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8 Dec 2005 : Column 1518W—continued
Predictive Diallers
John Hemming: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many calls were made from call centres in his Department in 2004–05 using predictive diallers; how many such calls resulted in contact being made with the recipient without a Government agent available to talk to them; and what assessment he has made of the likely impact of Ofcom's policy on silent calls on the use of predictive diallers in departmental call centres. [28177]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The central Office of the Deputy Prime Minister HQ does not have a call centre, and its switchboard does not use predictive diallers when making calls to members of the public.
Regional Assemblies
Mike Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost was of the North East Regional Assembly referendum; and if he will make a statement. [32206]
Yvette Cooper:
The Electoral Commission Report on the North East Regional Assembly Referendum records the cost of running the referendum at £2.3 million. In addition support for the Yes and No campaigns totalled £0.5 million. A copy of the report is available at www.electoralcommission.org.uk
8 Dec 2005 : Column 1519W
Resident Management Companies
Mr. Maude: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many resident management companies or associations there were in the United Kingdom in each year since 1987. [35152]
Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information about how many resident management companies or associations there are in the UK, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
However according to our information, the number of tenant management organisations (TMOs) in England in each year since 1987 are as follows:
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1987 | 16 |
| 1988 | 18 |
| 1989 | 21 |
| 1990 | 24 |
| 1991 | 35 |
| 1992 | 47 |
| 1993 | 55 |
| 1994 | 72 |
| 1995 | 84 |
| 1996 | 103 |
| 1997 | 114 |
| 1998 | 126 |
| 1999 | 134 |
| 2000 | 140 |
| 2001 | 147 |
| 2002 | 152 |
| 2003 | 158 |
| 2004 | 160 |
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister believe there are in the region of a further 100 TMOs for which we do not have information on the year of their establishment. TMOs can exist in both the local authority and registered social landlord sectors.
Right-to-Buy Scheme
Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whatregional variations there are in right to buy sales discounts; and what changes there have been in such discounts in each region since 1997. [32415]
Yvette Cooper: There are 10 regional discount limits for Right to Buy:
£38,000 in the South East (except in the local authority areas of: Chiltern, Epsom and Ewell, Hart, Oxford, Reading, Reigate and Barnstead, Tonbridge and Mailing Vale of the White Horse, West Berkshire, where it is £16,000)
In 1997, the maximum Right to Buy discount in England was £50,000. The lower regional limits set out above were introduced with effect from 11 February 1999. The limits were reduced to £16,000 with effect from 27 March 2003 in 41 areas under the greatest housing pressure as evidenced by high levels of homelessness and high local house prices. Of the areas, 31 are in London, nine are in the South East, and one is in the Eastern region, as indicated.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of Lancashire's council housing stock was sold under the right-to-buy scheme in each year since 1980. [35471]
Yvette Cooper: The following table shows the proportions of council housing stock of local authorities in Lancashire that were sold under the right-to-buy scheme in each year since 1980.
(15)Excludes Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool that are now unitary authorities.
Source:
Numbers of right-to-buy sales are collected on the quarterly return (P1A/B) to ODPM from local authorities.
John Battle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what total capital receipts have been generated from right-to-buy sales in Leeds in each year since 1980. [35120]
Yvette Cooper:
The total capital receipts from right-to-buy sales of local authority dwellings in Leeds in each year from 1996–97 onwards are tabled as follows. Information for years prior to 1996–97 is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. These figures are net of discounts and are as reported by the local authority.
8 Dec 2005 : Column 1521W
| Leeds (£ million) | |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 11.3 |
| 1997–98 | 12.8 |
| 1998–99(16) | 15.4 |
| 1999–2000 | 15.5 |
| 2000–01 | 18.1 |
| 2001–02 | 23.1 |
| 2002–03 | 34.6 |
| 2003–04 | 44.6 |
| 2004–05 | 66.9 |
(16)Sales during first three quarters only.
Source:
Quarterly P1(A/B) return received from local authorities.
Mr. Holloway: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what receipts were generated from right-to-buy sales in Gravesham in each year since the introduction of the scheme. [33634]
Yvette Cooper: The total capital receipts from right-to-buy sales of local authority dwellings in Gravesham in the years from 1996–97 onwards are in the following table. These figures are net of discounts and are as reported by local authorities.
| Gravesham | |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | 1.3 |
| 1997–98 | 1.7 |
| 1998–99 | 2.5 |
| 1999–2000 | 3.8 |
| 2000–01 | 3.4 |
| 2001–02 | 3.9 |
| 2002–03 | 6.2 |
| 2003–04 | 8.9 |
| 2004–05 | 4.4 |
Source:
Quarterly P1(A/B) return received from local authorities
The information for years prior to 1996–97 is not centrally available.
Sick Leave
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many of his Office's employees who are within one year of the official retirement age are on extended sick leave. [32602]
Jim Fitzpatrick: There are currently no staff in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister who are within one year of the official retirement age and who are also on extended sick leave.
Telecommunications Masts
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, columns 209–10W, on mobile telephone masts, if he will make a statement on the application of the precautionary principle as recommended by the Stewart Group and adopted by the Government. [34057]
Yvette Cooper:
Since the publication of the Stewart Report the Government have introduced standards to ensure that all base stations meet the international guidelines on public exposure set by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). These guidelines are five times tougher in
8 Dec 2005 : Column 1522W
respect of public exposure than the guidelines previously used. More generally the Government's acceptance of the precautionary approach recommended the Stewart Group is demonstrated in the way it has adopted its recommendations.
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the Arup Report on mobile telephone masts; and if he will make a statement. [34349]
Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister commissioned the University of Reading and Arup to undertake an independent study to assess the impact that the code of best practice on Mobile Phone Network Development has had since its introduction, how local authorities have implemented the code and how the public perceives its operation. Plans are to publish this report in the new year and a statement will be made at that time.
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many planning applications have been granted for mobile phone masts in Tamworth since 1997. [35671]
Yvette Cooper: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) on 2 November 2005, Official Report, column 1066W.
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