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DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Affordable Homes

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what central Government assistance is available to Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council to provide the number of affordable homes they have been set. [3652]

Yvette Cooper: The main funding for affordable housing is provided through the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme. Decisions on the allocation of these funds are taken in the light of
 
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priorities set out in Regional Housing Strategies, reflecting provision for new housing in the planning system, and the quality and value for money in bids received from housing associations and other bodies. Around £1.2 million in total has been allocated for the two years 2004–05 and 2005–06.

There are other funding streams, e.g. the private finance initiative, the new first-time buyer initiative, which, directly or indirectly, support the provision of additional affordable housing. It is also open to local authorities to put funds into this where it is a local priority.

BMG Research (Surveys)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many surveys have been sent out to residents in (a) England, (b) Adur and (c) Worthing on behalf of his Department by BMG Research entitled, Your views on your local council"; and who pays for the surveys. [4627]

Mr. Woolas: BMG have sent 8,000 questionnaires to individuals across England as part of a national survey of public satisfaction with local government and its services they are undertaking for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. As part of this sample, 10 questionnaires were mailed to individuals in Adur and 22 to individuals in Worthing.

The survey is funded from the ODPM Local and Regional Government Research Programme.

Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been paid to BMG Research for surveys on residents' views on local councils. [4628]

Mr. Woolas: BMG will be paid £36,000 plus VAT by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for the national survey of public satisfaction with local government and its services. This survey is currently in the field.

Business Rates

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will publish figures for the average business rates bill in each Government Office region in each year since 1997–98, including the estimated average figures for 2005–06. [4266]

Mr. Woolas: The average business rates bill in each Government Office region in each year since 1997–98, including the estimated average figures for 2005–06, are shown in the following table.

	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02
North East	5,501	5,978	6,159	6,968	7,305
North West	5,215	5,589	5,770	6,825	7,273
Yorkshire and the Humber	5,381	5,869	6,005	6,954	7,433
East Midlands	5,716	6,142	6,251	7,237	7,670
West Midlands	5,686	6,250	6,487	7,588	7,756
Eastern	7,026	7,125	7,080	8,096	8,476
London	10,057	10,433	9,792	12,033	12,842
South East	7,208	7,759	7,796	9,212	9,705
South West	7,087	5,295	5,412	6,332	6,570

 
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	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06
North East	7,498	7,518	7,701	8,367
North West	7,646	7,708	7,793	8,086
Yorkshire and the Humber	7,664	7,623	7,773	8,317
East Midlands	7,846	7,893	7,955	8,477
West Midlands	8,003	8,055	8,192	8,672
Eastern	8,685	8,620	8,740	9,575
London	13,753	14,124	14,484	15,705
South East	10,045	10,053	10,252	11,124
South West	6,658	6,614	6,662	7,195

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1)what the estimated average business rates bill was in each billing authority in England in 2004–05; and what the estimated level is for 2005–06; [4292]

(2) what the net yield from business rates was in each billing authority in England in 2004–05; and what the estimated level is for 2005–06. [4291]

Mr. Woolas: The information has been made available in the Library of the House.

Canal Restoration

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the impact of planning policy guidance 13 on the restoration of canals and the route such canals take. [3760]

Yvette Cooper: Planning policy guidance note (PPG) 13 states that proposals for waterside development should seek to enhance the use, enjoyment and setting of the adjacent waterway. Local authorities should work with all those concerned in the inland waterways industry to develop the potential of inland waterways. In liaison with British Waterways or other navigation authorities, the Environment Agency in its regulatory capacity, the Inland Waterways Association and local waterway organisations, local authorities should identify and where appropriate protect disused waterways where there is a reasonable degree of certainty of a restoration project proceeding within the plan period.

Car Boot Sales

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the operation of regulations on car boot sales; and if he will make a statement. [3173]

Yvette Cooper: In January 2002, a consultation paper was issued on possible options for change to the planning regulations over temporary uses, including car boot sales. The paper sought views from all interested parties. The overwhelming consensus in response to the consultation paper was to retain the existing provisions. In consequence, we announced on 21 August 2002 that there would be no change to the temporary use planning provisions.

Chief Executives

John Hemming: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's policy is on whether local authorities should be required to have a chief executive. [3789]

 
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Mr. Woolas: The Local Government and Housing Act 1989 provides that each principal local authority must designate one of its officers as a Head of Paid Service, who undertakes the overall management of the authority.

Construction (Litchfield)

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will meet the Chief Executive of Staffordshire county council to discuss (a) the route of the Lichfield southern bypass, (b) the construction of associated housing by Persimmon Homes and (c) the impact on the route of the restored Lichfield canal. [3978]

Yvette Cooper: This is a local issue for Staffordshire county council, Lichfield district council and the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust to resolve.

Council Tax

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the average council tax per dwelling figures compiled by his Department are a mean or median measure; and for what reason the measure is used. [4175]

Mr. Woolas: The average council tax per dwelling is a mean, rather than a median, measure. It is defined as the council tax requirement divided by the number of chargeable dwellings in an area.

The average council tax per dwelling measure is used to compare the amounts of council tax payable in different local authority areas.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether (a) caravans, (b) stand-alone private garages, (c) armed forces barracks, (d) hostels and (e) properties occupied by squatters, are liable for council tax. [4245]

Mr. Woolas: The information requested is as follows:

(a) Caravans are not in themselves subject to council tax, but liability for council tax may arise in respect of the land (pitch) on which the caravan stands. A pitch occupied by a caravan which is somebody's sole or main residence is deemed to be a dwelling" for council tax purposes and will therefore attract a council tax liability in the same way as other domestic types of property.

(b) Generally, a stand alone private garage is only liable for council tax to the extent that it forms part of a larger property which itself is liable for council tax.

(c) Living accommodation for UK armed forces which is owned by the Ministry of Defence is exempt from council tax. Contributions in lieu of council tax are payable to billing authorities by the Ministry of Defence to broadly match the amount of council tax which would otherwise have been payable. Service personnel make a contribution to this cost from their wages.

(d) Hostels—as defined in the Council Tax (Discount Disregards) Order 1992—are liable for council tax. The owner, rather than the residents, will be liable for paying the council tax.

(e) Properties occupied by squatters will be liable for council tax in the same way as any other dwellings.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether there is a de minimis rule for small dwellings for the purposes of council tax valuation. [4319]

Mr. Woolas: No.
 
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Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the revised council tax valuation list will be available to the public following the council tax revaluation in England. [4321]

Mr. Woolas: The draft list will be made available on 1 September 2006 and the final list will be made available on 1 April 2007.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average collection rate was for council tax for Travellers in the last year for which figures are available. [4323]

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

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether asylum seekers without leave to remain are liable for council tax. [4325]

Mr. Woolas: The liability of asylum seekers for council tax depends on the circumstances of the particular case.

Liability for council tax normally falls to the residents of a dwelling. However, where accommodation is provided to asylum seekers under Section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, then liability falls to the owner.

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many, and what proportion of appeals to (a) the valuation tribunal and (b) the High Court, against a council tax valuation, were successful in the last year for which figures are available. [4327]

Mr. Woolas: In 2004–05, 4,903 council tax appeals against valuation were decided by valuation tribunals in England. 723 (14.7 per cent.) appeals were successful.

In the same year, one decision of a valuation tribunal in England relating to a council tax appeal against valuation was appealed to the High Court. To date, this appeal remains outstanding.

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