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20 Oct 2006 : Column 1470W—continued
Health and Safety Executive
Mr. Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what European infraction proceedings have been initiated against the Health and Safety Executive in relation to alleged non-compliance with directives. [93149]
Mrs. McGuire: There are current infraction proceedings against the UK Government, for late or defective implementation of European legislation, in relation to the following occupational safety and health directives:
Directive 89/391/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work, "The Framework Directive,"—defective implementation of Articles 5(1) and 5(4).
Directive 98/8/EC concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market—defective implementation of Articles 7(6), 7(8), 8(5), 8(9), 11, 12(1)(c), 16 and 22.
Directive 2002/44/EC on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (vibration)—late transposition (by Gibraltar).
Directive 2003/10 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (noise)—late transposition (by Gibraltar).
Directive 2003/18/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work—late transposition.
Directive 2003/105/EC on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances—defective implementation of Article 11.
Of these only the infraction proceedings on Directive 89/391/EEC have been referred to the European Court of Justice. The oral hearing took place on 13 September 2006 and judgement of the Court is expected in Spring 2007. The UK has robustly defended the case.
It is unlikely that any of the other cases will be referred to the European Court of Justice.
Lone Parents
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of providing lone parents with a work related activity premium for each year from 2006-07 to 2008-09; what the reason is for paying lone parents for engaging in work related activity; and if he will make a statement. [95281]
Mr. Jim Murphy: Helping lone parents develop and maintain their attachment to the labour market not only helps them meet their parental responsibilities, which has positive impacts on their children's health, schooling and prospects in later life, but is also an effective way of moving them and their children out of poverty and ensuring their social inclusion. This is why we are introducing the Work Related Activity Premium (WRAP).
Lone parents in pilot areas who have been on certain qualifying benefits for at least six months, whose youngest child is aged 11 or over, will be eligible for the WRAP if they agree to take formal steps to return to the labour market. Participants will be paid a £20 a week premium for six months, which will be paid on top of their ordinary Income Support entitlement. If the lone parent stops doing work related activity, or enters work, payment of the premium will end.
The WRAP will be piloted in seven Jobcentre Plus districts from April 2007. The costs of providing WRAP in the pilot areas will be dependent on the
number of lone parents who choose to participate in this voluntary initiative, and undertake work related activity. The pilot areas cover approximately 10 per cent. of the lone parent population and will inform us on the level of take up we can expect if the premium is rolled out nationally at a later date. As the pilot doesn't start until April 2007, any costs in 2006-07 will be pilot start-up costs only.
The cost of providing the WRAP to each lone parent who volunteers to take part in the pilot will be £520 if they receive the premium for the full 26 weeks. Lone parents moving off benefit and into work will result in savings to Government benefit expenditure.
Duchy of Lancaster
Compact Commissioner
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what powers the Compact Commissioner will have to ensure that local government meets the principles of the Compact. [95762]
Edward Miliband: The Commissioner for the Compact will oversee the operation of the relationship between government at all levels and the voluntary and community sector through the Compact. The Compact is voluntarily agreed between Government and the voluntary and community sector. The role of the Commissioner is to champion implementation of voluntary agreements, and therefore he does not have statutory powers.
The Commissioner’s remit includes:
Promoting effective ways of working in partnership, including the development of a set of core Compact commitments backed by an accreditation or kitemark scheme
Promoting best practice, and making recommendations and reporting on investigations
Looking at specific issues and concerns, acting as an honest broker between partners, intervening where effective and efficient to do so.
93 per cent. of local authority areas now have a published Local Compact, and there are a further 6 per cent. where development is under way. The Commissioner for the Compact will strategically build on and support local work as well as the national framework.
Departmental Carbon Emissions
Mr. Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate she has made of the total carbon emission from the Prime Minister’s offices in each year since 1997. [89452]
Edward Miliband: The Prime Minister’s Office forms an integral part of the Cabinet Office estate and figures for individual parts of the estate cannot be disaggregated. The available information on the amount of total carbon emissions for the Cabinet Office is shown in the following table. Figures prior to 1999-2000 are not available.
| Total carbon emissions (tonnes) | |
The Cabinet Office aims to reduce its carbon emissions, improve its energy management practices and identify likely areas for potential energy savings. As part of this, the Cabinet Office has recently signed up to the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management Programme.
Islam and Muslim Affairs
Mr. Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many (a) mosques and (b) Muslim schools were investigated by the Charity Commission in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [94354]
Edward Miliband: This is a matter for the Charity Commission as the Government Department responsible for the regulation of charities in England and Wales. I will ask the chief executive of the Charity Commission to write to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library for the reference of Members.
Key Workers
Mr. Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether any of her staff in the Cabinet Office are classed as key workers for the purposes of the low-cost home ownership or shared ownership schemes. [96390]
Edward Miliband: There are currently no staff in the Cabinet Office who are classed as key workers for the purposes of the low-cost home ownership or shared ownership schemes.
Scottish Statutory Instruments
Mr. Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many (a) UK and (b) Scottish statutory instruments were made in each year since 1979 to 2005. [89227]
Edward Miliband [holding answer 9 October 2006]: Between 1979 and 2005 the number of UK statutory instruments (Sis) made in each year is shown in the following table. Scottish Statutory Instruments are included in the statistics up to 1999. After 1999 the number of Scottish Statutory Instruments is a devolved matter which is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament. Scottish Statutory Instrument Statistics are, however, available on the Office of the Queen’s Printer for Scotland’s website at: http://www.oqps.gov.uk/scotlegislation/ssi_statistics.htm
| Total number of statutory instruments | |
| (1) It is important to note that the number of Sis registered during 2001 included 597 UK Government Sis and 36 National Assembly for Wales Sis which related directly to the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. | |
Updated statistics in relation to Statutory Instruments are also available on the OPSI website at: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si-statistics.htm
Health
Alimta
Mr. Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which strategic health authorities prescribe the drug Alimta. [92685]
Andy Burnham: During 2005 pemetrexed (Alimta) was used in hospitals in the following strategic health authorities (SHAs):
Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Birmingham and the Black Country
Cheshire and Merseyside
County Durham and Tees Valley
Essex
Greater Manchester
Hampshire and Isle of Wight
Kent and Medway
Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland
North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire
Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire
North Central London
North East London
North West London
Northumberland, Tyne and Wear
Shropshire and Staffordshire
Somerset and Dorset
South West Peninsula
Surrey and Sussex
Thames Valley
Trent
West Yorkshire
Use of pemetrexed in hospitals in other SHAs may not be captured in available data.
Broomfield Private Finance Initiative
Mr. Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her statement of 11 October 2006, Official Report, column 409, on the NHS, what plans she has to look into the Broomfield private finance initiative scheme; and when she expects to conclude her investigations. [95082]
Andy Burnham: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 September 2006, Official Report, column 2271W. Work on the proposal for the Broomfield hospital is being taken forward by the Mid-Essex NHS trust and the strategic health authority.
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