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6 Feb 2008 : Column 1202W—continued
Regional Development Agencies: Planning
Mr. Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2008, Official Report, column 1216W, on Regional Development Agencies: Planning, what powers regional development agencies will have with regard to income from section 106 planning obligations following the implementation of single integrated regional strategies. [182273]
Mr. Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
Planning obligations (under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) can be entered into by local planning authorities (LPAs) and those with an interest in the land (‘developers’). Regional planning bodies do not currently have any powers to secure planning obligations and we are not proposing to give such powers to regional development agencies (RDAs).
Developer contributions raised through planning obligations are often passed by LPAs to infrastructure providers. RDAs can also fund infrastructure in certain circumstances, and could do so using monies raised through planning obligations where an LPA had passed the money on to them for that purpose.
Renewable Energy: Planning Permission
Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will consider the merits of introducing pre-judging planning decisions for potential renewable energy sites. [184409]
Malcolm Wicks: Pre-judging planning decisions for potential renewable energy sites is not part of the proposals set out in the current Planning Bill.
The Government's Planning White Paper underlined our intentions to work with local planning authorities and the industry to ensure that high quality renewable energy schemes are prepared following engagement with local communities. The new planning policies on climate change published recently by Communities and Local Government underline that planning authorities should not require applicants to demonstrate either the overall need for renewable energy, nor question the energy justification for why a proposal for renewable energy must be sited in a particular location.
Tidal Power: Electricity
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the potential contribution to the national grid of electricity generated by tidal power over the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 50 years. [178649]
Malcolm Wicks [holding answer 5 February 2008]: There are various tidal power technologies which divide into two main types: tidal stream and tidal range (barrages and lagoons). The Sustainable Development Commission’s report “Tidal Power in the UK” of October 2007, estimated that tidal power resource has the potential to provide 10 per cent. of the UK’s electricity resource.
According to the SDC report, the top 10 tidal stream sites in the UK have a potential practical resource of 17.5 TWh/year. However, tidal stream technologies are at a very early stage of development and only a few commercial prototypes are in existence. Ernst and Young, in their study for the Renewables Obligation Consultation, www.berr.gov.uk/files/file39038.pdf suggested the maximum likely potential as 0.5 TWh in 2015 and 1.4 TWh in 2020.
For tidal range, the SDC’s report estimates the total practical resource as around 18.8 TWh/year, of which the Severn estuary accounts for 17 TWh/year and the Mersey 1.4 TWh/year, though estimates of total theoretical resource vary from 50-94 TWh/year. There are currently no tidal range technologies deployed in the UK, even for testing, though there are a few tidal barrages operating around the world (e.g. La Rance in Northern France) and similar technology has been used for hydroelectric dams.
More detail on the variation throughout the UK of tidal range and tidal flow can be found in the Atlas of UK Marine Renewable Energy Resources which can be found at:
On 22 January, the Government launched a two-year Severn Tidal Power Feasibility Study to assess the options for tidal power in the estuary. For more details see:
Duchy of Lancaster
Media Advisers
8. David Tredinnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many communications, press and marketing staff were employed in the civil service in (a) 1996-97 and (b) 2006-07. [184607]
Edward Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous).
Civil Service Diversity
9. Tim Farron: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to increase diversity in the civil service. [184608]
Mr. Watson: The 10-Point-Plan on Delivering a Diverse Civil Service outlines how we plan to increase the diversity of the civil service at all levels. Copies of this plan have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Social Exclusion
10. Dr. Stoate: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the public service agreement for social exclusion. [184609]
Phil Hope: The Public Service Agreement for socially excluded adults sets out the Government's aspiration that everyone should have the chance to have a home and a job.
This PSA gives a new priority to ensuring that care leavers, adults offenders, adults with mental health problems and adults with learning difficulties can participate fully in society and lead productive and stable lives. The effectiveness of the PSA will be monitored through annual public reporting by both central and local government.
11. Mrs. Dean: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to address social exclusion of adults with autism. [184610]
Phil Hope: The delivery plan for the socially excluded adults public service agreement highlights the importance for learning disability and social care services to consider the needs of those with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This builds on existing Government policy for this group, as set out most recently by the Department of Health in the publication “Better services for people with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder”. We will also learn lessons from the MCCH Autism pilot project, which has a special focus on improving access to services for adults with Autism and Asperger's syndrome.
Family Intervention
12. Chris Mole: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the contribution of family intervention projects to social inclusion. [184611]
Phil Hope: Family intervention projects, such as the one in the hon. Member’s own constituency, are one of a number of effective interventions that work with socially excluded families. Evaluations of similar intensive family approaches are positive and demonstrate sustained positive change for seven out of 10 families—with improvements in physical and mental health, greater housing stability, reduction in the likelihood of family breakdown, safer communities, and improved educational attainment.
14. Mr. Illsley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the Family-Nurse Partnership’s programme’s contribution to social inclusion. [184613]
Phil Hope: The Family Nurse Partnership is based on a US programme that has shown impressive impacts on a range of outcomes that contribute to social inclusion. These include safer home environments and improved maternal health—and, in the long-term, lower offending rates for children and increased workforce participation for parents.
FNP offers structured and intensive home visiting to disadvantaged first time mothers from early pregnancy until the child is two. Barnsley is one of the pioneering pilot sites. £30 million of additional funding has been announced to expand the programme to 90 sites by March 2010 and to undertake a rigorous evaluation of impacts.
Third Sector
13. Jim Dobbin: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the role of third sector organisations in campaigning for social change; and if he will make a statement. [184612]
Edward Miliband: Third sector organisations play an essential role in campaigning for change in laws and attitudes. Whether it is large charities that have campaigned for change around issues from disability to child protection or small charities that wish to speak out on local issues, their work plays an important role in speaking up for those who would otherwise not have their voice properly heard.
Data Protection
Mr. Bone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Cabinet Office in providing information assurance across government. [184909]
Mr. Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for North-West Cambridgeshire (Mr. Vara).
Departmental Manpower
Mr. Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for what reason the number of communication and press staff listed in the Central Office of Information's White Book differs from those given in the Answer of 12 September 2007, Official Report, column 2056W, on departmental manpower. [181305]
Edward Miliband: The names of nine press officers were submitted to be included in the White Book in early August 2007.
Following publication in September 2007 there were staff moves leaving vacancies which meant that on the 12 September 2007 there were six press officers working in the Cabinet Office press office.
Departmental Responsibilities: Disadvantaged
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Ministers have been responsible for social exclusion policy since 1997, broken down by Department. [184816]
Phil Hope [holding answer 5 February 2008]: The Cabinet Office publication “List of Ministerial Responsibilities” sets out ministerial responsibilities by Departments. Copies of the current “List of Ministerial Responsibilities” and previous editions are available for reference in the Libraries of the House.
Disadvantaged: Elderly
Greg Mulholland: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what work the Social Exclusion Taskforce has carried out into tackling social exclusion among older people; and what further work it has planned on this issue. [184813]
Phil Hope [holding answer 5 February 2008]: The Social Exclusion Task Force (SETF) is currently funding a research project to analyse social exclusion amongst all age groups, including looking at the factors influencing social exclusion among older people. The remainder of the SETF’s forward work programme is focused on families and working age adults.
The former Social Exclusion Unit published a report entitled “A Sure Start to Later Life: Ending Inequalities for Older People” in January 2006. This set out 30 cross-government actions to tackle social exclusion among older people. Additionally, DWP’s Later Life PSA sets targets to tackle poverty and promote greater independence and well-being among older people.
Respect Task Force
Robert Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what date the Respect Unit was closed; for what reasons it was closed; and whether its staff are being made redundant. [184655]
Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
The Respect Taskforce has not closed.
Following the Machinery of Government changes announced last year the Respect Taskforce was transferred to the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
The Respect Task Force was set up in September 2005 to oversee the delivery of the Respect Programme. Most of the commitments in the Government’s Respect Action Plan have been met or are in train and have been mainstreamed into programmes across Government and in local service delivery. This has enabled the work of the Respect Task Force to develop its remit to include, alongside tackling antisocial behaviour, a focus on delivering positive outcomes for young people—including steps to prevent them getting into trouble and encouraging them to have respect for their community. To reflect this change, on 5 October 2007 the Government announced the creation of Youth Taskforce and this includes the former Respect Taskforce.
The Youth Taskforce will build on the success of the Respect programme and will continue to support the local delivery of Government policy on antisocial behaviour, as well as positive outcomes for young people.
Civil servants who worked in the Respect Task Force either remain working within the Department of Children, Schools and Families as part of the Youth Taskforce or are on secondment to other Government Departments.
Home Department
Antisocial Behaviour Orders
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have received (a) one, (b) two, (c) three and (d) more than three anti-social behaviour orders since they were established. [184789]
Mr. Coaker: These data are not held centrally.
Asylum
Jenny Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average length of time has been for a decision to be made on asylum cases under the Legacy Casework programme whose questionnaires have been completed and returned; and if she will make a statement. [179099]
Mr. Byrne: The requested information is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost through the examination of individual cases.
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many grants of discretionary leave to remain in the UK in cases where return would breach Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights have been made in (a) asylum cases and (b) non-asylum cases in each year since the inception of discretionary leave. [179814]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 17 January 2008]: Grants of discretionary leave (DL) to persons who have claimed asylum are recorded on individual files. Information is collated on the total number of grants of DL and the number of grants of DL made at initial decision on applications by unaccompanied asylum-seeking children aged 17 and under at the time of decision. Information is not collated about the reason for granting DL. Information about grants of DL for the purpose of article 8 of ECHR can be obtained by examination of individual records only at disproportionate cost.
Grants of non-asylum discretionary leave (DL) are included within the overall totals of grants of leave to remain (Command Paper “Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2006” (table 4.1 pages 54-59 refer) but are not identified separately within the tables. This publication may be obtained from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
Separating article 8 DL grants from these could be obtained by examination of individual records only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases where asylum seekers have been pursued for failing to report to a reporting centre there have been administrative errors in notification of the appropriate centre, in the latest period for which figures are available. [180114]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 22 January 2008]: The requested information is not collated centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost by examination of individual records.
Mr. Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the reply of 16 January 2008, Official Report, column 1297W, on asylum, which countries are included in the category Europe other in the breakdown by nationality of the grant of indefinite leave to remain under the 2003 family ILR exercise; and if she will break down by nationality the number in the (a) Europe other and (b) EU accession states categories. [181904]
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