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Post Office Card Account

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time taken to process pension payments through the use of the Post Office card account is. [188609]

Mr. Pond: Information is not available in the format requested.

Payments made through the Post Office card account use the same process as all payments direct to bank accounts. Payments are sent to BACS Ltd. in advance of the relevant three-day payment cycle. The process is designed to ensure that a payment is available for collection; in the case of the Post Office card account, by 9.00 am on the date it is due.

Statutory Appointees for State Benefits

Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what formal obligations are imposed on statutory appointees for state benefits to act in the best interests of those entitled to them; and what sanctions are taken against those who fail to meet those obligations. [188230]

Mr. Pond: Applicants to become an appointee are interviewed and are required to sign a declaration (on form BF56).

This requires them to spend any money they receive from social security benefits, pensions and allowances and Inland Revenue tax credit, on behalf of, and in the interests of the benefit customer.

They are required to sign that they have read, understood and accept the conditions of being an appointee.

If the appointment is confirmed, the appointee is given form BF57 which repeats the message given in the BF56.

If an appointee fails to meet their obligations, the Secretary of State may, in addition to any further action that might be appropriate, revoke the appointment.

Transitional Protection Scheme

Mr. Purchase: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 725W, on the Transitional Protection Scheme, whether local authorities will be provided by 1 January 2005 with (a) an estimate at an individual local authority level, based upon local authority certified estimate returns submitted to the Department by 31 August, of the likely financial consequences in the current financial year of the impact of the Transitional Protection Scheme and (b) estimates at an individual local authority level of the potential financial implications for the 2005–06 and 2006–07 financial years of the impact of the Transitional Protection Scheme. [188780]

 
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Mr. Pond: The amount of transitional protection to be provided to local authorities will not be known until after the end of the financial year when authorities have their subsidy claims audited.

Further advice and information has been issued to local authorities enabling them to estimate the potential gains/losses under the new subsidy system and consequently whether they may be affected by the transitional protection arrangements. HB/CTB circular S11/2003 gave further detailed information specifically on the transitional protection scheme. HB/CTB S2/2004 notified local authorities of the change to the transitional protection scheme which increased the level of protection for local authorities. Copies of both circulars are available in the Library.

Officials will be consulting shortly with local authority representatives to progress the details of how the transitional protection scheme will operate in practice.

HEALTH

Ambulances

Ann Winterton : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to commission an independent inquiry into the operation of the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service. [188806]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department has no plans to commission an independent inquiry into the operation of the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what resources his Department provides to regional ambulance services; and what assessment he has made of current levels of demand on regional ambulance services. [188807]

Ms Rosie Winterton: There are 31 national health service ambulance trusts in England. Primary care trusts (PCTs) commission health services to meet the needs of their local population, in partnership with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and other local stakeholders. In line with "Shifting the Balance of Power", it is the responsibility of PCTs to determine how best to use their overall allocations to meet national and local priorities. In calculating overall budget allocations for PCTs, the Department takes into account a range of factors, including changes in demand-led activities such as ambulance journeys.

The annual number of incidents attended by ambulance services increased by seven per cent., in 2003–04. As part of the review of ambulance policy and services currently underway, we are examining the possible reasons for this increase.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the (a) performance and (b) emergency response provision of the Merseyside Regional Ambulance Service; [188808]

(2) what progress has been made by the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service in achieving national performance targets; and if he will make a statement. [188809]

 
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Miss Melanie Johnson: The information requested on performance of the Mersey Regional Ambulance Service can be found in the statistical bulletin, "Ambulance Services, England": 2003–04. A copy of the bulletin is available in the Library and can also be found on the Department's website at www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0411 .htm.

Asperger's Syndrome

Jonathan Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to review the practice guidelines for assessing the ability of people with Asperger's syndrome to live independently; [188883]

(2) what assessment he has made of the reasons a low percentage of adults with Asperger's syndrome are living fully independent lives; [188884]

(3) what assessment he has made of the assistance people with Asperger's syndrome need to live fully independent lives; [188885]

(4) for what reason people with Asperger's syndrome are referred to as presenting a low risk to independence in the Department's publication Fair Access to Care 2003. [188886]

Dr. Ladyman: There are no plans to review the "Fair access to care services" practice guidance, which was updated in March 2003.

It is a matter for social services to assess the needs of people including those with Asperger's syndrome. Each individual, regardless of any underlying condition is assessed on individual need and in the light of local eligibility criteria.

The example in "Fair access to care services" does not mean that everyone with Asperger's syndrome has low support needs.

Breastfeeding

Ms Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will raise with (a) Cow & Gate and (b) Milupa Department of Health guidance on breastfeeding to prevent encouragement of weaning before six months. [188455]

Miss Melanie Johnson: The Department has widely published advice on ideal ways of weaning. However, current European legislation, implemented in the United Kingdom, provides that weaning foods may be labelled as suitable for infants from four months of age. The European Commission has indicated that it intends to review the labelling of these foods. When this review takes place, the Department and the Food Standards Agency will work closely to ensure that the labelling of weaning foods supports the Department's advice.

Carers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further assistance and sources of advice he intends to provide for carers; and if he will make a statement. [189072]

 
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Dr. Ladyman: This Government are the first ever to recognise the contribution and concerns of carers. It developed the national carers' strategy in 1999 with carers and the organisations that represent them.

The carers grant was introduced in 1999 to support councils in providing breaks and services for carers in England. The grant has been increased annually and has provided an extra £325 million over the last five years. It is worth £125 million this year and will continue at least until 2005–06, by which time it will be £185 million.

The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act received Royal Assent on 22 July 2004. The Act will ensure that carers are able to take up opportunities which those without caring responsibilities take for granted.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister launched the Beacon Council scheme on 7 July 2004. Supporting carers is one of the themes for the forthcoming round.

To support carers' access to information the Department is funding Carers UK to provide advice and information in a variety of formats.

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