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Princess Diana (Memorial)
Mrs. Organ: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps the Government are taking to ensure that the introduction of the Princess Diana Memorial Nursing Service does not harm the fundraising efforts of charities already providing community outreach nursing services for children with life threatening illnesses; [82277]
- (2) what steps he plans to take to emphasise the distinction between the activities of the Princess of Wales Memorial Committee and the charitable activities of the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund; [82278]
(3) what representations from other medical charities he has received concerning the introduction of the Princess Diana Memorial Nursing Service. [82279]
Mr. Hutton: Diana Children's Community Nursing Teams are funded by the Government to provide care and support in the home for children with life threatening illnesses and their families. The teams do not depend upon public subscription and will not impact upon the fundraising activities of charities already active in this area--who have welcomed this initiative for the additional resources it brings to this small but extremely vulnerable group of children. The distinction to be made between the Memorial Committee, which was formed to consider ways in which the Government might commemorate the life and work of Diana, Princess of Wales, and the Memorial Fund, which is a charitable foundation with its own trustees, has been expressed throughout discussions within the Committee and repeated in communications with the media.
ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS
Peterborough Chamber of Commerce
Sir Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussion the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), had with the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Brinton) concerning their respective times of departure from the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce's conference on transport on 16 April. [81675]
Mr. Prescott [holding answer 22 April 1999]: None.
Sir Brian Mawhinney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reasons the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield, (Mr. Meale) withdrew his agreement to answer questions at the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce conference on transport, on Friday 16 April. [81671]
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Mr. Prescott
[holding answer 22 April 1999]: Because of the late starting of the conference, there was insufficient time for my hon. Friend to take questions. He therefore offered to respond in writing to any questions that people wished to raise.
Sir Brian Mawhinney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he instructed the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield, (Mr. Meale) not to answer questions at the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce's conference on transport on Friday 16 April and to leave early; and what discussions he had with the Under-Secretary of State and the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Brinton) concerning their respective times of departure from the conference. [81676]
Mr. Prescott
[holding answer 22 April 1999]: No; none.
Sir Brian Mawhinney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will place in the Library copies of his replies to the correspondence he has received about the decision by the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), not to answer questions following his speech to the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce's conference on transport on Friday 16 April and to leave early. [81674]
Mr. Prescott
[holding answer 22 April 1999]: No.
Sir Brian Mawhinney:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the official engagements of the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), for Friday 16 April, stating in each case, what time each engagement was scheduled to start and finish and when the Under-Secretary actually arrived and departed. [81670]
Mr. Prescott
[holding answer 22 April 1999]: My hon. Friend's official engagements on Friday 16 April were "The Southern North Sea--The Next 30 Years" Conference in Great Yarmouth and the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Transport Conference.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions for what reason the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale), travelled to the recent meeting of the Greater Peterborough Commerce, Training and Enterprise Council in a stretch limousine. [82073]
Mr. Prescott
[holding answer 27 April 1999]: My hon. Friend travelled to Peterborough by public transport. The final two miles of his journey was by car, which was provided by the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise.
Mr. Edward Davey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what contribution he expects new lighting technologies to make to the achievement of his targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions; and what plan his Department has to promote energy-efficient lighting. [82139]
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Mr. Meale:
Our UK Climate Change Programme Consultation Paper discussed and invited comment on ways in which the UK could meet its climate change objectives. Energy efficient lighting is included in this analysis as an element of the estimated potential for savings from energy efficiency more generally. The Government is now considering responses and will consult further on a new climate change programme for the UK later this year. Future initiatives to promote energy efficient lighting will be developed in the context of this process.
Mr. Edward Davey:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of the budget of the Energy, Environment and Waste Directorate is allocated to the promotion of energy-efficient lighting. [82138]
Mr. Meale:
Last year, 1998-99, my Department spent an estimated £109.2 million on programmes to promote energy efficiency. Of this, over £6 million can be identified as being specifically earmarked for promotion of energy-efficient lighting. In addition to this direct expenditure, the Energy, Environment and Waste Directorate has developed and provided finance for broader initiatives, including the Market Transformation Strategy and our high profile campaign, "Are You Doing Your Bit", which will have had a positive impact on the promotion of energy-efficient lighting.
During the same period, some £11.6 million was approved for expenditure on promoting energy-efficient lighting under schemes developed as part of the Standards of Performance set by the Director-General of Electricity Supply.
Mr. Paul Marsden:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he plans to issue observations on the petition from Shropshire's rural road hauliers presented to the House on 9 March; and if he will make a statement. [82001]
Dr. Reid:
The Secretary of State has issued an observation today on the petition from Shropshire's rural road hauliers.
Mr. Efford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will review the regulations that prevent local authorities from accepting a financial contribution from clients towards the cost of adaptations for the disabled with the objective of allowing them a choice in how their needs are met. [82407]
Mr. Raynsford:
Local authorities are responsible, under Part I of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, for paying disabled facilities grants towards the cost of disabled adaptations. Whilst the Act places no restrictions on the type of adaptation that may be eligible for grant assistance, it does require authorities to satisfy themselves that the works are necessary and appropriate for the occupant and that they are reasonable and practicable, given the age and condition of the building. These requirements are necessary to ensure that public money is used effectively, and we have no plans to change them. However, local authorities are required in Guidance to involve the
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disabled occupant in discussions about the adaptation scheme, and we would expect applicants to be offered a choice where this is appropriate. The amount that the applicant is expected to contribute towards the cost of the adaptations is determined by a means test, but there is nothing in the Act to prevent applicants from paying for additional work from their own resources.
Mr. Fearn:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the fuel escalator's impact on social exclusion. [82257]
Dr. Reid:
The Government recognise that transport issues are significant in considering the causes of social exclusion, and my Department has been giving priority to gathering information in this area. The Department is currently undertaking research to gain a better understanding of how transport affects social exclusion. Once this research has been completed, we will be in a better position to estimate the impact of different transport measures. In the meantime, we will continue to keep the impacts of the fuel duty escalator on social exclusion under review.
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