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19 Dec 2005 : Column 2559W—continued
Departmental Staff
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff are employed by his Department in each (a) region and (b) nation of the UK; and if he will make a statement. [35920]
Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to Table D of the Civil Service Statistics website at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/managementof_the_civil_service/statistics/civil service_statistics/index.asp
This table covers permanent staff numbers on a full-time equivalent basis in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and agencies. Copies of Civil Service Statistics are also available in the Library of the House.
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the value is of (a) pay supplements, (b) bonuses and (c) other incentive packages that are payable in his Department on the basis of geographic location; how many people are in receipt of each payment; and what the total cost to his Department of each payment was in 2004–05. [35922]
Jim Fitzpatrick: In 2004–05, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (a) disbursed no pay supplements, (b) paid no bonuses, and (c) had no other incentive packages that were payable on the basis of geographic location.
Separate pay rates apply for staff within the London area and the rest of the country in both the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Headquarters and the Government Offices.
Deprivation Levels
Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the levels of deprivation were in each ward in Kettering constituency in the last year for which figures are available, ranked from the least deprived to the most deprived. [38153]
Mr. Woolas:
The Indices of Deprivation 2004 is the latest index for which data is available on deprivation in Kettering constituency. This index was not created at ward level but at Lower Layer Super Output Area (LLSOA) level, which covers approximately 1,500 people.
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The following table lists the LLSOAs that fall within the wards in the Kettering constituency. This data shows that there are 67 LLSOAs in the constituency and that 40 per cent. (27) of these are ranked among the least deprived 20 per cent. of LLSOAs in the country. At the other end of the scale, only 6 per cent. (four) LLSOAs are in the most deprived 20 per cent. in England.
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Designated Growth Areas
Anne Main: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 8 December 2005, Official Report, columns 1501–2W, on designated growth areas, what procedures his Department will put in place to respond to rapid population growth within designated growth areas; and what evidential sources will be used to trigger such a procedure. [37946]
Yvette Cooper: The answer to question reference 31849 referred to two forms of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's (ODPM) funding, namely Growth Areas funding and local government funding.
Growth Areas funding is being made available to support housing growth within the Growth Areas (including Thames Gateway). The £1.25 billion to be made available up to and including 2007–08 is based on the results of successive rounds of bidding and is not subject to further evidence on population growth.
Local government funding allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08 are currently being consulted upon. This years assessment takes account of population projections as this allows the 2006–07 and 2007–08 settlements to be more forward looking. Previously settlements have been based on the latest available mid-year estimates as the dominant drivers. This change should provide more support for areas experiencing rapid population growth. The population projections are prepared by the Office for National Statistics using a trend-based methodology which projects forward the population (using 2003 mid-year population estimates as the starting point) into the future.
ODPM spending decisions for 2008–09 onwards are subject to future Spending Reviews. In its December 2005 response to Kate Barker's Review of Housing Supply, the Government announced that as part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review it would undertake a cross-cutting review to:
determine the social, transport and environmental infrastructure implications of housing growth in different spatial forms and locations;
establish a framework for sustainable and cost-effective patterns of growth, including by examining the use of targeted investment through the Community Infrastructure Fund and Growth Areas funding to support the fastest-growing areas; and
ensure that departmental resources across government are targeted appropriately for providing the national, regional and local infrastructure necessary to support future housing and population growth."
The cross-cutting review provides an opportunity for evidence of the funding needs experienced by Growth Areas as a result of rapid housing growth to be taken into account in future spending decisions of ODPM and other Departments.
Disability
Danny Alexander: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what work his Department has undertaken with organisations representing disabled people to ensure housing initiatives include disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [37432]
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Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) is committed to working with a variety of disability organisations to ensure the requirements of disabled people are represented in its housing programmes.
For example, through consultation with the Disability Rights Commission and the Inclusive Environments Group of CASE, the Lifetime Homes Standard has been incorporated into the Code for Sustainable Homes.
In addition the Housing Corporation continues to be supportive of capital investment in housing for those in need of supported housing and extra care provision.
The ODPM is also working with the Disability Rights Commission to revise the code of guidance on the allocation of accommodation to ensure that housing authorities take into account the needs of disabled people when allocating social housing.
Organisations representing people with long-term disabilities were part of our consultation on the new HomeBuy scheme to help targeted groups, including those with disabilities, into home ownership.
The on-going review of the disabled facilities grant (DFG) has included wide-ranging consultation with groups representing disabled people and in particular those supporting families with disabled children. Following these consultations the Government have announced that from 31 December 2005 applications for a DFG from families with a disabled child will be exempt from a means test.
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