20 Apr 2007 : Column 785W
Written Answers to Questions
Friday 20 April 2007
Church Commissioners
Church Commissioners: Licensing
Mr. Frank Field:
To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners how many special licences were granted in each year since 1997. [133131]
Sir Stuart Bell:
These figures are not held by the central Church institutions but I understand from the Office for National Statistics that the figures for 1997 to 2004 (the latest year for which figures are available) are as follows:
| Total number of Special Licences in England and Wales |
1997
|
1,952
|
1998
|
1,878
|
1999
|
1,861
|
2000
|
1,877
|
2001
|
1,805
|
2002
|
1,784
|
2003
|
1,966
|
2004
|
2,226
|
Churches: Gift Aid
Robert Key:
To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what assessment he has made of the impact on church income from the gift aid scheme of a reduction in the basic rate of tax following the Budget statement. [132575]
Sir Stuart Bell:
We estimate that the reduction in the basic rate of tax will reduce the income of parishes up and down the country by about £7.7 million.
We do, however, welcome the fact that the Chancellor will consult the charitable sector about measures to increase the take-up of Gift Aid. We also welcome his undertaking to consider in the run-up to the Spending Review what other financial help could be given to churches.
Communities and Local Government
Buildings: Greater London
Mr. Pickles:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to revise planning guidance, regulations or circulars on tall buildings in London. [129193]
20 Apr 2007 : Column 786W
Yvette Cooper:
There is no Government planning guidance, regulations or circulars specifically on tall buildings in London, though the Mayor of London sets out policies on tall buildings in his London Plan. In addition, the Government are currently consulting on draft directions for 11 protected vistas being proposed by the Mayor in his London Views Management Framework.
Council Housing: Colchester
Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people living (a) in Colchester local authority area and (b) outside the Colchester local authority area are on the Colchester housing transfer list; and what the figures were in 1997. [133373]
Yvette Cooper:
Information regarding housing transfers is not held centrally. However, local authorities in England report the numbers of households (not people) on their housing waiting list as at 1 April in their annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix returns. I refer the hon. Member to my reply given today UIN 133374.
Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people living (a) in Colchester local authority area and (b) outside the Colchester local authority area are on the Colchester housing waiting list; and what the figures were in 1997. [133374]
Yvette Cooper:
Local authorities in England report the numbers of households (not people) on their housing waiting list as at 1 April in their annual Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix returns. However, the information is not broken down by whether the household is living within or outside the local authority district.
The number of households on Colchester borough councils housing waiting list, as at 1 April each year, is published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 600. The link for this table is given as follows:
Not everyone on the waiting list is necessarily in urgent housing need. The waiting list includes those who consider social housing as their preferred or one of a number of housing options, and those who decide to get on to the waiting list ladder before they need or want to move houseparticularly where the priority system is heavily based on waiting time.
Council Housing: Property Transfer
Mr. Austin Mitchell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what percentage of those voting in each large scale voluntary transfer ballot voted (a) for and (b) against transfer in each of the last three years. [131052]
Yvette Cooper:
The information requested is as follows.
20 Apr 2007 : Column 787W
20 Apr 2007 : Column 788W
Date tenant ballot closed | LA/scheme | Valid votes cast | Votes in favour | Percentage in favour | Votes against | Percentage against |
1 April 2004
|
Trafford MBC
|
7,024
|
5,121
|
72.91
|
1,903
|
27.09
|
2 April 2004
|
Manchester CC Woodhouse Park(1)
|
2,149
|
1,993
|
92.7
|
156
|
7.3
|
14 April 2004
|
Wirral MBC
|
10,087
|
7,803
|
77.36
|
2,284
|
22.64
|
19 April 2004
|
Wakefield MDC
|
25,487
|
18,767
|
73.6
|
6,720
|
26.4
|
4 May 2004
|
North East Lincolnshire Council
|
6,335
|
4,249
|
67.26
|
2,086
|
32.74
|
17 May 2004
|
RB Kingston
|
3,812
|
1,421
|
37
|
2,391
|
63
|
21 June 2004
|
LB Tower Hamlets Mile End East(1)
|
651
|
364
|
55.9
|
287
|
44.1
|
21 July 2004
|
LB Lambeth Kennington(1)
|
507
|
304
|
60.08
|
203
|
39.92
|
27 July 2004
|
LB Islington SURCO(1)
|
227
|
125
|
55.8
|
102
|
44.2
|
28 July 2004
|
LB Islington Grove(1)
|
103
|
75
|
72.82
|
28
|
27.18
|
2 August 2004
|
LB Tower Hamlets, Tarling East(1)
|
48
|
37
|
77.1
|
11
|
22.92
|
18 October 2004
|
LB Tower HamletsCrossways(1)
|
120
|
108
|
90
|
12
|
10
|
22 November 2004
|
Halton BC
|
4,672
|
3,646
|
78.1
|
1,026
|
21.9
|
8 December 2004
|
Kings Lynn and W Norfolk BC
|
5,686
|
4,350
|
76.5
|
1,336
|
23.5
|
16 December 2004
|
Preston CC
|
3,939
|
3,188
|
81.4
|
751
|
18.61
|
20 December 2004
|
Manchester CC Haughton Green(1)
|
747
|
707
|
94.9
|
40
|
5.1
|
20 December 2004
|
LB Tower Hamlets Leopold and Burdett(1)
|
255
|
161
|
63.4
|
94
|
36.6
|
24 March 2005
|
LB Lambeth Clapham Park (1)
|
1,108
|
654
|
59.3
|
454
|
40.7
|
29 March 2005
|
Stafford BC
|
4,462
|
2,973
|
66.8
|
1,489
|
33.2
|
31 March 2005
|
North Norfolk DC
|
4,387
|
2,804
|
64
|
1,583
|
36
|
1 April 2005
|
Broxbourne BC
|
2,748
|
1,908
|
69.7
|
840
|
30.3
|
4 April 2005
|
North Somerset Council
|
4,992
|
3,800
|
76.5
|
1,192
|
23.5
|
4 April 2005
|
Ellesmere Port and Neston BC
|
4,210
|
2,027
|
48.2
|
2,183
|
51.8
|
8 April 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets Island Homes(1)
|
605
|
391
|
65.5
|
214
|
34.5
|
8 April 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets Island Gardens Isle of Dogs(1)
|
355
|
268
|
76.6
|
87
|
23.4
|
8 April 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets St. Georges(1)
|
161
|
105
|
66.0
|
56
|
34
|
27 April 2005
|
Manchester CCHattersley(1)
|
1,394
|
1,290
|
92.5
|
104
|
7.46
|
27 May 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets Sheltered(1)
|
208
|
124
|
60.2
|
84
|
39.8
|
9 June 2005
|
Hyndburn BC
|
2,562
|
2,027
|
79.2
|
535
|
20.8
|
12 July 2005
|
LB Islington Ringcross(1)
|
141
|
111
|
78.7
|
30
|
21.3
|
19 July 2005
|
Sedgefield BC
|
8,173
|
3,421
|
41.9
|
4,752
|
58.1
|
22 July 2005
|
LB Tower HamletsParkside(1)
|
820
|
413
|
50.4
|
407
|
49.6
|
26 July 2005
|
Teesdale DC
|
831
|
733
|
88.2
|
98
|
11.8
|
17 August 2005
|
Macclesfield BC
|
4,491
|
2,794
|
62.2
|
1,697
|
37.8
|
18 August 2005
|
Sefton Council
|
9,113
|
4,089
|
44.95
|
5,024
|
55.05
|
22 September 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets, Mansford(1)
|
212
|
135
|
64.0
|
77
|
36
|
22 September 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets, Lincoln(1)
|
122
|
52
|
42.6
|
70
|
57.4
|
22 September 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets Chicksand West(1)
|
112
|
88
|
78.6
|
24
|
21.4
|
22 September 2005
|
LB Tower HamletWapping(1)
|
363
|
154
|
42.5
|
209
|
57.5
|
22 September 2005
|
LB Tower HamletsGlamis(1)
|
117
|
81
|
69.2
|
36
|
30.8
|
8 November 2005
|
Rossendale BC
|
2,795
|
2,308
|
82.6
|
487
|
17.4
|
11 November 2005
|
Aylesbury Vale DC
|
6,308
|
4,690
|
74.4
|
1,618
|
25.6
|
11 November 2005
|
Sheffield CC Shiregreen(1)
|
2,304
|
1,979
|
85.9
|
325
|
14.1
|
2 December 2005
|
Manchester CC W Wythenshawe(1)
|
5,065
|
4,480
|
88.7
|
585
|
11.3
|
5 December 2005
|
Derwentside DC
|
5,322
|
4,028
|
75.7
|
1,294
|
24.26
|
9 December 2005
|
Waverley BC
|
4,095
|
1,926
|
47.25
|
2,169
|
52.75
|
12 December 2005
|
West Lancs DC
|
4,683
|
1,984
|
43
|
2,699
|
57
|
13 December 2005
|
Sefton Council
|
7,261
|
5,172
|
71.4
|
2,089
|
28.6
|
19 December 2005
|
LB Lambeth Stockwell Park(1)
|
786
|
621
|
79.1
|
165
|
20.9
|
21 December 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets Longnor Norfolk and Osier(1)
|
175
|
80
|
45.7
|
95
|
54.3
|
21 December 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets Stepney Green and Clichy(1)
|
369
|
138
|
37.4
|
231
|
62.6
|
21 December 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets Exmouth(1)
|
255
|
199
|
78.0
|
56
|
22
|
21 December 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets Cranbrook(1)
|
195
|
55
|
28.2
|
140
|
71.8
|
20 Apr 2007 : Column 789W
20 Apr 2007 : Column 790W
21 December 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets Granby Hereford(1)
|
203
|
74
|
36.5
|
129
|
63.5
|
21 December 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets Barleymow(1)
|
140
|
62
|
44.3
|
78
|
55.7
|
21 December 2005
|
LB Tower Hamlets Lansbury(1)
|
377
|
232
|
61.5
|
145
|
38.5
|
22 February 2006
|
Mid Devon DC
|
3,054
|
744
|
24.4
|
2,310
|
75.6
|
24 February 2006
|
LB Tower Hamlets Holland(1)
|
173
|
128
|
74.0
|
45
|
26
|
10 March 2006
|
Selby DC
|
3,021
|
1,055
|
34.5
|
1,966
|
65.5
|
10 March 2006
|
LB Tower Hamlets Devons(1)
|
326
|
175
|
53.7
|
151
|
46.3
|
10 March 2006
|
LB Tower Hamlets Bow Bridge(1)
|
159
|
114
|
72.2
|
45
|
27.8
|
15 March 2006
|
Pendle BC
|
2,917
|
2,453
|
84.4
|
464
|
15.6
|
27 March 2006
|
Cannock Chase DC
|
4,696
|
2,260
|
48.1
|
2,436
|
51.9
|
28 March 2006
|
North Lincolnshire Council
|
7,960
|
5,012
|
63.0
|
2,948
|
37
|
31 March 2006
|
Waveney DC
|
4,508
|
1,458
|
32.3
|
3,050
|
67.7
|
27 April 2006
|
South Gloucestershire Council
|
6,314
|
4,032
|
64.0
|
2,282
|
36
|
13 July 2006
|
Sheffield CC Loxley Wadsley Wisewood(1)
|
574
|
437
|
76.1
|
137
|
23.9
|
28 July 2006
|
LB Tower Hamlets Collingwood and Horwood(1)
|
451
|
224
|
49.7
|
227
|
50.3
|
8 August 2006
|
Chorley BC
|
2,378
|
1,499
|
63.1
|
879
|
36.9
|
28 September 2006
|
LB Tower Hamlets Boundary(1)
|
256
|
32
|
12.6
|
224
|
87.4
|
28 September 2006
|
LB Tower Hamlets Locksley(1)
|
304
|
105
|
34.5
|
199
|
65.5
|
28 September 2006
|
LB Tower Hamlets Cleveland(1)
|
127
|
53
|
41.7
|
74
|
58.3
|
28 September 2006
|
LB Tower Hamlets Ocean(1)
|
666
|
248
|
37.3
|
418
|
62.7
|
3 November 2006
|
LB Tower Hamlets Dinmont(1)
|
31
|
29
|
93.5
|
2
|
6.5
|
3 November 2006
|
LB Tower Hamlets East India(1)
|
464
|
365
|
78.8
|
99
|
21.2
|
10 November 2006
|
Watford BC
|
3,497
|
1,902
|
54.5
|
1,595
|
45.5
|
13 November 2006
|
South Kesteven DC
|
4,791
|
1,278
|
26.8
|
3,513
|
73.2
|
29 November 2006
|
Salisbury DC
|
4,810
|
1,377
|
28.7
|
3,433
|
71.3
|
1 December 2006
|
Gravesham BC
|
4,903
|
685
|
14
|
4,218
|
86
|
6 December 2006
|
North Shropshire DC
|
1,872
|
1,481
|
79.5
|
391
|
20.5
|
7 December 2006
|
Fenland DC
|
3,257
|
1,747
|
53.9
|
1,510
|
46.1
|
7 December 2006
|
LB Islington Packington(1)
|
319
|
285
|
89.3
|
34
|
10.66
|
13 December 2006
|
LB Lewisham Phoenix(1)
|
2,976
|
2,023
|
68.7
|
953
|
31.3
|
14 December 2006
|
Daventry DC
|
2,638
|
2,025
|
76.8
|
613
|
23.2
|
15 December 2006
|
Castle Morpeth BC
|
1,997
|
1,745
|
87.4
|
252
|
12.6
|
15 December 2006
|
Braintree DC
|
6,910
|
4,304
|
62.3
|
2,606
|
37.7
|
15 December 2006
|
Rochford DC
|
1,491
|
1,234
|
82.8
|
257
|
17.2
|
15 December 2006
|
Wellingborough BC
|
3,500
|
2,616
|
74.7
|
884
|
25.3
|
18 December 2006
|
Taunton Deane BC
|
4,802
|
1,502
|
31.3
|
3,300
|
68.7
|
18 December 2006
|
Sheffield CC Harold Lambert Court(1)
|
536
|
416
|
77.6
|
120
|
22.4
|
18 December 2006
|
LB Sutton Roundshaw(1)
|
364
|
214
|
58.8
|
150
|
41.2
|
18 December 2006
|
Sheffield CC Lower Manor(1)
|
919
|
808
|
87.9
|
111
|
12.1
|
18 December 2006
|
Sheffield CC Wybourn(1)
|
736
|
541
|
73.5
|
195
|
26.5
|
21 December 2006
|
Tower Hamlets Alfred and Malmesbury(1)
|
338
|
167
|
49.4
|
171
|
50.6
|
2 February 2007
|
Sheffield CC Hyde Park Walk and Terrace(1)
|
135
|
101
|
74.8
|
34
|
25.2
|
2 February 2007
|
Sheffield CC Richmond Park, Birklands and Athelstan(1)
|
428
|
304
|
71.0
|
124
|
29
|
20 February 2007
|
Brighton and Hove CC
|
8,744
|
2,014
|
23
|
6,730
|
77
|
5 March 2007
|
Manchester CC South(1)
|
4,943
|
2,904
|
58.9
|
2,039
|
41.1
|
15 March 2007
|
Chester Le Street DC
|
3,712
|
2,251
|
60.6
|
1,461
|
39.4
|
16 March 2007
|
Wansbeck DC
|
4,299
|
3,648
|
84.9
|
651
|
15.1
|
21 March 2007
|
Harborough DC
|
1,800
|
1,375
|
76.4
|
425
|
23.6
|
26 March 2007
|
Mole Valley DC
|
3,011
|
2,587
|
85.9
|
424
|
14.1
|
30 March 2007
|
Torridge DC
|
1,551
|
1,304
|
84.1
|
247
|
15.9
|
30 March 2007
|
Liverpool CC Remainder of stock(1)
|
11,100
|
8,653
|
78.0
|
2,447
|
22
|
10 April 2007
|
Bracknell Forest BC
|
4,560
|
3,453
|
75.7
|
1,107
|
24.3
|
(1) Denotes partial area.
|