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Disability Living Allowance
Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to simplify the application form for disability living allowance. [1467]
Mrs. McGuire: The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Disability and Carers Service, Terry Moran. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
Letter from Terry Moran to Annette Brooke, dated 1 June 2005:
I am writing in response to your recent Parliamentary question in which you asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to simplify the application form for disability living allowance (DLA).
The Disability Carers Service (DCS) is committed to reviewing and improving the services and products we offer to our customers in consultation with customer representative organisations. This includes looking at ways in which we can simplify our claim packs and address the concerns that our customers have about the difficulties they experience in claiming disability benefits.
We have recently developed and tested a shortened version of the DLA claim pack but after careful consideration, have concluded that a more structured" claim form is appropriate. This could be personalised to obtain information about an individual's care and mobility needs arising from their disabilities. The draft structured" claim form is being designed in line with National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee recommendations on reviewing and improving Government forms, and through consultation with our customer representative organisations. We intend to pilot the form in the Autumn of this year and will, in conjunction with our customer representatives, be evaluating it for ease of completion and general understanding as well as other criteria.
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Broadcasting Reception (Rossendale and Darwen)
Janet Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects (a) Channel 5 and (b) Freeview television to be available throughout Rossendale and Darwen. [1775]
James Purnell: We do not have a breakdown of coverage by constituency but Digital Television (DTT) coverage maps have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. Freeview also provide a comprehensive postcode database (www.freeview.co.uk) that gives availability of DTT throughout the UK.
The current availability of Freeview is restricted in much of the constituency because of the local terrain which means that, until switchover, the local transmitter at Winter Hill can only broadcast signals at low strength. At switchover, I expect the power of these signals to be increased significantly.
Similarly, Winter Hill carries Channel 5 at a reduced power compared to the first four channels, and the areas reliant on the relay transmitter network will not be able to receive it until switchover.
Gaelic/Welsh Language Broadcasting
Mr. Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on contributing towards the cost of a Gaelic language television channel. [1301]
James Purnell: Exchequer funding for Gaelic broadcasting is principally through the Scottish Executive's support for the Gaelic Media Service (GMS). Funding of £8.5 million for the GMS was transferred from the Secretary of State for Scotland to the Scottish Executive in 1999. Gaelic language broadcasting is also undertaken by the BBC in radio and television and by ITV1 in Scotland.
We are working with all the parties concerned to secure a better deal for Gaelic broadcasting and to help achieve that, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently proposed a contribution of £250,000 directly from DCMS budgets.
Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding the Department plans to provide for (a) Gaelic language broadcasting in Scotland and (b) Welsh language broadcasting in Wales in financial years (i) 2005–06, (ii) 2006–07 and (iii) 2007–08. [1585]
James Purnell:
Gaelic language broadcasting is provided by the BBC on radio and television and are a statutory requirement on ITV1 in Scotland; production is funded by the broadcasters and by the Gaelic Media Service (GMS); the funding of £8.5 million for the GMS was transferred from the Secretary of State for Scotland to the Scottish Executive as part of the devolution settlement in 1999. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has also offered a contribution of £250,000 directly from DCMS budgets in 2005–06 as part of the strategy for securing a Gaelic television channel.
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Welsh language broadcasting is provided by the BBC on radio and the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority on S4C television. Funding for S4C continues to fall within my Department's budget and is determined according to a statutory formula: provision is currently set at £92.217 million for 2005–06 and 2006–07 and £92.817 million for 2007–08.
Lord Hollick
Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what performance indicators are used to assess the performance of Lord Hollick in his role as chairman of the South Bank Centre. [1232]
Tessa Jowell: Lord Hollick's performance is assessed against the following criteria:
In reappointing Lord Hollick to the Chair's post this year, assessments of his performance were sought by my Department from Arts Council England and other South Bank Board members, as well as from relevant officials at the Department itself. All individuals reappointed to DCMS NDPBs are assessed against similar criteria.
SCOTLAND
Local Income Tax
7. David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the likely costs to the Inland Revenue of administering a local income tax in Scotland. [1954]
David Cairns: Scotland Office Ministers have regular discussions on a range of issues with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
G8 Summit
8. Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with (a) the Foreign Office and (b) the Scottish Executive concerning measures to promote Scotland during the G8 summit in Perthshire. [1955]
David Cairns: My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs discuss many matters. Scotland Office Ministers are also in regular contact with the Scottish First Minister, with whom we discuss a wide range of issues.
Employment (Glasgow)
9. Mr. Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next meet the new leader of Glasgow City Council to discuss levels of employment in the city. [1956]
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David Cairns: I hope to meet Councillor Steven Purcell, the new leader of Glasgow City Council, later this month to discuss a range of issues relating to the city.
Advocate General (Devolution)
10. Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent devolution issues the Advocate General has considered. [1957]
Mr. Darling: In the time since her last parliamentary questions on 15 March, the Advocate General has had 327 devolution issues intimated to her. 275 of these were concerned with civil matters and the remaining 52 with criminal matters. Most of the civil cases concerned prison conditions. Almost half of the criminal cases concerned pre-trial delay. The Advocate General has not considered it necessary or appropriate to intervene, at this stage, in any of the devolution issues intimated to her since 15 March.
Oil and Gas
11. Miss Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to meet the Minister for Energy in the Department for Trade and Industry to discuss developments in the Scottish oil and gas industry. [1958]
David Cairns: Scotland Office Ministers and officials are in touch with their counterparts in the Department for Trade and Industry regularly on a range of energy issues. I expect to meet the Minister for Energy and representatives of the oil and gas industry at next week's meeting of the PILOT group.
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