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2 Mar 2009 : Column 1229W—continued
Fire Services: Medals
Mrs. Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration her Department has given to provision of funding for the award of fire brigade long service medals; and if she will make a statement. [258824]
Mr. Khan: The Department already provides full funding for the award of Fire Brigade long service and good conduct medals through the Office of the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser, located within Communities and Local Government.
Government Offices for the Regions: Empty Property
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated cost in empty property business rates for the vacant property recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by the Government Offices for the Regions at (a) the Belgrave Centre, (b) the Westbrook Centre, (c) Riverwalk House, (d) 2 Rivergate, (e) Mast House and (f) Paradise Circus 77 is in 2008-09. [258537]
Mr. Khan: The property business rates for vacant space for the requested buildings as recorded on e-PIMS is as follows:
| £ | |
Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which banks and building societies are participating in the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme. [258675]
Margaret Beckett: The eight largest lenders covering 70 per cent. of the mortgage market—HBOS, Nationwide, Abbey, Lloyds TSB, Northern Rock, Barclays, RBS, HSBC—have agreed in principle to support the new scheme. We are now working with a wider group of lenders to finalise the scheme implementation plans and agree the draft Master Guarantee. All lenders will be invited to sign-up to the scheme in due course. RBS have confirmed that they will actively participate in the scheme once details are finalised.
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme to begin. [258676]
Margaret Beckett: We expect the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme to be open for business with the first lenders in April now that the Banking Act, which is the legislative vehicle we have used to enable us to do this, has gained Royal Assent. The draft Master Guarantee is currently with lenders.
Lobbying
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1697-98W, on Lord Truscott, what information was given to Lord Taylor by her Department following his request for information on Newark as a growth point and related planning cases. [259460]
Mr. Khan:
Baroness Andrews wrote to Lord Taylor in July 2008, giving him a factual update on recent planning proposals and growth point funding for Newark on
Trent. All the information was in the public domain. She also informed him that the Government office for the east midlands had been asked to comment on an “Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report” for a proposed urban extension to the south of Newark, but had declined to comment—as to have done otherwise might have been seen to have prejudiced the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in the event that an application is referred to her for a decision in the future.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homeowners are currently in receipt of assistance under the Homeowner Mortgage Protection Scheme. [256188]
Margaret Beckett: On 3 December 2008, the Prime Minister announced additional support for homeowners facing financial difficulties through a new homeowners mortgage support scheme.
It became clear that legislative change was required. This was secured on 12 February when the Banking Bill received Royal Assent.
I wrote to lenders detailing the proposed key elements of the scheme in December. This letter is available at:
We are now working urgently with lenders and debt advisers to confirm the final design and implementation details, and to open the scheme for borrowers in spring 2009.
Ordnance Survey: Empty Property
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated cost in empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by Ordnance Survey is in 2008-09. [258536]
Mr. Khan: Ordnance Survey has had no vacant property qualifying for empty property business rates during 2008-09. Ordnance Survey has some space within one building which has been vacant since 2007, and for which it is actively seeking a tenant. £21,111.72 has been paid in unified business rates on this space during 2008-09.
Peter Housden
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to pages 22-3 of her Department’s Resource Accounts 2007-08, for what reason Mr. Peter Housden receives an interest-free housing loan; and for how many years he has received such a loan from her Department and its predecessor. [259578]
Mr. Khan:
The loan was provided in 2002 when Mr. Housden worked for the DFES as part of a relocation package from Nottingham to London—the loan transferred to Communities and Local Government when Mr. Housden was appointed as permanent secretary on 24 October 2005. Packages of this kind are commonplace in many
major organisations and are a key part of recruiting the very best candidates. The loan is counted as taxable income and is being paid back over a 10 year period. Rules governing loans are detailed in the Civil Service Code.
Refuges: Domestic Violence
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the findings of the report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Map of Gaps: The Postcode Lottery of Violence Against Women Support Services, on the provision of refuges by local authorities for victims of domestic violence. [257409]
Mr. Iain Wright: We have taken note of the report and continue to recognise the important role refuges can play in helping the victims of domestic abuse. We also recognise that there is a range of support for those victims; some will be accommodated in refuges, but sanctuary schemes and mainstream local authority accommodation may be an option for others, while some victims will pursue independent solutions with help and advice from support schemes as necessary.
However it is for individual local authorities to identify any gaps in service provision and put in place appropriate solutions to address this. We would expect local authorities to build services based on the needs of their communities, taking account of locally available data sources.
The Department have recently commissioned new research that will identify the current housing options available to households at risk of domestic violence, and to assess whether this provision meets current need. It will involve establishing the extent and type of temporary and settled accommodation available for households at risk of domestic violence in England, including the provision of housing related support services delivered to both temporary and settled accommodation, and to households’ own homes.
In 2003 the Government announced major investment in refuge provision in England in 2003-06. A total of £34 million capital was allocated and 511 units of accommodation were refurbished or newly built. More recently the Hostels Capital Improvement Programme (2005-07) funded six new and refurbished refuges at a cost of £4 million.
CLG provides essential revenue support for victims of domestic violence through the Supporting People Programme.
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make an assessment of the (a) geographical distribution, (b) quality and (c) effectiveness of (i) refuges for victims of domestic violence and (ii) services for victims of rape in England; and if she will make a statement. [259603]
Mr. Khan:
There is a range of support for survivors of domestic abuse. The homelessness legislation provides a safety net for survivors and some will be accommodated in refuges, but Sanctuary Schemes and mainstream local authority accommodation may be an option for
others, while some survivors will pursue independent solutions with help and advice from support schemes as necessary.
The Department has recently commissioned new research that will identify the current housing options available to households at risk of domestic abuse, and to assess whether this provision meets current need across England. It will involve establishing the extent and type of temporary and settled accommodation (including refuges) available for households who have experienced or are at risk of domestic abuse in England, including the provision of housing related support services.
The Quality Assessment Framework (QAF) was introduced in 2003 and sets out the standards expected in the delivery of housing-related support services, including domestic abuse refuges (funded through the Supporting People programme). Its purpose is to drive up quality standards across the sector and to ensure that services evolve to meet the changing needs and aspirations of clients.
The QAF has been one of the major successes of the Supporting People programme. The majority of administering authorities continue to use the QAF today and there is also evidence that other areas across authorities, such as adult social care, are also adopting the QAF as the standard tool to measure the quality of services being delivered.
A national Supporting People Outcomes Framework was launched in summer 2007. The framework monitors the outcomes delivered by housing-related support services, including domestic abuse refuges, across England for a wide range of client groups.
The Government are rolling out sexual assault referral centres (SARCs) and independent sexual violence advisers (ISVAs) across the country to support victims of rape. There are currently 27 SARCs and distribution is recorded by the Home Office. The Home Secretary has made a commitment to have one in each police force area by 2011. A method of assessing quality and effectiveness is currently being developed by the Department of Health. There are currently 36 ISVAs and there is a Government commitment to ensure all victims have access to an ISVA by 2011. Distribution of ISVAs is recorded by the Home Office and quality and effectiveness is currently assessed by regional Government offices.
Central Government do not collect information in respect of voluntary sector services for victims of rape.
Sheffield House: Empty Property
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the estimated cost in empty property business rates for the vacant property recorded on the e-PIMS database of (a) Sheffield House, (b) Hempstead House and (c) the Community Development Foundation is in 2008-09. [258538]
Mr. Khan: The cost in business rates of the 1st floor Sheffield house being vacant during 2008-09 was £17,209.50. The estimated cost of business rates for the ground floor of Hempstead house being vacant was £14,823.
The Community Development Foundation property referred to is not vacant.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he plans to inform Parliament of the findings and implications of his Department’s periodic review of Afghanistan strategy for 2008; and what form he expects this presentation to take. [256065]
David Miliband: Officials are preparing to publish shortly a paper outlining progress made in Afghanistan to date and the challenges we face going forward on the basis of the stocktake completed in December 2008. Parliament will be informed as soon the paper is ready. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Diplomatic Service
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the appointment of a new High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina. [253960]
David Miliband: This issue was discussed at the 26 January 2009 and 23 February 2009 at the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels. Officials have also discussed the appointment with Peace Implementation Council partners.
The international community needs to find a credible successor to Miroslav Lajcak who can continue to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina in moving away from ethnic divisions towards a better future for all its citizens.
China: Family Planning
Mr. Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the government of China on trends in China’s population since July 2008; and if he will make a statement. [259019]
Caroline Flint: No discussions have taken place between the UK and the Chinese government on trends in China’s population since July 2008.
Conflict Resolution
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which dates the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Conflict Resolution Mechanisms has visited (a) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (b) 10 Downing Street; and what the purpose was of each visit. [256829]
Bill Rammell: [holding answer 12 February 2009]: The right hon. Jack McConnell MSP, the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Conflict Resolution Mechanisms is based in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He met officials from the European Council, European Commission and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation on 9-10 December 2008 in Brussels and from the UN on 15-16 December 2008 in New York. Mr McConnell also met EU officials on 2-3 February 2009 in Bosnia. He plans to meet officials from the African Union shortly.
Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict
Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the government of (a) the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and (b) Rwanda regarding the joint military operation involving their two countries in the East of the DRC; and if he will make a statement. [255053]
Gillian Merron: British officials have met senior representatives of the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda recently to discuss the ongoing military operations in eastern DRC. We have made clear our support for improved co-operation between the governments, and urged greater involvement by the UN in planning military action to ensure civilian protection is in place and human rights are upheld. The presence of the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR) militia is one of the fundamental causes of the instability in DRC. We welcome the commitment of the governments of DRC and Rwanda to addressing this.
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