§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much the Government has invested in(a) council housing and (b) social housing schemes in (i) St. Helens, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) the north-west in each year since 1992. [144075]
§ Keith HillThe information is not available in the form requested. The following table gives details of the Housing Investment Programme and the Approved Development Programme, from 1999 to date. The information from 1992–99 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
144W
£ million HIP ADP Total 1999–2000 St. Helens 5.4 1 6.4 Merseyside 45.1 30.9 76 North West 216.7 70 286.7 2000–01 St. Helens 8.01 1.2 9.21 Merseyside 69.7 28.9 98.6 North West 296.1 59.3 355.4
£ million HIP ADP Total 2001–02 St. Helens 10.8 1.1 11.9 Merseyside 85.2 15.7 100.9 North West 347.3 0.05 347.35 2002–03 St. Helens 10.5 0.56 11.1 Merseyside 89 26.7 115.7 North West 363 68.3 431.3 2003–04 St. Helens 2.7 3.3 6 Merseyside 65 75.6 140.6 North West 323.5 68.3 391.8
§ Mr. HayesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what arrangements he has put in place to ensure that local authorities in the process of developing empty property strategies to increase housing resources and aid regeneration take empty commercial buildings into account. [145298]
§ Keith HillThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister considers that local authorities should take account of opportunities to convert redundant commercial property for housing use alongside their more traditional role of encouraging the re-use of vacant residential property. This is reflected in guidance we published earlier this year—Empty Property, Unlocking the Potential—which provides guidance to local authorities on establishing empty property strategies and covers a wide spectrum of property from empty homes to commercial property.
§ Mr. HayesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what arrangements he has put in place to ensure that local authorities are devoting adequate human resources to empty home strategies, with particular reference to the appointment of dedicated empty properties officers. [145299]
§ Keith HillThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are ensuring that local authorities have adequate financial resources to provide decent local services without making excessive demands on local tax payers. For 2004–05 the Government will be providing total support to local authorities of £54.5 billion, an increase of 30 per cent. since 1997.
It is for local authorities to determine the level of resources, both human and financial, they devote to particular activities such as empty homes reduction strategies in line with local priorities.
§ Mr. HayesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to provide incentives for landlords to ensure that their properties remain occupied. [145300]
§ Keith HillThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister plans to give local authorities discretionary powers to end the present council tax discount on long-term vacant dwellings, which will provide an incentive for owners to ensure their properties do not remain vacant for long periods of time.
145WThe Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has also introduced a range of fiscal incentives to encourage the reuse of vacant dwellings, in particular by reducing to 5 per cent. the rate at which VAT is charged on the renovation of dwellings vacant for 3 or more years.
§ Mr. HayesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what training the Government(a) has given and (b) is giving to local authorities to ensure that they are aware of the extent of their power to act as a financial institution in the housing market as provided by the Regulatory Reform Act 2002. [145296]
§ Keith HillCircular 05/2003, entitled "Housing Renewal" and issued in June 2003 by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister sets out the extent of local authorities new powers under the Regulatory Reform (Housing Assistance)(England and Wales) Order 2002 to provide financial assistance for the repair, improvement and adaptation of housing accommodation.
In relation to the provision of loan finance, the circular explains that local authorities and housing associations will be exempt from the Financial Services Authority regulatory regime on mortgage lending which will take effect from October 2004. However, local authorities and housing associations must still adhere to the underlying key principles of such mortgage regulation and The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, in consultation with the Housing Corporation and Local Government Association, is considering what further advice, guidance and training should be provided to them.
£000 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 Revenue Support Grant 132,598 131,230 142,727 144,857 141,631 150,052 144,256 177,435 199,354 National Non-Domestic Rates 90,026 84,653 88,507 96,074 108,810 106,625 117,363 113,867 108,809 Neighbourhood Renewal Fund — — — — — 1,496 2,244 2,992 2,992 Education Grants 3,670 4,130 5,713 8,158 15,760 30,843 29,397 27,219 1— Personal Social Service Grants 4,471 3,244 3,460 3,970 5,405 9,258 14,987 12,158 1— Supporting People — — — — — — — 6,727 1— 1 Data not available until spring 2004 when it will be reported by local authorities on their RA and RA(SG) returns. Notes:
1. The grants are on an unadjusted basis and may not be comparable between years, because transfers of function may have taken place.
2. Information on specific grants up until 2002–03 is taken from authority outturn returns. From 2003–04, where outturn information is not yet available this is based on local authority budget returns.