Written answers

Thursday, 25 October 2012

  • Defence

    • Aircraft Carriers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to use US ISTAR air assets with the Queen Elizabeth class of carrier.

    • Apprentices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many apprentices working in his Department are (a) paid and (b) completing a qualification as part of the apprenticeship; (2) how many (a)...

      Armed Forces

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign and commonwealth armed forces personnel there were in the UK armed forces, by country and service, in the latest period for which...

      Armed Forces Covenant

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the armed forces covenant includes soldiers and veterans from Northern Ireland.

      Armed Forces: Business Interests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the procedure is for briefing retired senior military personnel on the rules regarding business appointments.

      Armed Forces: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding under the Barnett consequentials has been given to the Welsh Assembly Government by his Department for the implementation of the Service...

      Armed Forces: Courts Martial

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many courts martial were conducted in each rank range of each armed service in each year between 2000 and 2011.

      Armed Forces: Courts Martial

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defendants of each rank and in each service in courts martial pleaded (a) not guilty, (b) guilty, (c) not guilty and were convicted, (d) not...

      Armed Forces: Disciplinary Proceedings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many summary hearings were conducted in each rank of each armed service in each year between 2000 and 2011; and at what level such hearings were...

      Armed Forces: Disciplinary Proceedings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what legal advice is provided to service personnel charged with an offence under (a) the summary hearing system and (b) the courts martial system; and...

      Armed Forces: Disciplinary Proceedings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many defendants in summary hearings pleaded (a) not guilty, (b) guilty, (c) not guilty and were convicted, (d) not guilty, were convicted and...

      Armed Forces: Morale

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the state of morale in the armed forces.

      Armed Forces: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many soldiers who are currently operational exhibit symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

      Armed Forces: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to reduce the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder among former and serving soldiers.

      Armed Forces: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department monitors the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder in a military setting.

      Armed Forces: Prosthetics

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel were fitted with microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knees in specialist rehabilitation centres in each of the last five years.

      Armed Forces: Retirement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions and for what reasons his Department's Permanent Secretary has met with retired senior armed forces personnel since May 2010.

      Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what training is provided to Commanding Officers in relation to the treatment of armed forces personnel who have reported a rape or sexual assault;...

      Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussion he has had with veteran support agencies and charities who have worked with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder linked to...

      Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 18 September 2012, Official Report, column 616W, on armed forces: sexual offences, whether members of the armed forces who...

      Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many calls to the Speak Out helpline have been related to reports of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault in each of the last three years; and if he...

      Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requirements and documentation his Department needs to meet claims by veterans for compensation as a result of (a) sexual assault and (b) rape that...

      Armed Forces: Smallpox

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many armed forces personnel are vaccinated against smallpox; (2) how many Defence Medical Services personnel are vaccinated against smallpox.

      Armed Forces: Yemen

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British nationals of Yemeni origin serve in the armed forces; and how many such personnel are deployed in that region for their linguistic abilities.

      Bale Baleiwai

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the proposed deportation of Lance Corporal Bale Baleiwai.

      Defence Munitions Longtown

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans are in place to protect the unique resource and skilled workforce at Defence Munitions Longtown.

      Defence Technology Centres

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding his Department gave to each defence technology centre in each of the last five years.

      Elbit Systems

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which (a) Ministers, (b) civil servants and (c) senior military personnel have worked on contracts between his Department and Elbit Systems since May 2010.

      Elbit Systems

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts Elbit Systems has agreed with his Department since May 2010; and what the monetary value is of each contract.

      Hong Kong

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for (a) the Home Department and (b) Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on granting UK...

      Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which other countries were involved in the (a) procurement process and (b) purchase of the joint strike fighter.

      Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the combat range is for the (a) F-35B and (b) F-35C.

      Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many joint strike fighters will be for the exclusive use of the Royal Air Force.

      Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 12 July 2012, Official Report, columns 41-2WS, on Marchwood Sea Mounting Centre, (1) what assessment...

      Military Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which countries have hosted a British Military Advisory Training Team since 2007; and in each such case on what dates and at what costs. [Official...

      Military Aircraft: Helicopters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many helicopters belonging to each of the armed services are in (a) the UK, (b) Afghanistan and (c) other locations.

      Navy: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reduce the salaries of senior officers in the Royal Navy.

      Reserve Forces: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he plans to encourage employers to release reservists for the required extended periods of service; and what incentives and rewards he plans to provide.

      Royal Military Police: Sexual Offences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of rape were reported to Royal Military Police in each year between 2001 and 2012; how many such cases proceeded to courts martial in each...

      Sir John Kiszely

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any brigadiers have met Sir John Kiszely in an official capacity since May 2010.

      Territorial Army

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to reduce the average age of the reserve forces by encouraging younger people to join the Territorial Army.

      Territorial Army

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider renaming the Territorial Army the Army Reserve to reflect its revised role.

      Veterans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department provides to former service personnel to (a) help them find civilian work and (b) offer financial advice to them and their family.

      Veterans: Radiation Exposure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps his Department has taken to reach agreement with nuclear test veterans over their claims for damages.

  • Cabinet Office

    • Civil Servants: Pensions

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects to bring forward legislative proposals to extend the New Deal proposals to allow members of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme...

    • David Hartnett

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what process HM Revenue and Customs followed to inform David Hartnett prior to his retirement as Permanent Secretary for Tax of the requirement to make...

      Duchy of Cornwall

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will publish the criteria used to determine when Departments and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel should consult the Duchy of Cornwall to...

      Embassies

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which UK embassies and high commissions process applications for visas originating in other countries.

      Employment Schemes

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will estimate how many people engaged in Government-supported employment and training programmes will enter employment in the next quarter.

      Immigration: EU Nationals

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many people are resident in the UK under Article 12 of European Directive 2004/38/EC, on the grounds that their associated national from an EU...

      Ministerial Visits: Nottinghamshire

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what ministerial visits to (a) the City of Nottingham and (b) Nottinghamshire have taken place since May 2010.

      Older Workers

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will estimate the number of people over 65 who have formed part of the working population in each of the last 30 years.

      Terrorism: Greater London

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many complaints his Department has received about the 7 July London terrorist bombings from victims or victims' families that remain unresolved.

  • Women and Equalities

    • Anti-slavery Day

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps the Government are taking to promote anti-slavery day.

  • Scotland

    • Cleaning Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to require all cleaning contracts held by his Department to stipulate that the cleaning products used and their...

  • Communities and Local Government

    • Council Tax

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) how the freeze in the council tax grant for 2013-14 will be calculated for each local authority; (2) if he will place in...

    • Council Tax

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how the council tax freeze grant for 2013-14 will be funded; whether any money will be top-sliced from the 2013-14 Local...

      Council Tax Benefits

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) what estimate he has made of the likely change in the number of people of working age claiming council tax benefit between...

      Electric Cables

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with UK electrical cabling manufacturers on preventing the import and installation of counterfeit or...

      Empty Property: Lancaster

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the bid form submitted to his Department by Lancaster city council for the Clusters of...

      Fire Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (1) whether any decision has been made on funding for the Fire and Rescue Service in 2013-14; (2) when he plans to make...

      Fire Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the evidential basis is that will inform his decision on fire and rescue service funding for 2013-14.

      Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria in respect of (a) housing need and (b) housing demand his Department requires to be used in drawing up local plans.

      Housing: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2012, Official Report, column 304W, on housing: construction, what questions Glenigan ask...

      Housing: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2012, Official Report, column 304W, on housing: construction, if he will place in the...

      Local Government Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the percentage change in formula grant in real terms was for each local authority between 1997-98 and 2009-10.

      Planning Permission: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of planning decisions made by each planning authority in England have been overturned on appeal in each of the...

  • Culture Media and Sport

    • Digital Broadcasting

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what measures she is taking to promote the development and use of (a) international and (b) national digital television...

    • Government Art Collection Advisory Committee

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date the most recent meeting of the Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection took place.

      Music: Tickets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether she plans to review the regulation of the ticket resale market for music and other popular cultural events to ensure a...

      Richard III

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans her Department has for the potential burial of the remains of King Richard III.

      Television: Sports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the potential link between high profile sporting events being broadcast free-to-air...

  • Prime Minister

    • Leveson Inquiry

      To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 19 October 2012, Official Report, column 449W, on the Leveson Inquiry and with reference to his letter of 18 October 2012 to the right hon....

  • Transport

    • A1

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of the A1 have no road markings; and what his Department's policy is on replacing worn or damaged stretches where road markings are absent.

    • Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he has taken to increase the number of multi-purpose driving test centres; (2) what target he has set for the number of operational...

      Driving: Licensing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the waiting time is for driving licences being reissued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency medical advisory panel.

      High Speed 2 Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when (a) he and (b) his predecessor last met with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to discuss plans for HS2.

      Motor Vehicles: Testing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether vehicle testing is regarded as a sovereign matter by the European Union.

      Motorcycles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an assessment of the possible effect on jobs in small and medium-sized enterprises which produce motorcycle parts and accessories due...

      Motorcycles: Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he plans to publish the review of the Driving Standards Agency's implementation and delivery of the module 1 part of the motorcycle test;...

      Motorcycles: Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many individuals have completed two or more compulsory bike tests, since the introduction of the new testing procedures.

      Motorcycles: Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with reference to the establishment of the module 1 motorcycle test, what estimate he has made of the (a) rate of accidents during the new test and (b)...

      Motorcycles: Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has undertaken a comparative assessment of the pass rate of motorcycle tests in the UK with that of other EU countries.

      Motorcycles: Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many motorcycle driving instructors and trainers he estimates were operating in (a) August 2008 and (b) August 2012.

      Motorcycles: Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to seek a derogation from the EU requirement of a 50 kilometre an hour speed for certain elements of the module 1 motorcycle test to...

      Motorcycles: Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what comparative estimate he has made of the rate of accidents at permanent motorcycle test centres and that at casual sites.

      Network Rail

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when a Minister last reviewed Network Rail's derivative losses; (2) what limits he plans to place on Network Rail's derivative dealings.

      Piracy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice his Department has issued to UK merchant shipping on anti-piracy measures.

      Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment the Highways Agency has made in roads (a) in Essex, (b) in the Braintree district, (c) in the Malden district, (d) in Colchester...

      Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the Highways Agency monitors contracts requiring the repair or replacement of road markings at times when a section of road is not being renewed.

      Roads: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safety rating system for the UK roads network is used by his Department.

      Thameslink Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether his officials have provided him in the last six months with an estimate of the date the new Thameslink rolling stock will be delivered;...

      Thameslink Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his officials have provided advice to him on what steps the Government would need to take to secure the provision of new rolling stock for...

      Tonnage Tax

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which shipping companies qualified for the tonnage tax scheme in each year since 2000-01.

      Tonnage Tax

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) jobs and growth in the shipping industry and (b) the operation of the tonnage tax scheme of the...

  • Home Department

    • Airguns

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were investigated by the police for the illegal use of airguns in each of the last five years.

    • Burglary: Self-defence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will review the law on self-defence in the event of a burglary; and if she will make a statement.

      College of Policing

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to appoint an interim chair of the College of Policing.

      College of Policing

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date she expects the College of Policing to become operational.

      Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many incidents of rape were reported in each of the last five years; (2) how many incidents of robbery were reported in each of...

      Domestic Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the number of incidents of domestic violence (a) committed and (b) reported to the police in each region...

      Domestic Violence: Peterborough

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government is taking to reduce the incidence of domestic abuse in Peterborough constituency; and if she will make a statement.

      Foreign Workers

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many companies applying for the right to sponsor overseas employees have had their application fee reimbursed after refusal.

      Immigration: EU Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many nationals of other EU countries her Department has (a) told to leave the UK and have left voluntarily and (b) removed from the UK on...

      Immigration: EU Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what requirements there are for nationals of other EU countries and their associated family members who have moved to the UK under European...

      National Policing Improvement Agency

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by the National Policing Improvement Agency in work streams transferred to the Home Office on 1 October 2012 on...

      National Policing Improvement Agency

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed by her Department to undertake work transferred to her Department from the National Policing Improvement Agency...

      Police and Crime Commissioners

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the likely level of turnout for the election on 15 November 2012 for police and crime commissioners.

      Police and Crime Commissioners

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total cost of the advertising campaign for Police and Crime Commissioners was for (a) television, (b) radio, (c) print media, (d)...

      Police and Crime Commissioners

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2012, Official Report, columns 263-64W, on police and crime commissioners, what level of turnout in the...

      Police: Demonstrations

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy to require the police to consult with elected representatives of local communities on the route of marches and...

      Police: Lambeth

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what the number of (a) Metropolitan police officers and (b) police community support officers serving on Safer Neighbourhoods teams in...

      Prisons: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders were referred to treatment for using MCAT in the last year for which figures are available.

      Treaties: European Union

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of whether, in the case of the opt-out under article 10(4) of the Protocol to the Treaty on the Funding of the...

  • Treasury

    • Aerospace Industry: Investment

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what fiscal steps his Department is taking to assist the UK aerospace industry to invest in emerging technologies; (2) what fiscal steps his...

    • Broadband

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any Barnett consequentials will arise from the sale of the 4G spectrum licence.

      Arch Cru Investment Management

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent assessment is of the adequacy of the compensation offered to CF Arch Cru investors; and what assessment he has made of (a) the role...

      Employee Ownership Scheme

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer during the financial year 2017-18 of the employee ownership scheme announced on 8 October 2012; what...

      Infrastructure

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps he is taking to monitor and ensure the implementation of the National Infrastructure Project after 2015; (2) what plans he has for...

      Infrastructure

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the likely total cost will be of all planned Government-funded infrastructure projects in the (a) London area and (b) rest of the UK in the next six years.

      National Loan Guarantee Scheme: Scotland

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many applications the Scottish Government has made under the UK Guarantees Scheme for loans, guarantees, repairs, operation costs or any other...

      NHS: Finance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there are any Barnett consequentials to Northern Ireland arising from the announcement of £140 million of additional funding for NHS training...

      Pay

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2012, Official Report, column 1054W, on pay: public appointments, how many appointments to senior posts with a salary in...

      Pensions

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that those with pension plans taken out prior to 1990 with a guaranteed annuity provision which would mean that the...

      Pensions: Scotland

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has imposed (a) non-financial constraints and (b) reporting requirements on the Scottish Government in respect of its ability to set...

      Pensions: Scotland

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on its ability to set pension terms for those public sector workers whose pension is...

      Public Expenditure

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures departmental underspends from (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2012-13 have been used to fund to date.

      Public Service Pensions Bill: Scotland

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the implications of the Public Sector Pensions Bill for the Local Government Pension Scheme Scotland.

      Public Service Pensions Bill: Scotland

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on a legislative consent motion for the Public Service Pensions Bill; (2) whether the Public...

      HM Revenue and Customs

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many additional jobs will be required by Tracing Unit Cumbernauld following the transfer of work from HM Revenue and Customs Shipley.

      HM Revenue and Customs

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what HM Revenue and Customs policy is on the redeployment of staff and the protection of staff with disabilities.

      Scotland

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many inquiries his Department has received from Members of the Scottish Parliament on reserved constituency issues in the last 12 months for which...

      Tax Avoidance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals whose gross annual income exceeds £100,000 he estimates were being paid via personal service companies in the most recent...

      Tax Incentives: Natural Gas

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the tax incentive for the production of shale gas which was announced in Birmingham on 8 October 2012 will apply (a) only to shale gas or (b) to...

      Taxation: Broadband

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the revenue likely to accrue to the Exchequer from the auction of the 4G mobile broadband spectrum; and if he will make a...

      Transport for London: Finance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much funding his Department allocated to Transport for London in each year since 2000; and what funding has been allocated to Transport for London in...

      UK Research Partnership Investment Fund

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from which source of funding the £200 million of additional support to the UK Research Partnership Investment Fund, announced on 8 October 2012, will come.

      Welfare Tax Credits

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the aggregate annual value was of tax credits paid in respect of dependants who reside outside the United Kingdom; (2) how many dependants in...

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

    • British Nationals Abroad

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens were deported to the UK from (a) all other EU member states, (b) France, (c) Germany, (d) Poland and...

    • Business: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress he has made on the development of his business and human rights strategy.

      Business: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to open his proposed strategy on business and human rights to public consultation.

      Gibraltar

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his (a) Spanish and (b) Gibraltarian counterpart on Gibraltar's sovereign territorial waters.

      Indonesia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will press the government of Indonesia to act on the recommendation to stop human rights violations by military and police...

      Latin America

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries in Latin America he has visited since taking office.

      Single European Act

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether steps were taken by his Department to investigate allegations made in the book by Peter Schweizer entitled Friendly...

      Stabilisation Unit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2012, Official Report, columns 126-7WS, on building stability overseas, if he will publish the...

      Yemen

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when and where the next Friends of Yemen meeting will take place.

      Yemen

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to restore consular services in Sana'a.

  • Energy and Climate Change

    • Biofuels: Timber

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what tonnage of biomass co-fired in coal fired electricity generation was (a) UK-sourced and (b) externally sourced wood in (i) 2010-11...

    • Carbon Monoxide: Publicity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans his Department (a) has and (b) had considered to require any suppliers to fund carbon monoxide awareness publicity and...

      Energy Distribution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the (a) proportion and (b) quantity in MW of energy lost during the distribution phase of each source of...

      Ministerial Policy Advisers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much special advisers in his Department have claimed in expenses since May 2010.

      Renewable Energy: Heating

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the (a) number of exhaust air source heat pumps that have been installed in the UK, (b) total...

      Renewable Energy: Heating

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will publish the data from the heat pump metering programme in the Renewable Heat Premium Payment scheme; and what proportion of...

      Renewable Energy: Heating

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the number of ground source heat pumps in the UK which receive the renewable heat incentive...

      Wind Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what onshore wind energy generation capacity (a) was installed, (b) has gained planning consent and (c) was seeking planning permission...

  • Education

    • e-mail

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he continues to use a private e-mail account for Government business; and whether civil servants in his Department have access to that account...

    • e-mail: Freedom of Information

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to his answer of 21 May 2012, Official Report, column 399W, on e-mail, what the cost was of the legal advice his Department has taken in...

      Free Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that the enrolling of students and hiring of staff to free schools is not dictated by religion.

      Free Schools: Coventry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how many groups have applied to establish a free school in (a) Coventry local authority area and (b) Coventry North East constituency; (2) how...

      Freedom of Information

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the total cost of (a) external legal advice, (b) advice from the Treasury Solicitor's Department and (b) civil service time incurred...

      Freedom of Information

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the total cost of (a) external legal advice, (b) advice from the Treasury Solicitor's Department and (b) civil service time incurred...

      Higher Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education which universities he has visited in the last 12 months.

      UK Council for Child Internet Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the dates of future meetings of the UK Council on Child Internet Safety.

      UK Council for Child Internet Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the names of all the members and board members of the UK Council on Child Internet Safety.

  • Deputy Prime Minister

    • Trident

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) civil servants in his Department and (b) military personnel will be tasked to assist the Minister of State in the Cabinet Office, the right hon....

    • Lord-Lieutenants

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the process is for the appointment of Lord-Lieutenants.

      Lord-Lieutenants

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what arrangements govern the standing for election to public office of Lord-Lieutenants' secretaries.

  • Health

    • Clinical Commissioning Groups

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration his Department has given to the capacity of local authorities to scrutinise effectively the work of clinical commissioning groups.

    • Clinical Commissioning Groups

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of clinical commissioning groups have been judged to have limited capacity to perform to the required standard to date.

      Eyesight: Testing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take further steps to encourage the uptake of regular sight tests for hard to reach communities and minority ethnic groups in (a) Hackney North...

      Fertility

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the cost to the NHS was of semen cryostorage for conditions that impair fertility or that need treatment likely to impair fertility in each...

      Health Services: Armed Forces

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many serving members of the Army have been treated by the NHS for each category of illness in each of the last five years.

      Health Services: Foreign Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances a GP whose list is closed may refuse to register an overseas visitor as a patient.

      Health Services: Homelessness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to ensure that homeless people are able to register with a GP.

      Health Services: Homelessness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to improve hospital discharge procedures for homeless people.

      Newspaper Licensing Agency

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to his Department and associated agencies has been of Newspaper Licensing Agency licences for scanned content in each year since 2010.

      North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial resources were allocated to North Tees and Hartlepool Foundation NHS Trust in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13; and...

      Out of Area Treatment: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the estimated numbers of referrals from patients residing in Scotland to the Royal...

      Patients: Death

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of patients dying in hospital who were admitted to hospital over the weekend in the latest period for which...

      Pedicures

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the safety of pedicures using fish.

      Visual Impairment: Waiting Lists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for (a) an initial appointment with a hospital consultant and (b) follow-up treatment of patients diagnosed with (i)...

  • Business, Innovation and Skills

    • Basic Skills

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce the number of functionally illiterate adults; (2) what steps his...

    • Basic Skills

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent progress his Department has made on increasing participation in literacy and numeracy programmes for functionally...

      Business Links

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many start-ups have accessed publicly-funded sources of assistance from the business support finder section of his Business...

      Business Links

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the budget for the Business Link website was in 2011-12; and what that budget is in 2012-13.

      Conditions of Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make an assessment of the potential effects on growth and levels of labour market participation in the first two years...

      Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will commission further evidence-gathering to monetise the potential effects of the repeal of section 52 of the Copyright,...

      Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (1) whether a date has been set for the commencement of a public consultation on the implementation of the transitional...

      Employee Ownership Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the employee ownership scheme he announced on 8 October 2012, whether the employee ownership shares will be...

      Employee Ownership Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the employee ownership scheme he announced on 8 October 2012, whether employees will be required to have paid...

      Green Investment Bank

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the implications of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights for the Green...

      Growth Implementation Committee

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he expects to be appointed a member of the proposed Cabinet Growth Implementation Committee.

      Higher Education: Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what support his Department gives to universities to assist students with mental health issues.

      London Metropolitan University

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what calculations were used to form the evidential basis for the Government's decision to set up a fund of £2 million to...

      Secondment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average length was of a secondment undertaken by staff in his Department to business and industry in the latest period...

      Secondment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average length was of a secondment undertaken from business and industry to his Department in the latest period for...

      Students: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the average (a) fees paid for higher education and (b) proportion of such fees paid by...

      Students: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the effect of changes in tuition fees in England on the level of the consumer price index in (a)...

  • International Development

    • Bangladesh

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact's report from November 2011 on her Department's climate...

    • Bangladesh

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development (1) what assessment she has made of the position of the Results and Evaluation Advisor appointed in 2011 as mentioned in her...

      Bangladesh

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what proportion of her Department's aid to Bangladesh is implemented through the Bangladeshi Government and its connected...

      Crimes of Violence: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which Minister in her Department is responsible for the elimination of international violence against women.

      EU Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much and what proportion of her Department's budget is spent via the EU.

      India

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the Indian Government on the UK's bilateral aid programme.

      Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the Bilateral Programme Budget's funding of (a) training for journalists on capacity development for...

      Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the estimated spending on climate change-related activities will remain under 10 per cent of the overall official development...

      Yemen

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate she has made of how many people in Yemen are being supported by UK aid.

  • Justice

    • Alternatives to Prison

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on alternatives to a custodial sentence for offenders who have been diagnosed with severe mental health problems.

    • Approved Premises

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of people were resident in an approved premises in England and Wales whose index offence was (a) sexual and (b) violent in...

      Courts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of court time in England and Wales was split between (a) lay magistrates and (b) district judges in each of the last 10 years.

      Criminal Injuries Compensation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many victims of dog attacks under 18 years of age received compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in each of the years (a)...

      Criminal Injuries Compensation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many victims of crime who received compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme did not report to the police but to another body or...

      Criminal Injuries Compensation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how much each of the Tariff Bands in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme would be worth if they had been increased by the rate of inflation...

      Criminal Injuries Compensation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many of the 73 Pre-Tariff cases which were outstanding at 31 March 2012 were settled during the period 1 April to 30 September 2012.

      Prison Sentences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average length of custodial sentences handed down was in each year from 1994 to 2011.

      Sentencing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (1) how many people convicted of robbery received a (a) custodial and (b) non-custodial sentence in 2011; (2) how many people convicted of rape...

      Social Security Benefits: Fraud

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many individuals in the Peterborough city council area have been convicted of welfare benefits-related fraud in the most recent period for which...

      Unpaid Fines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the monetary value is of outstanding fines imposed by the Health and Safety Executive on businesses which have remained unpaid for more than (a) six...

  • Environment Food and Rural Affairs

    • Anaerobic Digestion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many anaerobic digestors have been (a) given planning approval and (b) built since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

    • Water

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the high level group on water last met; when it will next meet; and if he will make a statement.

      Water Companies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will commission a study to compare the performance of UK water companies with their publicly-owned European counterparts.

  • Work and Pensions

    • Access to Work Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people have received support through the Access to Work programme in each year since 2009-10, by Department for Work and...

    • Atos Healthcare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people participating in the Atos Quality Survey in Scotland rated Atos Healthcare's performance as (a) very good, (b) good, (c) poor...

      Employment Schemes: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many companies have employed young people through the wage subsidy incentive in the Youth Contract since its inception.

      Housing Benefit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people under 25 years in (a) Stafford constituency and (b) England are in receipt of housing benefit.

      Housing Benefit: Private Rented Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) absolute and (b) percentage change was in the number of housing benefit claimants in the private rented sector who were in work in...

      Jobseeker’s Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of new claims for jobseekers' allowance were submitted using the online delivery channel in each month from March 2012 to date.

      Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Atos assessment centres there are in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland; and in which such assessment...

      Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Atos Healthcare assessment centres there are in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland; and how many in each such category operate during (i)...

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of (a) the number of universal credit claimants who will receive transitional protection and (b) the expenditure on...

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the merits of recent proposals for a self-care addition to universal credit.

      Work Capability Assessment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether employment and support allowance claimants undergoing a work capability assessment are entitled to view the full documentation on that...

      Work Capability Assessment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints his Department has received in relation to the work capability assessment in each month of (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012...

      Work Capability Assessment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on how many occasions a Decision Maker from his Department requested additional medical information from a claimant after the work capability...

      Work Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) prime contractors and (b) subcontractors have voluntarily withdrawn from the Work programme since it began; and how many such...

      Work Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit sanctions have been issued by Work programme providers in each month since the programme started.

  • Church Commissioners

    • Metal Theft

      To ask the hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners, what the cost of metal theft from Church of England property was in (a) Manchester and (b) Chester diocese in (i) 2010,...

  • House of Lords

    • Abortion

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to enable Scotland and Wales to decide their own abortion limits.

    • Armed Forces: Aircraft

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of recent geopolitical factors, whether they will reconsider their decision to operate only one aircraft carrier.

      Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the full repeal of Section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, proposed in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill, is required by virtue...

      Energy: Prices

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by the Prime Minister on 17 October (Official Report, Commons, col. 316), what proposals they have to require all utility companies...

      Health: Clinical Commissioning Groups

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many clinical commissioning groups have designated accountable officers, and how many have not done so; and how many accountable officers are (1) general...

      Health: Physical Activity Campaigns

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance and support they have provided to encourage walking in order to secure health benefits and reduce demands on the National Health Service.

      Health: Sexual Health

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish their sexual health policy strategy framework.

      House of Lords: Appointments

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 9 October (Official Report, col. 921) confirming the Government's policy that appointments to the House of...

      House of Lords: Appointments

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 9 October (Official Report, col. 921), how many (1) Conservative, (2) Liberal Democrat, (3) Labour, (4)...

      House of Lords: Appointments

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 9 October (Official Report, col. 921) that they are "not proposing to increase the size of this House",...

      House of Lords: Appointments

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to establish a new statutory appointments commission for the appointment of new peers to the House of Lords.

      NHS: Clinical Commissioning Groups

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many clinical commissioning groups have been established in Greater Manchester; and how many of those have appointed a general practitioner as the chief...

      NHS: Clinical Commissioning Groups

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether accountable officers of clinical commissioning groups will be able to authorise the expenditure of NHS funding on adult social care purposes that are of...

      NHS: GP Practice Registration

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will require all people registering with general practitioners to prove their nationality, and, if not British, their immigration status, in order...

      North Korea

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea regarding food insecurity in North Korea.

      North Korea

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what contribution the United Kingdom is making to international humanitarian assistance to people in North Korea suffering food insecurity.

      North Korea

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the remarks by the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in North Korea that a human rights-based...

      Pensions: Britons Living Abroad

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many retired citizens in receipt of a United Kingdom old age pension are resident outside the European Economic Area or a country with a social security...

      Questions for Written Answer

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 30 January (WA 294), why four Questions for Written Answer tabled on 19 July remain unanswered by the...

      Regional Growth Fund

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Regional Development Fund grants are available to companies in the devolved nations; and, if not, what similar funds exist in Northern Ireland, Scotland...

      Rwanda

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Northover on 24 September (WA 384), why the Department for International Development has decided to disburse general...

      Steel Industry

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with stakeholders on the steel industry in the United Kingdom.

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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