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18 Apr 2006 : Column 510W—continued
Coventry City Council (Planning)
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful appeals have been made against planning decisions made by Coventry City Council in each year since 1997. [62406]
Yvette Cooper: The following table shows the number of planning appeals relating to Coventry City Council (a) successful (allowed) and (b) unsuccessful (dismissed) and the total number of appeals decided in each calendar year from 2000. Unfortunately in this instance reliable data can only be provided from 2000 onwards.
| (a)Number of appeals allowed | ( b) Number of appeals dismissed | Number of appeals decided | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12 | 23 | 35 |
| 2001 | 10 | 16 | 26 |
| 2002 | 3 | 19 | 22 |
| 2003 | 17 | 21 | 38 |
| 2004 | 17 | 23 | 40 |
| 2005 | 28 | 37 | 65 |
Development (Runnymede)
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the ability of the borough of Runnymede to absorb new development (a) after the implementation of the Thames Basin Heaths special protection area and (b) while respecting existing metropolitan green belt and flood plain designations. [62420]
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Yvette Cooper [holding answer 30 March 2006]: The distribution of new development between local authorities is a matter for the South East England regional assembly to consider in the context of the regional spatial strategy for the south east. In preparing that strategy, the assembly are required to have regard to national planning policies, including those set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 (PPG2) on green belts and PPG25 on development and flood risk. They will also have to take full account of the statutory protection provided to both national and international wildlife sites, including Thames Basin Heaths special protection area.
Energy Audits
Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department plans to give local planning authorities the powers to require that an energy audit should be submitted with major planning applications. [62186]
Yvette Cooper: Local planning authorities have powers under the Town and Country Planning (Applications) Regulations 1988 to require additional information the authority considers necessary for the proper determination of a planning application.
Local planning authorities are encouraged in Planning Policy Statement 1, Delivering Sustainable Development to adopt policies in their development plan documents in respect of energy-saving and the use of renewable energy. Such policies could then be a material consideration when decisions on individual planning applications are being made.
Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to introduce energy use as a factor for local planning authorities to consider when determining planning applications. [62187]
Yvette Cooper: National planning policy set out in Planning Policy Statement 1 (PPS1) expects the development plans prepared by regional planning bodies and local planning authorities to contribute to global sustainability through policies which reduce energy use, reduce emissions (for example, by encouraging patterns of development which reduce the need to travel by private car, or reduce the impact of moving freight) and promote the development of renewable energy resources. In doing so, planning policies are expected to avoid replicating, cutting across, or detrimentally affecting matters within the scope of other legislative requirements, such as those set out in Building Regulations for energy efficiency.
The Department also intends to draw up a new planning policy statement on climate change.
Euro
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if hewill place in the Library a copy of his Department's Communications plan for the introduction of the euro. [62310]
Jim Fitzpatrick:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 March 2006, Official Report, column 1834W.
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The Communications plan to which the hon. Member refers was contained within the Euro Conversion (High Level Plan) made available in the Library of the House by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 10 March 2006.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister which Minister in his Department is responsible for policy relating to the introduction of the euro. [62311]
Jim Fitzpatrick: I am the Minister responsible for policy relating to the introduction of the euro in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions his Department's working group on the changeover to the euro met in 2005. [62259]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's working group on the changeover to the euro did not meet during 2005.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the W.S. Atkins report on the compatibility of IT systems in his Department with the introduction of the euro; and how much the report cost. [62267]
Jim Fitzpatrick: A copy of the W.S. Atkins report on compatibility of IT systems within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has been made available in the Library of the House. The cost of this report was £31,000.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the 30 volunteer local authorities his Department worked with to develop detailed euro changeover plans. [62268]
Jim Fitzpatrick: While the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has worked with some local authorities to develop their euro changeover plans, HM Treasury, who take the lead in co-ordinating appropriate euro preparations across the economy, have worked with a larger number. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister worked with those authorities on a confidential basis.
Fire Service Inspectorate
Mr. Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) inspectors and (b) assistant inspectors were employed in Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate to advise upon technical fire safety issues in each year since 1997. [63956]
Jim Fitzpatrick:
The following shows the number of Inspectors and Assistant Inspectors employed yearly since 1997. The figures for Assistant Inspectors include Crown Premises Inspection Group personnel.
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1 Denotes Crown Premises Inspection Group
Home Information Packs
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated cost is of training estate agents, lawyers and lenders in the implementation of home information packs. [63785]
Yvette Cooper: This is a matter for industry. The extent of training required will depend on what role individual advisers and businesses expect to play in the new market from 1 June 2007, and on their current state of readiness.
Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect on the market of the implementation of home information packs; and if he will make a statement. [63787]
Yvette Cooper: A detailed market study was carried out in January 2005 which revealed a high degree of dissatisfaction with the present system. We are planning to undertake further research in two phases, in June 2006 and then further analysis 18 or 24 months after implementation.
Home Ownership
Ed Balls: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of families in (a) the Wakefield district and (b) Normanton constituency own their own homes. [62647]
Yvette Cooper: 2001 Census data shows that 65 per cent. of households in the Wakefield district, and 73 per cent. of households in the Normanton constituency own their own homes.
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