Written answers

Wednesday, 23 April 2008

  • Prime Minister

    • Downing Street Political Office

      To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2007, Official Report, columns 848-9W, on the Downing Street Political Office, when the post of Administrator of the Downing Street...

    • History: Publications

      To ask the Prime Minister how many Government-sponsored, official histories are in preparation; when each was commissioned; who the authors are; what the estimated date of completion is in each...

      Mobile Phones

      To ask the Prime Minister how many mobile telephones he has been provided with since becoming Prime Minister.

  • Scotland

    • Barnett Formula

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the use to which the Barnett formula paper will be put.

    • Barnett Formula

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the use of the Barnett formula paper.

      Gas Production

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on policy to encourage new gas production in the West of Shetland area.

      Nuclear Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the First Minister on the contribution made by nuclear power to Scotland's energy needs.

      Gross Domestic Product

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the most recent gross domestic product growth figures for Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

      International Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the First Minister on the co-ordination of international development work by the Scottish Executive and the Department...

      Subsea Oil and Gas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the value of the sub-sea oil and gas sector in the North Sea to the Scottish economy.

      Executive Grant

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the likely change to the grant to the Scottish Executive in the next Comprehensive Spending Review period.

      National Minimum Wage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on the effects on people in Scotland of the national minimum wage.

  • International Development

    • Departmental Publications

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2008, Official Report, column 737W, on departmental publications, if he will place in the Library a...

    • Developing Countries: Economic Growth

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government have taken in the last year to assist developing countries to (a) manage economic growth and (b) deal with...

  • Northern Ireland

    • Departmental Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2008, Official Report, columns 734-35W, in what capacity each of the temporary staff referred to in the table...

    • Disabled

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what targets his Department has set in relation to its employment of people with disabilities over the next five years.

      Ira

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will hold discussions with the leaders of Sinn Fein following the forthcoming independent monitoring commission report on the timing of an...

  • Women and Equality

  • Wales

    • Electronic Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether mechanisms are in place to monitor the extent to which his Department's (a) internal and (b) external (i) correspondence and (ii) distribution of...

  • House of Commons Commission

    • Cromwell Green Entrance

      To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission when the Commission's review of lessons learned from the Visitor Reception Building project will be completed;...

    • Cromwell Green Entrance

      To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) of 12 December 2007, Official...

      Drinking Water

      To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) of 31 March 2008, Official Report, column...

      Meat

      To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether the Refreshment Department purchases its (a) pork and (b) bacon from British sources.

  • Culture Media and Sport

    • Broadcasting: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his timetable is for the implementation of the transmission standard DVB-T2.

    • Departmental Public Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding was provided to (a) museums, galleries and libraries, (b) the arts, (c) sport and (d) heritage from (i) the public...

      Journalism: Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his policy is on the harmonisation of regulations affecting newspaper and broadcast reporting; and if he will make a statement.

  • Transport

    • Biofuels: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she plans to introduce mandatory minimum standards for biofuels used to comply with the renewable transport fuel obligations; and if she will make...

    • Departmental Sick Leave

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of her Department's staff took more than (a) five, (b) 10, (c) 15, (d) 20, (e) 25, (f) 30, (g) 35 and (h) 40 days leave due to stress...

      Karian and Box

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the value was of each contract awarded by her Department and its predecessors to Karian and Box since 1997.

      M25: M3

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the experiment with revised lane arrangements at the junction between the M25 and the M3 is expected to end; what timetable she has for making...

      Railways: Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on (a) road and (b) rail improvement projects in each Government region in each of the last five years; and if she will make a...

  • Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

    • Audio Equipment: Licensing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make it his policy to introduce a system for the licensing of new wireless microphones and in-ear monitor...

    • Departmental Information and Communications Technology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2008, Official Report, column 328W, on departmental ICT, what categories of data...

      Departmental Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his Department's expenditure on (a) salaries for those in permanent civil service posts, (b) salaries for those...

      Energy: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2008, Official Report, column 334W, on renewable energy: finance, whether his...

      Fuel Poverty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the effects of the cost of (a) heating oil and (b) other fuels on levels of fuel...

      Solar Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what progress his Department is making towards the Government's goal of catching up with solar photovoltaic programmes...

      Video Games

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many (a) UK-owned and (b) non-UK owned video games development companies were based in the UK in each year since...

  • Duchy of Lancaster

    • Working Hours

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the average number of hours worked by (a) full-time and (b) part-time employees per week was in the latest period for which figures are...

  • Environment Food and Rural Affairs

    • Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at how many events held by his Department (a) wine and (b) Fairtrade wine were served in the last three years; and what...

    • Departmental ICT

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he has given advice to staff in his Department to switch off personal computers when not in use.

      Departmental ICT

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2008, Official Report, column 1855W on departmental ICT, to the hon. Member for...

      Departmental Legislation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criminal offences have been abolished by primary legislation sponsored by his Department and its predecessors since May 1997.

      Departmental Legislation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what criminal offences have been created by primary legislation sponsored by his Department since July 2007.

      Departmental Official Cars

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what make and model of car (a) he and (b) each Minister in his Department selected as their official ministerial car; and...

      Departmental Property

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Angus of 19 March 2008, Official Report, columns 1124-26W, on departmental...

      JP Morgan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its predecessors paid to JP Morgan in each year since 1997; and what the purpose of each payment was.

      Karian and Box

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value was of each contract awarded by his Department and its predecessors to Karian and Box since 1997.

      Natural England: Sites of Special Scientific Interest

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to publish the model byelaw to enable Natural England to use its powers under section 28R of the Wildlife and...

      Television

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2008, Official Report, column 2727W, on television, what the cost was of the four plasma...

      Temporary Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many agency staff are currently employed by (a) his Department, (b) the Environment Agency and (c) his Department's...

      Zurich Financial Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its predecessors paid to Zurich Financial Services in each year since 1997; and what the purpose...

  • Treasury

    • Capital Gains Tax

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse was of (a) halving relief and (b) changing the indexation allowance for capital gains tax in the last year for which...

    • Financial Inclusion Fund: Citizens Advice

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funding Citizens Advice will receive from the Financial Inclusion Fund in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford's letter of 27 February 2008 concerning Mr B. Clarke of Walford Place, Chelmsford, sent to the...

      Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely effects of recent changes in the taxation regime affecting void properties on small investors with property in...

      Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the introduction of rate relief in respect of empty commercial properties where properties remain unlet in areas which...

      Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the change in revenue to the Exchequer arising from the higher rate of taxation affecting void properties in the next 12 months.

      Redundancy Pay: Taxation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was paid by individuals on severance payments received upon the termination of their employment in 2006-07.

      Stamp Duty Land Tax

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated annual cost to the public purse is of the introduction of the zero-carbon homes stamp duty land tax relief for new flats.

      Taxation: Gambling

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which licensed gambling activities are subject to both value added tax and gross profits tax.

      Welfare Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number and percentage of cases in which inaccurate documents were deliberately submitted to HM Revenue and Customs by tax...

  • Defence

    • Armed Forces Benefits Calculator

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of the armed forces benefits calculator; what the operating costs of the scheme are estimated to be; and if he will...

    • Armed Forces Benefits Calculator

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the (a) objectives, (b) evaluation and (c) criteria for assessment used in the preparation of the Armed Forces...

      Armed Forces Benefits Calculator

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what methodology was used to prepare the figures underpinning the Armed Forces Benefits Calculator; and if he will make a statement.

      Armed Forces Benefits Calculator

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what courses are available as (a) standard learning credit and (b) advanced learning credit as part of the Armed Forces Benefits Calculator; and if he...

      Armed Forces: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on promoting recruitment to the armed forces overseas in each year since 2003.

      Departmental Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts were awarded by his Department to (a) KPMG, (b) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (c) Ernst and Young, (d) McKinsey, (e) Deloitte and (f)...

      Departmental Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) permanent civil service posts, (b) permanent non-civil Service posts and (c) temporary or agency workers in employment there were in his...

      Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) the UK's special envoy to Iraq had with representatives of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq on...

      JP Morgan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department paid to JP Morgan in each year since 1997; and what the purpose of each payment was.

      Zurich Financial Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department paid to Zurich Financial Services in each year since 1997; and what the purpose of the payment was in each case.

  • Innovation, Universities and Skills

    • Departmental Legislation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what criminal offences have been abolished by primary legislation sponsored by his Department and its predecessors since May 1997.

    • Departmental Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the cost of (a) salaries for permanent Civil Service posts, (b) salaries for permanent non-Civil Service posts and...

      Departmental Sick Leave

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many days sick leave were taken on average by staff in his Department since its establishment.

      Departmental Sick Leave

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many of his Department's staff took more than (a) five, (b) 10, (c) 15, (d) 20, (e) 25, (f) 30, (g) 35 and (h) 40...

      Departmental Temporary Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many full-time posts in his Department were filled on a temporary basis for a period in excess of six months in each year...

      Higher Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) how many and what proportion of people from each UCAS tariff band from each socio-economic group (a) were applicants...

      Higher Education: Admissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what information his Department holds on (a) the targets each member of the Russell Group of Universities has set itself for...

      Higher Education: Scholarships

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of levels of awareness of the availability of bursaries and scholarships for higher education;...

      Midwifery Students

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) how many midwifery students there were in each year since 1997; (2) when he plans to answer Question 183633, tabled on...

      Students: Identity Cards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether international and overseas students will have to be in possession of or use an identity card in order to access study...

  • Work and Pensions

    • Departmental Industrial Health and Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many reports by each (a) Government Department and (b) Executive agency of incidents were made under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases...

    • Departmental Leaflets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what arrangements are made for customer testing of the public information leaflets issued by his Department; and what proposals there are for...

      Departmental Marketing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on publicity and advertising in 2007-08.

      Departmental Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when his Department plans to publish its sustainable operations policy statement.

      Health and Safety Executive: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people employed by the Health and Safety Executive had salaries between (a) £20,000 to £30,000, (b) £30,000 to...

      Health and Safety Executive: Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pension of the Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Executive. [Official...

      Health and Safety Executive: Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what pension scheme is offered to staff joining the Health and Safety Executive; what the rate of employer contributions to the scheme is; and...

      Industrial Diseases: Compensation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a mesothelioma compensation claim made under the provisions of the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill will be required to be...

      Industrial Health and Safety: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people employed in the construction industry in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK...

      Industrial Health and Safety: Fines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what average fine was imposed in (a) the North East and (b) the UK on employers for breaches of health and safety regulations in each year...

      Industrial Health and Safety: Sentencing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employer representatives were given custodial sentences for offences for failing to comply with health and safety legislation in each...

      Remploy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) disabled and (b) non-disabled people Remploy employed in its factories on 31 March.

      Remploy: Company Cars

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what regulations cover the provision of company cars for senior management in Remploy.

      Social Security Benefits: Inverness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed benefits in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency in each year since 1997, broken down by benefit claimed.

      Social Security Benefits: Inverness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what the take-up rate of each benefit in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency was in each year since 1997; (2) what...

  • Children, Schools and Families

    • Children: Language

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of children attending (a) daycare and (b) sessions with a childminder spoke English as a second...

    • Departmental Flexible Working

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of staff in his Department and its predecessors had flexible working arrangements in each year since 1997.

      Departmental Higher Civil Servants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of his Department's and its predecessors' senior civil service staff were women in each year since 1997.

      Departmental Legislation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what criminal offences have been abolished by primary legislation sponsored by his Department and its predecessors since May 1997.

      Departmental Legislation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what criminal offences have been created by primary legislation sponsored by his Department since July 2007.

      Departmental Part-Time Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of staff in his Department and its predecessors worked part-time in each year since 1997.

      Departmental Redundancy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2008, Official Report, column 1269W, on departmental redundancy, what the cost was of...

      Departmental Vetting

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department has taken to ensure that (a) paid staff and (b) volunteers are subject to a Criminal Records Bureau...

      Departmental Written Questions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress his Department has made on its Parliamentary Question tracking system to record whether named day questions are...

      Education: Assessments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the pilot Stage Not Age tests; and if he will make a statement.

      Education: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on educational research in each of the last five years.

      Home Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the number of children under the age of 16 years who were home educated in each year since 1997.

      Languages: General Certificate of Secondary Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many non-selective mainstream maintained schools entered 90 per cent. or more of their eligible pupils for a modern...

      Parents: Advisory Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost of parenting advisers in each year from 2008-09 to 2011-12; what their function will be; and...

      Pre-School Education: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of childcare staff in nurseries had an appropriate level 3 or higher qualification in (a)...

      Press

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many press office staff were employed by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies...

      Primary Education: Teachers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the minimum qualifications to (a) enter training to become and (b) take up employment as a teacher in a primary school are;...

      Pupil Exclusions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many schools gave fixed-period exclusions to (a) more than five per cent. and (b) more than 10 per cent. of their...

      Pupil Exclusions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what evidence his Department holds on the effect of fixed period exclusions on pupil behaviour; and if he will make a statement.

      Reading: Teaching Methods

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what his policy is on (a) systematic and (b) synthetic phonics; and if he will make a statement; (2) what research his...

      Schools: Catering

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which local authorities have applied for exceptional capital funding for new kitchens in schools as announced in December 2007;...

      Schools: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he intends to announce the results of the recent applications for funding from the basic needs allocation safety valve Fund.

      Schools: Governing Bodies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has to reduce the size of school governing bodies; and if he will make a statement.

      Schools: Recycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of waste from schools was recycled in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003, (d) 2004, (e) 2005, (f) 2006 and (g) 2007.

      Schools: Sports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what average time was spent by school children on physical education, broken down by year group, in each year for which figures...

      Schools: Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the number of schools that use (a) occupancy/daylight saving light sensors, (b) infra-red operated...

      Schools: Water

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was spent by schools on water services in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003, (d) 2004, (e) 2005, (f) 2006 and (g) 2007.

      Schools: Water

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much waste water was produced by schools in (a) 2001, (b) 2002, (c) 2003, (d) 2004, (e) 2005, (f) 2006 and (g) 2007.

      Secondary Education: Assessments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in how many schools more than 50 per cent. of pupils did not gain level 5 or above in a combination of reading, writing and...

      Secondary Education: Teaching Methods

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families by what date he expects every secondary school child to have a personal tutor; and if he will make a statement.

      Teachers: Qualifications

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people employed as teachers in Milton Keynes Local Education Authority area have only qualifications obtained abroad.

      Textbooks

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his policy is on allowing pupils to take school textbooks home.

  • Communities and Local Government

    • Allotments: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the funding provided for allotments; what mechanisms are in place to...

    • Building Regulations: Public Participation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she expects to launch a public consultation on amendments to the Building Regulations; and whether such consultations will...

      Conference Centres: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department provides any (a) capital and (b) revenue support to any conference or exhibition centre; and if she will...

      Council Tax: Students

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether doctoral postgraduate students during their six month thesis write up stage are classed as full-time students and...

      Council Tax: Tax Yields

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Bromley of 5 March 2008, Official Report, column 2498W, on council tax: tax...

      Departmental ICT

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) start date, (b) original planned completion date, (c) current expected completion date, (d) planned cost and...

      Eco-Towns: Leicestershire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much and what proportion of the area within Harborough District that is proposed to be occupied by the eco-town promoted by...

      Housing: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new homes have been built since the zero rate of stamp duty for zero-carbon homes was introduced.

      Housing: Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will estimate the impact on housing prices of the level of immigration projected by the Government Actuary's Department.

      Housing: Inspections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what qualifications domestic energy assessors are required to have before administering the home information pack scheme; and...

      Non-Domestic Rates

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive scheme for 2008-09 will include incentive payment for additional business...

      Parish Councils: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many submissions to the consultation on the Community Infrastructure Levy referred to the potential access of parish...

      Property: Valuation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 31 January 2007, Official Report, column 315W, on the Valuation Office, how domestic dwellings...

      Recreation Spaces: Databases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the green space database will be (a) completed and (b) available for use by local authorities in relation to allotments.

      Regional Planning and Development: Fines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) of 20 March 2008, Official Report, column 1378W, on...

      Regional Planning and Development: Greenwich Peninsula

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her most recent estimate is of the revenue which will accrue to the public purse from the redevelopment of the Greenwich...

      Written Questions: Government Responses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to answer Question 197946 on flood damage, tabled on 26 March 2008.

  • Justice

    • Administration of Justice: Inspections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many times the contract of the Chief Inspector of (a) prisons, (b) probation and (c) court administration has been extended without a competitive...

    • Administration of Justice: Inspections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average length of service of chief inspectors of (a) court administration, (b) probation and (c) prisons have been since the inception of the...

      Departmental Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has adopted the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme or plans to do so in the next 12 months.

      Departmental Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department met the target in the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate to reverse the then upward trend in carbon emissions by...

      Departmental Internet

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on the most recent redesign and implementation of his Departmental website.

      Departmental Sick Leave

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many working days were lost by his Department due to stress-related illness in each of the last 24 months.

      Departmental Sick Leave

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many of his Department's staff took more than (a) five, (b) 10, (c) 15, (d) 20, (e) 25, (f) 30, (g) 35 and (h) 40 days leave due to stress in...

      Departmental Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department is on course to meet the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate targets (a) to source at least 10 per cent. of its...

      Departmental Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department is working towards an accredited certified environmental management system (a) for its whole estate and (b) in some of its buildings.

      Prisoners: Databases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of people detained in prison who are not recorded on the detentions database; and what information is held by his...

      Prisoners: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many in-patient beds in prisons were occupied by prisoners for non-medical reasons in each month of each of the last five years for which figures are...

      Prisons: Cells

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were (a) doubling up in cells designed for one and (b) trebling up in cells designed for two in each prison in England and Wales at...

      Prisons: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure the reliability of figures on prisoners' hours of purposeful activity provided by prisons.

      Prisons: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average number of hours of purposeful activity per week for each (a) male and (b) female prisoner over the age of retirement was in each of...

      Prisons: Video Equipment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the merits of using the video-link equipment available in prisons to record interviews between police and imprisoned witnesses.

      Prisons: Wrexham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 3 April 2008, Official Report, columns 1188-9W, on prisons: Wales, on how many occasions representatives of NOMS custodial...

      Weare Prison

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the mooring fees were for HMP Weare prison ship in the latest period for which figures are available.

      Weare Prison

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice from which heading of his Department's budget the mooring fees for HMP Weare prison ship are paid.

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

    • BBC External Services: Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the headcount of the BBC World Service and the Russian language service was in each of the last five years.

    • Cameroon: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Development on aid to Cameroon.

      Cameroon: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Cameroonian President on presidential term limits.

      Commonwealth Scholarship Commission: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which organisations were consulted by his Department prior to decisions to (a) terminate support for the Commonwealth...

      Commonwealth: Scholarships

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he has made to continue opportunities for collaboration between Commonwealth countries in hosting students...

      Ethiopia: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his counterparts in the Government of Ethiopia on security and observance of human...

      Ethiopia: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the extent of observance of human rights in the Somali region of Ethiopia.

      Indonesia: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the treatment by the Government of Indonesia of (a) West Papuan protesters and (b) those...

      Iraq: Oil

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the probity of the procedures for the passage of the oil and gas law in Iraq.

      Kosovo: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the criteria are under the UN Charter under which the Government recognised the independence of Kosovo.

      Kosovo: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of the United Nations have not recognised the independence of Kosovo.

      Kosovo: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he plans to make to the proposal tabled at the United Nations by the Government of Serbia that the part of Kosovo...

      Malta: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2008, Official Report, column 140W, on Malta: health services, if he will place in the...

      Middle East: Armed Conflict

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) his officials have had with the President of the...

      Middle East: Armed Conflict

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) the UK and (b) other countries through the UN (i) have organised and (ii) plan to organise medical aid to assist...

      Syria: Foreign Relations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contact the Government has had with the Government of Syria; and if he will make a statement.

  • Health

    • Breast Cancer: Screening

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate for breast cancer re-screening within 36 months was in (a) England, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) the Leeds/Wakefield screening area in each...

    • Cardiovascular System: Screening

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged between 40 and 74 years of age received a vascular risk assessment in 2007.

      Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has recently issued on the diagnosing of myalgic encephalomyelitis.

      Commission for Social Care Inspection: Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pension of the Chief Inspector of the Commission for Social Care Inspection; (2)...

      Continuing Care: Essex

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps the Government have taken to ensure that those in the Mid Essex Primary Care Trust area entitled to continuing NHS healthcare are...

      Dental Services: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost (a) per patient and (b) per visit for emergency dental treatment at a dental access centre in Milton Keynes has been since their...

      Departmental Legislation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what criminal offences have been abolished by primary legislation sponsored by his Department since May 1997; (2) what criminal offences have been...

      Developing Patient Partnerships Programme: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason his Department decided to cease funding for the Developing Patient Partnerships programme; and what arrangements have been made for the...

      Eyesight: Testing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of people aged 60 and over had an NHS sight test in the last year for which figures are available.

      Forced Marriage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring and evaluation his Department carries out on the implementation of its guidance on forced marriages; and if he will make a statement.

      Health Professions: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are under consideration by his Department to ensure that strategic health authorities meet their service level agreement commitments...

      Health Services: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many bids he has received for designation as an Academic Health Services Centre; and what criteria will apply to determining the outcome of such bids.

      Medical Records: Disclosure of Information

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) whether his Department has published guidance on the duty of foundation trusts to release medical records to the next of kin of a patient who has...

      NHS: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether changes to the unsocial hours payment were agreed in the 2004 agenda for change.

      NHS: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has informed NHS staff of the changes to unsocial hours payment.

      NHS: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings he has had with (a) Unison, (b) the Royal College of Nursing and (c) other representative bodies on the changes to the unsocial hours...

      NHS: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent changes he has made to the unsocial hours payment; and if he will break down the percentage change by (a) pay band and (b) staff role.

      NHS: Public Participation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quantitative public opinion research has been commissioned as part of the NHS next stage review.

      NHS: Public Participation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the formula is for funding local involvement networks; and what the (a) unweighted funding per council and (b) unweighted funding per 100 people is...

      NHS: Reorganisation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the evidential basis is for Lord Darzi's assessment in his interim report that the NHS is perhaps two-thirds of the way through its reform programme...

      Nurses: Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2008, Official Report, column 2392W, on nurses: schools, (1) if he will break down the number of full-time equivalent...

      Nurses: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will undertake to restore the underspend by strategic health authorities on multi-professional education and training, with particular reference to...

      Nurses: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that strategic health authorities spend their full budget allocation on nurse training.

      Nurses: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the aggregated underspend on nurse training over the last five years.

      Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Perinatal Mortality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many instances of perinatal mortality there were in Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust in each year since 2001; and if he will...

  • Home Department

    • Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were (a) cautioned, (b) prosecuted and (c) given a penalty notice for disorder for buying or attempting to buy alcohol...

    • Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many instances there were of alcohol found in the possession of children being seized in accordance with section 1 of the Confiscation of...

      Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) cautioned, (b) prosecuted and (c) given a penalty notice for disorder for buying or attempting to buy alcohol on...

      Antisocial Behaviour Orders

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were (a) issued and (b) breached since 31 December 2005, broken down by criminal justice system area.

      Asylum

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library copies of information provided about the Case Resolution Directorate to the legal representatives of...

      Crimes of Violence: Dorset

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of violence against the person were recorded in West Dorset constituency in each of the last five years.

      Crimes of Violence: Hertfordshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes involving violence against a person were recorded in (a) South West Hertfordshire and (b) Watford constituency in each of...

      Crimes of Violence: Market Harborough

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of violence against the person were recorded in Harborough constituency in each of the last five years.

      Criminal Records: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 18 years gained a criminal record in each year since 1997.

      Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at how many events held by her Department (a) wine and (b) Fairtrade wine were served in the last three years; and what assessment her...

      Departmental Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has adopted the Carbon Trust's Carbon Management Programme or plans to do so in the next 12 months.

      Departmental Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department met the target in the sustainable operations on the Government estate to reverse the then upward trend in carbon...

      Departmental Fixed Penalties

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty tickets were incurred by vehicles within the purview of her Department in the last five years; and what the total cost was.

      Departmental Public Relations

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many external contracts her Department held with public relations companies in each of the last 10 years; and what the total cost of...

      Departmental Publications

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is issued to members of her Department on the authorship and publication on the internet of material relating to their official...

      Departmental Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department is on course to meet the sustainable operations on the Government estate targets (a) to source at least 10 per cent....

      Departmental Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department is working towards an accredited certified environmental management system (a) for its whole estate and (b) in some...

      Deportation: EU Countries

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will raise in the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council the procedures for notifying other member states when a member state deports an...

      Domestic Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been made under the domestic violence rule; and how many have included children in the last three years.

      Entry Clearance: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to the answer of 14 January 2008, Official Report, column 1048W, on entry clearances: employment, if she will give a breakdown by...

      Genetics: Databases

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people living in Romford were registered on the national DNA database at the most recent date for which figures are available.

      Heathrow Airport: Security

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason it was decided to take fingerprint impressions from domestic transfer passengers at Heathrow airport; and what use was to be...

      Illegal Immigrants: China

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Chinese people have been arrested during raids carried out under the stop illegal working campaign; how many of those were found to...

      Illegal Immigrants: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many of the raids conducted under the stop illegal working campaign were the illegal workers discovered of predominantly (a) Chinese,...

      Immigrants: Personal Records

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data her Department collects from landing cards completed by migrants arriving in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

      Immigration: Detainees

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is issued to police forces on the holding of immigration detainees in police cells; and if she will place in the Library a copy...

      Immigration: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will amend the Fees Regulations for applications for indefinite leave to remain to allow for payment by instalments in exceptional...

      Immigration: Forced Marriage

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data her Department collects in respect of immigration applications arising from forced marriage.

      Immigration: Forms

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what forms individuals seeking (a) indefinite leave to remain, (b) asylum, (c) visa entry to the UK and (d) UK citizenship are required...

      Karian and Box

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the value was of each contract awarded by her Department to Karian and Box since 1997.

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Aylesbury of 27th October 2007 about the case of Mr J K of...

      Offensive Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences involving use of a knife there were in (a) each London borough and (b) England and Wales, broken down by type of offence,...

      Press

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press office staff were employed by (a) her Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies (i) in each...

      Prisoners: Foreigners

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data are held by her Department on non-UK national detainees released from prison without notification to the Department at the time;...

      Rape

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many allegations of rape were reported to the police by (a) women and (b) men in each of the last 10 years; how many reports of rape...

      Vandalism: Bus Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of criminal damage to bus shelters were recorded in (a) Wiltshire and (b) Swindon in 2007; how many (i) prosecutions and...

      Zurich Financial Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department paid to Zurich Financial Services in each year since 1997; and what the purpose of the payment was in each case.

  • House of Lords

    • Armed Forces: War Pensions

      asked Her Majesty's Government: When they expect to announce whether the proposals in the consultation paper Transforming Tribunals will be adjusted in any way to retain the Pensions Appeal...

    • British Coal Compensation

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What action they will take following the open letter dated 27 March from the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner to the Law Society giving notice that in...

      Computer Systems: DBERR

      asked Her Majesty's Government: In respect of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, on how many occasions in the past year malicious programs have compromised...

      Computer Systems: DCMS

      asked Her Majesty's Government: In respect of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, on how many occasions in the past year malicious programs have compromised its computer systems; for...

      Computer Systems: Defra

      asked Her Majesty's Government: In respect of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on how many occasions in the past year malicious programs have compromised its computer...

      Computer Systems: Foreign Office

      asked Her Majesty's Government: In respect of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on how many occasions in the past year malicious programs have compromised its computer systems; for each...

      Crime: Sex Offenders

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How much it will cost per year to provide police security and surveillance for the child sex offender, Raymond Horne.

      Embryology

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Why the British Council hosted a public debate on hybrid embryos combining animal eggs with human cells at the Bloomfield Science Museum in Jerusalem on 27 March;...

      EU: Computer Infrastructure Grid Systems

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they will increase their investment and involvement in the European Union seventh framework research programme for the development of computer...

      France: Joint Projects

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What measures they intend to take in relation to Anglo-French projects following the state visit of the President of France.

      Immigration: Detention

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What procedures they have put in place since the decision in R (SK) v SSHD 2008 to uphold Rule 9 of the Detention Centre Rules and to prevent future failures to review.

      Immigration: Zimbabwe

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many Zimbabweans they are holding in immigration detention (a) pending deportation following a criminal sentence and (b) pending administrative removal; how...

      Inward Investment

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What ethical standards they apply to inward investment; whether such principles take account of living standards and human rights in countries investing in the...

      Northern Ireland Office: Mobile Phones

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the Northern Ireland Office has a contract with any mobile phone company; if so, who; and after what process the contract was signed.

      Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 19 March (WA 30), (a) how the budget of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum's sponsoring division in the...

      People Trafficking

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What are the latest developments on the United Kingdom action plan on tackling human trafficking.

      People Trafficking

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether a code of practice on the carriage of minors has been developed and implemented, as proposed in the United Kingdom Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking.

      Police: Northern Ireland

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they received advanced notification that the President of the Republic of Ireland would announce policy concerning the transfer of policing and justice to...

      Polygamy

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Lord McKenzie of Luton on 20 March (WA 68), which categories of polygamous marriage are legal under British law.

      Questions for Written Answer: Late Answers

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 26 March (WA 89), what was the reason for the 18-week delay in answering Baroness Valentine's Question;...

      Schools: Milk

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What proportion of the United Kingdom school milk market is subsidised by the European Union.

      Transport: Young Drivers

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many drivers between 17 and 20 years of age died in road accidents in each of the past five years; and What percentage of road deaths involved drivers aged...

      Waterways: Tourism

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Which canals in England are presently used only for tourism.

      Zimbabwe

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they have taken emergency measures to protect British passport holders in Zimbabwe in the event of civil disorder in that country.

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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