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Housing Benefit (Single People)
Mr. Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will withdraw the regulations on housing benefit for single people aged 25 to 60 years which were announced on 26 November 1996. [2833]
Mr. Bradley: Measures to restrict Housing Benefit for single people under the age of 60 were inherited from the previous administration and the reduction in expenditure this entails form part of Departmental expenditure plans. We are reviewing those plans and will announce our decision shortly.
Benefits Agency
Mr. Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make a statement on the current status of the document, "Benefits Agency (Wales), the Blueprint for the Future"; and what assessment she has made of its proposals. [2839]
Mr. Field: The "Benefits Agency Wales--Blueprint for the Future" consultation document was published on 15 November 1996 and the period of public consultation was extended to 28 February 1997. Representations received during the consultation period will be considered by Ministers in due course, and announcements will be made in the light of these considerations.
These representations will be considered by Ministers in due course, and announcements will be made in the light of these considerations.
We will be assessing our proposals in the light of this document, and also each of the proposed Benefits Agency initiatives which are part of the Department's current programme to ensure that they will provide the improved services, better security and value for money that we want to see in a modernised Social Security system.
Announcements will be made in due course.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by what means her Department makes available its publications in (a) Braille, (b) audio tape and (c) large print; and how this is publicised. [1663]
10 Jun 1997 : Column: 433
Mr. Worthington:
The Department of Health and Social Services has adopted a policy that all documents addressed to the workforce or the public should be in a reasonably large font and should also be considered for publication in alternative formats such as Braille, large print, audio or video tape.
All published documents contact information on the availability of the document in alternative formats.
The Department also works closely with the appropriate voluntary bodies in the drafting and distribution of material published in alternative formats.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to install main sewers at Derryboye crossroads near Saintfield, Co. Down. [1933]
Mr. Murphy:
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Water Service under its Chief Executive, Mr. H. R. F. Plester. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from H. R. F. Plester to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 5 June 1997:
Mr. Walker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she plans to legislate to require (a) police officers, (b) members of the judiciary and magistrates, (c) counsel and solicitors, (d) CPS prosecutors, (e) probation and (f) prison officers to disclose publicly their membership of secret societies. [1919]
Mr. Ingram:
There are no present plans to so legislate.
The Home Affairs Committee Report on Freemasonry in the Police and the Judiciary was published in March this year. Mr right hon. Friend, the Minister of State at the Home Office has recently advised the clerk of the Committee that the issues in the report are being addressed in consultation with other Departments, including the Northern Ireland Office, with the aim of making a substantive response by the end of August.
Mr. Walker:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to require secret societies to publish registers of their members; what assessment she has made of the potential threat to members of such societies from the publication of such registers; and if she will make a statement. [1920]
Mr. Ingram:
There are no plans to require secret societies to publish registers of their members. Consequently there has been no assessment made of the potential threat to members of such societies from the publication of such registers.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the last payments on the SPARD scheme will be issued to farmers. [2016]
10 Jun 1997 : Column: 434
Mr. Murphy:
The Department has approved projected expenditure by farmers in the SPARD Scheme up to 31 March 1999 and to the extent that the projects are carried out and translate into actual claims, final payments will be made by that date.
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will order a public inquiry into the application for an abbatoir at Saintfield Livestock Market; and if she will commission an environmental impact statement in accordance with the Environmental Effects Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989. [2017]
Mr. Murphy:
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Planning Service under its Chief Executive, Mr. T. W. Stewart. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from T. W. Stewart to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 6 June 1997:
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment her Department has made of the wildlife effects of an application to build three houses at 55 Crawfordsburn Road, Newtownard, upon the area known as the Golden Glen. [2018]
Mr. Murphy:
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Environment and Heritage Service under its chief executive, Mr. Robert Martin. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from J. S. Faulkner to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 4 June 1997:
10 Jun 1997 : Column: 435
Mr. John D. Taylor:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what plans she has to install a pedestrian crossing at the junction of the Bangor and Belvedere Roads in Newtownards; and if she will commission a study of the demand for such a crossing;[2020]
Mr. Murphy:
Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service and its Chief Executive, Mr. W. J. McCowbrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from W. J. McCoubrey to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 6 June 1997:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your recently tabled PQ about the need for a pedestrian crossing at the Bangor Road/Belvedere Road junction, Newtownards.
Lord Dubs has asked me to reply to your parliamentary question asking what plans Water Service has to install main sewers at Derryboye crossroads near Saintfield, Co Down.
Water Service has no plans to install a sewerage system at this location. It does, however, provide a septic tank desludging service which is available to rural householders in such circumstances.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your Question about a Public Inquiry and the commissioning of an environmental impact statement in relation to a planning application for an abbatoir at Saintfield Livestock Mart.
This planning application, which was received in April 1997, has been the subject of a large number of objections. The Department determined that the proposal fell within the scope of Category 7(f) of Schedule 2 of the Environmental Effects Regulations (NI) 1989 and the applicant was requested to submit an Environmental Statement on 2 May 1997. The applicant had until 30 May 1997 to confirm acceptance or appeal against this determination. There has been no appeal lodged and the applicant must now either submit the Environmental Statement or withdraw the application.
If an Environmental Statement is submitted it will be publicly advertised and all interested parties will have an opportunity to make representations. A decision on the way forward, including the need for a Public Inquiry, can only be taken once the Environmental Statement has been received and the consultative responses have been fully considered. It is unlikely that any decision on the need for a Public Inquiry will be taken until Autumn 1997, at the earliest.
I do hope you find this helpful and I will, of course, let you know once a decision on the way forward has been taken.
As Chief Executive of Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), Mr. Robert Martin is responsible for all operational aspects of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland's environmental policies. On his behalf I am responding to the Parliamentary Question which you put down in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 4 June 1997, regarding the impact on wildlife of a planning application to build 3 houses at 55 Crawfordsburn Road, Newtownards.
I wish to confirm that the application submitted for development at the above location was passed for comment by Planning Service to Environment and Heritage Service. After consideration of the content of the application EHS is of the opinion that the proposal
will have no direct impact on the nature conservation value of the Golden Glen. Development does not extend down to the edge of the pond and the majority of the woodland will be retained undisturbed. As a safeguard however, although no signs of badger activity were noted in the areas to be impacted by development, EHS will recommend to Planning Service that a badger survey be undertaken by a recognised expert.
I trust you will find this reply helpful.
(2) how many accidents have been reported at or around the Ballymacbrennan crossroads of the Saintfield and Comber Roads in the last five years; and what plans she has (a) to erect warning signs and (b) to use traffic management devices to slow traffic on the Comber Road at this point. [1921]
Letter from W. J. McCoubrey to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 6 June 1997:
Roads Service is not aware of any problems at this location. However, a survey to determine whether there is a need for a crossing will be carried out within the next few weeks. The Divisional Roads Manager, Mr McCandless, will write to you as soon as the outcome is known.
I hope you find this information helpful.
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