Written answers

Wednesday, 16 May 2007

  • House of Commons Commission

    • Parliament: Educational Visits

      To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission (1) what representations he has received on provision of travel and accommodation expenses for schools and...

    • Parliament (Joint Departments) Bill

      To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will place in the Library the response to the consultations held with trade unions in respect of the...

  • Electoral Commission Committee

    • Elections: Fifth Avenue Partners

      To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if he will make a statement on progress by the Electoral Commission with its investigation...

    • Elections: Fraud

      To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2007, Official Report, column 982W, on elections:...

      Elections: Legislation

      To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if he will place in the Library a copy of the Electoral Commission's analysis of the Crown...

      Elections: Local Government

      To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission if he will place in the Library a copy of the research and findings commissioned by the...

      Electoral Register: Second Homes

      To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what guidance the Commission has given local authority returning officers on the definition of...

  • Communities and Local Government

    • Home Information Packs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what average length of time she expects it to take to prepare a home information pack.

    • Housing: Yorkshire and Humberside

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps she plans to take to reduce the gap between the cost of housing and the level of incomes in North Yorkshire.

      Supporting People Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2007, Official Report, column 1159W, on the Supporting People programme, when she expects...

  • Transport

    • Aviation: Noise

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the results of the attitudes to noise from aircraft sources in England study commissioned by his Department in November 2001...

    • Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the requirement to reverse around a corner in the Driving Standards Authority driving test.

      Heathrow Airport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the number of additional passengers using Heathrow airport resulting from the increase from 480,000 movements...

      Public Transport: Concessions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what date the national concessionary fares scheme will commence.

      Railways: EC Countries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department collects on railway (a) passenger and (b) freight journeys in other EU countries for benchmarking UK performance; and...

      Railways: Litter

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Chief Executive of Network Rail on litter on the track and railway land; and if he will make a statement.

      Railways: Overcrowding

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which train services in the last 12 months were the most heavily loaded on (a) the east coast main line, (b) the west coast main line and (c) the...

      Railways: Passengers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what change there has been in the number of rail passenger journeys since 1997.

      Railways: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his targets for railway punctuality and reliability have been met.

  • Northern Ireland

    • Departments: Buildings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many buildings are owned by his Department; and what the value is of each.

    • Dogs: Theft

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many dogs were reported stolen in each police district command unit area in Northern Ireland in (a) each of the past 12 months and (b)...

  • Prime Minister

  • Trade and Industry

    • Measures: EC Action

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to legislate to remove restrictions on the use of imperial measures; and whether he will issue revised guidance on...

    • Measures: EC Action

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether following the implementation of the revised policy outlined in the EU Trade and Industry Commissioner's recent statement on weights...

      Post Offices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 22 February 2007, Official Report, column 894W, on post offices, on what date his Department will (a) complete its...

  • Culture Media and Sport

    • Cultural Heritage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to implement the policy in the Heritage Protection for the 21st Century White Paper to clarify and...

    • Cultural Heritage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to comply with the recommendations of UNESCO's Mission to London on the protection of World Heritage...

      Cultural Heritage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has held with the Greater London Authority on its policy on (a) the development of tall buildings in...

      Departments: Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff funded by the public purse in her Department are classified as people without posts.

      Licensing Laws

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to publish the results of the review of the guidance related to the Licensing Act 2003.

      Queen Elizabeth II: Anniversaries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Government have to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

      Television: Telephone Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many complaints she has received regarding television quizzes on Channel 5.

  • Treasury

    • Departments: Ministerial Responsibilities

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much time he expects to spend exercising his ministerial functions between 10 May and 27 June; (2) if he will list his public engagements for the...

    • Exports: Defence

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers are available to enforce (a) UN and (b) EU sanctions on export of goods with military applications to Sudan; what reports he has received of...

      General Registry Office for England and Wales: IT

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the operation of the IT system at the General Registry Office for England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

      Market in Financial Instruments Directive

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many EU member states have transposed the Market in Financial Instruments Directive into national legislation; and if he will make a statement.

      Smith Institute

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) Smith Institute and (b) SI Events Ltd events have been booked for No. 11 Downing street in (i) July and (ii) August 2007.

      Ministerial Meetings

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what matters he discussed with President Bush on his recent visit to Washington DC.

      VAT: New Businesses

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were tasked with processing new business VAT number applications in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales and Northern Ireland in each...

      VAT: New Businesses

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average length of time taken was to process new business VAT number applications in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales and Northern Ireland...

      VAT: New Businesses

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new businesses in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales and Northern Ireland applied for VAT numbers in each of the last 12 months.

  • Environment Food and Rural Affairs

    • Agriculture: Subsidies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farmers in Lancashire are owed (a) all and (b) part of single farm payments.

    • Agriculture: Subsidies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make a statement on the changes to eligibility for common land in the Single Farm Payment scheme.

      Departments: Paper

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of paper used (a) for photocopying and (b) in printed publications by his Department was from recycled...

      Gangmasters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what estimate he has made of the number of gangmasters in (a) Cambridgeshire, (b) Norfolk and (c) Lincolnshire; (2)...

      ICT: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total expenditure was from inception to termination on (a) the Catalyst Project and (b) the Phoenix IT Project;...

      Poppies: Licences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much revenue was generated from issuing the licences for the growing of poppies in each of the last three years; and how...

      Rural Development Programme: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what account he took of the size of the budget for the draft Rural Development Programme for England 2007 to 2013 in deciding...

      Rural Development Programme: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the England Implementation Group was asked to comment on the draft Rural Development Programme for England 2007-13...

      Sheep: Imports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many heavy lambs were imported into the UK in each month of the last two years.

      Wild Boar

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects (a) to finalise and (b) to publish his Department's policy on wild boar management.

  • Scotland

    • Departments: Computers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) instructions are issued to staff in his Department and (b) technical procedures are in place to shut down computers at night.

    • Departments: Official Hospitality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on hospitality by his Department in the financial year 2006-07.

      Departments: Sick Leave

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people took sick leave for stress in his Office in the last 12 months; and what percentage of the total staff number this represents.

      Oil: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the First Minister on the impact of fluctuations in oil prices on the Scottish economy.

  • International Development

    • Africa: Agriculture

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to improve food production rates in sub-Saharan Africa; and what steps have been taken to improve...

    • Africa: Infrastructure

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to help improve the (a) energy and (b) telecommunications infrastructure of impoverished...

      Developing Countries: Water

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to reduce pathogens in the water supply of impoverished countries.

      Palestininans: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid was given to the Palestinian Authority to spend on education in the latest period for which figures are available; and...

  • Work and Pensions

    • Departments: Official Hospitality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on hospitality by his Department in the financial year 2006-07.

    • Factories: Kirby

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the health and safety performance of Sonae (UK) Ltd following the change in management in October 2002.

      Financial Assistance Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who have already received payments from the Financial Assistance Scheme will be eligible for increased payments following the...

      Financial Assistance Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have received (a) 80 per cent., (b) 65 per cent. and (c) 50 per cent. of their expected core pension under the financial...

      Lone Parents: Income Support

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many lone parents (a) were claiming income support and (b) have been claiming income support for more than five years in May 1997.

      New Deal Schemes: Rotherham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Rotherham received assistance from the New Deal in each year since 1997.

      Occupational Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written statement of 28 March 2007, Official Report, columns 113-14WS, (1) how many of the estimated number of people with...

      Occupational Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written statement of 28 March 2007, Official Report, columns 113-14WS, on occupational pensions, (1) what estimate he has...

  • Education and Skills

    • Accountancy: Diplomas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) whether students pursuing the new business, administration and finance diploma will be able to gain qualifications in accounting as...

    • Adoption: West Midlands

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children were adopted in (a) Tamworth constituency, (b) Staffordshire, (c) the West Midlands and (d) England in each of the...

      Apprentices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many apprenticeships were started in each of the last 20 years.

      Children's Centres

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps have been taken to implement the recommendations in the National Audit Office report of December 2006 on Sure Start children's...

      Children's Centres

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of issuing precise practice guidance to children's centres; and if he will make a statement.

      Children's Centres

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress the Together for Children partnership has made in supporting and challenging local authority practice on children's centres;...

      Connexions Card

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Youth Opportunity Card pilot schemes are running; and what evaluation has taken place of the effectiveness of the schemes to date.

      Departments: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2007, Official Report, column 434W, on Departments: training, when he expects to write to the hon....

      Part-time Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what consultations he has undertaken since the publication of the Leitch Report with (a) the Open University, (b) Birkbeck College and...

      Part-time Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he has taken since the publication of the Leitch Report (a) to increase the number of employees who have access to part-time...

      Pre-school Education: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities are passing the funds allocated for the nursery education grant directly to...

      Pre-school Education: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations he has received on the possibility of funding for the nursery education grant passing directly from the Government to...

      Skills Pledge: Public Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which (a) central Government and (b) local government public sector employers with more than 1,000 staff will (i) be participating and...

      Written Questions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he expects to answer question 115982 on children of asylum seekers, tabled by the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green on 11 January.

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

    • Afghanistan: Uzbekistan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the Government of Uzbekistan on Uzbek nationals supporting Taliban forces in Afghanistan.

    • Burma: Ethnic Groups

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she is making to the government of Burma on the targeting of civilians in Karen State.

      Burma: Ethnic Groups

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she is taking in the UN Security Council to ensure the protection of civilians and relief workers in Burma, in...

      Estonia: Russia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Estonia on that country's relations with Russia.

      Estonia: Russia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has held with EU partners on relations between Russia and Estonia; and if she will make a statement.

      EU Aid: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) her Department's and (b) EU policy is on funding non-governmental organisations in other democratic countries which...

      European Constitution Treaty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will submit any constitutional treaty agreed by the European Union to a vote in the House before it is signed.

      European Constitution Treaty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will submit any EU treaty containing constitutional changes for the EU to a national referendum.

      Iran: Hezbollah

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received of Iranian attempts to rearm Hezbollah.

      Pakistan: Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when HM High Commission Islamabad plans to act upon the decision of the Immigration Judge in the successful appeal of Mrs. K. U....

      Rafik Hariri

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps she has taken to support the establishment of a tribunal into the murder of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Lebanon.

      Saudi Arabia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when (a) she has and (b) officials from her Department have met (i) Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud and (ii)...

      Saw Lee Reh Kyaw

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the execution of a Karenni humanitarian relief worker, Saw Lee Reh Kyaw, on 10 April.

      Sudan: International Relations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has made to the Government of (a) Russia and (b) China on their relationship with the Government of Sudan.

      Turkey: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she plans to discuss the human rights of the Christian community in Turkey with her Turkish counterpart; and if she will...

  • Justice

    • Abortion

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice if she will bring forward legislation to amend the Infant Life Preservation Act 1929 to reduce the period at which a foetus is presumed to be...

    • Abortion

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice if she will bring forward legislation to create an offence of deliberately (a) injuring and (b) killing an unborn child; what recent...

      Absent Voting: Hendon

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many postal votes were registered in Hendon on 1 May in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007; and if she will make a statement.

      Departments: Enodian

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what consultancy and research work her Department, including the Hayden Phillips review, has commissioned from the firm Enodian in the last 12...

      Departments: Manpower

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many staff in her Department are classified as people without posts.

      Departments: Sovereign Strategy

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials from her Department and its predecessor held with Sovereign Strategy in each year between...

      Domestic Violence: Foetal Death

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many pregnant women in England were physically assaulted by a partner or former partner which resulted in the death of the unborn child in...

      Elections: Fraud

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what estimate her Department has made of the incidence of electoral fraud in the form of treating of electors in the latest period for which...

      Electoral Administration Act 2006

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice if she will make a statement on the causes of the drafting errors in the Electoral Administration Act 2006 which have resulted in section 69(a)...

      Electoral Register: Armed Forces

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many service voters were registered to vote in each year since 1997 prior to the abolition of the designation of service voting.

      Norwich Prison

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice when she will publish a response to the report dated 10 May by HM Inspector of Prisons on HM Prison Norwich with (a) a detailed plan of and (b)...

      Prison Accommodation

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what the total operational capacity of the prison estate was in each month in 1997.

      Prison Service: Greater London

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many managed moves were announced for London (a) prison governors and (b) their deputies in each of the last two years; how many of these...

      Prison Service: Manpower

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many additional staff are planned to be recruited to ensure new facilities, including (a) new prison builds, (b) conversion of existing...

      Prison Service: Pay

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (1) when she expects the review of required hours allowance payments in HM Prison Service to be completed; what estimate she has made of the...

      Prison Service: Pay

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many breaches of the regulations relating to the use of (a) time off in lieu, (b) ex gratia payments and (c) other supplementary payments...

      Prison Service: Sick Leave

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many cases of HM Prison Service staff reporting absent as a result of work-related stress there were in each of the last four years; and if...

      Prison Service: Training

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what the legal requirements are for the provision of training for HM Prison Service staff managing informants; and if she will make a statement.

      Prisons: Smuggling

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for East Yorkshire (Mr. Knight) of 22 February 2007, Official Report, column 892W, on prisons:...

      Prisons: Standards

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many members of independent monitoring boards had their appointments terminated in each (a) HM Prison Service regional area and (b)...

      Prisons: Standards

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what (a) allowances and (b) expenses are available to members of independent monitoring boards; what the total cost of payments was to...

      Prisons: Swimming Pools

      To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice how many prisons have swimming pools for use by inmates; and if she will make a statement.

  • Health

    • Acute Beds

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staffed inpatient and day case beds there were in each major acute hospital in England in the latest period for which figures are available.

    • Arun Community Hospital

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2007, Official Report, column 1263W, on Arun Community hospital, to whom NHS South East Coast is accountable.

      Departments: Arms Length Management Organisations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by each of her Department's arm's length bodies on (a) public relations companies and (b) other consultants in each of the last three...

      Departments: Publications

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department commissioned new research to support the clinical case for change reports published by (a) the national adviser for surgery on 17...

      GPs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner consultations took place in each year since 1997-98.

      Health Professions: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what ongoing funding is provided by her Department to the Health Professions Council.

      Health Services: Public Participation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health why the consultation on the 10 core principles for those providing care to patients which her Department launched on 11 December 2006 differ from those on...

      Hospitals: Private Sector

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines she has issued to hospital trusts on (a) the provision by private companies of non-medical services for patients and (b) the level of...

      James Paget NHS Foundation Hospital

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget was for the James Paget NHS Foundation Hospital in each year for which figures are available.

      Morbidity and Mortality Statistics

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) morbidity and (b) infant mortality rates for (i) Gypsy, (ii) Traveller and (iii) white British populations were in (A) 1987, (B) 1997 and...

      NHS: Databases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) code and (b) title is of all data returns required by her Department from (i) NHS trusts, (ii) primary care trusts and (iii) strategic...

      NHS: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of removing targets from the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

      Primary Health Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the isolated contractual difficulties were with primary care services in some parts of the country referred to in paragraph 1.5.2 of her Department's...

      Private Finance Initiative

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 8 February 2006, Official Report, columns 1325-27W, on the private finance initiative, what the reasons are for the differences...

      Royal London Homeopathic Hospital

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to prevent the closure of the Royal London Homeopathic hospital.

      West Hertfordshire NHS Trust

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library the minutes of the meeting between her Department's officials and West Hertfordshire NHS Trust on 31 July 2006.

  • Duchy of Lancaster

    • Gift Aid

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on changes in the level of gift aid relief to charities.

    • Gift Aid

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the levels of gift aid to charities over the last two years.

      Olympics: Lottery Funding

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment she has made of the likely effect on third sector organisations of the reallocation of lottery funding to pay for the 2012 Olympics.

      Social Exclusion

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment she has made of the balance of costs and benefits of intervening in the early years of a child's life to prevent social exclusion.

      Local Government: Third Sector

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the relationship between local authorities and the third sector.

      Delivery Unit

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) pursuant to the answer of 17 April 2007, Official Report, column 537W, on the Delivery Unit, by what means the Prime Minister's Delivery...

      Delivery Unit

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit (a) is conducting and (b) has conducted in the last 12 months reviews of (i) the identity cards...

      Delivery Unit

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the objectives are of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit for 2007-08.

      Policy Review

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 24 April 2007, Official Report, column 1017W, on the Policy Review, which part of the answer given to the hon. Member...

      Public Appointments

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what public appointments she has made since her appointment as Chancellor.

  • Home Department

    • Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices were issued for (a) consumption of alcohol and (b) selling alcohol to under-age people in (i) Suffolk, (ii)...

    • Antisocial Behaviour: Bus Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has reviewed whether there should be an additional offence for throwing (a) stones and (b) other missiles at buses...

      Antisocial Behaviour: Bus Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department will consider whether throwing missiles at buses should be an aggravating factor in sentencing for criminal damage.

      Antisocial Behaviour: Bus Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average penalty handed down was for offences relating to throwing stones or other missiles at buses in each of the last five years.

      Antisocial Behaviour: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of area curfew schemes for young people to combat criminal and antisocial behaviour.

      Dangerous Dogs Act 1991

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many owners of dogs registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs have been prosecuted since 1991 under (a) section 3 of the Dangerous Dogs...

      Driving Offences: Foreigners

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people (a) charged and (b) convicted in each of the last five years (i) were not UK citizens, (ii) did not hold a valid British...

      Drug Interventions Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP) budget allocation is for each intensive DIP area in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

      Drug Interventions Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding was given to the Drug Interventions Programme in each year since 2003; and what funding he expects to allocate to the...

      Drug Interventions Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Drug Interventions Programme; and if he will make a statement.

      Human Trafficking

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken to co-ordinate policies on combating the trafficking of women.

      Human Trafficking

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives his Department is taking to combat people trafficking.

      Human Trafficking

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what definitions of human trafficking are given in UK legislation.

      K v. Parole Board

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice is being issued as a response to the case K v. Parole Board [EWHC 2413].

      Leyhill Prison

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he has made to the categories of prisoners eligible to be transferred to HMP Leyhill; and if he will make a statement.

      Offensive Weapons: Convictions

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) arrested for and (b) convicted of carrying knives in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

      Prisoners Release: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were released from prison on probation and subsequently returned to prison for breaking their conditions of probation in each...

      Prisoners: Repatriation

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his Department has made in discussions with other countries on the repatriation of their nationals from British prisons.

      Public Service: Crimes of Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) shop workers, (b) hospital staff, (c) bus drivers, (d) firemen, (e) police officers and (f) other public sector workers...

      Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to develop a strategic framework to address violence against women.

      Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) confiscations of handguns and (b) convictions for the possession of handguns there were in each police authority area in each...

      Written Questions

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to answer Question 129914, on education in prisons, tabled on 22nd March by the hon. Member for Taunton.

  • Defence

    • Afghanistan: Peace Keeping Operations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Afghanistan.

    • Armed Forces: Airports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will undertake a comprehensive airfield review.

      Armed Forces: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Forest of Dean of 7 March 2007, Official Report, column 1981W, on armed forces housing, which Housing...

      Armed Forces: Mass Media

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the independently-led review of media access to serving personnel referred to in his oral statement of 16 April and his written statement of 24...

      Armed Forces: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of training exercises were cancelled in 2006-07.

      Armed Forces: Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) SA-80 rifles, (b) 105 mm light guns and (c) armoured vehicles, broken down by type are (i) required and (ii) available for training.

      Armed Forces: Welfare Support

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what professional qualifications are held by the full-time staff who direct specialist welfare support for service personnel and their dependent...

      Army Board: Cost Effectiveness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the annual running costs of the (a) households and (b) offices of non-ministerial members of the Army Board were last audited.

      Army: Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2007, Official Report, column 50W, on the Army: costs, what the reasons were for the amount spent on maintenance of...

      Army: Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 April 2007, Official Report, column 142W, on the Army: manpower, what the differences are between the roles of a mess...

      Army: Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the Army manpower target.

      Army: Official Residences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sporting facilities are available at the residences paid for by his Department of the (a) Adjutant General, (b) Chief of the General Staff, (c)...

      Bridges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many quick construction bridges are stock-piled for civil contingencies and emergencies; and what estimate he has made of the number required.

      Chief of Defence Materiel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what foreign visits have been made by the Chief of Defence Materiel since January 2005.

      Defence Export Services Organisation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2007, Official Report, columns 960-1W, on the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO), how much has been spent...

      Defence Medical Services: Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Defence Medical Services consultants are (a) not currently employed in consultant posts and (b) in consultant posts which will end within six...

      Defence: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on defence research and development in each year since 1997.

      Hercules Aircraft

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who in his Department was responsible for (a) writing the specification for the fitting of explosive suppressant foam to UK Hercules aircraft and (b)...

      HMS Sussex: Gold

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what value of gold has been recovered from HMS Sussex.

      HMS Temeraire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to dispose of the site of HMS Temeraire; and whether the site is included in the Naval Base Review.

      Iran: Detainees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) 5.56 mm and (b) 9 mm rounds were carried by each of the 15 service personnel detained by the Iranians in March 2007.

      Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps will be taken to replace the UK helicopters involved in a collision north of Baghdad on 14 April 2007.

      Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British military personnel serving in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan (i) were casevacced from theatre, (ii) were injured by enemy action and...

      Iraq: Peace Keeping Operations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcome was of the investigation into the shooting of demonstrators for jobs at Al-Amarah in January 2004; and if he will make a statement.

      Mercenaries: Iraq

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what training in human rights legislation was given to (a) UK troops and (b) private military companies engaged by the UK before they commenced...

      Military Aircraft: Helicopters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what types of helicopter are on order for (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Army.

      Navy: Land

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions (a) the Royal Navy and (b) the Defence Property Agency have had with Portsmouth university about disposals of departmental (i)...

      Nimrod Aircraft

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the initial findings of the Royal Air Force board of inquiry into the loss of the Nimrod XV230 over Kandahar Province in...

      Nuclear Weapons Treaties

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2007, Official Report, column 67, to the hon. Member for Gower, on nuclear weapons treaties, which of the nuclear...

      RAF Dishforth

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the long-term future of Dishforth Airfield.

      RAF Dishforth: Lynx Helicopters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects the Lynx helicopter fleet to move to Dishforth airfield; (2) when he expects the Lynx helicopters to be deployed at Dishforth airfield.

      RAF Leeming

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the communications hub to open at RAF Leeming.

      RAF Leeming

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the communications hub at RAF Leeming to come into effect.

      Veterans Day

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many queries the service personnel and veterans agency has received about National Veterans Day 2007.

  • Deputy Prime Minister

    • Modern Slavery

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to encourage his international counterparts to abolish modern forms of slavery.

    • Animal Rights Activists

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he has taken to oversee and co-ordinate Government policy in relation to animal rights activists.

      China

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent visit to China.

      China

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action is being taken by the China taskforce to improve operation between the UK and China.

      European Policy

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he last met the Minister for Europe to co-ordinate Government policy on Europe.

  • House of Lords

    • Abortion

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to Lord Patten on 29 March (WA 291), which research studies indicate that only a small minority of women...

    • Abortion

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 29 March (WA 291), whether they will provide the dates of publication and all the research studies to...

      Afghanistan: Attacks

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is their response to the present level and intensity of attacks on British advanced bases in Afghanistan.

      Afghanistan: Combat Stress

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What studies have been made of the likely levels of combat stress among members of the British Armed Forces who have served in Afghanistan.

      Afghanistan: Vector Patrol Vehicles

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many men and pieces of equipment the Vector patrol vehicle can carry compared to the armoured Land Rover.

      Afghanistan: Women

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What assistance they are providing to the Government of Afghanistan to combat violence against women and improve family planning and maternal health; and whether...

      Airports: Security Measures

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is their assessment of the impact of the current security measures on transit times at Heathrow Airport; and What is their assessment of the impact of the...

      Airports: Security Measures

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What are the guidelines to security staff at Heathrow Airport on how many spot checks should be carried out.

      Airports: Security Measures

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is their assessment of the risk that a passenger in a United Kingdom airport could pass through the walk-through security undetected with sufficient liquids...

      Airports: Security Measures

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Why passengers in transit at United Kingdom airports are required to go through secondary security arrangements when they have already been through security...

      Armed Forces: Internment Procedure

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the document entitled 1QLR Internment procedure, dated 9 July 2003, as disclosed at the recent court...

      Aviation: Air Safety

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they have made an assessment of the ability of the European Aviation Safety Agency to ensure high standards of air safety within United Kingdom air...

      Aviation: Air Safety

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the United Kingdom remains sovereign in the management of air safety matters with United Kingdom air carriers and in United Kingdom airspace.

      Aviation: Air Safety

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What powers they possess to appoint, discipline or dismiss officials within the European Aviation Safety Agency for incompetence or failure to ensure the safety of...

      Aviation: Cabin Baggage

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What steps they will take to inform international passengers in transit through United Kingdom airports of the maximum allowance of one item of cabin baggage per...

      Bees

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they have made any reassessment, since the Written Answer by Lord Whitty on 24 March 2004 (WA 104), of the economic value of honey bees as pollinators.

      Bees

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they have assessed the possible causes of colony collapse disorder (CCD) among honey bees; whether they have estimated the economic and environmental cost...

      Bees

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What budget they have allocated to the National Bee Unit each year since 1997; what proportion of that budget has been for research; and what other contributions...

      Bees

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will support further research into the varroa mite to assist in further understanding honey bee colony collapse disorder.

      British Coal Compensation

      asked Her Majesty's Government: In connection with the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and British Coal white finger litigation, which firms of solicitors made deductions from...

      Court Martial: Disclosure

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Attorney-General on 27 March (WA 255), whether the documents to which he refers in that Answer will now be published.

      Elections: Registration

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is their evaluation of the relative merits of household registration and individual registration in providing safeguards against electoral fraud and abuse.

      Energy: Interconnector

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What further National Grid electricity interconnector openings will be announced in the next 12 months with countries such as France, Holland, Germany, Belgium and...

      EU: European Council

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Which Ministers will be attending the European Council on 22 and 23 June along with the Prime Minister.

      EU: United Nations Representation

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What assessment they have made of the suggestion that the European Union should hold a single seat in the United Nations Security Council with or without any...

      European Convention on Human Rights

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many Council of Europe member countries have ratified Protocol 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights.

      European Convention on Human Rights

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Which Council of Europe member countries, other than the United Kingdom, have not ratified Protocol 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights.

      Galileo Project

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the current status of the European Union Galileo project; and whether it will have any military purpose.

      Health: Aortic Aneurysm

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What estimate they have made of how many lives might be saved annually if universal availability of screening for aortic aneurysm in men aged 65 or over was rolled...

      Health: Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What assessment they have made of the contribution of specialist gastroenterologist nurses to the provision of treatment and care for patients with ulcerative...

      Health: Unlicensed Medicines

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What powers are available to trading standards officers to prevent the marketing to United Kingdom mainland consumers of unlicensed medicinal products by companies...

      Housing: Low Carbon Buildings

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Science and Innovation, Malcolm Wicks, on 14 April (Official Report, 175W), why grants under the low...

      Housing: Sustainable Buildings

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they plan to hold new discussions with United Kingdom construction industry representatives regarding changes in building regulations, especially to part...

      Iraq: Death Penalty

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will make representations to the Government of Iraq to encourage them to abolish the use of the death penalty.

      Iraq: Helicopters

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What category of damage the two United Kingdom Puma helicopters sustained in the collision north of Baghdad on 15 April; and when each is expected to be available...

      Iraq: Refugees

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What was the outcome of the recent United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees conference in Geneva concerning refugees from Iraq and those internally displaced...

      Israel and Palestine

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will seek to initiate a new United Nations Security Council resolution to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Israeli occupation of the Palestinian...

      Israel and Palestine

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is their estimate of the impact on the Middle East peace process of proposals by United Kingdom academies to boycott Israeli universities, in view of the...

      Kosovo

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What assessment they have made of the likely impact the creation of an independent Kosovo would have on international organised crime within its frontiers.

      Licensing: Music

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether, in view of Mr Dominic Cronin's e-petition having received the most signatures of any e-petition currently accepting signatures on the 10 Downing Street...

      Museums

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What assessment they have made of Waltham Forest Council's proposed cut in funding for the William Morris Gallery and Vestry House Museum.

      People Trafficking

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What steps they will take to encourage other states in the Council of Europe to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human...

      Police: Northern Ireland

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many Police Service of Northern Ireland officers were injured, and how seriously, in the incident near Crossmaglen on 8 November 2006; and how many people were...

      Railways: Modernisation

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What plans they have to ensure that United Kingdom rail modernisation and high-speed technology investment keep up with the current linkage and enhancement plans...

      Sudan: Darfur

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will make representations to the Government of Sudan about the suspension of 52 local non-governmental organisations working in the southern area of...

      Sudan: Darfur

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What representations they will make to the Governments of Russia and China regarding the report published by Amnesty International that Russia and China have...

      Tourism: European Social Fund

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What assessment they have made of the priorities of the new European Social Fund programme in respect of the United Kingdom's tourism and hospitality industries;...

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.

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