HC Deb 01 March 2004 vol 418 cc765-8W
Ms Oona King

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 22 January 2004,Official Report, column 1464W, on housing, how many units built or acquired with social housing grant by (a) the Housing Corporation, (b) local authorities and (c) registered social landlords, without public subsidy, in each year since 1990 were (i) self-contained units and (ii) bedspaces. [156875]

Keith Hill

A breakdown of the number of self-contained dwellings and bedspaces is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ms Oona King

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 22 January 2004, Official Report, column 1464W, on housing, how many units built or acquired with social housing grant by(a) the Housing Corporation, (b) local authorities and (c) registered social landlords, without public subsidy, in each year since 1990 were (i) social housing for rent and (ii) low cost home ownership. [156876]

Keith Hill

I will write to my hon. Friend with further details of the dwellings built or acquired with social housing grant by the Housing Corporation and local authorities for rent and low cost home ownership. A breakdown between social rent and low cost home ownership dwellings provided by registered social landlords without public subsidy is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Ms Oona King

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who has been commissioned to undertake the research projects into(a) learning the lessons from the Estate Renewal Challenge Fund, (b) guidance on houses in multiple occupation amenities, (c) the effectiveness of disabled faculties grant administration and (d) key worker housing; what the terms of reference are for each project; and when work on each will be completed. [156877]

Keith Hill

The information requested is as follows:

  1. a. Heriot-Watt University have been commissioned to undertake the research project: Learning the Lessons from Estate Renewal Challenge Fund (ERCF). The terms of reference are to assess progress on the individual ERCF schemes and identify transferable lessons from ERCF for the wider stock transfer programme as well as other housing investment and regeneration programmes. The study should complete in May 2004.
  2. b. The research on guidance on houses in multiple occupation amenities has not been taken forward.
  3. c. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, jointly with the Department of Health, is reviewing the Disabled Facilities Grant Programme in the context of the Spending Review 2004. The terms of reference for that review, and the scope of any research work that may need to be undertaken as part of it. are still being considered. The review will report later this year.
  4. d. Key worker housing. Heriot-Watt University have been commissioned to evaluate the Starter Homes Initiative (SHI). The study's main aims are to evaluate the effectiveness of the SHI, assess its impact, and give recommendations to improve future provision. The report is expected to be complete in October 2004.

NOP World were commissioned to explore recruitment and retention issues and housing preferences of key public sector workers. The study's main aim was to identify key public sector worker's future intentions (both employment and housing), the extent to which housing costs and the availability of suitable housing are affecting career choices and their preferences for different types of housing. The study was completed in December 2004.

Ms Oona King

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will commission an assessment of the impact in London of Good Practice on Managing Under-occupation published by his Department in April 2001. [156775]

Keith Hill

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has only just received the data from the Survey of English Housing for the first three quarters of 2003–04 which we would like to take into assessing the impact to date of the good practice on Managing Under-occupation on social housing in London. I will write to my hon. Friend once the results of this exercise have been collated, and will make the information available in the Library of the House. In the light of this information I shall consider how best to monitor the position for the future.

Mr. Hancock

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister under what circumstances money from previously committed Housing Corporation grant schemes can be ringfenced for remodelled schemes. [156869]

Keith Hill

Grant from previous funded housing schemes may be recycled into new schemes, including remodelled schemes. Such schemes must meet the current Housing Corporation criteria for giving grant, which includes meeting regional and local priorities.

Mr. Malins

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether, after 1 May, citizens of the EU accession states(a) without dependent children and (b) with dependent children will be entitled to council housing provision in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [154040]

Keith Hill

Housing is a devolved matter and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's remit only extends to England.

From 1 May citizens of the EU accession states who do not have a right to reside here because they are not self-sufficient (that is, they do not have sufficient resources so as to avoid being a burden on the social assistance system) will not be eligible for social housing. This will apply regardless of whether they have dependent children.

Nationals from the eight Eastern European accession countries who are employed and comply with the Home Office's worker registration scheme will have an unconditional right to reside here and will be eligible for social housing. Nationals from the other Accession countries who are workers will also be eligible for social housing.

Llew Smith

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what research was undertaken on problems created by summertime overheating of lightweight buildings prior to the decision to encourage registered social landlords to use factory-built houses. [156640]

Phil Hope

No specific research into summertime overheating of lightweight buildings was commissioned. The Government and the construction industry were aware of research reports from hotter countries of problems of overheating that can occur in houses of lightweight construction, but this was not considered to be relevant to the decision to encourage the use of modern methods of construction in England and Wales. Nevertheless, the issue of overheating for all types of buildings is being addressed in the review of the Building Regulations announced in the Energy White Paper.

Andy King

To ask, the Deputy Prime Minister what powers he has to enforce appropriate standards in the housing departments of local authorities. [156114]

Keith Hill

The Local Government Act 1999 provides powers that can be exercised if my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is satisfied that a local authority is failing to comply with part 1 of the Act. The provisions of the Act requires that services, including housing services, areresponsive to the needs of citizens of a high quality and cost effective; and air and accessible to all who need them.

My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister will exercise intervention powers under section 15 of the Local Government Act and other comparable legislation only when there is clear evidence that an authority is failing either to discharge its functions adequately or failing to meet its statutory obligations. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister's powers are wide ranging, from directing the council to prepare a plan or perform a specified function through to removing specified functions from the council and appointing a nominee to exercise them.

Comprehensive Performance Assessments are in place to help identify local authorities' strengths and weaknesses, and provide a basis for improvement planning which the duty of best value confers.