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6 May 2009 : Column 242W—continued
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of implications for her Department's policy on affordable housing of the findings of the Homes and Communities Agency's Affordable Housing Survey; and whether she plans to take steps in response to its recommendations. [272507]
Margaret Beckett: The purpose of this Affordable Housing Survey was to establish an understanding of the quality of schemes delivered prior to the introduction of new quality standards by the then Housing Corporation in April 2007, to enable the impact of introducing the new standards to be evaluated in the future.
We have already taken action and have put in place policies and legislation to make sure that poorly designed housing is not repeated. Through the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 and the Planning Act 2008, we are ensuring that design quality is a key consideration for local authorities and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The emphasis must now be on more effective implementation. We expect future surveys to show increasing improvement as the policies bed down and reflect the new HCA standards.
The challenge going forward is to apply these new standards and policies across the board and the HCA and local authorities will play a lead role in making that happen.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what percentage of HomeBuy applicants have registered an interest in (a) the First-time Buyers Initiative, (b) HomeBuy Direct, (c) Rent to HomeBuy, (d) MyChoice HomeBuy, (e) Open Market HomeBuy and (f) OwnHome; [272578]
(2) what the average period between an applicant first making an application and a decision being taken on that application has been for the (a) HomeBuy Direct, (b) OwnHome, (c) OpenMarket HomeBuy, (d) the First-time Buyers Initiative, (e) MyChoice HomeBuy, (f) New Build HomeBuy, (g) Social HomeBuy and (h) Rent to HomeBuy scheme in each of the last three years; [272815]
(3) what targets have been set for HomeBuy agents to process applications; and what steps are in place to ensure that agents process applications within an acceptable time; [272816]
(4) what percentage of people registering for HomeBuy to date have expressed an interest in New Build HomeBuy. [272762]
Margaret Beckett: The data sought on expression of interest and applications are not held centrally.
Under the terms of their contract with the Homes and Communities Agency, HomeBuy Agents who administer the HomeBuy scheme and the First-time Buyers Initiative are required to send applicants confirmation of their eligibility status within eight working days of receipt of a fully completed application form.
HomeBuy agents are required to provide a monthly self-assessment of compliance against Key Performance Standards, which are monitored by, and discussed with, the Homes and Communities Agency at regular contract review meetings.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of (a) affordable housing and (b) homes for social rent built in each of the last five years had (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three and (iv) four or more bedrooms. [272580]
Mr. Iain Wright: A table will be placed in the Library of the House which shows the percentage of social rented and affordable homes delivered through the Homes and Communities Agency’s Affordable Housing Programme by the number of bedrooms. These figures are only available from the Homes and Communities Agency’s Investment Management System, so will not cover the total number of new build social rent and affordable homes.
Not all affordable housing is provided through new build completions, supply can also come from the acquisition and refurbishment of private sector homes. In 2007-08, a total of 53,730 additional affordable homes, of which 29,370 were for social rent homes, were provided.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of (a) affordable housing and (b) homes for social rent built in each of the last five years were (i) apartments and (ii) houses. [272581]
Mr. Iain Wright: A table will be placed in the Library of the House which shows the percentage of social rented and affordable homes delivered through the Homes and Communities Agency’s Affordable Housing Programme by apartments and houses. These figures are only available from the Homes and Communities Agency’s Investment Management System so will not cover the total number of new build social rent and affordable homes.
Not all affordable housing is provided through new build completions, supply can also come from the acquisition and refurbishment of private sector homes. In 2007-08, a total of 53,730 additional affordable homes, of which 29,370 were for social rent homes, were provided.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate she has made of her Department's expenditure on (a) OwnHome, (b) New Build HomeBuy, (c) HomeBuy Direct, (d) Rent to HomeBuy, (e) Social HomeBuy, (f) the First-Time Buyers Initiative, (g) Open Market HomeBuy and (h) MyChoice HomeBuy in each of the next three years; and if she will make a statement; [272755]
(2) what costs her Department has incurred in the administration of (a) OwnHome, (b) New Build HomeBuy, (c) HomeBuy Direct, (d) Rent to Buy HomeBuy, (e) Social HomeBuy, (f) the First-time Buyers Initiative, (g) Open Market HomeBuy and (h) MyChoice HomeBuy on the latest date for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement; [272763]
(3) what her Department's total expenditure was on (a) OwnHome, (b) New Build HomeBuy, (c) HomeBuy Direct, (d) Rent to HomeBuy, (e) Social HomeBuy, (f) the First-time Buyers Initiative, (g) Open Market HomeBuy and (h) MyChoice HomeBuy to date. [272764]
Margaret Beckett: The Homes and Communities Agency expenditure to the end of 2008-09 on (a) OwnHome, (b) New Build HomeBuy, (c) HomeBuy Direct, (d) Rent to HomeBuy, (e) Social HomeBuy, (f) First-time Buyers Initiative, (g) Open Market HomeBuy and (h) MyChoice HomeBuy is as follows:
| £ million | ||
| (1) Includes OwnHome and My Choice HomeBuy | ||
On expenditure on Social HomeBuy in the local authority sector I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 9 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1693-694W.
£400 million has been made available for the HomeBuy Direct scheme. In addition, a proportion of the £400 million announced in the Budget to unlock stalled housing developments will also be spent through HomeBuy Direct. Scheme funding is currently available up to the end of 2010-11. The precise level of spend will depend on take-up.
Expenditure on the First-time Buyers Initiative is forecast to be around £13 million in 2009-10, with no further expenditure in future years.
We have not allocated specific funds in 2009-10 and 2010-11 for the other categories listed to allow full flexibility within the National Affordable Housing Programme operated by the Homes and Communities Agency.
Future estimated levels of expenditure beyond 2010-11 will be dependent upon the next spending review.
The administration costs incurred by Communities and Local Government for the HomeBuy programme and the First-time Buyers' initiative form part of the overall cost for the policy and delivery of affordable housing.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much initial equity homebuyers on average have purchased through the New Build HomeBuy scheme to date. [272760]
Margaret Beckett: The following table shows the average value and percentage of equity for properties purchased under New Build HomeBuy schemes in England since 2006-07, when the New Build HomeBuy scheme started.
| New Build HomeBuy | ||
| Average value of equity (£) | Average percentage of equity | |
| Source: CORE (Continuous Recording) returns from Registered Social Landlords to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) | ||
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average amount of assistance provided to a home purchaser under the New Build HomeBuy scheme has been to date. [272761]
Margaret Beckett: The assistance provided under New Build HomeBuy is in the form of grant for the provision of the property which enables the property to be sold in stages on shared ownership terms. The national average amount of grant per unit provided through the Homes and Communities Affordable Housing Programme for new Build HomeBuy to date is £28,374.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2009, Official Report, column 1117W, on housing: low incomes, which local authorities offer cash incentive schemes to assist their tenants in purchasing houses; [272854]
(2) how many houses have been sold via local authority cash incentive schemes in each year since 1997. [272855]
Mr. Iain Wright: As reported by local authorities through the 2007-08 Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix, the following local authorities in England provided cash incentive scheme grants, under section 129 of the Housing Act 1988, to assist tenants to acquire an interest in a new home in 2007-08:
Barnet
Bournemouth UA
Camden
Carrick
Chesterfield
Croydon
Dartford
Ealing
Enfield
Hackney
Hammersmith and Fulham
Harrow
Hillingdon
Ipswich
Kingston upon Thames
Lambeth
Lewisham
Mid Devon
North Cornwall
North Hertfordshire
Norwich
Purbeck
Redbridge
Redditch
Selby
South Cambridgeshire
St. Albans
Tendring
Three Rivers
Tower Hamlets
Wandsworth
Warwick
Watford
West Somerset
Westminster
Woking
Wycombe
The figures supplied count only the number of local authorities giving cash incentive scheme grants under section 129 of the Housing Act 1988, and they also do not include any local authorities offering cash incentive scheme grants under these provisions where none were taken up in the year.
The Department does not collect data on the number of properties purchased with the assistance of cash incentive scheme grants, but for the number of cash incentive scheme grants made in each year since 1997 in England under section 129 of the Housing Act 1988, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 February 2009, Official Report, columns 554-56W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Regent's Park and Kensington, North (Ms Buck).
Local Government
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the remit of her Department’s Lean Six Sigma for local government initiative is. [272447]
Mr. Khan: Six Sigma, or any other business transformation technique, is not specifically recommended for use in local government by the Department. The National Process Improvement Project (NPIP), funded by the department and run by London borough of Lewisham, asked pilot local authorities to examine the application of a variety of service transformation tools and techniques to different service areas, and created best practice guidance to their use based on generic principles and irrespective of specific methodology.
This guidance forms part of the Business Improvement Package:
and is in the process of being fully transferred to the local government sector with regional improvement and efficiency bodies taking forward the learning on a regional basis.
Local Government Information Unit
Mrs. Spelman:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of
10 March 2009, Official Report, column 318W, on the Local Government Information Unit: finance, for what project the Local Government Information Unit provided consultancy services in 2008; and whether the Unit produced a report on the project. [272347]
Mr. Khan: Pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 10 March 2009, Official Report, column 318W, further investigation has found that in 2008 the Local Government Information Unit in fact provided research services rather than consultancy services for ‘The Role of Councillors to inform the Commission on Local Councillors’.
A paper was produced and assisted in informing and producing the report of the Councillors Commission, titled ‘Representing the Future’. This was presented to the Secretary of State and published for wider dissemination in December 2007.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 10 March 2009, Official Report, column 318W, on the Local Government Information Unit: finance, for what project the Local Government Information Unit provided consultancy in 2009; and what the reimbursed legal fees related to. [272330]
Mr. Khan: In 2009 the Local Government Information Unit was paid for research work prepared earlier for the “Learning Network on the Role of Councillors in Neighbourhood Working- LGR 65/12/174” project.
The reimbursement of legal fees related to the legal costs incurred by LGIU in consulting on extension/termination of arrangements regarding a secondment to Hazel Blears' office.
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