Written answers

Monday, 27 June 2011

  • Attorney-General

    • Crown Prosecution Service: Training

      To ask the Attorney-General what training crown prosecutors receive in respect of processing recorded incidents of stalking and harassment.

    • Departmental Procurement

      To ask the Attorney-General what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by his Department since May 2010.

  • Culture Media and Sport

    • Broadband

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has for the roll-out of superfast broadband.

    • Broadband: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) how much of the £530 million allocated for expenditure on superfast broadband by 2015 the Government plans to...

      Broadband: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the provision by local...

      Departmental Charitable Donations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to encourage charitable giving by Ministers in his Department.

      Departmental Public Appointments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many and what proportion of public appointments made to his Department and its arms length bodies have been women since...

      Entry Clearances

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will assess the potential effects on the UK visitor economy of the introduction of a pilot visa waiver scheme by the...

      EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 his Department is responsible; and what European directives for which...

      Gambling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to provide information for the public on the effects of gambling (a) in general and (b) on...

      Horserace Totalisator Board

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will increase the proportion of funds to be returned to racing from the sale of the Tote; and if he will make a statement.

      Internet: Sex

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he plans to publish the report of Ofcom on access to sexually-explicit content on video on demand websites.

      Museums: Libraries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will review the Arts Council's museum and library functions in consultation with libraries and museums.

      Newspaper Press: Telephone Hacking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will establish a judicial enquiry, with evidence to be taken on oath, into allegations of telephone hacking by members...

      Olympic Games 2012: Tickets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many applications for London 2012 Olympics tickets were received from individuals in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales,...

      Olympic Games 2012: Tickets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 140W, on the Olympic Games 2012, what steps the London 2012...

      Performing Arts: Licensing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent progress his Department has made on its proposals for live entertainment licensing; and if he will make a statement.

      Public Holidays

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he plans to publish an assessment of his Department's pre-consultation on the proposal to move the May Day bank holiday.

      Public Lending Right

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects to announce the public body which will be responsible for the future administration of the public lending right.

      THQ

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) whether he has had discussions with representatives of the video games industry on the closure of THQ's Warrington...

  • Scotland

    • Departmental Allowances

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what expenses were claimed by (a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers working in his Department in the last 12 months.

    • Departmental Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by his Department since May 2010.

  • Northern Ireland

    • Departmental Allowances

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what expenses were claimed by (a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers working in his Department in the last 12 months.

    • Departmental Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by his Department since May 2010.

      Police Ombudsman

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times he has met the Police ombudsman since May 2010.

      Policing Board

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meetings he has held with the Policing Board for Northern Ireland since May 2010.

  • Prime Minister

    • Departmental Responsibilities: Urban Areas

      To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 1 March 2011, Official Report, column 358W, on departmental responsibilities: urban areas, on what date he plans to announce the appointment of...

    • NHS: Reorganisation

      To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the oral answer to the hon. Member for Wansbeck of 18 May 2011, Official Report, column 342, on how many occasions he has been present at meetings with...

  • Environment Food and Rural Affairs

    • Angling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fish kills were reported to the Environment Agency in each region in each of the last five financial years; how many...

    • Angling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the number of people who fished, excluding sea anglers, in each of the last five...

      Angling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many reports of suspected illegal fish movement the Environment Agency received in each region in each of the last five...

      Angling: Licensing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much income the Environment Agency received from rod licences on which a concession was available in each of the last...

      Angling: Licensing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much income the Environment Agency received from rod licences for each category of licence in each region in each of the...

      Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bridgend of 30 March 2011, Official Report, column 341W, on bovine...

      Coastal Areas: Public Footpaths

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to exercise her functions under Part 9 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 to put in place a walking...

      Common Fisheries Policy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on the target contained in the communication of the European Commission on Implementing...

      Dairy Farming: Antibiotics

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information her Department holds on the levels of antibiotic treatments used in the dairy sector in each of the last...

      Farms: Outdoor Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department provided for educational visits by school children to farms in the latest period for which...

      Fisheries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Environment Agency spent on employment of fisheries staff in each employment category (a) nationally and (b) in...

      Fisheries: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much fisheries-specific funding from (a) grant in aid and (b) other sources of income the Environment Agency spent on (i)...

      Fisheries: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what fisheries-specific grant-in-aid her Department provided to the Environment Agency in each of the last five financial...

      Fisheries: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what fisheries-specific income other than grant in aid from her Department and rod licence income the Environment Agency...

      Food

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to support the sale and production of local food.

      Litter: Publicity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what funding her Department has allocated for the Love Where You Live campaign.

      Meat

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess the (a) environmental and (b) regulatory implications of the artificial cultivation of meat in laboratories.

      National Parks

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department expects to publish its review of governance arrangements for national parks and the broads.

      Nature Conservation: Outdoor Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions Ministers in her Department have had with Ministers in the Department for Education on outdoor education and...

      Sonae: Pollution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints her Department and its predecessor have received about air pollution related to the Sonae factory in...

      Sonae: Pollution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the potential effect on (a) general public health and (b) the health of the local population...

      Tyres

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations govern the use of tyre bales for land engineering.

      Tyres

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether tyre bales used for land engineering are classified as waste for the purposes of Article 6 (1) and (2) of...

      Waste and Resources Action Programme: Government Procurement Card

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount, (c) supplier and (d) level three or enhanced transaction entry was of each...

  • Transport

    • Bus Services: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on small and medium-sized bus operators of reductions to the Bus Service Operators Grant, changes to...

    • Bus Services: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on small and medium-sized bus companies of changes to (a) arrangements for reimbursement of concessionary...

      Bus Services: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential effect on bus services and fares of changes to the payment method of Bus Service Operators Grant to be...

      Channel Tunnel Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on the number of journeys made by freight trains travelling to and from London along the High Speed One link in...

      Crossrail: Rolling Stock

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 24 May 2011, Official Report, column 574W, on Crossrail: rolling stock, how many carriages are to be allocated to the...

      Driving Offences: Insurance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many uninsured drivers have been issued with a fixed penalty notice for the offence in each year since its introduction; and how much accrued in...

      Driving Tests: Bury

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department is taking steps to enable the driving test centre in Bury, Lancashire to re-open.

      Driving: Diabetes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to (a) amend the rules for issuing Group 2 medical licences to drivers with insulin-dependent diabetes in line with...

      Driving: Licensing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any changes have been made to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority form D45 in the last 10 years.

      First Capital Connect

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to investigate the events surrounding the train failure incident involving a First Capital Connect service near Kentish Town...

      High Speed Two Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what date his Department is using to determine the pre-blight value of properties purchased under the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme; and if he will...

      High Speed Two Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the process is for awarding tenders to companies bidding to design trains running along the proposed High Speed 2 line from London to Birmingham;...

      High Speed Two: Fares

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effects of High Speed 2 on fares on (a) the west coast main line and (b) other services on similar routes.

      Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with which bodies the Maritime and Coastguard Agency holds contracts relating to accommodation and facilities management for its offices in Scotland.

      Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the size is of the areas covered by the coastguard centre at (a) Shetland, (b) Stornoway, (c) Aberdeen, (d) Clyde and (e) Forth.

      Motorways: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential change in carbon emissions attributable to any increase in the national speed limit on a motorway from 70...

      Olympic Games 2012: Taxis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on access for London taxis to designated traffic lanes during the London 2012 Olympics; and if he will make a...

      Public Transport: Vandalism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of vandalism of public transport vehicles in each of the last five years.

      Railways

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Final Independent Report of the Rail Value for Money Study, whether he plans to publish a revised version of the Delivering a...

      Railways: Franchises

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department uses a model ticketing and settlement agreement in its negotiations with train operating companies on rail passenger franchise...

      Railways: Franchises

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much each train operating company holding a franchise has received from the public purse in (a) subsidy and (b) other funding since May 2010.

      Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to reform the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation to mitigate the effects on the sustainable biodiesel industry of...

      Rescue Services: VAT

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made in implementing a VAT exemption for mountain rescue.

      Roads: Bridges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made on the A194/A184 Whitemare Pool Bridge improvement project.

      Salvage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many Secretary of State's Representatives for Maritime Salvage and Intervention there have been since the creation of the post; and on what date...

      Trade Unions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any staff of his Department are entitled to work full-time on trade union activities while receiving a departmental salary.

      Transport: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to update the High Level Output Specification Statement of Public Funds Available process to include those objectives specified in his...

  • Justice

    • Angling: Licensing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people in each region were prosecuted for not being in possession of a rod licence in each of the last five financial years; what the total...

    • Convictions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions for offences of (a) burglary, (b) sexual assault, (c) grievous bodily harm, (d) manslaughter, (e) attempted murder, (f) forgery, (g)...

      Coroners: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the average cost of appealing against a coroner's decision through judicial review in each of the last five years.

      Coroners: Dismissal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on what grounds an individual holding the post of HM Coroner can be removed from that office.

      Coroners: North East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was paid to HM Coroner for the Cleveland area in remuneration in the last 12 months.

      Courts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average number of defendants per case was in England and Wales in the last year for which figures are available.

      Crime and Security Act 2010: Prosecutions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were prosecuted for a qualifying offence under section 7 of the Crime and Security Act 2010 between (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2009-10.

      Crown Courts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many unrepresented defendants in the Crown court there were between June 2009 and June 2010; and how many there have been since the roll-out of means...

      Drugs: Custodial Sentence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people received a custodial sentence for drug offences in (a) Kent and (b) Dartford constituency in each of the last five years.

      Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 18 March 2011, Official Report, columns 686-87W, on appeals: employment and support allowance, for what reasons it is not...

      Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many appeals against decisions on applications for (a) disability living allowance and (b) employment and support allowance there have been in each...

      Harassment: Custodial Sentence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many persons convicted of an offence under the terms of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in each of the last three years were placed on a...

      Immigration: Greater Manchester

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many immigration matter starts are allocated in the Greater Manchester access area.

      Legal Aid: Domestic Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what definition of domestic violence his Department uses for the purposes of its White Paper on legal aid reform.

      National Offender Management Service: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much funding each division of the National Offender Management Service spent on commissioning and contracting activities in the latest period for...

      Prison Sentences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people received immediate custodial sentences for breach of trust offences of theft, false accounting and fraud in each of the last five years....

      Prisoners: Disciplinary Proceedings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners have lost remission for disciplinary offences in the last 12 months; and how many such prisoners lost remission of (a) up to one...

      Prisoners: Mental Health

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department and its predecessor have spent on measures to improve the mental health of prisoners in each year since 1995.

      Prisons: Gyms

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on gymnasium and sporting equipment in each prison establishment in each of the last five years.

      Representation Orders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications for Representation Orders at the Crown Court have been outstanding after 28 days in 2011 to date.

      Squatting

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to launch a consultation on proposals for reform of the law on squatting.

      Trespass: Railways

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) arrests, (b) charges and (c) convictions for offences related to (i) trespass and (ii) vandalism on the railway system there have been in...

      Vandalism: Sentencing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what discussions he has had with the Magistrates' Association on sentencing policy for vandalism, trespass or graffiti-related offences on railway lines.

      Young Offender Institutions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which wings within HM Young Offender Institution (a) Rochester and (b) Portland are to be re-rolled to provide accommodation for prisoners aged over 21...

  • Health

    • Bed Bugs: Wales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with the Welsh Government on a potential outbreak of cimex lectularius.

    • Blood Transfusion Services: Wales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions the NHS Blood Transfusion Service has had with the Welsh Blood Service on the assumption of responsibility by the Welsh Blood Service for...

      Cancer: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much each primary care trust has received from the Cancer Drugs Fund; (2) how much was spent from the Cancer Drugs Fund in each region in the...

      Departmental Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to publish monthly information on changes in the numbers of employees of his Department's agencies, categorised by (a)...

      Departmental Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by his Department since May 2010.

      Departmental Redundancies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of redundancies in its non-departmental bodies (a) in 2011-12 and (b) over...

      Departmental Reorganisation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much was saved through his Department’s modernisation process in each month since May 2010; (2) if he will publish monthly reports on the...

      Doctors

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of secondary care doctors working for the NHS undertook no private work in the last financial year for which figures are available.

      Doctors: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the General Medical Council on assessing the competence of doctors in their proposed health commissioning role...

      Drugs: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the outcome of the Medical and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency consultation on unlicensed medicines; (2) when...

      Drugs: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs’...

      Drugs: Side Effects

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate his Department has made of the number of deaths due to adverse reactions to prescribed drugs in the last three years for which figures...

      General Practitioners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 76W, on general practitioners, what mechanism his Department has put in place to monitor...

      General Practitioners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether his proposals on GP commissioning will result in the employment of more GPs by the NHS in the next five years.

      Health Services: Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people completed alcohol treatments provided by the NHS in each region in the last 12 months; how much was spent on such treatment in each region...

      Health Services: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people completed drug treatments provided by the NHS in each region in the last 12 months; how much was spent on such treatment in each region in...

      Health Services: Hearing Impairment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department provides to deaf and hard of hearing people for translation services during hospital appointments.

      Health Services: Warrington

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects on patient safety of reductions in services being implemented by Warrington and Halton...

      Liver Diseases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of people who will be diagnosed with (a) liver disease and (b) hepatitis C in (i) 2015, (ii) 2020 and...

      Medical Equipment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the NHS takes to reclaim assistance equipment loaned to patients on discharge from hospital and out-patient clinics at the end of its use;...

      Medicine: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with representatives of universities on the teaching of skills that medical students will need to deliver his proposed health...

      Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the compliance of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines on access to psychotherapy services with...

      NHS: Disciplinary Proceedings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS was of providing staffing cover for (a) doctors and (b) nurses suspended pending disciplinary investigation or action in each...

      NHS: Reorganisation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that independent contractors to primary care trusts are remunerated according to the terms of their contract under...

      North West Strategic Health Authority

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of the notes and minutes of (a) his meeting with NHS North West on 15 February 2011 and (b) meetings held by the...

      Out-patients: Attendances

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 443W, on out-patients: attendances, for how long the measures to reduce non-attendance...

      Perinatal Mortality: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much funding allocated by his Department for research into stillbirth causes and prevention was spent on research on the role of the placenta in...

      Psychiatry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the methodologies used by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in the formulation of its...

      Radiotherapy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to section 6.12 of his Department’s document, Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer, whether this funding can be used for the...

      Radiotherapy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will take steps to ensure that any stereotactic body radiation therapy commissioning consortium established as a result of the recommendations...

  • Women and Equalities

    • State Retirement Pensions: Age

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what recent discussions she has had with her ministerial colleagues on changes to the state pension age for (a) men and (b) women; and if she will...

  • Defence

    • Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of armed forces personnel serving on operations in Afghanistan are members of the Territorial Army.

    • Armed Forces: Council Tax

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to (a) encourage local authorities to extend the exemption from council tax for members of the armed forces on operational duty...

      Armoured Fighting Vehicles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to take a decision on the future procurement of a second tranche of the Light Protected Patrol Vehicle Foxhound.

      Libya: Armed Conflict

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces are deployed on the ground in territory controlled by the Libyan Transitional National Council.

      Nuclear Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the potential effects of the UK nuclear deterrent on the level of nuclear proliferation; and what steps he is taking to...

  • International Development

    • Bangladesh: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations he has received on the use of UK development aid by the government of Bangladesh.

    • Conflict Prevention

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when his Department plans to publish its Building Stability Overseas strategy.

      Developing Countries: Biofuels

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment his Department has made of the effects of biofuel production on developing countries; and if he will make a...

      Developing Countries: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department is providing to assist in the achievement of the millennium development goal in respect of universal access...

      Developing Countries: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made at the (a) G20 and (b) UN on the future of the millennium development goal in respect of universal...

      Developing Countries: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations he has made to his UN counterparts on the number of frontline nurses, midwives and doctors employed in developing...

      Developing Countries: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department plans to contribute to measures to increase the numbers of children in developing countries vaccinated or...

      Somalia: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what priorities his Department has set in respect of Puntland.

      Somalia: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to what extent resilience is to be integrated into his Department’s operational plan for Somalia.

      Somalia: Water

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department plans to spend on water and sanitation in Somalia in 2011-12.

  • Treasury

    • Air Passenger Duty: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when he expects to announce the outcome of his Department's review of the effects of air passenger duty on Northern Ireland; (2) what recent...

    • Armed Conflict: Libya

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the reserve provided for the purposes of implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1973 remains.

      Banks: Finance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps his Department has taken to secure (a) EU and (b) G20 agreement on (i) the baseline proportion of equity capital that banks should hold...

      Banks: Regulation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he had with the Independent Commission on Banking on the proposals contained in its interim report, Consultation on Reform Options, prior...

      Budgets

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many interim Government budgets are set by reference to a proportion of gross national income.

      Business: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on sources of funding support for small and medium-sized enterprises in Northern Ireland.

      Departmental Billing

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many invoices received by his Department were paid (a) on time and (b) late in each month since May 2010; and what the monetary value was of invoices...

      Economic Situation: EU Countries

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has had recent discussions with the International Monetary Fund on the merits of providing further financial assistance to eurozone countries...

      Economic Situation: EU Countries

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent estimate is of the level of the Government’s total gross exposure to (a) Greece, (b) Ireland and (c) Portugal, including the UK...

      Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects payments to be made to Equitable Life policy holders; and in what order such payments will be made.

      Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people were prosecuted by HM Revenue and Customs for offences related to alcohol fraud in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.

      Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions officials of his Department have had with their international counterparts on measures to tackle alcohol fraud.

      Financial Services

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 5 April 2011, Official Report, column 893W, on financial services, when he expects to receive letters from the remuneration...

      Free Movement of Capital

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effect on the UK economy of the imposition of capital controls between the EU as a whole and the rest of the world under Article 66 of...

      Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the Valuation Office Agency's policy of assessing the rateable value of each business operating within a...

      Northern Rock

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the desired rate of return to the taxpayer from the sale of Northern Rock plc.

      Private Finance Initiative

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made on his Department's review of savings in private finance initiative contracts in the public sector; when the final report will be...

      Private Finance Initiative

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research his Department has commissioned on the value for money of the private finance initiative contracts in the public sector; what assessment he...

      Public Expenditure

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to Table 9.7 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2011, what categories of expenditure are included under non-identifiable public...

      Public Finance Initiative

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the level of tax revenue generated directly by companies undertaking delivery and management of public finance initiative projects in...

      Tax Avoidance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was provided to HM Revenue and Customs to reduce levels of (a) avoidance and (b) evasion of each direct and indirect tax in each of the last four...

      Taxation: Banks

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the level of taxation in the banking sector.

      Taxation: Environment Protection

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the potential contribution of fiscal measures to (a) increasing the rate of recycling and (b) reducing the level of excess packaging used...

      Taxation: Overpayments

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason HM Revenue and Customs (a) has changed the rate of interest charged on overdue payments of tax and (b) does not pay interest on tax overpaid...

      Taxation: Rescue Services

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend the excise duty relief for mineral hydrocarbon oil awarded to rescue boats to include diesel used exclusively for mountain rescue.

      Welfare Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much funding he has allocated to expenditure to be incurred in transferring from child care support and tax credits to any replacement system; (2)...

      Welfare Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the average time taken to (a) process an application for and (b) make an award of tax credits.

  • Energy and Climate Change

    • Biofuels: Timber

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will estimate the requirement for planting of new trees to meet demand for biomass electricity generation in the next four...

    • Biofuels: Timber

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of demand for material for biomass electricity generation on the (a) supply and (b)...

      Biofuels: Timber

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the policy of his Department is on increasing the supply of wood residue, and wood and food waste for use in biomass electricity...

      Biofuels: Timber

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's policy is on the planting of coppiced wood for use in the biomass industry on unoccupied agricultural land.

      Climate Change: Seas and Oceans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what recent assessment he has made of the potential effect of global warming on levels of sea and ocean acidification; (2) what...

      Combined Heat and Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the potential contribution to reduction of carbon emissions of deployment of community-scale...

      Combined Heat and Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the mini-combined heat and power sector on proposals to extend support...

      Departmental Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by his Department since May 2010.

      Energy: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2011, Official Report, columns 998-99W, on insulation: housing, what measures his Department is...

      Fuel Poverty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what planning his Department is undertaking to (a) prevent fuel poverty and (b) mitigate the impact of energy price rises among elderly...

      Fuel Poverty: Older People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to alleviate fuel poverty among the elderly.

      Green Deal Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he has taken to support innovation in the Green Deal.

      Renewable Energy: EU Action

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on the establishment of EU-wide targets for the use of renewable energy by 2030.

      Wind Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the (a) efficiency and (b) use of land-based wind-powered electricity generators.

  • Communities and Local Government

    • Affordable Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what incentives are available to registered providers to ensure that more (a) new and (b) existing housing stock is provided for...

    • Affordable Housing: Peterborough

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much is to be paid to (a) Cross Keys Homes, (b) Axiom Housing Association, (c) Accent Nene Housing, (d) Minster Housing...

      Localism Bill

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has any plans to bring forward further amendments to the Localism Bill in the light of representations from hon....

      Regional Planning and Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 16 July 2008, Official Report, column 491W, on...

      Regional Planning and Development: Worcestershire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he has given local authorities in South Worcestershire on the abolition of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy.

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

    • Bahrain: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has met representatives of Shia opposition groups in Bahrain.

    • British Council: Internet

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 7 June 2011, Official Report, column 202W, on the British Council: internet, what the nationalities...

      Departmental Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to publish monthly information on changes in the numbers of employees of his Department's...

      Embassies: Flags

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the decision to fly the EU flag alongside the Union flag at British embassies and missions was made; who made the decision;...

      EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 his Department is responsible; and what European directives for which his...

      Gilad Shalit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to bring about the release of Gilad Shalit; what discussions he has had at UN level on Gilad...

      Iran: Sanctions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the enforcement of sanctions against Iran.

      Iran: Satellites

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of the launch by Iran of a Rassad-1 satellite; what recent discussions he has had at the UN...

      Israel: Non-governmental Organisations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on legislative proposals under consideration in the Knesset on...

      Libya: Armed Conflict

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Libya; and what his policy is on the continuation of military...

      Libya: Mercenaries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of UK nationals working as mercenaries in Libya.

      Office of UK Permanent Representative to EU

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the capabilities required of the next UK Permanent Representative to the EU.

      Office of UK Permanent Representative to EU

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to recommend the appointment of the next UK Permanent Representative to the EU.

      Pakistan: British Nationals Abroad

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of UK nationals who travelled to Pakistan in each of the last three years.

      Palestinians: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make it his policy to vote against any resolution at the UN General Assembly calling for a unilateral...

      Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the situation of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani in Iran.

      Serbia: EU Enlargement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policy is on the accession of Serbia to the EU.

      Serbia: Travellers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discuss with his Serbian counterpart the recent forced evictions of Roma families from Belgrade; and if he will...

      Syrian Arab Republic: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received of personnel sent by Iran to Syria for the purpose of countering anti-Government...

      UK Membership of EU

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the contribution of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury of 20 June 2011, Official Report, column 26, on the...

      Yemen: Politics and Government

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

  • Education

    • Children: Sexual Exploitation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the outcomes were of the Minister for Children's March 2011 roundtable meeting with ministerial colleagues on child sexual exploitation.

    • Departmental Data Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to promote visual data security in his Department; and what training his Department provides to its officials in respect of the...

      Dr Thomas Spielhofer

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with Dr Thomas Spielhofer.

      Free School Meals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether (a) free schools and (b) academies will be required to provide free meals to eligible post-16 students.

      Marriage Guidance: Grants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2011, Official Report, columns 497-8W, on marriage guidance: grants, if he will place in the Library a copy of...

      Oil

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans his Department has to address the challenges posed by peak oil.

      Schools: Capital Investment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the Government's response to the Education Capital Review by Sebastian James will be issued; when he expects schools and local authorities to be...

      Serco

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many contracts his Department holds with Serco; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each such contract is.

      Serco

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish each contract his Department (a) holds and (b) has held since May 2010 with (i) Serco and (ii) the Centre for Excellence and...

      Youth Services: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much his Department plans to allocate to youth services in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.

  • Deputy Prime Minister

    • Electoral Register

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 6 September 2010, Official Report, column 302W, on the electoral register, whether he has commissioned any further analysis or...

  • Home Department

    • Stillbirths

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has had recent discussions with the devolved Administrations on the registration of stillbirths.

    • Police Numbers

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the likely number of police officers in 2012.

      Police Numbers

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment her Department has made of the relationship between numbers of police officers and levels of crime.

      Police Numbers

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of reductions in police numbers.

      CCTV Cameras

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the use of CCTV cameras.

      Animal Experiments

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if she will assess the potential effects on Government policy on the use of animals in scientific experiments of the planned expansion...

      Animal Experiments

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain, 2009, what types of procedures were carried out on...

      Antisocial Behaviour: Noise

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instances of abuse by a local authority of its powers in connection with the investigation of neighbour noise complaints have been...

      Criminal Records: Databases

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she has assessed the merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to revise the requirement for personal records held on the...

      Domestic Violence: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to protect women from domestic and sexual violence.

      Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what assessment her Department has made of the relative (a) toxicity and (b) addictivity of (i) heroin, (ii) cocaine, (iii) cannabis,...

      Drugs: Misuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the criminalisation of salvia divinorum.

      Drugs: Misuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations she has received on the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs' recommendation that foil be exempted from...

      EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what European directives in force on 1 April 2010 her Department is responsible; and what European directives for which her Department is...

      Harassment

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training police officers receive on dealing with and processing allegations of stalking and harassment.

      Harassment

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether police officers are required to conduct a risk assessment in respect of individuals who complain about stalking and harassment of a...

      Harassment

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were recorded under each section of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in 2010.

      National Crime Agency: Human Trafficking

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role the UK Human Trafficking Centre will have in her plans for a National Crime Agency.

      Offences against Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been (a) arrested and (b) charged for offences relating to child sexual exploitation including grooming in each...

      Police: Accountability

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the name is of each person or organisation who has responded to the Government's consultation on its proposals for elected police and...

      Police: Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many police officers there were in (a) England, (b) the North West, (c) Cumbria and (d) South Lakeland district in each of the last...

      Police: Powers

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances police officers may search and seize the electronic equipment of persons charged with an offence under the...

      Primates: Imports

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has assessed the merits made of extending the current ban on the import of wild-caught primates to include the first...

      Sexual Offences

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sexual assaults (a) were reported to the police and (b) resulted in a conviction in (i) England, (ii) the North West, (iii) Cumbria...

  • Work and Pensions

    • A New Approach to Child Poverty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to paragraph 1.10 of his Department's publication A New Approach to Child Poverty, how many children in each (a) region and (b)...

    • Bread: Asthma

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 May 2011, Official Report, column 91W, on bread: asthma, what the statistical data, other than the Surveillance of...

      Carers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to undertake an equality impact assessment on the effect on carers of the provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill.

      Children: Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the capability of (a) children's centre workers, (b) GPs, (c) teachers and (d) Jobcentre Plus staff to provide...

      Conditions of Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with (a) officials in his Department, (b) the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and (c)...

      Departmental Conditions of Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with (a) companies contracted to deliver the Work Programme and (b) trade unions representing affected staff on the...

      Departmental Conditions of Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the transition to the Work Programme on disabled staff previously employed on welfare to...

      Departmental Conditions of Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons the provisions of Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations are not to be applied to staff of his...

      Departmental Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by his Department since May 2010.

      Departmental Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the name is of each regulatory measure revoked by his Department between 1 March and 31 May 2011; and what estimate he has made of the...

      Disability Living Allowance: Care Homes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the savings in real terms which will accrue from the withdrawal of mobility allowance from persons in residential...

      Disability: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will assess the conclusions and recommendations of the report, Setting the Scene for Scotland's Disabled Children.

      Education: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether individuals mandated to undertake education and training as part of skills conditionality proposals will potentially be liable for...

      Employment and Support Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals who will receive contributory employment and support allowance (a) in the work-related activity group and (b) in the...

      Employment and Support Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which organisations and charities representing people with disabilities he has met to discuss his proposals to limit the payment of...

      Employment Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether an equality impact assessment has been undertaken on the introduction of the Work Programme.

      Employment Support

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 9 June 2011, Official Report, column 45WS, on employment support (disabled people), what plans...

      Employment: Hearing Impairment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what support his Department provides for deaf and hard of hearing people to help them enter employment; and if he will make a statement.

      Foreign Workers: EU Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps his Department has taken to prevent fraudulent claims by EU migrant workers claiming benefits in the UK.

      Foreign Workers: EU Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2011, Official Report, columns 191-92W, on foreign workers: EU nationals, what discussions he has had with...

      Future Jobs Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the effect of the cancellation of the Future Jobs Fund on the projections for unemployment made by the Office for...

      Habitual Residence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2011, Official Report, columns 192-93W, on habitual residence, who the decision makers are in respect of...

      Health and Safety Executive: Sonae

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on which dates the Health and Safety Executive inspected the Sonae factory in Kirkby in each of the last 10 years; and what the cost of each...

      Health and Safety Executive: Sonae

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on which dates the Health and Safety Executive initiated an investigation into the Sonae factory at Kirkby in each of the last 10 years; and...

      Hewlett Packard

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of Hewlett Packard’s application to offshore jobs from the application maintenance and support element of the...

      Jobcentre Plus

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department provides to officials in Jobcentre Plus on targets for ending recipient’s entitlement to claim benefits.

      Jobcentre Plus

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Jobcentre Plus compiles any performance ranking of its offices.

      Jobcentre Plus: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether any Jobcentre Plus services provided by centres in (a) Ayr, (b) Arbroath and (c) Clydebank will be moved outside Scotland when those...

      Jobcentre Plus: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions at which locations in Scotland Jobcentre Plus officials share office accommodation with other Government agencies.

      Jobcentre Plus: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what (a) support and (b) guidance his Department is offering to officials in Jobcentre Plus following the decision to close centres in Scotland.

      Jobcentre Plus: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department plans any compulsory redundancies in respect of officials at the Jobcentre Plus centre in Ayr.

      Jobcentre Plus: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials at the Jobcentre Plus centre in Ayr he plans to redeploy to other locations.

      Jobcentre Plus: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many clients were dealt with at the Jobcentre Plus centre in Ayr in each of the last five years.

      Jobcentre Plus: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many officials were employed at the Jobcentre Plus centre in Ayr in each of the last six years.

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when a substantive reply will be sent to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 4 May 2011 to the Child Support Agency, reference...

      Older Workers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to promote active ageing in employment.

      Older Workers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will bring forward proposals to promote events to raise awareness among (a) employers and (b) the general public of the need for greater...

      Pensions: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effects of raising the state pension age on access to employment for young people.

      Social Security Benefits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what definition his Department uses of the term (a) active benefit and (b) inactive benefit.

      Social Security Benefits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the weekly monetary value is of (a) the state pension, (b) employment and support allowance and (c) jobseeker's allowance.

      Social Security Benefits: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to assist benefit claimants who are unable to read official correspondence due to (a) learning difficulties...

      Social Security Benefits: E-mail

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has considered the merits of offering correspondence via email for benefit claimants who cannot read but have access to electronic...

      Social Security Benefits: Health

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are in receipt of (a) employment support allowance and (b) disability living allowance as a result of a degenerative illness.

      Social Security Benefits: Interviews

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit recipients have had their entitlement to claim benefits ended as a result of being late for an interview in each month since...

      Social Security Benefits: Overpayments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State for Work and Pensions of 13 June 2011, Official Report, Welfare Reform Bill Committee,...

      Social Security Benefits: Overpayments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many instances overpayment of benefits to migrant workers from other EU member states was successfully reclaimed after the individual...

      Social Security Benefits: Overpayments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on reclaiming overpayment of benefits to migrant workers from other EU member states following departure from the...

      Unemployment: Cancer

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what information his Department holds on the average number of months persons diagnosed with cancer were certified as unable to undertake work...

      Work Capability Assessment: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many work capability assessments were made contrary to the recommendation of a general practitioner on behalf of a claimant in the latest...

      Work Capability Assessment: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many work capability assessments in respect of persons diagnosed with a mental health condition were refused in the latest period for which...

      Work Capability Assessment: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people who failed a work capability assessment in the last 12 months subsequently had the decision overturned on appeal.

  • Business, Innovation and Skills

    • Adult Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects of the reductions in his Department's budget on the availability and quality of adult...

    • Animal Experiments: Primates

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department is developing a national strategy on the use of non-human primates in scientific research.

      Business

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of patent applications from (a) small and medium-sized businesses and...

      Business

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to improve patent protection for small and medium-sized businesses.

      Business: Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of net capital expenditure was attributable to small and medium-sized enterprises in (a) each year since 2005 and...

      Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what research his Department funds on the causes of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis.

      Diamond Resorts International

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what representations he has received on the changes made by Diamond Resorts International to the terms and conditions of former...

      EU External Trade: India

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the proposed free trade...

      EU External Trade: India

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of trade unions on the proposed free trade agreement between...

      EU External Trade: India

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he expects a free trade agreement between the EU and the Indian Government to be signed; and if he will make a statement.

      Export Credits Guarantee Department

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the liability of the Export Credits Guarantee Department was in respect of (a) Airbus, (b) other aerospace goods, (c) other...

      Focus Stores: B and Q

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what date he expects the Office of Fair Trading to make a ruling on the proposed takeover of Focus Stores by B&Q plc; and...

      Higher Education: Admissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of university places for (a) accountancy, (b) actuarial science, (c) aeronautical...

      Mortgages: Competition

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what advice he has received on the application of EU competition rules on restraint of trade to the introduction of alternative...

      National Physical Laboratory

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what targets he has set for the outcome of the funding of the National Physical Laboratory's space measurements programme.

      New Businesses: Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the start-up rates were of businesses in the (a) most and (b) least deprived areas in (i) each year since 2005 and (ii) the...

      Postal Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what proportion of letters for (a) walk sorting and (b) walk sequencing by Royal Mail were automated in the latest period...

      Self-employed: Ethnic Groups

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the self-employment rate was among (a) black and mixed ethnic groups and (b) all ethnic groups in (i) each year since 2005...

      Students: Carers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has made any assessment of the effect of new arrangements for tuition fees on those undertaking university studies...

      Trade Agreements

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the effect on UK sovereignty of (a) free trade agreements between the EU and non-EU...

      Trade Agreements

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effects on the UK (a) automotive, (b) aerospace and (c) pharmaceutical industry of the...

      Trade: Developing Countries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent meetings he has had on the Doha trade talks.

      Trading Standards: Legal Profession

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals to give trading standards additional powers to curtail the activities of unscrupulous law firms.

      Vocational Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has plans to encourage the Skills Funding Agency and the National Apprenticeship Service to share services; and if he...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Chief Coroner

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what legal advice he received prior to taking the decision to include provisions relating to the office of chief coroner in the Public Bodies Bill.

    • Childbirth

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the projected birth rate in England is for (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.

      Departmental Manpower

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make it his policy to publish monthly information on changes in the numbers of employees of his Department’s agency, categorised by (a)...

      Departmental Procurement

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what provisions in respect of behavioural standards have been included in procurement contracts issued by his Department since May 2010.

      Departmental Redundancy

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of redundancies in its non-departmental bodies (a) in 2011-12 and (b) over...

      Employment Schemes

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 9 May 2011, Official Report, column 1017W, on jobseeker's allowance, how many of those people unemployed for more than 12...

      Government Departments: Manpower

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what guidance his Department issues to other Government departments on the frequency of publication of the number and seniority of their employees; and...

      Government Departments: Procurement

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what (a) guidance he has issued and (b) support he has provided in respect of the promotion of locally-based companies through Government procurement...

      Lone Parents: Carmarthen

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many lone parents were (a) in employment and (b) unemployed in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituency in each year since 2008.

      Minimum Wage: Dartford

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many people were paid at the rate of the national minimum wage in Dartford constituency in the latest period for which figures are available.

      Ministerial Policy Advisers: Codes of Practice

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) whether unpaid special advisers in Government Departments are subject to the civil service and special advisers' code of conduct; and if he will...

      Ministerial Policy Advisers: Travel

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many journeys were made by (a) paid and (b) unpaid special advisers using (i) the Government Car Service, (ii) hire car companies and (iii) trains...

      Public Sector

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he plans to publish the proposed White Paper on Public Services.

  • House of Lords

    • Agriculture: Health and Safety

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Freud on 7 June (WA 81-5), what bearing the health and safety record of the agriculture industry will have on the plans to...

    • Armed Forces: Accommodation

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 6 June (WA 6-7), whether they will place in the Library of the House details of the en suite and non...

      Armed Forces: Aircraft

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether RAF Harriers and Royal Navy Harriers have been stored for possible future use. To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to sell any Royal...

      Benefits

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department for Work and Pensions will extend their investigation into osteoarthritis of the knee from the construction industries to horticulture and...

      Care Quality Commission

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many representations from whistleblowers received by the Care Quality Commission led to investigations in each three month period since the commencement of...

      Care Quality Commission

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the financial viability of care homes is the subject of monitoring by the Care Quality Commission for the purpose of assessing quality of service provision.

      Child Maintenance

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that vulnerable parents who provide care will be fully supported in making the decision as to whether or not to use the...

      Children: Care

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hill of Oareford on 26 April (WA 19), how figures for the number of children brought up by their grandparents are recorded...

      Children: Special Educational Needs

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what impact the removal of the "duty to co-operate" will have on children with complex needs, such as autism, and their families.

      Cornwall: Stannary Law

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in Cornwall stannary law has precedence over building regulations. To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is possible to bring a case concerning...

      Crime: Homicide

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have died since 1963 at the hands of persons previously convicted of homicide.

      Disabled People: Access to Work

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the cost of providing interpreters under the Access to Work programme in each of the past five years.

      Disabled People: Access to Work

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will extend the Access to Work programme to cover the costs associated with attendance at interviews.

      Education Maintenance Allowance

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they have paid in compensation to Capita Plc to phase out their administration of the education maintenance allowance in England.

      Egypt and Tunisia

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the aid for Tunisia and Egypt agreed at the G8 summit will come from the United Kingdom Department for International Development budget.

      Employment: Deaf People

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what provision they are making to help deaf people into employment.

      Energy: Generation

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Marland on 14 June (Official Report, col. 654), whether the Minister was referring to the public sector or private sector in respect...

      Energy: Shale Gas

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to carry out a review of shale gas drilling activity and processes in the United Kingdom.

      Energy: Shale Gas

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish the British Geological Survey study being carried out on the shale gas operations near Weeton in Lanarkshire.

      Ethiopia

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what work they are undertaking to assist Ethiopia in modernising its agricultural sector and market its produce; how this work is structured; what are the costs;...

      EU: Trade Agreements

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the request by the government of India that they should have mode 4 access to European Union markets as a condition of a European...

      Exports

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how the Department of Health intends to develop exports with competitive technological and commercial capabilities.

      Government Departments: Research and Data

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what research and data collection the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has (a) initiated (b) terminated (c) amended since 12 May 2010.

      Government Departments: Research and Data

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what research and data collection the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has (a) initiated, (b) terminated, and (c) amended, since 12 May 2010.

      Government Departments: Research and Data

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what research and data collection the Deputy Prime Minister has (a) initiated, (b) terminated, and (c) amended, since 12 May 2010.

      Government Departments: Scientific Advisers

      To ask Her Majesty's Government who is the Departmental Chief Scientific Adviser for the Attorney-General's Office; and (a) when they were appointed and for how long, (b) what is their academic...

      Government Departments: Scientific Advisers

      To ask Her Majesty's Government who is the Departmental Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills; and (a) when they were appointed and for how long, (b)...

      Government Departments: Scientific Advisers

      To ask Her Majesty's Government who is the Departmental Chief Scientific Adviser for the Ministry of Defence; and (a) when they were appointed and for how long, (b) what is their academic or...

      Government Departments: Private Secretaries

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last published a list of parliamentary private secretaries; and whether they will publish an up-to-date list.

      Gypsies and Travellers

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many meetings have been held of the Ministerial Working Group on Preventing and Tackling Inequalities Experienced by Gypsies and Travellers; whether they will...

      Health: Liver Disease

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the National Liver Strategy.

      Health: Malnutrition

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the incidence of malnutrition in (a) communities, (b) acute settings, and (c) sheltered accommodation and residential care...

      Health: Mental Health

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Earl Howe on 8 June (Official Report, cols. 270-2), how many hospital assessment and treatment units or other hospital facilities are...

      Health: Organ Donation

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is within the competence of the National Health Service Blood and Transplant Authority to seek to pursue the strategic objective in its Strategic Plan...

      Housing Benefit

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 14 June (WA 178), when the Minister for Welfare Reform is planning to visit the home of someone on housing benefit.

      Immigration

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the introduction of the New Asylum Model, they will abolish the detained fast track procedure.

      Immigration: Detainees

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will desist from using the word "detainees" to describe persons who whilst debarred from entering the United Kingdom are free to go to other...

      Immigration: Detainees

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Bail for Immigration Detainees about their recent report Last Resort or First Resort?; and what action they are taking in...

      Immigration: Detainees

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was spent in 2010-11 on special payments to migrants and asylum applicants who had been wrongly or unlawfully detained.

      Immigration: Detainees

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will establish an independent inquiry into immigration detention with the aim of ending unlawful detentions and of preventing the detention of...

      Immigration: Detainees

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to instruct the UK Border Agency on the transfer of immigration detainees to a different detention centre when they have a pending hospital...

      Immigration: Detainees

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Somali citizens are in immigration detention following a sentence of imprisonment.

      Immigration: Detention of Children

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to improve current provision for children involved in immigration and asylum processes.

      Libya

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Stabilisation Unit is aware of any planned European Union stabilisation or security sector reform missions in Libya; and, if so, whether they were...

      Media: Local Television

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish the next stage of their proposals for local television, including their assessment of the commercial viability of those proposals.

      Mortgage Lenders

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they consider that the codes of practice promoted by the Council for Mortgage Lenders are sufficiently strong to ensure that there is no conflict of...

      Museums and Galleries: Governance

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for changing the governance of national museums and galleries.

      NHS: Foundation Trusts

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what number of NHS trusts they estimate will not have reached foundation trust status by (a) April 2013, and (b) April 2014.

      NHS: Reform

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish an organogram for the National Health Service reflecting their new proposals.

      Offenders: Work

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements will be necessary in the event of private sector companies winning a contract for the provision of unpaid work by women in England and Wales.

      Olympic Games 2012

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy towards the attendance of members of the government of President Gaddafi at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

      Overseas Aid

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of the budget for the Department for International Development's new Nepal programme has been allocated to realising the United Nations millennium...

      Overseas Aid

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the recommendations of the review by Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon calling for more effective emergency responses by the Department for...

      Pensions

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to bring forward proposals to increase the amount of money available to pensioners in receipt of pensions under the Financial Assistance Scheme.

      Police: Armed Unit

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to create a central armed police unit for England.

      Police: Elected Commissioners

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have considered introducing greater police co-ordination at national level alongside their proposal to elect local police commissioners.

      Public Libraries

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many libraries across the country are (a) reducing their opening hours, or (b) facing closure.

      Schools: Closures

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans are in place to provide continuity of education to pupils in the event that a free school or academy becomes financially unviable and is forced to close.

      Schools: Free Schools

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many free schools they expect to open in 2012.

      South Wales Police

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in the past two years the South Wales Police have arrested any person found holding but not using a mobile phone, who was subsequently taken to court.

      Sport: Supporters' Trusts

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Football Stadia Improvement Fund regarding its decision to withdraw £1.2 million of funding from Supporters Direct.

      Tourism

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people entered England and Wales from abroad for tourism purposes in the years 2009, 2010 and 2011 to date.

      Zimbabwe

      To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 25 May (WA 446), whether, if none of the £80 million aid resource for Zimbabwe is channelled through its...

      Zimbabwe

      To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 25 May (WA 446), whether they will define more specifically "trusted partners" in relation to the dispersal of...

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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