Written answers

Monday, 31 October 2011

  • Energy and Climate Change

    • Carbon Emissions: Local Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place in the Library a copy of the correspondence between his Department and the Committee on Climate Change on the outline...

    • Carbon Sequestration: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much funding from the public purse (a) has been spent and (b) will be spent during the wind-up the Competition One carbon capture...

      Chief Scientific Advisers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2011, Official R eport, column 30W, on departmental chief scientific advisers, which organisation...

      Lost Property

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has lost any (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other IT equipment since May 2010;...

      Departmental Official Visits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the cost to the public purse was of the Department's official visits since May 2010.

      Energy Supply

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many discussions (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his senior officials have had with representatives of (i) National Grid and (ii)...

      Energy: Local Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to promote energy saving practices in local authority-owned buildings.

      Energy: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the letter from the Minister of State of 30 September 2011, whether contract metered customers with a debt of less...

      Energy: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what discussions he has had with representatives of Scottish Power on changes in standing charges on energy bills in the last 12...

      Energy: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to combat the mis-selling of energy tariffs.

      Energy: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (1) what recent estimate his Department has made of the likely cost per household of the introduction of smart meters; (2) what...

      Fuel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what consideration his Department has given to the use of liquid fluoride thorium as an alternative to nuclear fuel.

      Green Deal Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to ensure small and medium-sized enterprises can participate in the green deal.

      Green Deal Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans his Department has to provide training to help domestic energy assessors become green deal assessors.

      Green Deal Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the number of green deal assessors needed to meet the objectives for participation in the green deal.

      Green Deal Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many green deal assessors are fully trained and ready to work.

      Green Deal Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what advice on competition law his Department has received on the decision to have a single green deal finance provider.

      Greenhouse Gas Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress has been made in meeting the Kyoto protocol targets on the emission of fluorinated greenhouse gases since 1990.

      Heating Oil

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to increase consumer protection in the off-grid energy sector.

      Heating Oil

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to increase the ability of consumers to switch suppliers in the heating oil market.

      Heating Oil

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to promote greater transparency in the heating oil market.

      Heating Oil

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to ensure that suppliers of heating oil deliver fuel to off-grid consumers at the price agreed at...

      Insulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the costs to energy suppliers of sending letters to vulnerable consumers on their eligibility for free or discounted insulation...

      Liquefied Petroleum Gas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to (a) regulate the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) industry and (b) monitor the difference in prices of LPG...

      Motion-sensitive Lighting Systems

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to encourage businesses and owners of office buildings to install motion-sensitive lighting systems.

      Natural Gas: Exploration

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the process is for allowing Cuadrilla Resources to resume hydraulic fracturing operations for shale gas; and whether he will make...

      Natural Gas: Exploration

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects the 14th round of UK onshore oil and gas licensing to commence.

      Natural Gas: Exploration

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the regulatory framework for shale gas exploration and drilling in (a) the UK and (b) other countries.

      Nuclear Installations: Floods

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to his contribution of 11 October 2011, Official Report, column 190, on the Weightman Report (Fukushima), if he will set...

      World Nuclear Forum

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the Royal Society's proposal that a World Nuclear Forum led by chief executive officers be established...

  • Leader of the House

    • Parliamentary Questions

      To ask the Leader of the House what recent (a) oral and (b) written representations he has received on the issue of the tabling of parliamentary questions; and if he will place in the Library a...

    • Parliamentary Questions

      To ask the Leader of the House what changes have been made to the rules governing the tabling of parliamentary questions in each of the last six years.

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

    • Adam Werritty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings HM ambassador to Israel has had with the Secretary of State for Defence (a) in Israel, (b) in the UK and (c)...

    • Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on consultancy contracts in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

      Domestic Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what definition of domestic violence his Department uses.

      Egypt: Christianity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations his Department has made to the Egyptian Government on the treatment of Coptic Christians in Egypt;...

      European Union: Powers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what powers have been repatriated from the EU since May 2010; and what powers have transferred from (a) the UK and (b) other EU...

      Iran: Sentencing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Iranian authorities against the sentence given to Marziyeh Vafamehr.

      Tunisia: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the recent elections in Tunisia; and what plans his Department has to engage with Tunisian...

  • House of Commons Commission

    • Parliamentary Questions

      To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the average number of written parliamentary questions tabled per sitting day...

  • Northern Ireland

    • Departmental Assets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assets with a value of £250,000 or more his Department has bought since May 2010; for what purpose; and if he will make a statement.

    • Departmental Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on consultancy contracts in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

      Lost Property

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether his Department has lost any (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other IT equipment since May 2010; and if he...

      Departmental Responsibilities

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications from employees to run services for which his Department is directly responsible he has received since May 2010; and if he...

      Patrick Finucane

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made by Desmond da Silva QC in relation to the Finucane Review; and if he will make a statement.

      Patrick Finucane

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with Desmond da Silva QC on the Finucane Review.

      Social Enterprises

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had on promoting social enterprises in the area for which his Department is responsible in each month since May 2010;...

  • Women and Equalities

  • Environment Food and Rural Affairs

    • Agriculture

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with (a) the National Farmers Union and (b) other farming organisations on ensuring a...

    • Animal Welfare: Circuses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her most recent estimate is of the cost of (a) setting up and operating a licensing regime and (b) introducing a...

      Animal Welfare: Circuses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set a timetable for implementing a ban on the use of wild animals in circuses.

      Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when her Department plans to make a decision on the introduction of regulations requiring mandatory public reporting of...

      Poultry: Animal Welfare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the EU's Food and Veterinary Office on steps to penalise egg producers that are...

      Ragwort: Poisoning

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to reduce the incidence of ragwort poisoning.

      Recycling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to encourage the uptake of kerbside sorting recycling.

      Travellers: Sewers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether Travellers and Gypsies are treated differently from the settled population under regulations and guidance governing...

      Waste: Farms

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many complaints her Department has received about odour from the spreading of waste on farmland in each of the last three...

      Waste: Farms

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of effectiveness of regulation of the practice of injecting treated human waste on...

      Waste: Farms

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information her Department holds on the practice of injecting treated human waste on agricultural land in EU member states.

      Circuses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will publish the appendices to the final report of the Zoo Licensing Inspectorate's circus feasibility study.

  • Communities and Local Government

    • Private Rented Sector

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent assessment he has made of the rent levels in the private rented sector; and if he will make a statement.

    • Affordable Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what definition of affordable homes his Department uses in connection with the homes planned under contract through the...

      Civil Disorder

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate he has made of the amount of revenue lost by each local authority arising from homes and businesses damaged...

      Council Tax

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to his Department was of (a) council tax relief for second home owners and (b) empty property discounts in (i)...

      Departmental Public Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he receives any external funding for (a) his ministerial office and (b) his advisers; and what the (i) source and (ii)...

      Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what payments his Department has made available to local authorities for the purposes of maintaining weekly refuse collection.

      Empty Property

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many vacant homes there are in each county; and what proportion of homes this figure represents.

      Non-domestic Rates

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on ensuring take-up of small business rate relief.

      Planning Permission

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many development sites are identified in local development frameworks approved in 2010 and 2011; and whether all local...

      Second Homes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many second homes there are in (a) Southwark and (b) England.

      Travellers: Caravan Sites

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what obligations local authorities have to provide for Gypsy and Traveller sites following the introduction of new guidelines.

      Travellers: Caravan Sites

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what legislative proposals he plans to bring forward that will affect the obligations of local authorities regarding Gypsy and...

      Travellers: Caravan Sites

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the role of the local authority core strategy is in relation to Gypsy and Traveller sites.

      Waste Disposal: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on the total amount of (a) domestic and (b) commercial refuse (i) collected and (ii)...

  • Attorney-General

    • Dignitas

      To ask the Attorney-General whether the Law Officers Departments collect information on the number of people from the UK who travel to Dignitas in Switzerland who are (a) patients and (b)...

    • Third Sector

      To ask the Attorney-General how many letters he has received on funding for civil society organisations within the Law Officers Departments’ area of responsibility in each month since 1...

  • Justice

    • Administration of Justice: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) what the average length of time was between a crime being committed and an offender being sentenced in each year from 1997 to 2011 inclusive; (2)...

    • Claims Management Services: Complaints

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2011, Official Report, columns 510-11W, on claims management regulation unit, whether any complaint has been...

      Coroners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many responses to the consultation on the Public Bodies Bill were received in relation to the proposals on the Office of Chief Coroner; and how many...

      E-mail: Consultation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) whether his Department has determined the causes of the loss of responses e-mailed to the consultation inbox PBB.Consultation@justice.gsi.gov.uk...

      Lost Property

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department has lost any (a) computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) BlackBerrys and (d) other IT equipment since May 2010; and if he will make...

      Telephone Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much his Department has allocated to each telephone helpline funded by his Department in 2011-12; what the purpose is of each such helpline; and how...

      Dignitas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether his Department collects information on the number of people from the UK who travel to Dignitas in Switzerland who are (a) patients and (b)...

      Driving Offences: Insurance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average fine was imposed by courts in each criminal justice area for using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks in the latest...

      Prisoners: Per Capita Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost per (a) place and (b) prisoner was in each publicly-run prison in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

      Probation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) whether he has any plans to reduce the number of probation trusts through mergers; and if he will make a statement; (2) whether he has any plans...

      Probation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether he has any plans to review the facilities management contract for probation trusts.

      Probation: Advisory Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will assess the potential role of the (a) voluntary and (b) private sector in offering probation services advice.

      Probation: Mental Illness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the capacity of the Probation Service to support offenders with mental health problems.

      Probation: Mental Illness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals to introduce comprehensive mental health training for all probation staff who work with offenders who have specific...

      Probation: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to improve professional training for probation staff.

  • Defence

    • Adam Werritty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (a) who attended and (b) what topics were discussed during meetings on official business with representatives of the Sri Lankan Government at which Mr...

    • Adam Werritty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish emails between himself and Mr Adam Werritty pertaining to official business.

      Adam Werritty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what times and dates (a) he, (b) his special advisers and (c) his private office have had telephone or email contact in an official capacity with Mr...

      Adam Werritty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether minutes were kept of a meeting in September 2010 between the right hon. Member for North Somerset, then Secretary of State for Defence, Mr...

      Armed Forces: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a comparative assessment of the cost of military training programmes offered to allies by the UK and the cost of such programmes offered...

      Chelsfield Ammunition Depot

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether his Department's agent followed the full Crichel Down Rules in respect of advertising and for sale notices prior to the sale of Chelsfield...

      Defence Equipment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he expects to publish the White Paper on equipment, security and technology for UK Defence and Security.

      Dubai

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions Ministers in his Department have returned from Afghanistan via Dubai.

      E-mail

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any (a) Ministers, (b) officials and (c) special advisers in his Department use private e-mail accounts for the conduct of Government business.

      Ex-servicemen: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether armed services personnel receive any advice on (a) education courses or training, (b) employment, (c) housing and (d) welfare benefits prior to...

      Falkland Islands: Sovereignty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Argentina on the Falkland Islands.

      Geneva Convention

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the legal review on the L27 and L26 120mm Depleted Uranium ammunition undertaken in accordance with Article 36...

      HMS Endurance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the earliest in-service date for HMS Endurance.

      HMS Protector

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the original estimated cost to the public purse was of equipping HMS Protector to fully operational status; and what recent estimate he has made of...

      Navy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the monetary value was of (a) spare parts (stores and equipment), (b) specialist and general tools and (c) other equipment disposed of by the (i)...

      Navy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps his Department has taken to improve procurement procedures in the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Marines, (c) Royal Fleet Auxiliary and (d) Fleet...

      Nuclear Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had on nuclear weapons policy with staff of Atlantic Bridge since May 2010.

      Territorial Army

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 October 2011, Official Report, columns 885-86, on the Territorial Army, how much has been spent under each budget heading on...

      Trident Submarines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the necessity of maintaining continuous at-sea deployment by at least one UK Trident submarine for the maintenance...

  • Home Department

    • Firearms

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many private protection individuals working for wealthy Russian citizens living in the UK are licensed to carry firearms or other weapons.

    • Antisocial Behaviour

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which (a) organisations and (b) individuals her Department consulted as part of its antisocial behaviour review.

      Arms Trade: Exports

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which (a) Ministers and (b) officials from her Department attended the recent Defence and Security Equipment International exhibition.

      Arrests: Ex-servicemen

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether people who are arrested and detained in a custody suite are routinely asked whether they have been in the armed services.

      Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the costs to her Department and police authorities in respect of security for the proposed badger cull.

      Cannabis

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment her Department has made of the classification of (a) cannabis and (b) high THC cannabis; and if she will make a statement.

      Civil Disorder

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued to those involved in public disorder during the summer.

      Community Policing

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacancies for sergeants there are within safer neighbourhoods teams in England and Wales.

      Convictions: CCTV

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information her Department holds on the number of people who have been (a) arrested and (b) convicted as a result of CCTV evidence in...

      Crime Prevention

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the evidential basis was for the development of the domestic abuse, stalking and honour-based violence risk identification checklist.

      Crime Prevention

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) evidence and (b) research her Department has evaluated on the effect of the use of (i) SPECSS+ and (ii) DASH by police services on...

      Crime Prevention

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police services have fully implemented the domestic abuse, stalking and honour-based violence risk identification checklist.

      Crime Prevention

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used in deciding which domestic abuse, stalking and honour-based violence crimes are referred to the Multi Agency Risk...

      Efficiency Gains

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to deliver the efficiency gains required by HM Treasury.

      Firearms: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under the age of 10 were awarded a shotgun licence in each police authority in England and Wales in each of the last five...

      Immigrants: Detainees

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women detained for immigration purposes in 2010-11 had children living in the UK and were separated from those children during their...

      Internet: Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport and (b) industry representatives...

      Organised Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to report to the House on her work on a cross-government programme of action to deal with gang culture, as indicated in the...

      Police: Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had on gender equality on police and crime panels in (a) England and (b) Wales in the last year.

      Police: Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foot patrols by police officers working (a) alone and (b) in pairs were conducted in each London borough between September 2008 and...

  • Transport

    • Air Travel Organisers' Licensing Reform

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration she has given to redrafting the draft ATOL regulations to exclude Flight Plus arrangements sold by airlines from the requirement to...

    • M4: Bus Lanes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will assess the effects of the removal of the M4 bus lane on motorists using the section of the M4 between its eastern terminus and Heathrow Airport.

      Motorways: Congestion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect on motorway congestion in area 10 of the network of a reduction in the managing agent’s contractual...

      Motorways: Accidents

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the cost to the economy of time taken to clear accidents from motorways after the reduction in the incident support unit...

      Motorways: Accidents

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of incident support units in reducing delays and congestion on motorways; and if she will make a...

      Motorways: Accidents

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect on the safety of Highways Agency traffic officers of reducing incident support unit services; and if she...

      Motorways: Warrington

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect on (a) Warrington’s economy of delays and congestion on adjacent motorways and (b) delays and...

      Network Rail: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Office of Rail Regulation’s assessment of Network Rail’s financial performance and efficiencies for 2010-11, what...

      Oil: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what information she has received from Ministers in the Department of Energy and Climate Change on the viability of UK oil refineries if a common...

      Railway Signals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment her Department has made of potential changes in staffing levels which might result from Network Rail's consultation to reduce the...

      Railways: Exhaust Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) current and (b) planned work her Department is carrying out with train operating companies to reduce the carbon emissions of the rail sector.

      Railways: Fares

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the Passenger Focus report, Ticket Retailing Website Usability, June 2011, what steps her Department is taking to improve the...

      Railways: Fares

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the oral statement of 19 May 2011, Official Report, columns 520-22, on the McNulty report and West Coast Rail, whether she plans a public...

      Railways: Job Creation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which multiplier factor her Department's statisticians apply to direct job numbers to calculate the creation of indirect jobs in the supply chain.

      Roads: Snow and Ice

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with (a) domestic and (b) international producers of de-icing salt on their capacity to replenish national salt stocks...

      Rolling Stock

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many different classes of rolling stock she plans will operate on the railways by the end of control period (a) four and (b) five.

      Rolling Stock

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what classes of rolling stock are (a) currently operating and (b) scheduled to operate beyond their originally planned life-span; and when each such...

      Rolling Stock: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether recent changes in the value of the euro have affected the cost to the Government of the (a) Thameslink rolling stock and (b) Intercity Express...

      Rolling Stock: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which rail franchises she proposes that carriages to be procured under the Intercity Express programme will be deployed.

      Shipping: Accidents

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the projected change is in the number of investigators at the Marine Accident Investigation Branch over the period of the current spending review....

      SS Gairsoppa: Salvage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many companies bid for the contract to salvage precious metal from the SS Gairsoppa; (2) how her Department intends to monitor the recovery...

      Thameslink: Rolling Stock

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice she (a) requested and (b) received from officials on mitigating UK job losses in the event that the Thameslink Rolling Stock contract was...

      Thameslink: Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which dates she has met with representatives of Bombardier since her appointment; and whether (a) she and (b) other Ministers in her Department plan...

  • Work and Pensions

    • Atos Healthcare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with Atos Healthcare on the suitability of its IT system for the work capability assessment.

    • Crime: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps he has taken to tackle disability hate crimes.

      Domestic Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what definition of domestic violence his Department uses; and whether there are any qualifications of that definition in respect of particular...

      Employment and Support Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had within his Department about stopping the assessment rate of employment and support allowance for claimants...

      Incapacity Benefit: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many letters were sent by his Department to incapacity benefit claimants informing them that their reassessment was about to commence in...

      Incapacity Benefit: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the current average wait time is between an incapacity benefit claimant receiving a letter informing them of their impending assessment...

      Industrial Health and Safety: Roads

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what occasions the Health and Safety Executive has taken a highways authority to court on the grounds that its work departed from national...

      Job Creation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs in the creative industries were created and supported through the Future Jobs Fund in each local authority area in each of the...

      Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to uprate (a) pensions and (b) other benefits in line with September's consumer prices index.

      Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the cost of uprating for 2012-13 (a) pensions and (b) all other benefits in line with (i) September's consumer prices...

      Retirement: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from which budget the funds required to cover the £1 billion reduction in savings consequent upon the change in women's retirement age...

      Social Security Benefits: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from which budget he proposes that the £300 million additional funding for child care support which he announced on 7 October 2011 will come.

      Speech Therapy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what assessment he has made of the role of speech and language therapy in reducing unemployment and getting people back to work; (2)...

      Unemployment Benefits: Carers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many registered carers receive unemployment benefits or income support.

      Unemployment: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the development of sector-based work academies to reduce youth unemployment.

      Universal Credit: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with disability charities on the proposed introduction of universal credit.

      Work Capability Assessment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 11 October 2011, Official Report, column 358W, on work capability assessment: illnesses, when he expects the next...

      Work Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Tier 1 and Tier 2 subcontracts from the voluntary and community sectors (a) were named on bids for the Work programme at the initial...

  • Treasury

    • Banks: Finance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment his Department has undertaken on (a) the extent of UK banks’ exposure to counterparty risk to European banks and (b) UK banks’...

    • Beer: Exports

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much beer was exported to bonded warehouses in Europe in each of the last three years.

      Crown Lands and Estates: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income has been received in respect of the marine land owned by the Crown Estate around Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and how...

      Debts: Business

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with banks on underwriting or guaranteeing debts of businesses.

      Debts: EU Countries

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of exposure of the UK banking system to (a) Italian, (b) Spanish, (c) Portuguese and (d) Irish sovereign debt.

      Advertising: Job Vacancies

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on advertising job vacancies since May 2010.

      Departmental Allowances

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much members of his departmental management board have claimed in expenses since May 2010.

      Equality Impact

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an equality impact assessment with the Autumn Statement.

      Procurement

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many contracts his Department has awarded directly to third sector organisations in each month since May 2010; what the value was of such...

      Energy: Prices

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal measures his Department is taking to assist families adversely affected by trends in energy prices.

      Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much on average has been paid to each Equitable Life policy holder through the compensation scheme; what the highest award paid was; and how many...

      EU Grants and Loans

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what EU grants were available but not taken up by the Government since May 2010.

      EU Grants and Loans

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of reductions in central Government spending on the allocation of EU funds to English regions.

      Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of duty stamps on (a) beer and (b) spirits to prevent duty fraud.

      Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the types of alcohol which are particularly susceptible to duty fraud.

      Government Departments: Procurement

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to employ a member of his Department's senior management team to work with officials in other Government Departments for the purpose...

      Loans: Business

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with banks on potential incentives to increase lending to businesses.

      Loans: Business

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the Bank of England on potential incentives to increase bank lending to businesses.

      National Insurance Contributions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of administering the systems of (a) employee and (b) employer national insurance contributions in the last 12 months;...

      National Insurance Contributions: New Businesses

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has had discussions on making the national insurance holiday scheme for small businesses opt-out rather than opt-in.

      Revenue and Customs: Pensions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of allowing all current employees of HM Revenue and Customs to opt-in to the pension terms and...

      Revenue and Customs: Pensions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average annual gross pension allowance is for an employee of HM Revenue and Customs who (a) opted into and (b) opted out of the pension terms and...

      Social Security Benefits: Foreign Nationals

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total amount of (a) child benefit, (b) child tax credit and (c) working tax credit paid to non-UK citizens was in each year from 2004-05 to...

      Winter Fuel Payments

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the potential revenue yield from taxation of the winter fuel payment at 40 per cent. for higher rate taxpayers; and if he will make a...

  • Education

    • Academies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools with attached nurseries have converted to academy status since May 2010; and how many such schools have set up an independent company...

    • Academies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have converted to academy status in (a) Kettering constituency, (b) Northamptonshire and (c) England.

      Academies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools in Dartford constituency (a) had applied and (b) were in the process of applying for academy status on the latest date for which...

      Academies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many special schools have become academies under the Academies Act 2010.

      Academies: Primary Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what criteria he plans to use in determining whether to convert primary schools to academy status; what account he takes of the special needs of pupils...

      Departmental Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he has received representations concerning (a) the Big Society Bank, (b) the Work programme and (c) volunteering since June 2011; and if he...

      Discretionary Learner Support Fund: Birmingham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the number of residents in Birmingham, Ladywood who are likely to make use of the Discretionary Learner Fund; and how many...

      Free School Meals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children receive free school meals in each (a) free school and (b) local authority area where a free school has been established.

      Free School Meals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of children (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals achieved five GCSEs at A* to C in (i) academies and...

      Free Schools: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much of the education budget is allocated to free schools in 2011-12.

      Grammar Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were admitted to grammar schools in (a) England, (b) Kent and (c) Dartford constituency in each of the last five years.

      Schools: Admissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the cost per pupil of providing places in (a) free schools, (b) academies and (c) local authority run schools in (i)...

      Schools: Admissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of places at maintained secondary schools in each local authority area are at (a) non-denominational schools, (b) Church of England...

      Schools: Bassetlaw

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many children in Bassetlaw will be taught in upstairs classrooms after the allocation of priority schools funding; and what assessment he has...

      Schools: Inspections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of Ofsted's policy on the timing and cycle of inspection visits; and if he will make a statement.

      Teach First Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether the Teach First programme will operate in university technical colleges.

      Young People: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to encourage (a) statutory agencies and (b) post-16 providers to work together to ensure disabled young people are...

      Young People: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many learning difficulty assessments for disabled young people planning to attend further education were carried out in (a) Coventry and (b) the...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Eggs

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will take steps to ensure that all Government food and catering contracts require that all eggs be sourced from farms that meet the welfare of...

    • Electoral Register

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what records are kept of the number of Commonwealth citizens on the UK electoral register.

      Government: Procurement

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will announce a date for the start of the Lean Procurement programme.

      Government: Procurement

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what discussions he has had with the Deputy Prime Minister on the Lean Procurement programme.

      Government Procurement Card

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the (a) date of purchase, (b) amount and (c) supplier was of each transaction undertaken by the Central Office of Information using the Government...

      Industrial Disputes

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate he has made of the number of days lost in the (a) private sector and (b) public sector through industrial action which has not been...

      Third Sector

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many registered charities, co-operatives, social enterprises and other civil society organisations there were at the start of the financial year in...

  • Health

    • Blood: Donors

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the sufficiency of levels of blood donation.

    • Breast Cancer

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what involvement his Department has had in Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October 2011; (2) what steps he is taking to raise awareness of breast...

      Breast Cancer: Waiting Lists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was between seeing a GP and a specialist for breast cancer patients in each of the last 10 years.

      Cannabis: Mental Illness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research projects his Department is sponsoring into any relationship between high THC cannabis and psychosis; and if he will make a statement.

      Carers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered carers in the UK are aged (a) 29 to 39, (b) 40 to 49, (c) 50 to 59, (d) 60 to 69, (e) 70 to 79 and (f) 80 and above.

      Continuing Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are in receipt of NHS continuing care funding (a) by local authority area and (b) in total.

      Dementia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on dementia research in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of spending on such research in each of...

      Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on consultancy contracts in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

      Diabetes: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on medical research on (a) type one diabetes and (b) type two diabetes in the last financial year; and if he will make a statement.

      Dignitas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department collects information on the number of people from the UK who travel to Dignitas in Switzerland who are (a) patients and (b)...

      Diseases: Older People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the risk of (a) heart disease, (b) kidney disease, (c) diabetes and (d) strokes to the elderly.

      General Practitioners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the rights of (a) patients and (b) members of the public to know the place of work of a GP working for the NHS.

      General Practitioners: Pharmacy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department will maintain the agreement it reached with NHS Employers, the General Practitioners Committee and the Welsh Assembly Government in 2009...

      Health Education: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment his Department has made of the merits of (a) prevention and (b) harm reduction in the area of drug education; and if he will make a...

      Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the annual (a) net and (b) gross payments made by the Government to other European economic area countries were under the European health insurance...

      Heart Diseases: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the Safe and Sustainable Review into children's heart surgery units in England to be completed.

      Herbal Medicine: EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what powers the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has to ensure compliance with Directive 2004/24/EC of the European Parliament...

      Hospital Wards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many in-patients stayed in mixed-sex wards in (a) December 2010 and (b) August 2011.

      Hospital Wards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that his Department's guidance on mixed sex wards is followed by NHS hospitals.

      Influenza: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the provision of seasonal influenza vaccine by the NHS to people diagnosed with myalgic encephalopathy.

      Maternity Services: Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state (a) how much and (b) what proportion of spending by the NHS was spent on maternity care in 2010-11.

      Medical Records

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) guidelines and (b) regulations apply to access to medical records by mentally competent, dying patients.

      Medical Records: South West

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the performance of the transfer of patients records in (a) areas administered by NHS Shared Business Services, (b) Devon...

      Muscular Dystrophy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate he has made of the amount spent by the NHS on unplanned emergency admissions to hospital for people with neuromuscular conditions in...

      NHS: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reason form HC1 is not available to download in England.

      Ovarian Cancer

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to improve the detection and treatment of ovarian cancer.

      Ovarian Cancer: Huddersfield

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess recent trends in the rates of detection and treatment of ovarian cancer in Huddersfield.

      Palliative Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of cases where life-sustaining treatment has been removed at the end of life in each of the last three years; and...

      Patients: Death

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mortality rates were for each NHS trust in each of the last 10 years.

      Radiotherapy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2011, Official Report, column 311W, on radiotherapy, whether he proposes that the commissioning of stereotactic body...

      Ritalin

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the proportion of adults prescribed Ritalin or similar drugs who were recipients of such drugs as a child.

      Social Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to review the role of the Care Quality Commission as part of his forthcoming White Paper on Social Care.

      Speech Therapy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he is taking to maintain speech and language therapy services in (a) Wandsworth and (b) England; (2) what assessment he has made of the...

      University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to initiate an inquiry into the mortality rates at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.

      Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess compliance by Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust with his Department's guidelines in its commissioning of vascular...

  • Business, Innovation and Skills

    • Afghanistan: Security

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of security in Lashkar Gah since the transfer of security responsibilities to Afghan forces.

    • Animal Experiments: Cosmetics

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what response he plans to make to the European Commission's consultation on the future of the ban on marketing of cosmetics...

      Arms Trade: Israel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether any export licences for components for (a) F-16s and (b) Apache helicopters for use by Israel have been granted since May...

      Balance of Trade: EU countries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the size of the UK trade deficit with the EU was in each of the last five years.

      Business

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions his Department has held with small and medium-sized enterprises on implementation of the Plan for Growth;...

      Construction Industry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with representatives of the construction sector on recent trends in economic activity in the...

      Construction Industry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the likely levels of growth in the construction industry in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014; and if he will...

      Construction Industry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps his Department has taken to support the construction industry.

      Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on consultancy contracts in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

      Further Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he plans to maintain free remission on adult and further education courses for learners on all income-related benefits.

      Further Education: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to improve support available for further education students with (a) disabilities and (b) learning...

      Government: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the effects of off-shoring UK Government manufacturing contracts on (a) other UK-based...

      Green Investment Bank

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) when he expects to bring forward legislative proposals to provide for the independence of the Green Investment Bank; (2)...

      Green Investment Bank

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has appointed financial professionals to support the Green Investment Bank; and whether any such appointments were...

      Green Investment Bank

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

      Green Investment Bank

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when the Government's Advisory Group for the long-term direction of the Green Investment Bank will be established; and who will...

      Green Investment Bank

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when his Department plans to announce how the Green Investment Bank will support the initial stages of the green deal.

      Higher Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to publish (a) the responses received by individual organisations and (b) his response to the consultation on (i)...

      Workers' Educational Association

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect on the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) of the outcomes of his Department's...

  • International Development

    • Africa: Teachers

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans his Department has to contribute through (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral programmes to teacher training and support of an...

    • Argentina: International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has had discussions with his international counterparts on Argentina's refusal to comply with judgments by the International...

      Argentina: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's aid commitment is to Argentina across the comprehensive spending review period.

      Burma: Third Sector

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects his Department funds to support civil society capacity building in Burma.

      Civil Service: Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many civil servants were (a) directly and (b) otherwise employed by non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is...

      Civil Service: Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many civil servants work in his Department; and how many worked in his Department in (a) 2000, (b) 2005, (c) 2007 and (d) 2010.

      Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) statutory instruments, (b) ministerial orders and (c) other pieces of secondary legislation were issued by his Department...

      Developing Countries: Climate Change

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has any plans to provide all future fast start adaptation finance as grants through the UN Adaptation Fund rather than as...

      Developing Countries: Economic Situation

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the effects of the recession on (a) developing countries and (b)...

      Developing Countries: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on promoting women's rights in developing countries in each of the last 12 months.

      Developing Countries: HIV Infection

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to combat HIV/AIDS in developing countries.

      Developing Countries: Human Trafficking

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what contribution his Department is making to the prevention of human trafficking in developing countries.

      Developing Countries: Malaria

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to tackle malaria in developing countries.

      Developing Countries: Sickle Cell Diseases

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to help people with sickle cell anaemia in developing countries.

      Domestic Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what definition of domestic violence his Department uses.

      Drugs: Misuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many employees of his Department have been disciplined for drug offences in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

      Ethiopia: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what projects in Ethiopia have received funding from his Department in the last five years; which such projects are likely to receive...

      IRG Ltd

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether his Department has signed any contracts with IRG Ltd since May 2010.

      Legal Opinion

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many times his Department's legal section provided legal advice to Ministers in (a) 2007, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six...

      Legal Opinion

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department spent on (a) legal advice and (b) instructing counsel in (i) 2007, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) the first six...

      Legal Opinion

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost was of (a) internal and (b) external legal advice commissioned by his Department in the first six months of 2011.

      South Africa: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost to the public purse of training by the Care Quality Commission of 10 inspectors from South Africa has been; and if he...

      South Sudan: Commonwealth

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on South Sudan joining the Commonwealth.

  • Culture Media and Sport

    • 4G Mobile Technology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much he expects to raise from the auctioning of spectrum for 4G mobile technology; and if he will make a statement.

    • Advisers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what arrangements his Department has put in place for paying expenses of experts and external advisers to enable them to...

      Arts: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on simplifying access to finance...

      Betting Shops

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many operating licences have been issued by the Gambling Commission for betting shops in each local authority area.

      Charities

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions his Department has had with the charity operating the Waverley; what assessment his Department has...

      Communications Bill

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects to introduce his proposed communications Bill. [R]

      Communications Bill

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the regional and national representation is of his Department's external group on the drafting of the communications Bill.

      Cultural Education Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he expects to publish the independent review of cultural education.

      Departmental Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many full-time equivalent staff are employed on consultancy contracts in his Department; and if he will make a statement.

      Departmental Manpower

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many applications from employees to run services for which his Department is directly responsible he has received since...

      Departmental Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many civil servants in his Department received a pay rise other than by promotion in the last two years; and what the...

      Departmental Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many civil servants in his Department and the bodies for which he is responsible earned more than (a) £65,000, (b)...

      Departmental Responsibilities

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport at how many events organised by (a) charities, (b) other civil society groups, (c) businesses and (d) lobbying organisations...

      Digital Broadcasting

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with representatives of small businesses on digital switchover.

      Digital Consumer Expert Group

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the regional composition is of his Department's digital consumer expert group.

      Digital Consumer Expert Group

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how members of his Department's digital consumer expert group were recruited; how such members are remunerated; and what...

      Digital Economy Act 2010

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what statutory instruments he plans to lay before the House under the provisions of the Digital Economy Act 2010; and when he...

      Equiniti

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department expects to raise from the resale by Equiniti of surrendered equipment as part of the programme making...

      Equiniti

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when the contract between Ofcom and Equiniti on the programme making and special events funding scheme was signed.

      Legal Opinion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many times his Department has sought advice from external counsel in (a) 2007, (b) 2009, (c) 2010 and (d) the first six...

      Legal Opinion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on (a) legal advice and (b) instructing counsel in (i) 2007, (ii) 2009, (iii) 2010 and (iv) the...

      Equiniti

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what measures are in place to ensure that only licensed users are permitted to buy surrendered programme making and special...

      Mobile Phones

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what procurement process will be applied when implementing the decision to extend mobile coverage to 99% of the population.

      Museums and Galleries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what (a) museums, (b) galleries and (c) heritage sites he has visited in an official capacity in each region since May 2010.

      Museums and Galleries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many people have made recent representations to him regarding the future of the Captain Cook Birthplace museum in Marton,...

      Ofcom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what powers Ofcom has to prevent the re-selling of equipment surrendered as part of the programme making and special events...

      Ofcom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2011, Official Report, column 540W, on Ofcom, if he will place in the Library a copy of...

      Public Libraries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether his Department plans to set (a) the Local Government Group and (b) Arts Council England targets for the roll-out of...

      Radio Frequencies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps have been taken to ensure that channel 69 is clear of programme making and special events use after September 2012.

      Radio Frequencies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much revenue he expects to accrue to the Exchequer from the resale of surrendered equipment as part of the programme...

      Radio Frequencies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps have been taken to ensure that equipment surrendered under the programme making and special events funding scheme...

      Rugby: Tourism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his Department's tourism plan is for the (a) 2013 Rugby League World Cup, (b) 2015 Rugby Union World Cup and (c) 2014...

      Tourism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will provide support to help preserve the paddle steamer Waverley as a tourist attraction.

      Tourism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had on supporting regional tourism agencies as part of the growth review.

  • House of Lords

    • Apprenticeships

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many apprenticeships have been created in the area formerly covered by the North East Regional Development Agency as a result of the Government's policy of...

    • Armed Forces: Medals

      To ask Her Majesty's government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 12 October 2011 (WA 235), whether any Victoria Cross or George Cross has been awarded in the...

      Banking

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the speech by Lord Turner of Ecchinswell to a banking conference in Southampton in which he advocated regulators taking control of...

      Banking: Iceland

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 20 October (WA 91), how much compensation has been repaid to Landsbanki depositors; what they estimate the...

      Banking: Northern Rock

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of present uncertainty about bank regulation on the level of bids for the taxpayer's investment in Northern Rock.

      Belfast Agreement

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Shutt of Greetland on 17 October (WA 6) concerning the Belfast agreement, on what basis they are able to say that the...

      Belfast Agreement

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Shutt of Greetland on 17 October (WA 6) concerning the Belfast agreement, what steps were taken besides the formation of the...

      Benefits

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received representations from Macmillan Cancer Support about their proposals in the Welfare Reform Bill on the employment and support allowance;...

      Businesses: Regulation

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the proposals from Mr Adrian Beecroft on the regulation of business to be published.

      Businesses: Regulation

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the cost to date of the business review by Mr Adrian Beecroft.

      China

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have discussed the recent self-immolations by Buddhist monks and a nun in Tibet with the Government of China.

      Communities First Funding

      To ask Her Majesty's Government which neighbourhoods in each of the London boroughs and the City of London have qualified for Communities First funding.

      Credit Default Swaps

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether United Kingdom banks and investors will be subject to restrictions introduced by the European Union on the purchase of sovereign credit default swaps;...

      Crime: Motoring Convictions

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were convicted of driving a car without a valid MoT in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, and (c) 2010. To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were...

      Democratic Republic of Congo

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that parliamentary and presidential elections taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo in November 2011 are free and fair.

      Economy

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest estimate of the extent of the black economy in the United Kingdom in cash terms and as a percentage of gross domestic product.

      Education: Teenagers

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development study showing British teenagers to be 18 months behind Chinese teenagers and...

      Embryology

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's decision to triple payments to egg donors on the number of...

      Embryology

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's decision that egg donors should be paid fixed sums is consistent with a principle of compensation for...

      Embryology

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 19 October (WA 71-2), when research licence R0122 permitted the specific creation of human embryos for research...

      Energy: Electricity

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals they have to ensure that electricity generation and transmission are carried out with a minimum of loss.

      Energy: Tariffs

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider a special windfall tax on energy companies whose tariffs are considered to be expensive.

      Equitable Life

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the comments by Lord Sassoon on 24 November 2010 (Official Report, col. 1157), whether they will meet their target "to make the first payments in the...

      EU: Development Aid

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the European Union provides development aid to China; and, if so, why, and what is the annual cost of such aid.

      EU: Economic Governance

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Sassoon on 17 October (WS 1-3), whether the agreement to a compromise text on the six legislative proposals for...

      EU: Finance Ministry

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the statement by European Central Bank chief economist Jurgen Stark to Members of the European Parliament on 17 October that a European...

      EU: Financial Assistance

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the United Kingdom does not make any further payments to any new eurozone bail-outs, whether directly or through...

      Government Departments: Ministerial Meetings

      To ask Her Majesty's Government why HM Treasury has not published details of Ministers' meetings, hospitality, gifts and overseas travel for over six months.

      Government: Ministerial Meetings

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister or the Foreign Secretary has been invited to hold bilateral meetings with their counterparts in (a) Ashgabat, (b) Astana, (c) Baku, or...

      Government: Ministerial Meetings

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans the Prime Minister or Foreign Secretary have to hold bilateral meetings with their counterparts in (a) Ashgabat, (b) Astana, (c) Baku, and (d) Tashkent...

      Government: Ministerial Meetings

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what meetings have taken place between Lord Astor of Hever and Mr Adam Werritty since the formation of the coalition Government.

      Government: Official Photographs

      To ask Her Majesty's Government at what events in the past six months they have taken official photographs of the Prime Minister.

      Grocery Code Adjudicator

      To ask Her Majesty's Government (a) when the grocery code adjudicator will be appointed, and (b) if this is not imminent whether any interim arrangements will be put in place.

      Health: Dementia

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish clinical networks for dementia in the light of the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill.

      Health: Hepatitis C

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has any plans to produce clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C; and,...

      Housing

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (a) single pensioners, and (b) pensioner couples, on housing benefit occupy rented accommodation with (1) one bedroom, (2) two bedrooms, (3) three...

      Intellectual Property

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many meetings Intellectual Property Office representatives had with representatives from the British Library concerning copyright exceptions, commercial use of...

      Intellectual Property

      To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent they were advised by the Intellectual Property Office on the conformity with international and human rights law of the commercial use of orphan...

      Intellectual Property

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what legal advice the Intellectual Property Office has received, either before the passage of the Digital Economy Act 2010 or after, particularly with regard to...

      Intellectual Property Office

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, given that the Intellectual Property Office is an executive agency which is required to run as a self-supporting organisation charged with achieving a return of 4...

      Israel

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to uphold and implement United Nations Security Council Resolutions 452, 465 and 478 concerning the municipal boundary of Jerusalem and...

      Israel and Palestine

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to secure the release from Israeli prisons of elected members of the Palestinian Authority.

      Israel and Palestine

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel regarding forced evictions in the Sheikh Jarrah area of east Jerusalem.

      Israel and Palestine

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made representations to the Government of Israel concerning alleged violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including...

      Israel and Palestine

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that the European Union fully implements its guidelines on promoting compliance with international humanitarian law (2005/C...

      Israel and Palestine: West Bank

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations have been made to the Israeli Government concerning the plans to expel 27,000 Bedouin people from their villages in the West Bank.

      Justice: Civil Litigation Reform

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the human rights implications of the proposed Jackson civil litigation reforms in developing countries.

      Libya

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals they have to support companies and organisations that wish to do business in Libya.

      Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of all correspondence they have had with the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning...

      Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

      To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Shutt of Greetland on 25 October (WA 139-140) concerning the appointment of Professor O'Flaherty as chief commissioner of the...

      Overseas Aid

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of British overseas aid reaches projects on the ground. To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of British overseas aid reaches projects on...

      Pensions

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 12 October (WA 244), whether in the light of the statement in the questionnaire sent by the Pension Service to...

      Pensions

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to limit annual management charges on auto-enrolled pension products; and whether any current charges will lie outside that limit.

      Pensions

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to limit the number of switches between different funds within an auto-enrolled pension plan possible per annum, and the charges for those...

      Questions for Written Answer

      To ask the Leader of the House, further to the Written Answer on 13 October (WA 257), why the Department for Transport was unable to meet the target of 10 working days to answer Lord Bradshaw's...

      Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the market price of renewable transport fuel obligation certificates (a) six months ago, (b) three months ago, and (c) today; and how a figure of twice...

      Republic of Ireland: Financial Support

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they made any directions for retail banks as part of the conditions they set for their loan to the Government of the Republic of Ireland in 2010; and, if...

      Republic of Ireland: Official Visits

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how much this week's official visit to Northern Ireland by the President of the Republic of Ireland cost United Kingdom public funds.

      Republic of Ireland: Official Visits

      To ask Her Majesty's Government who was invited to the official reception for the President of the Republic of Ireland in Hillsborough on 18 October; how the invitees were selected; by whom; and...

      Schools: Dyslexia

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what facilities are provided in primary schools to help children with dyslexia and associated conditions.

      Severe Winter Weather

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they met the relevant Welsh Minister to discuss planning for a winter with heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures. To ask Her Majesty's Government when they...

      Shipping: Towing Vessels

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether arrangements were in place in the northern waters of Scotland during the first two weeks of October to give cover for the coastguard's emergency towing...

      State Recognition

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 19 October (WA 86) concerning their recognition of a country, what political considerations are...

      Taxation

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have projections for the total amount of tax to be paid by United Kingdom companies in each of the next three years, including corporation tax and...

      Transport: Trams

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Attlee on 11 October (WA 231), which key parties, other than the utility and light rail sector, they consult about the use...

      Tzipi Livni

      To ask Her Majesty's Government why Tzipi Livni, Leader of the Opposition in Israel, was given diplomatic immunity during her recent visit to the United Kingdom.

      Universal Credit

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any external consultants are advising on the planning and development of the system that will be established to run the universal credit.

      Young Foundation

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what public monies were paid to the charity called the Young Foundation last year; what are its charitable objectives; why its staff have been permitted to become...

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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