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In addition, there were 29 people from Defra agencies who left as part of the closure of the Wildlife Unit (25 people on VES and 4 people on VER) at a total cost of £1.5 million.
Since the beginning of April 2008, 163 people have been employed within Defra. This is broken down as follows:
None of the people who left on either voluntary early retirement or severance in 2007-08 has been re-employed.
Energy: Low-carbon Strategy
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): The Government will shortly be consulting on a definition of carbon neutrality with the aim of publishing a final definition in spring 2009. We will then review the implications for departments' delivery of the current carbon neutrality target and the potential need for off-sets.
Forecasts based on data yet to be verified by the Sustainable Development Commission indicate that, in 2007-08, carbon emissions from offices on the civil estate reduced by 6.5 per cent against the baseline year of 1999-2000. This was an improvement on the 4 per cent reduction recorded in 2006-07.
Government: Contractors
Lord Cotter asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many complaints the Office of Government Commerce has received from sub-contractors over non-compliance with the Fair Payment Charter's commitment to payment periods not exceeding 30 days. [HL6126]
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The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): The Office of Government Commerce has not received any specific complaints from sub-contractors.
The office continues to work with both clients and construction industry trade bodies to raise awareness of, and compliance with, the principles of the Fair Payment Charter.
House of Lords: Dress Code
Lord Tyler asked the Chairman of Committees:
Whether there is a dress code for those passing through the Prince's Chamber when the House is sitting; if so, what it is; how it is enforced; and whether it applies equally to men and women. [HL6330]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara): The dress code in the Prince’s Chamber is the same as in the main catering outlets for Members: men should wear a jacket and tie, and women should be suitably attired. This dress code applies equally to Members, guests, staff and officials. The code is enforced by the Doorkeepers, who rely on the co-operation of Members. I take this opportunity to remind Members that they should adhere to this dress code at all times and ensure that their guests and staff do likewise.
Housing
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): The Government recently announced measures to purchase unsold stock from developers through the Housing Corporation and to support the most critical regeneration schemes through working with regional development agencies. We have also brought forward moneys to support affordable housing this year. These measures aim to create confidence and stability in the building industry.
Housing: Energy Efficiency
Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether manufacturers of components for house building have to conform to household security standards when designing energy-efficient windows and door furniture. [HL6073]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): Security standards are not required in energy-efficient doors and windows for the purposes of the building regulations. However, where building
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Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Andrews: The Government set out their target for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016 in the Building a Greener Future policy statement issued in July 2007 (www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/building_ greener.pdf). The target will be achieved through progressive tightening of the building regulations—by 25 per cent (relative to 2006 regulations) in 2010, 44 per cent in 2013 and then zero carbon in 2016. A consultation paper on the detailed definition of zero carbon new homes is due to be issued shortly.
The 2016 taskforce (jointly chaired by the Minister of Housing and the chief executive of the Home Builders Federation) meets regularly to oversee implementation of the zero carbon new homes policy. The industry has set up a delivery body, the Zero Carbon Hub, which was launched earlier this year to help identify and tackle barriers to delivery and to engage with industry and other organisations which will be responsible for delivery. Further information about the Hub can be found at its website at www.zerocarbonhub.org.
In addition to changes to the building regulations, the code for sustainable homes is intended to guide industry in the design and construction of sustainable homes. It sets out standards, which are above the regulatory minimum, for the sustainability of a house as a whole, including, energy, water, materials, waste and ecology. The rating of all new homes against the code became mandatory from 1 May 2008. Homes that are built on English Partnerships' land need to build to at least code level 3 and homes that are designed and built with funding from the National Affordable Housing Programme need to be built to code level 3.
The Government are encouraging a range of exemplar developments of different sizes and types which demonstrate low-carbon technologies. These include eco-towns, the Thames Gateway and, on a smaller scale, English Partnerships’ Carbon Challenge. Our planning policies on climate change, including the new planning policy statement on climate change, expect new development to be planned to limit carbon dioxide emissions and sustainability appraisal to be used to shape planning strategies that help achieve this.
IT: Rural Communities
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of rural villages have a computer available for use by the general public and linked to the internet. [HL6028]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting (Lord Carter of Barnes): This information is not held. However, UK online centres provide people in urban and rural locations with free or low-cost access to computers and the internet. There are over 6,000 UK online centres across urban and rural areas that range from voluntary sector high street centres to further educational colleges and libraries. Research carried out by the Office of Communications (Ofcom) for its Communications Market 2008 report indicates that of the 71 per cent of UK adults who use the internet, 14 per cent sought access in a library or educational institution in the first quarter of 2008—www.ofcom.org. uk/research/cm/cmr08/cmr08_2.pdf.
In addition, there are a number of community-based projects which provide access to broadband facilities and computers in local venues. The Switch on Shropshire project is a good example of this at www.switchonshropshire.org.uk/.
Digital communications are vital to business success and competitiveness, and enrich the social, cultural and educational landscape. Our ambition is to see the UK as the leading major economy for innovation, investment and quality in the digital and communications industries. That is why we announced on 17 October that I would be developing a digital Britain action plan to secure four key conditions; namely, open markets, empowered and informed consumers and citizens, universal access to public service content, and a responsive regulatory framework. I aim to publish the digital Britain report in Spring next year.
The recently launched cross-government report Delivering Digital Inclusion: An Action Plan for Consultation announced a research project focused on “not spots” and the potential risks for communities or places around emerging high-speed internet services and applications to evaluate whether the UK, or parts of the UK, will be at a disadvantage.
Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 29 October (WA 172) concerning the composition of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, what measurement is used to determine whether the Secretary of State has complied with the obligation to ensure that the commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland. [HL6047]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: Under the Northern Ireland Act 1998 the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is obliged, when making appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, to secure so far as practicable, that the Commissioners as a group are representative of the community in Northern Ireland.
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The composition of existing commissioners is taken into account when appointments are made, so that this obligation can be met.
The Secretary of State has complied with this obligation in every appointment that has been made to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
Planning
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many planning applications have gone to appeal in 2008; how many went to appeal in 2006 and 2007; and how many of those appeals were won by the appellant in each year. [HL6015]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): The table below shows the number of planning appeals determined by the planning inspectorate for the years 2006, 2007 and from 1 January to 30 September 2008, together with the number of appeals that were allowed (won by the appellant) and dismissed in each year.
| Year | Appeals determined | Appeals allowed | Appeals dismissed |
Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 15 October (WA 53—55), how long the Secretary of State has been in possession of the seven appeals awaiting determination by her; and when, in each case, a final decision is expected. [HL6153]
Baroness Andrews: The period of time that the Secretary of State has been in possession of each of the seven appeals is indicated in the list below:
Somerset County Council—land at Short Drove (11 years); land adjoining Daggs Lane Drove (11 years); land adjoining London Drove (11 years); Peak District National Park—Smalldale Head Quarry (9 years 11 months); Staffordshire County Council—Campions Wood Quarry (10 years 11 months);Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council—Branton Hill Sand and Gravel Pit (9 years 3 months); and Hertfordshire County Council—Pole Hole Quarry (9 years).The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Mineral Permissions and Amendment) (England) Regulations 2008 will now allow these appeals to be determined. However, it is currently not possible to make an accurate assessment of when final decisions will be taken on these cases. A
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Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 15 October (WA 53—55), how long each of the estimated 42 applications has been waiting for determination by relevant mineral planning authorities; and when final decisions are expected. [HL6154]
Baroness Andrews: The list of applications included with my earlier reply has been updated to reflect further information now available. The updated list is set out below and indicates the period of time applications have been waiting for determination (where that is available) and the date of determination where applicable.
Dorset County Council—Furzeyground Open Pit (10 years 6 months) (determined 24 June 2008); Aldmoor/Greenspecks Clay Mine (10 years 4 months) (determined 24 June 2008);Peak District National Park—Shining Bank Quarry (9 years) (determined February 2007); and Staffordshire County Council—Elford Quarry (9 years 6 months) (determined 27 February 2008). Cumbria County Council—Hartley Quarry (11 years 10 months);Dorset County Council—Portland Stone Quarries (10 years 1 month); Binnegar Quarry (2 applications) (10 years 10 months); Warmwell Quarry (3 applications) (10 years 10 months); Masters South Sand Pit (11 years 3 months); Masters North Sand Pit (11 years 3 months); Hyde Sand Pit (11 years 3 months); Arne Open Pit (10 years 10 months);Oxfordshire County Council—Shenington Quarry (11 years 7 months); Radley-Thrupp Farm (8 years 10 months);Peak District National Park—Birchover Quarry (10 years 9 months); Canyards Hill Quarry (10 years 2 months); Longstone Edge (eastern section including Backdale Quarry) (11 years 9 months); Shire Hill Quarry (11 years 2 months); Topley Pike Quarry (10 years 9 months); Stanton Moor Quarry (10 years 2 months); Staffordshire County Council—Apedale South Quarry (10 years 3 months); Keele Quarry (10 years 7 months); Hinksford Lane Quarry (North) (10 years 8 months); Weeford Quarry (10 years 3 months); Alrewas Quarry (9 years 5 months); and Yorkshire Dales National Park: Horton Quarry (10 years 8 months).Information on the time that the following applications have been waiting determination by planning authorities is not currently available:
Rotherham Borough Council—Swallownest Brickworks;14 Nov 2008 : Column WA158
It has also been established that three applications have been identified that were not included in my earlier reply. These are:
Dorset County Council—Henbury Sand Pit (10 years); Warmwell Airfield (10 years 10 months); andPeak District National Park—Barton Hill (10 years 2 months).In addition, further information has revealed that that five applications listed in my earlier reply were not for determination under the 2008 Regulations. These are:
North Somerset Council—Durnsford Quarry, Hyattswood Quarry; and Peterborough City Council—Bradley Fen Quarry; Bainton Pit; Stanground Quarry.For the outstanding applications, it is currently not possible to make an accurate assessment of when final decisions will be taken. A range of case-specific factors, including the time taken by the applicant to provide the necessary environmental information, will ultimately determine how long is needed to reach final decisions.
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