Written answers

Thursday, 5 February 2009

  • Transport

    • Buses: Fares

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timescale has been established for the roll-out of smartcard technology on buses in England; whether it is policy that all buses should be...

    • Carbon Emissions: EC Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on the implementation of EC Regulations (a) 715/2007 and (b) 692/2008 on...

      Departmental Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of the milestones set out on page 7 of his Department's human resources Race Equality Action Plan 2005 to 2008 were not achieved.

      Departmental Leave

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of his Department's bargaining units grant disability leave to staff.

      Departmental Recycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much (a) paper, (b) plastic and (c) other waste has been produced by his Department in each of the last three years; and how much of that waste...

      Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency: Debts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on the performance of Moorcroft Debt Recovery Ltd; what conclusions he...

      Driving Standards Agency: Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Driving Standards Agency spent on alcohol in relation to its operations conference in September 2008.

      Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of scheduled driving tests have been cancelled by the Driving Standards Agency in each of the last five years.

      Infrastructure Policy Statements

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the infrastructure policy statements for (a) ports, (b) surface networks and (c) aviation to be published.

      Oil: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assumptions on the price of oil his Department used in developing its High Level Output Statement; and whether he plans to revise such assumptions.

      Public Transport: Concessions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable he has set for the transfer of responsibility for concessionary fares from district to county councils.

      Railways: Freight

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Railfreight Interchange Investment Group on financial support for the development of railfreight interchanges.

      Railways: Freight

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the development of railfreight interchanges will be subject to a National Planning Policy Statement under the Planning Act 2008.

      Railways: Freight

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the process is for reviewing and updating the railfreight interchange policy.

      Railways: Freight

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he is holding with the Railfreight Interchange Investment Group on the development of the Department's policy on railfreight interchanges.

      Road Traffic

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the percentage change in traffic levels (a) on English roads and (b) on roads in each county within England was in each year since 1997, taking...

      Road Traffic: Cameras

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the (a) locations and (b) roads in (i) the Metropolitan police area of London, (ii) Essex and (iii) Hertfordshire are where enforcement cameras...

      Road Traffic: Cameras

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much revenue enforcement cameras for the policing of no overtaking zones have generated in Essex in each year since 1997; and how much of that...

      Roads: Accidents

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were killed in (a) West Chelmsford constituency and (b) Essex in drink-driving-related accidents in each of the last five years.

      Roads: Accidents

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were (a) killed and (b) seriously injured on roads in the London borough of Bexley in each of the last five years.

      Shipping: Piracy and Terrorism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will hold discussions with his European and US counterparts on counter-piracy and counter-terrorism measures aboard passenger cruise ships.

      Speed Limits: Cameras

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent guidance his Department has issued on the visibility of speed enforcement cameras; what legislation currently regulates the visibility of...

      Speed Limits: Cameras

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what legislation speed camera zones must be clearly signposted; what changes have been made to this legislation since its enactment; and if he...

      Speed Limits: Cameras

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras were (a) installed on and (b) removed from roads in (i) England and Wales, (ii) Essex and (iii) Southend in each year from...

      Transport Innovation Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2009, Official Report, column 1432W, on public transport: Greater Manchester, how many high quality Transport...

  • Prime Minister

    • India: Ministerial Visits

      To ask the Prime Minister whether he has received representations from the Indian Government on the recent visit by the Foreign Secretary.

    • Sir Fred Goodwin: Honours

      To ask the Prime Minister if he will recommend to Her Majesty the Queen that the knighthood awarded to Sir Fred Goodwin for services to banking be withdrawn.

  • House of Commons Commission

    • Internet

      To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2009, Official Report, columns 995-6W, on the internet, on what date...

    • Members: Pensions

      To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether the House of Commons Commission has set a target for the time within which hon. Members' enquiries...

      Snow and Ice

      To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many snow shovels are owned by the House of Commons.

  • Church Commissioners

    • Lead Theft

      To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what estimate the Church Commissioners have made of the number of churches from which lead has been stolen in the...

    • Church of England: Finance

      To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what assessment the Church Commissioners have made of the effect of the current economic climate on levels of...

  • Electoral Commission Committee

    • Registrar of Members' Interests

      To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what steps the Electoral Commission is taking to share information with the Registrar of...

    • Early Voting

      To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of proposals for early voting in elections.

      Fines

      To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what administrative financial penalties may be levied by the Electoral Commission.

      Local Government: Suffolk

      To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what representations from local authorities in Suffolk concerning its inquiry into the future...

  • Environment Food and Rural Affairs

    • Air Pollution: Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last five calendar years for offences under Part III of the Clean Air...

    • Joint Waste Authorities

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance his Department has issued on whether members of a joint waste authority are entitled to responsibility...

      Origin Marking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to improve country of origin labelling.

      Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authorities levy charges for the provision of bags for the collection of household waste.

      Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to his Department's consultation on revised waste exemptions from environmental permitting, whether municipal...

  • Treasury

    • Child Trust Fund: County Londonderry

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Child Trust Fund take-up rates in each ward in East Londonderry constituency were in the most recent period for which figures are available.

    • Departmental Correspondence

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many responses to letters received in his Department from hon. Members were outstanding in each month since September 2008.

      Economic Situation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions his Department has had with outside organisations to discuss policy to reduce the impact of the recession on matters within his...

      Foreign Workers

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many non-UK born individuals have been in (a) public and (b) private sector employment in each year since 1978; and how many such individuals were in...

      Inheritance Tax: Housing

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what internal guidance documents the Valuation Office Agency uses for valuing properties for inheritance tax purposes.

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters from hon. Members are yet to be answered by his Department; what the average time taken to reply to a letter from an hon. Member has been...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter sent to his Department by the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead dated 29 October 2008, regarding tax credits.

      Pay

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 19 November 2008, Official Report, columns 468-9W, in relation to what other groups (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b)...

      Revenue and Customs: Chorley

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date HM Revenue and Customs office in Chorley is planned to be closed.

  • Leader of the House

    • Offenders: Employment

      To ask the Leader of the House what her Office's policy is on the employment of former prisoners.

  • Justice

    • Cannabis: Cumbria

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many successful prosecutions for the possession of cannabis there have been in (a) Cumbria and (b) Copeland constituency in each of the last...

    • Courts: Closures

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) courts and (b) hearing centres have closed in each year since 1997.

      Courts: Prison Accommodation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions court cells were (a) made available for and (b) used for housing prisoners overnight in the last 12 months; and how many...

      Cremation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish guidance to local authorities on (a) the length of time ashes should be retained by crematoria and (b) the methods to be used to...

      Judicial Appointments Commission: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the budget of the Judicial Appointments Commission was in each of the last three years.

      Prison Sentences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the likely effect of the creation of a Sentencing Council on the level of the prison population in England and Wales.

      Prisoners: Voting Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether prisoners on (a) end of custody licence, (b) release on temporary licence and (c) home detention curfew are eligible to vote if registered.

      Prisons: Wind Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will commission research on the effect on (a) prison security, (b) the well being and health of prisoners and (c) the safety and health of...

      Victims' Champion: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the budget of the Victims' Champion is for the term of the appointment.

  • Defence

    • Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many additional helicopters have been delivered to forces in Afghanistan as a result of the UK-French Helicopter Fund announced at the March 2008...

    • Armed Forces: Labour Turnover

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of personnel who left the armed forces in each year since 2002 had served in Iraq or Afghanistan.

      Armed Forces: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) original and (b) revised estimate of the value of defence estates to be sold under package 1 of the Defence Training Review was.

      Central Africa: Peacekeeping Operations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which EU member states are contributing to the EU military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic; and what each is contributing.

      Cyprus: Military Bases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British troops have been stationed in the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in each year since 2002.

      EU Battlegroups

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to paragraph 107 of the Explanatory Memorandum of 11 December 2008 on the French Presidency Report on European Security and Defence Policy,...

      EU Battlegroups

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to paragraph 107 of the Explanatory Memorandum of 11 December 2008 on the French Presidency Report on European Security and Defence Policy,...

      EU Rapid Reaction Force

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which components of the UK's commitment to the Helsinki Headline Goal comprise an (a) armed mechanical brigade and (b) amphibious brigade.

      EU Rapid Reaction Force

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to paragraph 106 of the Explanatory Memorandum of 11 December 2008 on the French Presidency Report on European Security and Defence Policy,...

      Military Aircraft

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his latest estimate is of the in-service date for the A400M airlift aircraft.

      Navy: Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what multi-activity contracts (MACs) the Royal Navy has; and what the (a) scope, (b) monetary value and (c) date of expiry of each MAC is.

      Warships

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria were used to determine the successful bidder for the Royal Navy contract entitled Specialist Vessel Requirement S&MO CB/3193; and if he...

  • Public Accounts Commission

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

    • Arms Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what increased resources his Department has dedicated to tackling chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear terrorism...

    • Departmental Data Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of contractors and suppliers to (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have reported that they are compliant...

      Departmental Data Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have which allow contractors to store personal data of UK citizens...

      Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 22 July 2008, Official Report, columns 99-102WS, on what date Mr. Ravi...

      Departmental Surveys

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department's central media and communication unit spent on public surveys in each of the last three years.

      Embassies: Operating Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the running costs of each British diplomatic mission overseas were in the last financial year for which information is...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Billericay dated 28 October 2008 on the subject of the John...

      Middle East: Armed Conflict

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy on the recent Arab Peace Initiative is.

      Middle East: Armed Conflict

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agreements there are affecting the use of British military airbases for the transfer of weapons from the United States to...

      Morocco: Trade

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance his Department has issued to firms about trade with Morocco where such trade draws upon the resources of the Non...

  • Energy and Climate Change

    • Coal: Imports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much coal was imported in each of the last 10 years; how much he forecasts will be imported in the (a) current year and (b) next...

    • Departmental Data Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what percentage of contractors and suppliers to his Department has reported compliance with the Government's security standards...

      Departmental Data Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many contracts his Department has which allow contractors to store personal data of UK citizens overseas; for which contracts this...

      Departmental Written Questions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on how many occasions since the creation of his Department Ministers used their discretion to rule that a parliamentary question for...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead's letter of 10 October 2008, that was transferred to the Department...

      Warm Front Scheme: North Yorkshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received on the operation of the Warm Front scheme in North Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

      Wind Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2009, Official Report, columns 896-97W, on wind power, what assessment he has made of the...

  • Olympics

    • Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Minister for the Olympics when she plans to reply to the letters of 6 November 2008 and 14 January 2009 from the hon. Member for Forest of Dean on Olympic events for women cyclists,...

  • Northern Ireland

    • Departmental Marketing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much his Department has spent on advertising in the last five years; (2) with reference to the Answer of 12 November 2008, on...

    • Departmental Travel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what expenditure his Department has incurred in providing transport for Ministers between Parliament and departmental premises in each of the...

  • Culture Media and Sport

    • Advertising: Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps his Department has taken to regulate the advertising industry.

    • Arts Council England: Grants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding Arts Council England provided to (a) the Hayward Gallery, (b) the London Philharmonic Orchestra and (c) the Saison...

      BBC: Location

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information his Department holds on the cost of relocation of BBC staff to Media City, Salford; what discussions he has had on the...

      Broadband

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to respond to the Review of Barriers to Investment in Next Generation Broadband.

      Digital Broadcasting: Publicity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of campaigns to inform people about the switchover from analogue to digital...

      Public Service Broadcasting: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure quality of service from public service broadcasters.

      Television: Licensing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much TV Licensing spent on public relations in each of the last three years.

      Television: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he received any representations from viewers regarding the use of language in Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmare programme...

      Tourism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans his Department has to encourage foreign visitors to the United Kingdom over the next 18 months; and if he will make a statement.

      Tourism: EU Grants and Loans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans his Department has to bid for EU funding schemes for tourism in England during the current financial year.

  • Work and Pensions

    • Carer's Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of an annual increase in carer's allowance of (a) £3, (b) £4,...

    • Children: Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what enforcement action his Department and its agencies have taken to recover debts in respect of which they have obtained liability orders in...

      Council Tax and Housing Benefits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many outstanding unprocessed council tax benefit claims there were in each local authority area in each (a) quarter of each year...

      Departmental Internet

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which websites are operated by his Department in addition to its main website; and what the operating budget for those websites is.

      Departmental Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many bonuses were awarded to senior civil servants working at his Department and its agencies in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008; and how much was...

      Electronic Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the accessibility of Government websites; and if he will make a statement.

      EU Grants and Loans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what allocation the UK has received from the European Union Globalisation Fund for the next 12 months; and what allocations of that funding...

      Jobcentre Plus: Vacancies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many posts in the Jobcentre Plus network have been vacant in each of the last 12 months.

      Jobcentres: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed in job centres in each (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority area in Scotland on (i) 1 January...

      Jobseeker's Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants have returned to claiming JSA within 12 months of gaining employment in the latest...

      Rheumatoid Arthritis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what information his Department holds on people with rheumatoid arthritis; whether rheumatoid arthritis is classified as a disability...

  • Communities and Local Government

    • Coastal Towns Network

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which principal seaside towns are (a) members and (b) not members of the Coastal Towns Network (CTN); and whether there are...

    • Community Relations: Islam

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) of 6 October 2008, Official Report,...

      Community Relations: Islam

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the merits of establishing further community-based advisory groups modelled on the Young Muslim...

      Departmental Billing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten) of 18 December 2008, Official Report, column 1044W, on...

      Departmental Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State plans to reply to the letters of 4 December and 30 December from the hon....

      Departmental Databases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge) of 6 October 2008,...

      Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether special advisers in her Department may claim overtime payments.

      Derelict Land: Hampshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of recent levels of brownfield development in (a) the City of Southampton, (b) Test Valley...

      Disadvantaged

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which electoral wards make up the 10 per cent. most deprived in England and Wales.

      Economic and Monetary Union

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the Communities and Local Government Euro Changeover Plan 2007.

      Economic Situation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions her Department has had with outside organisations to discuss policy on reducing the effect of the...

      Economic Situation: Hertfordshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what briefing notes the Minister for the East of England has received on the business environment in Hertfordshire since 1...

      Empty Property

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 19 March 2008, Official Report, columns 1201-2W, on empty property, if she will place in the...

      Fines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what administrative financial penalties may be levied by her Department and its agencies.

      Fire Services: Crimes of Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many firefighters required medical treatment as a result of assaults in each of the last three years, broken down by fire...

      Fire Services: Defibrillators

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of operational fire appliances carry defibrillators.

      Fire Services: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons new burdens funding will not be provided in relation to Project Fireguard.

      Government Office for the Regions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether Local Authority Leaders' Boards will be based in the Government office regions.

      Government Office for the Regions: EU Grants and Loans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding for 2000-2006 was unspent (a) in each Government Office region and...

      Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued to local housing authorities under section 226 of the Housing Act 2004; and when such...

      Housing: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of (a) all newly constructed dwellings were constructed on previously-developed land, (b) all dwellings on...

      Housing: Learning Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to increase the number of houses available in the West Suffolk area to enable people with learning...

      Housing: Mortgages

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of people who have (a) a mortgage on a domestic property and (b) own a property outright.

      Housing: Planning Permission

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether section 106 agreements may be attached to household extensions in cases where the proposed extension (a) does and (b)...

      Housing: Regeneration

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding her Department has allocated to each housing market renewal pathfinder for each of the next three years.

      Housing: Regeneration

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the average cost of a (a) new build, (b) refurbishment, (c) acquisition and (d) demolition in...

      Housing: Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 29 October 2008, ...

      Local Government Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her estimate is of the average change in per capita Government funding in (a) district councils, (b) county councils,...

      Local Government Services: Public Participation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued to local community groups on accepting community transfer of libraries and other facilities.

      Local Government Services: Public Participation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on the transfer of facilities to community groups.

      Local Government: EU Grants and Loans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations her Department received from (a) regional development agencies, (b) Government offices of the regions,...

      Local Government: Publicity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the revision of the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Government Publicity.

      Local Government: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to fund the floor damping system from central Government funds.

      Local Government: Suffolk

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will review the processes employed by the Boundary Committee to reach a decision on the options of local government...

      Local Government: Waste Disposal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities include measures on waste in their local area agreement 35 local improvement targets.

      Local Spending Reports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the reason is for the time taken by her Department to publish a consultation document on local spending reports.

      National Policy Statements

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for the publication of national policy statements (NPSs); and what subject topics each NPS will cover.

      Ordnance Survey: Visits Abroad

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 29 October 2008, Official...

      Partnerships UK

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what remuneration Baroness Ford has received for her work for Partnerships UK on surplus public sector land in 2008-09.

      Plain English

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department has taken to adopt Plain English standards in its publications.

      Planning Permission: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make it her policy to intervene in planning applications which relate to development of areas in London in which war...

      Planning Permission: Parking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what planning policy guidance is in force in relation to the use of car parking charges in developments to encourage alternative...

      Regional Spatial Strategies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her (a) powers and (b) responsibilities are to (i) approve and (ii) amend the final versions of the integrated regional...

      Zanzibar eProcurement Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of her Department's contracts with suppliers are handled through the Zanzibar eProcurement Service; and what...

      Zanzibar eProcurement Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate her Department has made of the potential annual saving which would result from the full-scale implementation...

  • Women and Equality

    • Departmental Official Hospitality

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what records the Government Equalities Office maintains of its expenditure on (a) official hospitality and (b) alcohol for official hospitality.

  • Wales

    • Departmental Temporary Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by his Department on (a) agency and (b) temporary staff in each financial year since 2005-06.

  • International Development

    • Departmental Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff have been employed in each of his Department's country offices in (a) 2006, (b) 2007, (c) 2008 and (d) 2009.

    • Developing Countries: Debts

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures his Department has put in place to ensure that new loans to poor countries do not result in unsustainable levels of debt,...

      Development Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure that the Government's policy on attachment of economic policy conditions to aid and debt relief is...

      Haiti: Debts

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will support (a) Haiti's accelerated progress through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries debt cancellation process and (b) a...

      Sri Lanka: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment he has made of the security and safety of people within the humanitarian space which has been designated by the...

  • Innovation, Universities and Skills

    • Adult Education: Numeracy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many adult learners received basic numeracy skills qualifications under the skills for life funding scheme in each of the...

    • Building Colleges for the Future Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) how many applications for capital funding from the Building Colleges for the Future programme were made by (a) further...

      Departmental Advertising

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many advertisements to attract students into higher education were placed by his Department and its predecessors in each...

      Departmental Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans he has to recruit scientifically-trained civil servants; and what timetable he has set for the recruitment process.

      Further Education: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what estimate he has made of the interest payments made by further education colleges to finance their capital programmes in...

      Higher Education: March, Cambridgeshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what progress has been made on plans for the new campus of the College of West Anglia proposal for the town of March.

      Higher Education: Overseas Students

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) how many EU-domiciled undergraduate students began courses at higher education institutions in 2008; (2) how many...

      Higher Education: South East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which colleges in (a) London and (b) Kent are affected by the Learning and Skills Council's decision to postpone capital...

      London Metropolitan University

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the student completion rate was at the London Metropolitan University in the last year for which figures are available.

      Mass Media

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the cost of his Department's contracts with press monitoring services was in each of the last five years.

      Students: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much funding is allocated per student for (a) full-time undergraduates, (b) part-time undergraduates, (c) full-time...

      Westminster University

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the University of Westminster on the closure of the Harrow...

  • Duchy of Lancaster

    • Cabinet Office Leadership Conference

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who attended the Cabinet Office Leadership Conference on 17 March 2008; who the speakers were; and what the agenda was.

    • Childbirth

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of live births were to (a) non-UK born and (b) foreign national mothers and fathers in each (i) primary care trust and (ii)...

      Childbirth

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many live births there were in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by the age of the mother.

      Civil Servants: Retirement

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the timetable is for removing the mandatory retirement age policy across the Civil Service; and whether such removal will apply to senior...

      Departmental Pay

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make it his policy to ensure that those temporary and permanent employees at the same grade in the Prime Minister's Office who are paid...

      Departmental Surveys

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to staff survey response metric of the capable Departments key performance indicator for Cabinet Office Departmental Strategic...

      Departmental Working Hours

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what the policy of (a) the Prime Minister's Office and (b) the Office of the Leader of the House is on granting staff time off in lieu for...

      Disposable Income

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of their income was spent by (a) the poorest 10 per cent. and (b) the richest 10 per cent. of the population on (i) food and (ii)...

      Emergencies: EC Action

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in other European Union countries on proposals for an EU-wide civil protection rapid reaction...

      Employment

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what proportion of people aged (a) over 50 and (b) 16 to 24 years were employed in the fourth quarter of 2008.

      Government Departments: Internet

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether each internet service provider supplying internet connectivity services to central Government deploys the blocking list of known child...

      Public Appointments: Parliamentary Scrutiny

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will include in the list of posts deemed suitable for pre-appointment scrutiny all (a) public sector regulators, (b) permanent secretaries...

      Public Service Forum

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting of the Public Service Forum.

      Unemployment: Young People

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people aged 16 to 24 years in each region (a) in total and (b) per 100,000 population were unemployed in (i) last quarter for which...

      V: Finance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much funding has been (a) allocated and (b) spent through the v project in the last three years.

  • Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

    • EU Posted Workers Directive

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the provisions of the EU Posted Workers...

    • Regional Development Agencies: Business Support

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps regional development agencies are taking to support small and medium-sized businesses during the...

      Recession: North-east

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the likely effect of recession on businesses in the North East.

      Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of the conditions under which small and medium-sized enterprises are...

      Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what funding his Department is providing for small and medium-sized enterprises in 2008-09.

      Small Businesses: Credit

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations he has received from small businesses on their access to credit.

      Small Businesses: Credit

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department is taking to assist small businesses in obtaining credit.

      Small Businesses: Government Assistance

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations he has received from small businesses on Government assistance to them.

      Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the level of take-up by businesses of the Enterprise Finance Guarantee has been since its introduction.

      Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the criteria are for businesses to qualify for help under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme.

      National Minimum Wage

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the range of penalties for...

      Small Suppliers

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he is taking to ensure that small suppliers are paid promptly by the Government and businesses.

      Regional Development Agencies: Business Support

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps regional development agencies are taking to support small and medium-sized businesses during the...

      Broadband

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of households that do not have access to broadband internet in (a)...

      Broadband

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations he has received on the creation of a universal service obligation in respect of...

      Broadband: Rural Areas

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of households that do not have access to broadband in (a) Devon,...

      Business for New Europe

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with Business for New Europe on his Department's policies for business in...

      Departmental Buildings

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much has been spent on (a) maintaining, (b) decorating and (c) otherwise improving departmental...

      Departmental Marketing

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Fareham of 4 February 2008, Official Report, column...

      Departmental Marketing

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Fareham of 4 February 2008, Official Report, column...

      Departmental Working Hours

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) how many days off in lieu were granted to staff in (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c)...

      Economic and Monetary Union

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the Answer of 17 July 2008, Official Report, column 694W, on Economic and Monetary...

      Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions his Department has had with other Government departments on its review of the Waste...

      Housing: Low Incomes

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 30 October...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Secretary of State plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Christchurch of 10...

      Redundancy

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many redundancies were notified to his Department and its predecessor in each (a) month of the last...

      Redundancy

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many notifications his Department and its predecessor received of businesses making 20 or more...

      Regional Development Agencies: Consultants

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 24 November 2008, Official...

      Regional Development Agencies: Consultants

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much each regional development agency spent on external consultants in 2007-08.

      Regional Development Agencies: Finance

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what allocations his Department has made to each regional development agency for (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.

      Regional Planning and Development: North West

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether discussions have taken place between the North Western Regional Development Agency and Lancaster...

      Retail Sector

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with the Competition Commission on its proposals to (a) strengthen the...

      Wind Power

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with power generation companies on the interference of wind power...

  • Children, Schools and Families

    • Almondbury High School

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent communication he has had with Almondbury High School in Huddersfield; and when he expects the school to receive its...

    • Building Schools for the Future Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many schools in (a) Lancashire and (b) England are planned to have energy efficiency improvements under the Building...

      Building Schools for the Future Programme: Cambridgeshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made on each project under the Building Schools for the Future programme affecting schools in North East...

      Children: Day Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many childcare settings have ceased operating permanently in each quarter of the last five years.

      Children: Diabetes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what steps his Department is taking to encourage increased awareness of diabetes among teachers and head teachers; and if he...

      Children: Obesity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress his Department has made towards its target to halt the year-on-year rise in obesity among children under 11 by 2010;...

      Citizenship: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers have taken up the citizenship continuing professional development programme; and how much has been spent by his...

      Class Sizes: Lincolnshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which schools in (a) North East Lincolnshire and (b) North Lincolnshire have class sizes of over 30 pupils.

      Education Maintenance Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 12 January 2009, Official Report, column 10W, on education maintenance allowance, if he will...

      Education Maintenance Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many applications for education maintenance allowance were lost between 1 August 2008 and 31 December 2008; and if he will...

      Education: Assessment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research his Department has commissioned to assess the extent of teaching to the test practices in schools.

      Education: Assessment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what mechanisms his Department uses to assess the relevance of qualifications offered in schools and colleges to the requirements...

      Education: Assessment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research his Department has commissioned on pupils' and parents' views of testing in schools in the last two years.

      Families at Risk Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the written ministerial statement of 10 January 2008, Official Report, column 15WS, on the Families at Risk...

      General Certificate of Secondary Education: Ethnic Groups

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what factors he has identified as the primary causes of the disparity between children from different ethnic groups in GCSE attainment.

      Mathematics: GCE A Level

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in (a) all schools, (b) independent schools and (c) comprehensive schools achieved a grade C or higher in A...

      National Curriculum Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many complaints his Department received concerning the quality of marking of Key Stage 2 national curriculum tests in each of...

      National Curriculum Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment was made of the previous record of ETS Global BV before granting it the key stage tests marking contract.

      Pre-School Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) independent nurseries have (i) opened and (ii) closed permanently in each of the...

      Pre-School Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) whether early years settings must have no exemptions from the Early Years Foundation Stage to receive funding for the free...

      Pre-School Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effects of the extension in free entitlement to nursery care on the children who receive it.

      Pre-School Education: Vacancies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate his Department has made of the average number of vacant places in (a) children's centres nurseries, (b) maintained...

      Pupil Exclusions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children were permanently excluded from schools in England in (a) 2007 and (b) 2007-08.

      Pupils: Disadvantaged

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils on free school meals have been taught in schools with (a) 1,500 or more and (b) 2,000 or more pupils in each of...

      School Leaving

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to raise the education and training leaving age to (a) 17 and (b) 18 years; and if he will make a statement.

      Schools: ICT

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what powers Partnership for Schools has to prevent individual schools opting out of proposals for authority-wide ICT programmes in...

      Schools: Music

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) with reference to his Department's press release of 21 November 2008, on funding for music in schools, how many new musical...

      Schools: Parents

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of levels of accountability of schools to (a) parents and (b) students since 1997.

      Schools: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the potential effects on standards of attainment in maintained schools of the implementation by...

      Secondary Education: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his policy is on the provision of funding for children in their final year of secondary school who have repeated a year.

      Secondary Education: Vocational Guidance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many staff in secondary schools are employed to act as careers advisers in (a) England, (b) the North East, (c) the Tees...

      Social Services: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent representations he has received on the reorganisation of children's services in local authorities.

      Social Services: Haringey

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what inspections of Haringey council Ofsted has undertaken since 2000.

      Social Services: Haringey

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 936W, on Social Services: Haringey, if he will place...

      Specialist Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when his Department plans to review its policy on specialist schools.

      Specialist Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many specialist schools there are in (a) England, (b) the North East and (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland...

      Teachers: Stress

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to reduce stress on teachers.

      Young, Gifted and Talented Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2008, Official Report, column 1126W, on Young, Gifted and Talented Programme, what...

  • Health

    • Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what subsequent support is available to people who successfully complete NHS alcoholic treatment courses; (2) how many people (a) have and (b)...

    • Allergies: Medical Treatments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to NHS trusts on the use of desensitisation as a treatment for allergy; and if he will make a statement.

      Allergies: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2008, Official Report, columns 223-24W, on allergies: research, which aspects of allergy research his Department...

      Cancer

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of (a) lung and (b) cervical cancer there were (i) in the North West and (ii) on average in all other regions in each year since...

      Cannabis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence his Department holds on the effects of habitual, long-term use of cannabis on (a) physical and (b) mental health.

      Care Homes: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care homes in each region did not comply with minimum infection control standards in each of the last three years.

      Chronically Sick

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether his Department's review of prescription charges for long-term conditions will take into account the socio-economic profile of the patient...

      Complementary Medicine

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether any NHS patient wishing to choose (a) homeopathic treatment and (b) other forms of complementary medicine is able to receive it from an...

      Contraception

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what training on the provision of advice on (a) contraception and (b) long-acting methods of contraception is available for nurses whose main duties do...

      Contraception

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will review the role of termination of pregnancy clinics in providing advice on contraception; (2) if he will review his policy on the...

      Contraception: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps he has taken to increase the level of awareness and knowledge amongst young people of the range of available contraceptive methods.

      Dementia: Carers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support is available to carers of those diagnosed with dementia.

      Dementia: Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on medical research on (a) Alzheimer's disease and (b) dementia in the latest year for which figures are available; and...

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to advise staff of pension options available to them in relation to added years or additional voluntary contributions.

      Doctors and Nurses: Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many NHS doctors were working in (a) England, (b) the North East, (c) the Tees Valley and (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland...

      Driving Under Influence: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of treatment of people involved in drink-driving incidents in the last year for which figures are available.

      Drugs: Exports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will undertake an assessment of the potential effects on the (a) availability of medicines and (b) budgetary provision for the NHS of...

      Health Services: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition his Department uses of a quality standard, as referred to in the NHS Next Stage Review.

      HIV Infection: Blood

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2009, Official Report, column 962W, on blood: contamination, and with reference to the answer of 25 June 2008, ...

      Hospitals: Parking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will direct hospital trusts not to charge for hospital car parking for out-patients.

      Hospitals: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase the quality of hospital care services in all regions.

      Hospitals: Waiting Lists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to reduce NHS waiting lists in (a) England and (b) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

      Malnutrition

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of people in each age group (a) admitted to and (b) discharged from hospital were malnourished in the last year in which...

      Medical Treatments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's definition is of directly observed treatment (DOT); under what circumstances DOT is (a) recommended and (b) mandatory; and if will...

      Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department's review of anti-psychotic prescribing in care settings will be concluded; and if he will make a statement.

      Mentally Ill: Medical Treatments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Chief Executive of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the issuing of NICE...

      MMR Vaccine

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) males and (b) females aged under 18 in each strategic health authority area who have not been...

      National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to take responsibility for developing clinical strategies; and if he will make a...

      National Quality Board

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the first meeting of the new National Quality Board to take place; and whether the terms of reference and membership for the group have...

      NHS: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Government's policy is on implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence recommendations that are not being met...

      NHS: Ict

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which trusts have chosen to procure and implement an IT system different from the one selected for them by their local service provider; and what...

      NHS: Management

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve the quality of management in the NHS.

      NHS: Translation Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much NHS interpreters in Waltham Forest primary care trust cost for (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008.

      Nurses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what conditions each type of specialist nurse is trained to deal with; (2) how many specialist nurses there were in each specialty in each year...

      Thalidomide

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has discussed with his German counterpart the matter of culpability on the part of the manufacturers in relation to the impairments caused by...

  • Home Department

    • Animal Experiments

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of animals bred for use in animal scientific procedures but not used for such purposes...

    • Animal Experiments: Primates

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many non-human primates from each overseas country were imported into the United Kingdom for use in research and testing in 2008.

      Anti-Semitism

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will commission a report from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis on the number and location of anti-Semitic incidents in...

      Antisocial Behaviour

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the economic effects of anti-social behaviour in each of the last five years.

      Arrests: Lancashire

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many arrests were made in (a) Chorley, (b) West Lancashire and (c) South Ribble in each quarter of the last three years.

      Burglary: Yorkshire and the Humber

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of (a) theft and (b) burglary have been reported in each constituency in Yorkshire and the Humber in the last 12 months;...

      Business: Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of levels of crime against businesses; and if she will make a statement.

      Crime: Merseyside

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions Merseyside Police have (a) closed premises that are being used for drug dealing or use causing disorder or serious...

      Crime: Retail Trade

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who the members of the National Retail Crime Steering Group are; and what its terms of reference are.

      Driving Under Influence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people were (a) arrested and (b) convicted for drink driving in each of the last 12 months; (2) how many people in...

      Driving Under Influence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 19 December 2008, Official Report, column 1076W, on driving under the influence, when she expects the...

      Police: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many former police community support officers were recruited as police officers in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007 and (d) 2008.

      Theft

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of (a) theft and (b) retail theft have been reported in (i) England and (ii) North Yorkshire in each year since 2000.

      Roads: Accidents

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department has issued on the procedure to be followed by (a) police forces in England and Wales and (b) prosecutors in...

  • House of Lords

    • Armed Forces: Equipment

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Clansman radio system has been fully replaced in the British Armed Forces with Bowman equipment; and, if not, when that replacement will be completed.

    • Armed Forces: Equipment

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the operational capability of Bowman equipment in Afghanistan.

      Armed Forces: Equipment

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what the weight is of the portable Bowman VHF pack, including batteries; and whether there are plans to reduce it.

      Armed Forces: Equipment

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether General Dynamics have a contract for the supply of Bowman radio equipment to the British Armed Forces; and how much has been paid so far to General...

      Armed Forces: Equipment

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the cost to public funds over each of the past 10 years of the procurement of the Bowman radio system for the British Armed Forces.

      Banking

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they will introduce to restore confidence in joint-stock banks, in the light of developments in financial markets since 19 January.

      Banking: Northern Rock

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the decision to allow Northern Rock to resume active mortgage lending will affect the previous consent of the European Community to the rescue of the bank...

      Belfast Agreement

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what official term they use to refer to the agreement of April 1998 in Belfast which concerned the affairs of Northern Ireland.

      Businesses

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many new small and medium-sized businesses have been registered in the past 12 months; and how that figure compares with the past five years.

      Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many fatalities from carbon monoxide poisoning have occurred in each year since 2000; and, of those, how many had previously presented with symptoms that could...

      Children: Care

      To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Morgan of Drefelin on 12 January (Official Report, 12/1/09; col. WA 125—26), whether fuller records of educational...

      Climate Change: Research

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will increase their funding for the Imperial College Grantham Institute for Climate Change to expand its climate change research.

      Energy: Wind Farms

      To ask Her Majesty's Government with reference to OFGEM factsheet 76 "Connecting Renewable Generation", how many wind farm projects are delayed awaiting delivery of wind turbines; what is the...

      Fishing: UK Territorial Seas

      To ask Her Majesty's Government (a) what is the extent of the United Kingdom's territorial seas adjacent to Northern Ireland; (b) what part of the sea within the British fishery limits would be...

      Gaza: Questions for Written Answer

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will reply to the Questions for Written Answer, tabled by Lord Hylton on 8 December 2008 (HL141, HL142, HL143, HL144, HL145 and HL146), 9 December 2008...

      Gulf War: NAPS Tablets

      To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answers by Lord Bach on 9 October 2003 (WA 67-78) and Lord Drayson on 17 December 2008 (WA 43), whether the Medical Research Council (MRC)...

      Health: Alcoholism

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many alcoholics are registered with the National Health Service; and what additional help they are giving to assist such people with their addiction. Question...

      Health: Medical Schools

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many men and how many women entered United Kingdom medical schools over the years 2003—07.

      Iraq: Mr al-Zaidi

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Iraq to request correct treatment in prison and access to legal advice for the Iraqi journalist Mr...

      Israel: Elections

      To ask Her Majesty's Government in the light of previous decisions by the Courts of Appeal of Israel, whether they will ask the government of Israel to rescind the decision of the Israeli Central...

      Passports

      To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Malloch-Brown on 12 January (Official Report, 12/1/09; col. WA 117), what is the breakdown by country of the 375,715 United...

      Sinn Fein

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have reached an agreement or understanding with Sinn Fein/IRA concerning (a) the investigation of the Northern Bank robbery; (b) the murder of Robert...

      Taxation: VAT

      To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Myners on 18 December 2008 (WA 81—82), whether they have assessed or will assess (a) the pass-on rate of the temporary...

      Terrorism

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to bring to the attention of the government of the United States the references by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,...

      Terrorism

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the report by REDRESS entitled The United Kingdom, Torture and Anti-Terrorism: Where the Problems Lie, particularly the observations...

      Universities

      To ask Her Majesty's Government which universities Lord Drayson has visited in his capacity as Minister of State for Science and Innovation.

What is this?

The parliamentary question is a great way for MPs and Peers to discover information which the government may not wish to reveal. Ministers reply via written answers, a list of which gets published daily.

We let you vote on whether or not the answer given is adequate.

February 2009
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