Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 11 July 2006
Communities and Local Government
Departmental Emissions
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate she has made of the carbon emissions of her Department; what commitment she has made to reducing such emissions; and if she will make a statement. [81335]
Angela E. Smith: The Department for Communities and Local Government was created on 5 May 2006 and no assessment of its carbon emissions has yet been undertaken. In 2005 the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister produced approximately 5,000 tonnes of absolute carbon emissions, as reported in the 2005 Sustainable Development in Government report. These emissions were calculated through the energy consumed across the estate; this included ODPM properties and Executive Agencies but excluded the Government Office Network.
In addition to the carbon emissions produced through energy consumption, ODPM produced an estimated further 360 tonnes of absolute carbon emissions through business road travel in 2005.
The Department of Communities and Local Government has commenced a carbon management programme with The Carbon Trust. The aim of the programme is to mobilise the Department and its agencies in working towards reducing carbon emissions across the estate. This will involve identifying energy efficiency quick wins, as well as devising long-term strategies and business opportunities to ensure increased sustainability across all areas of business.
Design for Manufacture
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated minimum life span is of the properties constructed for the Design for Manufacture competition. [83078]
Angela
E. Smith: All bidders were required, as a minimum, to
comply with all current building regulations and demonstrate that all
of the homes they were proposing to build through the competition would
be able to obtain relevant third party approvals, such as from the
Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), the Association of British Insurers
(ABI) and building warranty agreements. This is normal industry
practice, and assessments for mortgageability are commonly based on a
60-year minimum measure for life span. However, in addition, to ensure
that we could explore
the whole-life quality of the proposed dwellings the bidders were also
required to prepare a table setting out maintenance and replacement
costs in use for all homes built under the Design for Manufacture
competition based on a period of 60
years.
Greater Manchester (Local Government)
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to introduce (a) an elected mayor, (b) an elected assembly and (c) other statutory forms of governance for the Greater Manchester City Region. [84081]
Mr. Woolas: Discussions are ongoing with Manchester and the other core cities regarding their business case proposals, following the summits that were held during 2005. Those business cases include options for devolving decision-making to the cities or city regions. We will further develop these ideas and associated thinking, including on individual local authority leadership, in the forthcoming Local Government White Paper.
Home Information Packs
Michael Gove: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what benchmarks have been established to measure the effectiveness of the pilots for home information packs. [65073]
Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
We are currently developing proposals for the dry run and will make an announcement before the parliamentary recess.
Planning Applications
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) parish and (b) town councils have the power to delegate decisions on planning applications to a responsible councillor or officer. [84147]
Mr. Woolas: Parish and town councils have no powers to determine planning applications and are not therefore in a position to delegate decisions on applications to councillors or officers. Parish and town councils are entitled to be notified in writing of planning applications in their areas and make representations on them, following a written request to the local planning authority.
Second Homes
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans her Department has to introduce a second homes tax, as recommended by the Affordable Rural Housing Commission. [83409]
Mr. Woolas [holding answer 10 July 2006]: The Department for Communities and Local Government has no plans to introduce a second homes tax. From April 2004, we have given councils the freedom to reduce the council tax discount on second homes from 50 per cent. to 10 per cent. In 2005-06 councils raised an additional £92 million to spend on local priorities by reducing the discount.
Sheree Dodd
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments her Department has made to Sheree Dodd out of public funds; and for what purposes. [83022]
Angela E. Smith: The terms of contracts between the Department and individuals are private matters. Sheree Dodd has been working as an interim head of newsfor the Department for Communities and Local Government while a full civil service recruitment process is completed. This is a short-term role and requires a person with expertise and recent knowledge of Whitehall.
Single Status Agreement
John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will ensure that there is no aggregate national cash limit to the capitalisation of back payments due to local authority staff arising from the single status agreement. [83337]
Mr. Woolas: Revised guidance on the policy and procedures for capitalisation directions was issued on 26 June. This is available from the Department for Communities and Local Government website at:
http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/capital/cappol pro.pdf
Sovereign Strategy
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what dates over the last 12 months (a) she and (b) (i) Ministers and (ii) officials in her Department met a representative of Sovereign Strategy. [72342]
Angela E. Smith: On 18 November 2005 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, then serving as Minister of Communities and Local Government, spoke on raising aspirations for young people in the North East at the Annual North East Economic Forum, organised by the University of Northumbria and Sovereign Strategy. I am not aware of Ministers holding other meetings with representatives of Sovereign Strategy during this period. Records are not held centrally of such contacts at official level. Any such contacts are conducted in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Civil Service Code, Code of Conduct for Special Advisers and Guidance for civil servants on contacts with lobbyists and people outside Government.
Sustainable Communities Summit
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reason her Department is cancelling the Sustainable Communities Summit in Manchester due to be held in February 2007; how much the event has cost, including cancellation fees. [83021]
Angela E. Smith: The Sustainable Communities summit that was to be held in Manchester in February 2007 has been cancelled for the following reasons:
1. DCLG is taking a new approach to stakeholder engagement. The DCLG is a new Department with a new remit and will be communicating its agenda in new ways.
1.1 The Department is of the view that the commercial sector is better placed to deliver large-scale events such as the summit. Previous summits in 2002 and 2005 were successful in raising awareness of the Sustainable Communities agenda with key stakeholders. The success of these summits and other similar events such as the Thames Gateway Forum means that it is the right time to seek private sector interest in running the summit.
1.2 As well as looking at how best to communicate through large events, the Department is planning a series of regional events to discuss how we can best work with the public, private and voluntary and community sectors to deliver sustainable communities.
The summit project has in total cost £291,000.
The cancellation element of the total cost will be in the region of £60,000 (the Department has yet to agree final costs with our contractors).
Third Sector
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the projected budget is for the Central-Local Government-Third Sector Engagement Board. [83095]
Mr. Woolas: There is no specific budget allocated to the Central-Local Government-Third Sector Engagement Board. Its secretariat and related policy work will be resourced within current departmental staffing.
Unitary Authorities
Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which (a) local authorities and (b) groups of authorities have applied to be pilots for new unitary status; and if she will make a statement. [83935]
Mr. Woolas: Our approach to restructuring will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper which will be published shortly after the summer recess.
Culture, Media and Sport
BBC
Sir Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the BBC about the desirability of bringing BBC regions in line with Government regions; and if she will make a statement. [83987]
Mr. Woodward: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions with the BBC about the desirability of bringing BBC regions in line with Government regions.
Departmental Staff
Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many disabled staff in her Department received support through the Access to Work scheme (a) in each of the last five years and (b) in 2006-07. [82223]
Mr. Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport received support through the Access to Work scheme for the following numbers of people:
| Number | ||
Engagements
Mr. Geoffrey Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she next plans to visit Coventry Cathedral. [83334]
Tessa Jowell: I have no specific plans to visit Coventry Cathedral however when I am next in the West Midlands I would be pleased to do so.
Mr. Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the official engagements of the hon. Member for St. Helens South from the date of appointment as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Media and Tourism) to 14 July. [83484]
Mr. Woodward: The information is as follows:
I have undertaken the following public engagements:
25 May—Speech at Digital Switchover Conference in Cumbria
6 June—Speech at UK Inbound Parliamentary Reception
8 June—Arena: Men of the Year Awards.
13 June—Speeches at Film Birmingham debate and reception
19 June—Speech at Clore Conference on Culture and Creative Enterprise
21 June—Introductory Speech at Annual Media Lecture
29 June—Speech at the Westminster Media Forum
30 June—Presented an Award at the Commercial Radio Awards
4 July—Speech at the Skillset TV Skills Launch
4 July—Speech at the IPPR event: The Long Tail—Opportunities in a new marketplace
5 July—Speech at Tourism Alliance AGM
6 July—Speech to Royal Television Society
I have undertaken the following parliamentary commitments:
5 June—DCMS questions
14 June—Westminster Hall debate on digital switchover
21 June—Opposition day debate on the future of the BBC
3 July—DCMS questions
6 July—Westminster Hall debate on digital switchover
10 July—Government debate on the BBC
11 July—Westminster Hall debate on TV licensing
13 July—SI debate on TV licensable content services order and the radio multiplex order
I have undertaken the following meetings with the following external parties:
24 May—Competition and IP Breakfast—Many Industry representatives
5 June—ITV
5 June—Motion Picture Association
6 June—Microsoft
12 June—Technology Breakfast—Many Industry representatives
12 June—London Development Agency
12 June—Music Business Forum
22 June—Chinese Minister for Radio, Film and Television
22 June—Intellect
27 June—NBC
27 June—Apple
30 June—Minister President of Baden-Wuerttenberg
5 July—Digital TV group
The following meetings with external parties are scheduled and subject to parliamentary business:
11 July—Brooks Lapping productions
12 July—BskyB
12 July—O2
12 July—Historic Houses Association
I have also carried out a full schedule of engagements with internal stakeholders, other Ministers, MPs, DCMS sponsored bodies, cabinet committees and business with the EU commission.
Hyde Park Events
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the events held in Hyde Park during the last 12 months for which an attendance fee was payable and for which an area of the park was enclosed; how much (a) income was generated and (b) expenditure was spent by the Royal Parks Agency relating to each such event; what arrangements are in place between the Royal Parks Agency and relevant local authorities to reduce the impact of these events on local residents; and whether payments were made to any local authority in relation to these events. [81328]
Mr. Lammy: The following table show the number of events that were held in Hyde park, the income derived from them and the cost to The Royal Parks (TRP).
Under the 2003 Licensing Act The Royal Parks are, from 24 November 2005, required to obtain a licence for events from the local authority. In the case of Hyde park, that is Westminster city council. It is for the local authority to set the limit on the number and size of events and any other conditions it feels relevant. In addition, TRP holds meetings with the local authority, police, transport and other emergency services to agree the arrangements for each event. Details like noise levels are subject to existing guidance and are monitored by the council and the promoter at each event.
In addition to day-to-day liaison with Westminster city council, TRP officials attend many meetings of residents and amenity societies, and write to local residents and neighbours advising them of the dates, times and other arrangements relating to events.
The only payment made to any local authority in relation to these events was the fee for the licence, which amounted to £48,100.
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