House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 14 Nov 2005 (pt 46)

14 Nov 2005 : Column 1030W—continued

Council Tax

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library preliminary (a) analysis, (b) studies and (c) estimates conducted before the announcement of the revaluation postponement by (i) his Office and (ii) the Valuation Office Agency on the distribution and number of gainers and losers from the council tax revaluation in England. [24678]

Mr. Woolas: As my right hon. Friend said on 20 September, Sir Michael Lyons will set out his work so far later this year.

Departmental Skills Development Plan

Mr. Gibb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which individual is responsible for developing and implementing his Department's Skills Development Plan. [23846]

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Barrow and Furness (Mr. Hutton) on 2 November 2005, Official Report, column1074W.

Domestic Violence

Lynda Waltho: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to improve the services offered to women seeking refuge from domestic violence. [24082]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister plays an important part in the Government's action to tackle domestic violence. Specific action taken recently includes:

Investing more than £30 million over three years for new refuge provision and refurbishment of existing refuge schemes.

Investing £1.4 million over three years to develop a new national domestic violence helpline (0808 2000 247) supported by UKRefugesonline an internet based UK wide database of domestic violence services.

Providing £200,000 in 2005–06 for the development of minimum service standards for the Women's Aid network of domestic violence services, a programme of accredited training and support the regional network of women's refuges.

Introducing a substantially revised domestic violence Best Value Performance Indicator from 1 April 2005, the purpose of which is to assess overall provision and effectiveness of local authority services designed to help victims of domestic violence.

14 Nov 2005 : Column 1031W

Establishing the Supporting People programme from 1 April 2003, providing a more strategic basis for funding and commissioning housing related support services for victims of domestic violence. A consultation seeking views on the future direction of the programme will be launched shortly and will be a vehicle for improving services for those fleeing domestic violence.

Energy Efficiency

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action he is taking to improve the energy efficiency of community buildings. [26215]

Yvette Cooper: The energy efficiency provisions in Part L of the Building Regulations apply whenever buildings, including community buildings, are constructed, altered, extended or subjected to a material change of use. In September the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced further improvements to these energy efficiency requirements that will come into effect next April.

Fire-related Deaths

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many fire-related deaths there have been in West Lancashire in each of the last three years. [27835]

Jim Fitzpatrick: Lancashire fire and rescue service have supplied the following information on the number of fire-related deaths in the constituency of West Lancashire from 2002 to 2004.

Number of deaths in fires

2002 0

2003 0

2004 1

	Number of deaths in fires
2002	0
2003	0
2004	1

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes the Government have made to targets for reducing the number of (a) accidental fire-related deaths in the home and (b) deliberate fires since 1997. [26924]

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government made changes to the Service Level Agreement Targets covering the period 1998–99 to 2010 when we introduced a Public Service Agreement (PSA) Target for the Fire and Rescue Service in April 2005.

The Service Level Agreement Target for reducing the number of accidental fire related deaths in the home was:

To reduce the incidence of accidental fire-related deaths in the home by 20 per cent. averaged over the five-year period to March 2004 compared with the average recorded in the five year period to March 1999,"

The current PSA target for reducing the number of accidental fire related deaths in the home is:

To reduce the number of accidental fire related deaths in the home by 20 per cent. by 31 March 2010."

This includes a floor target:

That no local fire and rescue authority has a fatality rate, from accidental fires in the home, more than 1.25 times the national average by 2010."

The Service Level Agreement for reducing the number of deliberate fires was:

14 Nov 2005 : Column 1032W

To reduce by 30 per cent. the number of deliberate fires by March 2009 from the 1998–09 baseline."

The current PSA target for reducing the number of deliberate fires is:

To achieve a 10 per cent. reduction in the number of deliberate fires by 31 March 2010 from the 2001–02 baseline."

Home Information Packs

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the required elements of home information packs. [24676]

Yvette Cooper: The draft regulations specifying the contents of the home information pack were published for public comment on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website on 31 October. The proposed required documents are listed in Regulation 8

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for the introduction of home information packs. [24679]

Yvette Cooper: The intention of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is to introduce home information packs early in 2007, and we are discussing with our key stakeholders how best this can be achieved.

Housing

Mr. Greenway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to increase the number of (a) affordable homes and (b) social housing units in rural areas. [24102]

Yvette Cooper: The Housing Corporation is currently considering bids from registered social landlords and others to support the increased provision of both social rented and low cost home ownership products over 2006–08. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects (subject to satisfactory bids coming forward) that some £424 million of grant will be allocated to bids in rural areas. The results of the bidding round will be announced in early 2006.

Mr. Greenway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to publish a revised planning policy guidance note 3 on the provisions of affordable housing in rural areas. [24103]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister intends to publish by the end of this year a draft new Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) for consultation. Final PPS3 will be published as soon as practicable after the consultation period has closed.

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) studio and one-bed, (b) two-bed, (c) three-bed and (d) four-bed units of social housing there were in each London local authority in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and (iv) 2005. [24271]

Yvette Cooper: For 1980 and 1990, information on registered social landlord housing stock or local authority stock by size for each London borough is not held centrally. The information for 2000 and 2005 for those properties for which a breakdown is available is given as follows.

14 Nov 2005 : Column 1033W

Table 1: Social stock by size for London boroughs—2000

One bedroom and bedsits Two bedrooms Three or more bedrooms

Barking and Dagenham 6,364 10,666 8,383

Barnet 4,596 6,892 4,467

Bexley 3,351 2,889 3,846

Brent 7,769 7,807 5,668

Bromley 5,618 5,475 5,370

Camden 14,884 10,629 8,764

City of London 1,154 687 466

Croydon 6,600 7,959 8,400

Ealing 8,618 7,676 5,880

Enfield 5,563 6,570 5,558

Greenwich 10,561 11,896 12,113

Hackney 13,997 14,675 12,880

Hammersmith and Fulham 10,227 7,597 5,931

Haringey 10,018 9,058 8,057

Harrow 2,858 2,400 2,405

Havering 4,811 4,755 4,059

Hillingdon 5,242 5,476 4,461

Hounslow 5,848 7,159 6,256

Islington 16,776 13,335 10,388

Kensington and Chelsea 8,998 5,819 3,551

Kingston upon Thames 2,531 2,230 1,669

Lambeth 16,301 16,281 14,957

Lewisham 12,260 14,727 12,405

Merton 3,418 3,686 4,098

Newham 10,315 11,009 10,325

Redbridge 3,367 2,436 2,087

Richmond-upon-Thames 4,237 2,774 2,638

Southwark 21,442 20,793 17,323

Sutton 3,894 4,404 3,546

Tower Hamlets 12,308 14,589 12,216

Waltham Forest 6,875 6,313 6,738

Wandsworth 9,710 9,569 7,735

Westminster 13,191 7,195 4,401

Notes:
1. Figures are given for those registered social landlord general needs dwellings for which the landlord has provided size from the Regulatory and Statistical Return of the Housing Corporation.
2. The dwelling stock figures exclude non-self contained properties and staff homes.
3. Local authority information comes from the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Audit Base Return and does not include non-self contained units and may exclude stock owned by the local authority outside their area even if it is in another borough.

Table 2: Social stock by size for London boroughs—2005

Bedsit One bedroom Two bedrooms Three bedrooms Four or more bedrooms

Barking and Dagenham 476 5,047 9,496 7,237 288

Barnet 338 3,762 6,763 3,993 515

Bexley 350 2,810 3,393 3,781 565

Brent 583 5,957 7,575 4,684 978

Bromley 552 3,261 5,643 4,722 618

Camden 2,756 10,118 9,634 6,161 1,971

City of London 429 600 612 407 19

Croydon 812 4,970 7,716 7,425 1,002

Ealing 1,056 6,816 7,221 4,867 757

Enfield 519 4,487 6,241 5,000 414

Greenwich 1,503 8,803 11,573 10,259 1,681

Hackney 1,542 11,101 14,821 10,287 2,564

Hammersmith and Fulham 1,102 8,531 7,638 4,575 1,338

Haringey 469 8,521 8,391 6,212 1,166

Harrow 303 2,262 2,362 2,268 224

Havering 682 3,617 4,348 3,681 186

Hillingdon 511 4,376 5,702 4,217 355

Hounslow 924 4,836 6,901 5,597 487

Islington 1,292 13,696 12,789 7,889 2,112

Kensington and Chelsea 2,084 5,976 5,757 2,894 657

Kingston upon Thames 489 1,846 2,312 1,522 145

Lambeth 1,740 13,004 15,667 11,018 3,056

Lewisham 1,471 9,433 12,710 8,933 1,844

Merton 227 2,877 3,370 3,579 255

Newham 393 8,781 9,692 7,819 1,330

Redbridge 521 1,992 2,474 1,918 220

Richmond-upon-Thames 454 2,695 2,553 2,084 254

Southwark 2,548 16,443 18,438 11,984 3,305

Sutton 22 703 1,302 524 51

Tower Hamlets 1,238 7,934 11,361 6,759 2,443

Waltham Forest 832 5,430 6,792 5,842 711

Wandsworth 1,146 7,464 8,953 5,909 1,416

Westminster 2,313 9,240 7,050 3,717 652

Notes:
1. Figures are given for those general needs dwellings for which the landlord has provided size from the Regulatory and Statistical Return of the Housing Corporation.
2. The dwelling stock figures exclude non-self contained properties and staff homes.
3. The information for local authority stock comes from the Housing Second Subsidy Claim form and are provisional and un-audited figures.
4. Information for local authority stock in Sutton is not yet available.

14 Nov 2005 : Column 1035W

	One bedroom and bedsits	Two bedrooms	Three or more bedrooms
Barking and Dagenham	6,364	10,666	8,383
Barnet	4,596	6,892	4,467
Bexley	3,351	2,889	3,846
Brent	7,769	7,807	5,668
Bromley	5,618	5,475	5,370
Camden	14,884	10,629	8,764
City of London	1,154	687	466
Croydon	6,600	7,959	8,400
Ealing	8,618	7,676	5,880
Enfield	5,563	6,570	5,558
Greenwich	10,561	11,896	12,113
Hackney	13,997	14,675	12,880
Hammersmith and Fulham	10,227	7,597	5,931
Haringey	10,018	9,058	8,057
Harrow	2,858	2,400	2,405
Havering	4,811	4,755	4,059
Hillingdon	5,242	5,476	4,461
Hounslow	5,848	7,159	6,256
Islington	16,776	13,335	10,388
Kensington and Chelsea	8,998	5,819	3,551
Kingston upon Thames	2,531	2,230	1,669
Lambeth	16,301	16,281	14,957
Lewisham	12,260	14,727	12,405
Merton	3,418	3,686	4,098
Newham	10,315	11,009	10,325
Redbridge	3,367	2,436	2,087
Richmond-upon-Thames	4,237	2,774	2,638
Southwark	21,442	20,793	17,323
Sutton	3,894	4,404	3,546
Tower Hamlets	12,308	14,589	12,216
Waltham Forest	6,875	6,313	6,738
Wandsworth	9,710	9,569	7,735
Westminster	13,191	7,195	4,401

	Bedsit	One bedroom	Two bedrooms	Three bedrooms	Four or more bedrooms
Barking and Dagenham	476	5,047	9,496	7,237	288
Barnet	338	3,762	6,763	3,993	515
Bexley	350	2,810	3,393	3,781	565
Brent	583	5,957	7,575	4,684	978
Bromley	552	3,261	5,643	4,722	618
Camden	2,756	10,118	9,634	6,161	1,971
City of London	429	600	612	407	19
Croydon	812	4,970	7,716	7,425	1,002
Ealing	1,056	6,816	7,221	4,867	757
Enfield	519	4,487	6,241	5,000	414
Greenwich	1,503	8,803	11,573	10,259	1,681
Hackney	1,542	11,101	14,821	10,287	2,564
Hammersmith and Fulham	1,102	8,531	7,638	4,575	1,338
Haringey	469	8,521	8,391	6,212	1,166
Harrow	303	2,262	2,362	2,268	224
Havering	682	3,617	4,348	3,681	186
Hillingdon	511	4,376	5,702	4,217	355
Hounslow	924	4,836	6,901	5,597	487
Islington	1,292	13,696	12,789	7,889	2,112
Kensington and Chelsea	2,084	5,976	5,757	2,894	657
Kingston upon Thames	489	1,846	2,312	1,522	145
Lambeth	1,740	13,004	15,667	11,018	3,056
Lewisham	1,471	9,433	12,710	8,933	1,844
Merton	227	2,877	3,370	3,579	255
Newham	393	8,781	9,692	7,819	1,330
Redbridge	521	1,992	2,474	1,918	220
Richmond-upon-Thames	454	2,695	2,553	2,084	254
Southwark	2,548	16,443	18,438	11,984	3,305
Sutton	22	703	1,302	524	51
Tower Hamlets	1,238	7,934	11,361	6,759	2,443
Waltham Forest	832	5,430	6,792	5,842	711
Wandsworth	1,146	7,464	8,953	5,909	1,416
Westminster	2,313	9,240	7,050	3,717	652

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many households (a) made a homelessness application and (b) were accepted as homeless in each London local authority in (i) 1990, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2004–05. [24272]

Yvette Cooper: The available information is given in the following table. This presents information reported by each London borough on the number of households about whom a decision regarding their homelessness application was made, and the number of these accepted

14 Nov 2005 : Column 1036W

which were accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and consequently owed a main homelessness duty.

The duty owed by the local authority is to secure suitable accommodation. If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority may secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available. As an alternative to the provision of temporary accommodation some authorities arrange for households to remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.
Decisions on applications from households for assistance under homelessness legislation, as reported by London boroughs

1990
2000
April 2004 to March 2005

Total of which Total of which Total of which

Decisions⁽⁵⁶⁾ Accepted⁽⁵⁷⁾ Decisions⁽⁵⁶⁾ Accepted⁽⁵⁷⁾ Decisions⁽⁵⁶⁾ Accepted⁽⁵⁷⁾

Barking and Dagenham 477 146 389 278 1,593 775

Barnet 1,989 638 3,538 1,208 4,893 758

Bexley ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 1,269 343 1,211 430

Brent ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 2,417 1,169 2,631 795

Bromley 1,643 759 1,809 885 ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾—

Camden ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 1,505 1,828 1,009 1,859 1,148

City of London 26 15 26 24 44 31

Croydon 3,073 1,608 5,217 1,668 4,432 1,126

Ealing ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 2,343 997 2,314 789

Enfield 1,528 1,094 1,547 912 ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾—

Greenwich ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 3,432 1,233 2,945 1,157

Hackney ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 1,160 869 2,027 1,153

Hammersmith and Fulham ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 1,600 973 1,284 653

Haringey ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 2,114 1,175

Harrow 1,640 385 1,422 680 551 96

Havering 1,019 402 ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 491 200

Hillingdon ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 866 1,609 858 723 461

Hounslow ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 3,245 1,085 1,331 891

Islington ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 3,594 1,485 2,520 1,130

Kensington and Chelsea ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 1,195 612 1,267 589

Kingston upon Thames 985 328 1,065 400 ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾—

Lambeth ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 1,642 1,006 2,715 1,644

Lewisham ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 2,220 891 2,216 1,245

Merton 655 405 797 178 659 261

Newham ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 2,952 1,353 ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾—

Redbridge ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 600 430 ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾—

Richmond upon Thames ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 594 321 488 279

Southwark ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 2,124 1,414 2,613 1,668

Sutton 1,619 525 801 432 930 272

Tower Hamlets ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 1,628 1,275 1,830 1,151

Waltham Forest 2,694 799 2,012 906 2,816 800

Wandsworth 3,768 1,476 ⁽⁵⁸⁾— ⁽⁵⁸⁾— 1,867 840

Westminster 3,458 2,614 5,270 1,037 3,968 1,112

⁽⁵⁶⁾ Decisions prior to 1997 were made under the 1985 Housing Act; subsequent decisions were made under the 1996 Housing Act, although figures include any residual 1985 Act cases. Includes applications found to be ineligible.
⁽⁵⁷⁾ Households found to be eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category and, under 1996 Housing Act provisions, consequently owed a main homelessness duty.
⁽⁵⁸⁾ Denotes an authority failed to provide a return for one or more quarters.
Note:
Data shown where four quarterly returns were received.
Source:
ODPM P1E Homelessness returns (quarterly)

	1990	2000	April 2004 to March 2005
	Total	of which	Total	of which	Total	of which
	Decisions⁽⁵⁶⁾	Accepted⁽⁵⁷⁾	Decisions⁽⁵⁶⁾	Accepted⁽⁵⁷⁾	Decisions⁽⁵⁶⁾	Accepted⁽⁵⁷⁾
Barking and Dagenham	477	146	389	278	1,593	775
Barnet	1,989	638	3,538	1,208	4,893	758
Bexley	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	1,269	343	1,211	430
Brent	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	2,417	1,169	2,631	795
Bromley	1,643	759	1,809	885	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—
Camden	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	1,505	1,828	1,009	1,859	1,148
City of London	26	15	26	24	44	31
Croydon	3,073	1,608	5,217	1,668	4,432	1,126
Ealing	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	2,343	997	2,314	789
Enfield	1,528	1,094	1,547	912	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—
Greenwich	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	3,432	1,233	2,945	1,157
Hackney	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	1,160	869	2,027	1,153
Hammersmith and Fulham	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	1,600	973	1,284	653
Haringey	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	2,114	1,175
Harrow	1,640	385	1,422	680	551	96
Havering	1,019	402	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	491	200
Hillingdon	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	866	1,609	858	723	461
Hounslow	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	3,245	1,085	1,331	891
Islington	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	3,594	1,485	2,520	1,130
Kensington and Chelsea	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	1,195	612	1,267	589
Kingston upon Thames	985	328	1,065	400	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—
Lambeth	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	1,642	1,006	2,715	1,644
Lewisham	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	2,220	891	2,216	1,245
Merton	655	405	797	178	659	261
Newham	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	2,952	1,353	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—
Redbridge	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	600	430	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—
Richmond upon Thames	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	594	321	488	279
Southwark	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	2,124	1,414	2,613	1,668
Sutton	1,619	525	801	432	930	272
Tower Hamlets	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	1,628	1,275	1,830	1,151
Waltham Forest	2,694	799	2,012	906	2,816	800
Wandsworth	3,768	1,476	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	⁽⁵⁸⁾—	1,867	840
Westminster	3,458	2,614	5,270	1,037	3,968	1,112

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many households were being accommodated in temporary accommodation in each London authority in September. [24273]

Yvette Cooper: Information about local authorities' activities under homelessness legislation, including the number of households in temporary accommodation in each local authority and London borough as at the end of September, will be available from the Statistical Release on statutory homelessness for the third quarter of 2005 to be published on 12 December.

Results for the second quarter of 2005, including the number of households in temporary accommodation as at the end of June, were presented in Supplementary Tables to Statistical Release published on 12 September. Information as reported by London boroughs is in the following table:

14 Nov 2005 : Column 1037W

Households in temporary accommodation secured by London boroughs under homelessness legislation as at 30 June 2005

Reported total

Barking and Dagenham 488

Barnet ⁽⁵⁹⁾—

Bexley 370

Brent 4,510

Bromley 451

Camden 2,147

City of London 31

Croydon 3,161

Ealing 2,286

Enfield 3,221

Greenwich 576

Hackney n/a

Hammersmith and Fulham 1,791

Haringey 5,422

Harrow 1,236

Havering 881

Hillingdon 1,831

Hounslow 1,269

Islington 1,498

Kensington and Chelsea 1,238

Kingston upon Thames 735

Lambeth 2,422

Lewisham 1,939

Merton 164

Newham 6,117

Redbridge 2,598

Richmond upon Thames 439

Southwark 968

Sutton 637

Tower Hamlets 2,888

Waltham Forest 1,808

Wandsworth 1,589

Westminster 3,239

All London boroughs⁽⁶⁰⁾ 62,640

⁽⁵⁹⁾ Data not reported.
⁽⁶⁰⁾ All London total includes estimates for missing data.
Source:
ODPM P1E homelessness returns (quarterly)

14 Nov 2005 : Column 1038W

	Reported total
Barking and Dagenham	488
Barnet	⁽⁵⁹⁾—
Bexley	370
Brent	4,510
Bromley	451
Camden	2,147
City of London	31
Croydon	3,161
Ealing	2,286
Enfield	3,221
Greenwich	576
Hackney	n/a
Hammersmith and Fulham	1,791
Haringey	5,422
Harrow	1,236
Havering	881
Hillingdon	1,831
Hounslow	1,269
Islington	1,498
Kensington and Chelsea	1,238
Kingston upon Thames	735
Lambeth	2,422
Lewisham	1,939
Merton	164
Newham	6,117
Redbridge	2,598
Richmond upon Thames	439
Southwark	968
Sutton	637
Tower Hamlets	2,888
Waltham Forest	1,808
Wandsworth	1,589
Westminster	3,239
All London boroughs⁽⁶⁰⁾	62,640

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average rent is for a two-bed unit of temporary accommodation in London. [24274]

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Mr. Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Notting Hill Housing Trust as a provider of affordable housing over the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [24527]

Yvette Cooper: The Housing Corporation assesses the performance of Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) against the Regulatory Code and publishes its findings in the Housing Corporation Assessment (HCA). The Audit Commission inspects and reports on an RSL's service delivery. The most recent HCA for Notting Hill Housing Group was published in May 2005 and confirms satisfactory performance in all areas. The Audit Commission published the report of its May 2005 inspection of service delivery at Notting Hill Housing Trust in August 2005, and concluded that the Trust provided a fair service that has excellent prospects for improvement.

Mr. MacShane: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many houses and other dwellings were built in (a) Hertfordshire, (b) Surrey, (c) Sussex and (d) Hampshire in each year since 2000. [25442]

Yvette Cooper: The annual number of new build completions reported for (a) Hertfordshire, (b) Surrey, (c) Sussex (East and West Sussex) and (d) Hampshire in each year since 2000are tabled as follows:
Number of new build completions

2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05

Hampshire 3,234 3,617 3,651 4,638 4,800

Hertfordshire 2,426 2,196 1,919 2,961 3,342

Surrey 2,526 2,616 2,848 3,318 3,207

East Sussex 1,272 1,394 1,384 1,147 1,220

West Sussex 1,587 1,436 2,200 2,010 1,847

Source:
Returns (P2/NHBC) to ODPM on building control completions

	2000–01	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05
Hampshire	3,234	3,617	3,651	4,638	4,800
Hertfordshire	2,426	2,196	1,919	2,961	3,342
Surrey	2,526	2,616	2,848	3,318	3,207
East Sussex	1,272	1,394	1,384	1,147	1,220
West Sussex	1,587	1,436	2,200	2,010	1,847

Figures for the County of Hampshire exclude Southampton and Portsmouth Unitary Authorities and figures for East Sussex exclude figures for Brighton and Hove unitary authority.

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many vacant homes there were in (a) North East Lincolnshire and (b) North Lincolnshire in each of the past five years. [25444]

Yvette Cooper: The number of vacant homes in North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire in each of the past five years are shown in the table as follows.

Data as at: North East Lincolnshire North Lincolnshire

1 November 2000 2,890 3,361

1 November 2001 3,001 3,020

16 October 2002 2,628 2,522

16 October 2003 2,689 2,143

11 October 2004 2,727 2,035

Data as at:	North East Lincolnshire	North Lincolnshire
1 November 2000	2,890	3,361
1 November 2001	3,001	3,020
16 October 2002	2,628	2,522
16 October 2003	2,689	2,143
11 October 2004	2,727	2,035

The data are as reported on CTB1 and CTB1S forms submitted by billing authorities to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister each year. The figure includes both long-term and short-term empty properties.

Lynne Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will require all new housebuildings to be built to the EcoHomes standard. [26189]

Yvette Cooper: EcoHomes is a commercially available environmental assessment system so it is not appropriate to specify that all new houses be built to this system. However, Government agencies are the main users of the EcoHomes system. The Housing Corporation currently require all publicly funded social

14 Nov 2005 : Column 1039W

housing to be designed to meet the 'Good' standard. The English Partnerships Millennium Communities and Design for Manufacture Programmes specify the 'Very Good' standard. Statutory requirements for all new house construction are set out in the Building Regulations and we have announced improvements to minimum energy efficiency requirements that will come into effect next April.

Mr. Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) bedsit, (b) one-bed, (c) two-bed, (d) three-bed and (e) four or more bed right-to-buy sales there have been in Sheffield since 1980. [26343]

Yvette Cooper: Information is not held centrally on the numbers of bedrooms of local authority dwellings sold through right-to-buy, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mike Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of the proposed new houses for Hertfordshire he expects to be built on brownfield sites. [26349]

Yvette Cooper: The East of England Plan, which is currently being tested through an Examination in Public, will determine how many homes should be built in Hertfordshire taking into account the availability of previously developed land.

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2005, Official Report, column 760W to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field), on housing, what assessment he has made of the impact of the right-to-buy on the number of households on Bolton's housing waiting list. [26355]

Yvette Cooper: No such assessment has been made. It is for each housing authority to manage its stock in the light of local circumstances.

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many right-to-buy applications Bolton metropolitan borough council has received that remain under consideration. [26483]

Yvette Cooper: Information is not held centrally on the number of right to buy applications that remain under consideration by local authorities, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Dr. Iddon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many applicants are on the Bolton housing waiting list. [26484]

14 Nov 2005 : Column 1040W

Yvette Cooper: The number of households on the Bolton housing waiting list as at 1 April 2005 is 16,096.

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.

Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to provide affordable housing in North East Milton Keynes. [27173]

Yvette Cooper: The Milton Keynes and South Midlands (MKSM) Sub-Regional Strategy states that Milton Keynes should accommodate an additional 44,900 dwellings over the period 2001–21, of which 30 per cent. should be affordable. This follows the recommendations of the independent Panel which conducted a Public Examination into the Strategy.

Detailed consideration of housing opportunities in the North East of Milton Keynes, including affordable housing, is a matter for Milton Keynes Council and local partners.

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his policy is on encouraging the residential use of unoccupied dwellings above shops and commercial premises. [27372]

Yvette Cooper: The release of vacant space over shops and commercial premises has a part to play in meeting housing supply demands and in reviving town centre living. There are however a number of barriers preventing much of this potential from being realised, including the complex ownership patterns in high street property. We are considering a number of ways in which these barriers might be overcome, and we will announce how we intend to take this forward in due course.

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