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"This Morning" (Interview)
Mr. Chope: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the full transcript of his interview on ITV's "This Morning" programme on 1 February. [69995]
The Prime Minister: The transcript was provided by the programme. I have placed a copy in the Library.
Mr. Chope: To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received on the accuracy of the transcript of his interview on 1 February issued by his office to journalists on 2 February; and if he will make a statement. [69994]
Homelessness
Mr. Flynn:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish a post of co-ordinator of the Government's policies in respect of the homeless. [69271]
8 Feb 1999 : Column: 36
The Prime Minister:
Government policy on homelessness is co-ordinated by my hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Housing, in consultation with her colleagues, particularly my hon. Friends the Minister with responsibility for housing, transport and European affairs for Scotland, the Minister with responsibility for the environment and agriculture for Northern Ireland and the Minister responsible for housing in Wales. The problems of rough sleeping are particularly intense in London, where there is borough and district fragmentation and a large number of rough sleepers. We are creating a new single unit for the capital with a unified budget for tackling these issues including housing, health, employment and resettlement to link the work of central Government departments and agencies, local authority services, the voluntary sector and business, as recommended by the Social Exclusion Unit. My hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Housing expects to announce the appointment of the new head of the London Unit shortly.
Kali Mountford:
To ask the Prime Minister when he intends to publish the Government's National Strategy for Carers. [69764]
The Prime Minister:
The Government's National Strategy for Carers, "Caring about Carers", is being published today. It describes what we have done so far to support people who provide care for their relatives or friends who are sick, disabled, vulnerable or frail. The Government intend to ensure that all of our policies take account of the needs of carers the majority of who are women. We are also introducing some major new initiatives.
I announced plans for a National Strategy for Carers, which I asked my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Boateng), now the Minister of State, Home Office to lead, on 10 June 1998.
The report of the National Strategy for Carers is the result of a consultative process, involving a large number of Government departments, carers' organisations, representatives of the National Health Service and of local authorities, other voluntary organisations which help to support carers and the people for whom they care, and a number of individual carers.
Two-thirds of carers of working age are in paid employment, and the Government's family-friendly employment strategy will help them to combine paid work with their caring responsibilities. We propose to give carers, like all employees, the right to time off to deal with a family emergency. For those carers who cannot combine paid work with caring, perhaps because they need to care for a large part of each day, our policies are focused on proper support whilst caring and on enabling them to return to work when their caring responsibilities cease.
The National Health Service and local authorities need to provide carers with information about services and to involve them in the planning of those services, so that carers' main needs are met better than they have been in the past. The Government's National Priorities Guidance
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to health and local authorities will require those authorities to help carers to maintain their physical health and emotional wellbeing.
We have already announced an extra £750 million over the next three years to promote independence through prevention of illness and disease and through rehabilitation. Carers and the people they care for will benefit from this.
In addition, we are providing funding from within the Comprehensive Spending Review Plans, totalling £140 million over the next three years in England, to local authorities to enhance the provision of services which allow carers to take a break from their caring responsibilities. The new ring fenced special grant will total £20 million in 1999-2000, £50 million in 2000-01, and £70 million in 2001-02.
The Government also intend, when Parliamentary time allows, to introduce new legislation to extend local authorities' powers to address carers' needs directly, which is frequently not possible at present.
The Government wish to ensure that all carers have access to a support service in the area in which they live. Health and local authorities, acting together, will be asked to involve carers and their organisations in drawing up jointly agreed plans (for inclusion in their Joint Investment Plans) for provision for carers in their areas, including for carers' support services.
We intend to trial a new question on carers for the 2001 Census. This should provide better information about the distribution of carers between local authority areas and on the numbers of young carers and those from minority ethnic groups.
The Government are also announcing today that the scheme for reductions in council tax for disabled people will be changed from 1 April 2000, so that those who live in accommodation which is valued at band A and which has an extra room which they need because of their disability, or enough floor space to allow wheelchair circulation, should receive a reduction in council tax similar to that currently given for the other bands.
The National Carers' Strategy also contains the Government's proposals to support young carers, including the provision of help for them in schools.
It is the Government's intention to continue work to support carers and to monitor implementation of these new initiatives.
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Prime Minister if he will list (a) the number of meetings of, (b) the membership of, (c) the budget of and (d) the issues addressed so far by, the Social Exclusion Unit. [69574]
The Prime Minister:
The Social Exclusion Unit was established in December 1997. It currently consists of 29 permanent, seconded and temporary staff from a wide range of backgrounds inside and outside the Civil Service.
Members of the Unit meet frequently with Ministers, officials from other departments, and people with a wide range of experience from outside Government.
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To date, the Unit has completed projects on:
The Unit is currently working on:
Mr. Keith Simpson:
To ask the Prime Minister what are the (a) role and (b) responsibilities in the Cabinet Office of Professor Lawrence Freedman. [69490]
The Prime Minister:
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 February 1999, Official Report, columns 646-47.
Mr. Tyrie:
To ask the Prime Minister when he next intends to raise Spain's closure of the Gibraltar frontier on 29 January with his Spanish counterpart. [69701]
The Prime Minister:
The border between Gibraltar and Spain was closed on 29 January by a demonstration of Spanish fisherman and their sympathisers. We raised the matter with the Spanish authorities. This demonstration stopped on 30 January. We remain concerned that free movement across the border should be allowed, in conformity with EU obligations, and will continue to make this point to the Spanish authorities at every suitable opportunity.
Mr. William Ross:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that sums have been identified for a boost package for Portadown linked to efforts to resolve the Drumcree crisis; and from which sources these sums are to be appropriated. [67778]
Mr. Paul Murphy:
No decisions have yet been taken about a package of measures for the Portadown area.
Dr. Kumar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what assessment she has made of provision by health and social service boards in Northern Ireland of specialist placement for young persons and adults with autistic spectrum disorder; and if she will make a statement; [68556]
Mr. McFall:
The Department of Health and Social Services has not made any assessment of provisions of specialist services for people with autism. However, the
8 Feb 1999 : Column: 39
Department of Health and Social Services Boards, together with the Department of Education, have supported a diagnostic scoping study commissioned by the Northern Ireland voluntary organisation Parents and Professionals and Autism (PAPA). The aims of the study are to evaluate the effectiveness of the current range of services for people with autism and make recommendations for the enhancement of service provision.
Dr. Kumar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many young persons and adults with autistic spectrum disorder are provided with specialist services; and if she will make a statement. [68554]
Mr. McFall:
The Department of Health and Social Services does not collect information on people with autistic spectrum disorder or the specialist services with which they are provided.
Dr. Kumar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she has had with representatives of health boards about the provision for treatment of children with (a) Kanners autism and (b) autistic spectrum disorder; and if she will make a statement. [68559]
Mr. McFall:
The Department of Health and Social Services has not had any discussions with Health and Social Services Boards specifically about the provision of treatment of children with Kanners autism or autistic spectrum disorder. The special health and social needs of autistic children are provided by Trusts' learning disability and child health staff, as appropriate, and the Department is in regular contact with both Boards and Trusts about the provision of care in those specialties.
Dr. Kumar:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many children with autistic spectrum disorder in Northern Ireland are educated in schools or units which specialise in teaching children with autism; and if she will make a statement; [68555]
Mr. McFall:
Information on autistic children in Northern Ireland is not held centrally. However, the Education and Training Inspectorate estimate that some 265 children with autistic spectrum disorder are currently enrolled at those special schools which cater for children with severe learning difficulties. The training provided for the teaching staff in these schools includes training to assist them in teaching children with autism. Education and Library Boards may arrange for particular levels of teaching support to be provided for individual children in accordance with their special educational needs and I have no plans to specify the minimum provision to be made for children with autism at this time.
Truancy and School Exclusion (report published May 1998)
Rough Sleeping (report published July 1998)
Neighbourhood Renewal (report published September 1998).
Further policy formulation on the problems facing poor neighbourhoods, leading to the publication of a new national strategy on neighbourhood renewal to be unveiled in the year 2000.
Reports to me on Teenage Parenthood and 16-18 year olds not in education, training and/or employment.
The Unit's total budget for 1998-99 is £822,917.
(2) what assessment she has made of the provisions for children with autism; and if she will make a statement. [68557]
(2) what plans she has to ensure that every child with autism in Northern Ireland receives a minimum of an hour's one-to-one teaching each day by a qualified teacher; and if she will make a statement. [68558]
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