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In July 2007, the Government confirmed their objective for all new homes to be zero carbon from 2016, to be achieved through a progressive tightening of the building regulations from the 2006 standard. And in their 2008 Budget, the Government set out an ambition for all new non-domestic buildings to be zero carbon from 2019, with an earlier target (2018) for new public sector buildings. The Definition of Zero Carbon Homes and Non-Domestic Buildings consultation, published on 17 December 2008, sets out the Government's current thinking in this area and calls for further evidence in anticipation of an in-depth consultation on new non-domestic buildings in 2009. This document is accessible on the department's website at www. communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/zerocarbondefinition.

Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No. 2) (England) Order 2008

Question

Asked by Lord Taylor of Holbeach

To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No. 2) (England) Order 2008 (SI 2008/2362) was accompanied by an explanatory memorandum running to 39 pages when the order appears to be solely a correction of typing errors. [HL1470]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): The schedule to Statutory Instrument 2008/2362 comprises substantive legislative amendments to the order which introduces significant changes to householder permitted development rights. The order is accompanied by an Explanatory Memorandum and three impact assessments which cover the changes to householder permitted development rights, the restriction on front garden paving and making World Heritage Sites article 1(5) land.

Widows and Widowers

Question

Asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton

To ask Her Majesty's Government in each of the past 10 years, how many women became widows; how many men became widowers; how many requests to Government were made by widows and widowers for financial support; how much was spent by Government on support to widows and widowers; and what were the ages at which the women were widowed. [HL1110]

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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The information requested is not available.

However, data are available on the number of bereavement benefit claims from May 2002 to May 2008, broken down by gender and age group.

Bereavement Benefit claims from May 2002 to May 2008, by gender
		Gender of claimant
	Total	Female	Male
May-02	41,490	25,840	15,660
May-03	47,680	30,750	16,930
May-04	51,180	34,330	16,840
May-05	55,240	37,640	17,600
May-06	57,660	39,690	17,970
May-07	58,540	40,770	17,770
May-08	59,850	42,040	17,820

Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Notes:

1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10; some additional disclosure control has also been applied.

2. Average amounts are shown as pounds per week and rounded to the nearest penny. Totals may not sum due to rounding.

3. Time Series: bereavement benefit was introduced in April 2001. Figures are available from May 2002 onwards.

Bereavement benefit claims from May 2002 to May 2008 by age

	Age of Claimant
	Unknown age	18-24	25-29	30-34	35-39
May-00	170	110	910	3,550	8,220
May-01	150	110	800	3,170	7,790
May-02	160	60	520	2,330	6,420
May-03	90	30	340	1,670	5,070
May-04	20	20	190	1,150	3,910
May-05	10	-	110	780	2,910
May-06	10	-	60	520	2,120
May-07	20	-	40	320	1,530
May-08	-	-	20	200	1,080

		Age of Claimant
	Total	40-44	45-49	50-54	55-59	60-64
May-00	265,110	13,400	26,020	65,210	117,160	30,370
May-01	254,970	12,690	24,610	62,620	113,680	29,340
May-02	223,410	10,790	20,050	50,220	103,370	29,470
May-03	191,500	9,060	16,300	40,640	90,860	27,440
May-04	163,430	7,500	13,220	33,330	77,650	26,430
May-05	138,960	6,090	10,950	26,920	66,850	24,340
May-06	117,650	4,910	9,060	21,830	57,330	21,800
May-07	96,890	3,930	7,580	17,690	45,780	20,010
May-08	77,900	3,040	6,260	14,420	36,860	16,010

Zimbabwe

Questions

Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their advice to United Kingdom school fundraisers who wish to send donations to help schools in Zimbabwe. [HL1233]

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To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their advice to United Kingdom schools which wish to arrange twinnings with schools in Zimbabwe. [HL1234]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families (Baroness Morgan of Drefelin): The department does not give specific advice on fundraising related to any particular country. General advice to schools on fundraising for schools abroad is made available on the Global Gateway, the department's website for international links and partnerships for schools (see www.globalgateway.org/default.aspx?page=2798). The Government recommend that any assistance from the UK to Zimbabwean schools should be channelled through registered non-governmental organisations working in the education sector in Zimbabwe.

UK schools seeking to establish a partnership with a school abroad can do so through the Global Gateway (www.globalgateway.org), which includes a database

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of all schools that have registered an interest in establishing international school partnerships. The Global Gateway is available to all schools throughout the world wherever there is an internet connection and includes general advice on creating and maintaining sustainable school partnerships. More detailed advice to schools may be given on a case-by-case basis.

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