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18 Nov 2008 : Column 379W—continued
Eco-Towns
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has had on the establishment of eco-towns. [236042]
Mr. Iain Wright: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Minister for Housing and Planning and myself have meetings with many external organisations and individuals on a wide range of subjects every week, and some of these will include discussion of eco-towns policy. As part of the Department's business we also have discussions with officials about the eco-towns policy, but details of these are not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
Eco-towns: Finance
Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the Government's proposed contribution to infrastructure costs in respect of each of the proposed eco-towns on which she is consulting. [236983]
Mr. Iain Wright: We are still consulting on eco-towns and no decisions have yet been taken on the final list of schemes with the potential to go forward as eco-towns. The expectation has always been that the bulk of investment needed to create an eco-town will come from the private sector. PricewaterhouseCoopers are currently assessing scheme proposals and the potential for costs to be funded by development without recourse to public subsidy. However, there will also be projects that we may support through direct funding to local authorities using the Growth Areas Fund and from mainstream funding programmes.
Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will publish the report made to her Department by PricewaterhouseCoopers on the financial viability of eco-towns. [236984]
Mr. Iain Wright: PricewaterhouseCoopers were commissioned to assess the financial viability of eco-town schemes earlier this year. The assessment is still under way and a final assessment is due to be submitted to the Department within the next couple of months. Early next year, at the end of eco-towns process, we expect to publish findings from the PwC assessment and other evidence that will inform decisions on the final list of schemes with potential to become eco-towns. Any published findings and associated analysis will of course respect commercial sensitivities.
Eco-towns: Long Marston
Mr. Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department has spent on legal fees in defending the application for administrative review brought by David Bliss and others in respect of the proposed eco-town at Long Marston; how much her Department has allocated for expenditure on the case up to the time it is heard; and how much it has allocated for its legal fees incurred in each case. [236981]
Mr. Iain Wright: At this stage, in defending the application for administrative review in respect of the proposed eco-town at Long Marston, costs of approximately £22,000 have been incurred by the Department. However, this figure represents a snapshot as costs will continue to be incurred up until the court hearing (date to be confirmed). There is no fixed allocation as such for costs in this case or in respect of any such future cases that might arise.
We believe we have acted properly throughout the eco-towns process and will defend this claim vigorously. The Government remain of the view that the claim is premature in challenging an on-going consultation process.
Empty Homes Agency
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding the Empty Homes Agency received from (a) her Department and (b) its agencies in each of the last three years. [236088]
Mr. Iain Wright: The Empty Homes Agency received £100,000 of grant funding from the Department in each of the last three years. The Agency also received funding of £18,156 from the Housing Corporation in 2005-06.
Fire Prevention: Publicity
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the advertising campaign “Put it out, right out”, has cost. [235794]
Mr. Khan: The most recent “Put it out, right out” advertising ran in January and February 2007, as part of the overall Fire Kills campaign, promoting the importance of carefully disposing of smoking products. The specific cost of advertising space bought for the “Put it out, right out” advertising during this period was £663,948.
The “Put it out, right out” advertising also ran as part of the Fire Kills campaigns run by the Department’s predecessor, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, in the financial years 2002-03 and 2003-04. Specific costs for media space bought as part of these campaigns are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the advertising campaign Push the Button has cost. [235795]
Mr. Khan: The most recent ‘Push the Button' advertising ran in August and September 2006, as part of the overall Fire Kills campaign. The specific cost of advertising space bought for the ‘Push the Button' advertising during this period was £749,304.
The ‘Push the Button' advertising also ran as part of the Fire Kills campaigns run by the Department's predecessor, The Office Of The Deputy Prime Minister, in the financial years 2003-04 and 2004-05. Specific costs for media space bought as part of these campaigns are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Fire Service: Crimes of Violence
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many attacks were recorded on firefighters in 2007-08; and if she will make a statement. [236126]
Mr. Khan: My Department collects figures on attacks on firefighters based on returns from Fire and Rescue Authorities. 967 attacks in England in 2007-08 were reported to us.
Fire Services
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has made available to fire authorities on the operational safety of firefighters in the last three years; and if she will make a statement. [235824]
Mr. Khan: Guidance is issued to fire and rescue authorities in many forms including fire and rescue service circulars, fire service manuals and generic risk assessments; guidance has also been issued through the New Dimension Programme to complement the vehicles, equipment and training associated with this.
Following the appointment of the chief fire and rescue adviser in October 2007, a framework for the future development of operational guidance has been developed, including a priority programme of work for 2008-09. This programme has begun and includes the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders. As part of this framework, an additional four pieces of operational guidance has recently been published and issued to all fire and rescue authorities.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 30 October 2008 , Official Report, column 1264W, on Firebuy Ltd, what the (a) running costs and (b) business-generated income of Firebuy Ltd have been in the year to date. [235855]
Mr. Khan: In the period from 1 April to 31 October 2008, Firebuy Ltd's running costs were £1,439,872 and its business-generated income was £65,362.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what (a) suppliers and (b) contractors have provided goods or services in relation to the FiReControl programme. [236082]
Mr. Khan: The suppliers listed as follows have been paid more than £500,000 since 2002. In addition, many other businesses have been paid smaller amounts.
| Supplier | Services/goods |
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the minimum period is that a fire fighter must have trained before commencing operational duty. [236556]
Mr. Khan: It is the responsibility of individual fire and rescue authorities to ensure that their operational staff receive the appropriate training before carrying out operational duties.
Mr. Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fire fighters died whilst on duty in each of the last 20 years. [236557]
Mr. Khan: The information requested, for the fire and rescue services in England, is shown in the following table.
Fire Services: Industrial Disputes
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what contingency plans are in place in the event of a firefighters strike; and whether her Department is responsible for implementing those plans. [236000]
Mr. Khan: Individual fire and rescue authorities have responsibility for maintaining and implementing contingency plans in respect of strikes by firefighters in their area.
Fire Services: Per Capita Costs
David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much per capita funding has been provided from central government for each fire authority in England in the latest period for which figures are available. [236990]
Mr. Khan: Provisional outturn central Government grant per head in 2007-08 for each fire authority in England is tabled as follows.
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