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12 Nov 2009 : Column 857W—continued
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 (Robert Neill) of 1 September 2009, Official Report, column 1834W, on departmental recruitment, which individuals were employed in the positions of (a) Policy Adviser-Local Government Restructuring and (b) Policy Adviser-Strategy and Performance. [292845]
Barbara Follett: It is standard practice not to identify junior staff holding particular posts. The holders of these posts fall within that category.
Information about the senior civil servants responsible for specific business areas in the Department can be found annually in the Civil Service Yearbook.
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 (Robert Neill) of 1 September 2009, Official Report, column 1834W, on departmental recruitment, for what reasons the position of (a) Policy Adviser-Local Government Restructuring and (b) Policy Adviser-Strategy and Performance, was not publicly advertised. [292846]
Barbara Follett: The two policy adviser roles were not publicly advertised as the Civil Service Recruitment Principles allow for appointments to be made through limited competition as "exceptions to fair and open competition" where they believe this is justified by the needs of the civil service.
The role of Policy Adviser, Local Government Restructuring was not publicly advertised because the role had been filled on a temporary basis by an individual found through a recruitment agency. This individual proved successful in the role and was offered a fixed-term appointment.
For the role of Policy Adviser, Strategy and Performance, a suitable candidate was identified with specific capabilities and experience. Candidates are sourced for these appointments through recruitment agencies and through contacts such as stakeholders with whom the Department engages regularly, who may be able to assist with vacancies which require specific skills.
In both cases, the candidates were judged to have the necessary capability to be effective in the roles. As such, the jobs were not advertised more widely.
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 (Robert Neill) of 1 September 2009, Official Report,
column 1834W, on departmental recruitment, what processes are used to hire staff through limited competition on a time-limited basis; and how this recruitment process differs from usual practice. [292985]
Barbara Follett: Candidates are sourced for fixed-term appointments through recruitment agencies and through contacts such as stakeholders with whom the Department engages regularly, who may be able to assist with vacancies which require specific capabilities or experience.
Departmental Statistics
Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the statistical datasets collected by his Department are published. [299672]
Mr. Ian Austin: As a matter of course, Communities and Local Government publishes information from all of its statistical datasets which meets the definition of 'official statistics' set out in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. The statistics are published in accordance with the requirements set out in the 'Code of Practice for Official Statistics' and the 'National Statistician's Guidance on the Presentation and Publication of Official Statistics'.
Empty Dwelling Management Orders
Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how his Department evaluates the effectiveness of empty dwelling management orders. [299918]
Mr. Ian Austin: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
Home Information Packs
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of home information packs produced in the last 12 months. [299743]
John Healey: We estimate that 815,922 home information packs were produced between 3 November 2008 and 1 November 2009.
Homelessness: South East
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homeless people there were in (a) North East Milton Keynes constituency, (b) Buckinghamshire and (c) the South East in each year since 1997. [299639]
Mr. Ian Austin: Information about English local housing authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation (part 7 of the Housing Act 1996) is collected at local authority level, and published by the Department in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness, available both in the Library and via the CLG website:
Data collected include the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to secure that suitable accommodation is available). If a home is
not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
The regional figures for the number of applicants accepted as owed a main duty and the number of households in temporary accommodation, for each financial year since 1998-99 can be found in tables 3 and 7 of the latest Statistical Release. The equivalent 1997-98 figures can be found in earlier additions of the release, accessible from this link:
Data are not collected at constituency level. North East Milton Keynes is one of the two constituencies that form the local authority of Milton Keynes. Data are not reported at county level. Buckinghamshire includes the following local authorities: Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern, Milton Keynes, South Bucks and Wycombe.
For local authority level acceptance and temporary accommodation figures between 1997-98 and 2008-09 (including those listed above), I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Castle Point (Bob Spink) on 23 June 2009, Official Report, column 843W.
Information is also collected and reported on the number of people who sleep rough-that is, those who are literally roofless on a single night. Local authority data and count guidance can be found here:
Homes and Communities Agency
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) which HomeBuy agents were appointed by the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor in each of the last three years; and how much was paid to each agent in each such year; [299984]
(2) how much (a) his Department, (b) the Homes and Communities Agency, (c) the Homes and Communities Agency Academy and (d) the Tenant Services Authority expects to spend on Christmas parties in 2009; [299985]
(3) what (a) drinks receptions, (b) seminars and (c) conferences have been hosted by (i) his Department, (ii) the Tenant Services Authority, (iii) the Homes and Communities Agency and (iv) the Homes and Communities Agency Academy in each of the last 12 months; [299986]
(4) how much the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has spent on staff costs related to the HCA Academy; [299987]
(5) how much the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor paid in social housing grants in relation to (a) low cost home ownership, (b) social rent and (c) works to registered social landlords' housing stock in each of the last three years; [299988]
(6) how much the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor received in interest payments in each of the last three years; [299989]
(7) what the monetary value of (a) buildings and (b) leases owned by (i) the Tenant Services Authority and (ii) the Homes and Communities Agency and their predecessors and used as offices was in each of the last three years; [299990]
(8) what assessment the Homes and Communities Agency has made of the (a) costs and (b) benefits to it related to changes in taxation levels during 2009-10; and if he will make a statement; [299992]
(9) what (a) shareholdings and (b) subsidiaries the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) owns; what the purpose of ownership of each stake is; what the HCA's shareholding represents as a percentage of the overall shares; and what recent estimate he has made of the monetary value of each stake; [299993]
(10) what sums the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor charged to other public sector bodies in each of the last three years; [299994]
(11) for how much the Homes and Communities Agency's land at the Gateway site in Harlow was (a) purchased and (b) sold; [299995]
(12) what the average per household entitlement to the proceeds of future sales of properties owned by the Homes and Communities Agency is under each HomeBuy scheme; [299996]
(13) what the monetary value of the sums owed (a) by and (b) to the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor was in each of the last three years; and how much of each amount is due to be paid in each of the next three years; [299997]
(14) how many property interests with negative value the Homes and Communities Agency holds; and if he will make a statement; [299998]
(15) how many bad debts the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor acquired in each of the last three years; and what the monetary value of each such debt was; [299999]
(16) how much the Homes and Communities Agency spent in acquiring (a) St. Clement's Hospital, London and (b) Castle College Northside, Sheffield; and if he will make a statement; [300000]
(17) what business EP(LP) Ltd undertakes as a subsidiary of the Homes and Communities Agency; and if he will make a statement; [300001]
(18) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Homes and Communities Agency's Single Equality Scheme; [300002]
(19) what the reasons were for the requirement for an advance from the National Loans Fund to the Homes and Communities Agency as referred to on page 56 of the Agency's Annual Report and Financial Statement 2008/09; [300004]
(20) what the components are of the impairment charge referred to on page 74 of the Homes and Communities Agency's Annual Report and Financial Statement 2008/09; [300005]
(21) what the net cost to the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor was of each bad debt incurred against it in each of the last three years; [300008]
(22) if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) management agreement and (b) financial framework in operation between his Department and the Homes and Communities Agency; [300009]
(23) what estimate he has made of the monetary value of the entitlements of the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor to future sale proceeds resulting from the sale of homes under (a) HomeBuy Direct, (b) OwnHome, (c) Open Market HomeBuy, (d) MyChoice HomeBuy, (e) New Build HomeBuy and (f) Social HomeBuy in each of the last three years; [300010]
(24) how much the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor paid in loans to water companies in each of the last three years; [300011]
(25) how many private finance initiative credits the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor allocated in each of the last three years; [300012]
(26) how many Homes and Communities Agency employees received (a) performance-related payments, (b) other taxable benefits and (c) benefits in kind in respect of the year to March 2009; and how much was spent on such payments; [300013]
(27) what salary has been set for each Homes and Communities Agency regional director for 2009-10; [300014]
(28) how much the Homes and Communities Agency secured in private sector contributions to its property and regeneration programme in 2008-09; [300015]
(29) what target was set for the Homes and Communities Agency in respect of low cost homes ownership starts in 2008-09; and what target has been set for 2009-10; [300016]
(30) how much each board member of the Homes and Communities Agency Academy has been paid since their appointment; [300017]
(31) on what dates the Homes and Communities Agency's Rural Housing Group has met since 1 December 2008; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting; [300018]
(32) what the net value of assets held by the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor was in each of the last three years; [300019]
(33) how much the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor spent on (a) the Property and Regeneration Scheme, (b) the National Affordable Housing Programme, (c) the Community Infrastructure Fund, (d) Homes and Communities Agency Academy and (e) the Decent Homes programme in each of the last three years; [300020]
(34) how much the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor spent on (a) Places of Change, (b) the Thames Gateway and (c) growth funding in each of the last three years; [300021]
(35) how much the Homes and Communities Agency has spent on the Hanham Hall development (a) in total and (b) per unit; [300022]
(36) how many new homes have been built with support from the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor on (a) brownfield and (b) greenfield sites in each of the last three years; [300023]
(37) what role the Homes and Communities Agency has had in the delivery of (a) the Mortgage Rescue Scheme and (b) the National Clearing House; [300024]
(38) how many projects the Homes and Communities Agency has supported through community infrastructure funding; [300025]
(39) how many local authorities received loans from the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last three years; and how much was provided in such loans in each such year; [300026]
(40) how many registered social landlords received loans from the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor bodies in each of the last three years; and how much was provided in such loans in each such year; [300027]
(41) what estimate he has made of the amount of Homes and Communities Agency liabilities in each of the next three years; [300028]
(42) what estimate he has made of the amount of debts due to the Homes and Communities Agency in each of the next three years; [300029]
(43) what Homes and Communities Agency assets are available for sale; and what the book value of such assets was in each of the last three years; [300030]
(44) what target was set for the Homes and Communities Agency in relation to private sector investment in its property and regeneration programme in 2008-09; and what target has been set for 2009-10; [300031]
(45) how much the Homes and Communities Agency has spent on its National Consultancy Unit since the creation of that unit; [300032]
(46) what percentage of the asset writedown due to impairment of development assets referred to on pages 83 and 97 of the Homes and Communities Agency's Annual Report and Financial Statements 2008-09 relates to assets previously held by (a) English Partnerships, (b) the Housing Corporation and (c) the Academy for Sustainable Communities; [300033]
(47) what percentage of the asset writedown due to impairment of development assets referred to on pages 83 and 97 of the Homes and Communities Agency's Annual Report and Financial Statements 2008-09 relates to (a) land and (b) property assets; [300034]
(48) how much the Homes and Communities Agency has spent on the Future Communities website; and how many (a) unique visitors and (b) page impressions have been recorded by the site since its creation; [300035]
(49) how much the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor spent on the employment of temporary staff in each of the last three years; [300036]
(50) pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2009, Official Report, columns 1121-22, on departmental recruitment, who was engaged by his Department to advise on and oversee the recruitment process for the Homes and Communities Agency and the Tenants Services Agency; what the terms of the contract with his Department was; and what procurement process was followed in respect of the contract; [300037]
(51) pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2009, Official Report, column 1124W, on the Homes and Communities Agency: consultants, how much the Homes and Communities Academy spent on (a) the National and Regional Delivery Structure project, (b) the Brownfield Skills project, (c) the Endorsement Framework project, (d) the Benchmark and Toolkit project, (e) the Practical Knowledge to Support delivery project and (f) the Programme staff costs project; and how much of each sum was spent on consultancy costs; [300038]
(52) how many sites listed as (a) Grade I and (b) Grade II the Homes and Communities Agency and its predecessor has redeveloped in each of the last three years; and how many homes have been built on such sites; [300041]
(53) how much the Homes and Communities Agency spent under each budget category in exhibiting a show garden at the Chelsea Flower Show 2009; [300043]
(54) when he expects to make a decision on the future of the pilot Rent to HomeBuy scheme; [300044]
(55) what the financial exposure of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) was in each of the last three years; and to how many single counterparties of more than (a) £50 million and (b) £100 million the HCA is exposed; [300045]
(56) how much was transferred from the Homes and Communities Agency to the Government Banking Service at the end of each of the last 30 days for which figures are available; [300046]
(57) how much grant-in-aid funding from his Department was drawn down by the Homes and Communities Agency in each of the last (a) 24 weeks and (b) 12 months; [300047]
(58) how much the Homes and Communities Agency has spent (a) in total and (b) on each housing association (i) shared ownership products and (ii) try before you buy homes in the latest year for which figures are available; [300049]
(59) how much has been spent by the Homes and Communities Agency on providing (a) signage and (b) security for the site at (A) St Clements Hospital, London and (B) Castle College Northside, Sheffield; [300051]
(60) how many (a) mobile telephones, (b) personal digital assistants and (c) laptops computers were purchased by the (i) Tenant Services Authority and (ii) Homes and Communities Agency in the last 12 months; [300053]
(61) with which (a) central Government bodies, (b) local authorities and (c) public corporations the Homes and Communities Agency held balances in each of the last three years; [300054]
(62) which sites have been purchased for development by the Homes and Communities Agency from public sector bodies; from which organisations such sites were purchased; and how many such sites have been sold; [300055]
(63) how much the Homes and Communities Agency paid for each piece of surplus public sector land it purchased in each of the last five years; and for how much each site was subsequently sold; [300056]
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