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11 Nov 2009 : Column 527W—continued
These figures originate from the growing awareness of the role of the Housing Ombudsman, and from the impact of the TSA and their work on the National Conversation, highlighting the complaints procedures available for tenants. Recent research by the Ombudsman indicates that there is growing awareness that the Ombudsman exists (up from roughly 30-50 per cent. of tenants).
'Estate services' are a catch all category for those complaints not easily fitting the other categories-for example, around landlord failure to communicate effectively.
The Housing Ombudsman service does not record separately the number of cases involving shared ownership.
Housing: Energy
Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the (a) methodology and (b) underlying data used in the calculation of the efficiency values attributed to heat pumps in the draft Standard Assessment Procedure 2009; and from what sources the underlying data were derived. [298725]
Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
It is proposed that Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) 2009 will use actual, reliable and verified, seasonal performance data provided by manufacturers. Where such performance data have not been made available
the default efficiency values listed in SAP 2009 will be used. The default values in SAP 2009 are the same as those listed in SAP 2005 and were derived in consultation with industry experts taking account of the field trial information available. The SAP methodology and default values will be informed by the procedure being developed with industry to determine actual seasonal performance values, for which supporting performance data are expected in early 2010, and the Energy Saving Trust's heat pump field trials.
Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the calculation of the efficiency values attributed to heat pumps in the draft Standard Assessment Procedure 2009 included an assessment of the likely use of the pumps for periods of cooling. [298726]
Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
The default efficiency values in SAP 2009 would not have included any assessment of the likely use of pumps for the periods of cooling, as they were derived for heating performance in consultation with industry experts for SAP 2005. As SAP 2009 enables the use of actual performance values it would be necessary to determine the heating and cooling performance of reversible heat pumps as separate inputs for the SAP.
Housing: Finance
Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding for (a) Decent Homes, (b) Kick Start, (c) housing capital allocations and (d) other housing capital schemes has been provided by (i) his Department and (ii) the Homes and Communities Agency to (A) Barnet Council and (B) Barnet Homes arms length management organisation in the last 10 years; what the name was of each identifiable scheme which received funding; how much was provided for each such scheme; and how many (1) social rented, (2) low-cost purchase and (3) full-cost purchase properties there were in each such scheme. [298907]
Mr. Ian Austin: The question contains a number of sub-divisions, and the following response lists the available information and specifies the relevant sub-divisions.
(a) Decent Homes (A) Barnet Council (i) Provided by the Department
The following table sets out the Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMO) funding the Department has allocated to Barnet Council for its ALMO Barnet Homes as part of its Decent Homes programme. Funding was only available from 2004-5.
| 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
(b) Kick Start (ii) Provided by HCA
Local authorities are not eligible to apply for Kick Start, as there is a separate funding pot available to local authorities, nor is it anticipated that ALMOs will apply as they are unlikely to own sites which meet the range of criteria outlined. The aim of the programme is to unlock stalled sites in England for the development of high-quality, mixed tenure homes. Where a local authority has appointed a delivery partner, for example through a disposal or development agreement to bring forward a site for housing development, the delivery partner can apply.
Barnet Homes have not applied for the Kick Start programme.
(c) Housing Capital Allocations (A) Barnet Council (i) Provided by the Department (1) Social rented
| Barnet council | ||||
| Housing investment programme (£ million)( 1) | Local authority supported capital expenditure (£ million)( 2) | LB Barnet major repairs allowance total allowance (£ million)( 3) | Number of dwellings at 1 April | |
| (1) Housing Investment Programme (HIP)-represented the Housing element of the local authority's Basic Credit Approval allocations, under the pre-2003 system. BCAs provided local authorities with approval to borrow for any capital purpose, including housing. (2) Local Authority Supported Capital Expenditure (Revenue)-(SCE(R))s represent a level of borrowing on which the Government are prepared to provide a revenue income stream to support the costs of the loans. The income stream calculated as part of the authority's Housing Revenue Account (HRA) subsidy entitlement. (3) Major Repairs Allowance (MRA)-MRA allocations are paid as revenue as part of the local authority's HRA subsidy entitlement, but can only be used for capital expenditure or repayment of debt. | ||||
(d) Housing Capital Scheme (B) Barnet Homes Arms Length Management Order (ii) Provided by HCA
Barnet Homes have had a successful bid against Sustainable Homes Energy Savings Programme (SHESP) (the cavity wall insulation programme through Decent Homes) of approximately £1.9 million to cover 1,569 units.
(d) Housing Capital Scheme (A) Barnet Council (i) Provided by the Department
| Barnet c ouncil | ||
| Disabled facilities grant (£000) | Private sector renewal (£ million) | |
Further details of allocations under defunct capital housing schemes would be available only at disproportionate cost.
Housing: Fires
Mr. Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many deaths have resulted from domestic fires in each of the last 10 years; and what assessment his Department has made of these figures. [298324]
Mr. Malik: The numbers of fatalities resulting from dwelling fires are shown in the table for the latest 10 years for which data are available.
These figures are assessed to inform and evaluate policy and initiatives, for example in: "Learning Lessons from Real Fires: Findings from Fatal Fire Investigation Reports"
and "Interim Evaluation of the Home Fire Risk Check Grant Programme"
| Number of fatalities in dwelling fires, England, 1999 to 2008( 1) | |
| Fatalities | |
| (1) Provisional. Data for 2008 are provisional and subject to change. | |
Housing: Low Incomes
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made establishing a community land trust at Cashes Green in Stroud; and what discussions he has had on the matter with the Homes and Communities Agency. [298871]
John Healey: The Homes and Communities Agency is working with local partners to establish the Cashes Green community land trust. Following extensive public engagement and community consultation, the Homes and Communities Agency has recently obtained planning consent for the redevelopment of the derelict site identified for this pilot land trust. It is now in the process of securing a development partner, by way of a competitive OJEU process, to deliver the overall scheme. Officials in the Department maintain regular contact with counterparts in the Homes and Communities Agency on this matter.
Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many community land trusts are in operation; where each is located; how many houses each has built; and how long each trust took to establish. [298872]
John Healey: Community land trusts are privately constituted bodies and are not required to register with the TSA unless they provide low-cost rental accommodation. The Department therefore does not hold the information requested.
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