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Millennium Dome
Viscount Astor asked Her Majesty's Government:
- On what basis they regard the pre-sale valuation of the Millennium Dome and the government appraisal to be commercially confidential; and[HL2264]
Whether they will publish the terms of the contract with English Partnerships and Meridian Delta Ltd relating to the Millennium Dome when it has been signed.[HL2265]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): In order to protect the parties' commercial interests, it is normal commercial practice not to reveal the details of contractual agreements such as that being entered into between English Partnerships (EP) and Meridian Delta Ltd (MDL). Revealing such details may compromise the Government's ability to achieve value for money, since the joint venture between EP and MDL will be negotiating third parties over the subsequent development of the land. This is true also of the pre-valuation and other appraisals of the value of the Dome site.
We will review this position once contracts have been exchanged with MDL, and will make public as much information as is possible within these constraints.
The National Audit Office is scrutinising the entire sale process, including valuations and value for money assessments, and will report to Parliament in due course. We have kept the NAO informed throughout, and will continue to do so.
Mayoral Referendums
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will list the mayoral referendums that have taken place so far with the votes cast for and against; and what are the dates that have been set for further mayoral referendums.[HL2305]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The table below sets out details of the mayoral referendums that have already taken place, together with information currently available on the referendums known to be taking place in the coming months. There are a small number of other local authorities where a decision has yet to be taken on whether or not a mayoral referendum should be held.
| Date | Council | Proposals | Result | Fall-back |
| 7 June (Normal poll—Combined) (by Petition) | Berwick-upon-Tweed | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 3,617 (26%) No 10,212 (74%) Turnout 64% | Alternative Arrangements |
| 28 June (All Postal) | Cheltenham | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 8,083 (33%) No 16,602 (67%) Turnout 32% | Leader & Cabinet |
| 28 June (All Postal) | Gloucester | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 7,731 (32%) No 16,317 (68%) Turnout 31% | Leader & Cabinet |
| 12 July (All Postal) | Watford | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 7,636 (52%) No 7,140 (48%) Turnout 25% | N/A |
| 20 September (All Postal) | Doncaster | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 35,453 (65%) No 19,398 (35%) Turnout 25% | N/A |
| 4 October (Normal) | Kirklees | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 10,169 (27%) No 27,977 (73%) Turnout 13% | Leader & Cabinet |
| 11 October (Normal) | Sunderland | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 9,375 (43%) No 12,209 (57%) Turnout 10% | Leader & Cabinet |
| 18 October (All Postal) | Brighton & Hove | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 22,724 (38%) No 37,214 (62%) Turnout 32% | Alternative Arrangements |
| 18 October (All Postal) | Hartlepool | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 10,667 (51%) No 10,294 (49%) Turnout 34% | N/A |
| 18 October (All Postal) | Lewisham | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 16,822 (51%) No 15,914 (49%) Turnout 18% | N/A |
| 18 October (All Postal) | Middlesbrough | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 29,067 (84%) No 5,422 (16%) Turnout (34%) | N/A |
| 18 October (All Postal) | North Tyneside | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 30,262 (58%) No 22,296 (42%) Turnout 36% | N/A |
| 18 October (All Postal) | Sedgefield | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 10,628 (47%) No 11,869 (53%) Turnout 33% | Leader & Cabinet |
| 8 November (All Postal) | Redditch | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 7,250 (44%) No 9,198 (56%) Turnout 28% | Leader & Cabinet |
| 20 November (All Postal) | Durham (City) | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 8,327 (41%) No 11,974 (59%) Turnout 29% | Leader & Cabinet |
| 6 December (All Postal) | Harrow | Mayor & Cabinet | Yes 17,502 (43%) No 23,554 (57%) Turnout 26% | Leader & Cabinet |
| 24 January 2002 (All Postal) | Plymouth | Mayor & Cabinet | Leader & Cabinet | |
| 24 January 2002 (All Postal) | Harlow | Mayor & Cabinet | Alternative Arrangements | |
| 31 January 2002 (All Postal) | Newham | Mayor & Cabinet | Leader & Cabinet | |
| 31 January 2002 (Normal poll) (by Direction) | Southwark | Mayor & Cabinet | Leader & Cabinet | |
| 31 January 2002 (All Postal) | West Devon | Mayor & Cabinet | Alternative Arrangements | |
| 31 January 2002 (All Postal) | Shepway | Mayor & Cabinet | Leader & Cabinet | |
| 21 February 2002 (Normal poll) (by Petition) | Bedford | Mayor & Cabinet | Alternative Arrangements | |
| 2 May 2002 (Normal poll—Combined) (by Petition) | Newcastle-under-Lyme* | Mayor & Cabinet | (Not yet advised) | |
| (by mid June 2002) (by Petition) | Stoke on Trent* | Mayor & Council Manager | (Not yet advised) | |
| (by mid June 2002) (by Petition) | Mansfield* | Mayor & Cabinet | (Not yet advised) |
As at: 17 January 2002.
*= These three councils have sent statutory notice to the Secretary of State that a valid petition has been received and that the council will consequently be holding a referendum within six months of the petition date. Formal proposals to be received from these authorities will provide details of referendum dates (if not yet determined) and fall-back proposals.
Lord Janner of Braunstone asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The numbers of car occupants killed are shown below:
Car 1 occupant fatalities in Great Britain
(1) Excludes vehicles acting as hackney carriages.
It is not known what percentage of these were wearing seat belts at the time.
Lord Janner of Braunstone asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The last survey of seat belt wearing rates was carried out during October 2001. The results show that 90 per cent of car drivers and 92 per cent of passengers in the front seats now wear seat belts. In the rear seats of cars, 56 per cent of adults (14 years of age plus) and 90 per cent of children now wear seat belts.
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The current Objective 1 programme in Merseyside will finish on 31 December 2006, although beneficiaries will have a further two years to spend the funds.
The UK has called for a fundamental review of what the funds are seeking to achieve, how effective they have been and what sort of interventions would best serve an enlarged EU, respecting the principle of subsidiarity. Formal Commission proposals for the future of the funds are expected in 2004 and the UK and other member states will be making input to the development of these proposals in the intervening period. It is therefore too early to say what funding might follow Objective 1 in Merseyside.
Lord Fearn asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Information is not available in the form requested, but three grant regimes provide accommodation for single people.
The Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP) is the major source of housing associations' funding. We are increasing investment in affordable housing, both for rent and sale, through the ADP to over £1.2 billion by 2003–04.
The Rough Sleepers Unit's capital budget of £71 million over three years 1999–2000 to 2001–02 provides accommodation for rough sleepers, via capital grants administered by the Housing Corporation and paid to housing associations. Revenue grants from the Rough Sleepers Unit are paid to housing associations, a wide range of voluntary organisations, and local authorities.
A total funding of £137 million (£120 million capital and £17 million revenue) is being made available over three years 2001–02 to 2003–04 through the Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund, paid to housing associations and administered by the Housing Corporation. The overall aim of the fund is to prevent crime by funding appropriate supported housing for those groups most at risk including ex-offenders, young people at risk, people with drug and alcohol problems and people fleeing domestic violence.
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: 463 affordable homes in rural settlements in England with a population of 3,000 or less were completed and funded by the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme and local authority Social Housing Grant during the eight-month period 1 April 2001 to 30 November 2001.
The Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme rural settlement target is to approve, 1,100 units between 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2002. This will be supplemented with housing provided through local authority funding. In addition, we are encouraging local authorities to make effective use of the planning system.
How many (a) car drivers; (b) passengers in front seats of cars; and (c) passengers in rear seats of cars have been killed in accidents during the last five years for which records are available; and how many and what percentage of each were wearing seat belts at the time. [HL2332]
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
Drivers 1,139 1,162 1,128 1,071 1,076
Front Seat Passenger 398 381 340 357 369
Rear Seat Passenger 250 225 209 233 194
What percentage of (a) car drivers; (b) passengers in the front seats; and (c) passengers in the rear seats of cars they estimate now wear seat belts. [HL2334]
When Objective 1 funding ends in Merseyside; and what similar funding, if any, will follow. [HL2371]
What help is being given to housing associations which will specifically cater for the single person. [HL2372]
Further to the Written Answer by Ms Keeble on 10 January (HC Deb, 976W), what factors have affected the number of affordable houses in rural settlements in England with a population of 3,000 or less, completed and funded by the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme and local authority Social Housing Grant, where numbers have fallen from 2,020 in 1997 to 463 in 2001–02. [HL2379]
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