To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date the contracts of each member of the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit board expire; and what plans he has to renew each such contract. (292350)

All board members’ contracts expire on 31 October 2009. We will announce our decision on future board appointments after we have completed a review of the unit later this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent staff members the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit employed in each of the last three years. (292352)

The National Housing and Planning Advice Unit has employed the following full-time equivalent staff¹ over each of the last three years:

¹ Assumes permanent civil service staff only, excludes two temporary staff for part of period.

In addition, the unit also currently has six board members who work for the unit for up to a maximum of 30 days per year each.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has reviewed the effectiveness of the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit’s remit. (292454)

A review of the unit began in August and is expected to conclude shortly.