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14 Jan 2008 : Column 926W—continued
Parish Councils: Public Participation
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will bring forward proposals to discourage parish council referenda being held on issues of national interest. [177210]
John Healey: Parish polls may be held on any question arising at a parish meeting, which is a forum for the discussion of parish affairs. We are looking at whether these polls are being used appropriately.
Planning: Energy
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what her Department’s definition is of local energy generation in relation to planning policy; [172876]
(2) what assessment her Department has made of the effect on the take-up of (a) photovoltaics, (b) solar hot water and (c) micro wind technologies of the decision to include offsite and local generation in the definition of the Merton planning rule. [172877]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 10 December 2007]: On 17 December 2007, the Government published a new planning policy statement (PPS) on climate change. The PPS sets out for planning authorities the circumstances where renewable and low carbon technologies, including micro-renewables, should be used to supply new development in their area.
The PPS includes a definition of decentralised energy supply, which makes it clear that this means energy supply from local renewable and low carbon sources (i.e. on-site and near site, but not remote off site) usually on a small scale.
Planning: Renewable Energy
Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government under what circumstances the proposed off-site rule under the new Planning Policy Statement on Climate Change for the provision of locally stipulated contributions from renewable energy would apply to new developments. [165246]
Yvette Cooper
[holding answer 19 November 2007] : On 17 December 2007, the Government published a new planning policy statement (PPS) on climate change. The PPS sets out for planning authorities the
circumstances where renewable and low carbon technologies, including micro-renewables, should be used to supply new development in their area.
The PPS includes a definition of decentralised energy supply, which makes it clear that this means energy supply from local renewable and low carbon sources (i.e. on-site and near site, but not remote off site) usually on a small scale.
Property: Databases
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the unique property reference number generated by the Register Operator for inclusion in an energy performance certificate is the same unique property reference number used for a property in the National Land and Property Gazetteer. [176752]
Yvette Cooper: The National Land and Property Gazetteer have their own unique reference property numbers, which are not the same as those generated by the Register.
Recycling: Greater London
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the Waste and Recycling Board in London; and what involvement the Mayor of London will have with the Board. [176205]
Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
The role of the London Waste and Recycling Board is set out in the Greater London Authority Act 2007. Broadly speaking, it will help deliver an increase in the environmental sustainability of waste management in London. To this end, it will manage the London Waste and Recycling Fund and may provide advice to such persons as it sees fit. It will also have to act in accordance with the Mayor’s municipal waste management strategy.
The details of the constitution and administration of the Board are currently being considered and an Order setting this out will be laid in the House as soon as possible. It is disappointing that the Mayor has announced his intention not to sit on the Board or contribute to the Fund. However, the Government will continue to seek ways of working together to ensure that the efforts of the Board and the Mayor to improve waste infrastructure in London are mutually reinforcing.
Thames Gateway: Internet
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Thames Gateway news web page was last updated; and what alterations have been made to this web page since 12 July. [165127]
Yvette Cooper [holding answer 20 November 2007]: The Communities and Local Government Thames Gateway website at:
has been regularly updated since 12 July 2007. Additionally, following the Prime Minister's speech and the launch of the delivery plan at the Thames Gateway forum on 28 November 2007, the Thames Gateway executive made significant updates to the site to reflect this announcement.
In addition, Communities and Local Government contributes to the site
which is managed by Thames Gateway South Essex Partnership web developers (Pixelwork) on behalf of all Thames Gateway strategic partners. That site was re-launched at the Thames Gateway forum and will now complement the new Thames Gateway marketing and communications strategy.
Travelling People: Caravan Sites
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the provision of sites for Travellers and Gypsies in Hertfordshire. [178337]
Mr. Iain Wright: The Government recognise the need to address the on-going shortfall in permanent and transit sites for Gypsies and Travellers. All local authorities are now required to assess the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers in their area. The results of these assessments will inform regional spatial strategies, which will set out the number of pitches to be provided in each local planning authority area.
The July 2007 caravan count found a total of 442 caravans in Hertfordshire, 305 of which are on local authority or registered social landlord sites. A further 120 are located on private sites.
The East of England regional assembly are preparing an alteration to the regional spatial strategy for the East of England, which we understand is due to be approved by the assembly on 25 January 2008. This alteration will determine how many pitches will be required for Gypsies and Travellers in the region. The current draft suggests the need for 1,187 pitches by 2011, 176 of which are in Hertfordshire. These figures will be tested at the examination in public under an independent panel before being finalised by the Secretary of State.
Valuation Office: Press Releases
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many press releases the Valuation Office Agency issued in 2006-07. [176391]
Jane Kennedy: I have been asked to reply.
Between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2007, the Valuation Office Agency issued eight press releases.
Written Questions
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will reply to question 165127, on the Thames Gateway web page tabled by the hon. Member for Thurrock on 13 November 2007. [174343]
Yvette Cooper: I have now replied to my hon. Friend’s question.
Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will provide a substantive answer to Question 174390, on eco-towns, tabled by the hon. Member for Mid Worcestershire on 11 December 2007 for named day answer on 18 December 2007. [178437]
Yvette Cooper: I have now replied to the hon. Member’s question.
Justice
Aviation
Chris Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many air miles were travelled by Ministers in his Department in each year since its establishment; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result; [172235]
(2) how many miles he and other Ministers in his Department travelled on short haul flights in the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions produced as a result of these flights. [172569]
Maria Eagle: Since 1999 the Government have published a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007. Details for the current financial year will be published as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. From next year, the list will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the “Ministerial Code”.
All central Government ministerial and official air travel has been offset from 1 April 2006. Departmental aviation emissions are calculated on an annual basis and subsequently offset through payments to a central fund. The fund purchases certified emissions reductions credits from energy efficiency and renewable energy projects with sustainable development benefits, located in developing countries.
A list of Government Carbon Offsetting Fund members, their emission figures and what activities they have offset through the fund is available online at:
Chorley Magistrates Court
Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what effect staff training on a new computer system is likely to have on the availability of courts at Chorley magistrates court. [177072]
Maria Eagle:
South-West Lancashire magistrates courts will be migrating to a new IT system (called Libra) on 9 May 2008. This migration is part of a national roll-out programme to bring a new, improved and consistent IT package to all magistrates courts in the country. An integral element of the implementation
will be the training of staff to operate the new system efficiently. To reduce the impact of staff absences, and keep disruption to court users to a minimum, staff training will take place on site at Chorley magistrates court.
To facilitate this, one courtroom at Chorley magistrates court will be closed for six weeks. The work that would ordinarily be accommodated in this court will be allocated to neighbouring courthouses, namely Leyland and Ormskirk (primarily to Leyland). This arrangement will be monitored to ensure it is operating effectively, and to minimise any impact on court services.
Timely roll-out of Libra is particularly important for the Lancashire magistrates courts, as their existing IT systems are coming to the end of their working life, and are becoming increasingly unreliable. Were the existing IT to fail, it is unlikely that the position could be recovered, and court data would be corrupted and/or lost.
Coroners: Diana Princess of Wales
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the total likely costs of the inquests into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales; how such costs will be met; and if he will make a statement. [176978]
Bridget Prentice: The costs of the inquests into Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed up to 30 November 2007 were posted on the inquests website
Costs up until 2006-07 were met by the relevant funding authorities. Costs since then have been met by central Government. Further estimated costs will be published in the spring parliamentary supply estimates in February.
Courts: Drugs
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish the independent evaluation of the pilots of dedicated drug courts at Leeds and West London; and if he will make a statement. [178185]
Maria Eagle: The independent evaluation of the pilots at Leeds and West London is currently being completed. It is intended that, once quality assurance processes are satisfactorily completed, the report will be published.
Courts: Interpreters
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many Lithuanian interpreters were used by the courts in the Greater London area in the last year for which figures are available. [178184]
Maria Eagle: From April 2007 to date, no Lithuanian interpreters have been booked for civil and family cases in the Greater London area. Information on interpreters used in criminal proceedings is not centrally collected and could be provided only at disproportionate cost through the manual searching of individual court files. The routine collection of data relating to interpreters and translation services at court is being considered by Her Majesty’s Courts Service as part of wider work on interpreting and translation in the criminal justice system, being led by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many foreign language interpreters were used in the courts in the Greater London area in the most recent year for which figures are available. [178186]
Maria Eagle: From April 2007 to date, the number of foreign language interpreters used in civil and family cases in the Greater London area is 171. Information on interpreters used in criminal proceedings is not centrally collected and could be provided only at disproportionate cost through the manual searching of individual court files. The routine collection of data relating to interpreters and translation services at court is being considered by Her Majesty’s Courts Service as part of wider work on interpreting and translation in the criminal justice system, being led by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.
Courts: Northern Ireland
Mr. Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what difficulties have been experienced on access to courts in Northern Ireland in the last year; and what improvement works are scheduled for each of the courts used by the Court Service in Northern Ireland during 2008. [177869]
Mr. Hanson: Relatively few access issues were recorded during the past 12 months. The following table summarises those of which the Northern Ireland Court Service is aware.
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