Written answers

Tuesday, 3 February 2015

  • Department for Transport

    • Communication

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's communications budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

    • Advertising

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's advertising budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

      Employment Agencies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff in his Department have been employed through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.

      Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving test centres have been (a) closed, (b) opened, (c) reopened having been previously closed in each (i) Scottish and (ii) English local...

      Railways: North West

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date he plans for electric rail passenger services to start operating between (a) Manchester and Liverpool and (b) Liverpool and Wigan.

      Aviation: Passengers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many passengers flew from (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Stansted, (d) Liverpool and (e) Manchester airports in each year from 1985.

      Hull-Holyhead Railway Line: Electrification

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding has been allocated to the electrification of the Hull-Holyhead railway line.

      Freight: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average amount of carbon emitted by (a) road and (b) rail freight was in each year for which data is available.

      West Coast Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average duration of an intercity rail journey between (a) Holyhead and London and (b) Chester and London was in each year from 1985 for which...

      Roads: Freight

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the amount was of road freight from (a) Ireland to the UK and (b) the UK to Ireland in each year from 1985 for which data is available.

      Railways: Wales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many rail passengers were carried between North Wales and London in each year from 1985 for which data is available.

      Driving Tests: Airdrie

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to close the Airdrie Driving Test Centre.

      Transport: Republic of Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many passengers travelled by (a) road and (b) rail from (i) UK to Ireland and (ii) Ireland to the UK in each year from 1985 for which data is...

      Thameslink Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost was of the St John's Thameslink scheme; what that scheme was designed to achieve; and if he will make a statement.

      Thameslink Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if Thameslink trains will use the new rail lines at St John's following the completion of the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

      Southeastern

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2015 to Question 221618, on what date the 12-carriage peak-time services listed will begin to operate; and if he...

      Thameslink

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2015 to Question 221670, how many eight-carriage fixed-set Thameslink trains will be purchased for the Wimbledon...

      Thameslink

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2015 to Question 221654, if he will place in the Library a map showing the points along the rail lines where...

      Railways: Franchises

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library an updated copy of the franchise payment profile for all train operating companies until 2023.

      Roads: Accidents

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect on the number of accidents of road speed limits in built up areas.

      Walking and Cycling: Wales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect on walking and cycling rates of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013; and what plans he has...

      Thameslink Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to continue with Victoria services via Lewisham following the completion of the Thameslink scheme at London Bridge.

  • Home Office

    • Islamic State

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on (a) academic and (b) other research conducted in (i) the UK and (ii) other European countries that...

    • Employment Agencies

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many recruitment and employment agencies her Department has used to source staff in each year since 2010-11.

      Proceeds of Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many British nationals were subject to (a) regulatory fines, (b) civil penalties or (c) criminal penalties because of their involvement...

      Crime: Surrey

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many crimes in total have been recorded in (a) Elmbridge and (b) Surrey in each month since April 2014; and how many police officers...

      Counter-terrorism

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training her Department plans to provide to (a) teachers and (b) headteachers to assist them to carry out the obligations placed on...

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    • Palestinians

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism in fulfilling its objectives to (a)...

    • Ukraine

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much the Government plans to provide to Ukraine through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund under each category of...

      Germany

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his German counterpart on measures to stop the sale of stolen antiquities from Syria and...

      Bahrain

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the recent conviction of Nabeel Rajab in Bahrain.

      Russia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of Muslims in Russia.

      Russia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of LGBT people in Russia.

      China and North Korea

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of LGBT people in (a) China and (b) North Korea.

      China and North Korea

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of Christians in (a) China and (b) North Korea.

      Russia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of Jewish people in Russia.

      China and North Korea

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of Jewish people in (a) China and (b) North Korea.

      China and North Korea

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of Muslims in (a) China and (b) North Korea.

      Africa and Middle East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to tackle the persecution of Christians in (a) Africa and (b) the Middle East.

      Egypt

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the Egyptian government about the death of Shaimaa El-Sabbagh; and if he will...

  • Attorney General

    • Rape

      To ask the Attorney General, how many rape complainants have been prosecuted for (a) perverting the course of justice and (b) wasting police time in each criminal justice area in each year since 2010.

    • Rape

      To ask the Attorney General, how many private prosecutions have been instigated against rape complainants in the last five years.

  • Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    • Trade Promotion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many attendances at events by businesses have been facilitated by the Tradeshow Access programme in each (a) year of the...

    • Trade Promotion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many companies have received financial support under the Tradeshow Access programme in each (a) year of the present...

      Fossil Fuels: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2015 to Question 221347, how much UK funding of research and development directed towards...

      Business Ambassadors

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many trade missions have been completed by each of the Government's Business Ambassadors in the last 12 months; on what...

      Counterfeit Manufacturing: Internet

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to prevent the sale online of counterfeit goods.

      Apprentices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of apprenticeship starts have been at (a) Level 2, (b) Level 3 and (c) Level 4 in (i) Tower Hamlets, (ii) London...

  • Department for International Development

    • Developing Countries: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department has spent on projects for women and girls in each year since 2005-06.

    • Developing Countries: Educational Exchanges

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Global Learning Programme.

      Educational Exchanges: Norfolk

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which schools in Norfolk have registered for the Global Learning Programme.

      Educational Exchanges: Norfolk

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which schools in Norfolk are Global Learning Programme Expert Centres; and if she will make a statement.

      Educational Exchanges: Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many schools have registered for the Global Learning Programme; and if she will make a statement.

      Ukraine

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, to what programmes the Government has provided technical assistance to support reform of financial and economic governance in Ukraine;...

      Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, who her Department's top 20 suppliers were on projects in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; and what the value was of each of those...

      British Overseas Territories

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department plans to continue funding for the next round of the UK Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund...

      Nigeria

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the report, the Dominion Farms' land grab in Nigeria, published in January 2015, what steps her Department is taking...

      Argentina

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of financial aid provided to Argentina.

      East Africa

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Government's efforts to alleviate food shortages in Eastern Africa.

      War on Want

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her Department allocated to War on Want in each of the last five years.

      War on Want

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what projects War on Want promotes on behalf of her Department.

      Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of UK Official Development Assistance was disbursed to fragile and conflict-affected states in (a) 2012-13, (b)...

      Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Office for National Statistics' revisions to GDP in December 2014 on the...

      Employment Agencies

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many staff in her Department have been employed through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.

      Communication

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her Department's communications budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

      Advertising

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her Department's advertising budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

      Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what measures her Department has put in place to ensure that funding provided by her Department and spent by foreign governments is...

      Nigeria

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment the Government has made of financial links between crude oil theft in Nigeria and (a) Boko Haram and (b) wider...

      Nigeria

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Government received or has had access to the report on crude oil theft in Nigeria, prepared by a US Administration...

  • Department for Education

    • Employment Agencies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff in her Department were employed through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.

    • Schools: Asbestos

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will issue guidance on removing asbestos insulating board which is vulnerable to disturbance or damage from children.

      Schools: Asbestos

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department last reviewed its guidance on assessing the risks from asbestos insulating board accessible to children in schools.

      Children in Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many looked after children in each local authority had (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four, (e) five, (f) six, (g) seven, (h) eight, (i) nine,...

      Schools: Asbestos

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of former pupils who will be diagnosed with mesothelioma from asbestos exposure at school during the 1960s...

      Schools: Asbestos

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will adopt and implement environmental asbestos fibre board for schools.

      Unemployment: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of young people are not in education, employment or training aged 16, 17, 18 and 19 to 24 in (i) Tower Hamlets, (ii) England and (iii)...

      Schools: Transport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the average cost of transport to school or college for 16 to 18 year olds.

      Schools: Asbestos

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, by what means her Department assessed the extra costs incurred in maintaining and refurbishing the school stock because of the presence of asbestos in...

      Schools: Asbestos

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will discuss the outcome of her Department's review of asbestos policy for schools with the Minister for Education and Skills in the Welsh...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Prisoner Escapes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners held in open prisons have absconded or escaped on more than one occasion.

    • Prisoner Escapes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners who escaped or absconded from prison in the last year for which figures are available had previously escaped or absconded from prison.

      Radicalism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 5.3.2 of the report of the Prime Minister's Task Force on Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism, published in December 2013,...

      Mental Health Review Tribunal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will give victims the right to be represented at mental health tribunals.

      Domestic Violence: Sentencing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many victims of domestic violence have been imprisoned for contempt of court in the last five years.

      Reparation by Offenders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders who have been part of a restorative justice scheme have reoffended in each of the last five years.

      Open Prisons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance his Department has issued to open prisons on reducing the number of absconders.

      Driving under Influence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were (a) breathalysed and (b) convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol in December in each of the last five years.

      Prison Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data the Government collects on the recruitment of prison officers and staff.

      Prison Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent representations he has received from prison officers and staff regarding morale amongst prison staff and officers.

      Sentencing: Wales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the (a) sex of the offender (b) offence type and (c) length of sentence was in each case resulting in immediate custody at all courts in the North...

      Prison Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which 10 prisons received the highest (a) number and (b) proportion of detached duty staff from another prison in the latest period for which figures...

      First-tier Tribunal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidelines his Department has issued to the Tribunals Service on timescales for appeal hearings at First Tier Tribunals from when the appeal has...

      COE Commissioner for Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what correspondence on what topics he has had with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights in the last 24 months.

      Drugs: Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average value was of a confiscation order for drug-related crimes in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

      Drugs: Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of offenders convicted in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14 were convicted for what drug-related crimes.

      Drugs: Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average amount recovered through confiscation orders for drug-related crimes was in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

      Judicial Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to uphold the constitutional importance of judicial review.

      Sexual Offences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how the Government is supporting the victims of the sex abuse cases that came to light in 2014.

  • Prime Minister

    • Coal Gasification

      To ask the Prime Minister, if he will establish a Cabinet committee chaired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the development of deep offshore underground coal gasification.

    • Iraq Committee of Inquiry

      To ask the Prime Minister, whether any ceiling was put on the costs of the Iraq Inquiry; and what remuneration has been received by each Committee member.

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Aircraft Carriers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department has spent on the aircraft carrier programme in each of the last four financial years; and what the projected spend is on that...

    • Nuclear Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his written statement of 20 January 2015, HCWS210, what progress has been made towards meeting the commitment made in the 2010 Strategic...

      Awe

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been paid annually by his Department to (a) AWE Management Ltd and (b) AWE plc under the Atomic Weapons Establishment management and...

      Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's annual assurance report for 2013 will be published; and what the reasons are for the time taken to publish...

      Trident Submarines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the main gate business case for the successor to the Trident Submarine programme will be submitted to his Department's Investment Appraisals Board.

      Employment Agencies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff in his Department were recruited through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.

      Afghanistan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2015, Official Report, column 687W, whether his Department is carrying out a strategic review of the use and effects...

      Hebrides Missile Range

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of recent storm damage to buildings and infrastructure relating to Hebrides Range on St Kilda.

      Veterans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of military veterans receiving support for (a) mental health and (b) alcohol related issues.

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Social Security Benefits: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was withheld in benefits sanctions from applicants residing in (a) Glasgow North constituency, (b) the city of Glasgow and (c)...

    • Work Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many former incapacity benefit claimants found fit for work after being reassessed for employment and support allowance between October...

      Social Security Benefits: British Nationals Abroad

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many overseas recipients of (a) pension credit, (b) winter fuel allowance and (c) the Christmas bonus there were in each of the last five...

      Housing Benefit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the availability of shared accommodation for people under 35 in receipt of housing benefit.

      Personal Independence Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of personal independence payment claims was (a) disallowed or (b) considered to have been withdrawn due to claimants not...

      Children: Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 11 March 2014, Official Report, column 141W, on children: maintenance, what progress he has made on the...

      Welfare Assistance Schemes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received access grants from the Local Welfare Assistance fund in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 in Birmingham.

      Social Security Benefits: Veterans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many veterans are in receipt of (a) jobseekers allowance and (b) employment and support allowance.

      Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any targets for the sanction referrals for labour market decision makers are based on the number of sanctions applied.

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to reply to the letters to him dated 1 December 2014 and 2 January 2015 from the right hon. member for Manchester, Gorton with...

      Personal Independence Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people receiving personal independence payments have undergone an intervention to review their entitlement.

      Personal Independence Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with movement disorders have applied for personal independence payment.

      Universal Credit: Tower Hamlets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of residents in Tower Hamlets who will receive universal credit...

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Employment Agencies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff in her Department were recruited through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.

    • Fracking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the number of full-time equivalent staff required by the Environment Agency in order for it...

      Fracking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what techniques to minimise methane emissions (a) are and (b) does she plan to be a requirement of environmental permits for...

      Fracking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what length of time baseline monitoring of methane in groundwater for hydraulic fracturing developments must take place...

      Fracking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she has consulted the Committee on Climate Change on the effect of hydraulic fracturing on water scarcity in the next (a)...

      Fracking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what national standards apply for the baseline monitoring of air quality for hydraulic fracturing developments.

      Fracking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria are used to determine the different categories of groundwater risk; and how the risks posed to groundwater by...

      Fracking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms exist to require that information on chemical substances and their maximum concentrations is included in the...

      Timber

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on implementing the Government's timber procurement policy for central government departments...

      Ground Water

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the total area of (a) England and (b) Wales covered by groundwater protection zones (i) 1,...

      Plastic Bags

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons small and medium-sized enterprises are exempted from the provisions of the draft B Single Use Carrier Bags...

      Common Agricultural Policy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department defines the term active farmer for the purposes of applications for basic farm payments under the...

  • Department for Communities and Local Government

    • Telecommunications

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make the provision of broadband and other appropriate telecommunications...

    • Allotments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to protect allotments from development.

      Recreation Spaces

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what protections for residual amenity space are provided by the regulatory regimes for (a) planning, (b) environmental...

      Future High Streets Forum

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on how many occasions the Future High Streets Forum has met in the last 12 months; on what dates each such meeting took place;...

      Housing Associations: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when the Government plans to consult on ways to increase the borrowing capacity of housing associations in relation to the...

      Housing: St Austell

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many new homes have been completed in St Austell and Newquay constituency in each of the last five years; and how many of...

      Housing: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support is available to (a) Doncaster local authority area and (b) other local authority areas which are not among the...

      Regional Planning and Development: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many applicants there were for the Mayoral Development Corporation Old Oak Director position.

      Mayors: Greater Manchester

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with the leaders of Greater Manchester's local authorities about the appointment of an...

      Mayors: Greater Manchester

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he has a veto over the appointment of an interim Mayor of Greater Manchester city-region.

      Mayors: Greater Manchester

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he expects an announcement to be made about the appointment of an interim eleventh leader of Greater Manchester city-region.

      Mayors: Greater Manchester

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he expects the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to specify an appointments process for the interim Mayor of Greater...

      Mayors: Greater Manchester

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when the city-region mayor created by the Greater Manchester devolution agreement will be subject to term limits.

      Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning

      To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to raise awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning in homes.

  • Wales Office

    • Schools: Asbestos

      To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions his Department has had with the Welsh Government on who has responsibility for asbestos policy in Welsh schools.

  • HM Treasury

    • Employment Agencies

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many recruitment and employment agencies his Department has used to source staff in each year since 2010-11.

    • National Savings Bonds: Pensioners

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints his Department has received concerning the inability of people who have applied for pensioner bonds to have their applications dealt...

      National Savings Bonds: Pensioners

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what value of pensioner bonds have been sold to applicants from (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) England.

      National Savings Bonds: Pensioners

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total value was of the pensioner bonds that were issued in the recent sale of those assets.

      Offshore Industry: Taxation

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on using the tax system to incentivise (a) job sharing, (b) maintenance backlog work, (c) drilling work and (d) skills training in the...

      Self-assessment: Taxation

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Revenue and Customs has taken to encourage people to complete their tax returns by 31 January.

      Pensions: Advisory Services

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many trained staff delivering (a) face-to-face and (b) telephone guidance through the Government's Pension Wise scheme will be based in (i) England,...

      Employment Agencies

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff in his Department were employed through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.

      National Savings Bonds: Pensioners

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department plans to happen to the ownership of the 65-plus Guaranteed Growth Bonds in the event of a bondholder's death.

      National Savings Bonds: Pensioners

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many higher-rate and additional rate taxpayer purchasers of 65-plus Guarantee Growth Bonds have declared the interest payable on these bonds to HM...

      Vat

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of businesses invoicing VAT on goods and services discounted for early payment in cases when the...

      Vat

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the cost to businesses of the requirement to double invoice VAT on goods and services which have been discounted for early...

      Bank Services

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of (a) levels of bank account switching by customers, (b) trends in bank account switching in the last three years, (c)...

  • Department for Energy and Climate Change

    • Liquefied Petroleum Gas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will take steps to ensure that the recent oil price reduction will lead to a reduction in the price of liquefied petroleum gas...

    • Natural Gas: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions his Department has had with Ofgem to ensure that reductions in the wholesale price of gas are passed on to consumers.

      Housing: Insulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of houses that have been insulated in each year since May 2010.

      Advertising

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what his Department's advertising budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

      Communication

      To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what his Department's communications budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

  • Cabinet Office

    • Harassment

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many reports of harassment have been recorded by police forces in England and Wales in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14.

    • Ict

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) desktop computers, (b) laptops and (c) tablet devices there are for each person in his Department.

      World Economic Forum

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which government Ministers attended the World Economic Forum in 2015; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such attendance.

  • Department for Culture Media and Sport

    • Broadband: Cumbria

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects Phase 2 of Connecting Cumbria to be complete; and what estimate he has made of how many premises in Copeland will...

  • Deputy Prime Minister

    • Electoral Register

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the number of people on the electoral roll (a) before and (b) after the switch to individual electoral registration.

    • Electoral Register: Coventry

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps the Government is taking to increase voter registration in Coventry following the switch to individual electoral registration.

      Electoral Register

      To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what funding the Government has provided to increase student voter registration following the switch to individual electoral registration.

  • Department of Health

    • Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer to Question 219055, which areas are piloting enhanced access to mental health practitioners.

    • Defibrillators

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the confidence of the general public in using an automated external defibrillator in an emergency.

      Health Visitors: Pendle

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many health visitors were employed in Pendle constituency in each year since 2009.

      Dementia: Hay Fever

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Royal Colleges about links between hayfever and dementia.

      Digestive System: Diseases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to reduce misdiagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome and bowel cancer.

      In Vitro Fertilisation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to ensure that IVF treatment is monitored to prevent genetic defects.

      Plastic Surgery: Males

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many men have had breast reduction surgery in each of the last five years.

      Meningitis: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide an update of his Department's negotiations with Novartis on finding a cost-effective price for the Bexsero vaccine; and if he will...

      Nurses: Temporary Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for each hospital trust in England, what the number of nurse shifts covered by bank or agency nurses were in each quarter since 2010; what the average...

      Prescription Drugs: Misuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the declarations of interest submitted by members of the expert group with responsibilty for updating the UK guidelines on clinical...

      Prescription Drugs: Misuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to reduce addiction to prescribed benzodiazepines and z drugs.

      Tranquillisers: Misuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will make an assessment of the implications for its policies of the survey of treatment services provided by local authorities for...

      Prescription Drugs: Misuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to ensure that patients prescribed benzodiazepines and z drugs are provided with recent Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory...

      Medicine: Graduates

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that medical graduates find employment within the UK.

      Tobacco: Packaging

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the UK Government's response to the detailed opinions issued by EU Member States to the UK's Notification of the draft Standardised...

      Tobacco: Packaging

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish the consultation report and accompanying regulatory impact assessment on standardised packaging for tobacco products.

      Artificial Sweeteners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to reduce the importation and use of artificial sweeteners.

      Horse Meat

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prosecutions have taken place in the UK as a result of horsemeat being sold as beef in the last five years.

      NHS: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his assessment is of the contribution made by (a) the Care Quality Commission and (b) Monitor to (i) safeguarding and (ii) raising standards in...

      Cancer: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether further discussions are planned between NHS England and the pharmaceutical industry before drugs are removed from the Cancer Drugs Fund list on...

      Breast Cancer: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of breast cancer patients who will be affected by the removal of (a) eribulin, (b) lapatinib, and (c) everolimus...

      Meningitis: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the Meningitis B vaccine to be made available on the NHS.

      Cancer: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what quantity of the cancer drug Immucyst to be used in bacillus Calmette-Guérin cancer treatment have been obtained by the NHS; and when it was...

      Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether joint committees of NHS England and clinical commissioning groups are permitted to deviate from national service specifications for specialised...

      Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when NHS England will publish details of the co-commissioning of specialised services.

      Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS England will remain the sole budget-holder and accountable commissioner for all specialised services.

      Meningitis: Vaccination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made in price negotiations with the manufacturer of the meningitis B vaccine.

  • Women and Equalities

    • Employment Agencies

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many recruitment and employment agencies the Government Equalities Office has used to source staff in each year since 2010-11.

  • Home Office

    • Female Genital Mutilation

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government on average how many cases of female genital mutilation are reported to the police for investigation per day.

    • Police Knowledge Fund

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to include the training of police officers within the Police Knowledge Fund.

  • Department for International Development

    • Sudan and South Sudan

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government when officials from the Department for International Development, the European Union or United Nations agencies last had access to conflict areas of South...

    • Sudan

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many children living in Sudanese internally displaced persons (IDP) camps are estimated to be receiving education; how many schools are known to be...

      Sudan and South Sudan

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) cases, and (2) deaths, in Sudanese refugee camps have been reported by the World Health Organisation of (a) cholera, (b) malaria, (c)...

  • Department for Education

    • Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the attention paid by maintained secondary schools in England to building in all their pupils the confidence to succeed,...

    • Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to make available to maintained secondary schools in England the resources, particularly the facilities and teacher training, to...

      Faith Schools

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the proposed closure of Durham Free School, how they ensure that Ofsted complies strictly with all the provisions of the new Independent...

      Teachers

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to encourage highly-qualified teachers to relocate to rural, coastal and more disadvantaged areas.

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Public Sector: Equality

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, as a consequence of the Lord Chancellor’s disciplinary ruling in the case of Richard Page JP, they will indicate how they intend to ensure...

  • The Lord Chairman of Committees

    • House of Lords: Work Experience

      To ask the Chairman of Committees how many internships are offered by the House of Lords Administration.

    • Parliament: Computer Software

      To ask the Chairman of Committees how much it cost to procure the latest Microsoft Outlook system for use in Parliament; whether the system is working to specification; and what is being done...

  • Department for Communities and Local Government

    • Holiday Accommodation: Greater London

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 20 January (HL4045), when the detailed policy position on short-term lettings in London will be...

    • Community Relations

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the existing policies of European Union states to promote the integration as citizens of all members of immigrant...

      Sleeping Rough

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 21 January (HL4174), what assessment they have made of the rates of referrals by Street-Link...

      Social Rented Housing: Greater London

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much funding has been allocated to each London borough under the Decent Homes Backlog Funding initiative for 2015–16.

      Social Rented Housing: Standards

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to extend the Decent Homes Backlog Funding initiative beyond 2015–16.

      Temporary Accommodation

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 6 January (HL3874), whether they intend to commission research into the causes of homeless...

      Travellers: Caravan Sites

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will provide an assurance that the proposed garden cities will feature appropriate accommodation for caravan-dwelling Travellers.

  • HM Treasury

    • Wealth

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the calls for urgent action on rising global inequality made by Oxfam and others.

    • Holiday Accommodation: Greater London

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon’s response to the Earl of Lytton on 7 January (HL Deb, col 338), whether homeowners will be liable for tax on...

  • Department for Energy and Climate Change

    • Yukos

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Permanent Court of Arbitration's $50 billion ruling in July 2014 in favour of GML Ltd, the former majority shareholders...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Electoral Register

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 16 January (HL3945), whether Electoral Registration Officers' (EROs) engagement plans to...

  • Department for Culture Media and Sport

    • Sports: Culture

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what initiatives are in place to support the findings by the Culture and Major Events Consortium and to work with organisers to provide more cultural content...

    • Broadband: Wales

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many premises or households in Wales benefit from superfast broadband; and what was the figure 12 months previously.

      Satellite Broadcasting

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer on 27 January by Lord Gardiner of Kimble (HL4359), whether the introduction of retransmission fees could be beneficial to the...

  • Department of Health

    • Speech Therapy

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the report commissioned by the Department of Health and Health Education England and published in December 2014 by the Centre for...

    • Nurses: Training

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government which universities provide undergraduate courses for the training of nurses for people with learning disabilities; and how many places are provided each year...

      Pneumococcal Disease: Vaccination

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation pneumococcal sub-committee plans to complete its review of pneumococcal disease immunisation.

      Pneumococcal Disease: Vaccination

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following completion of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) pneumococcal sub-committee's review of pneumococcal disease and...

      Vaccination

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government which recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) have been implemented by the Secretary of State for Health since May...

      Pneumococcal Disease: Vaccination

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what referrals concerning pneumococcal disease the Secretary of State for Health has made to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation in the last...

      Autism

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to improve the identification and assessment of (1) children, and (2) adults, with autism.

      Death Certificates

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what timely steps are being taken to address reforms to the death certification system following the Shipman Inquiry and recommendations made by Dame Janet Smith.

      Defibrillators

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to agree on a universally accepted sign for the location of defibrillators in public areas.

      In Vitro Fertilisation

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Regulation 18 of the Draft Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations 2015 is intended to imply either that a permitted...

      Gastrointestinal Cancer: Drugs

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Cancer Drugs Fund has classified gastrointestinal stromal tumours as a normal cancer rather than a rare cancer in relation to its appraisal of...

      Cancer: Drugs

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many drug companies agreed to make appropriate adjustment to their prices to allow their drugs to stay in the Cancer Drugs Fund.

      Liver Diseases

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve care and treatment for patients with hepatic encephalopathy.

      General Practitioners

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many single-handed general practitioner practices are operating in (1) England, and (2) London.

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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