§ Mr. HayesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what arrangements he has put in place to ensure that local authorities identify tenants who lack basic budgeting skills; [144090]
(2) what arrangements he has put in place to ensure that local authorities supply those of their tenants who lack basic budgeting skills with the opportunity to develop those skills. [144091]
§ Mr. RaynsfordWhile the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no specific arrangements in place, guidance was issued in 1999, in the National Framework for Tenant Participation Compacts which advises local authorities on how to identify tenant training needs and provision. This is aimed primarily at helping tenants to develop their skills and capacity in relation to participating in and influencing decisions affecting them and their homes.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's main interest here is to ensure that social landlords adopt good practice in their approach to tackling housing rent arrears to avoid unnecessary evictions for tenants. Glasgow university is currently carrying out a research project into policy and practice in relation to use of possession orders and eviction by social landlords and to identify good practice in this area: they are expected to complete the research by summer 2004.
The wider issue of over-indebtedness is being taken forward by a new cross-Government Group announced in the Consumer Credit White paper published on 8 December by the Department for Trade and Industry. As part of its work, the Group may look at financial literacy. It expects to publish a strategy by spring 2004.
§ Mr. HayesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funds the Government has made available to organisations providing core literacy and numeracy skills schemes for social housing tenants in each of the last five years; and what funds will be made available in 2004–05. [144092]
§ Keith HillThere are a number of organisations funded by central Government to provide core literacy and numeracy skills training for those in need. This client group may include social housing tenants but not exclusively.
Over the past two years the Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit has provided in excess of £1.5 million to fund a financial literacy programme. Embedded into Government's "Skills for Life" programme, a national strategy for improving adult literacy and numeracy, the financial literacy programme is run on behalf of Government by the Basic Skills Agency (BSA). The aim of the programme is to help adults with poor literacy, language and numeracy to develop the skills they need to make effective decisions about the use and management of money.
In developing the programme the BSA have resources and pilots in several areas including Community Development Projects. These projects are testing effective ways of engaging people and delivering financial literacy in community settings.