House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 20 Dec 2005 (pt 46)

20 Dec 2005 : Column 2818W—continued

Free Bus Travel Scheme

Mr. Clelland: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities have a forecast shortfall in excess of £1 million in relation to allocated funding for the free bus travel scheme following announcement of the local government revenue support grants. [38564]

Mr. Woolas: Expenditure on concessionary fares is funded via the formula grant settlement. Formula grant is an unhypothecated block grant. This means that councils are able to spend the money on any services. It is not therefore possible to calculate how much funding has been allocated to each authority with respect to concessionary fares. Budget estimates and decisions are for councils themselves to make.

Freedom of Information Act

Anne Main: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 his Department has received regarding its asset register. [38127]

Jim Fitzpatrick: There have been no requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's asset register.

20 Dec 2005 : Column 2819W

Green Belt

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much land within 1997-designated green belt in each region changed to developed use in each year since 1997. [15238]

Yvette Cooper: The available estimates are from Land Use Change Statistics, shown in the following tables. The numbers and table titles are unchanged but the

20 Dec 2005 : Column 2820W

units for the tables headed New dwellings within 1997 designated green belt", given previously as hectares", are corrected to dwellings". The order of the tables has also been changed to follow the order of the questions. The estimates for 2003 are provisional and are subject to revision. Figures are not shown for 1999 as the data received for that year were incomplete. Figures for 1997 to 2000 reflect planning policies and decisions made before this Government took office.
Land changing to residential use within 1997 designated green belt Hectares

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003

(a) All on designated green belt
North East 3 3 1 2 7 1 0 2 3

North West 51 46 39 60 59 64 43 49 53

Yorkshire and the Humber 25 27 21 40 42 28 41 50 46

East Midlands 9 10 13 10 7 20 17 6 9

West Midlands 24 27 29 33 31 38 31 56 35

East of England 40 50 41 37 49 58 68 36 46

London 4 5 6 9 17 16 10 23 15

South East 62 52 49 67 54 75 64 52 55

South West 9 14 8 10 16 14 13 9 9

England 226 234 207 267 281 313 288 283 272

Proportion of all green belt (percentage) 0.014 0.014 0.013 0.016 0.017 0.019 0.017 0.017 0.016

(b) On greenfield land (not previously developed)

North East 2 2 1 2 7 1 0 1 2

North West 26 17 27 36 29 23 17 20 25

Yorkshire and the Humber 18 17 15 24 25 21 20 25 22

East Midlands 6 6 4 4 4 6 12 3 6

West Midlands 15 15 19 14 17 22 17 24 14

East of England 11 14 12 10 10 22 13 13 20

London 1 2 0 0 7 6 3 8 4

South East 18 10 12 28 19 28 14 17 13

South West 3 9 4 6 10 7 4 5 2

England 101 93 94 123 127 135 99 115 109

Proportion of all green belt (percentage) 0.006 0.006 0.006 0.007 0.008 0.008 0.006 0.007 0.007

Land changing to developed use within 1997 designated green belt Hectares

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003

(a) All on designated green belt

North East 43 20 11 143 18 47 13 21 18

North West 331 329 367 488 401 223 367 142 222

Yorkshire and the Humber 253 283 182 481 437 164 131 286 285

East Midlands 65 132 197 97 93 92 102 28 128

West Midlands 173 210 286 130 125 328 155 129 335

East of England 172 183 159 196 238 273 319 169 339

London 19 28 44 95 64 37 125 36 64

South East 228 244 482 395 218 554 309 143 151

South West 48 145 207 58 85 132 75 35 29

England 1,332 1,573 1,935 2,084 1,678 1,850 1,596 988 1,570

Proportion of all green belt (percentage) 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.13 0.10 0.11 0.10 0.06 0.10

(b) On greenfield land (not previously developed)

North East 14 15 7 109 8 45 6 16 10

North West 197 150 243 315 262 101 237 53 59

Yorkshire and the Humber 152 102 75 274 282 60 52 124 133

East Midlands 46 60 160 61 74 70 58 13 60

West Midlands 101 76 143 69 62 67 35 52 266

East of England 83 84 87 150 71 65 90 100 120

London 12 14 19 48 25 14 42 10 31

South East 112 103 104 204 69 389 90 40 57

South West 28 92 160 42 53 91 45 14 8

England 746 696 999 1,273 904 902 656 421 744

Proportion of all green belt (percentage) 0.05 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.03 0.05

20 Dec 2005 : Column 2821W

New dwellings within 1997 designated green belt Dwellings

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003

(a) All on designated green belt

North East 52 23 22 50 140 19 11 27 70

North West 879 771 730 1,284 1,049 1,350 799 1,019 1,565

Yorkshire and the Humber 373 423 316 630 673 508 891 939 815

East Midlands 143 125 181 194 143 297 289 117 120

West Midlands 390 533 474 610 507 731 817 879 653

East of England 552 580 499 479 846 956 1,181 485 795

London 89 153 171 182 441 384 218 405 287

South East 653 733 553 868 802 1,175 950 734 1,053

South West 124 211 109 159 309 271 243 199 163

England 3,255 3,552 3,055 4,456 4,910 5,691 5,399 4,804 5,521

Proportion of all new dwellings (percentage) 2 3 2 3 4 4 4 4 3

(b) On greenfield land (not previously developed)

North East 46 20 19 34 128 17 2 19 45

North West 472 285 486 746 486 355 296 329 682

Yorkshire and the Humber 289 269 173 336 361 373 462 361 405

East Midlands 93 77 67 93 77 39 148 39 65

West Midlands 220 313 288 276 225 372 462 333 250

East of England 119 134 132 107 135 331 198 145 286

London 56 67 6 3 238 131 72 127 79

South East 172 117 147 301 218 278 134 194 322

South West 53 135 46 93 195 90 32 76 34

England 1,520 1,417 1,364 1,989 2,063 1,986 1,806 1,623 2,168

Proportion of all new dwellings (percentage) 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1

	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	2000	2001	2002	2003
(a) All on designated green belt
North East	3	3	1	2	7	1	0	2	3
North West	51	46	39	60	59	64	43	49	53
Yorkshire and the Humber	25	27	21	40	42	28	41	50	46
East Midlands	9	10	13	10	7	20	17	6	9
West Midlands	24	27	29	33	31	38	31	56	35
East of England	40	50	41	37	49	58	68	36	46
London	4	5	6	9	17	16	10	23	15
South East	62	52	49	67	54	75	64	52	55
South West	9	14	8	10	16	14	13	9	9
England	226	234	207	267	281	313	288	283	272

Proportion of all green belt (percentage)	0.014	0.014	0.013	0.016	0.017	0.019	0.017	0.017	0.016

(b) On greenfield land (not previously developed)
North East	2	2	1	2	7	1	0	1	2
North West	26	17	27	36	29	23	17	20	25
Yorkshire and the Humber	18	17	15	24	25	21	20	25	22
East Midlands	6	6	4	4	4	6	12	3	6
West Midlands	15	15	19	14	17	22	17	24	14
East of England	11	14	12	10	10	22	13	13	20
London	1	2	0	0	7	6	3	8	4
South East	18	10	12	28	19	28	14	17	13
South West	3	9	4	6	10	7	4	5	2
England	101	93	94	123	127	135	99	115	109

Proportion of all green belt (percentage)	0.006	0.006	0.006	0.007	0.008	0.008	0.006	0.007	0.007

	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	2000	2001	2002	2003
(a) All on designated green belt
North East	43	20	11	143	18	47	13	21	18
North West	331	329	367	488	401	223	367	142	222
Yorkshire and the Humber	253	283	182	481	437	164	131	286	285
East Midlands	65	132	197	97	93	92	102	28	128
West Midlands	173	210	286	130	125	328	155	129	335
East of England	172	183	159	196	238	273	319	169	339
London	19	28	44	95	64	37	125	36	64
South East	228	244	482	395	218	554	309	143	151
South West	48	145	207	58	85	132	75	35	29
England	1,332	1,573	1,935	2,084	1,678	1,850	1,596	988	1,570

Proportion of all green belt (percentage)	0.08	0.10	0.12	0.13	0.10	0.11	0.10	0.06	0.10

(b) On greenfield land (not previously developed)
North East	14	15	7	109	8	45	6	16	10
North West	197	150	243	315	262	101	237	53	59
Yorkshire and the Humber	152	102	75	274	282	60	52	124	133
East Midlands	46	60	160	61	74	70	58	13	60
West Midlands	101	76	143	69	62	67	35	52	266
East of England	83	84	87	150	71	65	90	100	120
London	12	14	19	48	25	14	42	10	31
South East	112	103	104	204	69	389	90	40	57
South West	28	92	160	42	53	91	45	14	8
England	746	696	999	1,273	904	902	656	421	744

Proportion of all green belt (percentage)	0.05	0.04	0.06	0.08	0.05	0.05	0.04	0.03	0.05

	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	2000	2001	2002	2003
(a) All on designated green belt
North East	52	23	22	50	140	19	11	27	70
North West	879	771	730	1,284	1,049	1,350	799	1,019	1,565
Yorkshire and the Humber	373	423	316	630	673	508	891	939	815
East Midlands	143	125	181	194	143	297	289	117	120
West Midlands	390	533	474	610	507	731	817	879	653
East of England	552	580	499	479	846	956	1,181	485	795
London	89	153	171	182	441	384	218	405	287
South East	653	733	553	868	802	1,175	950	734	1,053
South West	124	211	109	159	309	271	243	199	163
England	3,255	3,552	3,055	4,456	4,910	5,691	5,399	4,804	5,521

Proportion of all new dwellings (percentage)	2	3	2	3	4	4	4	4	3

(b) On greenfield land (not previously developed)
North East	46	20	19	34	128	17	2	19	45
North West	472	285	486	746	486	355	296	329	682
Yorkshire and the Humber	289	269	173	336	361	373	462	361	405
East Midlands	93	77	67	93	77	39	148	39	65
West Midlands	220	313	288	276	225	372	462	333	250
East of England	119	134	132	107	135	331	198	145	286
London	56	67	6	3	238	131	72	127	79
South East	172	117	147	301	218	278	134	194	322
South West	53	135	46	93	195	90	32	76	34
England	1,520	1,417	1,364	1,989	2,063	1,986	1,806	1,623	2,168

Proportion of all new dwellings (percentage)	1	1	1	1	1	2	1	1	1

Greenbelt Land

Miss McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his planning policy for development of green belt land. [39125]

Yvette Cooper: The Government's planning policy in relation to green belt land is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 2 (PPG2), Green Belts". Specifically, there remains a general presumption against inappropriate development in the green belt. Such development should not be approved except in very special circumstances, where it can be shown that the harm to the green belt, and any other harm, is clearly outweighed by other considerations.

Growth Areas Directorate

Mr. Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions have taken place between officials from the Department's Growth Areas Directorate and officials from the Department for Education and Skills on the provision of a university for north Northamptonshire. [34109]

Yvette Cooper: Northamptonshire recently received a boost to its higher education provision when the University College in Northampton gained the Royal Charter and official university status. This is good news for the communities of Northamptonshire who will benefit from the university located at the heart of the county and the university is looking to expand its provision significantly over the next five years. In addition, the Tresham Institute serves the communities of North Northamptonshire, providing Post-16 education, vocational training and a wide variety of adult learning courses. Tresham is also an associate college of De Montfort university, so offers a range of professional and degree level courses. The institute

20 Dec 2005 : Column 2822W

plans to open a new £20 million campus in Kettering in early 2007 as part of a wider programme to renewal all of its campuses by 2010.

The Milton Keynes-South Midlands sub regional strategy identifies the need to expand higher education resources to serve the increasing education and training needs of the sub-region's population and states that it has a key part to play in the growth of the area. I understand that local growth partners in North Northamptonshire recognise that physical presence by a university is an important element in supporting a broad range of jobs, opportunities and economic development of the area and are in early discussions with education providers to explore how this could be best be strengthened. Officials in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister would expect to be involved in these discussions at the appropriate stage.

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