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Mr. Dismore:
To ask the Solicitor-General if he will make a statement concerning the role of the Law Officers in prosecutions which are conducted by Government Departments and agencies whose prosecuting responsibilities are not subject to their formal superintendence. [99522]
22 Nov 1999 : Column: 25W
The Solicitor-General:
The Government have decided that, with effect from the date of this answer, the Law Officers should have a more formal role in respect of prosecutions by Government Departments and agencies that are not subject to their superintendence. In future, the Law officers will examine cases raising important matters of particular difficulty. They will have regular meetings with senior representatives in each Department or agency to discuss such cases, and prosecution issues more generally; and will receive regular written information on casework of particular concern.
The focus of the new arrangements will be on prosecution cases rather than the allocation of resources or determination of prosecution priorities, which must be a matter for each Department and agency. In cases in which the Law Officers do express a review, the final decision will remain with the responsible Minister or office-holder, but the Law Officers' views will be taken fully into account.
I should like to make plain that this initiative is prompted by a desire to strengthen the current arrangements, it is not a response to the handling of any particular case. The new arrangements are intended to enhance decision making within the prosecution process, and should lead to worthwhile improvements in the quality of such decision making. No legislative measures will be necessary to put the arrangements into effect.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Prime Minister what representations he or his office have made to (a) the Department of Health, (b) Christie Hospital NHS Trust and (c) NHS Executive North West relating to the future designation of the Christie Hospital as a regional cancer centre. [98830]
The Prime Minister:
There have been no representations to either the Department of Health or the Christie Hospital National Health Service Trust concerning the designation of a regional cancer centre other than to seek advice on correspondence received in my office.
Mr. Brady:
To ask the Prime Minister what representations he or his office have made to (a) the NHS Executive North West or (b) the Department of Health recommending the merger of the Christie NHS Hospital Trust with another NHS trust. [98831]
Mr. Lidington:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his proposals to revise the terms of DA notices. [98759]
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Mr. Hoon:
The Defence, Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee, which has a mixed official and media membership, and which is currently revising the terms of the Defence Advisory Notices, is chaired by the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Defence.
The six existing DA Notices were last revised in 1993, and can be found in Open Government Document 93/06. They are now being revised again, partly so that they reflect changes to policy since then, for example on the release of certain additional information about nuclear weapons; partly to ensure that no unnecessary security restrictions are imposed; and partly, at the request of the media members of the committee, to give as helpful guidance as possible to editors, broadcasters and publishers.
Changes to some of the details of the terms of the Notices will not affect any other aspects of the DA Notice system, which is advisory and voluntary, and leaves responsibility for what is published with the editor or publisher.
The aim is to complete work on the revision of the Notices by early next year, when a new Open Government Document will be issued.
Gillian Merron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals he has relating to the operation of the ONE service. [99517]
Angela Eagle:
Regulations have been laid today containing provisions to support joint working between the Benefits Agency, the Employment Service and local authorities within the ONE service.
The present system requires claimants to deal separately with different parts of the welfare system for each individual benefit they want to claim. It also requires them to provide similar information in support of each claim.
These regulations support the operation of the ONE service by enabling all a customer's benefit needs to be dealt with in a single location and their information to be collected just once. The ONE service is a major step forward in modernising the benefit system giving people of working age a personal adviser who can help deal with all their benefit needs, and provide advice and support on how they may become more independent.
These regulations also support the operation of our other main welfare-to-work measures.
Gillian Merron:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to collect additional information about people's work-related capacities through the medical assessment process for incapacity benefits. [99518]
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Mr. Bayley:
Regulations have been laid today giving effect to provisions in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 which will enable the All Work Test to play a more positive role in helping people claiming incapacity benefits to return to work.
The Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1999 allow additional positive information about what people can do in spite of their illness or disability to be collected through the medical assessment process. A new "Capability Report" will be prepared by the doctor who assesses the person for benefit purposes, and sent to Personal Advisers to help them give advice and support to sick and disabled people who want to work. The benefit decision-maker will not see the Capability Report and it will have no effect on people's benefit entitlement.
These provisions will come into force from 13 December, to allow the new "Capability Report" to be piloted in the 12 ONE areas.
In addition, the regulations rename the All Work Test the Personal Capability Assessment from 3 April 2000.
These regulations do not change the entitlement criteria for benefits paid on the grounds of incapacity. People will continue to be assessed against a set of functional medical criteria. However, many disabled people who would meet the criteria for benefit are in work; and many more want to work and could do so with the right help and advice. ONE is starting to give people that help and the new Capability Report will make a constructive contribution to this.
Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of disregarding invalid care allowance in assessments for means-tested benefits. [98545]
Mr. Bayley:
The estimated cost of disregarding all Invalid Care Allowance in the assessments for means-tested benefit is £450 million.
Mr. Loughton:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what facilities are available for the submission of completed benefit claim forms over the Internet. [99197]
Angela Eagle:
Currently, the Department does not have the facility to process claim forms submitted over the Internet. However, the Department is undergoing a review of its website, which includes providing facilities to submit benefit claim forms on the Internet in the future.
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Mr. Burstow:
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the cost of extending the minimum income guarantee to carers who provide at least 35 hours of care a week. [98546]
Mr. Bayley:
Bringing Income Support (IS) for those on the Carer Premium in line with the minimum income guarantee would set the Carer Premium to £23.60. The cost of this £9.65 increase in the Carer Premium is estimated at £100 million.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were waiting for a first appointment with a consultant in the West Sussex health authority area on (a) 1 April and (b) 1 October. [98618]
Mr. Denham:
The information requested is not available centrally.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were on the NHS waiting list for treatment in the West Sussex health authority on (a) 1 April and (b) 1 October. [98620]
Mr. Denham:
The number of people waiting for treatment in the West Sussex health authority area is contained in the table.
Notes:
1. The costs are derived from the June 1999 Pensions Simulation Model based on the 1996-97 Family Resources Survey updated to 1999-2000 prices and adjusted using the May 1999 Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry.
2. All costs are rounded to the nearest £10 million.
Notes:
1. All estimates are derived from the 1999-2000 Pensions Simulation Model based on the 1996-97 Family Resources Survey uprated to 1999-2000 prices with IS administrative adjustments.
2. The costs given are rounded to the nearest £10 million.
Date | Total waiting |
---|---|
31 March 1999 | 19,046 |
30 September 1999 | 20,230 |
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if waiting times for hearing aid installations are included in official NHS waiting list figures. [98617]
Mr. Denham: Information on waiting times for fitting hearing aids is not collected centrally.
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