Written answers

Tuesday, 7 October 2008

  • Northern Ireland

    • Departmental Marketing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost was of (a) internet and website design and hosting, (b) print media design and (c) broadcast media of each of his Department's...

    • Economic and Monetary Union

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 9 July 2008, Official Report, column 1646W, on economic and monetary...

      Powers of Entry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by his Department has (i) amended and (ii) enhanced existing powers of entry since...

  • Justice

    • Channel Islands

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what meetings he has held with government representatives of (a) the Bailiwick of Guernsey, (b) Alderney and (c) Sark in the last 12 months.

    • Governance of Britain

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many (a) Ministers, (b) officials from his Department, (c) representatives of local authorities, (d) invited members of the public and (e)...

      Governance of Britain

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the cost was of the "Governance of Britain" consultation event held in Brighton on 17th July; (2) what the cost was of the "Governance of...

      Land: Measurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the Land Registry plans to use hectares as a unit of measurement.

      Political Parties: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans the Electoral Commission has to respond to the proposals set out in the party finance and expenditure White Paper; and if he will make a statement.

  • Leader of the House

    • Stress

      To ask the Leader of the House what arrangements her Office has in place to assist officials to overcome the effects of stress experienced in the workplace.

  • Work and Pensions

    • Access to Work Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from which part of his Department's budget funding to raise the Access to Work budget will be drawn.

    • Child Benefit: Telephone Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of calls to the Child Benefit Helpline were (a) answered by a representative, (b) received an automated message,...

      EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials in his Department are wholly or mainly tasked with the negotiation, implementation or the administration of EU legislation...

      Housing Benefits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what spending was on housing benefit and related benefits in each of the last 20 years, broken down by (a) type of tenancy and (b) category...

      Olympic Games 2012

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time equivalent members of staff of (a) his Department and (b) its associated public bodies are working on projects relating to...

      Pensioners: Personal Income

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average income for households where all occupants are of pensionable age is in (a) England, (b) Wakefield district and (c)...

      Pensions: Mining

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average income for households which include at least one person in receipt of a miner's pension is in (a) England, (b) Wakefield...

      Pensions: Mining

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average pension payable to former miners is in (a) England, (b) Wakefield district and (c) Hemsworth constituency.

      Social Security Benefits: Interviews

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what qualitative evaluation he has made of the customer experience of work-focussed interviews; and if he will make a statement.

  • Women and Equality

    • Dorneywood

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 19 June 2008, Official Report, column 1187W, on Dorneywood: official...

  • Electoral Commission Committee

    • Political Parties: Finance

      To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what procedures there are for regulated (a) donees and (b) donors to appeal against...

    • Political Parties: Finance

      To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what factors the Electoral Commission takes into account when deciding whether it is in...

      Political Parties: Finance

      To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, with reference to the Electoral Commission's consultation paper on Standardising...

      Powers

      To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has made representations to the Government on...

  • Innovation, Universities and Skills

    • Adult Education: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills for what reasons his Department's funding for Adult Learning Support at Chelmsford college fell by 6.4 per cent. in 2008-09;...

    • Adult Education: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the Learning and Skills Council allocated to Adult Learning Support at (a) higher education colleges in Essex and...

      Departmental Databases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what use (a) his Department and (b) its agencies make of (i) MOSAIC data and (ii) ACORN data.

      Environment: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps the Government have taken to encourage UK-based research on environment issues.

      EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many officials in his Department are wholly or mainly tasked with the negotiation, implementation or administration of EU...

      Higher Education: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) what plans he has for the (a) timetable, (b) remit and (c) methodology for the review of higher education funding...

      Higher Education: Israel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (1) what discussions his Department has had with universities and colleges on their response to the boycott by the...

      Science: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much the Government spent on scientific research in 2007-08.

      Students: Disabled

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of students classified as having a (a) hearing and (b) vision impairment (i) applied to and...

      Students: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much HEFCE allocated (a) nationally and (b) to (i) Leeds University, (ii) Leeds Metropolitan University and (iii)...

      Students: Loans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his most recent estimate is of how much revenue will be raised from selling parts of the student loan book as a result...

  • Prime Minister

    • Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Prime Minister (1) what measures are in place in his Office to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes; (2) what purchasing process is used by his Office for the...

    • Departmental Industrial Health and Safety

      To ask the Prime Minister how many incidents have been reported by his Office under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 since 27 June 2007.

      Departmental Public Participation

      To ask the Prime Minister (1) what (a) listening exercises and (b) public forums his Office has held in each of the last two years; what the (i) purpose and (ii) cost was in each case; and...

      Departmental Sick Leave

      To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many and what percentage of staff in his Office have had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years; (2)...

  • Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform

    • Information

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he plans to implement the recommendations of the Power of Information report produced by the Prime Minister's...

  • Transport

    • Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what notional price per barrel of oil is used by her Department when determining whether new road schemes represent value for money.

  • Duchy of Lancaster

    • Data Protection: Manpower

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants in (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) its agency work exclusively on data protection issues, broken down by grade.

    • Departmental Air Travel

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether those staff of (a) his Department and (b) its agencies who are entitled to business class or first class air travel are permitted to (i)...

      Departmental Appeals

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on how many occasions the Cabinet Office has instructed the Treasury Solicitor to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords from (a) the Court of...

      Departmental Buildings

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the location is of each office occupied by (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) the Central Office of Information which has been (i) newly...

      Departmental Buildings

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster with reference to page 106 of the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08, if he will provide a breakdown of the fixed asset expenditure...

      Departmental Computers

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in his Department when not in use and (b) the cost per year of...

      Departmental Health and Safety

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many incidents have been reported by his Department under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 since...

      Departmental Mobile Telephones

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many mobile telephones have been (a) purchased, (b) repaired and (c) replaced by the Prime Minister's Office since 27 June 2007.

      Departmental Official Residences

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what permanent residential accommodation is provided for use by civil servants in his Department; how many residential dwellings are provided;...

      Departmental Public Participation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what ( a) listening exercises and (b) public forums his Department has held in each of the last two years; what the (i) purpose and (ii)...

      Departmental Sick Leave

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) how many and what percentage of staff in his Department have had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of...

      Departmental Surveillance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many applications (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have made under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to (i) undertake...

      Departmental Television

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 24 June 2008, Official Report, column 238W, on departmental...

      Departmental Training

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much (a) his Department and (b) its agency spent on training courses for staff in the last (i) 12 months and (ii) five years.

      Government Departments: Public Participation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent guidance the Cabinet Office has issued on the manner in which public consultations should be conducted by Government Departments and...

      Intelligence Services: Vetting

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer of 25 June 2008, Official Report, column 396W, on intelligence services: vetting, for what reason information on security...

      NHS: Finance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what figures were collated by the Office for National Statistics on the net cost of the national health service in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c)...

      Non-profit Making Associations: Lancashire

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what funding his Department has provided for social enterprises delivering public services in West Lancashire constituency in the last 12 months.

      Taxis

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much (a) the Cabinet Office, (b) its agency and (c) the Prime Minister's Office spent on taxis in the last financial year for which figures...

      Voluntary Organisations: Finance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to which third sector organisations his Department has awarded Improving Reach funding; and how much was awarded in each case.

  • Home Department

    • Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of alcohol referral pilots; and how many people have (a) been subject to referral and (b)...

    • Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licensees in (a) St Albans, (b) Hertfordshire and (c) England were prosecuted for selling alcohol to under-18 year olds in each...

      Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions of people aged 10 to 17 years there were for being drunk and disorderly in (a) the non-metropolitan county of...

      Anti-social Behaviour Orders

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of anti-social behaviour orders.

      Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Enforcement

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken in the last 12 months to monitor the work of local authorities in relation to their enforcement of...

      Anti-social Behaviour Orders: Warley

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for anti-social behaviour orders have been made to Warley magistrates in each of the last three years; how many have...

      Burglary

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will establish a target for police forces to investigate all reported house burglaries.

      Closed Circuit Television

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on the use of CCTV to monitor members of the public.

      Credit Cards: Fraud

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of fraud relating to credit cards have been notified by banks and other financial institutions to the police in each police...

      Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were reported in each police force area in each of the last 10 years; and what the detection rate in each police force area...

      Crime Prevention

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to prevent crimes involving (a) internet fraud and (b) identity theft; and if she will make a statement.

      Crime: Prisoners

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of offences recorded by the police in each of the last five years were crimes committed by prisoners whilst in custody.

      Crime: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of children under the age of 16 who were victims of crime in each year since 1997 were from single-parent households.

      Curfews: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will assess the implications for the safety of young people in curfew areas where they may not be present in public in groups of more...

      Domestic Violence: Emergency Calls

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces use recordings of 999 calls when interrogating those accused of domestic violence offences.

      Driving Offences: Insurance

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the extent of insurance fraud arising from intentional motor vehicle accidents.

      Driving Offences: Mobile Phones

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on enforcing the rules regarding driving while using a mobile telephone in each year since 1997.

      Driving Offences: Mobile Phones

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested for driving whilst using a mobile telephone in each year since 1997.

      Driving Offences: Mobile Phones

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted for using a mobile telephone whilst driving.

      Homicide: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under the age of 10 were victims of homicide in each of the last 10 years.

      Offensive Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which programmes and organisations dealing with (a) gun and (b) knife crime her Department has funded in each of the last five years.

      Offensive Weapons: Dyfed

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many knife crimes were recorded in Dyfed-Powys in each of the last five years.

      Offensive Weapons: Southampton

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people aged (a) 16 and under, (b) between 17 and 18, (c) between 18 and 21 and (d) 21 years were arrested for carrying (i)...

      Offensive Weapons: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of children under the age of 16 who were victims of gun or knife crime in each year since 1997 were from...

      Powers of Entry

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation sponsored by her Department has (i) amended and (ii) enhanced existing powers of entry since...

      Reoffenders

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the number of those designated as persistent and prolific offenders are presently serving prison sentences.

      Road Traffic Offences: Fixed Penalties

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2008, Official Report, column 608W, on road traffic offences: fixed penalties, if she will place in the...

      Security: Licensed Premises

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether requirements are imposed on door staff of licensed premises to undertake continuing training after they have obtained a Security...

      Smuggling: Tobacco

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to constrain illicit trade in tobacco; and what plans she has to review these measures.

      Speed Limits: Cameras

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of bi-directional road safety and speed cameras in the Metropolitan Police district are coloured yellow on both...

      Speed Limits: Cameras

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Metropolitan Police plans to colour yellow the front of the bi-directional safety camera on the southbound carriageway of the A3...

      Young People: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much (a) universal and (b) targeted funding her Department has provided to youth groups in London in each of the last five years.

  • International Development

    • Africa: EU Strategic Partnership

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008, Official Report, columns 1165-6W, on Africa: EU Strategic Partnership, what criteria his...

    • Africa: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008, Official Report, columns 1167-8W, on Africa: females, what programmes his Department is...

      Developing Countries: Borders

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008, Official Report, columns 1176-7W, on developing countries: borders, what information his...

      Developing Countries: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what percentage of its budget his Department spent on education programmes in schools in 2007-08; and what assessment he...

      Ethiopia: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008, Official Report, column 1178W, on Ethiopa: economic situation, what steps his Department is...

      Ethiopia: Water

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what bodies received funding from the £75 million allocated to support the Ethiopian government water sanitation and hygiene programme.

      India: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2008, Official Report, column 1040W, on India: overseas aid, what targets have been set for the...

      India: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2008, Official Report, columns 1039-40W, on India: overseas aid, what form the technical assistance...

      Nepal: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2008, Official Report, column 494W, on International Health Partnership, in what way the...

      Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's timetable is for its implementation plan to take forward the OECD Development Assistance Committee Principles;...

      Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes his Department has initiated to increase opportunities for individuals in the UK to assist developing countries in the...

      Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008, Official Report, column 1182W, on overseas aid, to what other programmes funds not disbursed...

      Overseas Aid: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2008, Official Report, columns 1271-2W, on overseas aid: standards, how the transparency of donors'...

      Overseas Aid: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2008, Official Report, columns 1272-3W, on overseas aid: standards, what steps donors and partners...

      Renewable Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Carbon Trust; and how much expenditure has been set aside for the introduction and...

      Sierra Leone: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the administrative cost to his Department was for delivery of £30 million to the UN Peacebuilding Fund in Sierra Leone; what...

      Southern Africa: Infrastructure

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008, Official Report, columns 1177-8W, how the US$5 billion of private investment will be distributed.

      Zambia: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2008, Official Report, columns 1274-5W, on Zambia: education, how the £22.1 million that his...

      Zambia: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2008, Official Report, columns 1274-5W, on Zambia: education, what programmes are planned to extend...

  • Children, Schools and Families

    • Building Schools for the Future Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made in issuing guidance to local authorities on producing revised expressions of interest for Building for...

    • Departmental Homeworking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2008, Official Report, column 405W, on departmental homeworking, if he will make it his policy...

      GCE A-level

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of A grade A-levels in (a) chemistry, (b) physics, (c) mathematics and (d) modern languages were awarded to...

      General Certificate of Secondary Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) pursuant to the answer of 10 September 2008, Official Report, columns 1854-6W, on examination results, what percentage of...

      General Certificate of Secondary Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in how many maintained mainstream schools over 75 per cent. of pupils obtained fewer than five GCSEs including English and...

      Languages: General Certificate of Secondary Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) at how many comprehensive schools 50 per cent. or more pupils achieved a modern languages GCSE at A*-C in each year since...

  • Treasury

    • Air Passenger Duty

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to refund pre-paid Air Passenger Duty to passengers who had booked tickets with airlines which ceased trading prior to...

    • Child Benefit: Telephone Services

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average waiting time was for telephone callers attempting to contact child benefit services in the last period for which figures are available.

      Council Tax: Wales

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2008, Official Report, column 305W, on council tax: Wales, how many dwellings in Wales are marked with a property details...

      Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the five most serious disciplinary breaches in his Department were in the last 12 months; and what steps were taken in response to each breach.

      Departmental Security

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of its executive...

      Excise Duties: Fuels

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the postponement of the two pence increase in fuel duty on revenue accruing to the Exchequer in each of the...

      Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has he made of the effect on Exchequer receipts in each financial year of the entry into force of clause 144 of the Finance Bill, on rebates...

      Housing: Sales

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many residential property transactions there have been, according to HM Revenue and Customs records, by number and value, in (a) England and Wales and...

      Housing: Valuation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst (Robert Neill) of 18 June 2008, Official Report, column 988W, on housing: valuation,...

      Housing: Valuation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Valuation Office Agency will adopt a principle of data minimisation in the information it collects and holds on domestic dwellings.

      Minimum Wage

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many prosecutions have been brought against employers for breach of national minimum wage legislation in the last 12 months; and how many of those cases...

      Minimum Wage: Hampshire

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fines have been issued to employers for paying employees at rates below the national minimum wage in (a) Southampton and (b) the non-metropolitan...

      Minimum Wage: West Yorkshire

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps HM Revenue and Customs has taken to ensure effective enforcement of the minimum wage in (a) West Yorkshire and (b) Leeds.

      Non-domestic Rates: Ports

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an impact assessment has been produced in relation to the Valuation Office Agency's decision to (a) increase business rates on port and shipping...

      Northern Rock: Nationalisation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse of nationalising Northern Rock has been to date.

      Pensions: Ministerial Policy Advisers

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the cash equivalent transfer value of pensions accrued by (a) special advisers and (b) press officers in Government; and if...

      Powers of Entry

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what powers of entry are exercisable by representatives of (a) the Valuation Office Agency and (b) HM Revenue and Customs under (i) primary and (ii)...

      Private Finance Initiative

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in respect of which private finance initiative projects the obligations on either party have not been met, leading to (a) contract renegotiation and (b)...

      Private Finance Initiative

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the capital liabilities in respect of private finance initiative contracts were in each year since 1990-91, broken down by Department.

      Public Sector: Pensions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the public sector pension deficit is if calculated using a discount rate based on index-linked gilts; and what rate was used for the most recent...

      Revenue and Customs

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average cost of employing each member of staff in the compliance department of HM Revenue and Customs was in the last financial year.

      Revenue and Customs

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average yield produced by each member of staff in the compliance department at HM Revenue and Customs was in the last financial year.

      Revenue and Customs

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many tax payers resident in Scotland are attached to Inland Revenue Centre 1, Glasgow; (2) how many tax payers resident outside Scotland are...

      Revenue and Customs: Art Works

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent on works of art in each HM Revenue and Customs office in the last 12 months.

      Revenue and Customs: Buildings

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had on (a) the future of the Mapeley STEPS Ltd estate and (b) the reorganisation of HM Revenue and Customs offices.

      Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the number of letters received by each HM Revenue and Customs office where processing has not yet been concluded.

      Revenue and Customs: Scotland

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial savings he expects to accrue from the closure of the HM Revenue and Customs offices in (a) Hawick and (b) Galashiels, broken down by (i)...

      Revenue and Customs: Southend-on-Sea

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has received since January 2008 from Southend-on-Sea Borough Council on staffing levels in HM Revenue and Customs offices in...

      Revenue and Customs: Southend-on-Sea

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) costs and (b) projected savings are expected to be of the Estates Consolidation Programme of HM Revenue and Customs in the Southend urban...

      Revenue and Customs: Visits Abroad

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2008, Official Report, column 1263W, on Revenue and Customs: visits abroad, why it is no longer possible to disclose the...

      Stamp Duties: Tax Avoidance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss of revenue to the Exchequer from stamp duty tax avoidance through the use of offshore trusts in the last period for...

      Stocks and Shares: Oil

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to restrict those engaged in the operation of the oil industry from trading in oil futures.

      Tax Avoidance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss of revenue to the Exchequer from legitimate tax avoidance in the last period for which figures are available.

      Tax Evasion: Lancashire

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many arrests have been made as part of investigations into (a) VAT fraud, (b) smuggling, (c) duty avoidance and (d) large-scale tax avoidance...

      Taxation: Aviation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from which overseas governments he has received representations on the proposed aviation duty; and if he will make a statement.

      Taxis

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies spent on taxis in the last financial year for which figures are available.

      Valuation Office: Databases

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 24 June 2008, Official Report, columns 258-9W, on the Valuation Office:...

      Valuation Office: Eurostar

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2008, Official Report, column 151W, on the Valuation Office: Eurostar, what source of funding or financial aid system was...

      Valuation Office: Video Recordings

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) pursuant to the answer of 14 July 2008, Official Report, column 152W, on the Valuation Office: video recordings, what the titles are of the internal...

      VAT: Parking

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the timetable is for the decision on whether local authorities will be compensated by HM Revenue and Customs for the VAT payments they have made on...

      Welfare Tax Credits: ICT

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what IT updates to tax credits systems are planned; on what dates such updates are scheduled for implementation; and what the earliest date is upon which an...

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

    • Madrid Declaration

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the 1989 Madrid declaration.

    • Georgia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of relations with Georgia; and if he will make a statement.

      Rwanda

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the Government have made to the Government of Rwanda on the continued detention of Charles Ntakirutinka.

      Health Care: Spain

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his Spanish counterpart on the decision of the Valencia Autonomous Region on access to local...

      Zimbabwe

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Zimbabwe.

      Zimbabwe

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Zimbabwe.

      Horn of Africa

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the Horn of Africa; and if he will make a statement.

      Nepal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Nepal.

      Iran

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Iran's nuclear programme.

      Iraq

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to facilitate the relocation to places of safety of Iraqi citizens who have assisted British forces.

      Afghanistan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what objectives he has set for his Department's policies on Afghanistan.

      Afghanistan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress the Afghanistan inter-departmental drugs unit has made; and if he will make a statement.

      European Union

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the role of national parliaments in the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

      Bangladesh

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for elections in Bangladesh.

      Pakistan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the election of the new President of Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

      Olympic Games 2012

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many full-time equivalent members of staff in his Department are employed on projects relating to the London 2012 Olympics...

      Russia: Missiles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his (a) European and (b) NATO counterparts on the test-firing by Russia of the RS-12M Topol...

      Russia: Missiles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he had with the Russian authorities on the test firing of the RS-12M Topol missile; and if he will make a statement.

  • Health

    • Departmental Databases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what use (a) his Department and (b) its agencies make of (i) MOSAIC data and (ii) ACORN data.

    • Drugs: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many finished admissions to hospital there were where a drugs overdose was a primary or secondary diagnosis at the outset in each NHS trust where the...

  • Defence

    • Afghanistan: Casualties

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed service personnel have become (a) single, (b) double, (c) triple and (d) quadruple amputees as a result of injuries sustained in...

    • Departmental Leave

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees of his Department are on gardening leave.

      Departmental Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) of 3 July 2008, Official Report, column 1039W, on departmental manpower, what...

      Departmental Retirement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green of 7 July 2008, Official Report, column 1174W, on departmental retirement, how many...

      Weapons: Arms Trade

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) small arms and (b) light weapons were (i) exported and (ii) imported by the UK in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

  • House of Lords

    • Buses: Roadworks

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether the Traffic Management Act 2004 has reduced the impact of roadworks on bus operation.

    • Civil Service: Women

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How many women are members of the senior Civil Service (SCS) in each government department; and what percentage of each department's total number of members of the...

      Department for International Development: Fair Trade Products

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How much the Department for International Development spent on refreshments in each of the past five years; and what proportion of this expenditure was on fair...

      Health: HIV/AIDS

      asked Her Majesty's Government: How street children will benefit from the updated HIV/AIDS strategy in the light of the fact that the £200 million social protection programmes will focus on...

      Health: HIV/AIDS

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Why the categories of "orphans and vulnerable children" and "children affected by AIDS" in the updated HIV/AIDS strategy do not refer to street children's lives;...

      Health: HIV/AIDS

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What measures will be taken to ensure that street children gain access to HIV/AIDS treatment services and benefit from out-of-school prevention programmes.

      Israel and Palestine: Gaza

      asked Her Majesty's Government: Whether, given the prevalence of kidney disease in Gaza, they or the quartet have plans to assist in improving the quality of drinking water available there.

      North Korea: Food Shortages

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What assessment they have made of the World Food Programme's investigation of potential famine in North Korea; whether they intend to provide additional food aid...

      North Korea: Food Shortages

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is the total value of development and food aid to North Korea; and what assessment they have made of the possibility of allowing new British non-governmental...

      Transport: Fuel Consumption

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is their estimate of the effect on fuel consumption of raising average speeds of traffic by two per cent from the present level.

      Transport: Illegal Drivers

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What action they are taking to reduce the number of drivers using cars without licences or insurance.

      UN: Defamation of Religion

      asked Her Majesty's Government: What is their stance on the resolutions on defamation of religion proposed by members of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

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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