Costs (Hansard, 19 May 2003)

§ Mr. McNulty

Between 1997 and March 2003 inspection of local authority housing was carried out by the Audit Commission. In 2001 the Housing Corporation commenced a programme of inspection of registered social landlords. From 1 April 2003 both sectors are being inspected by a single housing inspectorate within the Audit Commission.

Estimated staffing figures and associated pay costs incurred by the Audit Commission and the Housing Corporation on inspection are set out in table 1.

Table 1 (at constant 2001–02 prices)
£ million
Year	Estimated pay cost of staff in Inspection Directorate of the Audit Commission engaged in housing inspection work	Estimated pay cost of staff employed by the Housing Corporation on inspection
1997–98	0.04	—
1998–99	0.12	—
1999–2000	0.43	—
2000–01	2.46	—
2001–02	2.82	¹0.80
2002–03	—	²1.50
¹ This figure represents costs of inspection staff recruited gradually during 2001–02. By 31 March 2002 there were 43 inspection posts, including 3 subject to contracts which ended on 31 March 2003.

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²This figures includes the costs of 3 contracted posts which ended on 31 March 2003.

Note:

1.The Audit Commission's financial year runs from 1 November to 31 October. The Housing Corporation and Planning Inspectorate's financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

The Audit Commission is responsible for carrying out inspections of local authority planning functions. The Planning Inspectorate deals with appeals and other casework under planning, housing, highways and allied legislation and is an executive agency of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The costs for the Planning Inspectorate shown in Table 2, are therefore not comparable with those for the Housing Inspectorate.

Table 2 (at constant 2001–2002 prices)
£ million
Year	Pay cost of staff employed by the Planning Inspectorate
1997–98	20.8
1998–99	20.64
1999–2000	22.25
2000–01	23.25
2001–02	23.38
2002–03	24.99