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24 May 2005 : Column 104W—continued

Tenants Rental Payments

Paul Holmes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total revenue received by Chesterfield borough council in tenants' rent payments was in each year since 1997; and what proportion of this revenue was taken by central Government to fund housing benefit. [202]

Yvette Cooper: The rental income received by Chesterfield in each year from 1997 is as shown in the following table, the figures are taken from the audited subsidy claim forms provided by the local authority. Government receipts from rental income are not hypothecated to the benefit system.

Before April 2004 the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) comprised two elements: a housing element and a rent rebate element. Where an authority's housing element generated an assumed surplus, it was offset against the rent rebate element simply as an accounting convenience to ensure simplicity of administration. It did not fund the costs of housing benefit to central Government.
 
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Chesterfield borough council rental income since 1997

Financial year£
1997–9818,333,096
1998–9918,069,527
1999–200019,518,000
2000–0119,331,286
2001–0220,141,279
2002–0320,930,604
2003–0421,176,090
2004–0521,694,156

Thames Gateway Bridge

Mr. Evennett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to make a statement on the commencement date for the full public inquiry into the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge. [114]

Mr. Woolas: My right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister, First Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State for Transport announced the commencement date for the public inquiry into the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge on 25 February 2005 and reaffirmed it in a further letter on 17 May. The inquiry will open on Tuesday 7 June, 2005 with the initial inquiry sessions held at Charlton Athletic Football Club. Upon conclusion of those first sessions, there will be an adjournment until 13 September, 2005 when the inquiry will reconvene at Woolwich Town Hall, Greenwich.

Mr. Evennett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received about the proposed Thames Gateway Bridge; and if he will make a statement. [115]

Mr. Woolas: My right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Transport, the Planning Inspectorate and the London boroughs of Greenwich and Newham received in the region of 3,000 representations about the Thames Gateway Bridge. The representations came from a wide range of sources including businesses, community organisations and local residents. Of those objecting to the proposal, the issues most frequently raised were:
 
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Travellers

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to change planning (a) regulations, (b) legislation and (c) guidelines relating to Travellers. [280]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister issued a draft for consultation of a new planning circular for Gypsy and Traveller sites in December 2004. We have received over 300 responses and will announce our conclusions when we have considered the representations made on the draft circular. New planning regulations relating to the use of temporary stop notices came into effect on 7 March. Work is under way on new guidance to local authorities and police on enforcement plans.

Mr. Fallon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to announce the conclusions of his review of Travellers and planning law. [532]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister issued a draft for consultation of a new planning circular for Gypsy and Traveller sites in December 2004. We have received over 300 responses and will announce our conclusions when we have considered the representations made on the draft circular.