The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) hears evidence from Ann Abraham, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). The session is the Committee’s regular annual survey of the work of the Ombudsman. Watch from 10am.

• Video and audio: Work of the Ombudsman 2008-09 evidence session
• Public Administration Committee
• PHS Ombudsman, Annual Report 2008-09

The witnesses are:

• Ann Abraham, PHS Ombudsman
• Bill Richardson, Deputy Chief Executive
• Kathryn Hudson, Deputy Ombudsman

The PHSO and her office exist to provide a service to the public by undertaking independent investigations into complaints that government departments, a range of other public bodies in the UK, and the NHS in England have not acted properly or fairly or have provided a poor service.

Topics that the hearing may cover include:

• The performance of the Office of the PHSO
• The recent transition to a new NHS complaints system
• The performance of the public bodies investigated by the PHSO
• The constitutional position of the PHSO

http://news.parliament.uk/2009/11/parliamentary-and-health-services-ombu...

More news on: Benefits administration, Benefits policy, Committees, Commons business, Parliamentary Business, Sickness, disability and carers' benefits, Social security and pensions

http://news.parliament.uk/2009/11/benefits-system-evidence-session/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/default.stm

How should the Government deal with the current financial and banking crisis? Is taxpayers’ money used in the most cost-effective way? Does the Government do enough to help first-time buyers? How should Britain pay for an ageing population?

These are just some of the issues debated and discussed by MPs and Members of the Lords every session. Use this topical issues page on the economy and finance to find out more about what Parliament is doing on this issue.

	The Standing Orders of the House of Lords relating to Public Business
	The Standing Orders of the House of Lords relating to Private Business
	Companion to the Standing Orders and Guide to the Proceedings of the House of Lords
	Guide for Deputy Speakers and Deputy Chairmen
	House of Lords Annual reports
	House of Lords Business Plans
	List of Members
	Register of Hereditary Peers
	House of Lords Resource Accounts
	Register of Lords Interests
	Register of Interests of Lords Members' Staff
	Peers’ Reimbursement Allowance Scheme
	Sessional Papers
	Staff Handbook
	Sessional Statistics on Business and Membership
	House of Lords Judgments: archive
	Hansard (House of Lords Debates)
	Select Committee reports
	Minutes and Order Papers
	Minutes and Order Papers Archive
	House of Lords Journal
	Private Bills before Parliament
	Public Bills before Parliament
	Public Bill Statistics
	Lords Divisions Analysis

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldpubns.htm

The Health Committee holds the latest evidence session in its inquiry into the future of social care services with, amongst others, the union UNISON and Lady Young, Chair of the Care Quality Commission. Watch live from 10am.

• Video and audio evidence session: Social care
• Health Committee

The witnesses are:

10am

• Baroness Young of Old Scone, Chair of the Care Quality Commission
• UNISON

11.15am

• General Social Care Council
• Skills for Care

The Committee decided to inquire into the future of social care services following the publication earlier this year of the Government's Green Paper, Shaping the Future of Care Together. The inquiry is looking at options for:

• future funding of long-term residential and domiciliary care for older people and people with physical or learning disabilities
• personalisation of social care services
• more effective, consistent and user-friendly social care services

http://news.parliament.uk/2009/11/committee-continues-inquiry-into-futur...

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/

13 Bills became Acts of Parliament (law) on 12 November and are the final Bills enacted during the 2008-09 parliamentary session.

• Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill
• Autism Bill
• Coroners and Justice Bill
• Driving Instruction (Suspension and Exemption Powers) Bill
• Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Bill
• Health Bill
• Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) Bill
• Law Commission Bill
• Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill
• Marine and Coastal Access Bill
• Perpetuities and Accumulations Bill
• Policing and Crime Bill
• Welfare Reform Bill

Royal Assent for each Bill took place during the prorogation announcement in the House of Lords Chamber.

• Lords Hansard: Royal Assent
• Parliament News: Prorogation: end of parliamentary year
• Passage of a Bill: Royal Assent

Royal Assent is usually notified to each House separately and, once given Royal Assent, the Bills become Acts of Parliament.

At prorogation (the formal end to a parliamentary year), Black Rod interrupts the proceedings of the Commons and summons MPs to the Lords Chamber to hear the Lords Commissioners announce Royal Assent for each Bill.

After Royal Assent

The legislation within the Bill may commence immediately, after a set period or only after a commencement order by a Government minister.

A commencement order is designed to bring into force the whole or part of an Act of Parliament at a date later than the date of the Royal Assent.

If there is no commencement order, the Act will come into force from midnight at the start of the day of the Royal Assent.

The practical implementation of an Act is the responsibility of the appropriate government department, not Parliament.

Further information

• Acts
• Acts of the UK Parliament and Explanatory Notes (Office of the Public Sector Information website)

http://news.parliament.uk/2009/11/royal-assent-12-november-2009/

http://www.local.gov.uk/lgv2/core/page.do?pageId=90241

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/localgovernment

Here is an at-a-glance list of the bills outlined in the 2009 Queen's Speech programme:

Bribery Bill

Makes it illegal to bribe a foreign official to obtain or retain business. Makes it an offence if businesses fail to prevent a bribe being paid by their employees or by other firms on their behalf. Extends to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Child Poverty Bill

Puts into law the government's commitment to end child poverty by 2020. Ensures the government must make annual reports to Parliament on the success of its strategies to end child poverty. Duty on all local authorities to deal with the problem. Whole bill applies to England. Some parts also apply to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Children, Schools and Families Bill

Offers pupil and parent guarantees for standards of education. Schools to be given "report cards". Promises "greater flexibility" for primary schools to set their own curriculums. Also ensures that all young people receive at least one year of sex and relationships education. Home educators will have to be registered and inspected. A review of the publication of family proceedings in court. Whole bill applies to England. Other parts cover Wales and extends in part to Northern Ireland.<!-- S ILIN -->

<!-- E ILIN -->

Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill

Makes it an offence to use, produce, develop, acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer cluster munitions. Applies to whole UK.

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill

Creates basis in law for Parliament to scrutinise treaties. Ends the by-election of hereditary peers to sit in House of Lords. Provides for disqualification of peers convicted of serious offences or subject to a bankruptcy order. Allows peers to resign peerages. Repeals legislation limiting protests around Parliament. Generally extends to whole UK.

Crime and Security Bill

Introduces mandatory assessment of parenting needs when 10 to 15-year-olds are considered for an ASBO. Reduces the amount of information police need to record when carrying out stop and search. Gives police the power to bar suspected domestic violence offenders from their homes for a period, even when not charged. Brings in a legal requirement to store air guns safely. Makes it an offence to take a mobile phone into a prison without permission. Introduces compulsory licensing for all wheel-clamping businesses. DNA records of adults who are arrested but not charged are to be held on database for six years. Allows police to take DNA samples and fingerprints of sexual and seriously violent offenders returning to UK following conviction overseas. Most aspects of the bill apply to England and Wales only.

Digital Economy Bill

Gives media regulator Ofcom the duty to assess the UK's communications infrastructure every two years. Updates regulations to make the digital radio switchover possible by 2015. Makes age ratings compulsory on all video games designed for children aged 12 and above. Promises to tackle infringement of copyright more effectively. Updates regulations for Channel 4, so it has to put public service content on its websites. Extends to whole UK.<!-- S ILIN -->

<!-- E ILIN -->

Energy Bill

Sets rules for energy firms to provide support- such as rebates - for poorer customers, with regulator Ofgem having a duty to "proactively" protect them. Supports the construction of up to four carbon capture and storage schemes to cut pollution. Applies to England, Wales and Scotland.<!-- S ILIN -->

<!-- E ILIN -->

Equality Bill

Gives the whole public sector a duty to "narrow the gap between rich and poor". Bans age discrimination outside the workplace - such as when buying goods and services like healthcare. Business with more than 250 employees will have to report on gender differences on pay. Strengthens powers of employment tribunals. Public bodies should use £200bn of public procurement deals at their disposal to "drive equality" in private sector firms. Covers England, Scotland and Wales.

Financial Services Bill

Establishes a Council for Financial Stability, chaired by the chancellor, and comprising Treasury, Bank of England and Financial Services Authority (FSA). Strengthens the FSA to take "action" on pay of those in financial services, following the recent outcry over bonuses. Promises action, in UK and internationally, on bankers' pay. Makes banks and other financial firms set up "living will" to make them easier to wind down in the event of a crisis. Bans unsolicited credit card cheques and enables the setting up of national money guidance service. Allows groups of consumers to bring court actions against financial institutions. Applies to whole UK.<!-- S ILIN -->

<!-- E ILIN -->

Fiscal Responsibility Bill

Provides a "firm and binding statutory basis" for the government's promise to halve its budget deficit within four years. Gives Parliament power to approve medium-term fiscal plans. Promises that businesses and investors will have "certainty" about the government's fiscal plans. Applies to whole UK.

Flood and Water Management Bill

Following the floods of summer 2007, which caused £3bn of damage, gives local authorities the responsibility to deal with surface water flooding. Sustainable drainage systems will have to be considered for new building developments. Says the safety of communities near reservoirs must be improved, via risk-based regulation. Gives water companies more power to control customers' usage during droughts. Applies to England and Wales.

Personal Care at Home Bill

Guarantees free personal care for the 280,000 people with the "highest needs", such as those with serious dementia or Parkinson's disease. Protects the savings of the 166,000 people who currently get free care, saving them from having to pay future charges. Promises to help 130,000 people needing to enter care homes for the first time to "regain their independence". Offers adaptations to the neediest people's homes to increase their independence. Applies to England only.<!-- S ILIN -->

<!-- E ILIN -->

DRAFT BILLS

House of Lords Reform Bill

Promises that the Lords will be between 80% and 100% elected. States the government should not hold a majority in the second chamber and its members must be independent. Applies to whole UK.

International Development Spending Bill

Requires that 0.7% of gross national income is spent on development from 2013. Applies to whole UK.

NOT INCLUDED

Some bills in the government's Draft Programme of legislation, outlined in June, have not been included in the Queen's Speech programme.

These are:

A Housing Bill, trebling the housing budget to £2.1bn and setting a target of building 110,000 new homes in England and Wales over two years.

A Jobs Bill, guaranteeing people under 25 who are unemployed for a year the guarantee of a job or training.

A Health Bill, guaranteeing cancer patients in England a consultation within two weeks, a free health check for all over-40s and that no-one will have to wait more than 18 months between a GP referral and hospital treatment.

Several draft bills proposed in June are also not included. These are: the Antarctica Bill, the Immigration Simplification Bill, the Civil Law Reform Bill and the Animal Health and Responsibility and Cost-Sharing Bill.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8365163.stm

The government has defended its decision not to include legislation in the Queen's Speech on MPs' expenses.

The Conservatives accused Gordon Brown of lacking courage on the issue, and Sir Christopher Kelly, who proposed the reforms, said he was "disappointed".

But employment minister Jim Knight said the government had already introduced legislation on expenses during the summer.

If any new legislation were needed it would be passed, he added.

<!-- E SF -->

Mr Knight told BBC Breakfast: "We did legislate very quickly over the summer to set up the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and that legislation gives us all of the powers we need to tackle all of the things in respect of MPs' expenses."

'Clean sheet'

Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw said the government had "given control of the process away" in order to end hundreds of years of self-regulation.

"It is extraordinary for me for the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to now be suggesting that MPs take back control of this process. The whole point is we've given control of the process away," he said.

<!-- S IBOX -->

PLANNED NEW LAWS Fiscal Responsibility Bill - put into law promise to halve deficit Financial Services and Business Bill - clamp down on bonuses for bankers taking too many risks The Flood and Water Management Bill - give councils powers to prevent floods Social Care Bill - neediest elderly to get home care Policing, Crime and Private Security Bill - DNA of more sex offenders added to database Children, Schools and Families Bill - Guarantees school standards and extra help pupils who fall behind Energy Bill - give Ofgem more powers to act on behalf of customers over prices Bribery Bill - make it offence to bribe foreign officials and for business to fail to prevent bribery Digital Economy Bill - set up fund to bring in universal broadband by 2012 Cluster Munitions Prohibition Bill - ratify international ban on cluster bombs <!-- S ILIN --> Brown draws election battle lines <!-- E ILIN --> <!-- S ILIN --> At-a-glance: Bill-by-bill <!-- E ILIN --> <!-- S ILIN --> Analysis: Electioneering speech? <!-- E ILIN --> <!-- S ILIN --> Send us your comments <!-- E ILIN --> <!-- S ILIN --> Brown to offer more graduate help <!-- E ILIN -->

<!-- E IBOX -->

Sir Christopher - chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life - said legislation was required to strengthen the role and powers of the new Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, which will authorise all expenses claims in the future.

"The committee believes it is very important that the new Parliament starts with a clean sheet," he said.

"There is no reason why the relatively straightforward legislation needed in this area should prevent the new regulatory body from getting other important changes under way."

No 10 said it believed no new laws were needed to introduce the main changes to what MPs can claim - changes which have already been accepted by all parties - but would consider legislation if necessary.

Tory leader David Cameron said there were 11 separate measures that still need to be passed into law in order to implement the Kelly report - including one to take away from MPs the power to set their own pay and pensions.

He told BBC Breakfast that it was significant that the Queen's Speech, which sets out the government's whole programme, made no mention of expenses measures.

So, he said, it was "progress" that Labour had now given assurances that any legislation necessary would be brought forward

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg also said new legislation was needed, specifically to force MPs to disclose their financial interests.

'Waste of time'

Labour is widely regarded to have used the Queen's Speech, unveiled amid typical pageantry at Westminster, to draw the battle lines for the upcoming election, which must be held by next June.

Among the 13 bills announced were measures to penalise excessive risk taking in the City, to provide new pupil entitlements, to give free personal care to about 400,000 pensioners and to require the government to halve the budget deficit in the next Parliament.

<!-- S IIMA -->

The Queen's Speech did not include a Bill on expenses

<!-- E IIMA -->

Ministers denied the proposals amounted to a virtual election manifesto, saying they were putting national interests ahead of party interests.

They also challenged the opposition parties to say whether they backed certain key policies such as guaranteed consultation times for cancer patients and new legal rights for parents.

But the Tories said the paucity of proposals showed Labour had run out of "money, time and ideas".

The Lib Dems, meanwhile, labelled Labour's agenda a "fantasy" and said it was a "waste of time" as half of the proposals would never make it into law.

'Demolition job'

Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said ministers should be focusing on a "narrow" set of much-needed political reforms and not get "bogged down" trying to pass new laws where it already had powers to act.

The £670m plan to give free care to the elderly was also criticised on Thursday by Labour peer Lord Lipsey, a former member of the Royal Commission on Long-Term Care.

He told the Times newspaper that it amounted to "a demolition job on the national budget".

But Mr Bradshaw denied this was the case, adding: "It's a very, very small part of the National Health Service budget of £120 billion."

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the Queen's Speech had felt like the opening salvo of an election campaign with ministers keen to spell out the big choices facing the electorate.

But he added there had been little mention of issues likely to dominate the campaign such as future spending cuts and the war in Afghanistan.

Should a general election be held on 6 May, on the same day as local elections, it is estimated that the Commons would have about 46 days available for legislating before Parliament is dissolved.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8367429.stm

http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/

The Leader of the House of Commons (Ms Harriet Harman): Listed below are those Bills which the Government intend to bring forward in the current session. Details of each of these Bills are available from the Leader of the House of Commons website: www.CommonsLeader.gov.uk/Legislation:

1) Bribery

2) Children, Schools and Families

3) Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions)

4) Crime and Security

5) Digital Economy

6) Energy

7) Financial Services

8) Fiscal Responsibility

9) Flood and Water Management

10) Northern Ireland Assembly Members

11) Personal Care at Home

Carry-over Bills

1) Child Poverty

2) Constitutional Reform and Governance

3) Equality

Draft Bills for consideration in the 5th Session

1) Animal Health Responsibility and Cost Sharing

2) Antarctic^*

3) Civil Law Reform^**

4) House of Lords Reform

5) Immigration Simplification^*

6) International Development Spending

The Government’s response and summary of the consultation on the 2009–10 Draft Legislative Programme was laid before the House yesterday and is available from the Vote Office and the Leader of the House of Commons website: www.CommonsLeader.gov.uk

^*Previously announced and published in the 2008–09 (4th) session; for consideration in the 2009–10 (5th) session

^** Previously announced in the 2008–09 (4th) session and yet to be published; for consideration in the 2009–10 (5th) session

NORTHERN IRELAND

Legislative Programme (Northern Ireland)

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Shaun Woodward): The Fifth Session UK legislative programme unveiled in the Queen’s Speech on the 18 November contains measures of relevance to the people of Northern Ireland.

The following is a summary of the legislation announced in the Queen’s Speech and its impact in Northern Ireland. It includes both new Bills that will be introduced in the current Session and Bills carried over from the last Session. It does not include draft Bills.

The list also identifies the lead Government Department.

The following Bills extend to Northern Ireland, in whole or in part, and deal

mainly with excepted or reserved matters. Discussions will continue between the

Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that where provisions that

are specifically for a transferred purpose are included in any of these Bills, the

consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly will be sought for them:

Bribery Bill (MoJ)

Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill (MOD)

Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill (MoJ) (introduced in Fourth Session)

Crime and Security Bill (HO)

Fiscal Responsibility Bill (HMT)

It is intended that the following Bills will extend to Northern Ireland to

varying degrees. They require the consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly in

relation to those provisions in the devolved field:

Child Poverty Bill (Child Poverty Unit) (introduced in Fourth Session)

Equality Bill (Government Equalities Office) (introduced in Fourth Session)

Digital Economy Bill (DCMS)

Financial Services Bill (HMT)

Discussions will continue between the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive on Bills that might include provisions that require the consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The following Bills will have limited or no impact in Northern Ireland:

Children, Schools and Families Bill

Energy Bill

Flood and Water Management Bill

Personal Care at Home Bill

SCOTLAND

Legislative Programme (Scotland)

The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Jim Murphy): The legislative programme for the fifth Session was outlined on the 18 November. Eight of the 10 new Bills outlined in the Queen’s Speech in this final Session of the current Parliament contain provisions that apply to Scotland; once again this is a programme that will significantly benefit people living in Scotland.

In this Session the Government will focus on supporting the economy as we move from recession to recovery and we will take forward measures to support people living and working in our communities.

This statement provides a summary of the legislation announced in the Queen’s Speech and its application to Scotland. This statement includes both new Bills that will be introduced shortly, and those Bills that are carrying-over from the last Session. It does not include draft Bills. The Bills listed in section 1 are likely to contain provisions requiring the consent of the Scottish Parliament in line with the Sewel convention. A brief description is provided of the provisions likely to require consent. Section 2 details Bills that are not likely to contain provisions that require the consent of the Scottish Parliament, by way of a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM).

The list also identifies the lead Government Department:

1. UK Legislation likely to contain provisions requiring the consent of the Scottish Parliament at introduction:

Discussions will continue between the Government and Scottish Ministers on Bills that might include provisions that trigger the Sewel convention. The Bills identified within the Queen’s Speech in this section are as follows:

Bribery (MoJ)—This Bill primarily relates to criminal law which is a devolved matter in Scotland. Following a consultation exercise in Scotland, Scottish Ministers have agreed that the best way to reform the law on bribery in Scotland is via an LCM extending full provisions of this Bill to Scotland.

Child Poverty Bill (HMT) (introduced in the 4th Session)—This Bill enshrines in law the Government’s commitment to end child poverty by 2020. Four indicators of child poverty are identified by this Bill. An LCM is required in order to extend the commitment to those matters that are within the competence of the Scottish Parliament.

Constitutional Reform and Governance (MoJ) (introduced in the 4th Session)—The majority of the provisions in the Bill extend to Scotland and Bill aims to rebuild trust in our democratic and constitutional settlement by reinforcing the principles of transparency, accountability and probity across Government. An LCM is required for provisions concerning requirements placed upon the Scottish Ministers in relation to the civil service and special advisors. An LCM is also required for the amendments concerning time-limits for human rights claims under the Human Rights and Devolution Acts.

Crime and Security (Home Office)—The majority of this Bill will not apply to Scotland, however provisions that give Scottish Ministers new powers to regulate the private security industry will require a LCM.

Energy Bill (DECC)—This Bill will commit the Government to developing the use of clean coal and help vulnerable households with their energy Bills. It will require an LCM for the provisions that relate to funding for up to four commercial-scale carbon capture and storage demonstration projects.

Equality Bill (GEO) (introduced in 4th Session)— Equal opportunities is a reserved matter. This Bill requires an LCM as it will amend the Scottish Ministers functions by allowing them to impose specific public sector duties on the Scottish public bodies for the three new strands.

Financial Services Bill (HMT)—The Bill will strengthen governance of the financial sector, control the system of rewards and ensure savers and lenders are fully protected. An LCM will be required for provisions relating to consumer education.

Flood and Water Management (DEFRA)—The Bill generally applies to England and Wales only but an LCM will be required for provisions relating to cross-border reservoir safety.

2. UK Legislation unlikely to contain provisions requiring the consent of the

Scottish Parliament at introduction:

Discussions will continue between the Government and Scottish Ministers to ensure that, if provisions relating to matters which trigger the Sewel convention are included in any of these Bills during their passage at Westminster, the consent of the Scottish Parliament will be sought for them in line with the Sewel convention:

Personal Care at Home Bill (DoH)

Children, Schools and Families Bill (DCSF)

Fiscal Responsibility (HMT)

Digital Economy (DCMS)

Cluster Munitions (FCO)

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtoday/cmwms/archive/091119.htm#hddr_22

The House of Commons debated the Report Stage and Third Reading of the Equality Bill.

• Video and Audio: Equality Bill: Report Stage and Third Reading
• Commons Hansard: Equality Bill: Report Stage and Third Reading
• Bills before Parliament: Equality Bill

The Equality Bill will harmonise and in some cases extend existing discrimination law covering age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

It will address the impact of recent case law which is generally seen as having weakened discrimination protection, and harmonise provisions defining indirect discrimination.

The Bill has now passed to the House of Lords.

http://news.parliament.uk/2009/12/commons-debates-report-stage-of-equali...

The Communities and Local Government Committee holds the latest evidence session of its 'Beyond Decent Homes' inquiry at 4.40pm.

• Video and Audio: Beyond Decent Homes evidence session
• Communities and Local Government Committee

Appearing before the Committee will be:

4.40pm

• Simon Nicol, Director, BRE Housing Group
• Richard Hand, Partner, Ridge and partners
• James Sparrow, Director, Savills Ltd

5.10pm

• Rt Hon John Healey MP, Minister of State for Housing, Department for Communities and Local Government
• Peter Marsh, Chief Executive, Tenant Services Authority
• Sir Bob Kerslake, Chief Executive, Homes and Communities Agency

In 2000 the Government committed itself to bringing all social housing up to a decent standard by 2010.  In 2002, the Government broadened this target to include private sector homes occupied by vulnerable households. 

On 21 July 2009, the Government published a consultation paper on its plans to reform council housing finance, including proposals to complete the Decent Homes programme and maintain the standard.

Against this background, the Committee's inquiry considers what steps the Government needs to take to ensure that decent housing standards are met and sustained after 2010.

http://news.parliament.uk/2009/12/housing-standards-inquiry-hears-from-minister/

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Yvette Cooper): Today, the Secretary of State for Health and I are announcing a number of publications on the subject of mental ill health and employment.

Mental ill health presents a major challenge to our society. As well as the devastating impact it can have on individuals and their families, mental ill health costs the economy between £30 billion and £40 billion through lost production, sick pay, NHS treatment and unemployment. It is now also the most common reason for claiming health-related benefits.

The Government are determined to support individuals and families and tackle these costs. Improving mental health at work and boosting the employment chances of people with mental health conditions are central to our approach. Taking part in well-managed work can help to develop people’s mental health, resilience and well-being. We must ensure that more workplaces support their employees to do this and provide joined-up services to help people with mental health conditions to find and stay in employment.

Our first publication, “Working Our Way to Better Mental Health: a Framework for Action” is the first mental health and employment strategy for the whole of Great Britain. It sets out a practical approach to achieving the twin aims of increasing well-being at work for everyone and improving employment outcomes for people with mental health conditions. It has been developed with the assistance of a group of independent experts, including mental health specialists, senior academics and representatives from business and third sector organisations, chaired by Dame Carol Black, the National Director for Health and Work. The document was developed in partnership with the devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales.

We are also publishing today an independent review commissioned by DWP and led by Dr. Rachel Perkins of South-West London and St. George’s Mental Health Trust. Her review, “Realising Ambitions: Better employment support for people with a mental health condition”, describes how we can strengthen employment, health and wider state support to help people with mental conditions who are out of work.

Our third publication, “Work Recovery and Inclusion” is a cross-Government delivery plan for England setting out a high-level vision and series of commitments to support those people in contact with secondary mental health services into work. It forms part of the UK Government response to the Perkins review.

Acting on employment and mental health must be a long-term commitment. These publications support the objectives of “New Horizons: a shared vision for mental health” in England that is also published today. Taken together, our ambitions will influence future policy development across Governments and throughout the wider public sector, and bring about changes in behaviour in organisations and individuals. In so doing, they signal a long-term commitment to joint working between Government and their partners.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtoday/cmwms/archive/091207.htm#hddr_14

The Minister for Pensions and the Ageing Society (Angela Eagle): The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council was held on 30 November and 1 December 2009 in Brussels. I represented the United Kingdom on all employment and social policy items on 30 November, except for the intervention on gender equality: strengthening growth and employment, where the United Kingdom was represented by my right hon. Friend, the Leader of the House of Commons, Lord Privy Seal and Minister for Women and Equality. Health business was taken on 1 December 2009.

The first discussion and main item of the agenda was the Council policy debate on recovering from the financial crisis and preparing for the post-2010 Lisbon strategy. The presidency stressed that work was the best way out of social exclusion and also promoted health and wealth. I intervened to note the domestic measures taken by the UK to tackle the crisis, including the focus on minimising youth unemployment and keeping people close to the labour market, extra staff and funding for Jobcentre Plus and help for lone parents. I also underlined the need to learn from the mistakes of previous recessions, when the early retirement or placing on disability benefits of workers created significant long-term employment issues.

The second policy debate of the meeting was on gender equality, strengthening growth and employment. The presidency stressed the importance of equality issues being fully considered both in short-term responses to the recession and as part of the longer-term post-Lisbon strategy. For the UK, my right hon. Friend the Minister for Women and Equality, stressed the importance of recognising skills of men and women alike in the workplace, and believed that gender should be at the heart of the work of the EU, not just in terms of growth and employment policy but across the board. The Minister called for more joint working by women Ministers in order to put forward the gender equality agenda and looked ahead to the EU playing a strong role in the creation of the UN’s new ‘Gender Entity’.

The Council adopted Council conclusions on: promoting Labour market inclusion—recovering from the crisis and preparing for the post-2010 Lisbon strategy; healthy and dignified ageing; gender equality—strengthening growth and employment; and on the follow-up of the implementation by the member states and the EU institutions of the Beijing platform of action. The Council similarly endorsed Employment Committee and Social Protection Committee Opinions on the post-2010 Lisbon agenda.

Political agreement was reached unanimously by the Council on the revised social partner framework agreement on parental leave, and the ILO’s Work in Fishing Convention, after the Commission circulated a minute statement clarifying that member states do not need to ratify this convention.

After some debate, the Council achieved political agreement on the directive on equal treatment of the self-employed and the directive was adopted by qualified majority. Hungary, Germany and the UK abstained: Hungary because of the legal base, the UK because of concerns that some aspects of the directive were not in line with the general principle that member states should decide how best to provide social protection, and Germany on both counts. The directive will now return to the European Parliament with a view to achieving a Second Reading agreement.

Finally, the Council also adopted without comment a progress report on implementing equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation (the anti-discrimination directive).

Under other business, the presidency and the Czech delegation summarised several recent conferences and the Spanish delegation outlined the central themes of their presidency, noting that job creation and social cohesion would be among them.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtoday/cmwms/archive/091207.htm#hddr_10

The Minister of State, Department of Health (Gillian Merron): The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council met on 30 November and 1 December in Brussels. The Health and Consumer Affairs part of the Council was taken on 1 December. I represented the UK.

At the meeting, the Council was unable to reach agreement on the application of patients’ rights in the cross-border healthcare directive. This issue will be discussed further under the Spanish presidency.

Ministers received a progress report from the European Commission and the European Centre for Disease Control. There was also a discussion on lessons learnt from the EU level response to the H1N1 pandemic.

A Council recommendation on smoke-free environments and Council conclusions on alcohol and health, e-Health and innovative incentives for effective antibiotics were adopted. The presidency also provided an update on progress of the proposals in the pharmaceutical package.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtoday/cmwms/archive/091207.htm#hddr_9

A 10-year mental health strategy centring on depression has been launched by the government today.

New Horizons is based on prevention in areas such as English schools and the workplace.

Alongside this, the government launched two employment strategies designed to help people with mental health conditions stay in work.

It also published a review led by Doctor Rachel Perkins of South West London and St George's Mental Health Trust, which recommended action to improve employment prospects.

The strategies will involve the creation of new specialist mental health coordinators at Jobcentre Plus and nine occupational health advice line pilots for small businesses.

Ministers are also looking at ways to extend the access to work programme for more people with mental health conditions to get and stay in work.

The strategy includes a suicide prevention plan. In addition, a minister will unveil a plan to tackle the stigma surrounding mental ill health.

Care services minister Phil Hope said: "This strategy is showing how across government we can join up so that people in different settings can have help that prevents them becoming depressed, in a more holistic way and provides some mitigation."

Secretary of state for health Andy Burnham said: "New Horizons follows a decade of record investment in mental health services - there are now more consultant psychiatrists, more clinical psychologists and more mental health nurses than ever before."

He added: "Good mental health services are a vital part of a modern, preventative and people-centred national health service."

The focus on depression comes amid evidence that one in six adults will have a mental health problem at any one time.

For many adults with mental health conditions, problems will have begun to develop by the time they were 14.

The costs can be immense, with recent estimates suggesting the figures is around £77bilion due to lost productivity.

Related articles

Supporting mental health services in the recession

Supporting mental health services in the recession

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/12/07/113374/Government-launches-10-year-mental-health-strategy.htm

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Yvette Cooper): In 2005, the Government made public their commitment to work towards equality for disabled people by 2025. Since then we have come a long way but, as many disabled people know, we still have further to go.

To help achieve this ambition, on 11 June 2009 we launched a national consultation on the Right to Control by publishing the consultation paper, “Making choice and control a reality for disabled people: consultation on the Right to Control”. We have also legislated for a Right to Control for disabled people in the Welfare Reform Act 2009, which recognises that disabled people are the experts in their own lives. We have worked closely with disabled people and their organisations to develop this right, including with our advisory group, chaired by Baroness Jane Campbell, and will test it in our Trailblazers, which will start in late 2010.

The consultation concluded on 30 September 2009 and 176 responses were submitted from individual disabled people, user-led organisations, service providers and local authorities, amongst others. These responses have helped us understand what areas we need to focus on and develop in order to offer a right that will be truly transformative for disabled people. Today, with the publication of the Government Response, “Making choice and control a reality for disabled people: Government Response to the consultation on the Right to Control”, we can take another step towards delivering the Right to Control and improve the life chances of disabled people by giving them more choice and control over how public money is spent to meet their individual care and support needs.

The Government response to the Right to Control consultation can be viewed and downloaded from the Office for Disability Issues website at www.odi.gov.uk/right-to-control.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtoday/cmwms/archive/091208.htm#hddr_15

The Secretary of State for Health (Andy Burnham): I have today laid before Parliament “The NHS 2010–15: from good to great. Preventative, people-centred, productive” (Cm 7775). The paper is in the Library and copies are available for hon. Members from the Vote Office.

“The NHS 2010–15” maps out how we will build on the achievements of the last decade to create a more preventative and people-centred NHS—a service that is better for patients, but also more productive. It is intended to give the NHS time to plan for the challenges of a new era.

In the past, a tougher financial environment has meant that patients have paid the price through longer waits. But this will not happen this time. We will not back away from the NHS. The Pre-Budget report confirms that we can lock in the achievements of the last decade, while protecting staff and the service as a whole.

The document also sets out how we will continue to improve the NHS, according to the principles set out in the next stage review. It outlines the following key steps:

a new payment system which puts patients first, and ensures they get the high quality care they deserve. A growing proportion of hospital’s income will be linked to patient satisfaction, rising to 10 per cent. of their payments over time. Poor or unsafe care will not be tolerated—payments will be withdrawn if care does not meet minimum standards;

more choice for patients—giving them the right to register with a GP wherever they choose, a guarantee of seeing a doctor in the evenings and weekends in every area, and more access to services—like chemotherapy and dialysis—at home or in the community;

dedicated carers for patients with cancer or serious long-term conditions who can benefit from a more personal approach to nursing. We expect all parts of the NHS to review continually the way long-term conditions are managed and to seek out and adopt best practice. Where appropriate this should include the provision of personalised one-to-one support by a health professional, particularly for the more complex conditions. We will consider and cost the possibility of a patient entitlement in this area. This will benefit millions of people;

new rights to high quality care—including the right for patients to die at home. Enshrining the right to a “good death” is the mark of a civilised health system. The NHS will ensure a dying patient can choose where they wish to spend their final days;

more freedom for hospitals. The best NHS foundation trusts will be free to work across a wider area. We will encourage high-performing foundation trusts based in one area to provide both acute and community services in other areas, if the PCTs in those areas want to commission from them; and

greater emphasis on prevention—we want the NHS to intervene earlier and prevent more disease. We will provide access to personal care plans and health-checks for anyone suffering with a long-term condition. Patients will be invited to discuss and agree their care plan with their clinician, giving them a greater say in their care.

Under this plan services will be reshaped around the needs of patients more radically than ever before. The NHS and its staff will need to adapt as they strive to make the changes necessary, but they will be supported in doing so. The results will be better patient safety, better health outcomes, more satisfied patients—and, ultimately, a stronger NHS.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmtoday/cmwms/archive/091210.htm#hddr_11

Terry Rooney MP, Chairman of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, introduced a debate in Westminster Hall on tackling pensioner poverty, which discussed the Committee's report published earlier this year and the Government's response.  Helen Goodman, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Work and Pensions, responded to the debate.

• Video and Audio: Pensioner poverty
• Commons Hansard: Pensioner poverty
• Report: Tackling Pensioner Poverty
• Government response: Tackling Pensioner Poverty
• Work and Pensions Committee
• Topical issues: Pensions

Westminster Hall adjournment debates allow MPs to consider issues of local or personal interest which rarely have time to be debated in the main Chamber of the House of Commons. MPs can discuss a variety of issues and receive a response from a government Minister.

On Thursdays, the sitting consists of a single debate, either on a topic chosen by the Government - or as on this occasion - on a report from a select committee.

http://news.parliament.uk/2009/12/westminster-hall-debate-on-tackling-pe...