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47177

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which five companies were used most often to provide temporary workers for his Department in the last financial year; and how much in agency fees was paid to each of them.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham East
	tabling member printed	Chris Leslie
	uin	195547
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>In answering this question, we have used the Cabinet Office definition for contingent labour (temporary staff) which includes admin and clerical agency staff, interim managers and specialist contractors: use of such staff for short-term or specialist work can be better value for money than hiring staff on permanent contracts.</p><p>Details of the five companies that my Department has used most often in the last financial year for the provision of contingent labour are set out below:</p><p>Financial Year 2013-14</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Organisation</p></td><td><p>Total Expenditure (excluding VAT)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Capita Resourcing Ltd</p></td><td><p>£1,736,580</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Reed Employment Services</p></td><td><p>£172,702</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Reed Specialist Recruitment Ltd</p></td><td><p>£136,335</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Manpower UK Ltd</p></td><td><p>£40,423</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Premier Employment Group Ltd</p></td><td><p>£22,677</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>To put this in context, my Department has cut spending on contingent labour from £14.4 million in 2009-10 to £3.3 million in 2013-14 as a result of the tightening of its internal management controls, institutionalising these in its systems and adhering to Treasury and Cabinet Office spending rules. This represents a saving of £11.1 million a year (2013-14 compared to 2009-10)</p><p>In addition to the savings on temporary workers, our departmental audited annual accounts for the core Department show that staff costs fell from £216 million in 2009-10 to £99 million in 2012-13, a reduction of 54% in cash terms, or a further saving of £117 million a year.</p><p>These savings also reflect the Coalition Government's agenda of decentralisation, ending the micromanagement of local government, the abolition of regional government, and the broader need to tackle the deficit left by the last Administration.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	422 label Biography information for Mr Chris Leslie

47181

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which 10 consultancy firms were paid the most by his Department in the last financial year; and how much each of those firms was paid.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham East
	tabling member printed	Chris Leslie
	uin	195569
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The table below sets out the ten consultancy firms that were paid the most by my Department in the last financial year</p><p>The data complies with definitions on Consultancy laid down by the Cabinet Office which excludes agency staff and interim (contingent) labour.</p><p><strong>Financial Year 2013-14</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Organisation</p></td><td><p>Total Expenditure (excluding VAT)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Local Partnership LLP*</p></td><td><p>£150,918</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>PricewaterhouseCoopers</p></td><td><p>£108,516</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Ove Arup &amp; Partners</p></td><td><p>£66,790</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Amec Environment &amp; Infrastructure</p></td><td><p>£62,509</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Ernest &amp; Young LLP</p></td><td><p>£20,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Capgemini UK Plc</p></td><td><p>£17,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Grant Thornton UK LLP</p></td><td><p>£8,815</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Giant Professional Limited</p></td><td><p>£6,400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oakleigh Consulting Ltd</p></td><td><p>£4,950</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Land Use Consultants</p></td><td><p>£1,345</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>* Local Partnerships is a company that is jointly owned by HM Treasury and the Local Government Association; it provides commercial expertise on matters of infrastructure, legal and contractual complexity and acts for the benefit of the public sector.</p><p>My Department has cut spending on consultancy from £36.6 million in 2009-10 to £0.5 million in 2013-14. This represents a saving of £36.1 million a year (2013-14 compared to 2009-10) and has been achieved through contract renegotiations, terminations and adherence to Cabinet Office controls on consultancy spending.</p><p>To put this in context, based on current estimates (which reflect accounting consequences from machinery of government changes) the DCLG Group is reducing its annual running costs by around 40% in real terms between 2010-11 and 2014-15. This equates to net savings of at least £532 million over this spending review period and includes savings of around £420 million from the closure of the Government Offices for the Regions.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	422 label Biography information for Mr Chris Leslie

47509

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to improve mobile signal coverage in rural areas by permitting use of their land for mobile network base stations.
	tabling member constituency	Brigg and Goole
	tabling member printed	Andrew Percy
	uin	195916
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Local authorities have an active role to play in mobile network deployment by assisting operators to find suitable land and structures. This is set out in the “Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development in England”, facilitated by Government, signed by operators, local authorities and other interested parties which was issued in July 2013. It is available at:</p><p><a href="http://www.mobilemastinfo.com/images/stories/2013_Code_of_best_practice/Code_of_Best_Practice_on_Mobile_Network_Development_-_Published_24-07-2013.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.mobilemastinfo.com/images/stories/2013_Code_of_best_practice/Code_of_Best_Practice_on_Mobile_Network_Development_-_Published_24-07-2013.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	3939 label Biography information for Andrew Percy

47510

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many UK firefighters left the service in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Fiona O'Donnell
	uin	195804
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The following figures refer to England only, any further figures would be a matter for the relevant devolved administration.</p><p> </p><p><em> </em>The total numbers of firefighters leaving fire and rescue authorities in England over the last five years are shown in the table.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><p><strong>All firefighter leavers from fire and rescue authorities, England</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Wholetime Firefighters</p></td><td><p>Retained Duty System</p></td><td><p>Total</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008-09</p></td><td><p>1,980</p></td><td><p>1,069</p></td><td><p>3,049</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>1,622</p></td><td><p>1,174</p></td><td><p>2,796</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>1,338</p></td><td><p>1,345</p></td><td><p>2,683</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>1,320</p></td><td><p>1,461</p></td><td><p>2,781</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>1,190</p></td><td><p>1,500</p></td><td><p>2,690</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>Source: Annual returns for fire and rescue authorities in England</em></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	3964 label Biography information for Fiona O'Donnell

47511

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many UK firefighters (a) died on duty and (b) sustained accidents leading to medical retirement in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Fiona O'Donnell
	uin	195818
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The following figures refer to England only, any further figures would be a matter for the relevant devolved administration.</p><p>The number of firefighter deaths on duty are shown in the table.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p><p> </p></td><td><p>Firefighter deaths while on duty, England</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008-09</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>Source: Annual returns for fire and rescue authorities in England</em></p><p>The Department does not collect data on specific accidents leading to medical retirement. It does collect the number of medical discharges each year. To assist the hon. Member these have been provided in the table.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"><p>Leavers on Medical Discharge from Fire and Rescue Authorities, England</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Wholetime Firefighters</p></td><td><p>Retained Duty System</p></td><td><p>Total</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008-09</p></td><td><p>27</p></td><td><p>11</p></td><td><p>38</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009-10</p></td><td><p>35</p></td><td><p>12</p></td><td><p>47</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010-11</p></td><td><p>32</p></td><td><p>33</p></td><td><p>65</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011-12</p></td><td><p>51</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>76</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012-13</p></td><td><p>55</p></td><td><p>40</p></td><td><p>95</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>Source: Annual returns for fire and rescue authorities in England</em></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	3964 label Biography information for Fiona O'Donnell

47911

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will include Peterborough in the areas involved in his Department's proposals for dealing with rogue private rented sector landlords; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Peterborough
	tabling member printed	Mr Stewart Jackson
	uin	195997
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The overwhelming majority of private sector landlords are reputable and provide decent well maintained homes. This is demonstrated by high levels of satisfaction with over 83% of tenants happy with their accommodation. However, a small proportion of landlords neglect their properties and exploit their tenants forcing them to live in unsafe and overcrowded accommodation. We are cracking down on these rogue landlords and have provided £6.7 million to support local authorities with acute and complex problems, of which Peterborough received £70,000 to help them tackle problems associated with sheds and outhouses being used illegally as accommodation. The work on driving rogue landlords out of the sector is ongoing and will be supported, by the publication of updated guidance on the prosecution of rogue landlords later this year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	1551 label Biography information for Lord Jackson of Peterborough

47913

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the amount of housing proposed on what had been designated Green Belt land in 2010 in adopted and emerging Local Plans.
	tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
	tabling member printed	Martin Horwood
	uin	196045
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>It is for local authorities in conjunction with their communities to assess development needs and plan to meet them in a way which is consistent with national policy. Our planning reforms have strengthened the role of Local Plans and abolished the previous administration's undemocratic Regional Strategies which imposed housing targets and Green Belt reviews. This returns power to local authorities and communities to determine whether it is appropriate to develop on Green Belt land, taking into account the strong protections in the National Planning Policy Framework.</p><p> </p><p>This Government attaches great importance to Green Belt as a way to prevent sprawl and encroachment on open countryside, and as a vital 'green lung' for many communities. The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that openness and permanence are essential characteristics of Green Belt. And that Green Belt boundaries can only be revised in exceptional circumstances through the Local Plan process. Planning guidance published on 6 March re-affirmed Green Belt protection.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	1499 label Biography information for Martin Horwood

47915

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will impose a moratorium on processing all planning applications submitted by UK Coal Production Ltd until that body has demonstrated it can meet its obligations on restoration and section 106 contributions.
	tabling member constituency	North West Leicestershire
	tabling member printed	Andrew Bridgen
	uin	196068
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Coal extraction is handled through a locally-led planning process and decisions on planning applications are for the relevant mineral planning authority.</p><p>Schedule 5 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 gives mineral planning authorities the power to impose planning conditions on mineral operators to provide for site restoration and aftercare with their application for minerals extraction. In addition the National Planning Policy Framework and planning guidance allows mineral planning authorities to request financial guarantees from applicants to underpin the conditions covering the restoration and aftercare of a site in exceptional circumstances.</p><p>New Section 106 agreements are negotiated between the developer and the applicant. Existing legislation allows those entering into the planning obligation to specify the date or dates when any required sum is to be paid to the planning authority. Section 106 planning obligation agreements are legally binding, and the mineral planning authority can enforce any breach of an agreement.</p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Grantham and Stamford answering member printed Nick Boles question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3995 label Biography information for Nick Boles
	tabling member	4133 label Biography information for Andrew Bridgen

47916

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent research his Department has undertaken on retaliatory evictions in the private rented sector.
	tabling member constituency	Eastleigh
	tabling member printed	Mr Michael Thornton
	uin	196063
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>There is no hard evidence that retaliatory eviction is a widespread problem in the private rented sector and the English Housing Survey shows that only 9% of tenancies are ended by the landlord. However, we are aware that this is an issue for some people. We recently published a discussion document on property conditions which invited views on whether restrictions should be placed on issue of possession notices where a tenant has requested a repair. The closing date for replies was 28 March and we are now considering the responses.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	4273 label Biography information for Mr Mike Thornton

47918

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2014, Official Report, column 800W, on Business Improvement Districts: Birmingham, when he expects to publish the report on the Business Improvement District for Sparkbrook and Springfield, or to reach a decision on that matter.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hall Green
	tabling member printed	Mr Roger Godsiff
	uin	196137
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>A decision will be taken on the appeal against the establishment of the Sparkbrook and Springfield Business Improvement District in due course and all interested parties will be informed.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	304 label Biography information for Mr Roger Godsiff