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13 Feb 2006 : Column 1614W—continued

Squatting

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what changes to legislation relating to squatters there have been since 1997. [47889]

Ms Harman: The following changes have been made:

The Civil Procedure Rules 1998 were amended to permit Interim Possession Orders to be made against trespassers. The amendments came into force in December 2002.

The Land Registration Act 2002 reformed the law and procedures relating to acquisition of title to registered land by squatters. The reforms came into force in October 2003.

The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 introduced a new police power to remove trespassers from unauthorised encampments where an alternative site is available. The provisions came into force in February 2004.

War Memorials

Mr. Grogan: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will introduce proposals to amend the provisions of the War Memorials (Local Authorities Powers) Act 1923 to introduce an obligation upon local authorities to maintain war memorials situated within their boundaries. [46796]

Ms Harman: Local authorities are already able to maintain, protect and restore local war memorials where they believe this to be an appropriate use of local funds. We have no plans to impose any new duties in relation to these functions.
 
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DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Arson (Peterborough)

Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding assistance he plans to offer to the Arson Task Force in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to reduce the incidence of arson in the Greater Peterborough area. [50343]

Jim Fitzpatrick: On 23 January 2006, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced £11.4 million grant funding for fire and rescue authorities in England for 2006–08 to support fire prevention work including community fire safety, arson reduction and work with children and young people. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough fire authority were awarded a total of £89,043 for this two-year period.

Commonhold Tenure

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether shared ownership leases can participate in a commonhold tenure development; and if he will make a statement. [46967]

Ms Harman: I have been asked to reply.

There is no express prohibition in the commonhold legislation against shared ownership leases. However, to ensure that the problems of long leasehold ownership are not recreated in commonhold, the Commonhold Regulations 2004 prohibit the grant of a lease for longer than seven years in residential commonhold units. As a result of this restriction shared ownership lease arrangements, which typically require the grant of a 99 or 125-year lease, cannot be used in these units.

Other forms of shared ownership, such as trust and mortgage based arrangements, are permitted and are being developed by the property industry and the social housing sector. In the light of this work we are considering whether an exception to the prohibition on long leases is necessary for shared ownership leases of residential commonhold units.

Condover Parish Council

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent representations he has received from Condover parish council; and what response he plans to make. [50240]

Mr. Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received correspondence from Condover parish council on 17 January. This was acknowledged but, as it concerned a highways matter, it was transferred to the Department for Transport on the same day.

Council House Exchanges

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on council housing exchanges between tenants. [46983]

 
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Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not provide any guidance to local authorities on council housing exchanges between tenants.

Departmental Assets

David T.C. Davies: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the items valued at over £100 that have been reported as stolen from buildings occupied by his Department in the past 12 months. [43431]

Jim Fitzpatrick: There were 12 items individually valued at £100 or over reported as stolen from the buildings occupied by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and its agencies in the last 12 months.

Items reported stolen from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's headquarters were:

One white Peugeot racing bicycle valued at approximately £120

One official black leather briefcase valued at approximately £100

Five official laptops valued at approximately £3,000

Items reported stolen from ODPM agencies were:

Two mac250+ mobile lights valued at approximately £491 each

One mac600 mobile light valued at approximately £805

One Mountain bike valued at approximately £300

One official desktop PC and monitor valued at approximately £350

None of the laptops or the PC mentioned above contained any sensitive material.

This answer does not include buildings occupied by Government offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Departmental Catering Budget

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much and what proportion of his Department's catering budget was spent on Fair Trade produce in the last period for which figures are available. [49916]

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not collect this data and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The catering services provided in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's properties are mostly outsourced at nil subsidy. The restaurants sell Fair Trade products including coffee, tea and items including fruit, chocolate and health bars directly to staff. The hospitality menus offer Fair Trade tea and coffee for official meetings and conferences.

This answer does not include catering in the buildings occupied by Government Offices, who carry out functions on behalf of 10 Government Departments.

Departmental Entertainment

Mr. Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent on entertainment by his Office in 2004–05; and how much of that sum is accounted for by (a) food, (b) alcohol, (c) staff and (d) accommodation. [50893]

 
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Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (excluding the Government Offices) spent £213,438 on official entertainment, catering and hospitality in 2004–05. The breakdown of this expenditure in the form requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in 'Government Accounting'.

Directly-elected Mayors

Mr. Kemp: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many councils have indicated to his Department that they want to introduce directly elected mayors; and what the (a) estimated cost is and (b) average cost has been of transferring from a traditional local authority system to a directly elected mayor. [49326]

Mr. Woolas: Local authorities which are to hold a referendum on whether to have a directly elected mayor are required to send proposals for this to the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister. To date 33 local authorities have done so. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not hold information about the cost of transferring from a traditional local authority system to a directly elected mayor.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Mr. Hunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many accidents resulting in hospitalisation have been reported in relation to applicants for disabled facilities grants while waiting for their grant to be approved in each of the last three years. [49788]

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

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