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19 Oct 2005 : Column 990W—continued
Electricity Spending
Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much each departmental site has spent on electricity in each year since 2001. [18849]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed in May 2002 and the following figures reflect this.
(1)Not known.
(2)The Rent Service transferred to The Department for Works and Pensions in April 2004.
This answer does not include figures for 26 Whitehall, which is managed by the Cabinet Office, and for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister pays an agreed proportion of the cost of all services supplied by the Cabinet Office.
The figures for 2004–05 have yet to be independently verified by DEFRA and therefore should be considered as provisional.
This answer does not include the buildings occupied by Government Offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.
Energy Efficiency
Tim Loughton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what energy-saving measures he has implemented in his Department since it was established. [18850]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) has implemented a wide range of energy saving measures since its inception in May 2002.
These include an energy awareness campaign for staff and improved monitor ring and targeting of energy use and benchmarking as well as physical measures such as:
Providing timers for hot water boilers and empty refrigerated display units to reduce out of hours electrical consumption
We have worked with the Carbon Trust in the past year to use their expertise to identify both short and medium term projects to improve our use of energy, promote more efficient use of energy and reduce our CO 2 emissions. These plans will be implemented and progress monitored.
Local Authority Expenditure
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the revenue expenditure of each local authority in England was in the most recent year for which figures are available. [17160]
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Mr. Woolas: Revenue expenditure in 2004–05 by local authority in England can be found on the ODPM website at: http://www.localodpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/revenue.htm.
Data are not available for a small number of local authorities as their returns were invalid at the time of processing the 2004–05 data. Final data are expected to become available towards the end of 2005.
A table has been placed in the House Library showing revenue expenditure for each local authority in 2003–04.
Local Government Ombudsman
Anne Milton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received about reform of the Local Government Ombudsman over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [17720]
Mr. Woolas: The Office has received around 50 representations relating to the work of the Local Government Ombudsman over the past 12 months. We do not keep records of the precise nature of the representations received. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Local Government Pensions
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress of the negotiations on the Local Government Pension Scheme. [19487]
Mr. Woolas: Good progress is being made by the local authority employers and trade unions, within the framework of the Local Government Pension Scheme Tripartite Committee, to determine what further amendments are necessary to the scheme, so that, in light of my statement of 13 July 2005, Official Report, columns 30–31WS, its on-going affordability and viability can be ensured by April 2006. A further meeting of the Tripartite Committee is scheduled for 2 November.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate has been made of the funding shortfall in local authorities pension funds in England. [17402]
Mr. Woolas: The actuarial valuation of the local authority pension funds in England carried out on 31 March 2004, showed that the assets of £80 billion represented 75 per cent. of the total scheme liabilities of £107 billion. Each scheme administering authority has in place a funding strategy to manage and recover fund deficits.
Maladministration
Anne Milton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities have been found guilty of maladministration in each of the past 10 years. [17719]
Mr. Woolas: The information requested is provided in the annual reports of the Local Government Ombudsman, copies of which are placed in the Library of the House.
Public Toilets
Dr. Cable:
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what discussions his Department has had with the British
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Toilet Association on the subject of toilets in public places; and what the outcome was of those discussions; [17836]
(2) what steps he plans to take to encourage local authorities to provide and maintain a suitable quantity and quality of toilets in public places; [17852]
(3) if he will introduce legislation to oblige local authorities to maintain a basic provision of public toilets; [17853]
(4) what regulations are in place stipulating (a) standards of cleanliness in and (b) maintenance, of public toilets; [17854]
(5) what regulations are in place relating to the quantity and quality of public toilets required for disabled people. [17855]
Mr. Woolas: I met with the British Toilet Association on 11 October to discuss methods of disseminating good practice in public toilet provision. It was agreed that the BTA would work with ODPM to promote guidance, including examples of best practice, as part of the 'How To Manage Town Centres' guide produced under the Cleaner Safer Greener Communities cross-Government initiative led by ODPM. The Government will also consider with the BTA ways in which access to toilets in public places can be further encouraged, but will not be introducing legislation to impose a duty on local authorities.
The standards of cleanliness in and maintenance of public toilets are a matter of public health and are therefore subject to public health regulation. The design of public toilets required for disabled people is regulated by Part M of the Building Regulations, which specifies overall design, layout, fixtures and fittings of toilets suitable for use by disabled people. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 places a duty on service providers to make reasonable adjustments to the physical features of a building which make accessing a service impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people. There is no duty on central Government to monitor the availability or standards of public toilet provision for disabled people.
South West Regional Assembly
Martin Horwood: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has for elections to the South West Regional Assembly. [17528]
Yvette Cooper: The Government has no plans for elections to the South West Regional Assembly.
Volunteering
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many volunteering positions his Department has offered in each of the last five years. [17870]
Jim Fitzpatrick: ODPM was created in May 2002 and hence our answer can only cover the period between that date and the present.
ODPM allows staff to take special leave with pay to participate in a range of voluntary/public services in accordance with the organisations staff handbook. However, the information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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In terms of bringing in volunteers to the organisation, ODPM does not currently use volunteers to deliver its services within its Head Office.
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