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Homelessness
Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects of the draft national housing policy framework on homelessness. [74065]
Grant Shapps [holding answer 13 October 2011]: I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the National Planning Policy Framework.
An assessment of the impact of 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.
The impact assessment indicates that local communities could benefit from overall increases in housing and an increase in affordable housing delivered through developer contributions. The wider benefits of more affordable units include less homelessness and overcrowding.
Housing: Fires
Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons his Department objects to the undertaking of further research to assess the potential benefits of installing sprinklers in new domestic premises as set out in the Building Regulations (Review) Bill. [75742]
Andrew Stunell: The Government have no objections to the undertaking of research to assess the potential benefits of installing sprinklers in new domestic premises. Officials from my Department have been working with the Chief Fire Officers Association who commissioned the Building Research Establishment to carry out further work in this area. We look forward to seeing the results of this work.
The Government's views on the Building Regulations (Review) Bill were set out during its second reading 22 October 2010, Official Report, column 1019.
Local Government Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill
Mr Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to bring forward a money resolution in respect of the Local Government Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill. [74768]
Robert Neill [holding answer 17 October 2011]: Following discussions my hon. Friend has had with my officials, we are preparing agreed amendments in the light of which we will as necessary bring forward any money resolution.
Mobile Homes: Licensing
Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to consult on measures to improve the licensing regime for mobile park homes. [75264]
Grant Shapps:
I announced on 10 February 2011, Official Report, columns 14-15WS, my proposal to consult on a range of measures to improve the licensing regime which applies to park home and caravan sites so local authorities are better equipped and resourced to tackle
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problems of poor management in the sector and so better protect the health and safety of residents. I also announced that my plan to consult on improvements to the buying and selling process of park homes to prevent the unacceptable practice of the blocking of lawful sales by unscrupulous site owners and to provide an effective means of redress for residents where this happens. In May my officials and I met with key industry and resident partners, and my officials met separately with local authority partners and representatives of holiday caravan owners, to help inform the consultation and gain a better understanding of the expectations and aspirations of our partners in this sector of the housing market. I plan to publish the consultation shortly.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to support the development of local authority mortgage schemes in England; and if he will make a statement. [75222]
Grant Shapps: I welcome local initiatives to support the provision of mortgages to meet local needs, such as the Blackpool and Warrington mortgage schemes.
My officials have provided advice and contacts to local authorities and private sector partners involved in the development of local authority-backed mortgage schemes, and continue to keep in touch with progress.
Non-domestic Rates
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the potential effect of the Government's proposed reform of business rates on economic growth at local authority level in (a) the current spending review period and (b) five years beyond the current spending review period. [74125]
Robert Neill [holding answer 13 October 2011]: The impact of the Government's proposals will depend on a range of factors, including future business rates growth at the local level, the behavioural response to the changes, and the final design of the scheme following consultation. The Government have sought views on their proposals and, on 19 August, published eight technical papers which provide further details on the proposals, together with an interactive calculator. The calculator enables users to explore the possible effects of certain scheme design options based upon their own assumptions about local circumstances.
The proposals incorporate 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 covering a share of disproportionate gain.
Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the causal link between local authority service delivery and (a) economic growth and (b) the growth of the business rates tax base in that local authority area. [74701]
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Robert Neill [holding answer 17 October 2011]: The Department has not made any assessment of the causal link between local authority service delivery and (a) economic growth and (b) the growth of the business rates tax base in that local authority area.
Our plans for the local retention of business rates will provide new incentives for councils to use their powers and influence to promote enterprise and business growth.
Planning Permission
Mr Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what relative weighting he advises local planning authorities to attach to (a) areas of outstanding natural beauty, (b) green belt areas and (c) flood risk areas, when drawing up local plans; and if he will make a statement. [74061]
Robert Neill [holding answer 13 October 2011]: The National Planning Policy Framework currently out to public consultation explains that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. The proposed policies in the framework when taken as a whole set out the Government's view of what constitutes sustainable development in practice. These policies provide strong protections for areas of outstanding natural beauty and the green belt and are designed to prevent inappropriate building in areas of high flood risk.
Property Development
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received on the risk of permitted development rights resulting in more extensive developments. [75190]
Robert Neill: Permitted development rights enable certain types of development to be undertaken without the need for specific planning permission where the need to apply for permission would be out of proportion with the impacts of development. They are subject to limitations and conditions to control associated impacts and are set at a level which we believe is appropriate. Local councils can extend or withdraw permitted development rights locally in response to local circumstances and demands. Through correspondence received, the Government monitors the operation of permitted development rights in practice.
Rent
Mr Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was paid to each local authority to meet the costs of payment of (a) rental allowance and (b) rent rebates in each of the last five years. [73380]
Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Small Businesses: Empty Property
Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of small and medium-sized businesses in (i) in Witham constituency, (ii) Essex and (iii) England that qualify for business rate relief on empty properties. [74045]
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Robert Neill: The Department does not collect data on business rate relief on empty properties split by size of business or at constituency level. However the number of hereditaments in receipt of empty property relief in England for 2011-12 was published on the Department for Communities and Local Government website on 25 May 2011:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/nondomesticrates201112f
The following shows the most recent data available on the number and proportion of hereditaments in receipt of empty property relief for England and Essex:
The data are as reported to the Department for Communities and Local Government by all billing authorities in England on the annual national non-domestic rates and national non-domestic rates (supplementary) returns.
Social Rented Housing
Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new (a) private and (b) social-rented homes were developed in the Peterborough city council area in 2010-11. [75289]
Andrew Stunell: According to the National Statistics on house building, 672 new-build homes were completed in the Peterborough city council area in 2010-11, of which 387 were in the private tenure and 285 were in the housing association tenure. The National Statistics on house building are published on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at the following link:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housebuilding/
Travellers: Caravan Sites
Mr Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what obligations there are on local authorities to provide (a) temporary and (b) permanent facilities for Travellers and Gypsies. [74574]
Robert Neill [holding answer 17 October 2011]: The Government published their draft new planning policy for Traveller sites for consultation in April. The consultation closed in August. We are currently analysing the responses and intend to publish a new policy as soon as possible.
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In the meantime, Circular 01/2006 (Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites) and Circular 04/2007 (Planning for Travelling Showpeople) are extant. However, decision makers are entitled to have regard to the fact that it is intended to withdraw them and replace them with the draft policy.
Vacant Land: Planning Permission
Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning applications have been submitted for sites on green belt land in each (a) category and (b) region in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion were (i) successful at the first stage of application, (ii) rejected at the first stage and taken to appeal and (iii) successful at appeal. [73182]
Robert Neill: Information on planning applications within the green belt submitted to district level local authorities is not available centrally. Statistics published by the Department do show, however, that between 2% and 3% of new dwellings were built in the green belt each year between 2001 and 2010. I would add that the last Government's top-down regional strategies sought to remove green belt protection in 30 towns and cities across the country.
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Winter Resilience
Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to improve winter resilience for the 2011-12 winter. [75255]
Robert Neill: My Department is working closely with colleagues in the Cabinet Office, Department for Transport, local partners and the voluntary sector to develop robust plans for winter 2011-12. The cross-departmental "Get Ready for Winter" campaign will be launched during the week of 24-30 October supported by information available on:
www.Direct.gov.uk
giving advice to people in the community on how to prepare for winter. This information will be updated throughout the winter period.
DCLG Resilience Advisers are currently gathering information from Local Resilience Fora on their preparations for winter, including public awareness campaigns and drawing attention to the importance of good relationships between Local Highways Authorities and ports. This information will be shared with other local partners across the country and with key Departments to enable good practice and preparedness for winter.
In addition, my Department has agreed to broker mutual aid if approached by Local Highway Authorities or owners of key infrastructure, such as ports, if their salt stocks run unexpectedly low.