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To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of fire service response times from time of call to time of first attendance for each fire and rescue service were of a duration of (a) up to five minutes, (b) six to 10...
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of fire service response times from time of call to time of first attendance for each fire and rescue service were of a duration of (a) up to five minutes, (b) six to 10...
[holding answer 17 July 2012]: These data were published on 4 July in spreadsheet table 2a of the publication Fire Incidents Response Times. They can be found on the Department's website at:
www.communities.gov.uk/fire/researchandstatistics/firestatistics/fireresponsetimes/
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answers of 13 June 2012, Official Report, columns 517-8W and 2 July 2012, Official Report, column 418W, on publications, how much his Department has spent on (a) circulars, (b) publications and (c) consultation documents and since...
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answers of 13 June 2012, Official Report, columns 517-8W and 2 July 2012, Official Report, column 418W, on publications, how much his Department has spent on (a) circulars, (b) publications and (c) consultation documents and since...
The total departmental spend on (a) circulars, (b) publications and (c) consultation documents since May 2010 is shown in the following table. As an indicator, total spending 2009-10 has also been included.
| Spend
(£) | |||||
| Number
of
consultations1 | Circulars | Publications | Consultations | Annual
total | |
| 1
April 2009 to 31 May
2010 | 66 | — | — | — | 1,789,055 |
| 1
May 2010 to 31 March
2011 | 18 | 1,150 | 98,849 | — | 99,999 |
| 1
April 2011 to 31 March
2012 | 44 | — | 54,935 | 7,309 | 62,245 |
| 1
April 2012 to 30 June
2012 | 23 | — | 14,305 | 860 | 15,165 |
| 12
July 2012, Official Report, column
418W Notes: 1. Archived data for 2009-10 do not allow us to analyse the spend data into the three categories listed above. 2. This represents spend in the first quarter only and does not represent the level of spend expected in the following quarters. 3. Also note that the Department changed its policy on publication, part way through 2011-12, to self publishing, hence the notable reduction in spend over the three years. |
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to which registered charities his Department has made payments in the last three years; and what sums over what period have been paid in each case.
[118156]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to which registered charities his Department has made payments in the last three years; and what sums over what period have been paid in each case.
[118156]
The Department's records do not differentiate between payments made to registered charities and other voluntary and community sector organisations. A list of payments made under section 70 of the Charities Act 2006 to charities and voluntary groups is published in the Department's annual report and resource accounts on a yearly basis.
This list will include some of the payments made by the Department to registered charities for 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.
In addition, departmental spending over £500 since 2008-09 is also published monthly on our website as part of my Department's broader transparency agenda. Since February 2011 these reports have included a column indicating whether a vendor classifies themselves as a voluntary and community sector organisation.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable he has set for his Department's review of the community infrastructure levy.
[117445]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable he has set for his Department's review of the community infrastructure levy.
[117445]
A comprehensive review of the community infrastructure levy is to be held five years after the regulations first came into force in 2010. Following a consultation last year on reforms to the Levy, including the introduction of neighbourhood funds, we are working to bring forward draft amendment regulations later this year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the monetary value of ex-gratia payments made through schemes administered by his Department in the last two years.
[116775]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the monetary value of ex-gratia payments made through schemes administered by his Department in the last two years.
[116775]
Special payments made by the Department are as follows:
2010-11: £1,380,901 (of which £1,364,345 relates to personal injury compensation claims)
2011-12: £1,769,432 (of which £1,596,566 relates to personal injury compensation claims)
The vast majority of the payments relate to the settlement of personal injury compensation claims brought against the Department by former Ministry of Public Buildings and Works/Property Services Agency employees who contracted asbestos related diseases following exposure in the workplace.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington, of 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 7W, on Google, what the outturn spending on Google Adwords was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and what the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington, of 11 June 2012, Official Report, column 7W, on Google, what the outturn spending on Google Adwords was in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10; and what the...
During the period 2008-09 and 2009-10 the Department bought online advertising, including Google Adwords, through the COI framework appointed agency i-Level. As both COI and i-Level have ceased trading, the Department no longer has access to this level of detail about historical media buying.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer on 29 March 2010, Official Report, column 836W, where the total Department spend on advertising via Google Adwords was reported as being £212,825.94 for the year 2009-10. We are aware that this spend was on three campaigns—Fire Kills, Fire and Rescue Service Equality, and Preventing Repossessions. A breakdown of spend on the Department's marketing activity for these two years can be found at:
www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/1298507.pdf
for 2008-09 and, for 2009-10 at:
www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/1684008.pdf
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the Audit Commission's Government Procurement Card transaction data including value, date, merchant and merchant for each item of expenditure incurred in the last 36 months for which figures are...
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the Audit Commission's Government Procurement Card transaction data including value, date, merchant and merchant for each item of expenditure incurred in the last 36 months for which figures are...
This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
Letter from Eugene Sullivan to Marcus Jones, dated 3 September 2012:
Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
The list of transactions made by the Audit Commission on the Government Procurement Card for 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12 will be placed in the Library.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what records the Planning Inspectorate keeps of decisions that they have made in allowing planning applications made for developments on green belt land.
[116659]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what records the Planning Inspectorate keeps of decisions that they have made in allowing planning applications made for developments on green belt land.
[116659]
[holding answer 16 July 2012]: The Planning Inspectorate keeps records of decisions made by Inspectors on planning appeals where the green belt was a specific issue. Electronic copies of decisions made since 2005 are available through the inspectorate's online system. Appeal files are retained for a year after decision and are destroyed thereafter.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department plans to create a myth buster section on its website similar to that of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
[117903]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department plans to create a myth buster section on its website similar to that of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
[117903]
Not at present; however, the newsroom area of the Department's website has a section with responses to assorted topical issues that feature in the media:
www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom/issuesandresponses/
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make an assessment on the effect of the manipulation of the LIBOR rate on the cost of borrowing for local councils.
[116985]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make an assessment on the effect of the manipulation of the LIBOR rate on the cost of borrowing for local councils.
[116985]
[holding answer 13 July 2012]: Local councils borrow primarily from the Government, through the Public Works Loan Board. LIBOR rates do not factor in determining the board's lending rates. The Government does not collect specific information on councils' costs of borrowing from other sources.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities increased pay for staff earning less than £21,000 per annum by £250 or more between 2010 and 2012.
[117484]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities increased pay for staff earning less than £21,000 per annum by £250 or more between 2010 and 2012.
[117484]
[holding answer 17 July 2012]: The information requested is not held centrally. While the Government's overall policy on public sector pay sets the context in which decisions about pay are taken locally by councils, Government has no role in determining annual pay awards in local authorities. These are for the employers and unions to negotiate within the framework of the relevant National Joint Committee.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of staff employed in local authority planning departments in each of the last two years and the predicted levels for the next five years; and what assessment he has made of...
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of staff employed in local authority planning departments in each of the last two years and the predicted levels for the next five years; and what assessment he has made of...
The Department does not collect detailed information on local government workforces. It is for councils, as individual employers, to manage the structure
of their workforces in light of their local circumstances and in a way that enables them to meet their priorities and offers value for money for local taxpayers.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department plans to review the mechanism for determining annual business rates increases; and if he will make a statement.
[117488]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department plans to review the mechanism for determining annual business rates increases; and if he will make a statement.
[117488]
The Government will review the use of the consumer prices index for indirect taxes, including business rates, once our fiscal consolidation plans have been implemented and the duty increases inherited from the previous Government have come to an end.
The Government's commitment to the annual retail prices index cap provides businesses with stability and certainty and means that there has been no real terms increase in business rates since 1990. We have listened to concerns about this year's increase and have given businesses the option of deferring payment of 60% of the retail prices index increase in 2012-13 rates bills until 2013-14 and 2014-15.
We have also doubled the level of small business rate relief in England until 31 March 2013. Over half a million businesses in England are expected to benefit, with approximately a third of a million businesses paying no rates.
We have also given local authorities discretionary powers to grant business rates discounts as they see fit.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many businesses have taken advantage of the Government's Business Rates Deferral Scheme for 2012;
[117544]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how many businesses have taken advantage of the Government's Business Rates Deferral Scheme for 2012;
[117544]
All ratepayers have the option of taking advantage of the business rates deferral scheme and ratepayers can defer at any time during the 2012-13 billing year provided that they have some of their bill left to pay. We will collect data on both the number of business rates that took advantage of deferring scheme in 2012-13 and the amount of business rates that were deferred at the end of the billing year. We plan to publish these in autumn 2013.
(2) how many businesses were eligible to take advantage of the Business Rates Deferral Scheme announced in the 2012 Budget.
[117545]
Derek Twigg:
(2) how many businesses were eligible to take advantage of the Business Rates Deferral Scheme announced in the 2012 Budget.
[117545]
Derek Twigg:
All ratepayers have the option of taking advantage of the business rates deferral scheme and ratepayers can defer at any time during the 2012-13 billing year provided that they have some of their bill left to pay. We will collect data on both the number of business rates that took advantage of deferring scheme in 2012-13 and the amount of business rates that were deferred at the end of the billing year. We plan to publish these in autumn 2013.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received from local authorities on the ability of planning departments to carry out planning enforcement activities.
[117975]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received from local authorities on the ability of planning departments to carry out planning enforcement activities.
[117975]
Ministers receive representations from local authorities regarding different aspects of the planning enforcement regime from time to time.
Some local authorities have recently made representations in relation to the issue of 'beds in sheds', both in relation to breaches of planning control and the problem of landlords renting out outbuildings as substandard living accommodation. My Department has consequently held a series of summits with local and central Government on the issue, has allocated £1.8 million of additional funding, for planning and housing enforcement and to assist with re-housing the tenants concerned, to help the
local authorities which are particularly affected, and has produced best practice guidance to assist local authorities, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
The Localism Act 2011 has increased the powers of local authorities to tackle unauthorised development and the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 has augmented councils' powers to use bye-laws to tackle unauthorised encampments. The Government are reviewing what further steps can be taken to increase local authority powers to tackle unauthorised development and occupation.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff of his Department were in the civil service redeployment pool on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months at...
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many staff of his Department were in the civil service redeployment pool on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many of these had been in the redeployment pool for more than six months at...
As at 11 July 2012, we have no staff from the Department for Communities and Local Government in the civil service redeployment pool.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many interns work in his Department's press office.
[117681]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many interns work in his Department's press office.
[117681]
There are no interns working in the Department's press office.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to answer Questions 111138 and 111139 on troubled families, tabled on 8 June 2012 for answer on 12 June 2012.
[117895]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to answer Questions 111138 and 111139 on troubled families, tabled on 8 June 2012 for answer on 12 June 2012.
[117895]
Questions 111138 and 111139 were answered on 17 July 2012, Official Report, columns 644-45W.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will consider introducing a special planning licence for bookmakers and other betting establishments to give local authorities the power to refuse or modify applications in order to achieve a varied mix of shops and businesses.
[117315]
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will consider introducing a special planning licence for bookmakers and other betting establishments to give local authorities the power to refuse or modify applications in order to achieve a varied mix of shops and businesses.
[117315]
Local authorities already have a range of powers available to tackle any localised problems. These can be used to target specific areas where the cumulative impact of betting shops is becoming unacceptable.
Taken together with powers under the Gambling Act to tackle individual premises, councils have a powerful set of tools with which to address any problems where they arise.
Notwithstanding, the Government has recently published a consultation paper on planning, which asks whether there is a case for making further changes to the broader change of use regime. Hon. Members may wish to make a representation to the consultation.