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47914

	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 progress his Department has made on reducing the number of empty homes in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) the West Midlands, (d) Worcestershire and (e) Worcester.
	tabling member constituency	Worcester
	tabling member printed	Mr Robin Walker
	uin	196072
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Under this Government, the number of empty homes in England has fallen to a 10 year low. The number of long-term empty homes has fallen by around a third from October 2009 to October 2013, and the overall number of empty homes has fallen by arounda fifth over the same period.</p><p>There is more to do, yet we have a comprehensive series of policies to get empty buildings back into use and promote brownfield regeneration, as outlined in the answer of 3 April 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 780W.</p><p>Local authority figures are published on my department's website, at live table 615:</p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants</a></p><p>Statistics on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are published by the devolved administrations. My Department does not publish regional statistics.</p><p>The number of vacant dwellings and long-term vacant dwellings, for Worcester, Worcestershire and England, are shown in Tables 1 and 2.</p><p>Table 1: All vacant dwellings, Worcester Local Authority District, Worcestershire and England, 5 Oct 2009 to 7 Oct 2013</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>5 Oct 2009</p></td><td><p>4 Oct 2010</p></td><td><p>3 Oct 2011</p></td><td><p>1 Oct 2012</p></td><td><p>7 Oct 2013</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Worcester</p></td><td><p>1,348</p></td><td><p>1,216</p></td><td><p>1,261</p></td><td><p>1,369</p></td><td><p>1,214</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Worcestershire</p></td><td><p>7,298</p></td><td><p>7,103</p></td><td><p>6,983</p></td><td><p>6,960</p></td><td><p>6,406</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>England</p></td><td><p>770,496</p></td><td><p>737,147</p></td><td><p>719,352</p></td><td><p>704,357</p></td><td><p>635,127</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Table 2: All long-term vacant dwellings, Worcester Local Authority District, Worcestershire and England, 5 Oct 2009 to 7 Oct 2013</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>5 Oct 2009</p></td><td><p>4 Oct 2010</p></td><td><p>3 Oct 2011</p></td><td><p>1 Oct 2012</p></td><td><p>7 Oct 2013</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Worcester</p></td><td><p>579</p></td><td><p>382</p></td><td><p>428</p></td><td><p>476</p></td><td><p>355</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Worcestershire</p></td><td><p>3,165</p></td><td><p>2,627</p></td><td><p>2,475</p></td><td><p>2,449</p></td><td><p>1,826</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>England</p></td><td><p>316,251</p></td><td><p>299,999</p></td><td><p>277,529</p></td><td><p>254,059</p></td><td><p>216,050</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><sup> </sup></p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
	tabling member	4091 label Biography information for Mr Robin Walker

48155

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2014
	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 levels of stock his Department holds of (a) stationery, (b) printer cartridges, (c) treasury tags and other fasteners and (d) other office consumables.
	tabling member constituency	Wokingham
	tabling member printed	Mr John Redwood
	uin	196199
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>My Department does not routinely record this information in the format requested. However, this Administration has cut spending significantly on office supplies, cutting expenditure from £480,180 (inc VAT) in 2009-10 to £73,738 in 2013-14.</p><p>In 2010, we conducted an internal review of the Department's spend on office supplies which highlighted several opportunities to achieve savings. A rationalised list of stationery items was created which:</p><p>· reduced the available catalogue of items from around 3,500 to approximately 220;</p><p>· replaced higher value branded items, with non-branded equivalents; and</p><p>· adopted recycled printer toners and copier paper.</p><p>Significant savings were also achieved by aggregating the spend of all Departments and awarding a single Cabinet Office contract for stationery items and one for electronic office supplies (printer toners and other consumables). These contracts were awarded in September 2011 and DCLG were among the first departments to adopt them in November 2011.</p><p>As part of our planned move of office accommodation this summer (to share with the Home Office to save taxpayers' money), stationery across the department will be surrendered and pooled, with the potential to save money by not ordering items locally and preventing a build-up of surplus stationery stock.</p><p>I hope this illustrates how every bit of the public sector has the potential to deliver sensible savings on back office costs.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	14 label Biography information for Sir John Redwood

48501

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2014
	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 18 March 2014, Official Report, column 533W, on wind power, what proportion of the anticipated generating capacity of onshore wind projects at appeal stage in the planning system related to applications recovered by him in each month of 2013.
	tabling member constituency	Sunderland Central
	tabling member printed	Julie Elliott
	uin	196646
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>As I have said in my earlier answer, my Department does not centrally hold details of the generation capacity of wind turbine appeals.</p><p>As at the 1 October 2013, there were 255 onshore wind farm appeals, of which 32 were or have subsequently been recovered.</p><p>I can confirm that 17 onshore wind farm appeals were recovered in 2013. This amounts to 6% of the number of onshore wind farm appeals received (280) during that period.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>Appeals Received</p></td><td><p>Appeals Recovered</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan</p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb</p></td><td><p>37</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar</p></td><td><p>28</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr</p></td><td><p>19</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun</p></td><td><p>27</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul</p></td><td><p>19</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug</p></td><td><p>26</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sept</p></td><td><p>24</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct</p></td><td><p>14</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov</p></td><td><p>17</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec</p></td><td><p>21</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>280</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I also refer the hon. Member to the written statement of 9 April 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 12-13WS, which explains the background to the recovery of these planning appeals.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins grouped question UIN 196645 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	4127 label Biography information for Julie Elliott

48502

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2014
	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 18 March 2014, Official Report, column 533W, on wind power, what proportion of the anticipated generating capacity of onshore wind projects at appeal stage in the planning system on 1 October 2013 related to applications subsequently recovered by him.
	tabling member constituency	Sunderland Central
	tabling member printed	Julie Elliott
	uin	196645
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>As I have said in my earlier answer, my Department does not centrally hold details of the generation capacity of wind turbine appeals.</p><p>As at the 1 October 2013, there were 255 onshore wind farm appeals, of which 32 were or have subsequently been recovered.</p><p>I can confirm that 17 onshore wind farm appeals were recovered in 2013. This amounts to 6% of the number of onshore wind farm appeals received (280) during that period.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>Appeals Received</p></td><td><p>Appeals Recovered</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan</p></td><td><p>23</p></td><td><p>4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb</p></td><td><p>37</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar</p></td><td><p>28</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr</p></td><td><p>19</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun</p></td><td><p>27</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul</p></td><td><p>19</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug</p></td><td><p>26</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sept</p></td><td><p>24</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct</p></td><td><p>14</p></td><td><p>3</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov</p></td><td><p>17</p></td><td><p>1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec</p></td><td><p>21</p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>280</p></td><td><p>17</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I also refer the hon. Member to the written statement of 9 April 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 12-13WS, which explains the background to the recovery of these planning appeals.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins grouped question UIN 196646 question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	4127 label Biography information for Julie Elliott

47179

	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, how many jobs have been transferred from the public to the private sector as a result of privatisations or outsourcing by his Department since May 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester Central
	tabling member printed	Lucy Powell
	uin	195505
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Department has not transferred any departmental jobs from the public to the private sector as a result of privatisations or outsourcing since May 2010.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

46473

	registered interest
	date	02/04/2014
	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 much grant-in-aid his Department has provided to Tell MAMA since May 2010; and what further funding he expects to provide.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	194862
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>TELL MAMA is the first service to record and monitor anti-Muslim hatred incidents and support victims. DCLG provided initial start-up grant funding to TELL MAMA of £395,500 between January 2012 and September 2013. TELL MAMA has subsequently received Big Lottery funding of £255,450 over two years from October 2013.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

48168

	registered interest
	date	10/04/2014
	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 proportion of his Department's staff excluding non-departmental public bodies were (a) women in top management posts women, (b) women, (c) black and minority ethnic and (d) disabled.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	196415
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The current proportion of women in DCLG top management posts is 36.8%. Whilst there is more to do to ensure the Civil Service has the very best possible mix of existing and future talent, I would observe that this is an increase from 33.0% from 2009-10, and is higher than the Civil Service workforce target of 34.0%.</p><p>I also refer the rt. hon. Member to my answer of 17 March 2014, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 398-400W.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

48461

	registered interest
	date	25/04/2014
	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 the net change was in the number of homes for social rent between 1984 and 1990.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	196794
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Statistics on the amount of dwelling stock in England by tenure are published in the Department's live table 104, which is available at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants</a></p><p>Taken together, the Private Registered Provider (housing association) and local authority tenures provide an estimate of total social housing.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

46474

	registered interest
	date	02/04/2014
	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 progress he has made on the localism agenda; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
	tabling member printed	Simon Kirby
	uin	194875
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>This Government has been clear about its intention to devolve power, responsibility and decision-making down to the lowest possible level. This vision underpins significant elements of our policy agenda which are transferring power and freedom to both local councils and communities, some of which are noted below.</p><p>Nearly 1,000 assets of community value have been listed and we have helped 150 organisations to acquire a community asset or obtain significant investment towards doing so. 16 local campaigns for new parish councils are being supported covering local populations of more than half a million people. Over 100 new Our Place areas are starting work within their communities to transform neighbourhood level service delivery. Community share issues have raised over £24 million for community ventures.</p><p>Nearly 800 neighbourhood planning areas have been designated, and all 13 plans which have so far reached referenda have passed with significant majorities in favour.</p><p>Local authorities are now required to pass a proportion of Community Infrastructure Levy funding to local communities so that they can directly see the benefit of local development.</p><p>Over 2013-15 £14 million has been made available for community groups to develop their proposals for Community Right to Build orders or to progress community-led development. Groups can develop their ideas on the development that they want and need in their areas.Applications for this funding continue to rise with around 60 applications received.</p><p>In April 2014 four new combined authorities were established, on the request of the councils concerned. These will support the councils to collaborate and work jointly across the wider functional economic areas on economic development, regeneration and transport to support economic growth in the areas of South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Greater Merseyside and Durham, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear.</p><p>The Government wants local authorities to be more transparent and accountable to local people for how they spend money, deliver services and take decisions. We will shortly be publishing a revised local authority transparency code extending the breadth of data that local authorities must publish and will make regulations to make publication of certain data a legal requirement. Also, Regulations which will allow members of the public including professional journalists to film, photograph, audio-record and use social media to report the proceedings of meetings of local government bodies, and to access documents relating to decisions made by officers under delegation from their local government bodies, are now before Parliament.</p><p>Under the business rates retention scheme local authorities now directly retain nearly £11 billion of business rates, instead of returning it to Whitehall.</p><p>The Government has also reformed the outdated council housing finance system with the introduction of self-financing in 2012. This has given the 167 council landlords greater freedoms and the ability to plan for the long term to better meet the needs of their tenants and local area.</p><p><em>HomeSwap</em> Direct - the national home swap scheme which increases opportunities for social tenants wishing to move through mutual exchange – was launched in October 2011 and since then tenants have made over 18 million searches of ‘partner' data.</p><p>Social landlords are now free to match the length of tenancy to the needs of the household and to use their social housing stock in a way which best meets the needs of their local area. Councils have the freedom to decide who qualifies for social housing in their area and to find alternative solutions for those who do not qualify.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Bristol West answering member printed Stephen Williams question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1492 label Biography information for Stephen Williams
	tabling member	3929 label Biography information for Simon Kirby