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3 Feb 2009 : Column 1156W—continued
Planning: Mining
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she plans to introduce a requirement for a 500 metre buffer zone around opencast mines through the Minerals Planning Guidance. [253279]
Mr. Iain Wright: The Government’s White Paper on Energy “Meeting the Energy Challenge” (2007) indicates that making best use of UK Energy resources, including coal reserves, where it is economically viable and environmentally acceptable to do so, contributes to the Government’s goal of security of energy supplies. Planning Policy for coal extraction in England (whether open cast or deep mine) is set out in Minerals Policy Guidance Note 3 “Coal Mining and Colliery Spoil Disposal” (MPG3) published in 1999. Consistent with the broader policy in the White Paper, this sets a presumption against such development unless the proposal meets specific tests in terms of environmental acceptability or the provision of local and community benefits which clearly outweigh the likely impacts. The Government believe that these tests are sufficient to ensure that the environmental effects of opencast coal mining are properly considered in the planning process. There is no current intention to review policy in MPG3.
The full text of MPG3 is set out on my Department’s website at:
Planning: Terrorism
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 1 February 2008, Official Report, column 696W, on planning, what guidance her Department has published on planning policy and counter-terrorism. [252499]
Mr. Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government has not yet published any guidance on planning policy and counter-terrorism. However, we are developing joint guidance in partnership with the Home Office and working with other key stakeholders to produce a supplement to the existing guidance “Safer Places: The Planning System and Crime Prevention”, which will cover counter-terrorism issues. We expect to publish this document for public consultation later this year.
Regional Planning and Development: South East
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for a partial review of the South East Regional Spatial Strategy. [252744]
Mr. Khan: The South East England regional assembly are currently undertaking two partial reviews of the regional spatial strategy. The first is in relation to the apportionment of primary land-won aggregates. And the second in relation to providing place to live for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Show People in the south east.
Both of these are due to be submitted to the Secretary of State for public examination later this year.
Regional Planning and Development: Yorkshire and the Humber
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities in Yorkshire (a) have and (b) have not received funding from Growth Area Fund programmes; and how much each local authority has received in each wave of the programme. [253172]
Mr. Iain Wright: There are two Growth Points in Yorkshire that are eligible to receive funding from the Growth Fund:
The Doncaster and South Yorkshire Growth Point includes the authorities of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield. They have been allocated £250,000 in 2008-09, £3,784,791 in 2009-10 and £5,933,131 in 2010-11.
The Leeds City Region Growth Point includes the authorities of Barnsley, Calderdale and Wakefield. They have been allocated £200,000 in 2008-09, £2,476,060 in 2009-10 and £3,881,723 in 2010-11. The authority partnership is co-ordinated by Leeds as the convener of the Leeds City Region.
Barnsley is represented in both Growth Points, as 50 per cent. of the proposed growth will lie in each area.
As funding from the Growth Fund is unringfenced, it is paid to the Growth Point’s nominated lead authority for the payment of grant. It is for the Growth Point authorities to prioritise how the funding is divided at the local level.
East Riding, Kingston upon Hull, Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough, Selby, York, Bradford and Kirklees are not part of a Growth Point and so not eligible for this funding.
Regional Spatial Strategies
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable she has set for the agreement of each regional spatial strategy. [251859]
Mr. Iain Wright: The regional spatial strategies for the following regions are expected to be issued by the Secretary of State as follows:
Spring 2009: East Midlands
Spring 2009: South East
Summer 2009: South West
Spring 2010: West Midlands (phase 2)
Autumn 2011: West Midlands (phase 3)
Four RSSs have already been issued by the Secretary of State and phase 1 of the West Midlands RSS as follows:
15 January 2008: West Midlands (phase 1) Black Country sub-regional plan
12 May 2008: East of England
21 May 2008: Yorkshire and Humber
15 July 2008: North East
30 September 2008: North West
Right to Buy Scheme
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many housing association tenants have (a) the right to buy and (b) a preserved right to buy. [252627]
Mr. Iain Wright: Secure tenants of non-charitable housing associations are eligible for the Right to Buy scheme. The number of such tenants is 18,599.
Former tenants of local authorities who have transferred with their homes to housing associations since 1988 retain a Preserved Right to Buy. The number of such tenants is 1,117,827.
Rural Areas
Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to respond to the hon. Member for Truro and St Austell’s report on rural economy and affordable housing; and if she will make a statement. [253627]
Mr. Iain Wright: The Government expect to make their formal response to the Taylor Review shortly.
Shared Ownership Schemes
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how much funding has been made available to each local authority for shared ownership schemes in each month since May 2008; [251709]
(2) how many homes have been sold in each local authority through shared ownership schemes in each month since May 2008; [251710]
(3) how much funding has been made available to each local authority for equity loan schemes in each month since their introduction; [251711]
(4) how many homes have been sold in each local authority through equity loan schemes in each month since their introduction. [251712]
Mr. Iain Wright: Tables have been deposited in the Library showing grant provided through the Homes and Communities Agency’s Affordable Housing Programme to their investment partners by month for equity loan and shared ownership schemes by local authority area from April 2008 to December 2008.
Tables showing completions through the Homes and Communities Agency’s Affordable Housing Programme by month for equity loan and shared ownership schemes by local authority from April 2008 to December 2008 have also been deposited in the Library.
There is no direct comparison between spend and completions especially on shared ownership schemes. Shared ownership scheme payments are made in tranches usually on start on site and at practical completion. For equity loan schemes, the payment is made on completion of the scheme as these are generally open market purchases. The figures cover the current open market homebuy equity loan scheme which commenced in April 2008. Tables have been deposited in the Library of the House which show completions by month and local authority location for each homebuy scheme in 2006-07 and 2007-08 through the Housing Corporation’s Affordable Housing Programme.
Social Rented Housing
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effect of the economic turndown on the number of new social homes to be provided through the section 106 process in the next 12 months. [251727]
Mr. Iain Wright: Ministers and officials have been meeting housing associations and the National Housing Federation to discuss provision of affordable housing in the current housing market downturn, including the impact of a potential downturn on section 106 activity. In response, we have taken a number of steps to encourage delivery including allowing the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) increased flexibility on levels of grant funding to support development. The HCA will assess each bid on a case by case basis to ensure it meets its funding criteria, including value for money requirements.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of new social housing has been provided under section 106 agreements in the last 12 months. [251728]
Mr. Iain Wright: In 2007-08, 51 per cent. (14,860) out of a total of 29,370 new homes for social rent were provided under section 106 agreements.
Stamp Duties
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 1 May 2008, Official Report columns 632-3W on stamp duties, how many of the 200 planned zero-carbon homes near Bristol have been built; and how many qualified for zero per cent. stamp duty on zero-carbon homes. [252426]
Mr. Iain Wright: The site at Hanham Hall near Bristol is the first to be developed under the carbon challenge which the Homes and Communities Agency is delivering on behalf of Communities and Local Government. A planning application to build 195 homes at this site was submitted to the local planning authority in December 2008. Subject to consent being granted we anticipate that construction will start on the site before the end of this year with the first homes being completed in 2010.
The brief for the carbon challenge requires that the new homes must achieve level 6 of the Code for Sustainable Homes. In keeping with the brief, Barratt Developments Plc, the preferred bidders for the Hanham Hall site, have designed the homes to meet the requirements of the definition of net zero carbon in the Code for Sustainable Homes. We therefore envisage that all 195 homes will qualify for stamp duty tax relief in due course.
Tenant Services Authority: Finance
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the budget for the Tenant Services Authority is for its first full year of operation. [251800]
Mr. Iain Wright: The budget available to the Tenant Services Authority for 2009-10 is £35,573 million.
Tenant Services Authority: Publicity
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the cost of the Tenant Services Authority’s pink camper van campaign. [251733]
Mr. Iain Wright: The TSA is the successor (since 1 December 2008) to the Housing Corporation as the regulator of housing associations. It has been set 10 statutory objectives relating to the supply, quality and management of social housing, protection for and involvement of tenants in estate management, the financial viability and proper conduct of HAs, and ‘light touch’ regulation.
The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 gives it powers to set standards for the nature, extent and quality of accommodation, and facilities and services provided by HAs, and in respect of the management of HAs’ financial and other affairs. It is expected that these powers will be brought into effect early in 2010.
The TSA is therefore undertaking wide-ranging public consultation in 2009 on how to exercise these powers. It has launched a ‘National Conversation’ and is encouraging landlords all over England to engage their tenants in discussion. The TSA is also holding its own events and activities. These include hiring a camper van fitted out
with a video camera for nine days, which has proved to be an effective way of speaking to tenants who would not otherwise give their views through more traditional consultation events. The cost of hiring this facility is £14,816.00 plus VAT.
Travelling People
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many unauthorised Traveller caravans were recorded in each Government Office region in the summer of each year since 1997. [252289]
Mr. Iain Wright: The bi-annual count of Gypsy and Traveller caravans, undertaken in January and July, records the number of caravans on unauthorised sites by each Government Office region. Copies of the caravan count are available in the Library of the House.
Zero Carbon Delivery Unit
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 6 October 2008, Official Report, columns 369W, on Zero Carbon Delivery Unit, if she will place in the Library a copy of the business plan for the zero-carbon hub. [252149]
Mr. Iain Wright: The Department expects to receive a copy of the final business plan soon and will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library when it is received.
Justice
Penalty Notices
12. Mr. Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the percentage of the sum imposed in fines under penalty notices issued in 2007 and 2008 which has not been paid. [253533]
Mr. Malik: Approximately 52 per cent. of offenders given PNDs pay at the first opportunity. Apart from a small percentage who challenge the PND in court, the remainder are registered as fines at one and a half times the amount and enforced in the normal way.
Overall, 85 per cent. of the value of fines imposed is collected.
Use of Restraint: Young Offenders
14. Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals to end the use of restraint on young offenders in secure accommodation. [253535]
Mr. Hanson: It is the Government's intention to ensure that restraint is only used as a last resort. The recent review, published on 15 December 2008, Official Report, column 84WS, set out the revised policy on the use of restraint.
Prison Places
15. James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many new prison places he plans to provide by 31 December 2009. [253536]
21. Mr. Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many new prison places he plans to provide by 31 December 2009. [253543]
Mr. Hanson: In total, around 2,150 new places will be provided in 2009; 180 have been provided to date.
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