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12 Jul 2005 : Column 963W—continued
English Partnerships
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what English Partnerships funding has been allocated to Lancaster city council since 1997; and for which projects the funding has been allocated. [10152]
Yvette Cooper: Grant payment to Lancaster city council from 1 April 1997 has been £235,833.
There were a number of projects under the Partnership Investment Programme and Land Reclamation Programme/Derelict Land Grant with spend between 1997 and 2000 which would have been passed to North West Development Agency to continue projects, all being grants to Lancaster city council:
(27) The end of a £4.4 million scheme approved in 1992 by DoE.
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In addition to these grant payments further funding has been providing since 2003. £4.9 million capital investment was allocated to Luneside east in Lancaster by English Partnerships of which £510,000 has been spent to date, and £2.9 million capital investment since 2003 has been allocated to Morecambe West End, of which £2.515 million has been spent.
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions have taken place between Lancaster city council and English Partnerships regarding funding for projects since March. [10153]
Yvette Cooper: As well as the day-to-day contacts regarding progress on the Luneside East Development, discussions are also currently ongoing between English Partnerships and Lancaster city council regarding an English Partnerships funding contribution towards the cost of a potential housing scheme in the West End of Morecambe.
Geraldine Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on funding from English Partnerships for the West End Masterplan in Morecambe. [10155]
Yvette Cooper: English Partnerships has fully funded the costs of the masterplanning exercise as well as funding a number of acquisitions by the local authority within the West End of Morecambe. Spending to date has been £2.515 million out of an approved initial allocation of £2.9 million. English Partnerships has identified within its current regional business plan a further allocation of £3.6 million, which could be extended to £4.1 million by 2008–09, subject to approvals.
In total, English Partnerships plan to invest up to £7 million in the West End of Morecambe in support of the masterplan.
Discussions are ongoing with the various other partners (including the North West Development Agency, Lancaster city council, the local Registered Social Landlord—Adactus Housing Group and the Housing Corporation) regarding potential contributions to deliver the initial projects identified in the masterplan.
E-projects (Funding)
Robert Key: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) start-up and (b) annual running costs are of the Environment and Community Online Residents E-Services Communities Content Management System (CMS); how the scheme applies to (i) parish councils and (ii) the Neighbourhood Web Community CMS project in Wiltshire and Swindon; and if he will make a statement. [6558]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The information is as follows.
(a) The start-up cost of Environment and Community Online Resident E-Services (ENCORE) National e-Government project was of £3.5 million allocated from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Local e-Government National Project programme strand.
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(b) The ENCORE Content Management System is Open Source software and is free of charge to LA's to install and run. Annual running costs will therefore be determined locally depending on hardware, internet connectively and staffing costs.
(i) The ENCORE Content Management System was built specifically for community groups. However, through the Local Directgov (the Home and Community franchise of Directgov) programme, the ODPM will be developing this system so that Parish councils can be equally e-enabled.
Neighbourhood Web Community CMS project in Wiltshire and Swindon
(ii) The Neighbourhood Web Community CMS project in Wiltshire and Swindon—the South Wiltshire Community Web, was originally funded through the ODPM Local e-Government Pathfinder programme stream. As part of the wider consultation with the local authority portal and website community the Directgov programme has initiated discussion with the South Wiltshire Community Web to reduce the risk of duplication, share experience and knowledge and also share the benefits of latest developments in the field.
Fire Control Centres
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will establish an independent assessment of the final business case for regional emergency fire control centres. [10321]
Jim Fitzpatrick: As with all Government projects the FiReControl project is subject to independent Gateway reviews by the Office of Government Commerce, which include a review of the business case at its different stages. The Gateway reviews are undertaken at critical stages in the project and provide assurance that they are on track to succeed.
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for the implementation of the fire control project; and if he will make a statement. [10322]
Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 393W.
Fire Extinguishers
Mr. Letwin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list fire extinguishing equipment used by the Fire Service that contains hydrofluorocarbons. [10315]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Fire Stations (Essex)
Mr. Amess: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list fire stations which have (a) opened and (b) closed in Essex since 1997. [10569]
Jim Fitzpatrick:
At 31 March 2005 there were a total of 51 fire stations in Essex. This has remained the same since 31 March 1998 (i.e. covering 1997–98 financial year). However, there have been some name and location changes as follows:
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Tilbury Fire Station changed its name to Orsett Fire Station and was officially opened 14 August 1997.
Flood Risks
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions his Office has had with the Environment Agency on flood risk assessments of the Kettering area as part of his Office's Milton Keynes and South Midlands growth proposals. [10717]
Yvette Cooper: Officials from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have held discussions with the Environment Agency throughout the development of the Milton Keynes and South Midlands sub regional strategy (MKSM). Kettering and Wellingborough borough councils have completed a joint strategic flood risk assessment (SFRA) for their administrative areas. This is currently being considered by the Environment Agency. Once approved, the assessment will be made available for information and general use.
Floodplains
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on development building on floodplains; and if he will make a statement. [11048]
Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 7 June 2005, Official Report, columns 557–58W.
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