To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Access to Work fund can be used to assist local government councillors in the furtherance of their duty.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Access to Work fund can be used to assist local government councillors in the furtherance of their duty.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what (a) voluntary, and (b) statutory, guidance exists for providers of residential care to ensure the practical mobility of residents; and what procedures exist to monitor that guidance.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what (a) voluntary, and (b) statutory, guidance exists for providers of residential care to ensure the practical mobility of residents; and what procedures exist to monitor that guidance.

My right honourable friend the Minister for Housing and Local Government (Grant Shapps) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. For far too long, councils have been frustrated in their efforts to meet the housing needs of their tenants by a discredited system for financing council housing. The Spending Review...

My right honourable friend the Minister for Housing and Local Government (Grant Shapps) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. For far too long, councils have been frustrated in their efforts to meet the housing needs of their tenants by a discredited system for financing council housing. The Spending Review...

For far too long, councils have been frustrated in their efforts to meet the housing needs of their tenants by a discredited system for financing council housing. The spending review and our recently published ““Local decisions: a fairer future for social housing”” confirmed our intention to replace this financing system...

For far too long, councils have been frustrated in their efforts to meet the housing needs of their tenants by a discredited system for financing council housing. The spending review and our recently published ““Local decisions: a fairer future for social housing”” confirmed our intention to replace this financing system...

We are today publishing a cross-Government strategy—““Recognised, valued and supported: next steps for the Carers Strategy””. This sets out the Government's priority areas for the next four years to ensure the best possible outcomes for carers and those they support. The strategy recognises the vital role that carers already play...

We are today publishing a cross-Government strategy—““Recognised, valued and supported: next steps for the Carers Strategy””. This sets out the Government's priority areas for the next four years to ensure the best possible outcomes for carers and those they support. The strategy recognises the vital role that carers already play...

My honourable friend the Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul Burstow) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. We are today publishing a cross-government strategy—Recognised, Valued and Supported: Next Steps for the Carers Strategy. This sets out the Government’s priority areas for the next four years to ensure the...

My honourable friend the Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul Burstow) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. We are today publishing a cross-government strategy—Recognised, Valued and Supported: Next Steps for the Carers Strategy. This sets out the Government’s priority areas for the next four years to ensure the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on the code on television access services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with Ofcom on the code on television access services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department provides guidance to adults living in residential care who have entered into loan agreements to pay for the cost of mobility aids.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department provides guidance to adults living in residential care who have entered into loan agreements to pay for the cost of mobility aids.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether academies will be required under current legislation to provide appropriate facilities to support the learning needs of children with mild or moderate hearing loss, including building adaptations and specialist classroom equipment.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether academies will be required under current legislation to provide appropriate facilities to support the learning needs of children with mild or moderate hearing loss, including building adaptations and specialist classroom equipment.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether new Academy trusts will be required to fund building adaptations and specialist equipment to support children allocated to the school with low incidence special educational needs.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether new Academy trusts will be required to fund building adaptations and specialist equipment to support children allocated to the school with low incidence special educational needs.

It is a shame that, on only the second day on which the Backbench Business Committee has chosen the business, Back Benchers such as my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger) are being cut off in their prime and others have not been able to raise all...

It is a shame that, on only the second day on which the Backbench Business Committee has chosen the business, Back Benchers such as my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Luciana Berger) are being cut off in their prime and others have not been able to raise all...

My Lords, I am trying to say that the compatibility of the Act and its regulations with the convention is in no doubt. We do not think that the extra reporting which the amendment would require is justified. The Government will implement this Act in a way that will be...

My Lords, I am trying to say that the compatibility of the Act and its regulations with the convention is in no doubt. We do not think that the extra reporting which the amendment would require is justified. The Government will implement this Act in a way that will be...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his reply. He is correct; the Bill is compatible with the convention, but for the simple reason that it contains very little. The regulations may well be compatible prior to their implementation. What is in question is whether the Bill and...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his reply. He is correct; the Bill is compatible with the convention, but for the simple reason that it contains very little. The regulations may well be compatible prior to their implementation. What is in question is whether the Bill and...

My Lords, does the Minister agree that this gives strength to my amendment, which would ensure that people have a right to an independent appeal so that these matters can be sorted out at home rather than having to go to Europe?

My Lords, does the Minister agree that this gives strength to my amendment, which would ensure that people have a right to an independent appeal so that these matters can be sorted out at home rather than having to go to Europe?

21: Clause 1, page 1, line 22, at end insert— "( ) make provision for those persons eligible for, or in receipt of, the free provision who are also deemed eligible for NHS continuing care"

21: Clause 1, page 1, line 22, at end insert— "( ) make provision for those persons eligible for, or in receipt of, the free provision who are also deemed eligible for NHS continuing care"

I thank the noble Baroness for that full answer.

I thank the noble Baroness for that full answer.

I apologise to the noble Baroness. I had marked up answers to a lot of her questions and I believe I have now found some of them. The latest figures show that 28,116 intermediate care places benefited 132,720 people between April and June 2008. Compared with 1999-2000, the number of...

I apologise to the noble Baroness. I had marked up answers to a lot of her questions and I believe I have now found some of them. The latest figures show that 28,116 intermediate care places benefited 132,720 people between April and June 2008. Compared with 1999-2000, the number of...

Will the Minister clear up one point before she goes on to the next point? I am not talking about those who refuse reablement; I am talking about those who are not suitable for reablement. For instance, if they are too frail or too ill, will they then be able...

Will the Minister clear up one point before she goes on to the next point? I am not talking about those who refuse reablement; I am talking about those who are not suitable for reablement. For instance, if they are too frail or too ill, will they then be able...

My Lords, perhaps I may add to the probing that is inherent in all these amendments. If the reablement is to be the subject of free support financially, does it have to take place at home or can it sometimes take place more satisfactorily in residential care on a short-term...

My Lords, perhaps I may add to the probing that is inherent in all these amendments. If the reablement is to be the subject of free support financially, does it have to take place at home or can it sometimes take place more satisfactorily in residential care on a short-term...

My Lords, Amendment 30 in my name is designed to highlight what I hope are some fairly uncontentious issues around reablement. I come at this from a rather different angle from the noble Baroness, Lady Barker, although I very much identified with all that she said. Reablement, as we have...

My Lords, Amendment 30 in my name is designed to highlight what I hope are some fairly uncontentious issues around reablement. I come at this from a rather different angle from the noble Baroness, Lady Barker, although I very much identified with all that she said. Reablement, as we have...