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London Underground (Investment)
Mr. Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for the funding of London Underground's investment for 1998 to 2003.[14890]
Ms Glenda Jackson: My Department is currently conducting a Comprehensive Spending Review, the outcome of which will help to determine the future funding of London Transport. We are also considering a range of public-private partnership options for the Underground which are intended to provide the Underground with the funds it needs to overcome its investment backlog.
Council Homes
Dr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if the Government will take steps to assist people who have bought their council houses and subsequently find them to have major structural defects; and if he will ensure that they are eligible to apply for home improvement loans from their local council. [14935]
Mr. Raynsford: Local authorities already give grants for repairs to owner occupiers. Renovation grant under Part I of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 is available at the authority's discretion for making property fit and for other works of repair or improvement which go beyond making a property fit. Such grants are subject to a means test. Under separate provisions, certain classes of defective properties, designated as defective under sections 528 or 559 of the Housing Act 1985, are eligible for assistance under Part XVI of that Act. However, works to address the defects in such properties are not eligible for grant under the 1996 Act.
Deep Water Harbour (Merseyside)
Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on deep water harbour provision on Merseyside. [14936]
Ms Glenda Jackson: There are separate proposals for deep water quays for ro-ro ferry services, at Trafalgar Dock in Liverpool and at Twelve Quays in Birkenhead. Applications have been made for harbour orders to authorise each project. The former has attracted a number of objections and is waiting for the Mersey Dock and Harbour Company to complete a review of their environmental statement; progress with the latter is subject to resolution of one outstanding objection.
Schools (Safe Routes)
Mr. Dawson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to assist the development of safe routes to schools. [14943]
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Ms Glenda Jackson:
The Government are committed to reducing car dependency, and in particular, the number of children being driven to school. We are supportive of projects which encourage children to walk and cycle in safety and take the bus to school. The DETR is currently funding research in this area. We are also providing capital resources to a number of local authority transport packages which include safer routes to schools projects. The current fundamental review of transport will be examining journeys to school, and considering how the DETR, in conjunction with other Government Departments, should take this forward.
Mr. Dalyell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what consultation he has had with the Scottish Office since the Referendum on the transfer of responsibilities for transport matters which are currently his to the Scottish Parliament; [15088]
Mr. Prescott:
The Government's proposals for the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament were set out in the White Paper "Scotland's Parliament". My Department has been working closely with the Scottish Office to ensure that the legislation which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will shortly be introducing will accurately give effect to the proposals.
Mr. Hinchliffe:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to complete his review of road speed limits. [14881]
Dr. Strang:
We need to consider speed limits and other measures together in order to reduce excessive and inappropriate speed. This will form a prominent part of the work on a road safety strategy announced by my noble friend Lady Hayman on 15 October.
(2) what consultation he has had with the Scottish Office since the Referendum on the transfer of responsibilities for environmental and regional matters which are currently his to the Scottish Parliament. [15089]
Stakeholder Pensions
Mr. Pond: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she will publish further details of her plans for delivering stakeholder pensions. [16902]
Ms Harman: I shall be publishing a consultation document on Stakeholder Pensions on Wednesday 19 November. Copies will be placed in the Library.
Supported Housing
Mr. Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether she will outline her plans for the second stage of the interim measures introduced to stabilise the position of existing supported housing provision. [16903]
Mr. Keith Bradley:
On 24 July 1997 I announced a two stage package of measures to stabilise existing supported housing provision and protect many thousands
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of vulnerable people until a long-term solution can be implemented. The first stage of the package--amendments to the Housing regulations--came into effect on 18 August 1997.
We plan to introduce the second stage--the compensation scheme--shortly. This scheme will, where appropriate, enable local authorities to compensate landlords of existing supported accommodation where Housing Benefit has reduced because it was previously meeting charges for those highest levels of care which are outside the scope of the Housing Benefit scheme. The saving in benefit subsidies previously paid to local authorities in respect of these highest levels of care will be applied within Class XII, Vote 2, to underwrite the compensation scheme and will be paid on an extra-statutory basis.
Mr. Burns:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the official engagements that were carried out by the Under-Secretary of State for Social Security, the hon. Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) on the morning of Thursday 13 November. [16517]
Mr. Denham:
I was undertaking duties in connection with Departmental business.
Mr. Waterson:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the impact of the revised benefit system regulations introduced in 1996 on the number of bogus asylum seekers. [14232]
Mr. Keith Bradley:
The Home Secretary announced on 27 October new procedures to speed up the decision making process in abusive asylum claims.
An inter-departmental review led by the Home Office is currently considering all aspects of the asylum process across government, including the provision of accommodation and support to asylum seekers.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment her Department has made of the report, "Removing Barriers", published by the Local Government Association; and if she will make a statement. [14587]
Mr. Field:
I welcome the Local Government Association report, "Removing Barriers: the Case for a New Deal for Social Services and Social Security". Both myself and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health, are ensuring that it is taken into account in looking at the interface between the Social Security and social services systems as part of our comprehensive spending reviews.
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she expects the arrangements for cold weather payments to take account of the new post codes in the Greater Bristol area. [14700]
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Mr. Denham:
The changes to the postcodes were notified too late to be specified in the amending regulations laid before the House on 9 October (S.I. 1997 No. 2311).
The new postcode arrangements will be considered as part of next year's annual review and reflected in the amending regulations.
For this winter, arrangements are in place to treat eligible people living in the new postcode districts as being situated within the appropriate postcode districts as they existed prior to the changes being made.
Mr. Webb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people qualify for a 26 week linking period on income support because mortgage protection insurance has fully paid out during the previous benefit claim. [15154]
Mr. Keith Bradley:
The information is not available.
Mrs. Ballard:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to disregard the value of LETS credits when calculating income for social security purposes. [15202]
Mr. Denham:
The Government believe that work is the best form of welfare for people of working age. Our welfare-to-work objectives are to provide work incentives, to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to strike a new balance between responsibilities and rights. A programme of monitoring and evaluation is under way to enable us to ensure that Jobseeker's Allowance contributes to achieving our objectives.
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