Written Answers to Questions
Monday 10 October 2011
Communities and Local Government
Affordable Housing: Finance
Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by what means his Department plans to allocate funding under the Affordable Homes Programme. [72532]
Grant Shapps: I announced the outcome of the Affordable Homes Programme on 14 July. 146 providers will deliver 80,000 new homes for Affordable Rent and Affordable Home Ownership with Government funding of just under £1.8 billion.
Taken with existing commitments, we are investing a total of nearly £4.5 billion between 2011 and 2015. This funding is now expected to provide up to 170,000 new affordable homes by 2015, compared to the 150,000 originally estimated.
The 2011-15 Affordable Homes Programme Framework set out the criteria for assessment by the Homes and Communities Agency, which included meeting local needs and priorities in their proposed locations, offered good value for money, and delivered within the programme timeframe.
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Audit Commission
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what meetings the Audit Commission has had with representatives of (a) the Labour party and (b) Her Majesty's Opposition since May 2010; and on what dates. [72384]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I will ask the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 10 October 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The Audit Commission has not met with representatives of (a) the Labour Party or (b) Her Majesty's Opposition since May 2010.
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Audit Commission spent on photography from Frank Noon in the last three years; and (a) on what dates and (b) for what functions Frank Noon was commissioned to take photographs during that period. [72385]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I will ask the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated October 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The Audit Commission has spent a total of £1,811.80 on photography with Frank Noon in the last three years. The dates, functions and individual costs are shown below:
The Commission no longer uses external photographers for internal publications and has ceased alumni events and production of its alumni newsletter.
Audit Commission: Government Procurement Card
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff of the Audit Commission were disciplined for misuse or abuse of the Government Procurement Card between 2005-06 and 2009-10. [72422]
Robert Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I will ask the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 10 October 2011:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
I can confirm that there were no instances of misuse or abuse of the Government Procurement Card by staff of the Audit Commission that warranted disciplinary action during the period in question.
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Business: Civil Disorder
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the funds provided by his Department in respect of the High Street Support Scheme are allocated from existing budgets; and if he will make a statement. [71789]
Robert Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government contribution to the High Street Support Scheme will be funded from unallocated provisions within the Department's budgets; this is therefore additional local government funding from schemes that had been announced to date.
Community Relations: Religion
Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how he plans to consult with faith communities in the future; and if he will reconsider his decision to abolish the Faith Communities Consultative Council. [72307]
Andrew Stunell: The Government remain wholly committed to consulting faith communities on the development and implementation of policies that affect them, in the most effective way possible.
My ministerial colleagues and I will continue to host tailored meetings with faith communities for detailed discussions on specific policies. On occasion there will also be the need to have collective round-table meetings to draw on the perspectives of faith communities on overarching areas of policy. These should take place as and when necessary.
My Department will continue to lead the process of engagement with all faith communities.
The Government recognise the vital contribution that faith communities make to civil society, and we are committed to facilitating linkages and tackling barriers that faith groups face. For instance my Department has invested £5 million in the Church Urban Fund's Near Neighbours programme, using the local infrastructure of the Church of England to build productive relationships between people from different faith backgrounds in four key geographical areas.
Council Housing: Fire Prevention
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received from local authorities in (a) Birmingham, (b) Manchester, (c) Sheffield, (d) Leeds, (e) Bristol, (f) Exeter and (g) Southampton on fire safety assessments on local authority-owned residential property. [72278]
Robert Neill: We have received no representations from these local authorities in respect of fire safety in local authority-owned residential property.
Council Housing: Waiting Lists
Andrew Selous:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of people on the housing waiting list in each local authority were (a) married couples with children, (b) civil partners with children, (c) unmarried
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couples with children,
(d)
lone parents,
(e)
married couples without children,
(f)
civil partners without children,
(g)
unmarried couples without children and
(h)
single people without children in the latest period for which figures are available. [72761]
Grant Shapps: The information requested is not collected centrally.
Delegation of Powers
Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration his Department is giving to further delegation of powers to city regions. [70529]
Greg Clark: The Government are supporting a cross- party amendment to the Localism Bill, proposed by the Core Cities Group, which will support greater devolution to help drive economic prosperity and growth across England. This amendment will provide an enabling power to allow for the transfer of public functions and delegation of ministerial functions to cities and other localities to increase their economic competitiveness. Any transfer of powers to particular places would be for the decision of the relevant Secretary of State and subject to discussion and agreement with individual cities and affirmative resolutions in both houses of Parliament.
Departmental Air Travel
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which travel management companies his Department uses for the purchase of airline tickets. [72683]
Robert Neill: Redfern Travel Ltd is the Department's travel management company for both rail and airline tickets.
Departmental Alcoholic Drinks
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on alcohol for the consumption of Ministers in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10; and from which suppliers. [72425]
Robert Neill: Information relating to the purchase of alcohol for ministerial consumption is not held separately on the Department's financial systems and it would be impossible to disaggregate this from records held about spend on total hospitality refreshments. Nor is it possible to separately identify spend on alcohol from Government Procurement Card records.
Chief Scientific Adviser
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the resource budget allocation was for the office of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [72451]
Robert Neill: Admin budgets for the Office of the chief scientific adviser were as follows:
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|
£ |
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the salary, including benefits, was of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many individuals have held the post in the last five years. [72452]
Robert Neill: The salary of the Department for Communities and Local Government's chief scientific adviser is publicly available on the DCLG website for the periods ending 31 March 2011 and 30 June 2010. Information is being provided only for these dates as it is already available in the public domain.
On both of these dates, the salary was between £60,000 and £64,999. The individual in question works part time and salary is pro-rated accordingly. The full time equivalent salary of the individual is between £125,000 and £129,999.
In the last five years, two individuals have held the post of chief scientific adviser for the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in the office of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and on what date the office was established. [72453]
Robert Neill: Not including the chief scientific adviser himself, staff numbers are as follows:
|
|
Number |
The office has been in existence throughout the life of the Department for Communities and Local Government and its predecessor Department, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
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Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on requiring his Department's (a) agencies and non-departmental public bodies and (b) contractors to have a written code of practice or protocol relating to the provision, conduct and quality assurance of scientific evidence and advice. [72454]
Robert Neill: My Department is committed to handling science and engineering advice in accordance with the Government chief scientific adviser's “Guidelines on the use of science and engineering advice in policy making”. The Building Regulations Advisory Committee is a non-departmental public body, and it operates in line with the “Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees” and the “Principles for Scientific Advice to Government”.
Terms and conditions applying to contractors’ request that the contractor's personnel shall be appropriately experienced, qualified, trained and security cleared and shall undertake the services with reasonable skill, care and diligence in accordance with the contract and good industry practice and to the reasonable satisfaction of the Department.
Consultants
Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many senior civil servants in his Department at each grade had worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, Deloitte or KPMG immediately prior to taking up their appointment in each of the last four years; what consultancy agreements his Department had with those firms in each such year; and how many consultants from those firms have advised his Department in each such year. [68958]
Robert Neill: One senior civil servant, at Director Level, who started on 1 December 2008 worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers immediately prior to joining the Department.
Appointments to the Department are made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition in accordance with the Constitutional Reform Act 2010, and conflicts of interest would be explored as part of the recruitment process.
Departmental records show the following contracts with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte and KPMG (no such contracts have been awarded to Ernst & Young) in the last four years:
| Name | Contract title | Contract start date | Contract end date |
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Consultancy support to the project team managing the closure of the European Regional Development Fund |
|||
The Department does not hold details of the number of consultants who may have advised the Department in the course of these contracts.
Procurement
Owen Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what methodology (a) his Department and (b) the non-departmental public bodies for which he is responsible use to estimate savings to the public purse made in respect of its procurement and purchasing since May 2010. [69274]
Robert Neill: On 15 November 2010, the Chief Secretary said in response to PQ 16752, Official Report, columns 615-16W, that the Government had announced a more specific and innovative approach to efficiency and reform across the public sector, including:
a reduction in administration budgets of 34% across the whole of Whitehall and its arm's length bodies saving £5.9 billion a year by 2014-15;
radically reducing the number of arm's length bodies across Government; and
the Efficiency and Reform Group's tough new efficiency regime which will drive savings in procurement, major projects and estate management;
and that, in result, Departments would no longer be required to report against the previous Government's failed efficiency target.
In August 2011, the Minister for the Cabinet Office announced that the Efficiency and Reform Group's new measures had saved £3.75 billion over 2010-11.
This impact was assessed using methodologies outlined in the following table. The assessment has been independently verified by Government auditors who found the benefits assertions to be fairly calculated and presented.
These savings are borne out in Department accounts. Note 9 ‘other administrative Costs’ of the Department's Report and Accounts 2010-11 (page 129) reports that non-pay gross admin costs for the Department reduced from £104 million in 2009-10 to £123 million in 2010-11, once early retirement costs of £64 million were taken into account. Figures in this report are prepared in accordance with HM Treasury's Financial Reporting Manual for central Government Departments and associated Treasury resource accounting and budgeting guidance.
In particular the Department has made significant operational savings, by reducing demand and renegotiating commercial terms, of £1.8 million in IT contracts and £2.4 million in temporary staffing and interim labour costs.
The Department has achieved estimated net property running costs reductions of £9.8 million per annum since the start of the spending review period which includes £1.9 million in Estates requirements in the last financial year. In addition the Department has reduced its Research expenditure by 36% (£10.8 million) in 2010-11.
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Enterprise Zones
Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the unsuccessful bids were for the most recent round of enterprise zones; and for what reasons each such bid was unsuccessful. [70161]
Greg Clark: The competition generated a significant amount of interest and the Government received a number of very strong bids. The successful bids were better able to demonstrate how they matched the three criteria of sustainable economic growth, implementation and value for money.
The unsuccessful bids for enterprise zones came from the following local enterprise partnerships:
Greater Birmingham and Solihull;
Coventry and Warwickshire;
Cheshire and Warrington;
Cumbria;
Hertfordshire;
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Derbyshire;
Greater Lincolnshire;
Coast to Capital;
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire;
Worcestershire;
York and North Yorkshire;
Enterprise M3;
Heart of the South West;
Lancashire;
Gloucestershire.
In addition, the London local enterprise partnership submitted two bids for enterprise zones—one in Croydon and the other in Tottenham. Following subsequent conversations, a separate, unringfenced London Enterprise Fund has been set up which supersedes these proposals.
Many of the unsuccessful bids contained strong economic ambitions, and Ministers are encouraged that several partnerships are exploring other ways to take forward their proposals. Officials have given feedback to unsuccessful bidders and will continue to work with them—on an individual basis where necessary—to support them in their ambitions for growth.
A copy of the announcement naming the successful bids has been placed in the Library of the House:
www.communities.gov.uk/news/newsroom/1967595
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria were used to select the first 11 local enterprise zones. [71201]
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Greg Clark [holding answer 9 September 2011]: Seven of the 11 local enterprise partnerships were selected on the basis that they encompass one or more of England's largest cities, ranked by population. The remaining four local enterprise partnerships were selected on the basis of need, using the published location criteria used to assess bids to the regional growth fund.
EU Grants and Loans
Brandon Lewis:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to
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his Department's press notice of 1 August 2011, on European Regional Development Funding, which
(a)
Ministers and
(b)
accounting officers were responsible for oversight of the 2000 to 2006 programme from 2000 to May 2010. [72391]
Robert Neill: The Secretaries of State with responsibility for the European Regional Development Fund 2000-2006 Programme for the period 2000 to May 2010 were:
| Department | Secretary of State | Dates |
The Permanent Secretaries with responsibility as accounting officers for the European Regional Development Fund 2000-2006 Programme for the period 2000 to May 2010 were:
| Department | Permanent Secretaries | Dates |
Fire Services: Manpower
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in the fire service on emergency plans for (a) Aldermaston and (b) other weapons facilities. [68923]
Robert Neill: The Ministry of Defence is responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place for their weapons establishments. The chief fire and rescue adviser liaises closely with the Ministry of Defence’s fire and rescue service on a regular basis, and on a range of issues.
Following the fire at Aldermaston AWE which took place on 3 August 2010, the Ministry of Defence’s fire and rescue service investigated the operational response to the incident and produced a report. This identified areas where improvements could be made, including arrangements with the Royal Berkshire fire and rescue service. This investigation has been completed and I understand the findings have been acted upon by the respective authorities.
Fire Services: Staffordshire
Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received from the chair of Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire fire and rescue authority regarding business continuity in the event of a dispute; and if he will make a statement. [72100]
Robert Neill: The chair of stoke-on-trent and Staffordshire fire and rescue authority, Councillor Leonard Bloomer, wrote to the Prime Minister on the 20 July, highlighting the difficulties his authority faced in maintaining business continuity, should there be a national dispute in the fire and rescue service. I replied to Councillor Bloomer, on behalf of the Prime Minister, in my capacity as Fire Minister on the 12 August.
I indicated in my response that any form of national dispute in the fire and rescue service poses challenges to individual fire and rescue services. However, fire and rescue services do have a statutory duty to plan for such an event, and it is important that detailed planning starts as early as possible. A body of notable practice exists both within and outside the fire and rescue service which fire and rescue authorities should be using to develop their plans.
Government Procurement Card
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff of his Department and its predecessor were disciplined for misuse or abuse of the Government Procurement Card between 2005-06 and 2009-10. [72421]
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Robert Neill: No staff in the Department for Communities and Local Government and its predecessor were disciplined for misuse or abuse of the Government Procurement Card between 2005-06 and 2009-10.
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answers to the hon. Member for Dover of 30 June 2011, Official Report, column 892W, on the Government Procurement Card, what the name is of each Government Procurement Card holder authorising each of the transactions listed in the answer who was a member of the senior civil service or a ministerial private office. [72424]
Robert Neill: A column has been added to the original table identifying those card holders who were members of the senior civil service and where the card holders were based in a ministerial private office. As private office card holders were not members of the senior civil service their names have not been released.
This amended table has been deposited in the Library of the House.
My Department is committed to greater transparency over the use of the Government Procurement Card than under the last Administration, and has strengthened checks and balances to ensure protection of taxpayers' money.
High-rise Flats: Fire Prevention
Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that residential tower blocks meet fire safety standards. [72277]
Robert Neill: Ensuring appropriate standards of fire safety are in place in residential tower blocks is the responsibility of the landlord or building owner who must comply with the provisions in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Housing Act 2004. Fire and rescue authorities and environmental health officers have enforcement responsibilities in these premises and are encouraged to work together to ensure safety standards are being met.
To support landlords and others to effectively put in place and manage appropriate fire safety arrangements, my Department provided funding to the Local Government Group to develop new fire safety guidance specifically for those with fire safety responsibilities in purpose built flats, including tower blocks.
This guidance, developed in partnership with the housing and fire sector, was published on 29 July and is available on the Local Government Group and Department for Communities and Local Government website.
www.communities.gov.uk/firesafety
Homelessness
Mr Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations he has received from non-governmental organisations on the effects of his Department's policies on the level of homelessness. [72236]
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Grant Shapps: This Department has received representations on homelessness from a range of voluntary organisations. Ministers from this Department regularly meet with key partners in the voluntary sector to discuss homelessness issues.
I have also established the first ever cross-departmental ministerial working group bringing eight Departments together on homelessness to ensure better joined-up working on this important issue.
Housing
Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential effects on the level of family breakdown of (a) house and rental prices and (b) housing supply. [72759]
Grant Shapps: The Department has made no assessment of such effects of house and rental prices and housing supply. However, the wider social effects specifically of mortgage repossession were identified in a Department Research Report, “Evaluation of the Mortgage Rescue Scheme and Homeowners Mortgage Support” published in July 2010.
Housing: Local Government Finance
Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date he plans to announce the funding allocations arising from the Housing Market Renewal Transition Fund. [71888]
Grant Shapps: I expect to announce the outcome shortly.
Housing: Planning
Mr Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the possible use by the Planning Inspectorate of unmet five-year rolling housing delivery targets as a factor in decisions on appeal for housing developments on land outside the approved local development framework. [70057]
Robert Neill: The current policy of the Secretary of State is set out in paragraph 71 of Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 3, which advises local planning authorities to maintain an up-to-date five-year housing land supply. Where they have not achieved this objective, planning decision-makers are asked to consider planning applications for housing favourably, having regard to general policy safeguards set out in the PPS. Where there is an appeal, Planning Inspectors must consider this policy.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), is currently consulting on a proposal to simplify and replace all planning policy statements with a single National Planning Policy Framework. The draft framework may change before it is approved. However, if it was approved as currently drafted, local planning authorities would be set an objective to increase the supply of housing. The draft policy suggests that authorities will identify and maintain a rolling supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide five years worth of housing against their housing requirements. Their five-year land supply should include:
“an additional allowance of at least 20 per cent to ensure choice and competition in the market for land.”
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If this advice were not to be taken and a planning appeal were to follow, Planning Inspectors would consider the presumption in favour of sustainable development that is also set out in the National Planning Policy Framework. This would indicate that planning permission should be granted at appeal to meet the housing objectives of the framework, unless the adverse impacts of allowing the development would significantly and demonstrably outweigh its benefits, when assessed against the policies in the framework taken as a whole.
Housing: Planning Permission
Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of new homes for which planning permission has been granted but construction has not yet commenced in the last three years. [71629]
Robert Neill: In England at 31 July 2011 there were 250,000 dwellings with detailed planning permission on sites where construction had not yet commenced, according to estimates by the Homes and Communities Agency. These outstanding planning permissions amount to just over one year’s projected average annual household growth (232,000 household per annum until 2033).
Interreg IVA France (Channel) England Programme
Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) monetary value, (b) recipient and (c) purpose was of each grant made under the Interreg IVA France (Channel) England programme since the scheme's inception. [68887]
Robert Neill: The information requested has been drawn from the website set up by the programme's managing authority (Région Haute-Normandie) and is set out in a table which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Ministers are of the view that a number of these programmes, inherited from the last Administration, do not represent good value for money for the taxpayer. I am also placing in the Library of the House a copy of a letter from the Secretary of State to the European Commission on this issue.
Local Development Frameworks
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to put in place a fast-track procedure to approve existing local development frameworks to bring them up to date with the national planning policy framework. [71886]
Greg Clark: The last Government's Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 added significant complexity and delay to the planning system. As highlighted on 23 February 2010, Official Report, column 497WA, by the beginning of 2010—six years after the Act—only 61 core strategies had been adopted.
In this context, we are currently considering what steps central Government can take to help local authorities speed up the system.
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Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many officials in his Department worked on the draft of the national planning policy framework produced by his Department. [71892]
Greg Clark: A wide range of officials from the Department for Communities and Local Government and other Government Departments were involved to varying degrees in the development of the draft national planning policy framework.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many officials in his Department worked on the draft of the national planning policy framework produced by the practitioners’ advisory group. [71897]
Greg Clark: The suggested draft of the practitioners’ advisory group was the conclusions of the members of the group, rather than of the Government. A small number of officials from the Department for Communities and Local Government provided administrative support to the group and officials from the Department for Communities and Local Government and other Government Departments met with the practitioners during the course of their work.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what (a) financial assistance and (b) other support his Department plans to provide to local authorities which do not have a local development framework in place to introduce one; [71898]
(2) what (a) financial assistance and (b) other support his Department plans to provide to local authorities to update their local development frameworks; [71899]
(3) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of local authority resources to produce or update local development frameworks. [71900]
Greg Clark: Councils' statutory planning functions are financed through formula grant. As with all local government functions and services, there is significant potential for councils to make savings and do more for less through better procurement and joint working.
A number of our reforms are reducing planning burdens on local authorities—such as through reducing the need for unnecessary planning applications and the abolition of regional planning.
My Department has also provided £3 million of funding in 2011-12 to the Planning Advisory Service to provide consultancy and peer support, learning events and online resources to assist councils on planning reform.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what legal advice his Department has sought on whether (a) adopted and (b) post-examination local development frameworks will be technically out of date once the national planning policy framework is adopted. [71920]
Greg Clark: In line with the practice of previous Administrations, the Government do not disclose their legal advice.
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Notwithstanding that, it is a common occurrence—under this and previous Administrations—for central Government to make amendments or updates to national planning guidance.
In such circumstances, it is a matter for the local planning authority to assess the weight and relevance to be given to the new policies when making decisions on individual planning applications.
Local Government Finance: Greater London
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of each representation from the Greater London Authority on the (a) Balance of Funding Review and (b) Lyons Inquiry into local government finance. [72383]
Robert Neill: Copies of the Greater London Authority's responses to the Lyons Inquiry and the Balance of Funding Review have been placed in the Library of the House.
Local Government: Billing
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he has taken to encourage local authorities to pay their creditors in a timely fashion. [71416]
Robert Neill: The arrangements for payment of their creditors are a matter for individual local authorities.
To challenge the culture of late payment that persists across the UK economy, the Government have worked with the UK's leading business and finance organisations to develop a strategy for challenging the long-standing culture of late payment. One element of this strategy is to establish the public sector as a payment exemplar. Across the public sector the standard payment target is 30 days and we have further extended this target to tier one suppliers to ensure the benefits of prompt payment are felt through the supply chain.
Government Departments have been set a target of paying 80% of supplier invoices within five working days. DCLG paid 82.32% of invoices for the period April to September 2011 within five working days. The Department has agreed to bring forward payments to all businesses, given the role of larger businesses in the supply chain.
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether any formal complaints from officials in his Department have been received in respect of the conduct of his special advisers since May 2010. [71868]
Robert Neill: No complaints have been received from officials in the Department for Communities and Local Government in respect of the conduct of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government's special advisers since May 2010.
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Non-domestic Rates
Mrs Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate he has made of the potential effect of proposals for the future of the national non-domestic rating pool on Sunderland city council in the next three financial years; [67105]
(2) if he will take steps to mitigate any loss of net income to Sunderland city council arising from proposed changes to the national non-domestic rating pool; [67485]
(3) if he will estimate the funds required to replace any annual loss of net income to local authorities arising from proposed changes to the national non-domestic rating pool in the next three financial years. [67486]
Robert Neill: As the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles) told the House in his oral statement on 18 July 2011, Official Report, columns 662-64, our proposals ensure a fair starting point, so that no local authority is worse off at the outset of the scheme as a result of their business rates base.
The suggestion made by the hon. Member in her local media that Sunderland city council “will lose up to £58 million a year” has no basis in fact and is simply wrong.
Our proposals include protections for councils across the country, including a safety net for places in need of additional support.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much each local authority collected in national non-domestic rates in each of the last 10 years. [69157]
Robert Neill: I have today placed in the Library of the House a table giving details of the amount of national non-domestic rates collected by each local authority in England, from 2001-02 to 2010-11.
The figures shown in the table are the amount of national non-domestic rates collected by each local authority in England after reliefs and before allowances for collection costs.
The data are taken from national non-domestic rates (NNDR3) out-turn returns submitted annually by all billing authorities in England.
I would note that the Government’s proposals for the local retention of business rates will include a range of protections to ensure councils can meet local needs, including a safety net for places in need of additional support, funded by a levy recovering a share of disproportionate gain. The new regime will also introduce incentives for councils to promote local economic growth, thereby creating the potential to increase aggregate revenues from business rates compared with the current regime.
Non-domestic Rates: Yorkshire and the Humber
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect of business rate localisation on economic growth in Yorkshire and the Humber. [72404]
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Robert Neill: Our proposed reforms will provide new incentives for councils to promote local economic growth, encouraging them to work closely with local businesses and create the right conditions for local firms to expand and prosper.
National Planning Policy
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to paragraph 51 of the draft national planning policy framework, what legal advice his Department has (a) sought and (b) received on the precedence of the neighbourhood plan over existing policies in a local development plan. [71859]
Greg Clark: Under section 38(6) of the 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, applications for planning permission must be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Once a neighbourhood plan is brought into force its policies will form part of the development plan for the local area.
The Localism Bill requires all neighbourhood plans and neighbourhood development orders to be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the local plan that applies to the neighbourhood area.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to paragraphs 62 and 63 of the draft national planning policy framework, what legal advice his Department has (a) sought and (b) received on how development management works in law. [71860]
Greg Clark: Paragraph 62 of the draft National Planning Policy Framework confirms the existing position on the role of the development plan in the determination of planning applications. It fully reflects section 70(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Act 2004.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the planned timetable is for implementation of the national planning policy framework. [71861]
Greg Clark: The Department's structural reform plan includes a commitment to produce the final national planning policy framework by April 2012.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to paragraph 28 of the draft national planning policy framework, where the inputs of the Strategic Housing Market Assessment will be defined. [71863]
Greg Clark: Current guidance on the preparation of Strategic Housing Market Assessments can be found at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningand building/strategichousingmarket
Jack Dromey:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) with reference to paragraph 109 of the draft national planning policy framework, if he will place in the Library a copy of
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each document containing the evidence base for the added 20 per cent. housing target for choice and competition; [71864]
(2) with reference to paragraph 109 of the draft national planning policy framework, what assessment his Department has made of how the 20 per cent. housing target for choice and competition will work in areas of constraint or low demand. [71867]
Greg Clark: The evidence base for policies in the draft national planning policy framework is set out in the consultation stage impact assessment which was published on 25 July 2011 and placed in the Library of the House.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to assist local authorities in preparing for the implementation of the national planning policy framework. [71902]
Greg Clark: The draft framework is currently out for consultation. As part of the public consultation process, we are holding a series of events across England offering opportunities for councils, community groups, the development industry and local people to express their views directly to us. For example, we arranged, with the Planning Officers’ Society, a specific event to bring together planners from across England to discuss the draft framework on 26 September 2011.
The draft framework includes a draft policy that states it will be open to councils to seek a “certificate of conformity” with national policy to assist councils in identifying which of their existing local policies may be consistent with the national planning policy framework and which may not be, and will consider any representations made on this point in the current consultation. We are currently considering how this procedure can be offered free to councils.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance the Planning Inspectorate has issued to local planning authorities on what consideration should be given to the draft national planning policy framework in planning decisions; and if he will make a statement. [71941]
Greg Clark [holding answer 15 September 2011]: My Department’s chief planner wrote to all local authority chief planning officers announcing the publication of the draft national planning policy framework. This letter can be seen on the Planning Portal and the DCLG website.
The Planning Inspectorate has also issued advice to inspectors on the consultation document and this can be seen on the Planning Portal and the Planning Inspectorate website.
Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications have been (a) submitted, (b) approved and (c) rejected in each local authority area in each of the last four quarters. [71942]
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Robert Neill [holding answer 15 September 2011]: The number of applications received, decided, approved and refused for each local planning authority in England for the quarters April to June 2010, July to September 2010, October to December 2010 and January to March 2011 are shown in a table that has been placed in the Library of the House.
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with which organisations his Department has had meetings to discuss the national planning policy framework since May 2010. [72072]
Greg Clark: Officials routinely meet with a wide range of organisations to discuss planning matters. Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on my Department's website.
Tristram Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) with which organisations he has had meetings to discuss the national planning policy framework since April 2011; [72073]
(2) with which organisations the Minister of State for Housing and Local Government has had meetings to discuss the national planning policy framework since April 2011; [72074]
(3) with which organisations the Minister of State for Decentralisation has had meetings to discuss the national planning policy framework since April 2011. [72075]
Greg Clark: My Department routinely publishes details of ministerial meetings on the departmental website at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/transparencyingovernment/ministerialdata
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects of implementation of the national planning policy framework on the level of judicial reviews in respect of planning applications; and what assessment he has made of the risk of a judicial review in respect of the process for introducing the national planning policy framework; [72291]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential effects of his national planning policy framework on the (a) legal profession and (b) courts system. [71901]
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Greg Clark: The impact assessment accompanying the draft national planning policy framework contains an assessment of the potential effects of the draft national planning policy framework on the justice system. The process of reducing and simplifying planning policy will lead to a reduction in the number of planning decisions that are referred to the courts. This is because there will be less complexity, less contradiction and a clearer statement of Government policy, as a result of streamlining planning policy (Part A) and of the greater likelihood of having local plans.
National Planning Policy: Appeals
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the national planning policy framework on planning appeals. [71858]
Greg Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the published impact assessment, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the assessment of the potential impact on appeals of the national planning policy framework made by the planning inspectorate on the day his Department receives the assessment. [71862]
Greg Clark: Information about the expected impact on appeal cases is contained in the consultation stage impact assessment. A final impact assessment will be published alongside the final national planning policy framework, and a copy will be provided to the House.
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications in each development category have been referred to the Secretary of State in each of the last five years; and how many such applications so referred have been called in for determination in each of those years. [71883]
Robert Neill: The information requested is shown in the following table:
|
|
Referral type | Numbers referred | Numbers called in |
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| (1) To 31 August. Notes: 1. The criteria for referral of application to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government have changed over the five year period. 2. As of 1 April 2007 the Greenfield and Housing Density direction was cancelled. Also on 20 April 2009 the Consultation Directions 2009 superseded the remaining referral directions with departure from the local plan no longer included as a reason for referral and development on a World Heritage Site introduced as a reason for referral. Data Source: DCLG Planet Database | |||
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to publish the Planning Inspectorate's assessment of the potential effects on the level of planning appeals of implementation of the national planning policy framework. [72292]
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Robert Neill: I once again refer the hon. Member to the published impact assessment a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.
Planning Permission: Offices
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the removal of office development from the town centre first policy on sustainable transport on (a) the removal of car parking standards and (b) other sustainable transport matters. [71871]
Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what impact assessment he has made of the effects on the sustainability of high streets of the removal of office development from the Town Centre First policy. [71877]
Robert Neill: A consultation stage impact assessment was published alongside the draft national planning policy framework on 25 July 2011. This includes consideration of the expected impact of changes in current planning policy.
Planning Permission: Rural Areas
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many out-of-town planning applications referred to him have been called in since May 2010. [71874]
Robert Neill: No out-of-town applications have been called in by the Secretary of State between 1 May 2010 and 31 August 2011.
Planning: Appeals
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning appeals in each category the Planning Inspectorate considered in each of the last five years; and how many and what proportion of such appeals in each category were (a) upheld and (b) dismissed. [71884]
Robert Neill: The following tables show the numbers of planning appeals in each procedure category considered by the Planning Inspectorate in each of the last five years. The tables also show the percentage that were upheld and dismissed. Please note that from 6 April 2009 a new procedure category, Householder Appeal Service, was introduced and is a sub-category of Written Representations.
| Written Representations (1) | ||||
|
|
Decided | Upheld | Percentage upheld | Percentage dismissed |
| (1 )Householder Appeal Service shown in brackets. | ||||
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| Hearings | ||||
|
|
Decided | Upheld | Percentage upheld | Percentage dismissed |
| Inquiries | ||||
|
|
Decided | Upheld | Percentage upheld | Percentage dismissed |
Regional Planning and Development
Mr Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to publish for consultation his Department's environmental assessment of the revocation of regional strategies; and if he will publish the environmental report for each region separately. [72387]
Robert Neill: I announced in a written ministerial statement on 5 April 2011, Official Report, column 52WS, that the Government are undertaking a voluntary assessment of the likely significant environmental effects of revoking all eight regional strategies which will be published as eight separate reports. I will announce the start of public consultation on the assessments shortly.
Planning Permission: Sports
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what assessment he has made of the likelihood of sport and recreation facilities being closed as a result of the implementation of changes to the planning system; [72644]
(2) what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the long-term future of sport and recreation facilities of the draft national planning policy framework. [72650]
Greg Clark: The coalition agreement included a commitment to help support important community facilities and services. In line with this, the draft national planning policy framework seeks to increase planning protection for community facilities.
The new guidance proposes to strengthen current policy by asking local councils to consider the availability and viability of community facilities as part of the plan making process and to develop policies to safeguard against their unnecessary loss.
The Government's objective is to create strong, vibrant and healthy communities. To help achieve this, the draft framework is clear that the planning system should ensure access to open spaces and recreational facilities that promote the health and well-being of the community. The Government are also introducing a new designation to protect valued local green spaces, which has the potential to provide additional planning protection to playing fields and other open green spaces.
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These measures will also be supported by the community right to buy in the Localism Bill which will provide additional protection for community assets.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) if he will meet the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport to discuss the arrangements in the planning system to protect sports and recreation facilities; [72645]
(2) if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport the potential effect on sport and recreation facilities of the draft national planning policy framework. [72649]
Greg Clark: Ministers within the Department for Communities and Local Government already regularly meet colleagues from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Mr Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with representatives of the sport and recreation sector on the draft national planning policy framework. [72646]
Greg Clark: Ministers and officials have been meeting with a wide range of organisations as part of our consultation on the draft national planning policy framework, including organisations with a particular interest in sports and recreation.
Standards Board for England
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Standards Board for England has used a corporate credit card or charge card in the last three years; and what records are held of transactions on any such card. [72382]
Robert Neill: The Standards Board for England has a corporate credit card which is used to pay for goods and services which cannot be paid for by BACS transfer or cheque. Detailed records of transactions are held by the Standards Board.
Sustainable Communities
Steve Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) cost of implementation of the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. [71737]
Greg Clark: The Sustainable Communities Act 2007 Act was amended in April 2010 in response to feedback from stakeholders and to allow procedures for receiving, considering and deciding proposals under the Act to be improved. The Department has consulted on detailed arrangements for implementing the Sustainable Communities Act and submissions were received from 26 interested parties. The Government are currently considering their response.
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Sustainable Development
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what definitions of sustainable development are used by his Department. [71945]
Robert Neill [holding answer 15 September 2011]: The classic definition of sustainable development, set out by the Brundtland Commission, is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This is reflected in the Government’s vision for sustainable development published in February 2011 and by this Department in its work including the consultation draft of the national planning policy framework.
Travel: Concessions
Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the costs of administering the concessionary travel scheme by local authorities since its introduction. [72185]
Robert Neill: The national implementation of the concessionary travel scheme occurred in 2008. The following table shows net expenditure on the scheme for each of the financial years from 2008-09 to 2011-12. This expenditure includes administration costs but predominantly consists of reimbursements to bus operators. The costs of administering the scheme are not separately identified in centrally held data.
|
|
Net cost1 (£ million) |
| (1) Net cost is equal to the sum of employee costs and running expenses (e.g. premises and transport-related expenditure, supplies and services, third-party payments etc.) and offset by income from sales, fees and charges (e.g. charge for replacement or reissuing of lost travel passes) and other sources of income (e.g. income from issuing or renewal of subsidised rail cards offered to the over 65 and disabled people). | |
Travellers: Peterborough
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to prevent the illegal occupation of land by Travellers in Peterborough constituency; and if he will make a statement. [68502]
Robert Neill: The police and local authorities have powers under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 to direct trespassers from land. We are removing the top-down targets for Traveller site provision by local authorities which fuelled opposition to the development of Traveller sites. Local authorities will be responsible for determining the right level of Traveller site provision in their area to meet local need and historic demand. We will encourage councils to provide sites with incentives through the New Homes Bonus scheme and we have secured £60 million grant funding to help councils and other registered providers deliver new Traveller sites.
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We are increasing enforcement powers available to councils to tackle unauthorised development more effectively, including stopping the abuse of retrospective planning permission.
Energy and Climate Change
Carbon Emissions
Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what measures relating to tackling the UK's outsourced emissions will be included in his Department's updated Carbon Plan. [72380]
Gregory Barker: The Department's updated Carbon Plan will focus on territorial emissions (including the effect of the EU Emissions Trading System), in line with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change reporting framework and our reporting requirements under the Climate Change Act 2008.
We recognise the importance of tackling outsourced emissions if we are successfully to deliver our climate change objectives. We are therefore working hard to secure an international agreement with commitments from all key countries to reduce emissions, which is the most direct way to reduce all emissions, including those related to consumption.
Departmental Air Travel
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which travel management companies his Department uses for the purchase of airline tickets. [72687]
Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) currently uses the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' contract with Carlson Wagonlit Travel for booking air travel.
Some airlines flying direct from the UK to certain overseas destinations accept only direct bookings. In these cases where a direct flight cannot be booked through the travel management companies DECC staff may book direct with the airline.
John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what (a) contractual obligations and (b) other processes his Department uses in respect of travel management companies to ensure the best value is achieved when purchasing airline tickets. [72701]
Gregory Barker: DECC currently uses the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills' contracts for hotel and travel bookings. Contracts are in place with the following companies:
Redfern Travel—domestic rail travel;
Expotel—domestic hotel stays; and
Carlson Wagonlit Travel—air travel, overseas rail travel and overseas hotel stays.
From 1 December 2011 DECC will move to the pan-Government contracts that are being put in place.
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Staff are expected to make all bookings through the contracted suppliers where feasible. Some airlines flying direct from the UK to certain overseas destinations accept only direct bookings. In these cases where a direct flight cannot be booked through the travel management companies DECC may book direct with the airline.
Chief Scientific Adviser
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the resource budget allocation was for the office of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [72463]
Gregory Barker: DECC's first chief scientific adviser (CSA) joined the Department in October 2009.
The Department's chief scientific adviser is responsible for ensuring the best science and engineering advice underpins DECC's policy and decision-making. The resource budget for the CSA's Office is as follows:
| CSA office budget | |
|
|
Total (£000) |
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the salary, including benefits, was of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many individuals have held the post in the last five years. [72464]
Gregory Barker: Since DECC was formed in October 2008 there has so far been only one chief scientific adviser appointed. The chief scientific adviser has been engaged by DECC since October 2009. His salary costs to date fall in the following pay brackets, as disclosed in the Remuneration Report of DECC's annual resource accounts: £65,000 to £70,000 in 2009-10 and £140,000 to £145,000 in 2010-11. The chief scientific officer is seconded to DECC from Cambridge University who are reimbursed for his payroll costs. No VAT is payable.
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in the office of his Department's chief scientific adviser in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and on what date the office was established. [72465]
Gregory Barker: The office of chief scientific adviser was established on 1 October 2009.
Staffing levels for the support office (including the post of chief scientific adviser) are as follows:
March 2010: 3.8 FTE plus 0.8 on secondment, with salary costs covered 100% by seconding organisation;
March 2011: 4.8 FTE;
September 2011: 4.8 FTE including 1.0 FTE supporting policy analysis in other parts of DECC.
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Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on requiring his Department's (a) non-departmental public bodies and (b) contractors to have a written code of practice or protocol relating to the provision, conduct and quality assurance of scientific evidence and advice. [72466]
Gregory Barker: DECC does not apply a one-size-fits- all approach. NDPBs have terms of reference that set out how they will go about their activities. Contractors who provide scientific advice, or any other form of evidence, to DECC, are required in tender documentation to set out how they will acquire and quality assure the evidence they will provide. Tenders are scrutinised by experts within the Department and contracts are only awarded to those contractors who have demonstrated they can deliver high quality evidence.
Legal Opinion: Costs
Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average hourly rate paid was to external (a) solicitors and (b) barristers engaged by his Department in 2010-11; what guidance his Department uses in commissioning external legal advice; and if he will publish (i) the names of each external (A) solicitor and (B) barrister engaged by his Department in 2010-11 and (ii) the sums paid in each case. [72566]
Gregory Barker: The average hourly rates the Department paid external solicitors could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The Department paid the external barristers it engaged at the rates published on the Treasury Solicitor’s Department’s website:
|
|
Per hour (£) |
The Department uses the following guidance in commissioning external legal advice:
Attorney-General’s guidelines on the use of the private sector for Government legal work
Treasury Solicitor’s Department’s guidance on the use of counsel
Government Legal Service guidance on best practice for Government lawyers managing private sector provision of legal services
Government Legal Service legal services procurement protocol
Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) procurement code and procurement guidance, including guidance on the use of external law firms.
Some information covering sums above £500 paid directly to certain solicitors’ firms and barristers DECC engaged in 2010-11 is available on the DECC website at:
http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/expenditure/spend_over_500/spend_over_500.aspx
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Comprehensive information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.