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15 May 2006 : Column 812W—continued
London Borough of Havering
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what change in funds will result from the Annual Efficiency Statements 2005-06 Mid-Year Update for the London borough of Havering. [70071]
Mr. Woolas: There will be no change in the funding for the London borough of Havering as a result of the 2005-06 Mid-Year Update efficiency statements. One of the key elements of the local government efficiency agenda is that councils retain the resources released from their efficiency gains and can decide how they are to be reallocated.
The 2005-06 Mid-Year Update efficiency statement from Havering showed that it expected to have achieved £9.85 million efficiency gains by the end of 2005-06, which represents the release of real resources that could be used to improve local services or hold down council tax.
Lyons Inquiry
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Lyons Inquiry is next expected to publish (a) its research and (b) thematic reports. [70718]
Mr. Woolas: Sir Michael Lyons is leading an independent inquiry into local government. The timing of the publication of any papers is entirely a matter for him.
To date, the Lyons Inquiry has published two papers: a consultation paper and interim report on 15 December 2005 and a discussion paper on 8 May 2006, “National prosperity, local choice and civic engagement: a new partnership between central and local government for the 21(st) century”.
Sir Michael is due to deliver his final report to Government at the end of this year.
Owner Occupation (Doncaster, North)
Edward Miliband: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many houses in Doncaster North were owner-occupied in (a) 1981, (b) 1991 and (c) 2001; and how many were owner-occupied on the most recent date for which figures are available. [68303]
Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
Census data show the following number of homes to have been owner-occupied in Doncaster North in:
| Number | |
2001 is the most recent date for which figures are available at constituency level.
Pensions
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who is eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme whether or not directly employed thereby; and how contributions for these people are funded. [70729]
Mr. Woolas: A person may be a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in England and Wales, if employed by a scheme employer, such as a county or borough council, or certain other bodies with historic links to local government, including certain schools or transport undertakings. In addition, specified employees of some 2,400 external bodies who
are contractually admitted to the LGPS are eligible for membership; many of these as a result of the contracting out of local authority services.
The LGPS is a funded scheme with 89 separately administered funds. The vast majority of employees pay contributions at the rate of 6 per cent. of salary; employers pay contributions at a rate determined by each pension fund actuary. Investment income in 2004/05 totalled £2.3 billion.
Planning
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the planning decisions that he has personally (a) refused and (b) approved during his tenure as the Secretary of State in charge of planning. [66254]
Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
A list of planning decisions approved and returned by the First Secretary of State since June 2002 has been placed in the Library of the House.
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful appeals have been brought against planning decisions made by Tamworth borough council in each year since 1997. [68370]
Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
Records held by the Planning Inspectorate go back to 2000 only. The following table shows the number of planning appeals (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful and the total number of appeals decided relating to the local authority in each of the last six years. It is not possible to provide data before this date.
| Tamworth borough council | |||
| Decided | (a) Allowed/successful | (b) Dismissed/unsuccessful | |
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate the Government have made of the annual revenue to be raised in England from reformed section 106 agreements once planning gain supplement is introduced. [70706]
Yvette Cooper: The Government have proposed in their consultation paper “Planning-gain Supplement” that if a PGS was introduced the existing system of planning obligations would be scaled back to matters related to the development-site environment and affordable housing provision. No estimates can yet be made of the value that would be raised from scaled back obligations. The value of scaled back obligations would be dependent on a number of variables including the final policy, the future state of the land
and development markets, the behaviour of developers and transitional arrangements.
Mr. Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list the appeals which she has received against local authority refusals of planning applications by (a) J Sainsbury plc, (b) Tesco plc, (c) ASDA Stores Ltd, (d) WM Morrisons Supermarket plc and (e) Safeway plc since June 1997, stating in each case (i) whether the application was allowed on appeal, (ii) whether the decision followed the recommendation of the inquiry inspector, (iii) whether the proposed development was in a residential area, (iv) whether the application included planning permission for new homes and (v) whether lorry deliveries were expressly permitted between 10 pm and 7 am. [70260]
Yvette Cooper: I have placed in the Library of the House a table which lists appeals received against local authority refusals of planning applications by (a) J Sainsbury plc, (b) Tesco plc, (c) ASDA Stores Ltd, (e) Safeway plc. There is no record of appeals by (d) WM Morrisons Supermarket plc. Data are only available from 2000.
The table also shows (i) whether the appeal was allowed or dismissed and (ii) where the appeal was determined by the Secretary of State and whether the decision followed the recommendation of the inspector.
(iii) whether the proposed development was in a residential area,
(iv) whether the application included planning permission for new homes; and
(v) whether lorry deliveries were expressly permitted between10 pm and 7 am;
are either not available or can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
However, the table does include a development description of each appeal and where this appears relevant to request item (iv) has been highlighted. It should be noted that two of these descriptions are incomplete.
The table also indicates the local authority and the appeal decision dates.
Private Office
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in which building her private office will be located. [70583]
Angela E. Smith: The private office of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is located in Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU.
Regional Fire Control Centres
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Government's latest estimate is of the cost of setting up the nine regional fire control centres. [70601]
Angela E. Smith: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given by the Hon. Member for Poplar and Canning Town on 27 March 2006, Official Report, 817W.
Regional Government
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what process exists for dealing with a conflict between a regional development agency regional economic strategy and a regional chamber's regional spatial strategy on (a) housing numbers and (b) airport expansion. [70703]
Yvette Cooper: The regional economic strategy (RES) and regional spatial strategy (RSS) should be
mutually reinforcing. They should take account of each other and be based on a common evidence base.
Differences between them may emerge during their preparation and public consultation. In particular, the RSS is also subject to testing by an independent panel who are likely to probe the alignment of the RSS with the RES, as an identified matter of interest.
Government are responsible both for endorsing the RES and for finalising an RSS.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the (a) ratification and (b) drafting of the regional spatial strategies in each region. [70704]
Yvette Cooper: The latest estimated issue dates of the final RSS for revisions currently in process are set out in the following table. It must be stressed that these are indicative dates only.
| RSS revision timetable key stages | |||||
| Region | Draft RSS to SoS | Examination in public | Proposed changes published | Issue of final RSS | |
Register of Home Condition Reports
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to consult on the regulations to implement the Register of Home Condition Reports. [66258]
Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
Consultation was carried out from October 2005 to January 2006 on the principle of establishing the Home Condition Report register, and the requirement that reports become valid only once they are entered on to it. Provisions for the register will be set out in regulations to be made shortly.
Details regarding the operation of the register will be specified in further regulations planned for later in the year. Drafting of these regulations will proceed in consultation with stakeholders.
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