| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
11 Oct 2005 : Column 448W—continued
Housing Act
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for the implementation of the Housing Act 2004. [15223]
Yvette Cooper:
I refer to the hon. Member to the written statement made on 10 October 2005, Official Report, column 6–7WS, in relation to implementation of Parts 1–4, 6 & 7 of the Housing Act 2004.
11 Oct 2005 : Column 449W
We plan to introduce mandatory home information packs under Part 5 of the Act in early 2007. However, many home buyers and sellers will not have to wait to benefit from home information packs since an increasing number of estate agents, surveyors and conveyancers are operating pack schemes on a voluntary basis.
The provisions within Part 6 of the Act, to commence s.225 (covering the preparation of accommodation needs assessment and accommodation strategies for 'Gypsies and Travellers') are planned to be commenced in spring 2006, following consultation on the definition of 'Gypsies and Travellers' for the purposes of the Act.
Minerals Planning Guidance
Mr. Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when his Department last issued supplementary advice on the correct application of Minerals Planning Guidance 3 to (a) minerals planning authorities and (b) the Government Offices of the Regions; what mechanisms are available to his Department to issue supplementary advice to minerals planning authorities on the correct application of Minerals Planning Guidance 3 when considering new applications for surface coal mines; and if he will make a statement. [15970]
Yvette Cooper: It is not appropriate to issue supplementary public advice that would elaborate, gloss or qualify planning policy guidance documents to give a "correct" application. There can only be one statement of policy in force at any one time, and if this is to be changed a new text must be consulted on in the usual way. Minerals Planning Guidance 3 (MPG3) already provides sufficiently clear advice to mineral planning authorities and the coal industry in England on the tests to be applied when considering coal extraction proposals.
Planning applications for coal mining have to meet alternative tests. They must either be environmentally acceptable or, even if not, provide offsetting local or community benefits. The present policy clearly sets these considerations out as alternative tests, not cumulative ones. Paragraph 8 (i) and (ii) of MPG3 is clear in that respect. Staff in our Planning Directorate drew this to the attention of ODPM decision officers, planning Inspectors and Government Office staff in October 2004. Officials in the ODPM and the relevant Government Offices, will continue to examine and comment on draft regional and local planning documents dealing with coal mining development for conformity with national policy on this and other matters dealt with in MPG3, and will if necessary raise matters of non-conformity at the public examinations of plans.
Mr. Betts:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the presumption against surface coal mining contained in Minerals Planning Guidance 3 only applies unless the proposal is environmentally acceptable according to the
11 Oct 2005 : Column 450W
criteria set out in MPG3 or community benefits can be provided which offset environmental impact; and whether these are (a) alternative and (b) cumulative tests. [15971]
Yvette Cooper: There is a presumption against open-cast mining unless the proposal is environmentally acceptable or can be made so through the use of planning conditions, but even if this is not possible community benefits that offset the likely impacts can remove that presumption and allow a successful application. The drafting of paragraph 8 (i) and (ii) of MPG3 makes it clear that these are alternative tests, not cumulative ones.
Regional Assemblies
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 18 July 2005, Official Report, columns 1447–48W, on regional chambers, if he will place in the Library copies of the annual audited accounts of each regional chamber for the most recent available year. [15545]
Yvette Cooper: Copies of the latest audited regional assembly accounts have been placed in the Library of the House.
Sustainable Communities Strategy
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his role in ensuring delivery of the Government's sustainable communities strategy with respect to the work of the local delivery vehicles North Northants together and the West Northamptonshire urban district council. [16803]
Yvette Cooper: The local delivery vehicles North Northants together and the West Northamptonshire development corporation have been established to bring together local partners in these key growth area locations to help achieve our shared goal of more sustainable growth in these areas, maximising the potential of public and private investment to that end. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will be providing funding and sponsorship support to enable them to bring forward projects which meet high standards of sustainability—helping to create well-designed, vibrant communities, where people want to live and work, with quality public services and infrastructure.
Telecommunications Masts
Mrs. Dorries: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) telecommunication base stations and (b) mobile phone masts have been located in (i) the parliamentary constituency of Mid-Bedfordshire and (ii) the County of Bedfordshire in each year since 1997. [16632]
Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However, during September and October every year the mobile network operators write to every local authority with details of their network rollout for the year ahead.
11 Oct 2005 : Column 451W
When they write to the local authority they also provide details of their existing sites within the local authority area. The hon. Member may want to contact the network operators for copies of their plans.
Travellers
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 8 June 2005, Official Report, column 564W, on Travellers, if he will place in the Library copies of each of the written reports of the appeal decisions made by the Planning Inspectorate or the First Secretary of State for applications which were granted on appeal. [5563]
Yvette Cooper: Copies of those appeal decisions made by the Planning Inspectorate or my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister the First Secretary of State, which were listed in the answer given on 8 June 2005, Official Report, column 564W, have been placed in the Libraries of the House. One decision may cover a number of appeals on a single site.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Antisocial Behaviour
Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. [15882]
Paul Goggins: We have no plans to review section 30 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act. Following the High Court ruling that the police have no power to use reasonable force when taking a child home under section 30(6) of the Act, we are applying for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
Departmental Stationery
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of (a) paper for printed publications and (b) copying paper used by the Department in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05 was from recycled sources; and how much post-consumer waste this paper contained. [16200]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The percentages of (a) paper for printed publications and (b) copying paper used by the department in 2003–04 and 2004–05 from recycled sources are shown in the following table.
The figure for paper for printed publications only covers the period 1 November 2004 to 31 March 2005 because until then the department did not buy their paper directly.
The post-consumer waste content of the copying paper was unknown to the supplier as it varies over time according to demand and availability of supply. The recycled content of the paper is described as unspecified.
| 2003–04 | 2004–05 | |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Paper for printed publications | Unknown | 2 |
| (b) Copying paper | 65.24 | 83 |
11 Oct 2005 : Column 452W
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the Department's main suppliers of (a) copier paper, (b) stationery, (c) envelopes and (d) paper for reports; and what (i) the name of each paper used and (ii) the recycled and post-consumer recycled content of each paper is. [16203]
Mr. Charles Clarke: The contract to supply paper and paper products to the Home Department is held by the company Office Depot. In addition to the aforementioned contract the prison service also hold a contract with James MacNaughton Paper Group Ltd. to supply paper and paper products to Prison Service Enterprise and Supply Services Internal Industries.
Office Depot provide a wide range of stationery products to the Home Office and to provide details of every paper and paper product supplied would incur disproportionate costs.
I am however able to provide details of the top 10 paper and paper products purchased from Office Depot by brand name and where available the recycled and post consumer recycled content of each paper in the categories requested.
Details of the top 10 paper and paper products purchased from James MacNaughton Paper Group Ltd. by brand name and where available the recycled and post consumer recycled content for copier paper is in the following table.
(6) Various pcw content depending on availability
11 Oct 2005 : Column 453W
n/a=not available
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |