§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish the research commissioned by his Department on the disparity between the rate of household formation and the number of dwellings completed. [73919]
§ Mr. Raynsford[holding answer 3 March 1999]: Research which has been commissioned by my Department to investigate the accuracy of certain housing data that are provided by local authorities has not yet been completed. The Department's policy is to publish research unless there are good reasons not to do so.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will publish revised household projections as a range of figures, and explain the assumptions made in so doing. [73916]
§ Mr. Raynsford[holding answer 3 March 1999]: The Government agreed in their response to the report of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee on Housing that suitable sensitivity analyses would be published alongside the next set of household projections (Cm 4080, para 125).
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what guidance he is offering to local authorities on the use of the predicted rates of household formations in drawing up local development plans. [73917]
§ Mr. Raynsford[holding answer 3 March 1999]: Planning Policy Guidance note 11 "Regional Planning", a draft of which was published for consultation on 15 February, makes clear that regional planning bodies should work with Government Offices and other regional stakeholders to establish the level of housing required to meet the region's housing needs. In making this assessment, the Government's latest published household projections should be taken into account. Urban capacity studies should also be undertaken. Against this background of need and capacity, regional planning bodies are expected to take a realistic and responsible approach to future housing provision and should justify their views at the public examination of draft regional planning guidance. In preparing development plans (structure plans and UDPs) local authorities will be expected to reflect the housing figures set out in Regional Planning Guidance issued by the Secretary of State. Outside UDP areas, local plans are expected to be in conformity with the relevant structure plan.
§ Mr. DrewTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he intends to publish new household projections. [73918]
842W
§ Mr. Raynsford[holding answer Wednesday 3 March 1999]: The task of preparing the revised household projections has yet to be completed and a timetable for their publication has therefore still to be determined.