HC Deb 03 July 1995 vol 263 c13
28. Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what further charters, and in what areas, he is proposing; and if he will make a statement. [30146]

The Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science (Mr. John Horam)

New charters for further and higher education in Northern Ireland will be published later this year, as well as revised charters for court users, people passing through customs points, and NHS patients in Wales. A revised charter for council tenants was published in June.

Mr. Greenway

May I ask for a charter for council tenants and all council tax payers so that they have protection against councils like Ealing council, which is Labour-controlled, as you will know, Madam Speaker? If tenants and council tax payers owe council tax, Ealing council sends them reminders and within a week or a month of their having paid, they receive summonses and repeat summonses. Somebody who came to my surgery last Friday had had 10 summonses for taxes that had already been paid, and that person was over 90.

Mr. Horam

I assure my hon. Friend that the new council tenants charter sets out clearly the rights of council tenants, and tenants in Ealing should appeal if they feel that they are being disadvantaged. On the general performance of Ealing council, the indicators published by the Audit Commission will have revealed the position all too clearly.

Mr. Henderson

The Minister will be aware that a number of charges have been made about charters being gimmicks. Is he aware that, by extending charters as he has announced this afternoon, he may further be accused of concentrating on gimmicks? Is he further aware that many people want a toughening of existing charters, for instance in the health service? Currently, no one appears on a waiting list until he or she meets a consultant. Would it not better reflect what is happening if the waiting list count were measured from the time that a person met his or her doctor? Given that the Duchy of Lancaster is providing short-term cover in Wales, will he introduce that system during the time that he is covering for the previous Secretary of State for Wales?

Mr. Horam

I am glad that the hon. Gentleman continued with the second half of his question because I thought for a moment that the Labour party was exercising yet another U-turn and backing off from its general support for charters. So far, it has been extremely helpful. I am encouraged by the toughness of the second part of the hon. Gentleman's remarks.