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Secured by Design
Mr. David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to achieve the aims of the Secured by Design initiative through the planning process. [73869]
Yvette Cooper: The Government have issued detailed planning guidance on planning and crime prevention in England. “Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development” (PPS1), published in 2005, places strong emphasis on the role of planning in helping to create safe and sustainable communities. Planning authorities are asked to have robust policies which address crime prevention issues in their development plans. Crime prevention is also capable of being a material planning consideration in the consideration of planning applications.
In applying the policy in PPS1 we have asked planning authorities to have regard to the guidance we have published in “Safer Places: The Planning System and Crime Prevention” (Office of the Deputy Prime Minster/Home Office, 2004). This offers detailed guidance on the lay-out of all buildings and spaces to reduce the risk of crime, including, where appropriate, the incorporation of target hardening measures such CCTV in new development.
“Safer Places” advises that in designing and considering development proposals, the physical protection of development by using ‘target hardening’ principles such as Secured by Design should be considered. The guidance also highlights a number of examples of best practice involving ‘Secured by Design’ principles and urges all involved in the planning and design of buildings and environments to work closely with police architectural liaison officers or crime prevention design advisors.
Alongside this guidance we are also examining how best to incorporate measures to improve the security of new homes. Compliance with Secured by Design standards is one of the options being considered.
Sustainable Buildings
Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to encourage Swindon borough council to apply the higher level standards of the new Code for Sustainable Buildings to new homes. [77148]
Yvette Cooper: Consultation on the proposed Code for Sustainable Homes ended on 6 March 2006. In the light of the consultation responses, the Government announced proposals to strengthen the code on9 March 2006. This announcement also said that these improvements would be developed over the coming months.
The Government are also carrying out a detailed analysis of the consultation returns and final decisions on further ways to encourage the take up of the code are still being considered.
Thames Gateway
James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funds have been allocated for greenspace projects in the Thames Gateway in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08. [78816]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 22 June 2006]: Our proposals for environmental and greenspace improvements were set out in the Greening the Gateway implementation plan published in February 2005. The total funding toward greenspace and environmental projects from the Thames Gateway Programme fund between 2003-04 to 2007-08 is just under £25 million, of which about £19.7 million has already been spent. Expenditure in 2006-07 and 2007-08 is expected to be £4.6 million and £612,000 respectively.
Trees in Towns
Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when her Department will publish the report Trees in Towns II; and why its publication has been delayed from Autumn 2005. [78544]
Yvette Cooper: The final report for Trees in Towns II was received by my Department at the beginning of June 2006. Preparation of the material for publication in a range of media is in hand and publication is expected later in 2006.
Underused Land
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department's definition is of underused land. [78261]
Yvette Cooper: The Local Government (Publication of Information About Unused and Underused Land) (England) Regulations 1992 referred to underused land but only that owned by specified local authorities. The regulations were revoked in 1996.
The register of surplus public sector land, set up in 2003, records land that becomes surplus to the operational requirements of the owning body and is therefore available for disposal. It covers land owned by central Government bodies. See http://www.englishpartnerships.co.uk/rspsl.htm.
Under-Value Property Disposals
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which “best consideration” decisions for disposing of property at an undervalue have been (a) refused and (b) permitted by the Secretary of State further to the Local Government Act 1972 in each year since 1977. [78277]
Yvette Cooper: Data on local authority land disposals at less than best consideration made under the Local Government Act 1972 is not available centrally for the whole of this period. The revised General Disposal Consent issued in 2003 requires disposals with an undervalue of more than £2 million to receive the specific consent of the Secretary of State. There have been no cases under the current General Disposal Consent where consent has been refused. Consents given by the Secretary of State since the introduction of these arrangements are set out in the following table:
Village Pubs
Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if she will take steps to strengthen controls preventing village pubs from being bought and closed down by property speculators; [74134]
(2) if she will make a statement on Government policy on planning as it affects village pubs. [74135]
Yvette Cooper: Government policies in relation to planning for village pubs are set out in planning policy statement 6: Planning for Town Centres (PPS6) and planning policy statement 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas (PPS7).
PPS 6 asks local planning authorities where appropriate to adopt policies that enhance the vitality and viability of rural service centres, such as villages. In considering proposals for new development, local authorities should take into account the likely impact of the new development on services that are important to the local community.
Local planning authorities are also asked to consider the scale of new leisure development, including pubs, and its likely impact on the character and function of a village, for example in terms of antisocial behaviour, crime and the amenities of residents.
PPS7 supports the PPS6 policy approach to enhancing the viability of village services, including village pubs. It advises local planning authorities to support the retention of valuable local facilities and to set out in their local development documents the criteria they will apply in considering planning applications that would result in the loss of important village services.
The planning system cannot control the closure of a business or the sale of land or premises. Planning permissions relate to the use of land, and ownership is not a relevant consideration. The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, as amended, allows a change of use from A4 (drinking establishments) uses to A3 (restaurant and cafes), A2 (financial and professional services), and A1 (shops). A change to any other use would require planning permission.
If a pub is converted to a use other than those described, without planning permission, local planning authorities have a wide range of discretionary enforcement powers to enable them to deal with unauthorised development. It is for the local planning authority to decide in each case which is the most appropriate course of action.
The Government have no plans to control the buying and selling, or closure of village pubs. The use to which land and premises are put is a matter for individual land owners, so long as the necessary consents are in place.
West Midlands Regional Assembly
Mr. Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has for provision of further powers to the West Midlands regional assembly. [73835]
Yvette Cooper: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given 5 June 2006, Official Report, column 210W.
Weymouth Relief Road
Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to call in the application to build the Weymouth relief road. [79076]
Yvette Cooper: Dorset county council is currently considering a planning application for the Weymouth relief road. Once they have completed their consideration the Secretary of State will decide whether the application should be called in for her own determination or remain with Dorset county council for decision.
Benefits Claimants
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people were in receipt of (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement [75916]
Mr. Plaskitt: I have been asked to reply.
The available information is in the following tables.
| Income support (IS) and IS minimum income guarantee (MIG) caseloads: Great Britain each November 1997 to 2005 | |||
| November | All IS | MIG | Non-MIG |
| Pension credit caseloads: Great Britain each November 2003 to 2005 | |
| November | Number |
| Income based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA(IB)) caseloads: Great Britain each November 1997 to 2005 | |
| November | Number |
| Housing benefit (HB) and council tax benefit (CTB) caseloads: Great Britain each November 1997 to 2005 | ||
| November | HB | CTB |
| Notes:
1. PC/HB/CTB figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. 2.
IS/JSA(IB) figures are rounded to the nearest 100. 3. HB/CTB
figures for any non-responding authorities have been
estimated. 4. HB figures exclude any extended payment
cases. 5. CTB figures exclude any second adult rebate
cases. 6. JSA(IB) figures and IS figures for November 1997
and 1998 are derived by applying 5 per cent. proportions to 100 per
cent. WPLS data and are therefore subject to sampling
variation. 7. Some JSA(IB) claimants may also have
entitlement to benefit via the contributory route. 8. Totals
may not sum due to rounding. 9. Pension credit replaced MIG
on 6 October 2003 10. Overlaps between benefits have not been
removed. Source: DWP Work and Pensions
Longitudinal Study (WPLS); Information Directorate 5 per cent. samples;
and Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information
System Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload stock-count taken in November
1997 to November
2005. | ||
Defence
Afghanistan
17. Mr. Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the contribution of British troops activities to economic and social development in Afghanistan. [79726]
Des Browne: British forces are working closely with other Government Departments to deliver an integrated package of military, economic, diplomatic and developmental assistance. The role of UK forces is primarily to assist the Afghans in creating a secure environment within which the country’s reconstruction and development can take place.
20. Mr. Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which units have been earmarked as replacements for the units currently serving with 16 Air Assault Brigade in Afghanistan; and when the replacement is due to take place. [79729]
Des Browne: No final decisions have been made on which units will replace 16 Air Assault Brigade in Afghanistan. As with all deployments, an announcement will be made in the House in due course.
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