| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Written Answers
Tuesday, 3rd February 1998.
Unlawful Discrimination Complaints: Timely Hearings
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in the light of the judgment of the Court of Appeal of 17 December 1997 in Martins v. Marks and Spencer plc (The Times Law Reports, 15 January), they will take steps to ensure that complaints of unlawful discrimination are determined within a reasonable time, in accordance with Article 6(1) of the European Convention on Human Rights.[HL199]
The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Simon of Highbury): The Government agree that complaints arising under any jurisdiction before an industrial tribunal should be heard and determined within a reasonable time. Over 80 per cent. of tribunal applicants come to a hearing within the target of 26 weeks, many of them well within the target. However, as the judgment in this appeal notes, the timely hearing and determination of cases depends on a number of factors including the co-operation of the parties concerned. The Government have noted the judgment which suggests a number of ways which the Court of Appeal considers that case management could be improved. These are, of course, matters for the independent judiciary who I am sure will also have noted them.
Non-Departmental Public Bodies: Information Access
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In view of their recent White Paper Your Right to Know: Freedom of Information, whether they will make available to the public the agendas and papers prepared for meetings of educational non-departmental public bodies such as the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the Teacher Training Agency in advance of meetings of such bodies.[HL325]
The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone): My department fully supports the proposals to achieve a more open and accountable government set out in the White Paper for a Freedom of Information Act, presented by my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in December 1997.
Currently the individual arrangements for making papers available to the public, including in advance of meetings, are a matter for each NDPB. Commercial considerations may also play a part. Each NDPB sponsored by this department will comply fully with all proposals enacted by Parliament. It will also
be encouraged to adopt additional measures which improve openness and accountability including, where appropriate, establishing a website.Higher Education Institutions: Information Access
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In view of their recent White Paper Your Right to Know: Freedom of Information, whether they will require institutions of higher education to publish the following information about each course offered by those institutions:
(a) the academic content or profile of the course, fortnight by fortnight;
(b) the names and curricula vitae of those expected to teach the course, including details of any external examinerships they may hold or have held;
(c) the names and curricula vitae of the external examiners appointed to the course, together with the duration of such appointments;
(d) an indication of the expected workload of those delivering the course, split between teaching, marking, tutorials and research;
(e) an indicative reading list for the course.[HL326]
Baroness Blackstone: Our White Paper Your right to Know: Freedom of Information proposes that universities should be among the bodies covered by a Freedom of Information Act, giving people a general statutory right of access to the information held by public authorities in connection with their public functions. We do not intend to require higher education institutions to publish the information listed in the question, but we believe students and others must be able to make informed decisions. The National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education has proposed that institutions of higher education should develop, for each programme they offer, a programme specification which gives the intended outcomes of the programmes in terms of knowledge, understanding and skills. We welcome the positive response of the higher education representative bodies to this proposal.
New Deal Regulations
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether people accepting a placement under the welfare to work scheme which has a starting date in the future will retain an entitlement to benefits until the date when their placement is due to start.[HL317]
Baroness Blackstone: Unless serving a benefit sanction, young people on the New Deal for 18-24 year olds waiting to take up an option place will continue to receive any benefits to which they are entitled until the day the placement is due to start.
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether those dismissed from a welfare to work placement will be entitled to benefits pending either a new placement or the exercise of any right to appeal they may enjoy.[HL318]
Baroness Blackstone: Young people on the New Deal for 18-24 year olds who are dismissed from an option and who reclaim JSA within 13 weeks of leaving will have their case referred to an adjudication officer to decide whether a benefit sanction should be imposed. Those young people who are entitled to receive JSA will continue to receive it pending a decision.
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What, if anything, will be regarded as good cause for leaving a welfare to work placement; and whether those who claim to have left a placement for good cause will be allowed benefits pending the exercise of any rights of appeal they may enjoy.[HL319]
Baroness Blackstone: I refer the noble Lord to his Written Question [HL283]. Jobseeker's Allowance will be paid to those entitled to receive it pending any decision by an adjudication officer.
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether women in refuges who have been victims of domestic violence will be allowed to remain on benefits rather than being compelled to accept a welfare to work placement; and, if so, for how long or at whose discretion.[HL320]
Baroness Blackstone: The New Deal for 18-24 year olds has been designed to help all young unemployed people claiming the Jobseeker's Allowance for six months or more. JSA claimants are required to be available for work and actively seeking work. The New Deal will help any women aged 18-24 in refuges who claim JSA for six months or more. The programme begins with a gateway period, lasting for up to four months, which can include help from specialist agencies for young people with exceptional problems such as homelessness. Our commitment is that during the gateway, each young person will be provided with a chance to pursue one or more places in one or more of the four New Deal options before reaching the stage at which she is required to take up a place notified in writing by an employment officer. Women receiving income support because they have dependent children will not be required to join the New Deal programme for 18-24 year olds.
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether those who have suffered a traumatic event such as a bereavement or being thrown out of the family home by a spouse or a parent will be allowed a period of grace during which they will be allowed
- to receive benefits before being compelled to accept a welfare to work placement; and if so, for how long or at whose discretion.[HL321]
Baroness Blackstone: All young people who join the New Deal for 18-24 year olds will be claiming the Jobseeker's Allowance, which requires them to be available for and actively seeking work. The New Deal for 18-24 year olds is about identifying and responding to individual circumstances. During the gateway, which can last for up to four months, young unemployed people can receive help from specialist agencies to tackle such exceptional problems as homelessness. They will also receive support from their New Deal adviser who will be able to help them make appropriate choices about the steps they should take to increase their employability and find work. A young person reaching the closing stages of the gateway period who has been unable to obtain a place in a New Deal option will be required to take up the place in an option which his or her personal adviser considers the most appropriate available.
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether or to what extent the welfare to work regime will be applied to those suffering from mental illness.[HL322]
Baroness Blackstone: There are several welfare to work programmes including the New Deals for lone parents, disabled people and 18-24 year old unemployed people. Our New Deal for disabled people will aim to help people, including those suffering from mental illness, who are claiming incapacity benefits and who would like to work. The New Deal for 18-24 year olds has been designed to help young unemployed people who have been claiming the Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for at least six months or more back into work. One of the conditions for receipt of JSA is that individuals should be capable of work. People with disabilities can, under JSA, restrict their availability for work in any way provided it is reasonable in the light of their condition. Where such restrictions are in place these will be taken fully into account while someone is on the New Deal.
Next Section
Back to Table of Contents
Lords Hansard Home Page