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19 Feb 2007 : Column 490W—continued

Departments: Freedom of Information

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions special advisers have been consulted in replying to Freedom of Information requests to her Department; and what her Department's policy is on the role of special advisers in the answering of Freedom of Information requests. [119849]

Angela E. Smith: Special advisers carry out their duties in accordance with the requirements of the Code of conduct for special advisers. Communities and Local Government does not keep such records relating to special advisers. Regarding the Department's policy on the role of special advisers in the answering of Freedom of Information requests, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 28 November 2006, Official Report, column 533W.

Departments: Labour Turnover

Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department or its predecessors commissioned (a) the company Talent Drain and (b) another company to examine staff turnover in her Department. [119519]

Angela E. Smith: Neither the Department, nor its predecessor, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, has commissioned any companies to examine turnover of staff.

19 Feb 2007 : Column 491W

Energy Performance Certificates

Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) local authorities with housing stock and (b) housing associations will be compensated under her Department's New Burdens Principle for the requirement by 2009 to pay for energy performance certificates before they can let a domestic property. [103839]

Yvette Cooper: The requirement in the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive to make energy performance certificates available when buildings are constructed, sold or rented out will impact on local authorities and housing associations in the same way as it will on other property owners. The indicative costs and benefits falling upon local authorities and housing associations will form part of the Regulatory Impact Assessment.

Energy-saving Design

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will estimate the percentage of planning consents granted for public buildings in the past 12 months which incorporated design measures for energy-saving and energy-producing; and if she will make a statement. [114559]

Yvette Cooper: Planning application statistics do not record this information and could not do so at a reasonable cost to central or local government.

Central Government Departments are covered by targets for the sustainable management of their estate. New targets, launched in June 2006 by the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (David Miliband), cover both energy efficiency and carbon emissions⁽¹⁾ and will encourage the adoption of sustainable energy technologies in Departments' buildings. The Government's forthcoming response to the Sustainable Procurement Task Force Action Plan will add further impetus in this area.

Energy performance certificates for display purposes will be a requirement for all public buildings by January 2009 at the latest. In addition to the display certificates, all buildings will require an energy performance certificate when built, sold or let by January 2009.

⁽¹⁾ See http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/government/estates/targets.htm for further detail

Engagements

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if the Minister for Local Government will list his official engagements from 26 October 2006 to 25 January 2007. [111718]

Mr. Woolas: The information is as follows.

19 Feb 2007 : Column 492W

19 Feb 2007 : Column 493W

	Date
Visit to Alresford; Southampton; and Winchester	26 October 2006
Meeting with Lambeth council	30 October2006
Meeting with the British Chambers of Commerce	31 October 2006
Meeting with UNISON and the LGA	1 November 2006
Meeting with the Council of Mosques and Imams	6 November 2006
Meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Panel on Neighbourhood Renewal	6 November 2006
Speech at the British Council of Shopping Centres conference	7 November 2006
Meeting with Sheikh Kabbani	8 November 2006
Meeting with Slough council	8 November 2006
Speech to the LGiU Annual Conference	9 November 2006
Commission for Racial Equality Retreat	9 November 2006
Meeting with East Lindsey council	13 November 2006
Speech to the County Council Network Annual Conference	13 November 2006
Meeting with New Zealand's Local Government Minister	14 November 2006
Speech at UK LG Alliance for International Development conference	14 November 2006
Meeting with the British High Commissioner to Pakistan	15 November 2006
Dinner with the Commonwealth Local Government Forum Finance and Membership committee	15 November 2006
Meeting with the Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police	23 November 2006
Speech to the LGA National Housing Conference	27 November 2006
Meeting with chair of John Lewis	27 November 2006
Meeting with the Local Government Association	28 November 2006
Speech to the CIPFA Efficiencies in Asset Management Conference	28 November 2006
Speech to the LEED Directing committee	29 November 2006
Speech to the LAPFF conference	30 November 2006
Speech to the LGC Implementing the Local Government White Paper conference	30 November 2006
Meeting with UNISON	30 November 2006
Meeting with the Social Enterprise Coalition	4 December 2006
Faith Communities Consultative Council (Phil Woolas chairs)	6 December 2006
Visit to the North West	7 December 2006
Visit to West Midlands	11 December 2006
Meeting with Skegness council	12 December 2006
Meeting with UNSION and GMB	12 December 2006
Meeting with Lancashire MPs	12 December 2006
APPG on the Community and Voluntary sector	12 December 2006
Visit to High Wycombe	13 December 2006
Speech to the LGA General Assembly	14 December 2006
Speech to the Academy for Sustainable Communities	14 December 2006
Meeting with representatives from the Alliance and Leicester bank	14 December 2006
Meeting with the British Toilet Association	14 December 2006
Meeting with National Association for Community and Voluntary Action	18 December 2006
Regional MP briefing about Fire Control	18 December 2006
Meeting with Daniel Kawczynski MP	18 December 2006
Speech to the Association of North East Councils	19 December 2006
Meeting with SIGOMA	4 January 2007
Meeting with London Councils	4 January 2007
Meeting with UNISIG	4 January 2007
Meeting with the Society of District Council Treasurers	4 January 2007
Meeting with the County Councils Network	4 January 2007
Meeting with CEOs of London Boroughs	4 January 2007
Meeting with the Bishop of Hulme	8 January 2007
Visit to Thetford	9 January2007
Meeting with SIGOMA MPs executive group	9 January 2007
Meeting with Lord Best	9 January 2007
Meeting with Sue Essex	11 January 2007
Meeting with UNISON and GMB	16 January 2007
Meeting with LGA	17 January 2007
Speech to the NLGN Annual Conference	17 January 2007
Meeting with the LGiU	18 January 2007
RDA Chairs meeting	23 January 2007
Speech to the Muslim Safety Forum	24 January 2007
Meeting with representatives from the Manchester Jewish Museum	24 January 2007

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list her official engagements from 26 October 2006 to 25 January 2007. [111719]

Angela E. Smith: The information is in the following table.

19 Feb 2007 : Column 494W

	Official engagements
30 October 2006	Meeting with NSPCC
30 October 2006	Black History Month Reception
30 October 2006	Speech at Equalities and Diversity Dinner
1 November 2006	Meeting with Shelter
2 November 2006	AMICUS Women and Equalities Conference
7 November 2006	Speech at the NLGN Conference
8 November 2006	Meeting with Justice and Peace Council
8 November 2006	DfES Education and Inspection Bill Party
9 November 2006	The Woman of the Future Awards
13 November 2006	Thames Gateway Tour
14 November 2006	Media—Homelessness Visit
14 November 2006	Speech—Andy Ludlow Awards
14 November 2006	London Council’s Leaders Committee
15 November 2006	Queen’s Speech
20 November 2006	Queen’s Speech Debate
20 November 2006	Asian Who’s Who Annual Dinner
21 November 2006	Speech—Joseph Rowntree Foundation
21 November 2006	Meeting with CABE
22 November 2006	Speech—Thames Gateway Forum
22 November 2006	Stakeholder Event—Community Engagement and Empowerment
27 November 2006	Speech—CRE Race Convention 2006
29 November 2006	Visit to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
5 December 2006	Meeting with Green Stakeholders
5 December 2006	Housing Management Event
5 December 2006	The Guardian Public Service Awards 2006
11 December 2006	Meeting with the Six-O Group
12 December 2006	Visit—Green Event
13 December 2006	Speech—Green Event
13 December 2006	Meeting with the Commission on Integration and Cohesion
9 January 2007	Meeting with CEHR Chair
10 January 2007	Meeting with Martin Cave (Cave Review)
11 January 2007	Meeting with Chair of the LGA
15 January 2007	Meeting with Stonewall Chief Executive
16 January 2007	Meeting with Archbishop Peter Smith and the Assistant General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
17 January 2007	Meeting with TUC General Secretary
17 January 2007	Communities England Launch
19 January 2007	Meeting with the Housing Corporation
19 January 2007	Meeting with Pakistani High Commissioner
19 January 2007	Meeting with Caritas and Assistant General Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
23 January 2007	Meeting with TUC
23 January 2007	Meeting with Chief Executive of BAAF
24 January 2007	Interview with the Guardian
24 January 2007	Meeting with English Partnerships
24 January 2007	Meeting with Chairman of Commission for Rural Communities

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