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18 Feb 2008 : Column 47W—continued
Multiple Occupation: Fines
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fines have been levied against landlords for breaches of licence provisions for houses in multiple occupation in the last 12 months; and what the value of all such fines was. [184183]
Mr. Iain Wright: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold this information. The Ministry of Justice collects data on fines levied against landlords who fail to comply with the Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing provisions under the Housing Act 2004. Data for 2007 will be available in autumn 2008.
Multiple Occupation: Licensing
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what feedback she has received from enforcement authorities on the implementation of the National Licensing Scheme for Houses in Multiple Occupation. [182458]
Mr. Iain Wright [holding answer 28 January 2008]: The Department is satisfied, through its discussions with the Local Authorities Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS), who co-ordinate and report on local authority implementation, that local authorities are making progress in implementing the mandatory HMO licensing provisions. For example, a recent survey conducted by LACORs concluded that 86 per cent. of councils were already using a range of tools to identify HMOs being operated illegally without a licence.
New Local Government Network
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments her Department and its predecessor made to the New Local Government Network since 2002. [182559]
John Healey: Our records show 10 payments have been made to the New Local Government Network by this Department or its predecessor since 2002. Total payments amounted to £33,152.70 and were in respect of small items of research, consultation events and attendance of officials at a conference organised by New Local Government Network.
Non-Profit Making Associations
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many contracts her Department has with social enterprises; and what the value of each of those contracts is. [186652]
Mr. Dhanda: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government (John Healey) on 17 July 2007, O fficial Report, column 216W. Since that reply and in September 2007, a mechanism was implemented, enabling new departmental vendors to be identified as social enterprises. To date no new departmental vendors have been identified as social enterprises and consequently no new contracts can be identified.
Non-Profit Making Organisations
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her Department’s (a) procurement and (b) tendering policy is in respect of social enterprises. [186651]
Mr. Dhanda: The Department’s procurement policy and therefore guidance encourages the use of social enterprises.
The Department encourages the use of internet based websites (procurement portals) to ensure equality of opportunity to social enterprises and other similar groups.
The Department recognises the costs associated with tendering and how these can impact negatively on the capability of certain groups to participate equally in tendering.
By adopting the use of procurement portals, Government Departments are consolidating where procurement opportunities are advertised, so reducing suppliers costs associated with locating such opportunities, and therefore promoting the potential use of social enterprises and other similar groups.
Political Impartiality
Mr. Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what purpose her Department records the political opinions of (a) staff and (b) the public. [179319]
Mr. Dhanda: Civil servants in Communities and Local Government are required to act in accordance with the requirements of the “Civil Service Code”, and section 4.4 of the “Civil Service Management Code”.
Members of the public who apply for public appointments within the jurisdiction of the Commissioner for Public Appointments are asked to complete a declaration on political activity.
Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder Fund: Finance
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to increase levels of funding for the Preventing Violent Extremism Pathfinder Fund over the next three years. [174758]
Mr. Dhanda: On 31 October 2007, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced £45 million in funding for local partnerships' work to prevent violent extremism.
Property Information Systems Common Exchange Standard
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the annual cost is of her Department's membership of the Property Information Systems Common Exchange Standard; and for what purpose it is a member. [183213]
Mr. Dhanda: The cost to the Department for membership, in 2008, of the Property Information Systems Common Exchange Standard (PISCES) is £11,750. PISCES is an industry group that sets voluntary standards for exchange of data relating to the property industry. PISCES has been involved in developing the standards relating to the technical data requirements for the Home Condition Report and Energy Performance Certificate Register.
Property: Databases
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which organisation is the custodian of Valuebill schemes; and whether she has plans to review the arrangement. [183252]
John Healey: Lead responsibility for Valuebill now rests with London Connects and the Valuation Office Agency. The Government have no plans to review the scheme.
Public Bodies: Internet
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2007, Official Report, column 1342W, on public bodies: internet, what each XML schema in use by her Department is. [183025]
Mr. Dhanda: We do not have a comprehensive, central record of XML schemas within the Department. However, CLG HQ has implemented a number of XML schemas to support direct, system to system interchange of data in connection with the following CLG policy areas:
Fire and Resilience: collection of fire incident records.
Housing: National Register of Social Housing; Register of Licensed Houses in Multiple Occupation; Electronic Survey of Empty Housing; and tenancy deposit schemes.
Planning: planning applications; and land use monitoring returns.
Quarrying: Public Participation
Mr. Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many public inquiries concerning mineral extraction plans there have been in the last five years. [185234]
Mr. Iain Wright: Eight Local Plan Minerals Inquiries have taken place under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) since February 2003.
Nine Minerals Development Plan Documents (DPDs) have been submitted for Examination under the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Examinations have been completed on two of these DPDs.
Regional Government: Public Participation
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2007, Official Report, column 943W, on regional government: public participation, which (a) stakeholder events, (b) local projects and (c) other organisations the Minister for the west midlands has visited in his capacity as regional minister. [181701]
Mr. Dhanda: The regional Minister has undertaken the following stakeholder events, local projects and other engagements pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2007 on regional government:
a meeting in Ludlow with council officials;
a speech to regional stakeholders on the Ministers priorities;
meetings with DfT officials with Birmingham City Council on the New Street station development project;
a visit to Hams Hall BMW plant to discuss the link with skills and economic development;
a visit to Bromyard in Hereford to meet local businesses and council officials on business support and rural issues;
a visit to the Eastside development in Birmingham with the chief executive of Advantage;
a joint stakeholder event with James Purnell MP, then Secretary of State for Culture media and Sport, on the reputation of the region;
a key note speech to the Advantage West Midlands annual conference;
visit to Telford and Wrekin to discuss their strategic approach to jobs and housing and the potential economic effects of land instability at Ironbridge Gorge;
a visit to Stoke-on-Trent to meet the North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership, a business working closely with Keele university and to announce a £4.3 million funding package start to the creation of a £250 million university quarter in Stoke-on-Trent and to discuss progress at Stoke city council on key areas;
a meeting with CBI members;
a meeting with the vice-chancellors of higher education institutes from across the region to discuss the transfer of science into wealth and the development of the region as a top student destination;
the launch of the region's manufacturing support strategy;
the keynote address to the West Midlands Regional Assembly Conference; and
a meeting with leaders and chief executives of shire councils to discuss the progress of the sub-national review.
Regional Ministers
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will list each of the representations made by regional Ministers to other Departments relating to issues within the region for which they have responsibility; and if she will place copies of such representations in the Library. [184336]
Mr. Dhanda: Information relating to internal discussion and advice is not disclosed in order to protect its frankness and candour. This is in accord with Section 35 of the Freedom of Information Act exempting communications between Ministers and is aimed at protecting the government policy-making process.
Regional Ministers: Official Engagements
Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what engagements the Minister for (a) the north-east, (b) the north-west, (c) Yorkshire and the Humber, (d) London, (e) the south-east, (f) the south-west, (g) the east midlands, (h) the west midlands and (i) the east of England plan to attend in their capacity as regional ministers in 2008. [181654]
Mr. Dhanda: Ministerial diaries have not yet been finalised and engagements are subject to parliamentary business. All regional Ministers have meetings and events planned with business leaders, local authorities, ministerial colleagues and other key stakeholders.
Regional Planning and Development: East Midlands
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2008, Official Report, columns 1168-69W, on regional planning and development: East Midlands, to the hon. Member for Leicester South, if she will state which hon. and right hon. Members made formal submissions to the consultations on regional spatial strategies other than that relating to the East Midlands. [178621]
Mr. Dhanda: The hon. and right hon. Members who have made formal submissions on consultations on regional spatial strategies by region, with the exception of the East Midlands are listed as follows:
The hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Jim Cousins), the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith), the hon. Member for Tyne Bridge (Mr. Clelland), the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Helen Goodman), the hon. Member for Hexham (Mr. Atkinson) and the hon. Member for City of Durham (Dr. Blackman-Woods) made formal submissions.
No hon. or right hon. Members have made formal submissions.
The hon. Member for City of York (Hugh Bayley) made a formal submission.
The hon. Member for West Bromwich, West (Adrian Bailey), the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Lynda Waltho), the hon. Member for Dudley, North (Mr. Austin) and the hon. Member for Dudley, South (Ian Pearson) made formal submissions.
The draft Phase 2 West Midlands RSS is currently out for consultation until the 18 March 2008.
Has not yet reached its first consultation stage.
The hon. Member for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous), the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley), the hon. Member for Thurrock (Andrew Mackinlay), the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Prisk) and the hon. Member for Broxbourne (Mr. Walker) made formal submissions.
The right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) made a formal submission.
The hon. Member for St. Ives (Andrew George), the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Dan Rogerson), the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole (Annette Brooke), the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope), the hon. Member for Bournemouth East (Mr. Ellwood), the hon. Member for Bristol, East (Kerry McCarthy), the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare (John Penrose), the right hon. Member for Bristol, South (Dawn Primarolo), the hon. Member for North Dorset (Mr. Walter) and the hon. Member for Tewkesbury (Mr. Robertson) made formal submissions.
Regional Planning and Development: South West
Mr. Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued to (a) local planning authorities in Gloucestershire and (b) planning appeals inspectorates determining large-scale housing planning applications before the Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West is finalised; and if she will make a statement. [185842]
Mr. Iain Wright: No guidance has been issued to local planning authorities in Gloucestershire or to the Planning Inspectorate on how they should determine housing applications before the Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West is finalised, above that contained in PPS3, paragraph 68 which states
“Local Planning Authorities should take into consideration the policies set out in Regional Spatial Strategies and Development Plan Documents, as the Development Plan, as well as other material considerations. When making planning decisions for housing developments after 1st April 2007, Local Planning Authorities should have regard to the policies in this statement as material considerations which may supersede the policies in existing Development Plans”.
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