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Local Government Finance

John Hemming: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the adjusted amended national figure is for the formula spending share with resource equalisation for 2005–06; what the adjusted amended central Government grant is for 2005–06; and what the assumed council tax yield is for that year. [63225]

Mr. Woolas: The total adjusted amended formula spending shares with additional resource equalisation for 2005–06 is £40,893,348,986.

The adjusted amended formula grant for 2005–06 is £24,091,464,439.

The assumed national council tax yield is the difference between the adjusted amended formula spending shares excluding additional resource equalisation (£39,713,577,986) and the adjusted amended total of revenue support grant and redistributed business rates (£20,196,455,148) i.e. £19,517,122,838.

John Hemming: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the national figure is for the formula spending share 2006–07; what the central Government grant (excluding the police grant) is for 2006–07; and what the 2006–07 assumed council tax yield is. [63227]

Mr. Woolas: Formula spending shares were not used in the calculation of the 2006–07 formula grant. Nor did we make an assessment of assumed council tax yield.

The amount of formula grant excluding principal formula police grant is £20,878,123,134 for 2006–07.

Local Government Pension Scheme

Mr. Weir: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the rule of 85 in the Local Government pension scheme. [63640]

Mr. Woolas: Where appropriate, contacts on matters regarding the Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales are maintained through the United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union (UKREP).

Mr. Weir: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what advice he has received from the European Commission on the legality of the rule of 85 in the Local Government pension scheme. [63641]

Mr. Woolas: None. The Government relies on its own legal advice.

Local Government Services

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of a local government strike on the provision of local services. [62318]

 
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Mr. Woolas: The industrial action which took place on 28 March 2006 is a matter between the trades unions and the employers. Its effects are being assessed as information becomes available.

Local Government Wages

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2006, Official Report, column 1753W, on local government wages, what additional payments central Government has made to local authorities to compensate for their extra costs as a result of the increase in the employer rate of national insurance. [62236]

Mr. Woolas: The Government took into account the pressures on local authorities, including the changes in national insurance contributions, and the extent to which those pressures can be mitigated, in setting its spending plans for local authorities. The Government have provided an increase on Government grant of £2.7 billion (4.5 per cent.) and £3.1 billion (5 per cent.) in 2006–07 and 2007–08 which will enable authorities to continue to provide effective local services without imposing excessive council tax increases.

Parish Precepts

Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what measures he has in place to regulate the level of parish precepts on council tax. [62306]

Mr. Woolas: We expect town and parish councils to budget prudently and believe they should take into account the views of local people on how their money should be spent. Under current legislation there is no provision for capping parishes or issuing statutory guidance to them on their budgets. There are no current plans to amend the legislation, but we will keep the situation under review.

Planning

Anne Main: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on dealing with multiple planning applications for the same site; and if he will make a statement. [62206]

Yvette Cooper: Local planning authorities' power to turn away repeat planning applications was increased with effect from the 24 August 2005. Until then, a valid application could be turned away only if the applicant had, within the previous two years, had two substantially similar proposals called in and refused, or dismissed at appeal.

Now, authorities can decline to determine an application which is similar to one which has been subject to two previous refusals by the local planning authority in the preceding two years, even where there has been no appeal to the Secretary of State.
 
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Relevant guidance is in ODPM Circular 8 of 2005, Guidance on Changes to the Development Control System, which is on the website www.odpm.gov.uk.

Right To Buy

Mr. Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) capital receipts from right to buy sales and (b) total value of right to buy discounts was in each Government office region in 2005–06. [63572]

Yvette Cooper: Figures for the right to buy capital receipts and discounts in each year since 1998–99 by local authority area and Government office region can be found on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/pub/383/Table648Excel545Kb_id1156383.xls.

Mr. Betts: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total value was of the right to buy discounts in each Government office region in 2004–05. [63573]

Yvette Cooper: Figures for the right-to-buy discounts in each year since 1998–99 by local authority area and Government office region can be found on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/pub/383/Table648Excel545Kb_id1156383.xls.

Second Homes (Cornwall)

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research he has commissioned into the effects of second home ownership on rural communities in Cornwall; and if he will make a statement. [63629]

Yvette Cooper: The Government have established the Affordable Rural Housing Commission to consider the evidence and reach a consensus on the relevant issues around affordable housing needs in rural areas, in the context of sustainable rural communities, and to provide recommendations for practical solutions across private, government and voluntary sectors, taking account of existing good practice.

Evidence has been taken by the Commission from partners in Cornwall and across the country and it will report in the spring. The Government will then carefully consider the Commission's recommendations, including any relating to policies on second home ownership.

Sir David Garrard/Mr. Andrew Rosenfeld

Mr. David Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he has met (a) Sir David Garrard and (b) Mr. Andrew Rosenfeld in his official capacity during the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement. [63203]

Jim Fitzpatrick: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has not met (a) Sir David Garrard or (b) Mr. Andrew Rosenfeld in his official capacity during the past 12 months.

Social Renting

Mr. Laws: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many houses for social rent including council houses have been built in each of the last five years; what estimate he has made of the number which will be built over the next three years; and if he will make a statement. [63304]

 
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Yvette Cooper: For the number of social housing units made available I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 March 2006, Official Report, column 279W. Information on the number of social housing units built is more limited.

Planned annual housing requirements are developed as part the Regional Spatial Strategies. The Government have set a target of providing 75,000 social rented homes, through a mix of new build and purchase, from 2004–05 to 2007–08. Of these we estimate around 3,000 will be provided through local authorities and at least 60,000 through Registered Social Landlords. In addition housing will be provided under the Private Finance Initiative and by planning gain.

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