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1 Mar 2010 : Column 950W—continued
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding has been granted under the European Regional Development Fund in each (a) local authority and (b) lower super output area in each year since 2000. [318213]
Ms Rosie Winterton: European Regional Development Fund grants are paid to a wide range of public and private sector applicants. Furthermore, they are not restricted to either local authority or lower super output areas and may cover the whole or part of an ERDF programme area, including several local authorities.
It would therefore be a disproportionate cost to my Department to produce this information for each local authority and lower super output area.
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding has been granted under the Single Regeneration Budget in each (a) local authority and (b) lower super output area in each year since 2000. [318215]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The SRJB was allocated to Government offices (GOs) and regional development agencies (RDAs) giving them the authority, freedom and flexibility to best determine the local needs and options through a bidding process. Information is therefore not available for how this was applied to each local authority or each lower super output area (LSOA).
The table shows total SRB expenditure for the six rounds of the programme was £5.7 billion.
| GO/RDA | SRB (£ million) |
Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding has been granted under the Land and Property Programme in each (a) local authority and (b) lower super output area in each year since 2000. [318217]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Land and Property Programme funding was allocated to eligible local authorities giving them the authority, freedom and flexibility to best determine the local needs and options. Information is therefore not available on how this was applied to each Lower Layer Super Output Area (LSOA).
I have placed in the Library of the House, a table which records the allocation for each local authority area in England from 2000-01 to 2008-09.
Council Housing: Finance
Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of the funding announced for the Local Authority New Build scheme (a) at the Budget 2009 and (b) in the Housing Pledge is to be financed through (i) grants and (ii) borrowing. [318719]
John Healey: The funding announced under the Local Authority New Build programme is 50.3 per cent. grant and 49.7 per cent. prudential borrowing. This is close to the 50:50 that was anticipated when the programme was first launched. Local Authority New Build is a single programme. Funding was first announced in the Budget 2009 and significantly increased by the Housing Pledge.
Council Housing: Greater London
Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much and what proportion of the housing stock owned by each London borough was empty in each of the last five years; for what average length of time such properties were empty in each borough in each such year; and if he will make a statement. [319056]
Barbara Follett: A table (table 1) showing estimates of the number of empty dwellings owned by each of the London boroughs and the length of time they were empty at 1 April in each of the last five years has been placed in the House Library.
Another table (table 2) showing estimates of vacant local authority stock in each London borough as a proportion of local authority dwelling stock at 1 April in the same years has been placed in the House Library.
Council Tax: Statistics
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when his Department plans to publish its statistical release on council tax levels set by local authorities in England 2010-11; and whether the UK Statistics Authority will have a role in preparation of the statistics. [319123]
Barbara Follett: A statistical release containing details of the level of council tax set by local authorities in England 2010-11 will be published on the Communities and Local Government website at 09:30 on Wednesday 24 March 2010. This date has been publicised on both the UK National Statistics website at:
and the Communities and Local Government website at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/researchand statistics/statistics/publicationschedule
The UK Statistics Authority is an independent body and will have played no part in the production of these statistics, except that the statistical release is produced subject to their guidelines.
Council Tax: Tax Rates and Bands
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which billing authority has the lowest Band D council tax level. [319142]
Barbara Follett: In 2009-10, Broxbourne has the lowest Band D council tax level in England.
This information can be found in Table 8 of the statistical release council tax levels set by local authorities in England: 2009-10 (Revised) that is available on the Communities and Local Government website at
Council Tax: Valuation
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether there is any limit to the number of years an alteration to a valuation banding can be backdated and the residents be refunded in the case of an incorrect council tax banding. [319319]
Barbara Follett: The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 (regulations 17-31) set out the way in which billing authorities must administer council tax bills and issue demand notices requiring payment. Regulation 31(4) provides that any amount of council tax overpaid shall be repaid to the taxpayer, or credited against subsequent liability of that person.
No limit is stated in the regulations regarding the period of back payment. However, when correcting an inaccuracy in a council tax valuation list, the extent to which an alteration can be backdated will depend on the circumstances of the case. No backdating can be before the date on which the dwelling first appeared in a valuation list.
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 15 May 2006, Official Report, column 766W, on the Valuation Office Agency, whether any changes have been made to (a) his Department's policy on refunding householders following an erroneous council tax valuation and (b) the maximum liability of a local authority to refund over-payments of council tax attributable to incorrect banding. [319648]
Barbara Follett: A person who has overpaid council tax is entitled to have the overpayment refunded. There has been no decision to change this, nor to limit the liability of a local authority to make such refunds where practicable.
Departmental Energy
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department plans to take to participate in the Earth Hour event on 27 March 2010. [319089]
Barbara Follett: Communities and Local Government's Sustainable Operations Policy requires all equipment to be switched off when not in use. We are ensuring that this is being done by fitting timers and sensors to all non-networked equipment, using a centralised Building Energy Management System (BEMS), and conducting an ongoing energy efficiency awareness campaign.
However, the Department does not intend to specifically participate in Earth Hour's switch off. CLG's office lighting system is 15 years old and has reached the end of its useful life. Consequently, a proportion of its movement sensors have failed and some lights no longer switch off automatically. To address this, the Department is undertaking a comprehensive office lighting upgrade which is expected to achieve over 50 per cent. savings in lighting energy. Full participation in Earth Hour's switch off before the completion of this replacement project would involve initiating a total building power shutdown and this would be disproportionately expensive.
Departmental Legislation
Mr. Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which provisions of the (a) Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, (b) Homelessness Act 2002, (c) Local Government Act 2003, (d) Housing Act 2004, (e) Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, (f) Planning-gain Supplement (Preparations) Act 2007, (g) Planning Act 2008, (h) Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 and (i) Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 have not been commenced. [319289]
Barbara Follett: Please see the following information about the commencement of the Acts referred to in (a) to (i). The information relates to provisions which apply to England, or England and Wales, but does not include provisions where the responsibility for commencement lies with Welsh Ministers. It also excludes some provisions which have been included in Commencement Orders but are not yet in force.
(a) Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002
Not commenced-
Sections 121, 122 (partially), 123-124, schedule 8, sections 152 (partially), 154, 156 (partially), 157 (partially) and schedule 10 (partially).
All provisions in force.
Not commenced-
Sections 68, 69, 90 (partially)
Schedule 8 (partially)
Not commenced-
Section 265 and schedules 15 (partially), 16 (partially).
(e) Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004
Not commenced-
Sections 45, 46 to 48 (repealed), 50, 51
Schedule 6 paragraphs 4 to 6 (paragraph 5 repealed), 14, 16(3), 27
Schedule 7 paragraphs 1,19(3) and (4)
Schedule 9-the repeal of sections 73, 83, 106-106B and 220 of, and schedules 1 (Wales) and 7 to, the Town and Country Planning Act 1990; the repeal of section 10(2) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990; the repeal of section 17 of the Planning and Compensation Act 1991.
(f) Planning-gain Supplement (Preparations) Act 2007
All provisions in force.
Not commenced-
Sections 14 (partially), 27-30, 153 (partially), 186, 189, 190 (partially), 192 (partially), 193, 196 (partially), 206 (partially), 224 (partially), 238 (partially)
Schedules 6 (partially), 8, 9 (partially), 10 (partially), 13 (partially).
(h) Housing and Regeneration Act 2008
Not commenced-
Sections 4 (partially), 19 (partially), 31, 32 (partially), 33 (partially), 35, 56 and schedule 8 (partially), 57 (partially), 58 (partially), 60-63, 64 (partially), 68-71 (partially), 73-80 (partially), section 94, sections 95 to 98 (partially), sections 106 to 111, sections 112 to 113 (partially), section 115, sections 116 to 117 (partially), section 118, section 119 (partially), section 120 to 126, section 127 (partially), sections 128 to 130, section 131 (partially), sections 132 to 143, section s 144 to 145 (partially),sections 146 to 173, section 174 (partially), sections 175 to 191, section 198 (partially), sections 199 to 101, section 102 (partially), sections 203 to 211, section 212 (partially), section 213, sections 214 to 215 (partially), sections 217 to 227, section 228 (partially), sections 229 to 233, section 234 (partially), sections 235 to 239, section 240 (partially), sections 241 to 243, section 244 (partially), sections 245 to 274, sections 275 to 276 (partially), section 277 and schedule 9 (partially), sections 278 to 296 and schedule 10, section 299 and schedule 11 (partially), section 303 and schedule 12 (partially), section 314 and schedule 15 (partially), section 316 (partially), section 318 section 321 and schedule 16 (partially).
(i) Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009
Not commenced-
Sections 1-22, 34-54, 138-145
Schedule 7 (partially).
Departmental Manpower
Robert Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2010, Official Report, column 285W, on departmental manpower, when each of the three policy advisers on fixed term contracts was appointed; which appointments were subject to open competition; and if he will list the names of each. [317812]
Barbara Follett: The policy adviser, Strategy Performance Division was appointed in June 2009 through limited competition.
The senior policy adviser, Cohesion and Faiths Division was appointed in January 2003 following a secondment.
The policy adviser, Housing Supply Division was appointed in April 2009 through limited competition.
Under the Civil Service Recruitment principles, there is no automatic requirement to advertise fixed term contracts publicly.
I am unable to provide the names of those employed as these individuals are not members of the senior civil service. Information, including names, on senior officials can be found in the Civil Service Yearbook.
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