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12 May 2008 : Column 1397W—continued
Mr. Iain Wright: Measures of inflation used in calculations affecting the Government's sponsored shared ownership and shared equity schemes relate to rent and equity loan charges.
Rent paid under the Government’s New Build HomeBuy shared ownership scheme is capped at 3 per cent. of the value of the un-owned equity in the first year, with a target of 2.75 per cent. From the second year, the rent can increase by the Retail Price Index plus 0.5 per cent. This charging arrangement is set out in the shared ownership lease.
The Government’s new shared equity Open Market HomeBuy scheme enables purchasers to buy a property with the help of an equity loan. The loan is required to be repaid on resale of the property or earlier, if the purchaser wishes. The amount which is repaid is based on the market value of the property at the date of repayment or sale. The charges on the equity loan vary depending on which one of two products is chosen by purchasers.
Housing: Planning Permission
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons additional restrictions on extended permitted development rights for households (a) apply in conservation areas and (b) do not apply in (i) areas of outstanding natural beauty and (ii) national parks. [202591]
Mr. Iain Wright: Additional restrictions on householder permitted development rights generally apply equally to conservation areas, areas of outstanding natural beauty and national parks.
On 6 April 2008 the Government introduced changes that allow for certain types of small-scale renewable energy to be installed by householders without the need to apply for planning permission. On balance, and given the desire to encourage the take-up of microgeneration, it was decided that a more restrictive approach should apply to conservation areas, but not to national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty. We believe that development of the scale permitted will not have an adverse impact on national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty which are protected because of the beauty of the natural landscape.
Local Government and Regeneration Division
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 3 April 2008, Official Report, column 1266W, on the local government and regeneration division, if she will list each of the smaller boards, working groups and committees within the division referred to in her answer. [202470]
Mr. Dhanda: Local Government and Regeneration Group co-ordinates the following smaller boards, working groups and committees. The number, remit, and membership of such smaller boards and working groups changes depending on the group's business at any one time.
Settlement Working Group
Capital Programme Working Party
Central Local Information Partnership
Local Government Pension Scheme Policy Review Group
Firefighters' Pension Scheme 111 Health Review Group
Firefighters' Pensions Committee
Assessment, Inspection and Review Project Board
Innovation, Capacity and Efficiency Project Board
Outcomes, Indicators and Targets Project Board
Governance and Partnerships Project Board
Local Area Agreements/Multi-Area Agreements Project Board
Digital Inclusion Team Project Board
Data Interchange Hub Project Board
Cleaner Safer Greener Communities Sounding Board
Green Flag Advisory Board
Regeneration Framework Steering Group
Regeneration Framework Working Group
Officials Group on the Regeneration of East Manchester
Worklessness Joint Board
Business Engagement Network
Local Authority Restructuring Project Board
Community Empowerment Project Board.
Mobile Homes
Mr. Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of (a) park homes and (b) caravans intended as holiday and temporary accommodation which are registered with local authorities. [204193]
Mr. Iain Wright: No park homes or caravans are required to be registered with local authorities. Caravan sites (including park home sites) are required to have a site licence issued by the local authority under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960.
We estimate there are approximately 84,000 park homes on 1,950 sites in England intended for residential use. The industry estimates there are 240,000 caravans on 3,000 sites in England intended as holiday accommodation. No estimate has been made of the number of caravans intended as temporary accommodation.
Planning Permission: Fees and Charges
Mrs. Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the application of the de minimis principle, in relation to the Community Infrastructure Levy, will be in terms of number of buildings or value of buildings; and if she will make a statement. [204949]
Mr. Iain Wright: In its publication of 24 January 2008 on the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), the Government announced that there would be a de minimis threshold below which development would not be liable to pay CIL. This would include householder development by homeowners and could, subject to consultation, include some development deemed to have been granted permission under the General Permitted Development Order.
The Government have announced that it will take a criteria-based approach towards considering whether there should be any exemptions from CIL, and the details of how CIL will operate will be set out in secondary legislation, which will be subject to full consultation. Further announcements on CIL will be made in due course.
Planning: Floods
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment her Department has made of planning regulations in the light of the floods in summer 2007. [204343]
Mr. Iain Wright: Sir Michael Pitt’s interim conclusion from his inquiry into the lessons learned from the floods last summer, is that the new policy in Planning Policy Statement 25 Development and Flood Risk (PPS25), is sound but should be rigorously applied by local authorities. Work on achieving this is already well in hand. The Practice Guide to PPS25, which will provide practical advice to local authorities on implementing the policy, is due to be published shortly.
We have decided to amend the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development Order) 1995, so that in future, householders will only be able to pave over their front gardens without planning permission, if the surface provided would be permeable. We are taking this step because surface water run-off was a significant contributory factor to last summer’s floods. We anticipate this amendment coming into force in October.
Regional Equality and Diversity Partnerships
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the name and address of each regional equality and diversity partnership is; and how much funding is allocated to each for 2008-09. [203056]
Mr. Dhanda: The Government do not require the creation of regional equality and diversity partnerships. However, such partnerships have been formed in a number of regions and are funded by a variety of organisations, both public (including regional development agencies, regional assemblies, local authorities and the Big Lottery Fund) and private (including business, trade associations and trade unions).
Identifying and disaggregating each public and private organisation’s contribution to their activity could be done only at disproportionate cost.
The names and addresses of those partnerships for which we have contact details are:
Repossession Orders: Hampshire
Mr. Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent reports she has received on strategies to manage housing repossessions in each housing authority in Hampshire; and if she will make a statement. [202929]
Mr. Iain Wright: Under the Homelessness Act 2002, local authorities were required by July 2003 to publish a strategy for tackling and preventing homelessness and ensuring that accommodation and support is available to people in their district who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This must be reviewed and published every five years and as such all authorities must have completed a review by July 2008.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Detainees: Guantanamo Bay
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has received from the US authorities on the Government's request for the return of Mr. Binyam Mohamed from Guantanamo Bay; and what reports he has received of plans to try Mr. Mohamed before a US military tribunal. [200080]
David Miliband: As I set out in my written ministerial statement on 13 December, Official Report, columns 56-57WS, the US is not currently inclined to agree to our request for the release and return of Mr. Mohamed to the UK. However, my officials continue to discuss his case with the US. While he was charged under the previous Military Commissions arrangements, our contacts with the US have not revealed formal proceedings against him under the new Military Commissions Act.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of the United States on the Military Commissions Act. [204320]
Dr. Howells: UK officials most recently discussed the Military Commissions Act with the US Government in February 2008, in the context of discussions over Binyam Mohamed, a former UK resident currently detained at Guantanamo Bay.
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of the United States on the treatment of unlawful enemy combatants. [204321]
Dr. Howells: Officials have most recently discussed treatment of “unlawful enemy combatants” with the US in the context of discussions over the two former UK residents currently held at Guantanamo Bay; Binyam Mohamed and Shaker Aamer.
EU External Relations
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether defence attachés or military representatives of EU member states will form part of the EU’s proposed External Action Service; and if he will make a statement. [204574]
Mr. Jim Murphy: There have not yet been any detailed discussions on the organisation and functioning of the European External Action Service (EEAS), but its creation will have no impact on the ability of national Defence Attaches and Military Representatives to perform their bilateral representative duties. The decision to launch the EEAS will not be taken until after the Treaty enters into force.
Gaza: Borders
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 25 April 2008, Official Report, column 2322W, on Gaza: borders, what conditions need to be met for the EU border assistance mission at the Rafah crossing to resume operations; and if he will make a statement. [204080]
David Miliband: The EU is ready to consider resuming its border assistance mission at Rafah (Gaza-Egypt crossing) when the parties agree and when the security conditions allow.
Jordan: Tourism
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Minister of Tourism of Jordan on sustainable tourism. [204458]
Dr. Howells: The subject of the welfare of the horses which serve the tourism industry at Petra is one of real concern to many British visitors. There is a long history of efforts to improve the lot of the horses at Petra. The Brook hospital is well established there, providing veterinary care for the horses and awareness-raising for their owners for over 20 years. Although a great deal has been achieved over the years, there is still a need to improve the standards of treatment and welfare for the horses and further improvement on the ground is likely to take some time.
While my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to raise this specific issue with the Minister of Tourism of Jordan, officials in London have raised this with the Jordanian embassy in London
and our ambassador in Amman will be taking up this issue with a range of relevant individuals and organisations in Jordan.
South Africa: Chemical and Biological Warfare
Andrew Mackinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2008 to Question 192701, on South Africa: chemical and biological warfare, whether the evidence given to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission considered in the investigation included evidence that Wouter Basson used a house in the home counties of England to meet UK scientists and to circumvent the sanctions regime against South Africa; and if he will make a statement. [205152]
Dr. Howells: As stated in my reply to my hon. Friend on 7 May 2008, Official Report, column 935W, UK investigations initiated following allegations of assistance to South Africa's Project Coast, considered information from a variety of sources including evidence given to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee. I can neither confirm nor deny details of specific evidence considered during these investigations.
Syria: Nuclear Weapons
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on steps the International Atomic Energy Agency should take to investigate the alleged existence of a nuclear weapons programme in Syria and its links with North Korea; and if he will make a statement. [204118]
David Miliband: The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohammed el Baradei, said on 25 April that the IAEA
“will treat this information with the seriousness it deserves and will investigate the veracity of the information”.
Mohammed el Baradei went on to say
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