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15 Jun 2009 : Column 22W—continued
It has been assumed that households responsible for initial sales of New Build Homebuy will take up residence.
The figures cover the number of initial sales recorded on CORE, which is assumed to be the same number as the number of households moving into dwellings.
CORE sales figures are only provided by RSLs with at least 250 units or bedspaces. RSLs with less units can complete the form, but it is not compulsory, so these figures may be under recording the number of New Build Homebuy sales.
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 8 June 2009, Official Report, column 749W, on Homebuy schemes, what the cost of services related to the design of Homebuy brand logos was in each of the last three years. [279783]
John Healey: The cost of services related to the design of the Homebuy brand logo in the last financial year was £21,090 excluding VAT. The Department incurred no such costs in the previous years requested.
Local Government Finance
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 27 April 2009, Official Report, column 1119W, on local government finance, for what reasons some local authorities received no funding in the most recent round of the local authority business growth incentive scheme. [279890]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Local authorities qualified for funding under the local authorities business growth incentives (LABGI) scheme when their business growth exceeded historic growth levels. When business growth did not exceed these levels, local authorities received no funding.
Non-Domestic Rates
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) large and (b) small properties were assessed as having capped rises in business rates bills under a fifth year of transitional relief in 2009-10 as part of the analysis undertaken for Department's August 2004 National Non-Domestic Rates Transitional Arrangements Consultation; and what estimate was made under that analysis of the external revenue implications of a fifth year of transition. [279782]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The consultation ‘NNDR transitional arrangements’ did not include options for a five-year scheme and therefore no such assessment was made.
Parks: Finance
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department has allocated for parks in (a) Essex and (b) Castle Point in each year since 1997. [279286]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Public parks and green spaces are primarily funded through revenue support grant provided to local authorities by Communities and Local Government. Central Government does not prescribe how much should be spent by each local authority on their open spaces; this is a matter for them to determine in line with local priorities.
Information is not collected by central Government on the number of parks in a local authority area or region.
Parks: Merseyside
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how much funding his Department allocated for parks in (a) Crosby and (b) Merseyside in each year since 1997; [278896]
(2) how many parks in (a) Crosby and (b) Merseyside are receiving funding from his Department in 2009-10. [278897]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Public parks and green spaces are primarily funded through revenue support grant provided to local authorities by Communities and Local Government. Central Government does not prescribe how much should be spent by each local authority on their open spaces; this is a matter for them to determine in line with local priorities.
Information is not collected by central Government on the number of parks in a local authority area or region.
Recreation Spaces: East of England
Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how much funding his Department allocated for parks in (a) Mid Bedfordshire and (b) the East of England in each year since 1997; [278590]
(2) how many parks are receiving funding from his Department in (a) Mid Bedfordshire and (b) the East of England in 2009-10. [278592]
Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Public parks and green spaces are primarily funded through revenue support grant provided by Communities and Local Government. Central Government does not prescribe how much should be spent by each local authority on their open spaces; this is a matter for them to determine in line with local priorities.
Information is not collected by central Government on the number of parks in a local authority area or region.
Regeneration: Coastal Areas
Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd of 9 December 2008, Official Report, columns 56-7W, on the coastal town network, on what dates the coastal towns network has met since October 2008. [279915]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Coastal Towns Network, which is led by the South East England Development Agency, has met twice since October 2008, on 22 January 2009 and 2 April 2009, with the next meeting planned for 28 July 2009.
Sheltered Housing
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the operation of (i) full-time and (ii) floating support managers in sheltered housing schemes. [279606]
Mr. Ian Austin: The Department has not commissioned any research specific to the operation of full-time and floating support managers in sheltered housing schemes.
However, in September 2006 Civis consultants were commissioned to undertake a literature and current practice review of floating support to better understand the effectiveness of floating support services, and the balance needed between floating support and accommodation-based services in order to improve service delivery and choice and control for service users.
Town and Planning Association: Eco-Towns
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments his Department has made to the Town and Planning Association for work on eco-towns. [276919]
Mr. Ian Austin: The details of payments and committed funding to the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) in relation to their work on eco-towns was set out in my answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on 23 February 2009, Official Report, column 108W. I can now confirm that payments to the TCPA in 2008-09 totalled £203,500. Funding to support the TCPA's work on eco-towns for 2009-10 is currently being agreed.
Trees
Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department has allocated for the preservation of trees in (a) Essex and (b) Castle Point in each year since 1997. [279285]
Mr. Ian Austin: Local planning authorities are responsible for making and administering tree preservation orders. Funding for this function is contained in the revenue support grant and is not ring-fenced. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
World Heritage Sites: Planning Permission
Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to publish the results of the consultation on the Planning Circular on the Protection of World Heritage Sites. [279115]
Mr. Ian Austin: We are aiming to publish both the summary of consultation responses, and the new Planning Circular, in July 2009.
Olympics
Government Olympic Executive: Consultants
Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much the Government Olympic Executive spent on consultants in each year since 2005. [277101]
Tessa Jowell [holding answer 1 June 2009]: The Government Olympic Executive's (GOE) expenditure on consultancy costs for the financial years since 2005-06 is:
| £000 | |
| (1) Provisional outturn. | |
These figures include expenditure by the GOE's predecessor, the Olympic Games Unit. All figures include VAT (where appropriate).
GOE is the only organisation overseeing the entire Olympic project, integrating the work of multiple delivery bodies, and ensuring the Games is delivered within the £9.3 billion public sector funding provision. GOE's purchase of consultancy services is a planned response to the need to deliver the Government's commitments and guarantees. The consultants have provided valuable short-term support, skills and expertise which has enabled GOE to, among other things:
identify how the Games will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the East End with investment in Stratford and the Lower Lea Valley, building on the investment in neighbourhood renewal already being delivered by the Government, Mayor of London and the host boroughs themselves;
develop and publish a clear Legacy Action Plan;
develop and implement the most effective governance structures and organisations, such as the Olympic Park Legacy Company, to ensure that physical and sporting legacy is delivered;
implement more effective and economic operational structures to support the Olympic Board, and ensure that the necessary assurance process are in place;
develop the essential cross-cutting work-streams to ensure that all elements of the programme are properly integrated so avoiding duplication of effort, late and costly changes to the design and construction of facilities and services; and
undertake essential tracking research on public attitudes to the Olympics which has informed the legacy ambitions; added to our understanding of people's priorities around London 2012 and shown us how people are becoming involved in the numerous opportunities for London and the UK.
Government Olympic Executive: Employment Tribunals Service
Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many actions under employment law have been brought against the Government Olympic Executive in each of the last three years; how many such actions were brought under each category of action; and how many such actions were contested by the Government Olympic Executive at an employment tribunal. [277422]
Tessa Jowell: No actions under employment law have been brought against the Government Olympic Executive in the last three years.
Olympic Games 2012: Construction
Mr. Laxton: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether the Olympic Delivery Authority requires contractors to use water-borne means of transport to transport material to and from the Olympic site; and if she will make a statement. [277987]
Tessa Jowell: While there is no specific requirement in place, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) is encouraging all contractors to use the waterways to transport materials. The ODA's work to open up navigable waterways will actively encourage contractors to employ sustainable transport methods at every opportunity. Contractors are embracing this challenge; for example, Team Stadium (the consortium constructing the Olympic Stadium) are building offloading facilities near the stadium to enable movement of materials by water. Two of the ODA's other tier one contractors, Veolia and Aggregate Industries, have also committed to using the waterways to transport materials in and waste out. Veolia, the site waste management contractor, is expected to have the first barge carrying waste out of the park at the end of June 2009, following the opening of Three Mills Lock (formerly known as Prescott Lock) this month.
Mr. Laxton: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what contracts have been signed with the Olympic Delivery Authority to enable water-borne freight to be transported to and from the Olympic site. [277988]
Tessa Jowell: Water-borne freight can access the Olympic Park via several of the waterways which run next to and through the Olympic Park.
The Lea Navigation canal, which runs along the western perimeter of the site, already enables 100 tonne barges to access the park. Access to Waterworks River (which runs through the centre of the Park) has been facilitated by investment in a new lock at Three Mills (formerly known as Prescott Lock). This lock will enable
the passage of 350 tonne barges to the Olympic Park wharf located opposite the aquatics centre. Dredging has been undertaken along Waterworks River to ensure barges can reach the new wharf.
The construction of Three Mills lock was managed by British Waterways with funding contributions from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), Transport for London, Department for Transport, London Development Agency and the London Thames Gateway Development Corporation. Dredging was undertaken by British Waterways. The new wharf along Waterworks River has been constructed by the ODA's tier one contractor, Volker Highways.
Miss McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what criteria will apply to the award of contracts for landscaping of the London 2012 Olympic main site; and if she will make a statement. [279309]
Tessa Jowell: Contracts for landscaping of the London 2012 Olympic Park are the responsibility of the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) and are awarded following a competitive tendering process. The authority is a public body whose procurements are subject to the public contracts regulations.
The ODA, in support of its overarching commitment to value and quality, sets a number of requirements, including demonstration of quality and functionality, equality and diversity, design and accessibility, and sustainability, as part of the evaluation criteria used to award contracts. In addition to this core criteria, bespoke commercial and technical conditions are set as appropriate for each of the individual contracts within the Landscape and Public Realm project.
Further detail on ODA procurement policy and principles can be found in the ODA Procurement Policy (published March 2007) and the ODA Supplier Guide (published June 2008).
Over the next three years, there will be a number of opportunities available to landscaping contractors to supply the thousands of young woodland trees, shrubs and other plants needed to complement those trees and plants already secured for a spectacular and sustainable Olympic Park in both games-time and legacy.
Olympic Games 2012: Facilities
Bob Spink: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what her most recent estimate is of the cost of hosting the London 2012 Olympics (a) cross country, (b) equestrian and (c) modern pentathlon events at Greenwich Park. [278654]
Tessa Jowell: The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has responsibility for staging the Olympic and Paralympic games at existing venues. The direct costs associated with staging the events at existing venues come from LOCOG’s revenues which are primarily derived from commercial sponsorship, broadcast rights, ticket sales and merchandising/licensing not from the public purse.
There will be attributable costs to the public purse, for example, in respect of the security and transport functions associated with the venue. However, these
costs have not yet been identified separately for individual venues, but they will form part of the overall security and transport budgets.
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