§ Mr. David Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has completed his review of the working of the Building (Prescribed Fees) Regulations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergI refer the hon. Member to the answer my hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Lyell) on 19 December.
§ Mr. David Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate for 1981–82 of the cost of implementing the Building (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 1980, of the income resulting from their implementation and the effects on his estimates of the rate support grant.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe receipts from the building regulation fees in 1981–82 are estimated at £51 million at 1981 survey prices and account has been taken of this in the rate support grant settlement for 1981–82. It is intended that the receipts should cover the cost of enforcement of the building regulations as well as the operation of the fees scheme.
§ Mr. David Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have 63W employed consultants to assist in scrutinising estimates of costs for the purpose of determining fees payable under the Building (Prescribed Fees) Regulations 1980.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergLocal authorities are not required to notify the Department when they employ consultants and this information is not therefore available.
§ Mr. David Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have now indicated their intention to employ additional staff to administer charges for processing building regulation approvals.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergLocal authorities are not required to notify the Department of proposed increases in their staff. The Association of District Councils and the London Boroughs' Association have, however, told us that they know of 14 cases out of some 270 authorities where extra staff have been engaged for this purpose.