Written answers

Wednesday, 30 April 2008

  • Scotland

    • Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department provides (a) tax-free benefits and (b) other allowances for its staff to purchase bicycles under the Cycle to Work Scheme; and...

    • Departmental Written Questions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many days it took on average to answer written parliamentary questions tabled by each hon. Member for answer by him in the last six months.

  • Women and Equality

    • Equality: Legislation

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if she will publish the responses to the consultation on the Government's proposals for a single equality bill.

  • Northern Ireland

    • Electronic Government

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

    • Firearms: Licensing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people with convictions for scheduled offences were granted a licence to carry a personal firearm in Northern Ireland in each year...

  • House of Commons Commission

    • Mobile Phones Recycling

      To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will make it their policy to introduce mobile phone recycling on the Parliamentary Estate.

  • Wales

    • Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department provides (a) tax-free benefits and (b) other allowances for their staff to purchase bicycles under the Cycle to Work scheme; and...

  • Transport

    • Biofuels

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account she took of the First Report of the Environmental Audit Committee, Session 2007-08, on Are Biofuels Sustainable?, HC 76-I before...

    • Bird and Bird

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contracts were awarded by her Department to Bird and Bird Solicitors in each year since 2005; and what the (a) value and (b) duration of each...

      Bus Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with local authorities on maintaining and extending the provision of free or subsidised bus shelters funded by advertising...

      Bus Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities in England have withdrawn concessionary fare schemes offering reduced fares for people with disabilities travelling before 9.30...

      Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what payments the Civil Aviation Authority made to (a) Waterfront Public Affairs, (b) Mandate Communications and (c) AS Biss in each of the last...

      Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what payments the Northern Lighthouse Board made to Grayling Political Strategy in each of the last five years; and on what dates and for what purpose...

      Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether (a) her Department and (b) her Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii) other allowances for their...

      Departmental Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps her Department has taken to reduce its energy consumption in the last 12 months; and what her Department's expenditure on energy was in (a)...

      Departmental Written Questions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many days it took on average to answer written parliamentary questions tabled by each hon. Member for answer by her in the last six months.

      Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many candidates were examined at each test centre in England in the latest year for which figures are available.

      Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the likely number of candidates presenting at each test centre in England in each year to 2012.

      Driving: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her definition is of most customers as used in the Driving Standards Agency Code of Practice on Driving Consultations, Annex B, paragraph 3.

      Driving: Working Hours

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what exemptions from the road transport working time directive are to be allowed.

      Electronic Government

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

      Motorcycles: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to ensure that riders of motorcycles with an engine capacity of under 50cc have undertaken compulsory basic training.

      Public Transport: Concessions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of the introduction of the nationwide concessionary fare scheme on (a) the level of eligibility set by...

      Roads: Cameras

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the maximum penalty which can be imposed for vandalism of a road safety camera is.

      Roads: Satellite Navigation Systems

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will consult the producers of satellite navigation systems to discuss the display of routes unsuitable for motorised vehicles.

      Rolling Stock: Thameslink

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the new carriages for Thameslink announced on 9th April 2008 are in addition to the new carriages announced in July in the White Paper,...

      Taylor Nelson Sofres

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the value of contracts awarded to Taylor Nelson Sofres by her Department was in each year since 1997.

      Traffic Management Act 2004

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations underlay the decisions to introduce permits under the Traffic Management Act 2004; what baseline data she plans to collect in...

      Transport: Exhaust Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what specific matters her Department's Environment Directorate is examining in pursuance of their sub-objective to tackle the climate change impacts of...

  • Communities and Local Government

    • Council Tax: Students

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 28 March 2006, Official Report, columns 920-21W, on council tax, whether she (a) has made and...

    • Councillors: Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what records her Department holds of the local authorities which have introduced pensions for councillors.

      Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether (a) her Department and (b) her Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii)...

      Digital Broadcasting: Television

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the status is of the DigiTV Project originally sponsored by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

      Electronic Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much she has allocated to the London Connects e-Government regional partnerships since inception.

      Energy Performance Certificates: Valuation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans the Valuation Office Agency has to use data from energy performance certificates on non-domestic dwellings to inform...

      Geographical Information Systems

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library copies of the original datasets used to calculate the geographical barriers sub-domain in the...

      Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average dwelling size of new homes was (a) in the latest period for which figures are available and (b) in each...

      Housing: Disabled

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much Enfield Borough Council spent on improving homes for disabled people in each of the last three years.

      Housing: Mortgages

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent meetings she has had with the Local Government Association to discuss the potential effects of mortgage foreclosures...

      Licensed Premises: Valuation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2008, Official Report, columns 509-10W, on valuation: licensed premises, if she will place...

      Local Authorities: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what pay scales for chief executives of local authorities are rated by the Audit Commission as poor; (2) what pay scales...

      Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what provisions of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 have yet to be (a) commenced and (b) implemented.

      Local Government: Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will make a statement on the long-term solvency of the Local Government Pension Scheme following the March 2007 valuation.

      National Muslim Women's Advisory Group

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what issues have been discussed in her meetings with the National Muslim Women's Advisory Group; and what steps have been taken...

      Non-Domestic Rates: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which (a) Government departments and (b) executive agencies have made a business rates challenge or appeal to the (i)...

      Non-Domestic Rates: Valuation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the timetable is for work on the 2010 business rates revaluation in England and Wales.

      Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre: Databases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the purpose and function is of the QE2 Conference Centre's meeting matrix database.

      Regional Planning and Development: Greenbelt

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local planning authorities the Government Office for the South East has instructed to review their green belt boundaries...

      Social Rented Housing: Disabled

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what means of redress are available to social housing tenants who have parents, partners or children with disabilities whose...

      Standards Board for England: Complaints

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley of 14 March 2008, Official Report, column 705W, on Standards Board for...

  • Health

    • Abortion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's file (a) CPO 2/25 Lord Braine of Wheatley's Partial Birth Abortion (Prohibition) Bill and (b)...

    • Bird and Bird

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contracts were awarded by his Department to Bird and Bird Solicitors in each year since 2005; and what the (a) value and (b) duration of each such...

      Blood

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many units of blood were collected by the National Blood Service in England and Wales in (a) 2003-04, (b) 2004-05, (c) 2005-06, (d) 2006-07 and...

      Blood

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the blood collection level of each geographical area in England and Wales was assessed to be by the review of the National Blood Service Strategy,...

      Chlamydia: Screening

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the mathematical modelling referred to on the National Chlamydia Screening Programme's web page on the local...

      Departmental Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contracts were held by (a) YouGov, (b) ICM, (c) Gallup, (d) GfK NOP, (e) Rasmussen, (f) ComRes and (g) Opinion Leader Research with his...

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the unfunded liability in present value terms of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is...

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the unfunded liability in present value terms was of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1990-91.

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the effect on his Department's expenditure would be of increasing the employee contribution to each pension scheme for which his Department is...

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in his Department and its executive...

      Departmental Temporary Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time posts were filled on a temporary basis for a period in excess of six months in his Department in each of the last three years.

      Departmental Working Hours

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hours (a) in total and (b) on average per employee were worked by civil servants in his Department in the last year for which records are available.

      E. Coli

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence was of (a) E. coli and (b) salmonella poisoning in each of the last three years.

      Food Standards Agency: Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what pension scheme is offered to staff joining the Food Standards Agency; what the rate of employer contributions to the scheme is; and if he will place...

      General Practitioners: Peterborough

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) part-time and (b) full-time general practitioners were employed by Peterborough Primary Care Trust and its predecessor in each year since...

      General Practitioners: Working Hours

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to provide for the safety of GPs and their staff who will be working extended hours under the proposed new GP contract.

      General Practitioners: Working Hours

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to address the requirement for out-of-hours childcare for GPs and their staff working extended hours under the proposed new GP...

      Human-Animal Hybrid Embryos

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance his Department has provided on the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos; and if he will make a statement; (2) what recent...

      Mass Media

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessments his Department makes of media coverage of (a) his Department, (b) the NHS, (c) departmental ministers and (d) health and social care.

      Meat: EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the implementation of Annex III, section V, Chapter III, point 2 (B) to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 on minced meat.

      NHS: Circulars

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Health Service Circular/Local Authority Circular HSC 2001/016:LAC(2001)23, which was due for review in 2004, (a) is still in force and (b)...

      NHS: Hearing Impaired

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients waited more than six weeks for (a) an initial NHS hearing assessment and (b) a follow-up NHS hearing aid assessment in the latest...

      NHS: Telephone Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to (a) primary care trusts and (b) service providers on their use of numbers with the prefix (i) 0845 and (ii) 087.

      NHS: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to extend uptake data collection methods to all treatments recommended for use on the NHS by the Joint Committee on...

      NHS: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has carried out into variations in the levels of uptake of therapies recommended for use on the NHS by the Joint Committee...

      NHS: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on improving healthcare providers' levels of...

  • Olympics

    • Ipsos MORI

      To ask the Minister for the Olympics what payments her Office made to Ipsos MORI in the last 24 months; and for what purposes.

    • Olympic Games 2012

      To ask the Minister for the Olympics which stakeholders were consulted prior to the publication of the Olympic Legacy Action Plan.

      Olympic Games 2012: Ceremonies

      To ask the Minister for the Olympics what role she plans for local community dance groups in the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

      Olympic Games 2012: Education

      To ask the Minister for the Olympics if she will consider the merits of creating an out-of-classroom education facility as part of the 2012 Olympic legacy programme.

      Olympic Games: China

      To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent representations the Government has made to the International Olympic Committee on China's commitments relating to improvements in human rights and...

  • Duchy of Lancaster

    • Cycling

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether (a) his Department and (b) his Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii) other allowances for...

    • National Archives: Consolidated Communications

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what payments National Archives made to Consolidated Communications in each of the last five years; and on what date and for what purpose in each case.

      Voluntary Work

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) if he will hold discussions with Volunteering England over the proposal in the Goldsmith Report on Citizenship: Our Common Bond to offer...

  • Innovation, Universities and Skills

    • Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether (a) his Department and (b) his Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii)...

    • Mature Students: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of making the support available to (a) 25 to 30-years-olds and (b) 25 to...

  • Environment Food and Rural Affairs

    • Agriculture: Biofuels

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department has provided for research and development into biogas production and trials for farmers.

    • Agriculture: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to review labour strategies for farm work, with particular reference to the supply of farm labour from overseas.

      Agriculture: Land Use

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the area of land required to produce equivalent...

      Alpacas: Farming

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provision has been made to support alpaca farmers in the event of an outbreak of animal disease.

      Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the members of the England Implementation Group to oversee animal health and welfare strategy are; and what organisations...

      Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of cases of animal cruelty which have taken place in (a) urban and (b) rural areas...

      Animal Welfare: Circuses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what forms of regulatory systems, standards or husbandry guidelines his Department's feasibility study on wild animals...

      Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003: Essex

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) males and (b) females, broken down by age group were (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted of offences under the...

      Bees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department plans to provide for bee inspectors in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

      Bees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to investigate the reasons for unexplained losses of queens from bee hives.

      Bees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the emergence of an Asian variation of the bee...

      Biofuels: Imports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of the biofuels target he expects to be met from imports in each year until 2015.

      Biofuels: Wales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding his Department has provided for research and development into biogas production and trials for farmers in Wales.

      Birds: Smuggling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many seizures of wild birds species not protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild...

      Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether (a) his Department and (b) his Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii)...

      Departmental Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many equivalent tonnes of carbon dioxide were offset (a) in total and (b) via the Government carbon offsetting funding...

      Dogs: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the extent of dog fighting; what steps are being taken to prevent dog fighting; and if he...

      Facilities Management

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to his Department was of the facilities management infrastructure in each of the last five financial years; and...

      Flood Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are available for those who have been affected by flooding to enhance protection of their properties; and what...

      Flood Control: Gloucestershire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress made by each local authority in Gloucestershire in revising flood defence...

      Floods: Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of repairs to properties flooded during the summer of 2007.

      Food: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect of biomass production on food prices over the last...

      Food: Salt

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had with Consensus Action on Salt and Health on...

      Horse Racing: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department collects statistics on deaths of racehorses which take place during races.

      Horse Racing: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had on measures to reduce the number of deaths of racehorses during races.

      Horse Racing: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received on deaths of racehorses during races.

      Horses: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2008, Official Report, column 1341W, on horses: animal welfare, if he will place in the...

      Reptiles: EU External Trade

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information his Department holds on the number of (a) CITES-listed and (b) non-CITES-listed (i) reptiles and (ii)...

      Scrapie: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has commissioned into maternal transfer of scrapie from ewe to lamb.

      Waste and Resources Action Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payments the Waste and Resources Action Programme made to Consolidated Communications in each of the last five years;...

      Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 14 March 2008, Official Report,...

      Waste Management: Domestic Wastes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authorities operate residual household waste collections with a frequency of less than once a week, including...

  • Treasury

    • Bankruptcy

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will re-evaluate what the appropriateness of the length of the time that statutory demands normal term is before an action for bankruptcy is pursued.

    • Child Benefit

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing child benefit for the first child by (a) £3, (b) £3.25, (c) £3.50, (d) £3.75,...

      Child Benefit

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of child benefit for the first child was as a proportion of average earnings in each year since 1997.

      Child Benefit: Expenditure

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of likely expenditure on child benefit in each year until 2012.

      Child Benefit: Personal Records

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many officials of (a) his Department and (b) HM Revenue and Customs have been disciplined or dismissed for (i) alleged breaches of data protection...

      Cycling

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) his Department and (b) his Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii) other allowances for their staff...

      Data Protection

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2008, Official Report, column 1642W, on data protection, whether there is a separate line management process for HM...

      Data Protection

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2008, Official Report, column 1642W, on data protection, how many full-time equivalent data guardians HM Revenue and...

      Data Protection

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees of each grade in his Department (a) have access to confidential or sensitive data and (b) are authorised to download such data to disc;...

      Data Protection

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many breaches of data protection security there were in (a) his Department and (b) his Department's agencies in each of the last five years; and if he...

      Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimates of the levels of consumption of (a) spirits, (b) spirit-based ready-to-drinks, (c) wine, (d) beer, (e) cider and (f) sparkling...

      Financial Services Authority: College Public Policy

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what payments the Financial Services Authority made to College Public Policy in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose the...

      Financial Services Compensation Scheme: Lansons Public Affairs

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what payments the Financial Services Compensation Scheme made to Lansons Public Affairs in each of the last five years; on what dates; and for what purpose...

      Government Departments: Sustainable Development

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Government departments have (a) approached his Department for assistance and (b) received assistance in response to the procedure outlined on...

      Pensions: Taxation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of people who would be affected if pension contributions were allowable for tax relief only against the basic rate...

      Revenue and Customs: Databases

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) cross-checks and (b) linkages (i) exist and (ii) are planned between the data records of individuals stored on databases held by (A) HM Revenue...

      Taxation: Invalid Vehicles

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will assess the effects of the tariff classification regime as it applies to mobility scooters on (a) people with disabilities and (b) the...

      VAT: Further Education

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information his Department holds on recovery of value added tax (VAT) from further education colleges following VAT inspection of the use of zero-rated...

      Welfare Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many full-time equivalent staff were employed to deal with (a) tax credit compliance, (b) disputed overpayments, (c) fraud and (d) official error in...

      Welfare Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families have been contacted as part of HM Revenue and Customs tax credit outreach work; what estimate he has made of the effectiveness of the...

      Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what value of overpayments were written off by the Tax Credit Office in each year since 2003.

      Working Tax Credit

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has undertaken into the reasons for eligible families not claiming the child care element of the working tax credit; and if he...

      Working Tax Credit

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the number of families eligible for the childcare element of the working tax credit; what his estimate is of the number...

      Working Tax Credit: Fraud

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many parents have been prosecuted as a result of providing incorrect information in claiming the childcare element of the working tax credit in each...

      Working Tax Credit: Overpayments

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many cases there were of overpayment of the childcare element of the working tax credit in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement;...

  • Defence

    • Aircraft Carriers: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the steel for the construction of future aircraft carriers has been ordered by the Government directly; whether there is any precedent...

    • Armed Forces: Graduates

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of armed forces personnel have a university degree.

      Armed Forces: Joint Strike Fighter

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ensure that the Joint Strike Fighter is flown solely by Fleet Air Arm pilots.

      Armed Forces: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training exercises involving fighting in urban environments have been cancelled in each year since 2003.

      Armed Forces: Uniforms

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 12 June 2006, Official Report, column 996W, on bearskins, and pursuant to the answer to question 198792, when the last...

      Armoured Fighting Vehicles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2008, Official Report, column 791W, on armoured fighting vehicles, when he expects the contract for ordering the...

      BAE Systems: Saudi Arabia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what meetings he or his officials have held with BAe and its representatives to discuss the al-Yamamah case since May 2005.

      Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) his Department and (b) his Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii) other allowances for their...

      Defence: Internet

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's budget is for cyber-defence measures; and if he will make a statement.

      Lynx Helicopters: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of the Future Lynx helicopter project; and what estimate he has made of the annual cost, averaged over the...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 26 February 2008, transferred from the Department for Transport, on...

      Military Aircraft: Helicopters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average number of flying hours completed by individual helicopters of types (a) Apache, (b) Gazelle, (c) Lynx Mk3, (d) Lynx Mk7, (e) Lynx...

      Radioactive Materials: Transport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 7 November 2005, Official Report, column 103W, on special nuclear materials load carriers, what the timetable for the...

      Reserve Forces: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists exercises have been cancelled since 2003.

      Russia: Military Aircraft

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates, and for what duration unauthorised Russian military aircraft have penetrated UK airspace over the last 12 months.

  • Home Department

    • Alcoholic Drinks: Children

      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 knowingly allowing the consumption of...

    • Animal Experiments

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what severity limits distinguish between (a) mild and moderate and (b) moderate and substantial under the Animal (Scientific Procedures)...

      Antisocial Behaviour Orders

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of people served with (a) antisocial behaviour orders and (b) parental control orders have re-offended within...

      Antisocial Behaviour: Internet

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on the website www.respect.gov.uk in each month since its inception; what the budget for the website is for 2008-09; how...

      Border and Immigration Agency

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many casework files have been lost by the Border and Immigration Agency in each year since 1997.

      Crime: Genetics

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of crimes solved as a result of a DNA sample being on the national DNA database.

      Crimes of Violence

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

      Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether (a) her Department and (b) her Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii) other allowances...

      Driving Offences: Fines

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers were fined for speeding in (a) England and Wales and (b) each police force area in each year since 1997; and how much was...

      Extradition: Equatorial Guinea

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the extradition to Equatorial Guinea of people suspected of the participation in the attempted coup in that country.

      Extradition: USA

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been extradited from the UK to the US in the last three years.

      Extradition: USA

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been extradited from the UK to the US to face charges for activities which would not be a criminal matter in the UK in...

      Immigration: Prisoner Escapes

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) illegal immigrants and (b) failed asylum seekers detained by the police have absconded en route to immigration detention or...

      Offensive Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each police force area were convicted for possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition in England and Wales...

      Personation

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has considered to reduce the incidence of crime related to identity fraud.

      Police: Bureaucracy

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the average time required by a police officer to complete the formal documentation of criminal evidence...

      Police: Managers

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the name of each chief police officer (CPO) in England and Wales is; who the assistant CPO is in each case; and how long each CPO has...

      Sexual Offences

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in each police force basic command unit area were (a) added to and (b) on the National Sex Offenders Register in each year...

      Stop and Search

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people had their vehicle stopped and searched under section 1 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 in each year since 1997;...

      Stop and Search

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people had their vehicle stopped and searched under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 in each year since...

      Stop and Search

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) sex, (b) ethnicity and (c) age was of each person stopped under section 60 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994...

      Stop and Search

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Taunton (Mr. Browne) of 13 November 2007, Official Report, columns 85-6W, on stop and search,...

      Stop and Search

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government (a) has set and (b) plans to set targets for stop and searches by police officers in England and Wales.

      Surveillance: Members

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions hon. Members who have taken the Oath have been the subject of (a) surveillance, (b) intercept since 1997; on how many...

      Tobacco: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) offences were recorded, (b) police cautions have been issued and (c) fines have been imposed on (i) confectioners and...

      Video Games: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences (a) in England and Wales and (b) in each police force area were recorded in respect of retailers selling video games or...

      Video Recordings: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many test purchases relating to the sale of video works to under age persons (a) were undertaken and (b) led to prosecution in England...

  • Justice

    • Apex Communications

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what payments were made from the public purse, on what dates, and for what purposes to Euro RSCG Apex Communications in respect of (a) the Carter Review...

    • Courts: Religion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration he has given to proposals that religious court should be allowed to arbitrate on some family and matrimonial disputes; and if he will...

      Custodial Treatment: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) juvenile and (b) young adult offenders were placed in custody for a breach of a community order in each of the last five years; and if he...

      Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether (a) his Department and (b) his Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii) other allowances for their...

      Dangerous Driving

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what consideration he has given to bringing forward proposals to (a) make causing serious injury an aggravating factor when sentencing for persons...

      Departmental Public Participation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many public consultations were held by his Department and its predecessor in each of the last three years; and how many respondents took part in each...

      Elections: Slough

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department plans to take in response to the recommendations of the Electoral Commissioner in the recent electoral court case in Slough.

      Legal Aid: Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of criminal law practitioners who will apply for a new criminal legal aid contract in 2008.

      Magistrates Courts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases where defendants have been charged and appeared before a magistrates court but no further hearing has been held there were in each...

      Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what payments the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission made to Weber Shandwick Public Affairs in each of the last five years; and on what date each...

      Prisoners: Voting Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to issue his response to the consultation "Voting rights of convicted prisoners detained within the United Kingdom—The UK...

      Prisoners: Wales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many women born in Wales were serving custodial sentences at the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by (a) prison and (b)...

      Prisons: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps the Government has taken to reduce substance misuse inside prisons in the last 12 months.

      Reoffenders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent steps the Government has taken in co-operation with the Prison Service to reduce reoffending.

      Young Offender Institutions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average number of hours per day spent in purposeful activity was by each (a) adult (i) male and (ii) adult female prisoner and (A) male and (B)...

      Young Offenders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) boys and (b) girls aged (i) 10, (ii) 11, (iii) 12, (iv) 13, (v) 14 and (vi) 15 years old were received into each local authority (A)...

      Young Offenders: Custodial Treatment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) boys and (b) girls aged (i) 15, (ii) 16 and (iii) 17 years were (A) received into prison service custody on remand and (B) under sentence...

      Young Offenders: Custodial Treatment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many children were moved from secure children's homes to young offender institutions in each of the last five years.

      Young Offenders: Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many child protection referrals to local children's services involving children in custody were made from each (a) prison, (b) secure training...

  • International Development

    • HIV/AIDS

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department has taken to improve education on HIV/AIDS in developing countries.

    • Primary Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of children in developing countries attending primary school.

      Palestinian Territories

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UK humanitarian aid to the Palestinian Territories.

      Food Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of increases in world food prices on developing countries.

      Food Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effect of high food prices on the poorest countries; and what response his Department is making.

      Nepal

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what aid his Department is providing to Nepal.

      Zimbabwe

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he next expects to meet his EU counterparts to discuss aid to Zimbabwe.

      Tibet

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to provide humanitarian assistance to the Tibetan population in occupied Tibet.

      China: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether account is taken of the human rights implications of the Chinese one-child policy in his Department's decisions on aid to...

      Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether (a) his Department and (b) his Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii) other...

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in his Department and...

      Departmental Working Hours

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many hours (a) in total and (b) on average per employee were worked by civil servants in his Department in the last year for...

      Departmental Written Questions

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many days it took on average to answer written parliamentary questions tabled by each hon. Member for answer by him in the last six...

      Disabled

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

      Guatemala: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on international...

      Overseas Aid: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on projects promoting democracy in developing countries in each of the last five years.

  • Children, Schools and Families

    • Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many construction projects his Department undertook in each of the last three years for which the capital cost was greater...

    • Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many construction projects his Department undertook in each of the last three years for which the capital cost was less than...

      Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether (a) his Department and (b) his Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii) other...

      Departmental Consultation Papers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) white papers, (b) bills, (c) green papers and (d) other consultation papers have been issued by his Department...

      Departmental Data Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2008, Official Report, column 105W, on departmental data protection, if he will include...

      Departmental ICT

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2008, Official Report, column 1532W, on departmental ICT, how many of the missing or stolen...

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in his Department...

      Departmental Temporary Employment

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

      Departmental Translation Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2008, Official Report, column 912W, on departmental translation services, how much was spent...

      Departmental Written Questions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many days it took on average to answer written parliamentary questions tabled by each hon. Member for answer by him in the...

      Education: Young Offenders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans he has to ensure that all 16 and 17 year olds in (a) prison and (b) on community service are in accredited education...

      General Certificate of Secondary Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of children at Key Stage 4 secured at least five A* to C GCSEs, including mathematics, English, a science and a...

      Gifted Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many local authorities are not taking part in the gifted and talented programme.

      Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether his Department provides health or social care services out of public funds, with reference to the Statement by the...

      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 worked part-time in each year...

      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 Early Years Foundation Degree in (a) Basingstoke...

      Public Information Booklets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2008, Official Report, column 1534W, on public information booklets, who is responsible for...

      Pupil Exclusions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools excluded more than (a) 10 per cent. and (b) 30 per cent. of their pupils in the latest year for which figures...

      Pupil Exclusions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils in secondary schools were given a (a) fixed period and (b) permanent exclusion in the last 12 months, broken...

      Pupil Referral Units: Sports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupil referral units offer two hours of physical exercise every week.

      School Meals: Per Capita Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what he expects the minimum spend on ingredients for school meals to be per pupil per day; and if he will make a statement;...

      Schools: Drinking Water

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what estimate he has made of the number of schools which freely provided fresh drinking water for pupils at the latest date...

      Schools: Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he has taken towards establishing a carbon test for new schools as a supplement to the BRE Environmental Assessment...

      Secondary Education: Absenteeism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which secondary schools had an unauthorised absence rate of over (a) 10 and (b) 20 per cent. at the latest date for which...

      Teachers: Qualifications

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made in developing a new master's-level teaching qualification; and if he will make a statement.

      Trust Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many trust schools, established or converted under the provisions of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 there were on 1...

  • Work and Pensions

    • Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether (a) his Department and (b) his Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii) other allowances...

    • Departmental Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made towards the equality targets set out in its annual report 2007, page 79.

      Departmental Internet

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

      Departmental Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the number and proportion of his Department's workforce that will be employed in each region in 2009.

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the unfunded liability in present value terms of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department...

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the unfunded liability in present value terms was of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is responsible in each...

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) rate and (b) cost was of employer contributions for each public sector pension scheme for which his Department has...

      Employment: Disabled

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the employment rate of (a) all people and (b) disabled people was in each of the last five years; and what progress has been made...

      Employment: Disabled

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to move people with disabilities from benefits to employment.

      Health Hazards: Domestic Wastes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment the (a) Health and Safety Executive and (b) Health and Safety Laboratory has made of the risks to refuse handlers of exposure...

      Incapacity Benefit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of incapacity benefit claimants received the benefit for (a) back pain and (b) repetitive strain injuries in...

      Local Authorities: Disabled

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether (a) town and (b) parish councils are considered public bodies for the purposes of disability discrimination legislation.

      Maternity Benefits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what his estimate is of the number of women who will receive maternity allowance in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11; (2)...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to answer Question 173276, on customer call centres, tabled on 6 December 2007 by the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne.

      Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2008, Official Report, columns 728-9W, on social security benefits: EU nationals, when he expects to be...

      Written Questions: Government Responses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will answer Question 177307, tabled on 7 January for answer on 10 January, on the recording of individuals' political opinions.

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

    • China: Family Planning

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the government of China on the implementation of the one-child policy in Tibet; and...

    • China: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to encourage the development of democratic government in China.

      Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether (a) his Department and (b) his Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii)...

      Departmental Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to reduce its energy consumption in the last 12 months; and what his Department's...

      Departmental Public Participation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) surveys, (b) questionnaires and (c) other services were provided by polling companies for his Department in...

      Departmental Written Questions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many days it took on average to answer written parliamentary questions tabled by each hon. Member for answer by him in the...

      Falun Gong

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of China on the arrests and treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in Guandong...

      Forced Marriage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions his Department's Forced Marriage Unit has prevented a British national being forced into marriage overseas...

      Sudan: Overseas Investment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department provides for firms and financial institutions seeking guidance on the risks of investing in Sudan;...

      Vietnam: BBC External Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with the Head of BBC World Service on the effects of the recent reduction in the number of hours of...

  • Culture Media and Sport

    • Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what payments the Big Lottery Fund made to (a) Stategem and (b) Morgan Allen Moore in each of the last five years; and on what dates...

    • Culture: Local Authorities

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what requirements his Department makes of local authorities to produce local cultural strategies; and how many local authorities have...

      Cycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether (a) his Department and (b) his Department's non-departmental public bodies provide (i) tax-free benefits and (ii) other...

      Departmental Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many full-time equivalent employees are employed in his Department's public engagement and recognition unit.

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his most recent estimate is of the unfunded liability in present value terms of each public sector pension scheme for which his...

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the unfunded liability in present value terms was of each public sector pension scheme for which his Department is responsible in...

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the (a) rate and (b) cost was of employer contributions for each public sector pension scheme for which his Department has...

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in his Department and...

      Departmental Public Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the budget of his Department's public engagement and recognition unit is for (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.

      Digital Broadcasting

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans his Department has to ensure full television transmission to all people following the digital TV switchover, with particular...

      Digital Broadcasting

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number of constituencies in which residential areas will no longer be able to receive terrestrial...

      Mass Media: Apprentices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the procedure is for people to apply for the media apprenticeships announced by the Secretary of State on 22 February in his...

      Sports: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to achieve the target of increasing private sector funding of sport in 2008-09.

  • Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

    • Bankruptcy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the practices of credit companies in issuing statutory demands to debtors rather than...

    • Billing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the Government will issue its response to the billing and metering consultation; and what the reasons are for the...

      Bird and Bird

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what contracts were awarded by his Department to Bird and Bird solicitors in each year since 2005; and what the (a)...

      Certification Officer: Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what pension scheme is offered to staff joining the Office of the Certification Officer; what the rate of employer...

      Civil Nuclear Constabulary: Arrests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many arrests the Civil Nuclear Constabulary have made since 22nd July 2004, broken down by offence; and of those...

      Civil Nuclear Constabulary: Firearms

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform at which locations under the protection of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary officers are authorised to carry firearms.

      Civil Nuclear Constabulary: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many applications to join the Civil Nuclear Constabulary have been rejected because the applicant did not meet the...

      Civil Nuclear Constabulary: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many applications to join the Civil Nuclear Constabulary in a (a) policing and (b) administrative capacity have...

      Community Interest Companies: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what scrutiny is undertaken of the rates of pay for senior executives of community interest companies to monitor...

      Competition Commission: Euro RSCG Apex Communications

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what payments the Competition Commission has made to Euro RSCG Apex Communications in each of the last five years; on...

      Debt Collection: Licensing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will hold discussions with the Office of Fair Trading about the issuing of consumer credit licences to debt...

      Departmental Data Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2008, Official Report, column 75W, on departmental data protection, if he will...

      Departmental Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department has taken to reduce its energy consumption in the last 12 months; and what his Department's...

      Departmental Legislation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what criminal offences have been abolished by primary legislation sponsored by his Department and its predecessors...

      Departmental Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cash equivalent transfer value is of the public sector pensions of the 10 highest paid members of staff in...

      Departmental Public Participation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many public consultations were held by his Department and its predecessor in each of the last three years; and how...

      Departmental Sick Leave

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 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...

      Departmental Temporary Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many full-time posts were filled on a temporary basis for a period in excess of six months in his Department in...

      Employment: Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of immigration on the wages of low-skilled workers; and what steps he...

      Energy: EC Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will visit a controls manufacturing plant Lot 1 of the Energy-using Products Directive before its implementation.

      Energy: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) what his policy is on a smart meters mandate, with particular reference to provision at a regional level; (2)...

      Export Credits Guarantee Department: Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what timetable he has set for the review of the statutory obligations, policies and operations of the Export Credits...

      Export Credits Guarantee Dept: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when the reviews of the Export Credits Guarantee Department's Case Impact Analysis Process and Business Principles...

      Heating: EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether his Department has carried out an impact assessment of the Energy-using Products Directive on the UK heating...

      Minimum Wage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent steps his Department has taken to increase the rate of compliance by employers with national minimum wage...

      Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what mechanism he plans to put in place to fund the Nuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance Board; and for what time...

      Post Offices: Closures

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) what postal services may be offered by local shops affected by post office closures; (2) if he will make it his...

      Post Offices: Closures

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) what estimate he has made of the likely cost of the outreach services to be provided as part of the post office...

      Post Offices: Closures

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what guidance has been given to shop owners who have agreed to stop providing post office services on the compensation...

      Post Offices: Closures

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects an announcement on post office closures in south-west Devon to be made.

      Post Offices: Closures

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) if he will instruct Post Office Ltd to provide Hampshire county council with a statement on the financial...

      Post Offices: PayPoint Machines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received on the placement of PayPoint machines in the same premises as post offices; what...

      Recruitment: Internet

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make an assessment of whether the use of information on social networking sites by employers in their...

      Regional Development Agencies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which regional development agencies were represented at one or more political party conference in each year since 2000.

      Renewable Energy: Seas and Oceans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of (a) the potential to derive energy from ocean swell and (b) designs which are capable...

      Renewable Energy: Severn Estuary

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the feasibility study into the options for generating renewable electricity in the Severn Estuary will include...

      Renewable Energy: Severn Estuary

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will commission a small-scale trial of tidal lagoon technology during the Government's feasibility study into...

      Renewable Energy: Severn Estuary

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the feasibility study into the options for generating renewable electricity in the Severn Estuary will take...

      Renewable Energy: Severn Estuary

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the feasibility study into the options for generating renewable electricity in the Severn Estuary will...

      Renewable Energy: Severn Estuary

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether the feasibility study into the options for generating renewable electricity in the Severn Estuary will...

      Small Businesses: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans he has to provide loans to small and medium sized enterprises which are construction companies to assist...

      UK/US Defence Technology Co-operation Treaty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will provide assistance to small and medium-sized businesses to enable them to take advantage of the UK/US...

      Zurich Financial Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department and its predecessors paid to Zurich Financial Services in each year since 1997; and what the...

  • House of Lords

    • Afghanistan: NATO Forces

      asked Her Majesty's Government: (a) which member nations of NATO have no forces in Afghanistan; and (b) how many forces each of the other member nations of NATO have in Afghanistan.

    • Airports: Heathrow

      asked Her Majesty's Government: When they will reply to the concerns raised by the Heathrow Airport Independent Monitoring Board's report into short-term holding facilities.

      Airports: Heathrow

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What their plans are to decrease the waiting time for access to social services by unaccompanied children in short-term holding facilities at Heathrow Airport.

      Benefits: Employment and Support Allowance

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether any earnings from permitted work undertaken by claimants of (a) income-based employment and support allowance and (b) contribution-based employment and...

      Bloody Sunday: Saville Inquiry

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 17 March (WA 2) concerning the cost of the Saville inquiry, where and how the statement by Tessa Jowell MP on BBC...

      Climate Change

      asked Her Majesty's Government: For each year from 1988 to 2007 inclusive, what was the total cost to public funds of (a) all research on climate change; (b) all measures in mitigation of climate...

      Crime: Murder of Paul Quinn

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the latest position concerning the investigation of the murder of Paul Quinn in October 2007.

      Food

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Which department has lead responsibility for food security.

      Food

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What mechanisms are in place to achieve cross-departmental co-ordination in matters to do with food security.

      Immigration: Oakington Removal Centre

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they plan to provide an affordable telephone system for detainees held at Oakington immigration removal centre which will enable them to call their...

      Immigration: Oakington Removal Centre

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they are aware of any instances of improper use of the tannoy system at Oakington immigration removal centre.

      Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether they propose to circulate the report on the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum to all Members of Parliament, Peers and Members of the Northern Ireland...

      Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What has been sponsored by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in each of the past five years; for how much; and why.

      Northern Ireland: Murder Prosecutions

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 25 March (WA 84), whether for those convicted in connection with a police murder there is a record of who the...

      Roads: A1

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How the extensive roadworks currently in progress at the intersection of the B6403 and the A1 dual carriageway near Colsterworth are intended to improve road safety.

      Schools: Milk

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 23 April (HL2989), how much of the total amount spent on school milk subsidies comes from the European Union and...

      Waste Management: Plastic Packaging

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 22 April (WA 296) concerning the use of plastic packaging, whether the Producer Responsibility Obligations...

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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