Written answers

Thursday, 31 March 2011

  • Leader of the House

    • Independent Commission on Banking

      To ask the Leader of the House if he will take steps to ensure a debate on the interim findings of the Independent Commission on Banking after 11 April 2011.

  • Northern Ireland

    • Public Inquiries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to his Department was of public inquiries in each of the last 10 years.

    • Victims Support

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meetings he has had with victims' representatives since his appointment.

  • Justice

    • Bribery Act 2010

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Orpington (Joseph Johnson) of 15 February 2011, Official Report, columns 750-1W, on what date he expects...

    • Courts: Closures

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that the work of the family courts is not affected by the closure of family court venues; (2) whether family...

      Domestic Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what recent assessment he has made of the outcomes of the Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme; and if he will make a statement; (2) what recent...

      Domestic Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment has been made of the effectiveness of restorative justice in cases of domestic violence; and if he will make a statement.

      Prison Service: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 16 February 2011, Official Report, column 796W, on the Prison Service: ICT, whether the Director of Corporate Affairs of HM...

      Prisons: Private Sector

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2011, Official Report, column 577W, on prisoners, how many projects in prisons run by the private sector remunerate...

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

    • Afghanistan: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide support to the work of (a) Malalai Joya and (b) other Afghan human rights activists in publicising the...

    • British Nationals Abroad: Homicide

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will establish in his Department a specialist team to support those bereaved by homicides of UK nationals overseas.

      Public Bodies Reform Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Government...

      League of Arab States

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have been in contact with (i) Arab League officials and (ii)...

      Mumbai: Terrorism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken to provide compensation to British nationals involved in the Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008.

      Somalia: Piracy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has assessed the merits of seeking international agreement to declare the sea off the coast of Somalia a conflict zone.

      Somalia: Piracy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason he announced that additional funding would be provided to tackle piracy by issuing a press release rather than...

      Yemen: Politics and Government

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

  • Defence

    • Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF aircraft movements there were between Camp Bastion and Kandahar Airbase for each type of aircraft in each of the last 12 months; what cargo...

    • Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any helicopters and their crews deployed in Afghanistan will be redeployed as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn; and if he will make a statement.

      Armed Forces: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ensure that the level of the food and incidentals allowance to which military personnel who are required to live in private...

      Departmental Theft

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2011, Official Report, column 1227W, on departmental theft, whether he has taken steps to ensure that equipment with a...

      Departmental Theft

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2011, Official Report, column 1227W, on departmental theft, from which of his Department's sites items of a monetary...

      Departmental Theft

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2011, Official Report, column 1227W, on departmental theft, from which site or sites the money intended as...

      HMS Ark Royal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department expects to save through the decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal in each financial year until 2020.

      HMS Illustrious

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when HMS Illustrious is due to return to service; (2) on what date HMS Illustrious was taken out of service.

      Navy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for future deployment of the Royal Navy in (a) collaborative operations and (b) core responsibilities.

      Operation Ellamy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have participated in Operation Ellamy to date.

      Operation Ellamy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what equipment and capabilities from (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Army have been deployed in Operation Ellamy.

      Piracy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with (a) the International Maritime Organisation, (b) Shrivenham Defence College, (c) the International Institute...

      Somalia: Piracy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the relevance of the UK maritime doctrine to the situation of piracy off the coast of Somalia and in the western Indian Ocean.

  • Culture Media and Sport

    • Creative Industry Council

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport who the (a) members and (b) Chair will be of the Creative Industry Council announced in the 2011 Budget; and what its remit...

    • Creative Industry Council

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether the Creative Industry Council announced in the 2011 Budget will be led by industry or by Government.

      Departmental Domestic Visits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many (a) arts and cultural performances and (b) competitive sports events he has attended in an official capacity since...

      Museums: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will put in place mechanisms to monitor the effect on admission charges to local and regional museums of changes in...

      Third Sector

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department are participating in volunteering activities as part of his...

      Youth Sport Trust Young Ambassadors

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether Ministers in his Department plan to meet Youth Sport Trust Young Ambassadors when they deliver their petition against...

  • Work and Pensions

    • Child Poverty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children in each ethnic group were living in poverty in each of the last 10 years.

    • Departmental Public Consultation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many public consultations his Department and its predecessors have conducted in each of the last 10 years; for how long each consultation...

      Disability Living Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with each disability are in receipt of an indefinite award of disability living allowance.

      Disability Living Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer or 18 March 2011, Official Report, column 739W, on disability living allowance, what discussions he has had with (a) the...

      Disability Living Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) the North East and (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland...

      Disability Living Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the effects on the ability of care home residents to participate in community activities of removing the mobility component...

      Disability: Motor Vehicles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the eligibility criteria for road tax exemptions for vehicles adapted for use by disabled people; (2) if...

      Employment Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the number of persons in (a) Glasgow, (b) Scotland and (c) Great Britain who will participate in the Work...

      Employment Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of clients on each fit for work pilot scheme has been diagnosed with each type of illness.

      Employment Schemes: Cancer

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what provision he plans to put in place for people recovering from cancer who remain unable to return to work for longer than a year from the...

      Incapacity Benefit and Employment and Support Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people claimed (a) incapacity benefit and (b) employment and support allowance in each (i) month, (ii) quarter and (iii) year since...

      Low Incomes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department made of the level of in-work poverty.

      Performance-related Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department has made any assessment of the effects on workplace stress of trends in the use of performance-related pay.

      Personal Independence Payments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether recipients under the age of 65 in receipt of the proposed personal independence payment will be eligible to receive the benefit after...

      Personal Independence Payment: Autism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a face-to-face assessment for the personal independence payment will be necessary for all people with autism, including those with...

      Personal Independence Payments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has had discussions with organisations representing people with (a) autistic spectrum disorders, (b) Tourette’s syndrome and...

      Work-based Stress

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the Health and Safety Executive has arrangements to (a) measure and (b) assess mental stress in the workplace.

      Work-based Stress

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research his Department and its predecessors have (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on levels of stress in the workplace in each of the...

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the childcare support needed in the universal credit to make work pay for a lone parent earning...

      Winter Fuel Payments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions at what rate he expects the winter fuel allowance to be paid to people aged (a) over 60 and (b) over 80 years in each of the next five...

      Work Capability Assessment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to ensure that the findings of the review of work capability assessment will be considered in the development of a new...

  • Women and Equalities

    • Third Sector

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how much the Government Equalities Office provided to each charity it funds in each year since its inception; and how much she has allocated for...

  • Transport

    • Association of Train Operating Companies: Trade Unions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have met representatives of (i) the Association of Train Operating Companies and (ii)...

    • Aviation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of passengers expected to leave the UK by air in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15.

      Aviation: Working Hours

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Civil Aviation Authority on the European Aviation Safety Agency’s Notice of Proposed Amendment on flight...

      Blue Badge Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the merits of providing additional assistance to persons aged over 65 who cannot apply for automatic qualification for the Blue Badge...

      Public Bodies Reform Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the level of savings which will accrue from the abolition of the Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory...

      Driving: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals to improve driver testing and training processes he is considering for those aged between 17 and 25.

      Railways: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the financial statement of 23 March 2011, Official Report, columns 958-9, whether the £200 million additional investment in regional...

  • Energy and Climate Change

    • Chief Scientific Adviser

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for the future of the role of Chief Scientific Adviser to his Department.

    • Electricity: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the likely number of unsafe electrical and gas installations which will be identified during...

      Energy: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2011, Official Report, columns 1295-96W, on energy: housing, what research he has commissioned to...

      Flood Control: Tsunami

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of (a) a tsunami and (b) severe flooding on the Somerset Levels in the vicinity of...

      Fuel Oil

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Office of Fair Trading on its enquiry into the regulation of the heating oil market.

      Renewable Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on meeting any shortfall which may arise as a result of (a) failure of renewable heat technologies to deliver...

      Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cash cap for his Department’s feed-in tariff scheme is for (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15.

      Shale Gas Mining

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what responsibility he has for issuing policy guidance and directions on shale gas mining in Wales.

  • Home Department

    • Animal Experiments: Primates

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (a) how many and (b) what species of non-human primates imported for the purposes of scientific research were categorised as (i) captive-born...

    • Animal Experiments: Primates

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what species of non-human primates were imported into the UK for the purposes of scientific research in 2010; from which...

      Automatic Number Plate Recognition

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of vehicles seized for unpaid vehicle excise duty on the basis of information provided through the Automatic Number Plate...

      Common Travel Area

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the future of the Common Travel Area; and if she will make a statement.

      DNA: Databases

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the future management of the National DNA Database.

      Entry Clearances: Students

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the likely effects of her proposed reforms to the student immigration route on economic regeneration and...

      Government Communications

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff work in her Department's Research, Information and Communications Unit; how much was spent on the unit's operation in (a)...

      Human Trafficking: EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which of the measures in the original text of the EU Directive on Human Trafficking she considered to be contrary to the UK’s...

      Human Trafficking: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of human trafficking have been reported in Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and how many convictions for human...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter form the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr Field) of 17 February 2011 on her constituent Rasam Aliaziz.

      Passport Office: Liverpool

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who gave the instruction to terminate the employment of those employees of Liverpool Passport Office whose employment was terminated on...

      Prostitution

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what strategy her Department has to tackle prostitution; and if she will make a statement.

      Third Sector

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2011, Official Report, column 949W, on voluntary work and charitable donations, how much her Department...

  • Environment Food and Rural Affairs

    • Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to reinstate the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund.

    • Badgers: Tourism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has made an assessment of the potential effects of a badger cull on tourism revenues in each region.

      Candidate Special Areas of Conservation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions the Management Board of her Department have had on the designation of Candidate Special Areas of Conservation.

      Environment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to establish a mechanism to measure the Government’s commitment to be the greenest administration ever.

      Environment Protection: Departmental Co-ordination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) which Ministers have attended each of her monthly breakfasts for the designated green Ministers in each Department; (2)...

      Fisheries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government is taking to maintain arrangements for supervision of recreational fisheries after the removal...

      Flood Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration her Department has given to the recommendation of the Pitt Report that flood defences should be allocated...

      Flood Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has reviewed the Environment Agency's flood risk assessment of homes in England; and if she will make a statement.

      Food: Production

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she has estimated the total domestic food production capacity of the UK measured in terms of the proportion of the...

      Horses: Passports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2011, Official Report, columns 1218-19W, on horse passports, what estimate she has made of...

      Poultry: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to assist the farming industry in preparing for the ban on battery cages for laying hens.

      Seas and Oceans: Radiation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the safety of radiation levels of seawater in which the UK fishing fleet fish; and if...

      Water Charges: Billing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much additional funding will be available to reduce water bills in the South West region in each of the next four...

      Water: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) when she plans to publish her consultation document on proposals to address water affordability in the south-west; (2)...

  • Communities and Local Government

    • Departmental Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the (a) job title and (b) pay grade is of each civil servant appointed to his Department since 11 May 2010.

    • Housing: Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions his Department had with the Department of Energy and Climate Change prior to the announcement that new homes...

      Housing: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department has taken to promote its Home on the Farm scheme.

      Local Government: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the formula grant to each local authority in absolute cash terms has been in each year since 2006-07.

      Promotional Merchandise

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on promotional merchandise between 2006 to May 2010; how many of each item of promotional...

      Public Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which bodies and individuals received funding from Government Offices for the Regions under his Department's (a) community...

      Social Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health on monitoring the quality of independent social...

      Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanism he proposes to use to introduce a presumption of sustainable development in the local planning system.

  • Treasury

    • Air Passenger Duty

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income will accrue to the Exchequer from the auction of permits under the Aviation EU Emissions Trading Scheme in each of the next five years.

    • Corporation Tax

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer in tax forgone of the reduction in the main rate of corporation tax to 26 per cent. in the period...

      Counterfeit Manufacturing: Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the quantity of counterfeit branded spirits sold in the UK in each of the last three years; and what estimate he...

      Cycle to Work Scheme

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees of his Department are participating in the Cycle to Work scheme.

      Departmental Temporary Employment

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees on temporary contracts (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) the non-departmental bodies for which he is responsible had in each...

      Equitable Life

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the parliamentary ombudsman’s report on Equitable Life.

      Green Investment Bank

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what his policy is on granting the Green Investment Bank power to raise capital through borrowing during the comprehensive spending review period; (2)...

      Inheritance Tax

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether individuals who donate their homes to charitable bodies but continue to reside within them as tenants will be eligible for the reduction in the rate...

      Landfill Communities Fund

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the performance of projects funded by the Landfill Communities Fund; what plans he has for the future of the fund; and if he...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Chief Secretary to the Treasury plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Torbay of 17 September 2010 on behalf of his constituent Ms...

      State Retirement Pensions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Pre-Budget Report 2009, paragraph 5.45, whether the age at which pensioner benefits can be received will increase in line with his...

      Taxation: Business

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Wages Inspectorate visits have been made to (a) small, (b) medium and (c) large companies in each of the last six months.

      Taxation: Oil and Gas

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of the oil and gas industry to discuss the taxation arrangements for oil and gas production.

      Taxation: Oil and Gas

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely effect on (a) employment in Scotland and (b) investment in new oil production of his changes to taxation of the...

      Taxation: Oil and Gas

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any taper will apply to the supplementary charge on oil and gas profits if the price per barrel is between $75 and $100.

      Urenco

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contingency plans he has made should the sale of the UK shareholding in Urenco not realise the sum identified as necessary to fund the Green Investment...

  • Business, Innovation and Skills

    • Green Investment Bank

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to publish a business plan for the Green Investment Bank.

    • Green Investment Bank

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the amount of investment in green infrastructure that the Green Investment Bank will be...

      Apprentices: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many (a) adult and (b) youth apprenticeships were offered in the (i) public and (ii) private sector in London in each of the...

      Arms Trade: Exports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to his answer of 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 1173W, on arms trade: exports, for which countries arms export...

      Arts and Humanities Research Council

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions his Department has had with the Arts and Humanities Research Council on funding research into the Big Society;...

      Business

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress his Department is making on achieving the Government's aim of making the UK the best place in the world to start a...

      Compensation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) each (i) agency and (ii) non-departmental public body for which he is...

      Enterprise Zones: Wales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with the Welsh Assembly Government on the use of the enterprise zone model in Wales; and if he will...

      Land: Bristol

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for ownership of the land on which the SPark Bristol and Bath Science Park is located other than the National...

      Local Enterprise Partnerships

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of the population of England is covered by local enterprise partnerships; what plans there are to extend...

      Local Enterprise Partnerships

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what role his Department has set for local enterprise partnerships in promoting (a) the automotive industry, (b) low-carbon...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Torbay of 14 December 2010 on behalf of the Devon Education...

      New Businesses: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding will be allocated to (a) Scotland, (b) Glasgow North West constituency and (c) Glasgow city under the StartUp...

      Northern Way: Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the Northern Way project spent; and what evaluation he has made of the project's performance in meeting its objectives.

      Re-Export Control Bill [HL] 2010-11

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on referring the Re-Export Control Bill [Lords] to a Second Reading Committee; what...

      Regional Growth Fund: Poole

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications to the Regional Growth Fund have been received from organisations based in Poole constituency.

      Service Industries: Minimum Wage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received on the operation of the national minimum wage in the hospitality industry.

      Small Businesses: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to employ staff; and if he will make a statement.

      Students: Loans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to ensure that all student loans eligible for repayment are repaid in full following implementation...

      Tobacco: Sales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Reducing Regulation Committee has discussed proposals for the future display of tobacco products in shops.

      WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his policy is on the retention of the UK's role of hosting a WHO collaborating centre as part of the WHO Global Influenza...

  • Education

    • Academies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what process he has put in place by which an independent school may become an academy.

    • Apprentices: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education on which dates Ministers in his Department have made announcements on (a) the creation of apprenticeship places and (b) funding to be allocated to...

      Children: Carers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information his Department holds of the number and proportion of children who are carers in each (a) region and (b) socio-economic group.

      Departmental Expenditure: Film Production

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department has spent on film production, including the filming of speeches, since May 2010.

      Departmental Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) actual and (b) full-time equivalent staff his Department employed on the latest date for which figures are available.

      Departmental Telephone Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 22 March 2011, Official Report, columns 1034-35W, on departmental telephone services, what steps are being taken within the...

      Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department allocated to local authorities in Greater Manchester for capital expenditure (a) in 2010-11 and (b) in each of the last...

      Flexible Working: Parental Leave

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of the effect on early childhood development of (a) flexible working and (b) maternity and paternity leave.

      Free Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what requirements there are for public consultation on the location of free schools.

      Free Schools: Admissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether free schools will be obliged to adopt fair admissions criteria which place emphasis on increasing access to high quality education for children...

      Free Schools: Wellingborough

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many applications to establish a free school in (a) Wellingborough constituency, (b) Northamptonshire and (c) England his Department has received...

      Gcse

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of (a) all pupils, (b) pupils eligible for free school meals and (c) pupils not eligible for free school meals achieved A*...

      Industrial Health and Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress his Department has made in reviewing the health and safety regulations for which it is responsible since his appointment.

      Marriage Guidance: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to (a) put funding for relationship support on a stable, long-term footing and (b) encourage couples to access existing...

      Public Bodies: Reform Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the powers of those bodies that are proposed for abolition in the Education Bill will be transferred to the Secretary of State following the...

      Pupils: Bullying

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) for what reasons no mention was made of transphobic bullying in sections 3.6, 3.19 and 3.20 of the Schools White Paper, “The Importance of...

      School Sport Partnerships

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the likely effects on levels of youth crime of ending the funding...

      School Sports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much of his Department's budget for funding for school buildings and facilities he expects to be spent on sports facilities; and if he will make a...

      School Sports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the likely number of redundancies arising from his Department’s reduction in expenditure on school sport in the...

      Science: Secondary Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment his Department has made of prospects for the future of science teaching in schools at (a) Key Stage 3, (b) GCSE and (c) A-level.

      Special Educational Needs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to his Green Paper on special educational needs, when he plans to publish the national special educational needs and disabilities...

      Special Educational Needs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what data his Department holds on the number and proportion of school pupils with each type of special educational need in (a) Ashfield constituency,...

      Special Educational Needs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what information his Department holds on the number and proportion of school children diagnosed with each type of special educational need resident in...

      Special Educational Needs: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions his Department has had with Teach First on future levels of training for special educational needs teachers.

      Special Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many special schools he has visited since May 2010.

      Sure Start: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding his Department has provided to Sure Start in each year since its inception; and how much he has allocated to the programme in each of...

      Teachers: Qualifications

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what (a) process and (b) timetable he has put in place for allowing qualified further education lecturers to teach in school classrooms on the same...

  • House of Commons Commission

    • Wines

      To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, how much the House of Commons Service spent on wine in the last year for which...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Alcochol and Drugs: Death

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many deaths in the Medway area were (a) alcohol and (b) drug related and how many of those who died were aged (i) under 18, (ii) 18 to 24, (iii) 25...

    • Employment: Horticulture

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether he has made an estimate of the number of people aged 16 to 24 who are employed in the gardening industry; and whether he has assessed trends in...

      Government: Assets

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what action the Cabinet Office is taking to co-ordinate the sale of property assets across the government estate.

      Public Sector: Manpower

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people in Poole constituency are employed in (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector.

      Unemployment

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate he has made of the number of workless households in (a) Chatham and Aylesford constituency, (b) Medway Council area and (c)...

  • Health

    • Allergies: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department is taking steps to increase the number of allergy specialists in the NHS.

    • Care Homes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the effect of the reduction in funding for local authorities on the cost to patients of placements with independent social care...

      Cataracts: Waiting Lists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has a target for the treatment of cataract patients within three months of referral.

      Departmental Public Opinion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure has been incurred by his Department on (a) opinion polling, (b) focus groups and (c) other forms of market research in each month since 1...

      Health Services: Walsall

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the change in the number of staff employed by Walsall primary care trust or its successor as a result of implementation of proposed...

      Incinerators: Health Hazards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) with reference to the answer to the then hon. Member for Chesterfield of 30 November 2009, Official Report, column 539W, on incinerators: health...

      Macular Degeneration: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the results of the IVAN trial of alternative treatments for the inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor in age-related...

      Medical Records: Living Wills

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on amendments to the NHS Summary Care Record System that will enable the addition of living wills and Lasting Powers of...

      Medical Treatments Abroad

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients were treated overseas in each country for each type of condition in each of the last three years; and what the cost to the NHS of...

      Monitor

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of (a) levels of expenditure by Monitor on staff and (b) the number of staff to be employed by Monitor in each of the next five years.

      NHS: Competition

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of regulating health competition in each category of expenditure in each of the next five years.

      NHS: Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the outturn expenditure of the NHS in England in each of the last five financial years on a basis directly comparable with the...

      NHS: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what allocations were included in the estimate for NHS (a) Resource and (b) Capital Departmental Expenditure limits for 2010-11 in the June 2010 Budget...

      Surgery

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many internal operations were carried out on NHS patients in each year since 1996-97.

      Tattooing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2011, Official Report, column 452W, on tattoos, whether it is his Department's policy to fund the removal of tattoos on...

  • International Development

    • Botswana: Charities

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will provide advice to UK charities operating in Botswana on the use of terminology in publications that does not cause offence...

    • Developing Countries: Agriculture

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's commitment to agriculture and food security made at the G8 L'Aquila summit has been disbursed to...

      Developing Countries: Tuberculosis

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the effects on its provision of projects to (a) treat and (b) prevent maternal tuberculosis...

      Sudan: Israel

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the provision of assistance by Israel to refugees from Sudan.

  • House of Lords

    • Armed Forces: Aircraft

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they propose to proceed with the purchase of the Rivet Joint aircraft.

    • Armed Forces: Aircraft

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 17 March (WA 85-6), whether the savings for the scrapping of the Nimrod maritime surveillance aircraft are...

      Armed Forces: Bomb Disposal

      To ask Her Majesty's Government in how many cases of death, injury or repatriation of high threat operators was stress a contributory factor in each of the past three years.

      Armed Forces: Munitions

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many conventional munitions incidents outside United Kingdom military bases were attended by personnel of (a) the Royal Air Force, (b) the Royal Engineers, (c)...

      Autism

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made on the implementation of the Autism Strategy and the application of the disability equality duty in relation to autism.

      Banking

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Financial Services Authority has tested the resilience of United Kingdom banks against a big increase in short-term funding costs.

      Banking: Bank of Scotland (Ireland)

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House all the papers in connection with the appointment of Phil Flynn as chairman of the Bank of Scotland (Ireland).

      Banking: Royal Bank of Scotland

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Financial Services Authority's report on the failure of the Royal Bank of Scotland will be published; and whether the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), its...

      Banking: Royal Bank of Scotland

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Financial Services Authority will be publishing a report into the failure of HBOS.

      Benefits: Disability

      To ask Her Majesty's Government which state-funded employment training schemes take into consideration entitlement to disability living allowance.

      Civil Service: Education and Training

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what budget provisions they have made for education and training for senior civil servants over the period of the current spending review. To ask Her Majesty's...

      Civil Service: Official Business

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many civil servants are entitled to first-class rail travel when on official business.

      Cyclists

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have given to the Metropolitan Police concerning the activities of cyclists in and around Westminster.

      Education: Nurseries

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hill of Oareford on 17 March (HL 7488), in light of the statement that top-up fees are prohibited in nursery education to...

      Elections: Purdah Dates

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the reason for the difference in election purdah dates applied to central and local government announcements.

      Embryology

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Young of Norwood Green on 7 April 2010 (WA 433), whether the derivation of embryonic stem cell lines from human blastocysts...

      Finance: Independent Financial Advisers

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the Financial Services Authority to review the minimum capital requirements for independent personal financial advisers not holding client...

      Government Departments: Energy Certificates

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what level of display energy certificate was awarded to 10 Downing Street in each of the past three years.

      Government: Ministerial Responsibilities

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what particular duties have been undertaken by the Minister responsible for issues related to violence against women overseas.

      Health: Contaminated Blood Products

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total cost of implementing the recommendation of the government advisory committee on blood, tissues and organs that the P-Capt...

      Health: Contaminated Blood Products

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to implement the recommendations of the government advisory committee on blood, tissues and organs that further measures should be introduced to...

      Health: Contaminated Blood Products

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for the future of the government advisory committee on blood, tissues and organs.

      Health: Contaminated Blood Products

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the feasibility of introducing a test to detect the presence of infectious prions in blood.

      Health: Costs

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 2 February (WA 271), whether they will publish the details of the existing bilateral arrangements with the Republic...

      Health: Reciprocal Agreements

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for changes to healthcare for United Kingdom residents while on the Isle of Man.

      Homelessness: Rough Sleepers

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of homeless people sleeping rough over the next 12 months; and whether that number is expected to rise over that period.

      Housing

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether housing associations in England receive public funding; and whether they are able to acquire properties outside the United Kingdom.

      London Underground: Line Extensions

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of proposals to build an extension to the tube network to Battersea Power Station.

      Monetary Policy

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 17 March (WA 99), what responsibility HM Treasury has for monetary policy and the rate of inflation.

      Northern Ireland: Northern Bank Robbery

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what intelligence they received about the Northern Bank robbery in 2004 before it took place.

      Population

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the population size in their consideration of climate change and world poverty.

      Railways: Resignalling Projects

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the resignalling project contract specification for the Newport area of south Wales was based on that section of the railroad being electrified.

      Retail: Surcharges

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to persuade retailers to reduce their surcharges on customers paying by credit and debit cards.

      Roads: Ring Roads

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to build a ring road around Lincoln.

      Schools: Race and Religious Hatred

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take to investigate whether imported race and religious hatred material is being used in faith schools, including out of school religious classes.

      Sex Offenders

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Statement repeated by Baroness Neville-Jones (Official Report, col. 714-15) and the oral reply on 17 March (Official Report, col. 351) on the sex...

      Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for the current functions of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee.

      Terrorism

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made whether adequate arrangements are in place with the authorities in the Republic of Ireland to safeguard the United Kingdom border...

      Transport: Appraisals

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of benefits were made up in small time savings of under two minutes in the 10 most recent transport projects approved using the New Approach to...

      Universities: Admissions

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether equalities legislation applies to young people with the same qualifications applying to universities from independent and state schools; and, if not,...

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.

March 2011
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031