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27 July 2010 : Column 1021W—continued
Members' Staff: Termination of Employment
Grahame M. Morris: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many staff of hon. Members received P45 forms at the last payroll due to the transfer of staff pay functions to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority; how many staff of hon. Members were removed from the Parliamentary ICT system as a result; and how many complaints the House of Commons Service and PICT have received from hon. Members or their staff about this matter. [11508]
Sir Stuart Bell:
A total of 149 staff of hon. Members received P45 forms at the last payroll due to the transfer of staff pay functions to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. Some of the staff who had been issued P45s were incorrectly placed on a list of leavers, and three staff of hon. Members were temporarily removed from the Parliamentary ICT system as a result.
On 7 July 2010 the Department e-mailed or wrote to all of the employees affected to apologise for any distress they had suffered. Twelve complaints about the matter were received by the House of Commons Service and PICT from hon. Members or their staff.
Electoral Commission Committee
Democracy Diversity Fund
John Robertson: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent representations the Electoral Commission has received on the introduction of a democracy diversity fund. [11096]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has received no recent representations on the introduction of a democracy diversity fund.
Absent Voting
Philip Davies: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the extent of the misuse of postal voting at the last general election. [11213]
Mr Streeter: The Electoral Commission informs me that it is working with the Association of Chief Police Officers to collate information about all reported cases of alleged electoral malpractice, including those relating to postal voting.
The Commission and ACPO will publish in January 2011 an analysis of cases of alleged malpractice reported during 2010, including any cases relating to the May 2010 UK parliamentary general election. This will include the status of any cases relating to allegations of specific postal voting offences and the outcome where cases have been resolved.
Carlisle City Council: Constituencies
John Stevenson: To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission when the next review of local government ward boundaries for Carlisle Council will take place. [9242]
Mr Streeter: The Local Government Boundary Commission for England informs me that it has no current plans to carry out an electoral review of Carlisle city council.
Business, Innovation and Skills
Banks: Interest Charges
Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to regulate interest rates charged by banks on unauthorised overdrafts. [10494]
Mr Davey: The coalition Government are committed to introducing stronger consumer protections, including measures to end unfair bank charges as set out in the coalition agreement. BIS is working with the Treasury on this issue and will be coming forward with measures in due course.
Broadband: Blaenau Gwent
Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many households in Blaenau Gwent constituency he expects to be able to access broadband of 2 megabytes per second or faster by December 2012. [11827]
Mr Vaizey: This Department has made no assessment of the number of households in the Blaenau Gwent constituency expected to be able to access 2 Mbps by 2012. However, Broadband Delivery UK is assessing current broadband provision at community level in its work on delivery of universal service commitment and next generation broadband access.
Business: Government Assistance
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects Grant for Business Investment funding provided through regional development agencies to be resumed. [10545]
Mr Prisk: The recent Budget announced that the regional development agencies (RDAs) are to be abolished. In advance of the forthcoming Spending Review, any financial commitments that the RDAs wish to enter into from and including 2011/12 require the approval of both this Department and HM Treasury. This applies to Grant for Business funding as it does to all business support delivered by the agencies.
Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in Bedford constituency received support from the Capital for Enterprise Fund in the last 12 months. [11426]
Mr Prisk: The Capital for Enterprise Fund has not made any investments in the Bedford constituency. Overall, the fund has made investments in 38 businesses with a total value of £50.8 million.
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when the review of the Grant for Business Investment and other Solutions for Business products will be completed; and if he will make a statement. [11534]
Mr Prisk: All Solutions for Business products are being looked at as part of the Department's Spending Review settlement, which is due to be published on 20 October 2010.
Business: West Midlands
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to consult businesses in (a) the West Midlands and (b) Coventry on the effect on the region of reductions in government expenditure. [11942]
Mr Prisk: As part of the Spending Review engagement process, the Government are committed to engaging with and involving the whole country in the difficult decisions that will have to be taken. This includes businesses, large and small. Doing so will demonstrate that the Government believe there is a more open, transparent and collaborative approach to solving problems than has been the case in the past.
Ministers have been engaging with a variety of groups, individuals, public sector workers and organisations from all over the country via websites such as the Spending Challenge:
Ministers will continue to engage over the summer.
Cairn Energy
Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what Cairn Energy and Capricorn Oil Ltd projects have received assistance through the Export Credits Guarantee Department in the last three years. [11912]
Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department has taken to monitor the financial and regulatory costs to businesses of participation in the Carbon Reduction Commitment Energy Efficiency Scheme since the publication of the impact assessment. [11997]
Gregory Barker: I have been asked to reply.
Government have not undertaken any additional assessment on the financial and regulatory costs since publication of the Final Impact Assessment in January 2010. Registration for participation in the scheme opened on 1 April and closes on 30 September and we have no reason to question the assessment made at the start of this year. The Final Impact Assessment estimated the net benefits overall of the scheme to be £3,800 million. We will keep the operation of the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme under review.
Consumers: Protection
Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to bring forward proposals to achieve the commitment in the Coalition Agreement to introduce stronger consumer protections; and if he will make a statement. [11847]
Mr Davey: Progress has already been made in a number of areas to improve consumer protection.
On 12 July I announced that the Government had reached agreement with the credit reference industry to give consumers easier access to their credit reports, and continued free access to credit reports for victims of identity fraud and the financially vulnerable. On the same date I also announced moves to strengthen consumer protection around holiday timeshares, with a consultation on the transposition of the EU timeshare directive.
On 14 July I announced a review of consumer credit and personal insolvency and my Department will be issuing a formal call for evidence following the summer recess. This is an opportunity to improve the safeguards on consumer credit products, where this is necessary, and in particular to ensure that people get fair deals on credit cards, loans and other products on the market, and improving access for the financially excluded.
I am currently reviewing the regulatory framework for consumer protection, including the role of all publicly funded consumer bodies. I am also reviewing options for action to end unfair bank and financial transaction charges. Further announcements will be made in due course.
Departmental Billing
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what percentage of payments made by his Department to (a) small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and (b) all suppliers were made (i) within 10-days of receipt of invoice and (ii) on the agreed payment terms in the last three months for which information is available. [11162]
Mr Davey: In the last three months, BIS has paid the following percentages of invoices:
| Percentage | |||
| Month | Within 5 working days( 1) | Within 10 working days | Within 30 calendar days( 2) |
| (1) From May 2010, the requirement to monitor and report payment performance against 10-working days was changed to five working days; 10-day payment performance for May and June has not been recorded. (2) BIS' standard agreed payment terms are payment in 30-days of receipt of a valid invoice. | |||
BIS does not currently record and publish information about the size of suppliers as this does not fully reflect the number and size of businesses engaged in supplying goods and services. We do not discriminate by size of business because many SMEs can be found within larger supply chains.
Departmental Official Hospitality
Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department spent on hospitality for events hosted by each Minister in his Department in (a) May and (b) June 2010. [10104]
Departmental Overseas Visits
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much expenditure has been incurred by his Department on overseas travel in respect of each Minister in each year since its inception and 6 May 2010; what the (a) departure date, (b) return date and (c) destination was in each such case; what class of travel each Minister travelled; how much was claimed on travel and subsistence by each Minister on each visit; if he will place in the Library a copy of the itinerary for each such visit; and if he will make a statement. [10603]
Mr Davey:
A list of all overseas visits undertaken by this Department's Ministers since the inception of the Department until 31 March 2008 and costing in excess of £500 were published on the Cabinet Office website.
Copies of this information are also available in the Library. Details for 2009-10 and 2010-11 Q1 expenditure will be made available shortly.
The information includes name, date, destination, purpose of the trip and cost by each Minister. More detailed information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Publications
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost to the public purse of the literature produced by his Department and its predecessors has been in each year from 1997 to May 2010; and if he will make a statement. [10604]
Mr Davey: The Department produces many pieces of literature annually, as did its predecessors. Much of this activity is not controlled centrally and information about its costs could be assembled only at disproportionate cost.
Departmental Travel
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the budget was for ministerial travel in his Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997; how much was (a) spent and (b) unspent in each year; and if he will make a statement. [10519]
Mr Davey: Budgets are not set at this level.
Information regarding BIS Ministers' overseas travel up to 2008-09 which was originally published on the Cabinet Office website is available in the Library.
Information for 2009-10 will be available shortly.
East of England Development Agency: Lobbying
Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 15 June 2010, Official Report, column 391W, on regional development agencies, and with reference to the answer of 22 March 2010, Official Report, column 150W, on the East of England Regional Development Agency: public relations, if he will make an assessment of the compatibility of the East of England Development Agency's public affairs contract with Fishburn Hedges with his Department's guidance on hiring lobbyists; and how much that regional development agency has spent to date on public affairs consultants. [11261]
Mr Prisk: The East of England Development Agency's public affairs contract with Fishburn Hedges ended in January 2010.
Payments to Fishburn Hedges to date are as follows:
| £ | |
EU Grants and Loans
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received from regional development agencies on the future of the European Regional Development Fund. [11733]
Mr Prisk:
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has received no official representation from the regional development agencies on the future of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). RDAs
have, however, made informal inquiries to Government on the future of the ERDF and guidance has been provided, where possible.
Foreign Investment in UK: China
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the monetary value was of foreign direct investment from China (a) in total and (b) in each sector in each of the last five years. [R] [10606]
Mr Prisk: The available data is shown in the following table. Updated figures are due to be available from the Office for National Statistics on 3 February 2011.
| £ million | ||||||
| Net foreign direct investment flows into the United Kingdom from China | Net FDI international investment position in the United Kingdom from China | |||||
| Industrial activity of UK affiliates | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | End 2008 |
| '-' Indicates that no data were returned (1) Indicates that data are disclosive and cannot be published Source: ONS Business Monitor MA4, Tables 5.3 and 6.3 | ||||||
Further Education: Capital Investment
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much capital support grant each further education college in London will receive in 2010-11. [11174]
Mr Willetts: As set out in the following table 14, Greater London colleges including three sixth form colleges are due to receive grants amounting to £114 million in 2010-11 subject to receipt of eligible claims. Twenty-two Greater London colleges are also eligible to apply for the £50 million Renewal and Enhanced Renewal fund as part of the additional £50 million capital funding announced by the Chancellor on the 24 May.
| College name | 2010-11 total grant profile (£) |
Eligible colleges for Renewal Grant and Enhanced Renewal Grant
Barking College
Bexley College
Carshalton College
College of Haringey, Enfield and North
East London
Greenwich Community College
Harrow College
Havering College of Further Education
Hillcroft College
Kensington and Chelsea College
Kingston College
Lewisham College
Mary Ward Centre (The)
Newham College of Further Education
Redbridge College
Richmond Adult Community College
Richmond upon Thames College
Southgate College
Southwark College
Tower Hamlets College
Uxbridge College
Waltham Forest College
Workers' Educational Association
Working Men's College (The)
Further Education: Finance
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of total spending on further education colleges was allocated in respect of (a) staff costs related to teaching and (b) all staff costs in the latest period for which figures are available. [12002]
Mr Willetts: Funding is allocated to further education (FE) colleges and other training organisations for delivery of further education and skills training.
As autonomous bodies it is for FE colleges to determine the amount of funding they spend on teaching and other staff costs in order to deliver this provision.
Each college publishes their own accounts. The Skills Funding Agency summarises information from all college accounts on their website:
Higher Education
Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to revise the system by which private higher education institutions are granted degree-awarding powers; and what his Department's plans are for private higher education institutions and their ability to award qualifications. [5690]
Mr Willetts: There are no immediate plans to change the system by which private sector organisations are granted degree-awarding powers but this is an area which we will keep under review.
Higher Education: Admissions
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to encourage access to higher education for those from low income backgrounds. [10568]
Mr Willetts
[holding answer 22 July 2010]: The need to attract more students from disadvantaged backgrounds into higher education is written into the coalition agreement. This makes clear that once Lord Browne's Independent Review of Higher Education funding and student finance has reported, its proposals will be judged against the
Coalition's agreed criteria, which include increasing social mobility and attracting more students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Higher Education: Finance
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on levels of expenditure on higher education. [10980]
Mr Willetts: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State regularly discusses a range of subjects with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, including higher education.
Higher Education: Per Capita Costs
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average cost to the public purse was of an undergraduate university course in the latest period for which figures are available. [11224]
Mr Willetts: There is no published estimate of the overall average cost to the public purse of an undergraduate university course due to differences in the definitions of which students are eligible for teaching grant and student support. Estimates are however available of expenditure per receiving student per year for each of these components separately:
Teaching expenditure-in academic year 2008/09 the average teaching grant expenditure per funded student (both undergraduate and postgraduate) was around £4,200 per year.
Student support expenditure-in 2008/09 around 870,000 students were awarded student support in the form of grants and/or loans. In total £1.136 billion was received in grants at an average of £1,300 per student awarded student support. Maintenance and fee loans for these students totalled £4.698 billion, which would have an average budgetary cost(1) per student awarded student support of around £1,500.
(1) The budgetary cost represents the future cost to government of subsidising and writing off the loans issued.
Higher Education: South Yorkshire
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many young people resident in Don Valley constituency entered (a) higher education and (b) university in each of the last 12 years. [10711]
Mr Willetts: The Department does not hold constituency-level data for students studying higher education courses at further education colleges. It is, therefore, not possible to provide the numbers of all young higher education entrants from the Don Valley constituency.
The numbers of young (under 21) undergraduate entrants from the Don Valley constituency to UK higher education institutions (universities and higher education colleges) are provided in the table as an alternative. Figures are taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency Student Record and are provided for the academic years to 1997/98 to 2008/09. Data for the 2009/10 academic year will become available from January 2011.
| Young( 1) undergraduate entrants( 2) from the Don Valley constituency( 3) , UK higher education institutions( 4) , academic years 1997/98 to 2008/09 | |
| Academic year | Young undergraduate entrants |
| (1) Young refers to entrants aged under 21. (2 )Covers entrants to both full-time and part-time courses. (3 )The table does not include entrants where the constituency of the student cannot be established due to missing or invalid postcode information. (4 )Excludes the Open university due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants across the time series. Notes: 1. Figures are based on a HESA snapshot population as at 1 December. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest five. Source Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record. | |
Methyl Bromide
Jackie Doyle-Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many representations he has received on the prohibition of methyl bromide by the EU; and what alternative fumigants to methyl bromide are available for the treatment of timber and timber products. [6344]
Mr Paice: I have been asked to reply.
The use of methyl bromide as a pesticide was reviewed by the European Commission during 2008 as part of the ongoing review of the safety of all pesticides and as a result methyl bromide was found to have harmful effects on human health. It was therefore made illegal to use the substance as a pesticide after 18 March 2010. Consequently, the use of methyl bromide is no longer allowed under EU Regulation 1005/2009 on substances that deplete the ozone layer.
The Secretary of State has received no representations on the prohibition of methyl bromide by the EU. However Lord Henley and I have both responded to correspondence from MPs about the use of methyl bromide in the fumigation of willow for cricket bats for export to India. The Department has also received representations from the Specialist Cheesemakers Association.
Currently, there is no alternative fumigant approved under international agreements for the phytosanitary treatment of timber or wood products.
Overseas Trade: Israel
Mr Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of the number of jobs in the UK that are dependent on trade with Israel; and if he will make a statement. [R] [10605]
Mr Prisk:
Estimates regarding the total number of jobs in the UK dependent on trade with any particular country are not available. There is no requirement for companies to notify UK Trade and Investment (UKTI)
of their international activities. UKTI only has access to trade and investment figures relating to projects where UKTI or its regional partners were specifically involved. These figures will not realistically reflect the number of jobs that are dependent upon trade with Israel.
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) is the Government Department with responsibility for helping British companies succeed overseas and attracting foreign direct investment into the UK.
Postal Workers: Cycling
Dr Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the environmental effects of Royal Mail's plans to phase out the use of post-bikes. [11945]
Mr Davey: Decisions regarding the methods used for its delivery operations are the responsibility of Royal Mail's management team and not matters for Government. As the level of packets and parcels in delivery rounds increases, due to the growth in goods ordered online, the daily mailbag may not in many cases be suitable for carriage on bicycles and it is vital that the company delivers the mail as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Royal Mail always considers the environmental impact of any operational changes it makes. It has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 12% since 2004-05 (transport-related emissions have reduced by 9.8%) and is wholly committed to achieving even more stretching reductions in years to come. The group achieved a reported reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions of 26,797.1 tonnes in 2008/09.
Regional Development Agencies: Land
Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the land assets held by each regional development agency following dissolution. [11927]
Mr Prisk: Regional development agencies own a range of land assets which were acquired for regeneration purposes. Some of these assets may be sold by agencies as part of their normal programme of disposal over the next year. We will be discussing with RDAs, their partners and other Departments the future ownership of assets. No final decisions have been made.
Research: Standards
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of the Research Excellence Framework. [11598]
Mr Willetts: The Higher Education Funding Council for England, and higher education funding bodies elsewhere in the UK, have together incurred costs of £1.4 million in developing the Research Excellence Framework (REF) during 2009-10. The results of REF will inform 5-6 years of research funding allocations (which currently amount to over £1.6 billion per annum in England).
Sheffield Forgemasters
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) on what date (a) he, (b) each other Minister in his Department and (c) each official in his Department who was involved in decision-making on the proposed loan to Sheffield Forgemasters was first aware of the contents of each piece of correspondence from Andrew Cook to his Department referred to during the debate on 21 July 2010, Official Report, columns 523-32; what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on this correspondence; on what date such discussions took place; and if he will make a statement; [11573]
(2) whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department had discussions with (i) the Chairman, (ii) any representative and (iii) any employee of William Cook Holdings Ltd on matters relating to the withdrawal of the proposed loan facility to Sheffield Forgemasters on 21 July 2010; [11583]
(3) what (a) meetings, (b) telephone discussions and (c) correspondence (i) he and (ii) his officials have had with (A) Andrew Cook, owner of William Cook Holdings Ltd and (B) employees and representatives of the company on Sheffield Forgemasters since 7 May 2010; on what dates such contact took place in each case; what the outcome of each such contact was; and if he will make a statement. [11556]
Mr Prisk: Mr Cook sent an email to my constituency address on 25 May. I forwarded it to my BIS private office on the same day. Mr Cook then emailed the advice he had received from Linklaters directly to my private office on 9 June.
Mr Cook's representations were subsequently circulated to a small number of officials within the Department, including three senior civil servants (Janice Munday, Mike Keoghan and Aileen Boughen). My private office responded to both of Mr Cook's emails thanking him for sharing his concerns and saying that they had been noted.
The Department has had no meetings with any representatives of William Cook Holdings on the subject of Sheffield Forgemasters. Following your request for a copy of the representations from Mr Cook in your letter to me of 30 June, an official wrote to Mr Cook on 16 July, in accordance with the best practice set out by the Information Commissioner for consulting third parties in relation to requests for information made under the Freedom of Information Act. The same official also had brief telephone conversations with Mr Cook on 16 July and 21 July.
There were no discussions between BIS Ministers about Mr Cook's representations prior to their disclosure to you.
Students: Finance
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the range of revenues which could accrue to universities in England through the introduction of tuition fees varied (a) by academic institution and (b) by degree programme; and if he will make a statement. [11319]
Mr Willetts: Variable tuition fees were introduced in England in 2006, following the Higher Education Act 2004, which allows universities to set any fee up to a maximum of £3,290 (in 2010-11).
The future of fees policy is currently being reviewed by the Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance, led by Lord Browne. The Review will consider how to ensure a properly funded university sector in a way which is more financially sustainable than the current system, and it is looking at a wide range of options. It will report in the autumn.
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of a graduate tax on the number of available university places; and if he will make a statement. [11856]
Mr Willetts: The Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance, led by Lord Browne, has been tasked with making recommendations to Government on the future of fees policy and financial support for students in England. The review will consider how to ensure a properly funded university sector in a way which is more financially sustainable than the current system. The review is looking at a wide range of options, including the feasibility of a progressive graduate contribution tied to earnings. It will report in the autumn.
Students: Loans
Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals to increase the maintenance loan available to students from January 2011 to reflect the change in living costs attributable to the proposed rise in the standard rate of value added tax. [11922]
Mr Willetts: The student maintenance loan has been set for the 2010/11 academic year and we have no plans to change it. No decision has been made on the level of maintenance loan for future years.
Communities and Local Government
Betting Shops: Greater London
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received from the Mayor of London on planning and betting shops in London since his appointment. [10926]
Robert Neill: No representations have been received. Gambling Policy is a matter for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Council Housing: Young People
Mr Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of people under the age of 18 years who have applied for local authority housing in each of the last five years. [11175]
Andrew Stunell: This information is not collected centrally.
Departmental Billing
Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of payments made by his Department to (a) small and medium-sized enterprise suppliers and (b) all suppliers were made (i) within 10 days of receipt of invoice and (ii) on the agreed payment terms in the last three months for which information is available. [11160]
Robert Neill: Communities and Local Government do not differentiate payments by supplier size as we have determined to pay all suppliers within 10 days.
The percentage of supplier invoices paid within 10 days of receipt in April 2010 was 90.89%. In May it was 92.23% and in June it was 93.76%. We do not record payment data against agreed payment terms.
Deprived Areas: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which lower layer super output areas in Peterborough constituency are in the 10 per cent. most deprived such areas in the country. [11377]
Robert Neill: There are 69 Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) that have their central point within the Peterborough constituency. Of these, 11 (16%) are amongst the 10% most deprived areas in England as defined by the Indices of Deprivation 2007. Table 1 lists these 11 areas, and their IMD scores and ranks (with one being the most deprived and 32,482 being the least deprived).
| Table 1: LSOAs in Peterborough constituency which are amongst the 10% most deprived in England: | |||
| LSOA Code | LSOA Name | IMD2007 Score | IMD2007 Rank |
Table 2 shows the distribution of LSOAs and people in the Peterborough constituency across the deciles of the Indices of Deprivation
Fire Services: Contracts
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what cancellation charges apply in respect of each of the contracts awarded under the FiReControl Project. [11198]
Robert Neill: The only FiReControl contracts to which significant cancellation charges could apply would be the contracts awarded to EADS to develop the IT solution and to VT Flagship for facilities management. If any cancellation charges were applied, these could vary significantly depending on the circumstances in which the contracts were cancelled. Specific arrangements set out in these contracts cannot be disclosed due to commercial confidentiality.
Floods: Cumbria
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the role of the Government Office for the North West in the response to the 2009 Cumbrian floods; and how he expects that role to be fulfilled in future. [11891]
Greg Clark: The Cumbria floods in 2009 clearly showed how local people, local government, emergency services and central government effectively worked together on an emergency response and the ongoing recovery.
I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made to the House on 22 July 2010, Official Report, columns 27-28WS, on regional government in which we stated that there are, however, some Government office functions, such as arrangements for resilience and civil contingencies, which will need to continue. The spending review process will be used to test which activities currently carried out by the Government offices should continue, and to decide the most cost-effective ongoing arrangements.
Government Office for the North West
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many third sector organisations, community groups and voluntary groups have been assisted by the Government Office for the North West in the last three years. [10791]
Greg Clark: GONW typically works through intermediaries rather than direct intervention with individual organisations.
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations he has received on the future of the Government Office for the North West; and when he expects to announce his decision on the future of the Office. [10843]
Greg Clark: The Secretary of State has received seven representations regarding the future of the Government Office for the North West to date.
I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement on regional government made to the House on 22 July 2010, Official Report, column 27-28WS.
Government Offices for the Regions
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what formal consultation his Department has undertaken in relation to his review of regional Government offices. [11406]
Greg Clark: The coalition Government's 'Programme for Government' published on 20 May stated that
"we will abolish the Government Office for London and consider the case for abolishing the remaining Government Offices".
We have received a wide range of representations following its publication.
Consultation has taken place with staff, trade unions, and sponsor Departments. Local authorities were asked to submit their views as part of a wider conversation on reducing the burden on local government following the publication of the coalition agreement.
I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made to the House on 22 July 2010, Official Report, columns 27-28WS, on regional government. Consultation on the future of the network will be covered by the spending review consultation process already announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities he consulted before taking the decision to abolish the Government Office Network. [11585]
Greg Clark: On 28 May my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Local Government wrote to local authority chief executives and leaders asking them for their ideas on reducing the burden on local government. Among ideas suggested by local authorities were representations supporting the removal of the remaining Government offices.
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the role of the Government Office for the South East in the response to the Buncefield oil depot explosion; and how he expects that role to be fulfilled in future. [11893]
Robert Neill:
Following the Buncefield fire in December 2005 an independent Major Incident Investigation Board (MIIB), independently chaired by the right hon. the Lord Newton of Braintree was established under the direction of the Health and Safety Commission to
conduct an investigation into the causes and ways to avoid or mitigate against similar incidents in the future. The Board published a number of reports. These included the report "Recommendations on the emergency preparedness for, response to and recovery from incidents" published in July 2007 which included the role of the Government Office for the East of England.
I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made to the House on 22 July 2010, Official Report, column 27-28WS, on Regional Government in which we stated the Government's intention in principle to abolish the remaining eight Government Offices, but stated that there are some Government Office functions, such as arrangements for resilience and civil contingencies, which will need to continue.
The Spending Review process will be used to test which activities currently carried out by the Government Offices should continue, and to decide the most cost-effective on-going arrangements
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role the Government Office Network played in co-ordinating the Government's response to the swine influenza outbreak; and what plans he has for coordination of regional responses to future similar events. [11924]
Greg Clark: The Department of Health (DH) and Cabinet Office (CO) published "Pandemic Flu: A National Framework for Responding to an Influenza Pandemic" in November 2007. This sets out the central, regional and local response arrangements in the event of a pandemic influenza outbreak. The National framework is currently being reviewed in the light of our experience during the 2009 influenza pandemic and the recommendations of the independent review into the swine flu response, chaired by Dame Deidre Hine. This will include consideration of the roles and responsibilities in planning for a future pandemic.
I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made to the House on 22 July 2010, Official Report, column 27-28WS on Regional Government in which we stated that there are some Government Office functions, such as arrangements for resilience and civil contingencies, which will need to continue. The Spending Review process will be used to test which activities currently carried out by the Government Offices should continue, and to decide the most cost-effective on-going arrangements.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Government Office staff are engaged in duties relating to the past closure requirements of the 2000-2006 European Regional Development Fund programme; and what arrangements he plans to make for completion of such duties following the end of the Government Office Network. [11950]
Greg Clark: There are 59.2 full-time equivalent staff engaged in duties relating to the part-closure requirements of the 2000-06 European Regional Development Fund programme in the Government Office Network.
I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made to the House on 22 July 2010, Official Report, column 27-28WS on Regional Government in which we stated that there are some Government Office
functions which will need to continue, including work on the European Regional Development Fund programme. The Spending Review process is being used to test which activities currently carried out by the Government Offices should continue, and to decide the most cost-effective on-going arrangements.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he undertook a cost/benefit analysis as part of his review of the Government Office Network. [11951]
Greg Clark: An outline business case addressing costs and savings has informed the decision in principle; there will be further related work through the Spending Review before the final decision on the Government Office Network's closure is taken in the autumn.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he undertook a risk analysis as part of his review of the Government Office Network. [11952]
Greg Clark: We will be undertaking a full risk analysis as we work through the spending review before the final decision on the Government office network is taken in the autumn.
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he carried out an Equalities Impact Assessment before determining his policy on the Government Office Network. [11953]
Greg Clark: An equality impact assessment will be undertaken before a final decision on the Government office network is taken in the autumn.
Government Offices for the Regions: Voluntary Organisations
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which voluntary sector organisations he consulted as part of his review of the Government Office Network. [11892]
Greg Clark: There has been no specific consultation with the voluntary sector organisations on the Coalition's review of the case for closure of the Government Office Network, however, we have been in dialogue with the Voluntary Sector on our decentralisation and Big Society agendas.
Greater London Authority: Finance
Mr Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) discussions, (b) meetings and (c) exchanges of correspondence he has had with the Mayor of London on the grant to be awarded to the Greater London Authority since his appointment. [10927]
Robert Neill: There have been no ministerial discussions or correspondence with the Mayor to date about the grant given by the Department for Communities and Local Government for the Greater London Authority.
Housing Benefit
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect on the level of demand for emergency social housing from local authorities of the proposed reduction in the level of housing benefit. [11275]
Andrew Stunell: The Department for Work and Pensions assesses the impact of proposed changes on specific groups as part of the policy development process. DWP published an initial equalities impact assessment on 23 July which can be found at:
and will be working with the Department of Communities and Local Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Government, along with local authorities, to assess the wider impacts on their housing functions. DWP will also publish a full impact assessment when legislation is being laid before Parliament.
Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of demand for private rented accommodation consequent on the proposed reduction in the level of housing benefit. [11276]
Andrew Stunell: The Department for Work and Pensions will be undertaking an assessment of the impact of the proposed reduction in housing benefit as part of the policy development process. They will be working with the Department of Communities and Local Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Scottish Government, along with local authorities, to assess the wider impacts of the changes.
Housing: Construction
Mr Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what recent discussions he has had with housing associations and local authorities on the Kickstart programme; [11483]
(2) what recent representations he has received on the Kickstart programme. [11486]
Andrew Stunell [holding answer 26 July 2010]: There have been a small number of representations received through correspondence from local Members of Parliament regarding a number of specific programmes, which Ministers have replied to directly. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) are in regular contact with relevant local authorities, registered social landlords and other key stakeholders in relation to the review of some Kickstart programmes to ensure they are kept informed of progress. In London, this review will be undertaken by the HCA's London Board which is chaired by the Mayor of London.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of providing incentives to local authorities to make provision for new housing development in each of the next three years. [11852]
Grant Shapps: We are committed to increasing housing supply and seeing more of the homes that people want, in the places that people want them, to meet Britain's housing need. The coalition agreement set out our clear intention to provide incentives for local authorities to deliver sustainable development, including new homes and business.
Officials are working up the design of the new scheme and we will consult on it later this year. We are committed to housing growth. Introducing these incentives will be a priority and we aim to do so early in the spending review period.
Mr Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how much he expects each (a) district council, (b) unitary authority and (c) county council to receive on average in incentives for the provision of new social housing in each of the next three years; [11853]
(2) if he will publish the financial models used to design his policy to provide incentives to local authorities to make provision for new housing development. [11854]
Grant Shapps: We are committed to increasing housing supply and seeing more of the homes that people want, in the places that people want them, to meet Britain's housing need. The coalition agreement set out our clear intention to provide incentives for local authorities to deliver sustainable development, including new homes and business.
Those local authorities which take action now to consent and support the construction of new homes will receive direct and substantial benefit from their actions. Because we are committed to housing growth, introducing these incentives will be a priority and we aim to do so early in the spending review period. Officials are working up the design of the new scheme and we will consult on the scheme later this year.
Housing: Immigration
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent assessment is of the likely effect of immigration on the level of demand for housing in England in the next 20 years. [10739]
Andrew Stunell: The potential future demand for housing can be informed by DCLG's household projections. The latest projections were published on the DCLG website in March 2009
and are based on the 2006-based population projections produced by the Office for National Statistics. They provide a long term view of the net growth in the number of households given a projected population and previous demographic trends. As such the household projections do not take into account changes in policy or economic circumstances that may have a material effect on future household formation and do not explicitly reflect the different tenure pattern and household formation of migrant groups. The household projections reflect a net position; the number of newly forming households net of those that dissolve. Using the zero net migration
population variant it is estimated that net international migration could account, on average, for 40% of the net growth in households in England over the projection period from 2006 to 2031.
However, this does not directly equate to the actual effective demand for housing. This will also be determined by factors such as the ability of individual households to meet the cost of housing which is in turn influenced by the wider economic context. These projections also do not take into account the 2008-based population projections, subsequently published by the ONS, which include lower projected levels of net international migration. DCLG expect to publish 2008-based household projections later this year.
Local Government
John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to request a review of the size of local authority wards. [9600]
Robert Neill: Local government electoral arrangements in England, including any questions as to the size of local authority wards, are matters for the Local Government Boundary Commission for England-a parliamentary body independent of Government which reports to the House through the Speaker's Committee.
Local Government Finance
Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he expects local authorities to make savings consequent on the publication of details of all purchases from suppliers of items over £500. [11230]
Robert Neill: Local people should be able to hold politicians and public bodies to account over how their money is being spent and how decisions are being made on their behalf. We expect the publication of details of all purchases from suppliers of items over £500 to unleash an army of 'armchair auditors' who will ensure councils push for the best value for money. In addition by making clear what councils are spending their money on, opportunities will arise for new providers to propose new ways to do things more efficiently and cheaply.
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2010, Official Report, column 907W, on local government finance, what procedure he plans to follow to assess the merits of reductions in local government expenditure as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review; and what information he plans to take into account in his assessment. [11649]
Robert Neill: As in previous Spending Reviews, the Government will draw together evidence on cost pressures and the scope for efficiencies in local government, drawn from a range of sources. These will include submissions from the Local Government Association and others in the local government sector; and contributions which members of the public and frontline public sector workers make in response to our Spending Challenge. We will also take account of burdens we have removed from local government-such as comprehensive area assessment-which reduce local authority costs.
Local Government: Manpower
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the percentage change in the number of directly-employed local authority staff has been since 2000; and what estimate has been made of the number of directly-employed staff who have been replaced by use of outsourced or contracted-out services in that period. [11517]
Robert Neill: The Department does not hold records of the number of people employed by local authorities. The Office for National Statistics collects employment statistics for the public sector including local authorities in England and Wales as part of the Quarterly Public Sector Employment Survey. Data from this survey have been published with written permission from all local authorities by the Local Government Association on their website and are available at:
No estimate has been made of the number of directly-employed staff who have been replaced by use of outsourced or contracted-out services in that period.
Local Government: Pensions
Mrs McGuire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the change in central Government expenditure on the Local Government Pension scheme attributable to the use of the consumer prices index for pension indexation in the next five years. [11059]
Robert Neill: No estimate is available; however, the outcomes of the individual actuarial valuations of the eighty-nine Local Government Pension scheme funds in England and Wales currently underway will take account of the change in pension indexation when new employer contribution rates are provided for employers in the scheme to apply from April 2011 to ensure ongoing individual fund solvency.
Local Government: Teesside
James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will discuss with local representatives in Teesside the formation of a sub-regional identity for Teesside; and if he will make a statement. [11114]
Robert Neill: I am aware that Tees Valley has a well established history of partnership working across local government and business, and that it has been exploring potential to form a local enterprise partnership. The Government will be very happy to receive such a proposal, if that is the wish of local authorities and local businesses in the area.
Mayors: Leicester
Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will set a timescale for mayoral elections in the city of Leicester. [11272]
Robert Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham North (Mr Allen) on 22 July, Official Report, column 488W.
National House Building Council
Mr Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will review the role of the National House Building Council as the building controls authority for new-build housing. [10826]
Andrew Stunell: The NHBC are not the only building control provider for new build housing. The developer has the choice of who carries out the building control function for their building work which can be either the local authority building control or a private sector approved inspector, such as NHBC.
Non-domestic Rates
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many businesses will be affected by the proposal in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rate bills for newly assessed properties that were split from a larger rateable property; how many businesses are not covered by this definition but have received backdated bills; and what the total liabilities are of businesses in each category; [11351]
(2) what estimate he has made of the effect of the proposal announced in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rates on the total revenue from business rates in England in each of the next 10 years. [11353]
Robert Neill [holding answer 26 July 2010]: The Government have been committed to find a permanent solution for companies, such as some affected companies in ports, hit by certain backdated rates bills to help safeguard jobs and businesses. Estimates published by HMT for the June 2010 Budget gave figures for the cost of waiving certain backdated business rate bills
These costs will be assessed again, and the questions on the number of businesses affected and their liability addressed, in the impact assessment that will accompany the regulations for the cancellation of backdated business rates.
Mr Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) cost and (b) net present value is of the proposal in the June 2010 Budget to cancel backdated business rate bills eligible for the eight-year schedule of payments scheme. [11355]
Robert Neill [holding answer 26 July 2010]: The Government have been committed to find a permanent solution for companies, such as some affected companies in ports, hit by certain backdated rates bills to help safeguard jobs and businesses. Estimates published by HMT for the June 2010 Budget gave figures for the cost of waiving certain backdated business rate bills
These costs will be assessed again, and the questions on the number of businesses affected and their liability addressed, in the impact assessment that will accompany the regulations for the cancellation of backdated business rates.
Mr Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 19 July 2010, Official Report, column 40W, on non-domestic rates, when he plans to lay before Parliament legislation to give effect to the proposed backdating of non-domestic rating. [11732]
Robert Neill: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 15 July 2010, Official Report, column 908W.
Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to increase the level of small business rate relief. [11979]
Robert Neill: We are doubling the level of small business rate relief in England for one year, from 1 October 2010. Over half a million businesses in England are expected to benefit, with approximately 345,000 businesses paying no rates. The Government are also committed to find a practical way to make small business rate relief automatic, in accordance with the coalition agreement.
Non-domestic Rates: Farms
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the reduction in revenue from business rates consequent on the non-rating of agricultural buildings in the latest period for which figures are available. [11158]
Robert Neill: No estimates of the reduction in revenue from business rates consequent on the non-rating of agricultural buildings are available.
Planning
Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which (a) directions and (b) other decisions by local planning authorities require his consent before taking effect. [10776]
Robert Neill: The following decisions by a local planning authority must be notified to the Secretary of State to allow him to decide whether the application should be called in for his own determination:
(i) Where it is proposed to grant planning permission for certain types of green belt development, development outside town centres, World Heritage Site development, playing field development or flood risk area development. The specific developments covered are set out in the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2009;
(ii) Article 14 Directions under the General Development Procedure Order 1995 may also be issued to prevent a local authority from granting planning permission for any development whilst the Secretary of State considers whether the planning application should be called in for his own determination;
(iii) Developments that local authorities intend to grant planning permission for and which would adversely affect the integrity of an internationally designated nature conservation site (The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010);
(iv) Where a local authority proposes to carry out operations that may damage the features of interest within an SSSI against the advice of Natural England (Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981);
(v) Applications for listed building consent which affect Grade I and II*, or demolish significant parts of Grade II, listed buildings and where English Heritage object (ODPM Circular 01/2001);
(vi) Private listed building applications if English Heritage or any of the National Amenity Societies object (ODPM Circular 01/2001);
(vii) Applications by local planning authorities for listed building consent in their own area (The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Regulations 1990).
Other circumstances where decisions by planning authorities may require the consent of the Secretary of State include:
(i) For Local Development Frameworks: submission of a local development scheme to the Secretary of State who may direct changes; withdrawal of a development plan document after it has been submitted and revocation of a local development document after it has been adopted; and establishing or dissolving a joint planning committee (Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004);
(ii) Orders for the modification and revocation of planning permissions under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;
(iii) Discontinuance Orders under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;
(iv) Completion notices served under certain circumstances under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;
(v) Prohibition Orders and Suspension Orders under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;
(vi) Modification or cancellation of an Article 4 Direction under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended);
(vii) Modification or cancellation of a Local Development Order under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended);
(viii) Orders revoking or modifying listed building consent under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990;
(ix) Directions requiring express consent for certain advertisements to be displayed in a specified area for which deemed consent would otherwise be available (the Town and Country Planning, (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007);
(x) Orders defining an "Area of Special Control of Advertisements" under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007;
(xi) Disposal of land that is held by a local authority for planning purposes for less than the best consideration that can reasonably be obtained (Section 233 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990);
(xii) Applications to dispose of, sell or build on land where required by the Green Belt (London and Home Counties) Act 1938;
(xiii) Variations or revocations made to Tree Preservation Orders where an objection has been raised to the variation or revocation;
(xiv) Compulsory Purchase Orders made under Section 226 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;
(xv) Applications for hazardous substance consent made by a planning authority where the planning authority is also the hazardous substances authority under the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 1992;
(xvi) Modification and Revocation Orders under the Planning (Hazardous Substances) Act 1990.
Dr Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) when he plans to bring forward proposals to amend the provisions of the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 as required by the Green Energy (Definitions and Promotions) Act 2009; [11015]
(2) what representations he has received on amendments to the provisions of the Town and Country (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 as required under section 3 of the Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Act 2009. [11016]
Greg Clark: A statutory instrument will be laid before Parliament shortly.
A summary of the responses to the public consultation regarding these proposals and the Government response will be published as soon as possible thereafter.
Private Rented Housing
David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take to protect private tenants from unscrupulous landlords. [11600]
Andrew Stunell: Local authorities already have extensive powers to take action against rogue landlords. We will work with them to ensure that any barriers to them using those powers are lifted.
Social Rented Housing: Antisocial Behaviour
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many social housing tenancies were demoted as a result of anti-social behaviour in each of the last five years. [12039]
Andrew Stunell: Information on the number of social housing tenancies demoted as a result of antisocial behaviour in each of the last five years is not available.
Susan Elan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many anti-social behaviour injunctions were served on local authority tenants in each of the last five years; and how many arrests under section 91 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 there were in respect of such injunctions. [12040]
Andrew Stunell: Information on the number of injunctions granted under section 153 of the Housing Act 1996 (antisocial behaviour injunctions) was reported by local authorities in England on the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA). Local authorities reported that 1,119 antisocial behaviour injunctions were granted during 2008-09. Reliable estimates of the number of antisocial behaviour injunctions granted in previous years are not available.
No data is available on the number of arrests under section 91 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 in respect of such injunctions.
Social Rented Housing: Foreign Nationals
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the total number of foreign national headed households in social housing; and what this represents as a proportion of the total social housing stock. [10582]
Andrew Stunell: Over the two years 2006-07 and 2007-08 there were, in England, an estimated 310,000 foreign national headed households in social housing-accounting for 7.7% of all social households.
These figures were derived from the Survey of English Housing. More recent estimates will be released in autumn 2010 when the final report of the inaugural English Housing Survey for 2008-09 is published.
The definition of 'foreign national' used above is consistent with that used in published results from the Survey of English Housing; namely a foreign national is someone who is not a national of the UK or Ireland.
Mr Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many of the new (a) local authority social lettings and (b) registered social landlord lettings were to foreign nationals from (i) EU states and (ii) non-EU states in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [10585]
Andrew Stunell: Information on the number of foreign national households receiving social housing is collected through the Continuous Recording of Letting form (CORE). Historically, CORE has only collected information from registered social landlords. An increasing number of local authorities are now providing information through this process as well, but there are still some gaps in the data.
Estimates for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are published on the Communities and Local Government website in table 754 at:
For the two years for which figures are available, the proportion of new social lettings that were to EU foreign nationals and to non-EU foreign nationals are set out in the following table both for local authority landlords and for RSL landlords.
| New lettings to EU and non-EU foreign nationals of new social lettings by type of provider, 2007-08 and 2008-09 | |||||||
| Percentage | |||||||
| Local authority housing | Registered social landlord housing | All social housing | |||||
| EU foreign nationals | Non-EU foreign nationals | EU foreign nationals | Non-EU foreign nationals | EU foreign nationals | Non-EU foreign nationals | All foreign nationals | |
Supermarkets: Planning Permission
Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to give local authorities powers to take into account the economic and environmental effects on the surrounding area of new supermarket stores in the planning application process. [10149]
Robert Neill: We recognise how important it is that we protect town centres and ensure genuine shopping choice for local communities. National planning policy (contained in Planning Policy Statement 4 (PPS4): 'Planning for Sustainable Economic Growth') enables local authorities to take account of the economic, social and environmental impacts when considering planning applications for new supermarket developments.
In the coalition agreement, the Government stated that they will publish and present to Parliament a simple and consolidated national planning framework covering all forms of development. We will make an announcement on how we propose to take forward the national planning framework and the implications for specific areas of planning policy. We recognise the concern that exists concerning the application of PPS4 and will be re-examining it in this context.
Urban Areas
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the 12 largest local authorities in England with city status are in terms of (a) population and (b) area. [11547]
Robert Neill: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes population estimates for local authorities, the latest of which relate to a mid-2009 time point:
Standard area measurements for local authorities are calculated by the ONS and published on their website:
The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA), now part of the Ministry of Justice, maintains the list of grants of city status in the UK. Following the Golden Jubilee city status competition, there are now 66 cities in the UK-50 in England, five in Wales, six in Scotland and five in Northern Ireland:
Written Answers to Questions
Tuesday 27 July 2010
Defence
Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations
David Miliband: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the repairs to Yatimchay Road in Helmand Province intended to make the road safer from attack by improvised explosive devices. [7685]
Mr Hague: I have been asked to reply.
We continue to invest in construction measures, including stronger roads and better roadside infrastructure, to improve freedom of movement for Afghan civilians and counter the threat from emplaced Improved Explosive Devices (IEDs).
Responsibility for the Yatimchay Road project passed to the US Marine Corps in April 2010 as part of the handover of the Musa Qala district to US Command. The project has been fully surveyed and, given the scale, presented to senior US officers for approval. The proposal includes a hardened section of road at points of greatest vulnerability to IEDs.
Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold discussions with his US counterpart on coordination of the drawdown timetables of US and UK armed forces in Afghanistan. [8819]
Nick Harvey: The Secretary of State regularly discusses the international mission in Afghanistan with his US counterpart, including the plan for transition of security responsibility from the International Security Assistance Force to the Afghan National Security Forces, and he did so during his recent visit to the US from 28 June to 2 July.
Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the cost-effectiveness of the use of attack (a) helicopters and (b) pilots in Afghanistan. [10470]
Mr Gerald Howarth: We are reviewing the cost effectiveness of all our capabilities as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Air Force
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a diagram of the structure and responsibilities of RAF-HQ Air Command. [11772]
Nick Harvey: The operations and the business of the Royal Air Force are administered by Headquarters Air Command.
The current structure, commanded by the Commander in Chief Air Command is divided between three pillars: Operations; Personnel; and Strategy, Policy, Plans and Corporate Services.
A diagram of this structure is available from the RAF website at the following link:
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to reduce the number of military and civilian personnel at RAF-HQ Air Command. [11773]
Nick Harvey: Headquarters Air Command is conducting a Capabilities and Structures Review which will align with the Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Armed Conflict: Children
Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received on implementing the recommendations of the 25th Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights Session 2008-09, HC 318, on children's rights, in respect of children and armed conflict; and if he will make a statement. [11103]
Mr Robathan: The recommendations were addressed as part of the Government Response to the Joint Committee on Human Rights Twenty-fifth Report of Session 2008-09 published on 3 March 2010 (HL Paper 65 HC 400). The Ministry of Defence has received no representations specifically on the implementation of the recommendations in respect of children and armed conflict.
Armed Forces: Food
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the two-year contract extension awarded by his Department to Purple Food Service Solutions was signed; and whether there was Ministerial approval of the contract. [10833]
Peter Luff: The Ministry of Defence food supply contract with Purple Food Service Solutions was extended on 14 December 2009; the first of two available options to extend the contract by periods of two years. There was no requirement for Ministers to oversee the contract extension.
Armed Forces: Health Services
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to commission a Ministry of Defence hospital unit in Scotland. [11343]
Mr Robathan [holding answer 26 July 2010]: There are currently no plans to extend the existing network of Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs).
Armed Forces: Housing
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces families have participated in his Department's Home Ownership pilot. [11126]
Mr Robathan: Currently there are 351 applicants to the Armed Forces Home Ownership Scheme (pilot) who have been assessed as being eligible in principle. Of these, 205 have progressed to the stage where they have been invited to speak to a financial adviser. There have been to date 22 completions.
David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the future funding of the Home Ownership pilot; and if he will make a statement. [11129]
Mr Robathan: The Armed Forces Home Ownership Scheme (pilot) is a shared equity scheme for service personnel who cannot otherwise afford to buy a home in the current housing market. It was launched as a four year pilot in January 2010 and like all other aspects of defence, will be evaluated and assessed as it progresses and as part of the current Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Mr Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of armed forces personnel live off-base. [11366]
Mr Robathan: Armed forces personnel live in a variety of accommodation, both publicly provided and non-publicly provided, which may be on or off-base. While all personnel are required to record their Residence at Place of Duty Address on the Joint Personnel Administration system, there is no requirement to record whether the accommodation is located on or off-base. Therefore, this information is not held.
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