Written answers

Written answers and statements

Some recent written answers

House of Lords: Higher Education: Research (12 November 2009)

Lord Judd:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take, in considering the future of higher education, to ensure that original research is suitably recognised and funded in the context of the long-term well-being of society.

Health: Trade Unions (12 November 2009)

Francis Maude:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's departmental trade union side officers agreement.

Communities and Local Government: Microgeneration (12 November 2009)

Fiona Mactaggart:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the likely effects of the implementation of Planning Policy Statement 22 on the number of schools, charities and voluntary organisations which generate renewable energy.

Defence: Nuclear Submarines: Decommissioning (12 November 2009)

Adam Ingram:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2009, Official Report, column 41W, on nuclear submarines: decommissioning, whether the Scottish Executive has accepted the invitation to participate in the initial scoping phase of the Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Submarine Dismantling Project; and when the scoping phase is due to commence.

House of Lords: Ascension Island (12 November 2009)

Lord Jones of Cheltenham:

To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 3 November (WA 33), whether the Ascension Island taxation dispute has been discussed with representatives of the government of the United States or the Unites States Air Force.

Work and Pensions: Disability Living Allowance (12 November 2009)

Mark Lancaster:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans she has for the future of disability living allowance; and if she will make a statement.

Northern Ireland: Departmental Data Protection (12 November 2009)

Eleanor Laing:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

Health: Exercise: Health Education (12 November 2009)

Norman Lamb:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff within his Department have responsibility in their jobs for the promotion of (a) physical activity and (b) smoking cessation.

Scotland: Departmental Billing (12 November 2009)

Michael Weir:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in (a) September and (b) October 2009.

International Development: Departmental Contracts (12 November 2009)

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his policy is on the use of independent audits in the management of grants and contracts for which his Department is responsible.

Communities and Local Government: Housing: Low Incomes (12 November 2009)

David Drew:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will consider the merits of extending his Department's Kickstart Housing Delivery fund to rural areas.

Justice: Prisons: Costs (12 November 2009)

Lindsay Hoyle:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the percentage change in the operational costs of HM Prison Garth was in each of the last five years; and how many (a) prisoners and (b) prison officers there were at HM Prison Garth in each such year.

Children, Schools and Families: Building Schools for the Future (12 November 2009)

Gordon Marsden:

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what discussions he has had with Partnership for Schools on the effectiveness of his Department's guidance for adaptations for children with disabilities and special educational needs in implementation of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Children, Schools and Families: GCE A-Level (12 November 2009)

Michael Gove:

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in (a) maintained schools, (b) independent schools and (c) comprehensive schools achieved three or more A grades at A-Level in 2009.

Treasury: Royal Bank of Scotland/Lloyds Banking Group (12 November 2009)

John Redwood:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the timetable is for the asset sales by Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group under EU competition requirements; and what estimate he has made of the size of those assets.

Cabinet Office: Government Departments: Recruitment (12 November 2009)

Francis Maude:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance the Cabinet Secretary has given to Departments on making public appointments in the period before the general election.

House of Lords: Ascension Island (12 November 2009)

Lord Jones of Cheltenham:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 3 November (WA 33), whether other main employers on Ascension Island, particularly the former members of the London Committee, are kept in formal contact about the dispute about the Ministry of Defence's tax liability; and, if so, whether they have been invited to make representations.

Work and Pensions: Members: Correspondence (12 November 2009)

Andrew Selous:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when she plans to respond to Question 296734, on Child Support Agency staff, tabled on 28 October 2009.

Transport: Carbon Emissions: EC Action (12 November 2009)

Claire Curtis-Thomas:

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed European legislation which would enforce a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of light commercial vehicles to 175g/km phased in from 2014 to 2016 with a long-term target of 135g/km by 2020.

Children, Schools and Families: Young People: Employment (12 November 2009)

David Laws:

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of 17 year olds are (a) employed and (b) non-employed apprentices on (i) Level 2 frameworks and (ii) Level 3 frameworks.