Written answers

Tuesday, 11 November 2014

  • HM Treasury

    • Income Tax

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in each region earn between the 2014-15 higher rate threshold and £55,000.

    • Public Appointments

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on how many occasions his Department has had requests for appointments by exception to the Senior Civil Service turned down by the Civil Service Commission...

      Pay

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Instant Rewards of what value were given to his Department's officials in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

      Corporation Tax: Northern Ireland

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to give the Northern Ireland Assembly power to vary the level of corporation tax in Northern Ireland.

      Taxation: Scotland

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2014 to Question 210913, when he plans to begin public information campaigns in Scotland to inform taxpayers and...

      Income Tax

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in work did not pay any income tax as a result of changes to the personal allowance threshold in each of the last three financial years.

      Carbon Emissions

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2014 to Question 207058, if he will discuss with (a) the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and (b) the...

      Taxation

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was spent on collating, distributing and mailing the recently sent annual tax summary letter.

      Minimum Wage: Prosecutions

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many successful prosecutions for breaches of national minimum wage legislation there have been since 1997.

      Revenue and Customs

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff HM Revenue and Customs employs; and how many and what proportion of such staff have been allocated to the enforcement of the national minimum...

      Minimum Wage

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2014 to Question 205614, what proportion of the penalties imposed in each year have been successfully enforced; and...

      Tax Allowances: Multinational Companies

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the most recent estimate is of the cost of tax incentives and tax relief currently available to UK-based multinational companies.

      Tax Avoidance

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to strengthen the corporate tax regime to prevent UK-based multinational companies from practising tax avoidance in...

      Tax Avoidance

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to tackle tax avoidance by global technology firms.

      Welsh Language

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the need to provide access to his Department's services in Welsh.

      Cybercrime

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the effectiveness of the Payment Services Directive in tackling online fraud.

      Child Tax Credit

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the feasibility of sharing child tax credits proportionally between care givers where custody is split.

      Climate Change Levy

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been raised each year by the Climate Change Levy since it was introduced.

      Developing Countries: Taxation

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that developing countries who cannot sign up to the automatic exchange of tax information in its current form benefit from...

  • Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

    • Police and Crime Commissioners: South Yorkshire

      To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many and what proportion of votes were cast by post in the South Yorkshire...

    • Electoral Register

      To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what steps the Electoral Commission has taken to ensure that electoral registration...

  • Prime Minister

    • Armed Forces: Casualties

      To ask the Prime Minister, if he will erect a memorial to honour the memory of the servicemen and women who lost their lives in Afghanistan.

    • Radioactive Waste

      To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to the agenda for the Northern Future Forum in Helsinki on 6 to 7 November 2014, what matters in respect of Finnish and Swedish experience with...

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Widowed Parents Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants of the widowed parent's allowance claimed that allowance for less than one year in each year from 2001 to 2014.

    • Welfare Assistance Schemes: Bedfordshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what funding his Department provided to (a) Bedford Borough Council and (b) Central Bedfordshire Council for local welfare assistance schemes...

      Employment Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have refused to take community work placements and have had benefits withdrawn as a result to date.

      Palliative Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance he issues on the use of the DS1500 to support people at the end of life to die in their preferred place of care.

      Welfare State: Reform

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2014 to Question 203664, when he plans to start the public consultation on the implementation of section 40...

      Children: Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2014 to Question 203665, when he plans to publish a report on the initial findings of the series of behaviour...

      Work Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many specialist disability organisations were participating as sub-contractors in the Work Programme (a) when Work Programme contracts...

      Work Experience

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people (a) were referred by jobcentres to, and (b) have participated in, his Department's work experience scheme in each year since 2011.

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his Statement of 13 October 2014, Official Report, column 18WS, on universal credit, when the last claim for legacy benefits or...

  • Home Office

    • Independent Privacy and Civil Liberties Board

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to bring forward proposals for the creation of the Independent Privacy and Civil Liberties Board.

    • Business: Cybercrime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of business awareness of cyber-crime; and what information her Department holds on financial loss...

      Cybercrime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what contribution the National Crime Agency international liaison officers have made to a cohesive international approach to cyber-crime.

      Human Trafficking

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what mechanisms her Department has put in place to assist non-UK minors who are trafficked for sex.

      National Crime Agency: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the concerns over the lack of powers of the National Crime Agency (NCA) in Northern Ireland in paragraph 25...

      Riot Control Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects to take a decision on use of water cannon by the Metropolitan Police Service.

      Cybercrime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle online fraud.

      Domestic Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many domestic violence prevention orders have been served since March 2014 in (a) Hackney North and Stoke Newington, (b) Hackney local...

      Domestic Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding is provided for police forces to enable them to serve domestic violence prevention orders; and if she will make a statement.

      Extradition: USA

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were extradited from the US to the UK in (a) each year between 2004 and 2013 and (b) 2014 to date; and how many such people...

      Gangmasters

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2014 to Question 212649, how many cases of exploitation were referred by the Gangmasters Licensing...

      Human Trafficking

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2014 to Question 212705, what specialist needs of male victims have been identified by her Department...

  • Northern Ireland Office

    • War Memorials

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps her Department is taking to support the future refurbishment of World War memorials in Northern Ireland.

  • Department of Health

    • Food: Arsenic

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce limits on the amount of trace arsenic permitted in foodstuffs intended for (a) children and (b) adults.

    • Fracking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what methods will be used to assess whether the levels of radon contained in shale gas gathered by hydraulic fracturing are safe enough to allow the...

      Meat

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of meat (a) from the UK and (b) from outside the UK was (i) physically inspected and (ii) visually inspected in each of the last 10 years.

      Caxton Foundation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations his Department has received from the Caxton Foundation about increases in funding to cover the costs of winter fuel payment in 2014.

      Caxton Foundation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beneficiaries of the Caxton Foundation received winter fuel payments in each of the last three years; and how much was paid out in each of those...

      Rice: Arsenic

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment Public Health England has made of the hazards to young children of eating rice and rice products contaminated by natural inorganic arsenic.

      NHS: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in ensuring that NHS England's definitions of commissioning responsibilities have been applied consistently across the...

      Medical Equipment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with NHS England on the criteria of assessment for awarding dispensing appliance contractor licences.

      Influenza: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what targets he has set for providing influenza jabs for (a) medical and health care workers and (b) social care workers this winter; and what progress...

      Prescriptions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps his Department has taken at regional and local level to reduce prescribing errors.

      Cholesterol

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when NHS England will take up responsibility for the commissioning of specialised services for the treatment and care of people with Homozygous Familial...

      Kidneys: Transplant Surgery

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the provision in NHS hospitals of kidney transplantation through keyhole surgery.

      Musculoskeletal Disorders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Communities and Local Government about measures to implement a public health approach to...

      Hepatitis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the implementation framework for hepatitis C being developed by Public Health England, NHS England, the Department of Health and voluntary bodies...

      Surrogate Motherhood

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consideration his Department has given to introducing child protection checks for parents commissioning surrogacy from abroad before being permitted...

      Blood: Contamination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications to register with (a) the Skipton Fund Ltd and (b) MEFT Ltd have been refused on the grounds of incomplete hospital records since...

      Genetic Engineering

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on measures to alter the genes of babies; and if he will make a statement.

      Pneumococcal Disease: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to paragraph 54 of the minutes of the meeting of 4 June 2014 of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, over what period of...

      Pregnancy: Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when a module on perinatal mental health will be included in all new midwives' training.

      Pregnancy: Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Government plans to start collecting data on the number of women admitted to perinatal inpatient mother and baby units.

      Pneumococcal Disease: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to paragraph 49 of the minutes of the meeting of 4 June 2014 of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), when his...

  • Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    • UK Trade and Investment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many UK Trade and Investment staff worked in each of the industrial sectors on 1 April 2014; and what the budget for each...

    • New Businesses: Brigg

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many start-up loans have been granted in Brigg and Goole constituency since that scheme's inception; and how much has been...

      Timber: Imports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what tonnage of imports of wood pellets there has been into the UK in the last three years.

      Business: Billing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that signatories of the Prompt Payment Code adhere to its regulations; and if he will make a...

      Biotechnology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what comparative assessment he has made of the competitiveness of the (a) UK, (b) France, (c) Germany, (d) China and (e) US life...

      Biotechnology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what structures his Department has in place to ensure that (a) the Life Sciences Organisation and (b) the Office for Life...

      Business: Fareham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department has taken to increase the level of access to credit to businesses in Fareham constituency in the last...

      Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to offer training to adults without GCSEs.

      Apprentices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on allowing employers to pay the apprenticeship wage for longer than 12 months.

      Service Industries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department plans to take to support further growth in the services sector; and what steps he plans to take to...

      Apprentices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprentices have been employed through the employer ownership pilot for apprenticeships; and how much of the £340...

      Skilled Workers: Bristol

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to support the retention of skills and jobs in the Bristol region.

      Companies: Ownership

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress he has made in establishing full public transparency of company ownership.

      Business: Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many new statutory regulations on business have been introduced since May 2010; and how many regulations on businesses have...

      Buildings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many buildings owned by his Department have been sold in each year since 2010.

      Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2014 to Question 212650, what resource he has made available to the Employment Agency...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Navy: Military Bases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contracts the Maritime Support and Delivery Framework replaces; who previously held those contracts; and how much was spent in each such contract...

    • Engineers: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many engineers have been recruited by his Department in each year since 2010.

      Armed Forces: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the Royal Navy were dismissed for drug-related offences in the last three years; and how many such dismissals were for possession or...

      Mobile Phones

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on iPhones in each year since 2010.

      Nato

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps have been taken to enhance cyber-defence policy across all NATO member states since the NATO summit.

      Libya

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent support and advice on defence and security institution building has his Department given to the Libyan government (a) bilaterally and (b)...

      Sahel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Sahel region on (a) terrorism, (b) arms, drugs and people trafficking and (c) other key...

      Libya

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent representations he has received on the movement of illegal arms in and out of Libya.

      Falkland Islands

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of potential implications for his policy on the defence of the Falkland Islands of the sale of Gripen fighters to Argentina;...

      Libya

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the threat posed to the UK by extremist training camps in southern Libya.

      Armed Forces: Discharges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the policy is of the Army Foundation College, Harrogate on providing a discharge form to any trainee soldier aged under 18 who asks to leave the...

      Defence: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of expenditure on defence procurement contracts was placed with small and medium-sized enterprises based in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK...

      Libya

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the first Libyan armed forces personnel began their basic infantry training at Bassingbourn Barracks; what facilities Libyan armed forces personnel...

      Libya

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has had with authorities and bodies from (a) the Libyan government, (b) other departments, (c) the police, (d) local...

      Libya

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Libyan service personnel have received military training in the UK since June 2014.

      Defence: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse was of hiring external consultants to aid with defence procurement in the latest period for which figures are available.

      Defence: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many external consultants are involved in defence procurement.

      Libya

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when future tranches of Libyan service personnel planned to come to the UK to receive military training are scheduled to arrive; for how long such...

      Libya

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions Libyan service personnel training in the UK have broken local protocol and guidelines whilst training at the Bassingbourn Base;...

      Armed Forces: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what screening procedures his Department undertakes in order to assess the suitability of any foreign military personnel to receive service training in...

      Army Reserve

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to protect members of the Territorial Army from workplace discrimination.

      Hebrides Missile Range

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which (a) NATO and (b) non-NATO countries have used assets at Hebrides Range in the last 10 years.

  • Department for Communities and Local Government

    • Written Questions: Government Responses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he expects to answer Question 207599, tabled on 1 September 2014 by the right hon. Member for Leeds Central.

    • Written Questions: Government Responses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he expects to answer Question 207630, tabled on 1 September 2014 by the right hon. Member for Leeds Central.

      Business: Loans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress his Department has made on each of the six actions outlined in his Department's report, Ethnic Minority...

      Private Rented Housing: Evictions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what records his Department keeps of the number of retaliatory evictions; what criteria he uses to define retaliatory eviction;...

      Planning: Health

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that the planning system addresses (a) size and quality of housing, (b) opportunities for...

      Council Housing: Hampshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people in Rushmoor Borough Council area are currently on a council housing waiting list; and how many of these (a)...

      Housing: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) private and (b) public sector homes have been built in each of the last 30 years.

      Council Housing: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many social homes in London have been built under section 106 agreements in each of the last 10 years.

      Council Housing: Hampshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people in the Test Valley Borough Council area are currently on council housing waiting lists; and how many such...

      Housing: Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the consequences on energy efficiency of housing of scrapping the Code for Sustainable Homes.

      Planning

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for what reason the Government has only responded to part of the consultation launched on 23 March 2014 into planning...

  • Scotland Office

    • Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many Instant Rewards of what value were given to his Department's officials in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

    • Public Appointments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on how many occasions his Department has made appointments by exception since 2010; and who was appointed for each such post.

      Public Appointments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on how many occasions his Department has had requests for appointments by exception to the Senior Civil Service turned down by the Civil Service...

      Poverty: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) adults and (b) children were living in poverty in each UK parliamentary constituency in Scotland in each year since 2010.

      Children: Poverty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the number of children in Scotland living in poverty in each year since 2010.

      Income Tax

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2014, HC Deb, 15 October 2014, column 286, what details regarding the implementation of the Scottish rate of...

      Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what representations he has received from the Scottish Government on the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation; and if he will place in...

      Income Tax

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he last met with his ministerial counterparts in HM Treasury to discuss implementation of the Scottish rate of income tax.

      Rendition

      To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether Police Scotland has concluded its investigation of alleged rendition flights which may have landed in Scottish airports.

  • Department for Transport

    • Public Appointments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions his Department has made appointments by exception since 2010; and who was appointed for each such post.

    • Roads: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many new miles of motorway and trunk road are planned for the next five years.

      A4: Hammersmith and Fulham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the temporary lower speed limit on the A4 Hammersmith flyover will be lifted.

      Roads: Air Pollution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve air quality on roads where air quality management zones have been designated.

      Railways: Concessions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Southern railway on the expansion of the Unizone rail scheme between Hastings and Brighton; and if he will...

      Tolls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will encourage the operators of the M6 toll, the Dartford-Thurrock river crossing, the Severn Bridge, and other electronic toll roads to use a...

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    • Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Instant Rewards of what value were given to his Department's officials in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 to date.

    • British Overseas Territories

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which British Overseas Territories have established exclusive economic zones.

      Ascension Island

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many commercial fishing licences have been sold to UK-registered vessels to fish in the waters of Ascension Island in each...

      Turks and Caicos Islands

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much income the Turks and Caicos Islands government derived from (a) tourism and (b) fisheries in the last five financial...

      Turks and Caicos Islands

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of the expenditure of the Turks and Caicos Islands government was spent on health and health-related debts in...

      Turks and Caicos Islands

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the annual operating budget of the Turks and Caicos Islands government Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs has...

      Argentina

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of whether sale of Swedish Gripen fighters to Argentina would be contrary to the EU Code of Conduct...

      Vietnam

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Vietnamese counterpart on the effect on the international reputation of Vietnam of the...

      Public Records

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what targets have been set for the release of his Department's records to the National Archives; what progress has been made in...

      Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is his policy that the new Conflict, Stability and Security Fund implement the report of the Independent Commission...

      Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is his policy that the new Conflict, Stability and Security Fund will publish annual reports.

      Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether it is his policy that the new Conflict, Stability and Security Fund will be used only for non-military peacebuilding...

      Egypt

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Egyptian counterpart about the deadline of Monday 10 November for all civil society...

      Egypt

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what bilateral and multilateral steps his Department has taken to encourage the Egyptian authorities to withdraw the 10...

      Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent of persecution of Christians in (a) the Middle East and (b) North Africa.

      Falkland Islands

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he last met his Argentinian counterpart to discuss the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

      Libya

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effects of fighting between government factions and Islamist rebels on populated...

      China

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance the Government has provided to the authorities in China since the earthquake in Yunnan province.

      Israel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Israeli government condemning its (a) closure of the al-Aqsa mosque and other parts of...

      Iran

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether (a) officials and (b) Ministers in his Department have raised the cases of Farshid Fathi, Behnam Irani, Shahin Lahouti...

      Iran

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to encourage the Iranian government to fulfil its obligations to uphold religious freedoms...

      India

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff in his Department work for the India Diaspora Champion.

      India

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance the High Commission in India (a) has provided and (b) plans to provide to Billy Irving.

      Buildings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the occupancy rates were of the Foreign Office in the King Charles Street building in (a) 2005, (b) 2010 and (c) 2014.

      Burma

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Burmese counterpart on the release of Mr Brang Yung and Mr Lahpai Gam; and what...

      Absent Voting: British Nationals Abroad

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take prior to the General Election to encourage British Missions to promote an uptake in...

      Colombia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the recent report by the human rights non-governmental organisation, CINEP on the role of the...

      British Nationals Abroad: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make a comparative assessment of the human rights protections afforded to British citizens visiting countries that...

  • Department for International Development

    • Egypt

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect on the UK's funding of civil society programmes and organisations in Egypt of the revision...

    • Developing Countries: Taxation

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on poorer countries' ability to benefit from greater...

      West Africa

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support the strengthening of health systems in West Africa to better cope with epidemics in the...

  • Department for Education

    • Academies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many overseas students are paying for boarding places in academies.

    • Sixth Form Education: Admissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students are enrolled in those school and academy sixth forms that have opened since 2010.

      Academies: Admissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students are enrolled in those 16-19 academy and free schools that have opened since 2010.

      Special Educational Needs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has conducted an impact assessment of the potential effect the 2014 EU Procurement Directives will have on the procurement by...

      Teachers: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff members in all open free schools were paid a salary for their work with that school before its opening; and how much has been paid to...

      Unemployment: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the reasons for the increasing number of 16 to 18 year olds whose destinations are unknown in her Department's...

      Academies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish her Department's assessment of the adequacy of procurement and commissioning expertise within academy schools and special...

      Academies: Admissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2014 to the hon. Member for Huddersfield to Question 211964, what derogations from the Admissions Code have been...

      Children in Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to work with the Department for Health to ensure that new arrangements for transition and access to preventative support...

      Playing Fields

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues on child welfare for pupils using publicly accessible pitches for sporting activities during school hours.

      Teachers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of additional teachers that will be needed in 2015-16.

      Science: Teachers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of additional teachers that will be needed in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17, (c) 2017-18, (d) 2018-19, (e) 2019-20...

      Headteachers: Retirement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many headteachers retired in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13 and (e) 2013-14.

      Teachers: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many entrants to teaching in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13 and (c) 2013-14 were (i) newly qualified entrants, (ii) new to the publicly-funded sector...

      Teachers: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many entrants there were to (a) full-time and (b) part-time teaching in (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14.

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Bovine Tuberculosis

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on vaccinating cattle against bovine TB; and what progress has been made on reaching...

    • Squirrels: Diseases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to control squirrel pox in the red squirrel population.

      Nature Conservation: Turks and Caicos Islands

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which CITES-listed species her Department has given approval for export from the Turks and Caicos Islands in the last year;...

      Turks and Caicos Islands

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what scientific advice she has received on the sustainability of the export quota for the Queen conch species in the Turks...

      Slaughterhouses: CCTV

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals for the installation of independently-monitored CCTV cameras in...

      Flood Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, where the UK's main mobile flood pumps are based; and what time is taken to mobilise such pumps.

      Agriculture: Subsidies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much farmers in each local authority area in Wales have received in Common Agricultural Payments in each year for which...

      Flood Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many flood defences were affected by the 2013-14 winter floods; how many such defences had been temporarily repaired by...

      White Fish: Conservation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects to publish the review commissioned in 2012 into the evidence supporting an increase in the minimum landing...

  • Department for Energy and Climate Change

    • Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2014 to Question 212296, how many of the approved accreditations were (a) new installations...

    • Tidal Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans his Department has to develop tidal power technology around the UK; and what investment he plans to allocate for such projects.

      Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent estimate he has made of the overall budget for Renewable Heat Incentive in the next comprehensive spending review needed...

      Warm Home Discount Scheme: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, for what reasons Northern Ireland has been excluded from the Warm Home Discount Scheme; and if he will amend this Scheme to extend its...

      Renewable Energy: Scottish Islands

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will introduce incentives for the UK energy market to create the conditions to enable sub-sea cables to be laid to Scotland's...

  • Attorney General

    • Fraud: Prosecutions

      To ask the Attorney General, how many successful prosecutions have been made for non-benefit-related fraud in each year since 2009; and how many such prosecutions were for offences against an...

    • Cybercrime

      To ask the Attorney General, how many cyber-crime cases the Crown Prosecution Service has prosecuted since 2012.

      Buildings

      To ask the Attorney General, how many buildings owned by the Law Officers' Departments have been sold in each year since 2010.

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2014 to Question 208253, in what ways Hampshire Police has taken action and are taking the matter forward in respect of the...

  • Wales Office

    • Welsh Language

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what changes there have been in Welsh language provision at Departments providing services to residents of Wales since the judicial review of the National...

    • Welsh Language

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent assessment he has made for the need for further provision for access to government services in Welsh.

      Welsh Language

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many Government departments have a Welsh language service.

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Third Sector

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, to which (a) charities and (b) voluntary organisations his Department has provided funding in the last four years; and how much funding was provided to...

    • Legal Opinion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has spent on external legal advice in each of the last four years.

      Twitter

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to discourage aggressive and nasty tweeting.

      Rape

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department has taken to prevent the identity of rape victims becoming known to (a) their alleged assailants and (b) the families of their...

      Road Traffic Offences: Fines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was raised in fines for road traffic offences in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2013-14.

      Dangerous Driving

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people convicted of causing death by dangerous driving did not receive a custodial sentence in the latest period for which figures are available.

      Legal Aid Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many firms undertook criminal legal aid work in (a) 2010 and (b) 2013.

      Crown Courts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many criminal cases were defended in the Crown Court by litigants-in-person in each year since 2010.

      Public Relations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has spent on public relations in each year since 2010.

      Reoffenders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate he has made of the reoffending rate for prisoners who serve custodial sentences of (a) less than 12 months, (b) between 12 months...

      Magistrates' Courts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times magistrates' courts hearings in each district have had to be postponed for lack of (a) prosecution preparedness, (b) the failure of...

      Adoption: Wales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many parents have been refused legal aid in cases of forced adoption in (a) Wales and (b) Newport East.

      Probation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which mutual organisations have withdrawn bids for Transforming Rehabilitation contracts; and when his Department was notified in each case.

      G4S and Serco

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to his Statement of 12 March 2014, Official Report, column 27WS, on G4S and Serco (Contracts Update), how much of the sums to be repaid...

      G4S and Serco

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Written Statement of 12 March 2014, Official Report, columns 27-8WS, on G4S and Serco (contracts update), what proportion of the...

      Separation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the press release of 23 October 2014 from the Minister of State for Justice and Civil Liberties entitled More support for separating...

      Applied Language Solutions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what financial penalties ALS/Capita has paid in each month of (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 for missing agreed service delivery standards since taking over the...

      Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reform UK human rights law.

      Probation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department provided to which Community Rehabilitation Companies to support the development of mutual bids for Transforming Rehabilitation.

      Prisoners on Remand

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average age of those held on remand was in each year since 2010.

      Prisoners on Remand

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of self-harming there were among people held on remand in each year since 2010.

      Solicitors: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the ability of solicitors to provide crime duty cover in sparsely populated areas.

  • Cabinet Office

    • Suicide: Young People

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of teenage suicides in each English region in each of the last five years.

    • Cybercrime

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many crimes involving online fraud were recorded in each of the last five years.

      Buildings

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many buildings owned by his Department have been sold in each year since 2010.

      Unemployment: Young People

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2014 to Question 211402, if he will place in the Library a copy of the conclusions of the 16-24 review.

  • Department for Culture Media and Sport

    • Creative Industries Council

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many of the members of the Creative Industry Council have their principal workplace outside London.

    • Internet

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to ensure that people who purchase domain names are doing so to use them for legitimate purposes and not simply...

      Broadband

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to promote greater transparency and dissemination of information by broadband providers to customers on charges...

      British Telecom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of contracts to deliver rollout of superfast broadband have been granted to BT since 2010.

      Broadband: Bedfordshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding for broadband his Department has provided to (a) Bedford Borough Council and (b) Central Bedfordshire Council in each of...

      Broadband: Bedfordshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of properties in North East Bedfordshire receive (a) broadband at speeds below 2MBPS and (b) superfast broadband; and...

      Mobile Phones

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of progress in increasing mobile signal coverage to all areas.

      Assets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish a list of all operational heritage assets referenced in paragraph 8.1.2 of his Department's 2013-14 Annual Report...

      Buildings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to his Department's Annual Reports and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2014, which buildings are included in the...

      Assets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the value of individual land, buildings and monuments were which are DCMS non-operational heritage assets.

      Television

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has commissioned research into the effects of excessive watching of television.

      Television

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of excessive watching of television on (a) academic attainment and (b) obesity levels.

  • House of Lords

    • Afghanistan

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they are giving to the future of the tented camp used by British Forces in Kandahar; whether Agility and those involved in its disposal...

    • Antidepressants

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many prescriptions for antidepressants were issued in England in 2013; what percentage change since the previous year that represents; what studies they...

      Armed Forces: Hospitals

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staffed and equipped field hospitals they have.

      Arrest Warrants

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 4 August (HL1114) about the European Arrest Warrant, whether they consider that habeas corpus...

      Asylum: Finance

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many retailers are part of the Azure Card programme; and what is the total amount spent with each retailer since the card's inception. To ask Her...

      Asylum: Finance

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider those on support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 to be able to meet their basic needs from that support alone....

      Asylum: Finance

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that Azure Card users are able to meet their essential living needs; and on what grounds they base their assessment.

      Bahrain

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Bahrain about the deprivation of citizenship of 49 of that country's nationals; and what effect the...

      British Nationals Abroad: Armed Conflict

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870 provides sufficient authority to prosecute British citizens who join with states or other entities...

      Development Aid

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the latest figure of the annual average percentage of gross domestic product paid by contributing countries in official development assistance; and...

      Driving: Licensing

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government, since the transfer of driver and vehicle licensing services for people in Northern Ireland from Coleraine to Swansea, how motorists in Northern Ireland...

      Egypt

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the government of Egypt’s commitment to freedom of religion and the case for political reconciliation in Egypt were amongst the issues raised...

      Egypt

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Egypt about recent kidnappings, in particular of women and children in central and upper Egypt,...

      Electoral Register

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will include information about online electoral registration with notifications and reminders of National Insurance numbers.

      Electoral Register

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are making preparations to publish data on how many electors on the new electoral register due to be published in December are registered by...

      Electronic Surveillance

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the safeguards against the misuse by the police and other public authorities of International Mobile Subscriber Identity Catcher devices to...

      Electronic Surveillance

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how official police use of international mobile subscriber identity catchers is authorised.

      European Union

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 24 October 2014 (HL2132), whether there are any investment protection treaties between the...

      Forced Marriage Protection Orders

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Forced Marriage Protection Orders have been issued since the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 came into force.

      Frontex

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the scope of Frontex's new maritime patrol operation, Triton; when they expect it will become effective; what progress has been made with Eurosur;...

      Gender: Equality

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce the gap between men and women in the workplace, in the light of the World Economic Forum report on Britain's ranking in...

      Immigration: Appeals

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the number of expert non-legal members in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber has been reduced; and, if so, whether they have any plans to recommend a...

      Immigration: Poland

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the employment rate of Polish immigrants in the United Kingdom.

      Iran

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the French-Iranian collaboration on uranium enrichment through SOFIDIF, and its relationship with the P5+1 group progress...

      Iraq

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Royal Air Force sorties there have been over Iraq in the last three weeks; how many of them have resulted in the deployment of ordnance; and what...

      Iraq

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many United Kingdom military personnel are currently deployed on the ground in Iraq; and in what capacities.

      Israel

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning Israeli citizens having access to pray within the Al-Aqsa compound.

      Magistrates

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many lay magistrates were asked to step down by advisory committees in the last year for which there are data on the ground of failing to maintain the...

      Magistrates: Training

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many magistrates last year took courses described by the Judicial College as “desirable”; and what were those courses.

      Mediterranean Sea

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 15 October (HL1977), what is the evidence for their view that United Kingdom support for...

      Middle East

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have held with the government of Israel concerning its alleged weapons testing, including of dense inert metal explosives, during...

      Navy

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any of Her Majesty’s ships have had to cancel planned operations due to shortage of trained manpower over the last 12 months.

      NHS

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the requirements for (1) NHS Trust Boards, and (2) other NHS Boards, to hold their meetings in public.

      Occupied Territories

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to take any action in respect of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's order to advance plans for new housing units in East Jerusalem.

      Occupied Territories

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to take action in respect of Israel's recent appropriation of land for settlement building between the Etzion settlement bloc in the...

      Offenders: Health Services

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have, in the light of the recently published report of the Care Quality Commission on health services in prisons and other custodial...

      Palestinians

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect payments of the $5.4 billion pledged for reconstruction in Gaza to begin; and who will be responsible for collecting the pledges, and for...

      Palestinians

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have held with the government of Israel concerning the directive issued by Moshe Ya'alon in respect of segregating bus lines in the...

      Population

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what projection they have made of the size of the population of the United Kingdom in 2030, 2040, and 2050.

      Radicalism

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they monitor the broadcasting of incitement to violent jihad on non-English-language broadcasts in the United Kingdom; and whether they have any...

      Religious Freedom

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the status of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advisory Group on freedom of religion or belief; and when the group is expected to next meet.

      Travellers

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions have been taken in pursuance of the commitments undertaken by the Ministerial Working Group on tacking inequalities experienced by Gypsies and...

      Vaccination

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are reassessing the United Kingdom's capability in vaccine development and production with a view to reducing the time taken to produce new...

      Welfare State: Northern Ireland

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they propose to legislate to provide for welfare reform in Northern Ireland, in the light of the failure of the Northern Ireland Executive to agree...

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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