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Vulnerable People (Support)

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement about Government plans for providing support for vulnerable people; and how he intends to take forward, "Supporting People". [122566]

Mr. Raynsford: Britain is fortunate in having an effective and valuable stock of supported and sheltered housing, providing much-needed help to people such as older people, the mentally ill, the disabled and those with drink and drug problems.

As with most services, things can always be improved. The Government value the supported housing sector and through "Supporting People" we want to improve how supported housing is funded to make sure the highest quality of services are given, in the areas it can be most effective.

The "Supporting People" programme offers vulnerable people the opportunity to improve their quality of life through greater independence. It promotes housing-related services which are cost-effective and reliable, and which complement existing care services. It is a working partnership of local government, service users and support agencies.

Users will benefit from the increased range and focus of support services that will be provided through the partnership of councils and support agencies under "Supporting People". The programme will raise the priority of support services and encourage councils to take a more strategic approach to provision, integrating it fully with social and health services, housing, neighbourhood renewal and community safety.

While stakeholders broadly welcomed "Supporting People" in initial consultation, there are many challenges to be faced, and many complex issues to be worked through.

Today I have published a short document, "Together towards 2003", with an Action Plan of clear goals that must be achieved in order to prepare for the full roll out of "Supporting People" in April 2003. These are:

May 2000
Consultation paper on Phased implementation
Consultation paper on Managing the changeover
July 2000
Consultation paper on Administrative arrangements and decision-making processes
Consultation paper on Charging for services
October 2000
Consultation paper on Quality and monitoring

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November 2000
Announcement on Phasing
Initial guidance to local authorities on administration arrangements
April 2001
Consultation on the principles of the Distribution Formula
October 2001
The Complete Package of guidance on implementing "Supporting People". This will include guidance on administrative structures, financial arrangements, continuation arrangements, needs assessment methodology and supply assessment. It will ensure diversity and equality of service delivery and enable authorities to plan their resource allocation
April 2002
First allocations to authorities based on the Distribution Formula, including transfer arrangements from current spending to new formula
December 2002
Readiness review--this will provide data on the main problem areas which will inform the provision of additional guidance.

The process of implementation has started today with the publication of two short consultation papers on phased implementation and managing change. Implementing the programme is a demanding task, which can be effectively achieved only by drawing on the knowledge and experience of local authorities, registered social landlords and other providers of support services.

I want to reassure providers and users that there will be no sudden changes to the support services as a result of the shift to "Supporting People".

We will be providing advice and support to councils, agencies and users throughout the transition period through the publication of guidance, a series of conferences and a quarterly newsletter. We will be disseminating results from research, pilot projects and advisory groups. People will also be able to refer to a dedicated website and helpline for more advice.

I am placing the consultation papers and a summary booklet about "Supporting People" in the House Library. They are also available on the DETR website at www.supporting-people.detr.gov.uk.

GM Trial Sites

Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what consultations he had with (a) organic growers and (b) the Soil Association in Herefordshire about the siting of the GM trials at Kempley, Gloucestershire and Preston Wynne, Herefordshire; and if he will make a statement. [122038]

Mr. Meacher [holding answer 15 May 2000]: There has not been any specific consultation with organic growers or the Soil Association about the siting of farm scale evaluations of GM crops at Kempley or Preston Wynne.

However, my Department and the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have been in dialogue with UKROFS (United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards) and the Soil Association about the Farm Scale Evaluations. MAFF has also been encouraging discussions between organic farmers and the GM industry

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body, SCIMAC, and have established a forum aimed at finding ways that the two systems can operate successfully alongside one another.

National Air Traffic Services

Mr. Temple-Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to publish further information on the design of the NATS public-private partnership. [122974]

Mr. Mullin: The Government have today published an information brochure on the NATS PPP. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House and will shortly be available on the DETR website.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Vehicles

Mr. Pearson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many (a) cars and (b) commercial vehicles operated by her Department were manufactured (i) in the UK, (ii) in the EU and (iii) elsewhere. [122267]

Mr. Ian McCartney: The Government Car and Despatch Agency operates a fleet of vehicles, in the following table, for the Government as a whole. Seven of these vehicles are own by GCDA but operated by the Cabinet Office (Infrastructure Division).

	(a) Cars	(b) Commercial vehicles	Total
(i) UK	60	16	76
(ii) EU	130	41	171
(iii) Elsewhere	0	0	0
Total	190	57	247

In addition, one vehicle is leased by the Cabinet Office (Infrastructure Division) from Lex, which is made in the UK.

Statutory Instruments (Wales)

Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many statutory instruments have been referred by Government departments to the National Assembly for Wales; and if he will list the dates on which a response was received from the Assembly in each case. [122456]

Mr. Stringer: There is no general provision for statutory instruments to be referred by Government Departments to the National Assembly for Wales. The Government of Wales Act 1998 and the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 both contain provisions which require that certain instruments are either subject to consultation with the National Assembly for Wales, or are subject to their consent being obtained.

Other contacts takes place on an information basis, as covered in the bilateral concordats between Government Departments and the National Assembly for Wales. No central record is kept of such informal contact in relation to statutory instruments; and the information could only be collected at disproportionate cost.

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Regeneration Initiatives

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list the number and value of (a) bids and (b) grants made in each of the last three financial years for which figures are available, for each (i) area- based and (ii) other regeneration-related initiative for which her Department is responsible. [119802]

Mr. Stringer: The Cabinet Office is responsible for the Better Government for Older People programme and the Drug Action Teams listed by DETR as under (ii) other regeneration-related initiatives.

For the Better Government for Older People (BGOP) programme it is not possible to distinguish between direct/indirect government grants, redirected existing LGA provision, local partner funding and other contributions without incurring disproportionate costs. The Cabinet Office provides a small grant each year to help support the central co-ordination of the BGOP pilots and this figure is included in the expenditure totals.

Better Government for Older People (BGOP)

	1998-99	1999-2000	Total
Bids for pilot projects	64	--	64
Accepted	28	--	28
All expenditure (£)	322,154	597,285	919,439

Notes:

1. The BGOP was launched in 1998-99 and ends in 2000-01. All pilots were approved in 1998-99.

2. The Local Government Authorities concerned, together with their local partner organisations, meet all the costs of their pilot projects.

The Home Office's Drugs Advisory Service award grants to the Drugs Action Teams (DATs) for development. These grants are awarded on the basis of population, not bids.

Drug Action Teams

	1998-99	1999-2000	Total
Number of Drug Action Teams	98	106
Development Funding 'Grants' from Central Government	2,989,700	5,035,000	8,024,700

Notes:

1. Development Funding began in 1996-97. The expenditure is provided through the Drugs Advisory Service part of the Home Office. However details of expenditure for 1997-98 are not readily available.

2. In addition to grants the Drugs Action Teams (DATs) receive funding and resources from a variety of sources including local agencies.

3. There are 111 DATs to be funded in 2000-01.

Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will list for each (a) area-based and (b) other regeneration-related initiative for which her Department is responsible (i) the amount budgeted and (ii) the total expended in each financial year for the planned lifetime of each initiative. [119794]

Mr. Stringer: The Cabinet Office is responsible for two of the programmes listed by DETR under 'other regeneration-related initiatives'--The Better Government for Older People and The Drug Action Teams. It is not possible to provide information as specifically requested. The Cabinet Office does not have accounting responsibility for the majority of expenditure made on these two initiatives.

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The Better Government for Older People programme was launched in 1998 and runs until end of 2000. The pilot projects are fully paid for by Local Government Authorities and their partners. The Cabinet Office contributes a small grant toward the central co-ordination of the pilots. Total cost of the programme for each financial year is as follows: 1998-99 (£322,154), 1999-2000 (£597,285), and expected expenditure in 2000-01 (£500,000).

The Drugs Action Teams (DATs) receive funding and resources from a variety of sources, including local agencies and it is not possible to provide total expenditure figures that would be on a consistent basis. DATs receive 'development funding' from central Government, based on population data and paid through the Drugs Prevention Advisory Service at the Home Office. Information available for expenditure on development is for 1998-99 (£2,989,700) and 1999-2000 (£5,035,000). Expenditure forecasts for 2000-01 will be no lower than in 1999-2000. Resources for 2000-01 and beyond are subject to the Cross Cutting Review on Drugs as part of the 2000 Spending Review.

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