| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Swimming Pools
Dr. Lynne Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many
3 Dec 1998 : Column: 269
swimming pools are currently operated by each local authority; and what were the corresponding figures (a) five years ago and (b) 10 years ago. [62375]
Mr. Raynsford:
This information is not centrally available.
Mr. Oaten:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many external members of the 18 policy action teams referred to in the Social Exclusion Unit report, "Bringing Britain Together: A National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal", represent the interests of disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [62232]
Ms Armstrong:
The Policy Action Teams include a cross membership of those who have particular professional expertise in the issues to be addressed, and of those who live or work in poor neighbourhoods. Policy Action Team 4 (Neighbourhood Management) includes a representative from the Leonard Cheshire Foundation. Policy Action Team 16 (Learning Lessons) includes a representative from Business in the Community who is also Chair of the National Disability Council and a member of the Disabled Right Task Force. All the Teams will consult far more widely than their own membership, and will welcome contributions from individuals and groups representing the interests of disabled people.
Mr. Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the practice by Thames Water and Welsh Water of disconnecting domestic customers. [62249]
Mr. Meacher:
The Government regard it as unacceptable that anyone should be deprived of water supplies to their home because of an inability to pay. The Water Industry Bill, introduced on 25 November, includes provisions which, if agreed by Parliament, would make it an offence to disconnect water supplies to dwellings, schools or hospitals for non-payment of charges.
At present, water companies have powers to disconnect water supplies to homes for non-payment, under the Water Industry Act 1991. Water undertakers are also required to operate a code of practice on debt and disconnection and to have regard to guidance issued by the Director General of Water Services. The Government welcome the reductions in the numbers of customers disconnected in recent years. Nine water companies in England and Wales made no household disconnections for failure to pay water service bills in the first half of 1998-99.
Mr. Ruane:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the Director General of OFWAT for not taking enforcement action against Welsh Water in respect of budget payment units and trickle-flow meters and delays in removing the remaining meters. [62248]
Mr. Meacher:
I understand that the Director General of Water Services has told Welsh Water that he requires an undertaking from the company that it will remove any disconnection element from the budget payment units
3 Dec 1998 : Column: 270
currently installed, including any trickle flow valves, by May 1999. Failing receipt of such an undertaking he will take enforcement action.
Charlotte Atkins:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce the outcome of the Government's review of the home buying and selling process; and if he will make a statement. [62585]
Ms Armstrong:
The report of the Government's research into the home buying and selling process will be published on Monday 7 December. At the same time, we will publish a consultation paper setting out a package of proposals for making the process quicker, easier and more efficient. The package will propose action by all the parties involved in the process, but before reaching final conclusions we want to stimulate wide debate about both the problems and the best ways of dealing with them. Copies of the consultation paper will be available from the Vote Office. Copies of the consultation paper and the research report will also be placed in the Library of both Houses.
Mr. Watts:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what controls he envisages to give effect to the land use planning requirements of the COMAH Directive; and if he will make a statement. [62586]
Mr. Caborn:
The Government have today issued draft Regulations to implement the land use requirements of Directive 96/82/EC on the Control of Major Accident Hazards.
Amendments are to be made to the Planning Hazardous Substances consents procedures to implement these provisions of the Directive while maintaining existing health and safety standards where these differ from the Directive. Changes to the Development Plan Regulations will ensure that local planning authorities take account of the requirements of the Directive when drawing up their development plans.
Mr. Ivan Henderson:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the Government have done to meet the concerns of the plant and equipment hire industry over the introduction of the new Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. [62787]
Mr. Meale:
As my hon. Friend knows, I met recently with the hon. Members for Banbury (Mr. Baldry) and for Eastleigh (Mr. Chidgey) and representatives of both hire and lease companies and the construction industry. I am grateful to the hon. Members for helping to facilitate what was a very useful meeting. I am grateful also to many Members of the House who have written to me about this issue and for the very helpful advice I received from the Health and Safety Commission. At the meeting we agreed a practical way forward within the law which is acceptable to the industry and which will allow companies to meet their duties. Representatives of the plant and equipment hire industry and other trade associations have
3 Dec 1998 : Column: 271
now agreed with HSE that hire companies should prepare an action plan in which they will identify the mobile work equipment that needs to be modified or adapted to comply with the new requirements of the Directive. They will also need to prioritise within the action plan the modifications which are needed, according to risk, and ensure that the new requirements are met.
Guidance has been produced for duty holders which explains what they will need to do to comply with Regulations 26 and 27 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. I will arrange for a copy of this guidance to be placed in the Library of this House.
I have asked the Health and Safety Commission to keep the situation under close review.
Mrs. Fyfe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if a single parent claiming income support will be able to have one interview to cover New Deal, income support, housing benefit, Child Support Agency and other benefit-related matters. [60873]
Angela Eagle:
Personal advisers working in the New Deal for Lone Parents already offer lone parents on Income Support a comprehensive package of support and advice.
The DSS and the London Borough of Camden are already working together to pilot new arrangements for lone parents.
From June 1999 we will also pilot a more integrated service through the Single Work Focused Gateway. This will start in four areas from June, with a further eight pilots from November 1999.
At initial contact if appropriate an interview will be arranged within three working days usually held at the office. The interview will be conducted by a personal adviser who will provide a balanced package of work focused help and financial support. The adviser will be able to access information on the options available and provide a personalised calculation of potential in-work income including tax credits. Information on Housing Benefit and Child Support issues will be available at this point of entry.
Mr. Bob Russell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what valuation is made of (a) a company car and (b) a company grant for an employee to acquire a car for company business, in formulating CSA payments. [60858]
Angela Eagle:
The value of a company car is not taken into consideration in determining the income of either parent under the maintenance formula.
3 Dec 1998 : Column: 272
The treatment of an allowance paid by an employer for the purchase of a car will depend on the intended use. Where it is for business purposes only, the whole allowance will be ignored in determining income. Where there is a degree of private use, the amount taken into account will be that portion of the allowance which it is considered covers the parent's private usage.
The Green Paper "Children First--a new approach to child support" (Cm 3992) published on 6 July sets out our proposals for a new child support scheme, including a simpler definition of what counts as income.
Mr. Wigley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to encourage the take up of (a) housing benefit, (b) income support, (c) family credit and (d) council tax benefits. [61472]
Angela Eagle:
We want all those who are entitled to benefits to claim them, and we are taking action to encourage them to do so.
All local authorities are under a Statutory duty to publicise and promote maximum take-up of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. This Department provides guidance and advice to authorities to help them maximise the effectiveness of take-up campaigns and we will continue to do so. Take-up rates for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are already consistently high.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |