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My Lords, when does the Minister expect the single payments scheme to be running properly so that the farmers are paid correctly and on time?
My Lords, when does the Minister expect the single payments scheme to be running properly so that the farmers are paid correctly and on time?
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
30 October 2006
My Lords, I say to my noble friend, as I have said before, our expectation is to get the system running adequately. With the changes that need to be made to it, it will be 2008 beforehand, and we need to go through the 2006 and 2007 payment years before we get there. In other words, as the chief executive said, supported by Ministers, it will be at least a couple of years before it is up and running in a stable way.
Subjects
Agriculture; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Finance; ICT; Subsidies; Rural Payments Agency
Date
30 October 2006
Reference
686 c8
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the recent government decision that will allow the retention of a proportion of affordable housing in rural areas is very welcome? Does he also agree that this is not enough on its own if the required number of affordable homes is to be built in the rural social housing sector?
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the recent government decision that will allow the retention of a proportion of affordable housing in rural areas is very welcome? Does he also agree that this is not enough on its own if the required number of affordable homes is to be built in the rural social housing sector?
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
8 June 2006
My Lords, I entirely agree with the noble Lord. In her introduction to the report, Elinor Goodman, who chaired the commission, made a comment that rang a bell with me. She said:
"Without housing which people on lower incomes can afford, rural communities will increasingly become dormitories for the better-off".
That is the real challenge; we must stop that process. We will continue to pursue in a constructive vein the very measures that the report endorses.
Subjects
Housing; Low incomes; Rural areas; Affordable Rural Housing Commission
Date
8 June 2006
Reference
682 c1385
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, what is the position of farmers who are due the hill farm allowance?
My Lords, what is the position of farmers who are due the hill farm allowance?
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
10 May 2006
My Lords, farmers in receipt of the hill farm allowance are probably farming on some of the most difficult areas and are not the wealthiest of farmers. Their payments have been held up because of the way the rules have worked: they cannot get the hill farm allowance until the single farm payment has been dealt with. That has been a major problem. I assure my noble friend and the House that, as of my right honourable friend's Statement yesterday, we have reprioritised so that those who will be in receipt of the hill farm allowance have a higher priority than hitherto. I will be at the headquarters of the payments agency before the end of the week to see that priority being materialised.
Subjects
Agriculture; Administrative delays; Payments; Subsidies; Common agricultural policy
Date
10 May 2006
Reference
681 c902
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the proposition advanced by the noble Lord, Lord Taverne, was put much more succinctly in the old farming saying that organic food is produced by the combination of muck, mystery and magic? What proportion of UK food consumption is provided by UK organic food production?
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the proposition advanced by the noble Lord, Lord Taverne, was put much more succinctly in the old farming saying that organic food is produced by the combination of muck, mystery and magic? What proportion of UK food consumption is provided by UK organic food production?
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
8 May 2006
My Lords, my recollection is that it is about 1 per cent, but I shall write to my noble friend if I am wrong. Feelings run high on the subject, and the noble Countess is not alone in being worried about whether pesticide residues get into people through the food chain. That is a concern. My noble friend knows more about farming production than I do, but there is certainly growing consumer demand for food that has been produced with minimal or zero levels of chemical addition during its growth.
Subjects
Organic food; Self-sufficiency
Date
8 May 2006
Reference
681 c687
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, can my noble friend confirm that assessment for benefits has been outsourced to a private agency? Is he aware that a potential assessor was recently turned down by the agency on the grounds that his disability would slow down the throughput of assessment? What measures are in place to ensure that the agency does not give priority to throughput over quality in the assessment procedure?
My Lords, can my noble friend confirm that assessment for benefits has been outsourced to a private agency? Is he aware that a potential assessor was recently turned down by the agency on the grounds that his disability would slow down the throughput of assessment? What measures are in place to ensure that the agency does not give priority to throughput over quality in the assessment procedure?
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
18 April 2006
My Lords, I have not heard of that particular incident, but if my noble friend would care to give me further details I will have a look at it. He is right that the medical services are, on behalf of my department, undertaken by Atos Origin Medical Services. It is important that it has available to it a range of good medical people who can take the medical examinations, and it is equally important that we do them as quickly as possible. However, I am happy to look at the specific incident that he raised.
Subjects
Disability; Benefits rules; Incapacity benefit; Medical examinations; Social security benefits
Date
18 April 2006
Reference
680 c976-7
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
How many of the 976,000 people claiming non-contributing incapacity benefit in May 2005 had never worked.
How many of the 976,000 people claiming non-contributing incapacity benefit in May 2005 had never worked.
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
22 March 2006
The information is not available. We do not have the necessary records of claimants’ employment histories.
Subjects
Disability; Employment; Incapacity benefit
Date
22 March 2006
Reference
4684; 680 c56WA
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for her Answer, which goes well beyond the usual courtesy. It is extremely good news. We all agree with encouraging home ownership, but there are particular problems in the shared ownership rural housing sector, which the Government have clearly recognised in their decision not to change the policy. Is my noble friend aware that the announcement will be welcomed by the whole rural housing sector, especially the Rural Housing Trust, which has worked hard on the problem?
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for her Answer, which goes well beyond the usual courtesy. It is extremely good news. We all agree with encouraging home ownership, but there are particular problems in the shared ownership rural housing sector, which the Government have clearly recognised in their decision not to change the policy. Is my noble friend aware that the announcement will be welcomed by the whole rural housing sector, especially the Rural Housing Trust, which has worked hard on the problem?
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
22 March 2006
My Lords, it is always a pleasure to bring good news to the House, especially via an ex-Chief Whip. I know that the noble Lords, Lord Dixon-Smith and Lord Cameron, have also drawn attention to the issues. I can assure noble Lords that the housing associations will be able to operate in the future using the same criteria and the same judgment that they have always had.
In the case of houses, it will be possible to restrict staircasing under the legislation as long as they meet the low-rent test. That means that outside Greater London, as long as the rent charged on any unowned equity throughout the term of the lease is at least £250 a year, staircasing can be restricted on rural exception sites without the risk of enfranchisement. As noble Lords know, there has never been a problem with flats. I can also reassure noble Lords that the Government have no plans to remove the low-rent test for housing associations; they may continue to rely on it in the future.
Subjects
Housing; Housing associations; Low incomes; Rural areas; Shared ownership schemes
Date
22 March 2006
Reference
680 c238-9
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Why they are increasing the 80 per cent ownership limit on shared ownership rural housing to 100 per cent on 1 April in advance of the report of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission.
Why they are increasing the 80 per cent ownership limit on shared ownership rural housing to 100 per cent on 1 April in advance of the report of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission.
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Answered by
Baroness Andrews
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Procedure
Topical questions (HL)
For answer on
22 March 2006
Answered on
22 March 2006
My Lords, we are not pre-empting the Affordable Rural Housing Commission. The Government are keen to expand home ownership through Homebuy, but we have listened to the concerns expressed about the retention of affordable housing in rural areas and recognise that those areas can be subject to particular housing pressures. We will therefore continue to allow housing associations to restrict staircasing on rural exception sites where it is possible and appropriate under leasehold legislation. We will also introduce further safeguards as planned.
Subjects
Housing; Housing associations; Low incomes; Rural areas; Shared ownership schemes
Date
22 March 2006
Reference
680 c238
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. However, is he aware that, five years ago, his department published guidance entitled Let's make it accessible, which advised all government departments that information that directly affected disabled people should be given a priority for accessibility? Is he further aware that accessible formats were delayed on the equality White Paper, the Equality Bill, the draft Disability Discrimination Bill and the Youth Matters Green Paper? Those are only a few; there are more. Does my noble friend agree that this is in fact a subtle form of discrimination and that there must be an urgent review across government to see that it is stopped? If it is not, government departments might find themselves in breach of the Act.
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. However, is he aware that, five years ago, his department published guidance entitled Let's make it accessible, which advised all government departments that information that directly affected disabled people should be given a priority for accessibility? Is he further aware that accessible formats were delayed on the equality White Paper, the Equality Bill, the draft Disability Discrimination Bill and the Youth Matters Green Paper? Those are only a few; there are more. Does my noble friend agree that this is in fact a subtle form of discrimination and that there must be an urgent review across government to see that it is stopped? If it is not, government departments might find themselves in breach of the Act.
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
20 March 2006
My Lords, I take my noble friend's point. I can tell him that my department is reviewing the guidance on accessible formats as part of a substantial departmental review of provision of customer information. As for the Government as a whole, my noble friend will be aware of the establishment of the Office for Disability Issues, which is enabling us to look at disability issues across the whole of government. I have talked to my honourable friend the Minister for Disabled People this morning, and she has made it clear to me that one of the first tasks of the ODI will be to look at information across the whole of government.
Subjects
Access; Disability; Administrative delays; Equality; Government departments; Publishing; Consultation papers; Official publications
Date
20 March 2006
Reference
680 c7
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Whether the delay of more than one month in the production of an accessible version of the welfare reform Green Paper A New Deal for Welfare constitutes discrimination against disabled people; and whether disabled people will have the same consultation period as others.
Whether the delay of more than one month in the production of an accessible version of the welfare reform Green Paper A New Deal for Welfare constitutes discrimination against disabled people; and whether disabled people will have the same consultation period as others.
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
(Labour)
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
For answer on
20 March 2006
Answered on
20 March 2006
My Lords, the department would never knowingly discriminate against disabled people. We very much regret that the last of the accessible versions of the Green Paper was not available until 28 February 2006. We are determined to do better in the future. However, we have agreed that, where people need more time to take part in the consultation, we will individually extend the deadline of 21 April to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to respond.
Subjects
Access; Disability; Administrative delays; Equality; Publishing; Consultation papers
Date
20 March 2006
Reference
680 c7
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I believe that my noble friend, in the context of insurance policies, mentioned a limit of £500,000. Why is there a limit at all?
My Lords, I believe that my noble friend, in the context of insurance policies, mentioned a limit of £500,000. Why is there a limit at all?
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
15 March 2006
My Lords, I said that there was a ban until 2011 unless the test had been approved by the Government's Genetics and Insurance Committee, and it has to be above those limits. So it has to be both approved by the committee and above those limits.
Subjects
Employment; Equality; Genetics; Insurance companies; Screening; Regulation
Date
15 March 2006
Reference
679 c1214
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
When an accessible version of the Green Paper A new deal for welfare will be published; whether there will be an extension to the consultation deadline for those requiring the accessible version; and whether the non-availability of an accessible version constitutes discrimination.
When an accessible version of the Green Paper A new deal for welfare will be published; whether there will be an extension to the consultation deadline for those requiring the accessible version; and whether the non-availability of an accessible version constitutes discrimination.
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
27 February 2006
We launched our welfare reform Green Paper, A new deal for welfare: Empowering people to work, on 24 January. Since then, more than 2,500 copies have been distributed.We are also producing alternative versions of the Green Paper—Word, Braille, audio, large print, easy-read and Welsh language. People can request copies of these via our e-mail and telephone contact points. The Braille, audio and large print versions have already been distributed, and we took delivery of the Welsh language version on 15 February.It does take time to prepare the easy-read version in a properly accessible format, with appropriate illustrations. The first draft of that version has been approved and the final version will be with us on 27 February 2006. Given this delay, we will respond sensibly and sensitively to individuals who require additional time to make their response. We also have a telephone helpline to provide one-to-one advice to individuals and organisations in understanding our proposals.Ministers and officials worked closely with the stakeholder community over the past year in developing our proposals. We will continue to do so.
Subjects
Access; Learning disability; Visual impairment; Consultation papers
Date
27 February 2006
Reference
3782; 679 c32-3WA
House
House of Lords
My Lords, I declare an interest as the vice-chairman of the British Association of Biofuels and Oils. Does the Minister agree that rendering and use of tallow as a fuel is an excellent example of waste disposal and recycling? He tells us that 10 member states are abiding by the directive, which means that 15 are not. Is that a level playing field?
My Lords, I declare an interest as the vice-chairman of the British Association of Biofuels and Oils. Does the Minister agree that rendering and use of tallow as a fuel is an excellent example of waste disposal and recycling? He tells us that 10 member states are abiding by the directive, which means that 15 are not. Is that a level playing field?
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
31 January 2006
My Lords, I do not know about some of the other member states. I have told the House as best I can which ones are definitely applying the directive. I agree with what the noble Lord, Lord Carter, said at the start of his question.
Subjects
Boilers; Animal products; Fuels; Waste disposal
Date
31 January 2006
Reference
678 c124
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, can my noble friend confirm that under the old IACS scheme farmers were paid between January and June 2005, so the farmers who received their payment in June 2005 are likely to receive their next payment in either February or March this year? That is nine months, whereas under the old scheme it used to be 12 months between payments.
My Lords, can my noble friend confirm that under the old IACS scheme farmers were paid between January and June 2005, so the farmers who received their payment in June 2005 are likely to receive their next payment in either February or March this year? That is nine months, whereas under the old scheme it used to be 12 months between payments.
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
24 January 2006
My Lords, 11 subsidy system schemes ran up until the CAP reform, which was supported by all sides of the House. My noble friend is right that the dates for those schemes differed, but a number of them meant that the window for paying them closed in the middle of the year. So there would have been farmers paid last in June or even July 2005.
Subjects
Agriculture; Payments; Subsidies; Rural Payments Agency
Date
24 January 2006
Reference
677 c1064
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, my noble friend said that the DLA is intended to meet the extra costs of disability, irrespective of income. It is not a form of income support. Does he therefore agree that any attempt to means test the DLA would run counter to the whole basis of the benefit?
My Lords, my noble friend said that the DLA is intended to meet the extra costs of disability, irrespective of income. It is not a form of income support. Does he therefore agree that any attempt to means test the DLA would run counter to the whole basis of the benefit?
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
16 January 2006
Yes, my Lords. My noble friend is right that the DLA is a non-contributory, non-income-related, tax-free benefit and we have no plans to change that.
Subjects
Disability living allowance
Date
16 January 2006
Reference
677 c422
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
My Lords, have the Government made any estimate of the global cost of extending the remit of the Family Fund in the way that my noble friend has suggested?
My Lords, have the Government made any estimate of the global cost of extending the remit of the Family Fund in the way that my noble friend has suggested?
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
10 January 2006
My Lords, as I have mentioned previously, we very much hope that we can work with the Family Fund to build up a case that we can then put to the Treasury when it comes to the next spending review.
Subjects
Disability; Finance; Eligibility; Grants; Young people; Family Fund
Date
10 January 2006
Reference
677 c53
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
When they propose to amend Section 118 of the Taxes Management Act 1970 to remove the words ““person of unsound mind, lunatic, idiot or insane person””; and what amendment they propose in place of these words.
When they propose to amend Section 118 of the Taxes Management Act 1970 to remove the words ““person of unsound mind, lunatic, idiot or insane person””; and what amendment they propose in place of these words.
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord McKenzie of Luton
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
19 December 2005
As my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the recent Pre-Budget Report, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is reviewing its administrative rules, and will develop and consult on a new management Act that will bring together the rules for the main taxes. This will provide an opportunity to revise and modernise the definition of an ““incapacitated person”” in Section 118 Taxes Management Act 1970. HMRC will consult on a new draft definition.
Legislation
Taxes Management Act 1970
Subjects
Mental capacity; Terminology
Date
19 December 2005
Reference
3051; 676 c239-40WA
House
House of Lords
My Lords, my noble friend referred to the deal by the European Union heads of government in 2003 on agricultural support, which is supposed to last until 2012 or 2013 with a review in 2008. Are we sure that that deal and that timetable are secure? Are they on the table of the renegotiation?
My Lords, my noble friend referred to the deal by the European Union heads of government in 2003 on agricultural support, which is supposed to last until 2012 or 2013 with a review in 2008. Are we sure that that deal and that timetable are secure? Are they on the table of the renegotiation?
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
23 November 2005
My Lords, as my noble friend knows, there is a lot up in the air at the moment. I think the next few weeks will resolve these issues.
Subjects
Agriculture; Food; EU external trade; Import duties; Reform; Subsidies; Common agricultural policy
Date
23 November 2005
Reference
675 c1625
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
House
House of Lords
Whether inspection of gangmasters by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority will be risk-based or based on random inspection; and
Whether inspection of gangmasters by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority will be risk-based or based on random inspection; and
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Bach
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 November 2005
The inspection arrangements that will apply for the purposes of the licensing arrangements introduced under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 have not been finalised. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority is currently consulting on the detailed licensing arrangements and a copy of their consultation paper is on their website (www.gla.gov.uk). Comments are required by 12 December. Decisions on the level of inspection will be taken in the light of the responses to the consultation exercise.The Gangmasters Licensing Authority has proposed that a risk-based approach should be adopted in relation to application and compliance inspections. However, the authority has acknowledged that there may not be sufficient evidence available initially, to move immediately to a risk-based approach for application inspections. The Gangmaster Licensing Authority board has recommended that if there is insufficient evidence to establish a meaningful risk profile from the outset, inspections should be conducted for all applicants for an initial period. A risk-based approach would be introduced at the earliest possible time, as agreed by the board.The Gangmasters Licensing Authority has proposed that licences should be continuous unless revoked. Renewal will be an administrative process triggered by payment of a fee. The authority has suggested that there will be no need for a specific inspection at renewal although all licence holders will be subject to risk-based compliance checks.
Subjects
Licensing; Inspections; Gangmasters; Gangmasters Licensing Authority
Date
7 November 2005
Reference
2048; 675 c57-8WA
House
House of Lords
What level of inspection by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority will be required for gangmasters to qualify for a licence; and
What level of inspection by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority will be required for gangmasters to qualify for a licence; and
Asked by
Lord Carter
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Bach
(Labour)
Type
Written questions
Status
Answered
Answered on
7 November 2005
The inspection arrangements that will apply for the purposes of the licensing arrangements introduced under the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 have not been finalised. The Gangmasters Licensing Authority is currently consulting on the detailed licensing arrangements and a copy of their consultation paper is on their website (www.gla.gov.uk). Comments are required by 12 December. Decisions on the level of inspection will be taken in the light of the responses to the consultation exercise.The Gangmasters Licensing Authority has proposed that a risk-based approach should be adopted in relation to application and compliance inspections. However, the authority has acknowledged that there may not be sufficient evidence available initially, to move immediately to a risk-based approach for application inspections. The Gangmaster Licensing Authority board has recommended that if there is insufficient evidence to establish a meaningful risk profile from the outset, inspections should be conducted for all applicants for an initial period. A risk-based approach would be introduced at the earliest possible time, as agreed by the board.The Gangmasters Licensing Authority has proposed that licences should be continuous unless revoked. Renewal will be an administrative process triggered by payment of a fee. The authority has suggested that there will be no need for a specific inspection at renewal although all licence holders will be subject to risk-based compliance checks.
Subjects
Licensing; Inspections; Gangmasters; Gangmasters Licensing Authority
Date
7 November 2005
Reference
2047; 675 c57-8WA
House
House of Lords