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Royal Courts of Justice: Wheelchair Access to Courts
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which courts in the Royal Courts of Justice are not accessible to disabled people using wheelchairs.
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): The Question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its Framework Document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to respond.
Letter to Lord Lester of Herne Hill from the Chief Executive of the Court Service, Mr. M. Huebner, dated 30 July 1997. Wheelchair Access to Courts in the RCJ
The Lord Chancellor has asked me to reply to your question about disabled access in the Royal Courts of Justice.
Of the 78 courts located in the Royal Courts of Justice only four, courts number 26, 27, 28 and 51, are not accessible to people using wheelchairs.
Motability: Grants for Alterations
Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many cars provided by Motability have been altered to assist disabled drivers in each of the last four years, and what percentage this is of all the cars provided.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Baroness Hollis of Heigham): The information is not available in the
format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.| Financial Year | Total number of cars for which a grant for adaptations has been paid for by Motability(1) | New Cars Provided by Motability | Per cent. |
| 1993/94 | 1,273 | 75,857 | 1.68 |
| 1994/95 | 1,286 | 90,990 | 1.41 |
| 1995/96 | 1,497 | 106,527 | 1.22 |
| 1996/97 | 1,396 | 123,519 | 1.13 |
| Totals | 5,452 | 396,893 | 1.37 |
Notes:
(1) Figures do not include those drivers who are ex-Invalid Vehicle users or War Pensioners who have had grant assistance by Motability.
(2) It is estimated that approximately 11 per cent. of their disabled drivers have their vehicle adapted without any grant assistance.
Source:
Motability.
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: We are committed to a wide ranging review of the major components of the social security system: our aim is to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to promote work incentives.
The Government have made clear that they will review all aspects of arrangements for asylum seekers. The review will consider the costs of all the various options for supporting asylum seekers.
Lord Lucas asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The figure is based on information from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The count of individuals currently in receipt of social security benefits was based on adults aged between 16 and 59 who received a social security benefit, other than those who received only child benefit. Where such individuals formed a benefit unit receiving income related benefits, both were counted as being in receipt of a benefit.
Being without work was defined as those who were either unemployed on a basis consistent with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition, or economically inactive.
According to the 1995-96 FRS, which covers Great Britain, 6 million people were both in receipt of benefit and out of work, based on the above definitions. The table below breaks down this figure by household type:
Notes:
1. The 1995-96 survey is the latest for which data are available.
2. The estimates are based on sample counts which have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors which control for region, council tax band and a number of demographic variables.
3. Estimates are subject to sampling error.
4. The ILO definition of unemployment is individuals that are available for and actively seeking work.
5. The economically inactive will include, amongst others, those who are looking after family/home and whose partners are on low earnings and receiving an income related benefit.
6. A benefit unit is a single adult or couple living as married and any dependent children.
7. Income-related benefits are income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit.
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn): The role of the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) is to provide the police and other law enforcement agencies with intelligence on serious and organised crime. Such work includes dealing with reports about the use of the internet for the distribution of child pornography and is consistent with both current and proposed data protection legislation. There are no plans to give NCIS a specific role for policing the Internet.
Lord Merlyn-Rees asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department has decided to appoint Sir John Wheeler to chair the Service Authorities. He is delighted that Sir John has accepted this appointment. He has no doubt that his skills and experience will prove invaluable to the Service Authorities in their task of maintaining the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) and the National Crime Squad, both of which will substantially strengthen our ability to tackle organised and serious crime at national and international level. During his last 18 years in Parliament, Sir John has chaired a number of committees and groups including the All Party Penal Affairs Group and the Home Affairs Select Committee. In 1990 my right honourable friend was awarded a knighthood for service to the Select Committee. He has been a Justice of the Peace in London since 1978 and is an active member of the Order of Saint John.
The other independent members my right honourable friend proposes to appoint are Paul Lever and Peter Holland. Paul Lever is chairman of BSM Group plc and of Ashworth Hospital Authority. He has held senior management positions in major public companies and has considerable experience in the fields of strategic and financial management. Peter Holland is an independent business consultant and is also chairman of Hertfordshire police authority. He has held senior management positions in the Reuters Group with responsibility for human resource and financial management.
My right honourable friend is also appointing Maria Callaghan to represent him in his capacity as the police authority for the Metropolitan Police District. Miss Callaghan is a member of the Metropolitan Police Committee, chairs the Calotels Hotel Group and has extensive experience of business management. She holds a Bachelor of Law degree and has practised as a commercial lawyer.
These four appointments are core members, 10 of them in all, who serve on both Service Authorities. The six other core members are:
The independent members were selected in line with Nolan principles following the procedures set out by Sir Len Peach in his guidance on public appointments.The police authority members for England and Wales were selected from among the local authority members of police authorities so as to ensure that, as far as practicable, the membership of the Service Authorities reflects the balance of parties across all local authority members of police authorities.
Whether they agree with the recent assessment of the Refugee Council that the restoration of benefits to asylum-seekers would cost less than the present arrangements under the National Assistance Act 1948.
Whether they will provide an analysis of the figure of "6 million people of working age currently on benefits and without work" quoted by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 10 July (WA 85) which explains the origins and make-up of that figure.
Adults (millions)
Single person household 1.8
Multiple person household, no one in work 2.3
Multiple person household, at least one person in work 1.9
Total 6
What role, and with what powers, it anticipates that the National Crime Intelligence Service will play in policing the World Wide Web, and how any such role will be accommodated within existing and proposed data protection and freedom of information legislation
When they expect to be able to make an announcement about the establishment and membership of the Service Authorities provided for under Sections 1 and 47 of the Police Act 1997 to maintain the National Criminal Intelligence Service and National Crime Squad.
Member Position Appointed by
Cllr Stephen Murphy Greater Manchester Police Authority (LAB) Police authorities (E and W)
Cllr Bob James West Midlands Police Authority (LAB) Police authorities (E and W)
Cllr Peter Fallows West Mercia Police Authority (CON) Police authorities (E and W)
David Veness QPM Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police ACPO
David Phillips QPM Chief Constable, Kent Constabulary ACPO
John Warne Director, Organised & International Crime Directorate, Home Office Home Secretary
The NCIS Service Authority has a total of 19 members. The additional members are:
Cllr Ron Fisher JP South Yorkshire Police Authority (LAB) Police authorities (E and W)
Cllr Owen May Devon & Cornwall Police Authority (Lib Dem) Police authorities (E and W)
Cllr Julia Sturrock Taysie Joint Police Board Police authorities (Scotland)
Pat Armstrong CBE Police Authority for Northern Ireland PANI
Ian Oliver QPM Chief Constable, Grampian Police ACPOS
Ronnie Flanagan OBE Chief Constable, Royal Ulster Constabulary Royal Ulster Constabulary
Dick Kellaway Chief Investigation officer, Her Majesty Customs & Excise Commissioners for Customs and Excise
Duncan Macnivan Head of Police, Fire and Emergencies Group, Scottish Office Secretary of State, Scotland
John Steele CBE OBE TD DL Senior Director, Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Northern Ireland
The National Crime Squad Service Authority has a total of 17 members. The additional members are:
Cllr Ken Walker Cleveland Police Authority (LAB) Police authorities (E and W)
Cllr Barry Murray South Wales Police Authority (LAB) Police authorities (E and W)
Cllr Neil Taggart West Yorkshire Police Authority (LAB) Police authorities (E and W)
Cllr Sir John Grugeon DL Kent Police Authority (CON) Police authorities (E and W)
Cllr Elfyn Williams North Wales Police Authority (Lib Dem) Police authorities (E and W)
Cllr Mrs Angela Harris DL North Yorkshire Police Authority (Lib Dem) Police authorities (E and W)
David Wilmot QPM Chief Constable, Greater Manchester Police ACPO
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