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14 Jul 2003 : Column 68W—continued
Fires
Matthew Taylor : To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average cost of a domestic fire was in each year since 1997. [125203]
Phil Hope: Information on the cost of a domestic fire is not available before 1999. The estimated average cost of a domestic fire in 1999 was £21,500 and in 2000 it was £24,700. Some of the difference between these figures is due to changes in the way that costs are calculated: using the 1999 methodology, the estimated cost of a domestic fire in 2000 is £23,800.
2000 is the last year for which figures are available; those for 2001 will be published in due course.
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people have died as a result of malicious car fires in each year since 1997. [125204]
Phil Hope: The information requested is tabled. 2001 is the most recent year for which data are available.
| Number | |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 20 |
| 1998 | 19 |
| 1999 | 19 |
| 2000 | 21 |
| 2001(15) | 12 |
(15) Figures for 2001 are provisional.
Matthew Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of accidental car fires were caused by an electrical fault in the last year for which figures are available. [125206]
Phil Hope: In 2001, of 18,135 accidental car fires in the United Kingdom, 47 per cent. (8,494 fires) were caused by an electrical fault, related either to the wiring on the car or its batteries (7,540 fires) or due to the ignition system (954 fires).
Funding Schemes
Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the (a) business and commercial property gap funding scheme, (b) housing gap funding scheme, (c) heritage approval scheme and (d) land remediation scheme were finalised; when he expects guidance to prospective applicants to be published in respect of each of the above schemes. [125347]
Keith Hill: The UK Government notified the European Commission of their proposals to use public sector funds to assist regeneration in order to comply with the state aid rules. The notifications were approved on the following dates:
- (a) business and commercial property gap funding—24 May 2002;
(b) housing gap funding—8 July 2002;
(c) heritage aid—13 May 2002; and
(d) land remediation ('dereliction aid')—11 June 2003.
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where English Partnerships has developed a standard appraisal process, they are responsible for any application forms and guidelines to developers.
Housing
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Government took water requirements into account when proposing their new house-building programme. [125509]
Phil Hope: Discussions were held with water companies by the consultants who undertook the growth area studies published last year. More detailed local studies are now under way in most areas, which will help in more detailed assessment of infrastructure requirements. Further discussions with the water industry have taken place since publication of the Sustainable Communities Plan and these will continue involving the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Water UK, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the individual water companies concerned, the Environment Agency and OFWAT.
Mr. Paul Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many social houses are being built this year in each local authority; and how many families are on the housing waiting list in each local authority. [124631]
Keith Hill: Estimates of the number of social dwellings (for rent by registered social landlords and local authorities) built are based on local authority P2 housing returns to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and National House Building Council (NHBC) data.
Local authorities in England report the numbers of households on their housing register (excluding tenants awaiting a transfer) as at 1 April in their Annual Housing Investment Programme returns.
The latest available annual data from these two sources are available in the Library of the House.
Housing Gap Funding Scheme
Sir Sydney Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many grants have been made in respect of the housing gap funding scheme; what their total value is; to whom they have been made, and in respect of what total area of land; and what proportion of the land was previously undeveloped. [125346]
Keith Hill: English Partnerships, in consultation with the Regional Development Agencies (including the London Development Agency), are currently drawing up an appraisal guide for the implementation of the housing gap funding scheme. It is expected that this guidance will be released for final public consultation in due course.
Local Government Finance
Mr. Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the total net yield from council tax, after council tax benefit and single person's discounts, for (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland in each year from 1997–98 to 2003–04. [125287]
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Phil Hope: Tabled are the figures showing the estimated council tax receipts collected in England in each financial year from 1997/98 to 2002/03. The receipt information is the best estimate of council tax yield collected after council tax benefit and all discounts have been taken into account. The information shows the total amounts collected within each financial year irrespective of the financial year that the receipt relates to.
| £ billion | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 9.5 |
| 1998–99 | 10.5 |
| 1999–2000 | 11.3 |
| 2000–01 | 12.2 |
| 2001–02 | 13.2 |
| 2002–03 | 14.5 |
Source:
QRC4
Figures for Wales and Scotland are a matter for the Welsh Assembly Government and Scottish Parliament respectively.
Planning Appeals
Mr. Wood: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to introduce an easier and more affordable way for people to appeal against decisions made by the Planning Inspectorate. [124622]
Regional Assemblies
Mr. Hammond: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 7 July 2003, Official Report, column 619W, on regional assemblies, if he will list the opinion polls which were included in his calculation; and if he will place copies of the results in the Library. [125792]
Mr. Raynsford: My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister considered the findings of 28 opinion polls that provided supporting evidence on the question of the percentage of people in favour of holding a referendum. Information about these polls is laid out in paragraphs 44 to 59 of the "Your Region, Your Say" document that summarises the information, evidence and views that he considered before deciding to direct the Boundary Committee for England to carry out local government reviews in the three northern regions. Copies of "Your Region, Your Say" and the opinion polls were placed in the Libraries of both Houses on 16 June 2003.
Thames Gateway
David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Cabinet Committee Misc22's report on the funding of the Thames Gateway project will be published. [125350]
Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is hoping to make an announcement shortly on taking forward the Thames Gateway.
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David Davis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much funding each Thames Gateway project will receive as part of the funding announced in the Communities Plan. [125351]
Keith Hill: Earlier this year, as part of the comprehensive programme to take forward the Communities Plan, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced investment of £446 million for the Thames Gateway. Proposals have been brought forward by the three Sub-regional Thames Gateway Partnerships. These are currently being considered.
Warden Schemes
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what alternative funding mechanisms are in place to assist local authorities to retain street and neighbourhood warden schemes following the withdrawal of Government funding. [118160]
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Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is keen that all funded schemes continue. However, Government funding for warden schemes was awarded on a short-term basis, and it was clear from the start that this financial support would only be for a limited period. Additionally, local authorities have requested that we reduce area-based initiatives, in order that they have more flexibility in how they spend their own funds. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister already has examples of local authorities and housing associations that are mainstreaming schemes.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is working closely with all schemes in the development of their future sustainability plans. Events are being held and guidance has been produced for scheme managers. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is promoting the wardens approach, particularly as a key element of neighbourhood management.
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