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30 Apr 2009 : Column 1400W—continued
In January of each year the mix adjustment weights are revised to reflect the pattern of property transactions during the previous three years. The mix-adjusted average prices for the rest of the year are then determined using the new weights. Consequently house prices between years cannot be compared because the years’ weights are different.
Housing: Sales
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes have been purchased through the First Time Buyers Initiative in each month since the scheme’s inception. [271466]
Mr. Iain Wright: The number of homes that have been purchased to date through the First Time Buyers Initiative in each month since the scheme's inception is as follows:
| FTBI exchanges and completions | ||||
| Exchanges by month | Exchanges cumulative | Completions by month | Completions cumulative | |
Housing: Standards
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent progress her Department has made towards its aspiration to build all housing to Lifetime Homes Standards. [271637]
Mr. Iain Wright: It remains our aspiration, as stated in “Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods: A National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society”, published by my Department in February 2008, that by 2013 all new homes will be being built to Lifetime Homes Standards. We are committed to a review of the take-up of the standards in 2010, with a view to bringing forward regulation in 2013 should take-up not match expectations.
Local Government Finance
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the operation of the comprehensive area assessments. [271575]
Mr. Khan: It is too early to have made any assessment of the effectiveness of the operation of the new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA), since it was only introduced from 1 April 2009.
The first CAA reports are expected to be published in late November 2009.
Local Government: Pensions
Mr. Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made in implementing reform of the Local Government Pension Scheme; and if she will make a statement. [271238]
John Healey: The statutory consultation regulations to begin the reform of the Local Government Pension Scheme was launched in a ministerial written statement to the House on 23 November 2006, Official Report, column 69WS. Subsequently, new arrangements came into operation on 1 April 2008.
Local Government: Publicity
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for changes to the Guidance on Local Authority Publicity; and whether an impact assessment has been produced in relation to its potential effect on local newspapers. [272153]
Mr. Khan: The recent consultation on proposed changes to the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity closed on 12 March and the Department is currently considering the responses. The outcome of the consultation will help us decide what if any changes are to be made to the publicity code, and it will be at this point that we will undertake any impact or regulatory assessment before finalising the decision.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on publishing their own newspapers. [272360]
Mr. Khan: The Code of Recommended Practice on local authority publicity, which all local authorities must have regard to, applies to all publicity issued by a local authority, whatever the form of the publication.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what expenditure her Department has incurred on establishing the (a) Mortgage Rescue Scheme and (b) Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme. [266407]
Margaret Beckett: The Mortgage Rescue Scheme was established as part of ongoing work on the Department’s homelessness prevention programme. The impact assessment for the homeowners mortgage support scheme will be published shortly, alongside the scheme launch.
Planning Permission
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning permissions were (a) applied for and (b) granted in the last quarter for which figures are available. [272228]
Mr. Iain Wright: The number of planning permissions applied for and granted in England, in the last quarter for which figures are available is shown in the following table:
| Period | Number received | Number granted |
| Source: Communities and Local Government General Development Control Returns PSF | ||
Planning Permission: Aviation
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes to planning guidance there have been relating to the development of airfields since 2005. [272425]
Mr. Iain Wright: There have been no changes to planning guidance relating to the development of airfields since 2005.
Planning Permission: Sustainable Development
John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps she has taken to increase efficiency, effectiveness and transparency in the planning system; and what recent steps she has taken to ensure that the planning system facilitates sustainable development. [271573]
Mr. Iain Wright: Since 1997 we have made significant progress in improving the planning system.
Through the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and Planning Policy Statement 1 (PPS1) we have put the delivery of sustainable development at heart of the planning system. Alongside PPS1 we have introduced clear national policy on the role of planning in addressing climate change: tackling climate change is now firmly at the centre of what is expected from good planning.
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