	842
Major Repairs Allowance⁽²⁾	1,587	1,529	1,459	1,459	1,417
Arms Length Management Organisation⁽²⁾	—	56	321	575	956
Market renewal⁽³⁾	—	—	40	170	290
Approved Development programme⁽⁴⁾	775	918	1,613	1,618	1,676
Starter Home Initiative	2	67	173	8	—
Other⁽⁵⁾	105	96	107	107	107
Total	3,361	3,611	4,505	4,732	5,288

Thames Gateway

Llew Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure that a new heat grid and combined heat and power plants are installed as part of his sustainable communities plan for the Thames Gateway. [224715]

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Companion Guide for Planning Policy Statement 22 (planning for renewable energy) highlights the benefits of using renewable-powered CHP schemes in developments.

In addition, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced that, from April 2006, all publicly funded new homes in the Thames Gateway will subscribe to the Code for Sustainable Buildings, which will bring new buildings up to world-class environmental standards. The Code will set out clearly specified performance based criteria for energy efficiency, rather than stipulating particular methods. Flagship projects using the code will be demonstrated in the Thames Gateway by both the public and private sectors before being rolled out nationally.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Corporate Plan

Mr. Kevan Jones: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission when the Electoral Commission's Corporate Plan for 2005–06 to 2009–10 was approved by the Speaker's Committee. [224972]

Mr. Viggers: The Electoral Commission's Corporate Plan for 2005–06 to 2009–10 was approved by the Speaker's Committee at its meeting on 2 February. The plan was laid before the House by the Speaker, on behalf of the Speaker's Committee, on 24 March as House of Commons Paper No. 347. Copies are available in the Vote Office.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Construction Industry

Dr. Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the number of workers in the building industry (a) directly employed by agencies and (b) subcontracted to building firms. [219953]

Mr. Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

6 Apr 2005 : Column 1472W

Letter from Len Cook to Dr. John Pugh, dated 6 April 2005:

As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about employment in the building industry. (219953)

Information is available from the Labour Force Survey about people working in temporary employment in the building industry who give their reason for not being in a permanent job as being an "agency worker". During the three months ending November 2004, an estimated 11,000 people were classified in this category.

Further information relating to workers in the building industry who were directly employed by agencies or subcontracted to building firms, is not available.

These estimates from the Labour Force Survey are, as with any statistical sample survey, subject to sampling variability.

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