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Healthcare Commission: Annual Report
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Minister for Housing and Planning, Yvette Cooper, on 2 October 2006 (HC Deb, 2542W), what are the reasons for (a) a fall in derelict land and buildings in the east of England from 2,610 hectares in 2001 to 1,740 hectares in 2002 and a rise in 2003 to 2,420 hectares; and (b) the changes in the number of hectares in the south-west from 1,870 in 2001, to 1,630 in 2002, 2,250 in 2003 and 1,900 in 2004. [HL1294]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): Changes in the amounts of derelict land and buildings in a region are the result of the development of some sites and by new sites coming into scope. It is also the case that estimates for the early years of the survey are less reliable than those from more recent years because they were based on responses from fewer local authorities, as shown in the table below. An allowance is made for missing data but this is necessarily approximate.
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| Proportions of Local Authorities Making a Return to the National Land Use Database of Previously Developed Land. (per cent) | |||
| East of England | South-west | England | |
Housing: Planning Permission
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
In which local authorities in England there is a moratorium on giving new planning permissions for any additional housing by new building or conversions, other than in exceptional circumstances. [HL865]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): Her Majesty's Government are not aware of any local planning authorities where there is a moratorium (that is, a blanket ban) on additional housing, although we are aware that in some areas local planning authorities have introduced local policies or supplementary planning guidance that seek to restrict development in particular circumstances.
Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) Housing, published on 29 November, puts in place a new national policy framework aimed at ensuring that sufficient land is made available to provide for the new homes required to meet growing need and demand. PPS3 makes it clear that local planning authorities and regional planning bodies should work together to determine how many new homes are needed, which takes into account the Government's overall ambitions for affordability across the housing market, including the need to improve affordability and increase housing supply.
Railways: Network Rail
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the criteria against which bonus payments are made to the executives of Network Rail. [HL1363]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Network Rail is a private sector company and so decisions on bonuses paid to its executive directors are a matter for it, not for the Government. Network Rail's annual report and accounts 2006 provides information on the criteria for the award of such bonuses, and is available on the company's website, www.networkrail.co.uk.
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Railways: North-west
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have made an assessment of the cost of reinstatement of (a) the Todmorden railway curve, and (b) the passing loop at Nelson, together with any other necessary changes. [HL1346]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: To advance infrastructure proposals, a business case for the proposals should first be developed, usually by local or regional bodies working with Network Rail. The Government have not made an assessment of the costs of these railway schemes as no business case has been received.
Railways: West Coast Main Line
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
When a decision will be reached on the provision of additional vehicles for the west coast main line Pendolino fleet. [HL1364]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Department for Transport officials are currently working closely with the rail industry on a number of options for increasing capacity on the west coast main line in the
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Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 9 January (WA 74), why they did not follow their stated policy of re-tendering franchises in the case of the west coast main line rather than renegotiating the franchise from a contribution of over £1 billion to the Government to a subsidy of £1,552 million over the period 2006 to 2012. [HL1366]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Department for Transport does not renegotiate franchises. The original franchise agreement term was until 2012 and based on certain assumptions that Network Rail would deliver contractual commitments by 2005. The letter of agreement provided for services to continue to be provided while the reconfigured west coast modernisation project was completed. The reinstatement of the franchise agreement provides better value to the tax payer and benefits of continuity to the passenger than the buying-out of the franchise from Virgin and re-tendering through the franchise replacement process earlier than the contractual term ending in 2012.
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