House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 30 Nov 2005 (pt 23)

30 Nov 2005 : Column 580W—continued

Traffic Offences

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people convicted of traffic offences were subject to an anti-social behaviour order in 2004. [31456]

Paul Goggins: The information requested is not collected centrally by my Department.

Internet Arms Sales

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the regulation of distance-selling of less lethal weapons via the internet. [28502]

Hazel Blears: I have been asked to reply.

The internet is regulated by the application of existing law, which applies equally online and offline. It is an offence to sell seventeen offensive weapons, in addition to flick knives and gravity knives to a person of any age; to market a knife in a way which suggests it is suitable for combat; and to sell a knife to a person under 16. We are raising this to 18 in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill currently before Parliament.

Tasers and incapacitant sprays using CS or PAVA are prohibited weapons and cannot be sold, purchased or possessed without authority from the Secretary of State. Baton guns are also controlled under firearms laws and, depending on their size, can be prohibited weapons.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Asset Register

Anne Main: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library the asset register for his Office for each year since his Office was established. [32466]

30 Nov 2005 : Column 581W

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established following the Machinery of Government changes on 29 May 2002. Officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have, for the sake of clarity and consistency, converted the extremely detailed information on assets held on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's accounting system for the financial years ending 31 March 2003, 2004 and 2005 into the National Asset Register format. Once the information is collated copies will be made available in the Library of the House.

Council Elections

Mr. Kemp: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which local authorities in England have requested a move to whole council elections as outlined in the consultation document vibrant local leadership. [27366]

Mr. Woolas: Pursuant to my answer of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 190w, the seven district councils are Broadland, Eastbourne, Congleton, Swale, Havant, Bristol and South Cambridgeshire. Broadland has made a formal request under s7(4) of the Local Government Act 1972; the other local authorities are in the process of making formal requests as required by the legislation.

Departmental Websites

Charles Hendry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure the Department's websites attain the W3C AAA standard of accessibility for people with visual and other disabilities; and if he will set a target date for this standard to be achieved by. [30969]

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister follows the Guidelines for UK Government websites. These indicate that websites should meet Level A of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, while identifying certain Priority Two and Three Checkpoints as best practice.

Neither these Guidelines, e-Accessibility communications from the European Union nor advice from the RNIB suggest that Government websites should attain and maintain Level AAA.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's current accessibility policy is therefore that its websites should aim to conform to WAIAA rating where HTML is used. Where possible, we also aim to conform to a number of checkpoints from the Level AAA requirement, such as:

contrast between foreground and background colours (P3 Checkpoint 2.2)

use of access-keys (P3 Checkpoint 9.5)

provision of a site map (P3 Checkpoint 13.3)

provision of skip navigation (P3 Checkpoint 13.6)

provision of search facilities (P3 Checkpoint 13.7)

speech-enablement (P3 Checkpoint 14.2)

consistent presentation across all pages (P3 Checkpoint 14.3)

30 Nov 2005 : Column 582W

All these checkpoints are met by the main Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's site, www.odpm.gov.uk.

Fire Authorities

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the fire authorities that have introduced charging for non-statutory services in the last two years. [33174]

Jim Fitzpatrick: Section 19 of the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 provides for the Secretary of State to make an order specifying categories of service for which a Fire and Rescue Authority (FRA) may charge. The first such order (SI 2004/2305) specifies 16 such categories. FRAs do not need any further permission from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) to charge under these categories. ODPM do not collate information centrally on which FRAs have decided to charge for a specified category of service.

Housing

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many right-to-buy sales there were (a) in total and (b) as a proportion of available stock by (i) each council and (ii) each social landlord in Tyne and Wear in each year since commencement of the scheme; and what the size of the available stock was in each local authority in each year. [32435]

Yvette Cooper: The following table shows council housing stock and council housing right to buy sales as a total and as a proportion of available stock for the five Tyne and Wear local authorities. This excludes any preserved right to buy in Sunderland after the large scale voluntary transfer in 2000–01 as this information is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
LA stock 1 April

Gateshead Newcastle upon Tyne North Tyneside South Tyneside Sunderland

1980 38,719 50,315 32,270 34,706 51,385

1981 39,308 50,995 32,518 34,748 51,639

1982 39,617 50,152 31,568 33,541 50,669

1983 37,403 48,577 29,725 32,657 48,172

1984 36,703 47,548 29,532 31,412 46,611

1985 36,157 47,037 29,006 30,544 45,872

1986 35,797 46,512 28,744 29,919 52,168

1987 35,128 46,027 28,495 29,336 51,913

1988 34,423 45,434 27,550 28,931 51,064

1989 33,311 44,660 26,576 28,110 50,124

1990 32,324 43,678 25,655 26,994 48,772

1991 31,387 42,201 24,874 26,483 47,077

1992 30,887 41,209 24,486 26,116 45,681

1993 30,465 40,368 24,058 25,619 44,540

1994 29,774 39,894 23,413 25,252 43,379

1995 29,375 39,224 23,018 24,742 42,450

1996 28,880 38,778 22,761 24,484 41,368

1997 28,545 38,196 22,565 24,199 40,579

1998 27,845 37,226 22,110 23,913 39,751

1999 27,446 36,555 21,309 23,501 38,982

2000 26,856 35,748 20,626 23,089 37,869

2001 26,165 35,280 20,151 22,731 0

2002 25,557 34,447 19,219 22,184 0

2003 24,663 33,277 18,524 21,499 0

2004 23,494 32,369 17,408 20,228 0

Source:
Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix

30 Nov 2005 : Column 583W

LA right to buy sales

Gateshead Newcastle upon Tyne North Tyneside South Tyneside Sunderland

1980–81 0 0 3 93 0

1981–82 491 815 1,101 1,279 982

1982–83 1,608 1,726 1,044 1,083 2,426

1983–84 649 727 687 1,052 1,196

1984–85 380 516 395 618 473

1985–86 270 430 337 402 524

1986–87 293 306 185 427 522

1987–88 472 358 319 256 571

1988–89 797 667 628 754 775

1989–90 998 708 798 738 1,321

1990–91 893 599 603 456 1,345

1991–92 490 338 347 396 951

1992–93 422 293 233 297 661

1993–94 291 236 124 275 560

1994–95 308 332 175 260 819

1995–96 308 255 172 208 746

1996–97 250 221 157 217 538

1997–98 326 267 202 283 642

1998–99 283 207 209 209 546
1999–2000
452 316 345 355 695

2000–01 445 266 338 ⁽³⁹⁾— 1,178

2001–02 510 569 396 ⁽³⁹⁾— LSVT

2002–03 708 323 594 ⁽³⁹⁾— LSVT

2003–04 1,043 664 1,030 ⁽³⁹⁾— LSVT

2004–05 514 867 723 ⁽³⁹⁾— LSVT

⁽³⁹⁾South Tyneside did not return data from 2000–01.
Source:
Quarterly returns (P1B) to ODPM from local authorities

LA Right to Buy Sales—Proportion of total stock Newcastle Percentage

Gateshead Newcastle upon Tyne North Tyneside South Tyneside Sunderland

1980–81 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0

1981–82 1.2 1.6 3.4 3.7 1.9

1982–83 4.1 3.4 3.3 3.2 4.8

1983–84 1.7 1.5 2.3 3.2 2.5

1984–85 1.0 1.1 1.3 2.0 1.0

1985–86 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.3 1.1

1986–87 0.8 0.7 0.6 1.4 1.0

1987–88 1.3 0.8 1.1 0.9 1.1

1988–89 2.3 1.5 2.3 2.6 1.5

1989–90 3.0 1.6 3.0 2.6 2.6

1990–91 2.8 1.4 2.4 1.7 2.8

1991–92 1.6 0.8 1.4 1.5 2.0

1992–93 1.4 0.7 1.0 1.1 1.4

1993–94 1.0 0.6 0.5 1.1 1.3

1994–95 1.0 0.8 0.7 1.0 1.9

1995–96 1.0 0.7 0.7 0.8 1.8

1996–97 0.9 0.6 0.7 0.9 1.3

1997–98 1.1 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.6

1998–99 1.0 0.6 0.9 0.9 1.4
1999–2000
1.6 0.9 1.6 1.5 1.8

2000–01 1.7 0.7 1.6 ⁽⁴⁰⁾— 3.1

2001–02 1.9 1.6 2.0 ⁽⁴⁰⁾— LSVT

2002–03 2.8 0.9 3.1 ⁽⁴⁰⁾— LSVT

2003–04 4.2 2.0 5.6 ⁽⁴⁰⁾— LSVT

2004–05 2.2 2.7 4.2 ⁽⁴⁰⁾— LSVT

⁽⁴⁰⁾South Tyneside did not return data from 2000–01.
Sources:
Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix
Quarterly returns (P1B) to ODPM from local authorities

	Gateshead	Newcastle upon Tyne	North Tyneside	South Tyneside	Sunderland
1980	38,719	50,315	32,270	34,706	51,385
1981	39,308	50,995	32,518	34,748	51,639
1982	39,617	50,152	31,568	33,541	50,669
1983	37,403	48,577	29,725	32,657	48,172
1984	36,703	47,548	29,532	31,412	46,611
1985	36,157	47,037	29,006	30,544	45,872
1986	35,797	46,512	28,744	29,919	52,168
1987	35,128	46,027	28,495	29,336	51,913
1988	34,423	45,434	27,550	28,931	51,064
1989	33,311	44,660	26,576	28,110	50,124
1990	32,324	43,678	25,655	26,994	48,772
1991	31,387	42,201	24,874	26,483	47,077
1992	30,887	41,209	24,486	26,116	45,681
1993	30,465	40,368	24,058	25,619	44,540
1994	29,774	39,894	23,413	25,252	43,379
1995	29,375	39,224	23,018	24,742	42,450
1996	28,880	38,778	22,761	24,484	41,368
1997	28,545	38,196	22,565	24,199	40,579
1998	27,845	37,226	22,110	23,913	39,751
1999	27,446	36,555	21,309	23,501	38,982
2000	26,856	35,748	20,626	23,089	37,869
2001	26,165	35,280	20,151	22,731	0
2002	25,557	34,447	19,219	22,184	0
2003	24,663	33,277	18,524	21,499	0
2004	23,494	32,369	17,408	20,228	0

	Gateshead	Newcastle upon Tyne	North Tyneside	South Tyneside	Sunderland
1980–81	0	0	3	93	0
1981–82	491	815	1,101	1,279	982
1982–83	1,608	1,726	1,044	1,083	2,426
1983–84	649	727	687	1,052	1,196
1984–85	380	516	395	618	473
1985–86	270	430	337	402	524
1986–87	293	306	185	427	522
1987–88	472	358	319	256	571
1988–89	797	667	628	754	775
1989–90	998	708	798	738	1,321
1990–91	893	599	603	456	1,345
1991–92	490	338	347	396	951
1992–93	422	293	233	297	661
1993–94	291	236	124	275	560
1994–95	308	332	175	260	819
1995–96	308	255	172	208	746
1996–97	250	221	157	217	538
1997–98	326	267	202	283	642
1998–99	283	207	209	209	546
1999–2000 452	316	345	355	695
2000–01	445	266	338	⁽³⁹⁾—	1,178
2001–02	510	569	396	⁽³⁹⁾—	LSVT
2002–03	708	323	594	⁽³⁹⁾—	LSVT
2003–04	1,043	664	1,030	⁽³⁹⁾—	LSVT
2004–05	514	867	723	⁽³⁹⁾—	LSVT

	Gateshead	Newcastle upon Tyne	North Tyneside	South Tyneside	Sunderland
1980–81	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.3	0.0
1981–82	1.2	1.6	3.4	3.7	1.9
1982–83	4.1	3.4	3.3	3.2	4.8
1983–84	1.7	1.5	2.3	3.2	2.5
1984–85	1.0	1.1	1.3	2.0	1.0
1985–86	0.7	0.9	1.2	1.3	1.1
1986–87	0.8	0.7	0.6	1.4	1.0
1987–88	1.3	0.8	1.1	0.9	1.1
1988–89	2.3	1.5	2.3	2.6	1.5
1989–90	3.0	1.6	3.0	2.6	2.6
1990–91	2.8	1.4	2.4	1.7	2.8
1991–92	1.6	0.8	1.4	1.5	2.0
1992–93	1.4	0.7	1.0	1.1	1.4
1993–94	1.0	0.6	0.5	1.1	1.3
1994–95	1.0	0.8	0.7	1.0	1.9
1995–96	1.0	0.7	0.7	0.8	1.8
1996–97	0.9	0.6	0.7	0.9	1.3
1997–98	1.1	0.7	0.9	1.2	1.6
1998–99	1.0	0.6	0.9	0.9	1.4
1999–2000 1.6	0.9	1.6	1.5	1.8
2000–01	1.7	0.7	1.6	⁽⁴⁰⁾—	3.1
2001–02	1.9	1.6	2.0	⁽⁴⁰⁾—	LSVT
2002–03	2.8	0.9	3.1	⁽⁴⁰⁾—	LSVT
2003–04	4.2	2.0	5.6	⁽⁴⁰⁾—	LSVT
2004–05	2.2	2.7	4.2	⁽⁴⁰⁾—	LSVT

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