The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness King of Bow on 2016-01-21.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 8 December 2015 (HL3997), what has been identified as the cause of the overpayment of housing benefit to those claimants migrated onto Universal Credit, and how many claimants in Tower Hamlets have been affected.
Lord Freud
We have safeguards in place to ensure an effective transition and avoid impacts on overlapping benefits.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness King of Bow on 2016-01-21.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets currently receive Universal Credit.
Lord Freud
The latest published statistics show that, as at December 2015, there were 1,409 Universal Credit claimants in Tower Hamlets.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness King of Bow on 2016-01-21.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total value of redundancy payments made to former employees of the Tenant Services Authority as a result of the decision to abolish that organisation.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
The Office for Tenants and Social Landlords (known as The Tenant Services Authority) ceased to exist from 31 March 2012. All staff were transferred under TUPE regulations to the Homes and Communities Agency from 1 April 2012, with the exception of the Managing Director. It was agreed that the post of Managing Director would not transfer and that the post should be deleted from the establishment from that date. A redundancy payment of £47,675 was made, together with enhanced pension contributions of £148,568.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness King of Bow on 2016-01-21.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 7 January (HL4728), whether independence was one of the criteria by which candidates to chair the independent review of localisation of Council Tax support schemes were assessed.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
While independence was not referenced in my earlier answer, Ministers were mindful of independence in considering a chair, and have made it clear that this would be an independent review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness King of Bow on 2016-01-21.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 8 December 2015 (HL4002), whether they will instruct the Social Housing Regulator to require a report from Circle Housing Group on the performance of Old Ford Housing Association’s gas safety and repairs and maintenance contractor since the governance rating downgrade in February 2015.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
The Social Housing Regulator is statutorily independent. The Department for Communities and Local Government cannot therefore direct the Regulator on this matter.
The Social Housing Regulator has a clear regulatory framework which it applied in this case. As is normal practice the Social Housing Regulator is working closely with Circle as it recovers the urgent and emergency repairs service provided to Old Ford’s tenants and improves its governance. The Regulator currently has sufficient assurance of Circle’s plans to address the issues and its progress in doing so, such that the Regulator considers it does not need to use its enforcement powers at this point. The Regulator will of course continue to examine new information that comes to light.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness King of Bow on 2016-01-21.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the legal Transfer Agreement between Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust and Circle 33 Housing Trust for the transfer of the Tredegar, Monteith and Lefevre estates in Bow to Old Ford Housing Association.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
We are not able to place a copy of the document in the Library of the House; the transfer took place in 1999 and records are not kept that long.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-01-21.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what redress is available to those who do not feel that they have obtained parity of esteem as promised in the Belfast Agreement 1998.
Lord Dunlop
I have nothing further to add to my earlier responses on parity of esteem.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-01-21.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consultation they have had with community groups, organisations, and individuals to assess whether the policy of parity of esteem set out in the Belfast Agreement 1998 is working effectively, and what action they have taken as a result.
Lord Dunlop
I have nothing further to add to my earlier responses on parity of esteem.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-01-21.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the context of parity of esteem as outlined in the Belfast Agreement 1998, what discussions they have had with the government of the Republic of Ireland regarding its policy of only recruiting Irish speakers for official posts.
Lord Dunlop
As has been explained previously to the Noble Lord, the UK and Irish Governments meet regularly at ministerial and official level to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern. These include matters relating to the implementation of the Belfast Agreement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-01-21.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what procedures they apply to ensuring that all parties to the Belfast Agreement 1998 honour the terms of that agreement, and what action they can take if they assess that other parties to that agreement are not complying with it.
Lord Dunlop
The UK Government meets regularly with the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government, both at ministerial and official level, to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern, including matters relating to the implementation of the Belfast Agreement and subsequent Agreements.