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Disability Living Allowance

Dr. Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he is taking to improve the uptake of Disability Living Allowance. [114726]

Mr. Bayley: The number of people receiving Disability Living Allowance and total expenditure on this benefit are continuing to increase. However, around 40 per cent. of claims are unsuccessful, because the claimant does not satisfy the qualifying conditions. Against this background, our priorities are to look at ways of improving the information we provide about these benefits and to make it easier for people to supply us with the details we need to decide entitlement. We are also trying to develop clearer and more secure gateways, so that it is easier for people to know whether they may be entitled. These initiatives have involved extensive and continuing discussions with disabled people and their representatives, and with disability experts.

Widows' SERPS

Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will make a decision on the future of widows' SERPS. [114971]

Mr. Rooker: As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State announced on 15 March, if a person dies before 6 October 2002, their spouse can continue to inherit a maximum of 100 per cent. of their SERPS entitlement. The spouse of a person dying on or after that date will be able to inherit a maximum of 50 per cent. An Inherited SERPS Scheme will be established for people who may have relied on misleading information about SERPS inheritance provisions and who would otherwise have acted differently.

Leaflet Costs

Mr. Ashdown: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost to his Department of re-printing the leaflet, "You have a Choice", on the payment of benefits and pensions through post offices; and if he will make a statement. [114183]

Mr. Rooker: This was a joint DSS and Post Office exercise. The cost of re-printing the leaflet was split between the Post Office and the Department. Our contribution was £10,000.

16 Mar 2000 : Column: 319W

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

Light Dues

Mr. Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on light dues. [115342]

Mr. Hill: I am pleased to announce that there will be no changes to the light dues for 2000-01. Current rates were set in 1997, when charges were reduced by an average of 4.6 per cent., following four years of stability. The ability to maintain light dues at current levels is an indication of the General Lighthouse Authorities' continuing efforts to achieve greater efficiency.

Housing Transfers

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he will announce the 2000-01 housing transfers programme. [115220]

Mr. Raynsford: I am today announcing the names of the 22 local authorities which will be able to proceed, on a voluntary basis and subject to the approval of their tenants, with proposals to carry out 23 transfers of all or part of their housing stock to Registered Social Landlords in 2000-01. The programme will involve over 160,000 dwellings in large scale voluntary transfers, generating capital receipts of over £940 million.

Transfers can offer benefits for tenants. The new landlord must plan for proper maintenance and future repairs. Increased investment means that any backlog of repairs can be carried out more quickly than if the properties had remained in local authority ownership. Rent increases are normally limited by a guarantee that rents will not rise by more than 1 per cent. above inflation for the first five years.

But housing transfers are voluntary and may only take place if tenants are in favour. The consent of the Secretary of State is also required before a transfer can proceed and will not be granted if it appears that a majority of tenants do not wish the transfer to proceed.

The 2000-01 programme reflects the Government's commitment to support a continuing programme of transfers as a means of generating private finance to repair and improve the condition of social housing.

Sunderland City Council and Birmingham City Council have applied for a place on this year's programme but I have given them more time to develop their transfer proposals.

Four of the authorities on the 2000-01 programme--Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Calderdale Metropolitan Council, Coventry City Council and Walsall Metropolitan Council--expect to have housing debt remaining in their Housing Revenue Account (HRA) after their stock is transferred. This is because the capital receipt will not be sufficient to clear all of the debt in their HRA. Under the new arrangements, announced on 16 December 1999, the Government are prepared to use a one-off payment to assist those authorities repay their overhanging debt. A guidance note setting out the detailed arrangements has been issued to all local authorities and a copy is available on the DETR website.

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The authorities who have successfully gained a place on the programme, together with the intended recipient RSL, are as follows:

(a) a disposal by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council of not more than 606 dwelling-houses to a new subsidiary of Chantry Housing Association;

(b) a disposal by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council of not more than 10,126 dwelling-houses to a registered social landlord;

(c) a disposal by Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council of not more than 13,494 dwelling-houses to a registered social landlord;

(d) a disposal by Chester City Council of not more than 7,100 dwelling-houses to Chester and District Housing Trust;

(e) a disposal by Chichester District Council of not more than 5,510 dwelling-houses to Chichester District Community Housing;

(f) a disposal by Coventry City Council of not more than 22,104 dwelling-houses jointly to Whitefriars Homes North and Whitefriars Homes South;

(g) a disposal by East Northamptonshire District Council of not more than 3,540 dwelling-houses to East Northamptonshire Housing;

(h) a disposal by East Staffordshire Borough Council of not more than 6,015 dwelling-houses to Trent and Dove Housing;

(i) a disposal by Fylde Borough Council of not more than 1,964 dwelling-houses to New Fylde Housing;

(j) a disposal by Horsham District Council of not more than 4,807 dwelling-houses to Saxon Weald Homes Ltd.;

(k) disposals by Manchester City Council of not more than 468 dwelling-houses on the Knutsford estate to Manchester Methodist Housing Association, and not more than 669 dwelling-houses on the Handforth estate to a registered social landlord;

(l) a disposal by Mendip District Council of not more than 4,799 dwelling-houses to a registered social landlord;

(m) a disposal by the London Borough of Richmond of not more than 8,780 dwelling-houses to Richmond Housing Partnership;

(n) a disposal by South Bedfordshire District Council of not more than 6,282 dwelling-houses to a registered social landlord;

(o) a disposal by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council of not more than 3,274 dwelling-houses to a registered social landlord;

(p) a disposal by Torbay Council of not more than 3,127 dwelling-houses to Riviera Housing Trust Ltd.;

(q) five disposals by Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council of not more than 28,785 dwelling-houses to five registered social landlords which are part of Walsall Housing Group;

(r) a disposal by Waverley Borough Council of not more than 5,715 dwelling-house to a registered social landlord;

(s) a disposal by West Lancashire District Council of not more than 8,530 dwelling-houses to a registered social landlord;

(t) a disposal by West Oxfordshire District Council of not more than 3,884 dwelling-houses to a registered social landlord;

(u) a disposal by West Wiltshire District Council of not more than 3,438 dwelling-houses to West Wiltshire Housing Society;

(v) a disposal by Wycombe District Council of not more than 7,659 dwelling-houses to Wycombe 2000 Housing.

Water Pollution

Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many aquifers in England have been polluted to the extent that the water was unfit for human consumption in each year since 1995. [112816]

16 Mar 2000 : Column: 321W

Mr. Mullin: The Environment Agency does not have evidence that pollution events have led to any major aquifer becoming unsuitable for the supply of water for human consumption since 1995. Water from aquifers is, however, treated by water companies before being put into public supply using disinfection and such other processes as are necessary to comply with the standards for drinking water quality.

London Underground Escalators

Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the arrangements are for assisting (a) disabled and (b) elderly passengers when London Underground escalators are taken out of service. [113078]

Mr. Hill: These are operational matters for the London Underground who have informed me that regular announcements are being made at the affected stations and there is a comprehensive poster campaign to keep customers informed. London Transport's Unit for Disabled Passengers provides a comprehensive advice and information service for disabled people and is providing guidance on other routes to specified destinations. In addition Customer Care Assistants are trained to help people who need orientation or special assistance.

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