---

Drug Offences

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the numbers of offenders who will receive prison sentences for all (i) cannabis, (ii) heroin and (iii) illegal drugs repeat offences in each of the next 10 years if (a) present trends continue and (b) the Government's current policies are successful. [86950]

Mr. Boateng: No. The United Kingdom Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator recently set all national and local agencies and departments the target of reducing levels of repeat offending among drug misusing offenders by 50 per cent.

15 Jun 1999 : Column: 107

by 2008. Systems are being put in place to monitor progress towards this target and others set under the drugs strategy.

SOCIAL SECURITY

Jobseeker's Allowance

Mr. Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if (a) travelcards and passes, (b) luncheon vouchers, (c) protective clothing, (d) gift vouchers and (e) other payments in kind are disregarded for benefit purposes if received by a Jobseeker's Allowance claimant who is participating on a European Social Fund training course. [85750]

Angela Eagle: Jobseeker's Allowance regulations provide for any income in kind such as travelcards and passes; luncheon vouchers; protective clothing and gift vouchers, to be disregarded in the calculation of entitlement to benefit.

Disability Living Allowance

Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for (1) what reasons Disability Living Allowance was removed from Brenda Oakham of Barton Close, Paignton, in April; and for what reason no explanation was given; [86428]

(2) if he will arrange to expedite the Disability Living Allowance review in relation to Brenda Oakham of Barton Close, Paignton. [86429]

Mr. Bayley: The administration of Disability Living Allowance is a matter for Mr. Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Anthony Steen, dated 14 June 1999:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions. You asked why Disability Living Allowance (DLA) was removed from Mrs Brenda Oakham, in April, why no explanation was given, and that the DLA review in relation to Mrs Oakham's case be expedited.

It may help if I explain that entitlement to DLA does not depend on the diagnosis of a condition but on the way in which that condition affects a person on a day-to-day basis. Decisions are made by adjudication officers (AOs) who are statutory office holders. It would be improper of me to comment on, or interfere in, their decisions. I can confirm that, although an award of DLA may be given for life, an AO may reduce or revoke an entitlement decision if information is received which indicates that a person's entitlement may have changed.

Mrs Oakham's entitlement was examined as part of the work of the Benefit Integrity Project. With the help of a visiting officer Mrs Oakham completed a questionnaire on 21 October 1998 giving details of her current care and mobility needs. In addition, a report was obtained from Mrs Oakham's General Practitioner. A report was also completed by a Medical Services doctor who examined Mrs Oakham on 15 February 1999. Following a thorough consideration of all the evidence about her current needs, an AO decided on 10 March 1999 that Mrs Oakham no longer satisfied the conditions for entitlement to either component of DLA from 15 February 1999. This decision, which included an explanation of the reasons for the decision, was issued to Mrs Oakham on 28 April.

Your letter to me dated 5 May was accepted as a request for a review of that decision. On 9 June, a different AO considered all the evidence, including additional evidence submitted with your letter. The revised decision is that Mrs Oakham is entitled to the

15 Jun 1999 : Column: 108

lower rate mobility component from 15 February 1999 and the highest rate care component from 31 May 1996. The decision was issued to Mrs Oakham on 11 June. This includes a full explanation of the reasons for the decision and details of her right of appeal to an independent Disability Appeal Tribunal, if she is unhappy with the outcome.

I hope you find this reply helpful.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

Litigants Compensation Scheme

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to introduce a compensation scheme for litigants whose cases could not proceed because of failure in listing for which the court service is responsible; and if he will make a statement. [86652]

Mr. Vaz: None. When any mistake which is the fault of the Court Service, including an administrative error over listing, leads to loss for a party in a court action, the Court Service will consider making an ex gratia payment, in line with Treasury guidance.

Documents Service

Mr. Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answers of 18 May 1999, Official Report, column 311, if he will deposit in the Library copies of the Commission proposals referred to. [86706]

Mr. Vaz: At present, only provisional versions of the Commission proposals have been made available. Copies of the proposals will be placed in the Library in the usual way as soon as a formal proposal is made.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Reach-Out Fund

Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made on the launch of the Reach-Out fund to enhance university interaction with business. [87033]

Mr. Battle: Following the Competitiveness White Paper announcement that the DTI and the DfEE would jointly create the Reach-Out fund in partnership with the HEFCE to enhance university-business interaction, the HEFCE recently led a consultation with the academic and business communities on the proposed aims and objectives of the fund. There was strong support for the creation of the fund and detailed responses have enabled us to finalise its design.

I am therefore pleased to announce that I and my noble Friend Baroness Blackstone, the Minister for Education, are today jointly launching the Higher Education Reach-Out to Business and the Community Fund at a Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals conference on regional competitiveness.

The Reach-Out fund, rising to around £20 million per year, is intended to initiate an important third stream of funding for universities, alongside research and teaching funds to help recognise the importance of working with

15 Jun 1999 : Column: 109

business and develop the capability in universities to respond to business needs. This in turn will help to stimulate more informed demand from business for greater innovation and competitiveness. The fund will be open to all universities in England and Northern Ireland (in partnership with the DENI), complementing measures in Scotland and Wales.

There will initially be two calls for applications--the first of which is issued today and invites applications by 15 September for the first allocations to be made early in November 1999. The second call will be announced by January 2000 and will follow a similar timetable, allowing three months for response, with allocations announced around two months from the closing date.

Copies of the Applications Guidelines have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Regional Assistance Map

Mr. Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to announce his proposed map for regional assistance. [87030]

Mr. Wills: As soon as possible.

Biotechnology

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer of 12 March 1999, Official Report, column 403, what account he took of (a) the Government's information policies and (b) the implications for public confidence in the Government's policies on biotechnology of his decision not to reveal details of meetings held between Ministers in his Department and representatives of biotechnology companies. [86486]

Mr. Battle: Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. All such contacts are conducted in accordance with the "Ministerial Code", the "Civil Service Code", and "Guidance for Civil Servants: Contacts with Lobbyists". Some of these discussions take place on a confidential basis, and in order to preserve confidentiality it is not the normal practice of Governments to release details of specific meetings with private individuals or companies.

Non-fossil Fuel Obligation

Mr. Rammell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what projects in Essex have (a) been approved in respect of the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation and (b) taken up that approval. [86436]

Mr. Battle: The Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) for renewables requires the Public Electricity Suppliers to secure specified generating capacity from specified renewables. Thirty-one (31) projects with an aggregate capacity of 319 Mega Watts have been contracted in Essex under the NFFO arrangements made so far. Six of these projects have been commissioned and we expect many more to do so in due course.

---