House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 27 Feb 2006 (pt 45)

27 Feb 2006 : Column 164W—continued

County Boundaries

Mr. Gauke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to redraw county boundaries to take account of reorganisation of local authorities. [52541]

27 Feb 2006 : Column 165W

Mr. Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no such plans. A public debate has been launched about the best governance arrangements for local areas in the future and are interested to hear views on the merits of change and how it might be made. The ODPM plans to publish a White Paper on the future of local government in the summer.

Departmental Assets (Milton Keynes)

Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) land and (b) property his Department owns in the North East Milton Keynes constituency. [53181]

27 Feb 2006 : Column 166W

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not own any land or property in the North East Milton Keynes constituency.

Departmental Recruitment

Mrs. Villiers: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many job advertisements were placed by his Office (a) in total, (b) in print newspapers and magazines and (c) on a recruitment website in each year since 1997; and at what total cost in each case. [50746]

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed in may 2002 and records are only available from this date. The following table shows the information requested.

Total number
of job adverts Job adverts
in print Job adverts
on websites Total cost
(£000) Average cost in print (£000) Average cost on website (£000)

2002 25 17 18 194 8.5 2.7

2003 18 15 23 173 8.6 1.8

2004 21 16 21 96 4.5 1.1

2005 19 21 13 125 4.5 2.4

	Total number of job adverts	Job adverts in print	Job adverts on websites	Total cost (£000)	Average cost in print (£000)	Average cost on website (£000)
2002	25	17	18	194	8.5	2.7
2003	18	15	23	173	8.6	1.8
2004	21	16	21	96	4.5	1.1
2005	19	21	13	125	4.5	2.4

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff in his Department are paid on a performance-related basis. [49966]

Jim Fitzpatrick: All staff in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister were subject to a performance related pay award in 2005.

Anne Main: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his Department's definition is of bullying for the purposes of staff welfare and discipline. [51156]

Jim Fitzpatrick: Bullying is not specifically defined within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister but harassment and bullying are examples of alleged or perceived behaviour that would be considered under serious misconduct" within the ODPM's disciplinary procedures.

In addition the Staff Handbook of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister states that irrespective of race, ethnic or national origin, nationality, age, religion, sex, gender identity, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, working hours, agreed working patterns, fixed term appointment, union membership, union office or union activity, the ODPM will provide staff with, and staff have a right to, a working environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation and access to a complaints and grievances procedure for dealing with discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation in the workplace.

District and Borough Elections

Mr. Gauke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the district and borough elections scheduled for May 2007 will take place at the scheduled time. [52309]

Mr. Woolas: We expect and intend the 2007 elections to go ahead as planned in all authorities.

Empty Homes

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many empty homes there were in each London borough in each year since 1997. [52297]

Yvette Cooper: The number of vacant dwellings in each London borough at a specified date in each year from 1997 to 2004 is given in the following table:

1 April
1 November 3 November 1 November

Snap-shot date 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Inner London

Camden 4,033 4,745 6,261 4,703 4,335 5,093 3,389 3,049

City of London 32 22 ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— 20 63 141 165

Hackney 5,165 4,486 3,284 3,970 3,249 3,783 3,220 3,407

Hammersmith and Fulham 4,108 4,026 3,710 4,138 4,520 3,015 3,526 2,946

Haringey 5,419 4,413 5,604 4,417 4,815 3,433 3,539 1,966

Islington 5,392 2,970 2,897 2,773 3,231 2,908 4,020 2,677

Kensington and Chelsea 8,387 ⁽⁴⁹⁾— 1,655 1,715 6,067 4,576 3,308 3,064

Lambeth 5,213 4,656 4,646 4,639 2518 4,488 5,037 3,291

Lewisham 5,246 ⁽⁴⁹⁾— 3,259 3,251 4,025 2,832 3,084 1,586

Newham 3,424 5,183 5,717 4,663 5,090 3,280 2,535 2,645

Southwark 3,665 4,658 6,649 6,917 6,364 3,478 4,973 4,439

Tower Hamlets 4,894 5,071 5,507 5,306 5,425 5,072 2,669 2,047

Wandsworth 2,783 1,991 2,511 2,314 2,051 5,202 ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾—

Westminster 3,128 3,295 3,407 3,063 2,957 4,804 4,544 3,974

Outer London

Barking and Dagenham 1,509 1,727 2,005 2,172 1,328 1,578 1,798 1,623

Barnet 4,211 4,442 4,673 4,068 3114 5,093 3,512 3,607

Bexley 2,410 2,467 2,203 1,185 1,982 2,064 2,268 2,161

Brent 4,792 3,754 5,151 6,174 5,260 5,559 2,733 3,568

Bromley ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— 3,715 3,718 4,318 3,960 4,207 3,825

Croydon 5,594 5,505 4,598 4,130 4,398 4,611 4,722 4,647

Haling 5,433 5,705 5,397 2,308 2,445 3,196 3,308 3,416

Enfield ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— 4,350 3,577 4,494

Greenwich 4,523 4,508 4,421 4,541 3,038 3,417 2,922 3,084

Harrow 983 1,081 1,325 1,231 1,191 2,195 2,462 1,484

Havering ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— 2,699 2,300 2,407 2,568

Hillingdon 2,628 2,273 2,497 2,468 2,290 2,791 3,009 2,532

Hounslow 2,306 2,211 2,012 1,903 1,038 3,510 1,932 2,125

Kingston upon Thames ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— 1,152 ⁽⁴⁹⁾— 2,169 2,333 2,394

Merton 1,733 1,625 1,793 2,310 2,095 2,529 2,593 1,362

Redbridge ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— ⁽⁴⁹⁾— 2,301 2,533 1,992

Richmond upon Thames 2,420 1,714 1,600 1,629 1,751 3,497 3,086 2,166

Sutton 1,826 2,205 2,342 1,243 2,238 2,285 2,234 2,351

Waltham Forest 4,840 4,939 2,601 3,004 2,629 1,984 2,144 2,078

⁽⁴⁹⁾ no figure supplied
Source:
The figures for 1997 to 2001 are based on a combination of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) return, and the Housing Corporation's Regulatory Statistical Return (RSR). For the years 2002 to 2004 the figures are based on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Council Tax Base 1 (CTB1) return.
These figures are for all vacant dwellings, including dwellings that have been empty for fewer than six months, some for less than 1 month. The Government are introducing new powers from April 2006 for local authorities to reduce the number of long-term empty homes in their area.

27 Feb 2006 : Column 167W

	1 April	1 November	3 November	1 November
Snap-shot date	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Inner London
Camden	4,033	4,745	6,261	4,703	4,335	5,093	3,389	3,049
City of London	32	22	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	20	63	141	165
Hackney	5,165	4,486	3,284	3,970	3,249	3,783	3,220	3,407
Hammersmith and Fulham	4,108	4,026	3,710	4,138	4,520	3,015	3,526	2,946
Haringey	5,419	4,413	5,604	4,417	4,815	3,433	3,539	1,966
Islington	5,392	2,970	2,897	2,773	3,231	2,908	4,020	2,677
Kensington and Chelsea	8,387	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	1,655	1,715	6,067	4,576	3,308	3,064
Lambeth	5,213	4,656	4,646	4,639	2518	4,488	5,037	3,291
Lewisham	5,246	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	3,259	3,251	4,025	2,832	3,084	1,586
Newham	3,424	5,183	5,717	4,663	5,090	3,280	2,535	2,645
Southwark	3,665	4,658	6,649	6,917	6,364	3,478	4,973	4,439
Tower Hamlets	4,894	5,071	5,507	5,306	5,425	5,072	2,669	2,047
Wandsworth	2,783	1,991	2,511	2,314	2,051	5,202	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—
Westminster	3,128	3,295	3,407	3,063	2,957	4,804	4,544	3,974
Outer London
Barking and Dagenham	1,509	1,727	2,005	2,172	1,328	1,578	1,798	1,623
Barnet	4,211	4,442	4,673	4,068	3114	5,093	3,512	3,607
Bexley	2,410	2,467	2,203	1,185	1,982	2,064	2,268	2,161
Brent	4,792	3,754	5,151	6,174	5,260	5,559	2,733	3,568
Bromley	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	3,715	3,718	4,318	3,960	4,207	3,825
Croydon	5,594	5,505	4,598	4,130	4,398	4,611	4,722	4,647
Haling	5,433	5,705	5,397	2,308	2,445	3,196	3,308	3,416
Enfield	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	4,350	3,577	4,494
Greenwich	4,523	4,508	4,421	4,541	3,038	3,417	2,922	3,084
Harrow	983	1,081	1,325	1,231	1,191	2,195	2,462	1,484
Havering	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	2,699	2,300	2,407	2,568
Hillingdon	2,628	2,273	2,497	2,468	2,290	2,791	3,009	2,532
Hounslow	2,306	2,211	2,012	1,903	1,038	3,510	1,932	2,125
Kingston upon Thames	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	1,152	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	2,169	2,333	2,394
Merton	1,733	1,625	1,793	2,310	2,095	2,529	2,593	1,362
Redbridge	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	⁽⁴⁹⁾—	2,301	2,533	1,992
Richmond upon Thames	2,420	1,714	1,600	1,629	1,751	3,497	3,086	2,166
Sutton	1,826	2,205	2,342	1,243	2,238	2,285	2,234	2,351
Waltham Forest	4,840	4,939	2,601	3,004	2,629	1,984	2,144	2,078

Anne Main: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 1 December 2005, Official Report, columns 681–2W, on housing, what statistical methods of comparison his Department has used to analyse the effectiveness of the Empty Homes Strategy. [54318]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has two methods of assessing local authority empty property strategies—their annual housing strategy (HSSA) returns on the number of vacant dwelling and their returns for Best Value Performance Indicator 64. The former provides information on the number of empty dwellings in each local housing authority area, broken down by tenure, on an annual basis. The latter provides information on the number of empty dwellings brought back into use by each local housing authority on an annual basis.

Anne Main: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 1 December 2005, Official Report, columns 681–2W, on housing, what assessment he has made of Purbeck's performance in implementing the Empty Homes Strategy. [54319]

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not make a detailed assessment of individual local authorities' implementation of their empty homes strategies.

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