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19 Oct 2009 : Column 1313W—continued
Local Government: Standards
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which data collections from local authorities that were part of the best value performance indicator set and are not part of the national indicator set his Department is continuing to obtain. [293108]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Best value performance indicators (BVPIs) were replaced by the new national indicator set on 1 April 2008. However, some of the data used to measure BVPIs forms part of larger data returns, which continue to be collected for uses such as financial management and to inform policy direction. Wherever we have been able to identify such data, the relevant BVPIs are listed in the following tables. In addition, the first table lists 16 former BVPI questions which were included in the new Place Survey in order to provide a balanced questionnaire and maximise the response rate; and the second table lists seven fire and rescue service BVPIs which are not collected directly but are available to CLG through the joint FRS/CLG incident recording system.
| Data collected from fire and rescue authorities | |
| BVPI number | BVPI name |
|
Available to CLG through the joint FRS/CLG incident recording system | |
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Mr. Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to increase public awareness of measures to assist homeowners with mortgage repayments. [292560]
John Healey: The Department launched the new Mortgage Help communications campaign on 8 September 2009, specifically aimed at homeowners who are concerned about their mortgage payments. Advertising directs concerned homeowners to the campaign website
for tailored advice on the steps they can take to keep their home. This includes sources of help and protection available through government schemes. Advertising also directs concerned homeowners to the help available through the campaign's money advice partners, which include the National Debtline, CAB, CCCS and Shelter.
The campaign highlights that more than 300,000 households have received help and advice with their mortgage since April 2008.
Local press and outdoor advertising is appearing initially in 22 areas which are at higher risk of repossessions, as calculated by court order data and rises in claims for job seekers allowance.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many households in each Government Office Region have received financial support from the Preventing Repossession Fund since its inception; [292756]
(2) how many households have received financial support from the Repossessions Prevention Fund. [293110]
John Healey: The £20 million Preventing Repossessions Fund was announced by the Chancellor in the Budget to enable local authorities to offer small loans to families at risk of homelessness through repossession or eviction. This forms part of the range of assistance that has been put in place at every stage to help households struggling to pay their mortgage. Information about the number of households who have received a payment from the fund will be published later this year.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to his Department's press release of 8 September 2009, on support for homeowners, what forms of advertising were used; and what the cost was of that advertising. [293020]
John Healey: The Mortgage Help campaign is being promoted through national and local press, digital advertising, digital search and outdoor media. The campaign is still running and final costs are not yet available. The Department will publish a breakdown of campaign costs at the time of its next annual report.
National Policy Statements
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 5 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1435-6W, on national policy statements, what the latest timetable is for the (a) draft publication of, (b) consultation on and (c) designation of the first tranche of National Policy Statements. [292854]
John Healey: The Department for Communities and Local Government published an update to the Route Map for implementation of the Infrastructure Planning Commission regime, including the timetable for preparation of National Policy Statements, on its website on Tuesday 14 July 2009. Copies are also in the Library of the House.
Non-Domestic Rates
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what effect the rate of retail price index inflation of minus 1.4 per cent. will have on the level of business rates from April 2010; and if he will make a statement. [293895]
Barbara Follett: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 16 October 2009, Official Report, column 1131.
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many hereditaments on the Rating List in England had a SCAT Code of 442 according to records held by the Valuation Office Agency in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [292690]
Barbara Follett: The number of hereditaments in England with a SCAT Code of 442 (Takeaway Food Outlets) as at the appropriate dates is as follows:
| As at 1 April: | Number |
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his latest estimate is of the percentage change in rateable values between (a) the 2005 and (b) the 2010 draft rating list for each special category code, according to records held by the Valuation Office Agency. [292996]
Barbara Follett: I have placed a table of estimates of the percentage change in rateable values, by special category code, between the 2005 rating list and the 2010 draft rating list, as at 29 May 2009, in the Library of the House. These data are consistent with the consultation document titled: "The Transitional Arrangements for the Non-Domestic Rating Revaluation 2010 in England", published on 8 July 2009. A copy of the consultation document is available at the following link:
An updated draft list will be available for this type of analysis shortly.
Non-Domestic Rates: Renewable Energy
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Valuation Office Agency's guidance on the rating of (a) microgeneration wind turbines, (b) solar voltaic cells and (c) ground source heat pumps for the 2010 business rates revaluation; [292827]
(2) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 3 June 2009, Official Report, column 589W, on non-domestic rates: microgeneration, whether the 2010 rates revaluation will result in an increase in rateable values on properties in which microgeneration equipment was installed between 2008 and April 2010. [292849]
Barbara Follett: Microgeneration plant and machinery, including micro wind turbines and small-scale solar or photovoltaic cells, installed on or before 31 March 2010 are, in principle, liable to be included in the rateable values of properties for the 2010 revaluation. However, the Valuation Office Agency has no evidence that any of these are of sufficient value to, in practice, affect the rateable values of properties. Its advice on the rating of (a) microgeneration wind turbines, (b) solar voltaic cells and (c) ground source heat pumps is available in the Rating Manual on the Valuation Office's website at Volume 4 Section 3 Practice Note 8:
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