House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 24 Oct 2005 (pt 4)

24 Oct 2005 : Column 12W—continued

Marcus Downie

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what are the reasons for the length of time it took to conclude the inquest into the death of Marcus Downie; and if she will make a statement. [19194]

Ms Harman: The Essex and Thurrock coroner has explained the reasons for delay in holding this inquest. Following the death by hanging of Marcus Downie on 11 May 2002 in HMP Chelmsford there was a police investigation and an internal Prison Service inquiry. At the pre-inquest hearing in May 2003 the family's representatives made several requests for further information, including expert psychiatric evidence. A date in September 2003 was provisionally booked for the inquest, but the coroner decided to await the House of Lords judgments in two relevant cases, Middleton and Sacker which were delivered in March 2004. Staff shortages in the coroner's office prevented progress during the summer and autumn of 2004 but a further pre-inquest hearing was held on in January 2005 and, after difficulties in finding a suitable courtroom for a lengthy jury inquest, it was held between 3 and 12 October 2005.

Ministerial Travel

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many air miles were accrued through departmental ministerial travel in 2004–05, broken down by Minister; how many were (a) foregone and (b) donated to charity, broken down by charity; and whether air miles accrued by officials were required to be (i) foregone and (ii) given to charity. [17333]

24 Oct 2005 : Column 13W

Bridget Prentice: Figures for air miles accrued by Ministers are not held by this Department. All ministerial travel is conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers" and guidance for Ministers on the use of air miles is set out in the Ministerial Code". This guidance makes clear that air miles should be used only for official purposes or else foregone. However, if it is impracticable to use the benefits for Government travel, it is possible for Ministers to donate them to charity if permitted under the terms of the airline's scheme. Similar rules are in place for officials.

Persistent and Prolific Offenders

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidelines she has issued on how criminal cases involving persistent and prolific offenders should be treated by the courts. [19790]

Ms Harman: Guidance to the courts on handling prolific and other priority offender cases was issued by the senior presiding judge in April 2005.

The PPO Strategy requires courts to provide a Premium Service" so that relevant cases are listed expeditiously, trial readiness is checked regularly, ineffective trials are always monitored, enforcement warrants are given priority and orders are flagged up to the Prison, Probation and Youth Offending Services, as appropriate.

Postal Voting

Mike Wood: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make it a requirement for returning officers to make available a marked register indicating postal voters. [19655]

Ms Harman: The Electoral Administration Bill, introduced in the House of Commons on 11 October 2005, makes provision for the creation of a marked list of returned postal votes at future UK elections.

Prison Deaths

Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the inquests that have been completed in the past five years following a death in prison; what the date of the (a) death and (b) inquest was in each case; and if she will make a statement. [19202]

Ms Harman: The information can be found in a table, copies of which I have placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Voter Turnout

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps her Department (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to increase turnout in the next general election. [20183]

Ms Harman: Tackling low turnout at elections is a complex issue and one we cannot deal with through legislation alone. However, some of the measures in

24 Oct 2005 : Column 14W

the Electoral Administration Bill—particularly giving Returning Officers the power to promote elections and providing funding for them to do so, and also enabling people to register after an election has been called—should help to improve turnout at elections.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Architects Registration Board

Mr. Gummer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the Architects Registration Board concerning its disciplinary procedures. [19958]

Yvette Cooper: There have been no discussions as the Architects Act 1997 gives the Government no powers to intervene in disciplinary matters.

Mr. Gummer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether (a) he and (b) his officials have discussed with the Architects Registration Board rules of propriety in choosing members employed in quasi-judicial inquiries. [19959]

Yvette Cooper: There have been no discussions as the Government has no powers to intervene. Provisions for the membership of the Professional Conduct Committee are prescribed by the Architects Act 1997 as amended by The Architects (Professional Conduct Committee) Amendment Order 2004 (SI 2004 No. 655).

Mr. Gummer: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he intends to review the operation of the Architects Registration Board. [19962]

Yvette Cooper: The Government has no current plans for a review.

Departmental Vehicles

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many vehicles for which the Department is responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres. [17993]

Jim Fitzpatrick: Seven vehicles for which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is responsible are fitted with retreaded tyres. All seven are specialist vehicles at the Fire Service College, that do not travel at speeds in excess of 20mph.

For information on the use of retread tyres in vehicles provided to the Department by the Government Car and Despatch Agency I refer the hon. Member to the letter of 11 October 2005 which he received from the Chief Executive of the GCDA, reference UIN15087 and UIN15088. Copies of this letter are available in the Library of the House.

This answer does not include vehicles operated by the Government Offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Highbury

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received concerning the planning application for the re-development of

24 Oct 2005 : Column 15W

Highbury Stadium into Highbury Square; and whether he has made (a) decision and (b) statement on the application. [21142]

Yvette Cooper: Planning permission was granted by Islington Council on 30 September 2005 for the redevelopment of Highbury Stadium for a predominately residential scheme. The planning application was not referred to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister the First Secretary of State and he received no representations or requests to intervene.

Homelessness

Mr. Holloway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were found to be unintentionally homeless but not in a priority need category in Gravesham in 2005. [19834]

24 Oct 2005 : Column 16W

Yvette Cooper: Information about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected in respect of households, rather than persons. The number of households reported by Gravesham after completion of enquiries to be eligible, unintentionally homeless but not in a priority need category between 1 January and 30 June 2005, was 99.

Housing

Mr. Holloway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what house building programmes have been commissioned in Kent since 1997, broken down by borough council. [19833]

Yvette Cooper: The numbers of houses that have been built in Kent since 1997 are tabled as follows:

Borough/district 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04

Ashford 467 707 725 941 753 726 910

Canterbury 489 610 540 615 501 305 338

Dartford 556 368 182 86 322 646 726

Dover 204 276 212 23 459 177 284

Gravesham 95 103 81 61 137 137 204

Maidstone 444 262 755 416 722 444 372

Medway 702 698 719 678 603 676 733

Sevenoaks 439 -14 285 183 199 143 73

Shepway 281 486 513 354 410 400 369

Swale 321 705 576 654 659 668 570

Thanet 366 268 286 297 367 334 252

Tonbridge and Malling 417 414 346 273 337 589 475

Tunbridge Wells 317 308 274 247 222 376 240

Total 5,098 5,191 5,444 4,828 5,691 5,621 5,546

Source:
Kent county council/South East of England Regional Assembly

Borough/district	1997–98	1998–99	1999–2000	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04
Ashford	467	707	725	941	753	726	910
Canterbury	489	610	540	615	501	305	338
Dartford	556	368	182	86	322	646	726
Dover	204	276	212	23	459	177	284
Gravesham	95	103	81	61	137	137	204
Maidstone	444	262	755	416	722	444	372
Medway	702	698	719	678	603	676	733
Sevenoaks	439	-14	285	183	199	143	73
Shepway	281	486	513	354	410	400	369
Swale	321	705	576	654	659	668	570
Thanet	366	268	286	297	367	334	252
Tonbridge and Malling	417	414	346	273	337	589	475
Tunbridge Wells	317	308	274	247	222	376	240
Total	5,098	5,191	5,444	4,828	5,691	5,621	5,546

Mr. Burstow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt) of 14 October 2005, Official Report, column 612W, on housing, if he will break down the figures by London borough. [19687]

Yvette Cooper: Estimates for densities of new residential dwellings for London boroughs are from Land Use Change Statistics and are shown as follows. The densities are very variable from one year to the next as they can be affected by a small number of developments in each borough.
Density of new residential dwellings built: London boroughs, 1985–2004 Dwellings per hectare

London borough 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

City of London — — — — 50 667 — — — —

Barking and Dagenham 167 — — 65 63 36 53 67 86 42

Barnet 20 — — 44 37 35 41 45 49 46

Bexley 11 — — 45 37 32 37 38 33 42

Brent 33 — — 77 59 82 66 62 88 43

Bromley 14 17 20 31 31 22 23 30 28 26

Camden — — — 68 65 50 21 84 104 88

Croydon 16 19 28 40 27 32 37 29 31 44

Ealing 17 — 33 72 12 49 64 58 54 88

Enfield 9 — 59 60 81 56 52 45 64 36

Greenwich 32 62 58 47 48 45 64 50 48 55

Hackney — 67 74 58 62 43 36 57 64 93

Hammersmith and Fulham — — — 75 140 70 38 38 19 43

Haringey 13 — 60 41 59 43 59 52 63 55

Harrow 22 — 47 30 39 48 35 48 40 31

Havering 20 33 9 35 36 30 21 37 37 36

Hillingdon 11 15 76 52 43 24 25 22 22 31

Hounslow 19 28 300 37 48 52 41 52 40 39

Islington 400 — — 60 43 76 45 44 61 104

Kensington and Chelsea 200 — — 71 100 98 41 51 85 68

Kingston upon Thames 16 — 43 42 50 41 41 37 36 37

Lambeth 33 33 35 87 75 48 43 69 48 103

Lewisham 20 87 78 55 52 65 64 59 64 45

Merton 22 8 64 51 88 48 49 37 39 43

Newham — 67 40 54 50 51 53 56 44 48

Redbridge 32 — 48 64 59 33 48 40 43 44

Richmond upon Thames 29 15 52 42 38 32 41 39 57 56

Southwark 40 — 37 136 63 79 78 77 84 67

Sutton 33 36 46 59 41 40 46 45 51 50

Tower Hamlets — 57 113 76 59 95 105 63 89 68

Waltham Forest 44 50 40 59 49 55 57 61 57 48

Wandsworth 77 — 28 75 60 69 59 80 54 50

Westminster 133 — 60 99 142 134 54 75 104 131

24 Oct 2005 : Column 17W

London borough 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

City of London — 5 80 230 165 266 960 — — —

Barking and Dagenham 58 43 47 44 39 42 41 54 104 190

Barnet 37 50 47 24 29 68 40 58 66 41

Bexley 56 36 23 38 33 29 35 28 38 10

Brent 47 90 45 44 41 39 56 72 74 82

Bromley 24 31 28 25 27 47 25 21 40 46

Camden 60 76 54 88 107 112 43 102 130 —

Croydon 30 31 33 26 26 31 48 51 46 31

Ealing 46 63 71 56 56 71 63 47 77 72

Enfield 35 47 59 48 47 41 34 67 90 77

Greenwich 48 48 41 37 41 70 33 42 53 83

Hackney 56 50 77 70 73 90 81 108 106 204

Hammersmith and Fulham 91 84 62 85 72 83 55 68 52 —

Haringey 52 44 64 58 85 80 49 70 107 76

Harrow 24 18 36 23 49 41 27 36 84 103

Havering 36 34 27 44 39 31 44 42 31 56

Hillingdon 30 33 38 35 35 41 34 66 55 47

Hounslow 45 66 46 69 54 66 47 57 121 88

Islington 43 114 78 119 130 105 70 98 86 158

Kensington and Chelsea 56 84 95 91 107 119 25 142 80 —

Kingston upon Thames 26 46 37 53 33 46 35 54 92 59

Lambeth 66 67 73 76 72 89 74 90 127 80

Lewisham 50 85 61 73 83 31 55 83 57 122

Merton 51 56 51 43 46 45 77 49 109 58

Newham 49 56 45 60 60 57 79 81 97 257

Redbridge 56 40 40 43 34 26 34 34 110 100

Richmond upon Thames 61 32 32 64 48 45 48 62 56 59

Southwark 66 74 60 66 112 87 105 61 116 109

Sutton 51 38 33 32 35 38 36 55 49 47

Tower Hamlets 94 80 95 82 130 140 80 105 189 280

Waltham Forest 47 52 46 51 37 38 27 57 36 120

Wandsworth 52 55 42 71 66 72 58 43 158 154

Westminster 97 138 71 119 182 42 169 113 149 110

London borough	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
City of London	—	—	—	—	50	667	—	—	—	—
Barking and Dagenham	167	—	—	65	63	36	53	67	86	42
Barnet	20	—	—	44	37	35	41	45	49	46
Bexley	11	—	—	45	37	32	37	38	33	42
Brent	33	—	—	77	59	82	66	62	88	43
Bromley	14	17	20	31	31	22	23	30	28	26
Camden	—	—	—	68	65	50	21	84	104	88
Croydon	16	19	28	40	27	32	37	29	31	44
Ealing	17	—	33	72	12	49	64	58	54	88
Enfield	9	—	59	60	81	56	52	45	64	36
Greenwich	32	62	58	47	48	45	64	50	48	55
Hackney	—	67	74	58	62	43	36	57	64	93
Hammersmith and Fulham	—	—	—	75	140	70	38	38	19	43
Haringey	13	—	60	41	59	43	59	52	63	55
Harrow	22	—	47	30	39	48	35	48	40	31
Havering	20	33	9	35	36	30	21	37	37	36
Hillingdon	11	15	76	52	43	24	25	22	22	31
Hounslow	19	28	300	37	48	52	41	52	40	39
Islington	400	—	—	60	43	76	45	44	61	104
Kensington and Chelsea	200	—	—	71	100	98	41	51	85	68
Kingston upon Thames	16	—	43	42	50	41	41	37	36	37
Lambeth	33	33	35	87	75	48	43	69	48	103
Lewisham	20	87	78	55	52	65	64	59	64	45
Merton	22	8	64	51	88	48	49	37	39	43
Newham	—	67	40	54	50	51	53	56	44	48
Redbridge	32	—	48	64	59	33	48	40	43	44
Richmond upon Thames	29	15	52	42	38	32	41	39	57	56
Southwark	40	—	37	136	63	79	78	77	84	67
Sutton	33	36	46	59	41	40	46	45	51	50
Tower Hamlets	—	57	113	76	59	95	105	63	89	68
Waltham Forest	44	50	40	59	49	55	57	61	57	48
Wandsworth	77	—	28	75	60	69	59	80	54	50
Westminster	133	—	60	99	142	134	54	75	104	131

London borough	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
City of London	—	5	80	230	165	266	960	—	—	—
Barking and Dagenham	58	43	47	44	39	42	41	54	104	190
Barnet	37	50	47	24	29	68	40	58	66	41
Bexley	56	36	23	38	33	29	35	28	38	10
Brent	47	90	45	44	41	39	56	72	74	82
Bromley	24	31	28	25	27	47	25	21	40	46
Camden	60	76	54	88	107	112	43	102	130	—
Croydon	30	31	33	26	26	31	48	51	46	31
Ealing	46	63	71	56	56	71	63	47	77	72
Enfield	35	47	59	48	47	41	34	67	90	77
Greenwich	48	48	41	37	41	70	33	42	53	83
Hackney	56	50	77	70	73	90	81	108	106	204
Hammersmith and Fulham	91	84	62	85	72	83	55	68	52	—
Haringey	52	44	64	58	85	80	49	70	107	76
Harrow	24	18	36	23	49	41	27	36	84	103
Havering	36	34	27	44	39	31	44	42	31	56
Hillingdon	30	33	38	35	35	41	34	66	55	47
Hounslow	45	66	46	69	54	66	47	57	121	88
Islington	43	114	78	119	130	105	70	98	86	158
Kensington and Chelsea	56	84	95	91	107	119	25	142	80	—
Kingston upon Thames	26	46	37	53	33	46	35	54	92	59
Lambeth	66	67	73	76	72	89	74	90	127	80
Lewisham	50	85	61	73	83	31	55	83	57	122
Merton	51	56	51	43	46	45	77	49	109	58
Newham	49	56	45	60	60	57	79	81	97	257
Redbridge	56	40	40	43	34	26	34	34	110	100
Richmond upon Thames	61	32	32	64	48	45	48	62	56	59
Southwark	66	74	60	66	112	87	105	61	116	109
Sutton	51	38	33	32	35	38	36	55	49	47
Tower Hamlets	94	80	95	82	130	140	80	105	189	280
Waltham Forest	47	52	46	51	37	38	27	57	36	120
Wandsworth	52	55	42	71	66	72	58	43	158	154
Westminster	97	138	71	119	182	42	169	113	149	110

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people are on the housing register in each London borough. [19158]

Yvette Cooper: The requested data based on the latest available year are tabled.

Local authorities in England report the numbers of households on their housing waiting list as at 1 April in their annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix returns. Local authorities sometimes maintain a common waiting list with the Housing Association/s in their district. However, information is not held centrally where a Housing Association maintains a separate waiting list to the local authority.
Number of households on the housing register as at 1 April 2005

Local authority Number of households

Barking and Dagenham 2,321

Barnet 13,627

Bexley 4,528

Brent 17,351

Bromley 2,998

Camden 16,532

City of London 1,204

Croydon 8,856

Ealing 14,324

Enfield 7,872

Greenwich 7,666

Hackney 7,744

Hammersmith and Fulham 8,384

Haringey 19,930

Harrow 4,944

Havering 3,477

Hillingdon 7,471

Hounslow 10,382

Islington 6,326

Kensington and Chelsea 9,436

Kingston upon Thames 4,903

Lambeth 10,648

Lewisham 18,279

Merton 5,188

Newham 25,317

Redbridge 7,941

Richmond upon Thames 4,898

Southwark 7,548

Sutton 3,724

Tower Hamlets 21,183

Waltham Forest 8,837

Wandsworth 8,668

Westminster 6,565

London 309,072

Source:
ODPM's Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA)

24 Oct 2005 : Column 19W

Local authority	Number of households
Barking and Dagenham	2,321
Barnet	13,627
Bexley	4,528
Brent	17,351
Bromley	2,998
Camden	16,532
City of London	1,204
Croydon	8,856
Ealing	14,324
Enfield	7,872
Greenwich	7,666
Hackney	7,744
Hammersmith and Fulham	8,384
Haringey	19,930
Harrow	4,944
Havering	3,477
Hillingdon	7,471
Hounslow	10,382
Islington	6,326
Kensington and Chelsea	9,436
Kingston upon Thames	4,903
Lambeth	10,648
Lewisham	18,279
Merton	5,188
Newham	25,317
Redbridge	7,941
Richmond upon Thames	4,898
Southwark	7,548
Sutton	3,724
Tower Hamlets	21,183
Waltham Forest	8,837
Wandsworth	8,668
Westminster	6,565
London	309,072

Mr. Holloway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people are in council housing in Kent, broken down by borough council. [19800]

Yvette Cooper: Data on the number of people in council housing in Kent are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has information on the number of dwellings owned by each district authority in Kent. This data as at 1 April 2005 are given in the following table:
Local authority stock in Kent, by district, at 1 April 2005

Ashford 5,416

Canterbury 5,320

Dartford 4,437

Dover 4,753

Gravesham 6,132

Maidstone 0

Sevenoaks 0

Shepway 3,520

Swale 16

Thanet 3,180

Tonbridge and Malling 0

Tunbridge Wells 33

Kent 32,807

Note:
Large-Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT) authorities could retain small amount of stock (normally below 100).
Source:
ODPM Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix return.

24 Oct 2005 : Column 20W


Ashford	5,416
Canterbury	5,320
Dartford	4,437
Dover	4,753
Gravesham	6,132
Maidstone	0
Sevenoaks	0
Shepway	3,520
Swale	16
Thanet	3,180
Tonbridge and Malling	0
Tunbridge Wells	33
Kent	32,807

Mr. Khan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the council allocations were for housing transfers into (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four and (e) five bedroom properties in each London borough in the last year for which figures are available. [19213]

Yvette Cooper: Information on the number of local authority lettings which involve transfers is not available by number of bedrooms centrally. However, the following information on lettings which relates to transfers is collected:

The number of dwellings let through mobility arrangements;

The number of dwellings let through mutual exchanges;

The number of dwellings let to existing tenants transferring within authority's own stock.

Of the third of these, the number of tenants transferring to a dwelling with fewer bedrooms is also collected.

All this information by London borough for 2004–05 is provided in the table as follows.
Number of lettings to local authority dwellings related to transfers in the London boroughs, 2004–05

Dwellings let to existing tenants
within own stock

Local authority Dwellings let through mobility arrangements Dwellings let through mutual exchanges Total of which:
Number to fewer bedrooms

Barking and Dagenham 23 127 667 79

Barnet 0 88 168 40

Bexley 0 0 0 0

Brent 44 16 134 32

Bromley 0 0 0 0

Camden 31 94 453 46

City of London 1 5 32 0

Croydon 10 159 201 51

Ealing 1 15 174 66

Enfield 8 150 193 13

Greenwich 10 106 516 110

Hackney 3 41 201 21

Hammersmith and Fulham 11 74 252 31

Haringey 23 66 117 45

Harrow 5 21 49 15

Havering 24 56 328 107

Hillingdon 2 101 125 21

Hounslow 12 133 229 47

Islington 3 101 353 89

Kensington and Chelsea 0 15 91 25

Kingston upon Thames 15 46 60 18

Lambeth 9 36 360 61

Lewisham 0 148 363 272

Merton 0 51 77 21

Newham 70 88 213 25

Redbridge 0 30 85 32

Richmond upon Thames 0 0 0 0

Southwark 18 128 631 103

Sutton 0 98 105 22

Tower Hamlets 0 84 312 96

Waltham Forest 48 101 94 10

Wandsworth 4 92 258 46

Westminster 1 29 175 20

London 376 2,299 7,016 1,564

Note:
A zero figure indicates the authority is a Large Scale Voluntary Transfer authority. All their stock has been transferred to the Registered Social Landlords.
Source:
ODPM's Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix Returns

24 Oct 2005 : Column 21W

			Dwellings let to existing tenants within own stock
Local authority	Dwellings let through mobility arrangements	Dwellings let through mutual exchanges	Total	of which: Number to fewer bedrooms
Barking and Dagenham	23	127	667	79
Barnet	0	88	168	40
Bexley	0	0	0	0
Brent	44	16	134	32
Bromley	0	0	0	0
Camden	31	94	453	46
City of London	1	5	32	0
Croydon	10	159	201	51
Ealing	1	15	174	66
Enfield	8	150	193	13
Greenwich	10	106	516	110
Hackney	3	41	201	21
Hammersmith and Fulham	11	74	252	31
Haringey	23	66	117	45
Harrow	5	21	49	15
Havering	24	56	328	107
Hillingdon	2	101	125	21
Hounslow	12	133	229	47
Islington	3	101	353	89
Kensington and Chelsea	0	15	91	25
Kingston upon Thames	15	46	60	18
Lambeth	9	36	360	61
Lewisham	0	148	363	272
Merton	0	51	77	21
Newham	70	88	213	25
Redbridge	0	30	85	32
Richmond upon Thames	0	0	0	0
Southwark	18	128	631	103
Sutton	0	98	105	22
Tower Hamlets	0	84	312	96
Waltham Forest	48	101	94	10
Wandsworth	4	92	258	46
Westminster	1	29	175	20
London	376	2,299	7,016	1,564

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what requirement there is for tenant involvement in registered social landlords after transfer of council housing in large scale voluntary transfers; and how performance is audited after transfers have taken place. [17861]

Yvette Cooper: It is normally most appropriate for a transfer RSL's governing board to comprise one-third tenants, no more than one-third local authority nominees, and at least one-third independent members.

All RSLs have a duty to publish a statement of how they will involve their residents in improving the association's services and how this involvement will influence outcomes. Each year, associations must review the effectiveness of the statement and prepare an impact assessment.

The Housing Corporation monitors compliance with all regulatory requirements, which are taken into account when preparing Housing Corporation Assessments of association performance.

The corporation also works closely with the Audit Commission in relation to their inspection of housing associations, which includes consideration of tenant involvement.

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the levels of tenant satisfaction (a) before and after large-scale voluntary transfer, (b) before and after the establishment of arm's length management organisations, (c) of tenants in privatised council housing and (d) of tenants remaining in council controlled housing. [17863]

Yvette Cooper: Data from the Survey of English Housing (SEH) for 2004–05 show that 74 per cent. of tenants of registered social landlords (RSLs) are satisfied with the housing services provided by their landlord, and 67 per cent. of local authority tenants are satisfied. Housemark data for 2004–05 show that 75 of tenants of arm's length management organisations (ALMOs) are satisfied.

The SEH 2004–05 also asked RSL tenants whose homes had been transferred from local authority ownership since 2000 how the service provided by the RSL compared to that from the local authority. 27 per cent. of tenants reported that the service from the RSL

24 Oct 2005 : Column 22W

was better than the local authority, 62 per cent. said it was the same and 11 per cent. said it was worse. No comparable question was asked for ALMOs.

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