Written answers

Friday, 25 November 2016

  • Department for Transport

    • Railways: North of England

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress there has been on the electrification works to the TransPennine rail line through Stalybridge; and what his most recent estimate...

    • Severn River Crossing: Tolls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on the extension of tolls on the Severn Bridges once his powers to levy tolls under the Severn Bridges Act 1992 expire.

      Denmark Hill Station

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with Govia Thameslink Railway on the proposed timetable changes to services from Denmark Hill station from 2018.

      Taxis: Guide Dogs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to improve the enforcement of regulations against the discrimination of guide dogs and their owners by taxis and...

      Transport: Guide Dogs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many prosecutions there have been of transport operators for discriminating against guide dogs and their owners in each of the last five years.

      Motor Vehicles: Greater Manchester

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many new ultra-low emission vehicles have been registered in Greater Manchester in each of the last two years.

      Railways: West Midlands

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will consider to remove Govia from the shortlist for the West Midlands franchise.

      Aviation: Public Bodies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received on issuing a new statutory body acting as an independent aviation air quality authority.

      Govia Thameslink Railway: Industrial Disputes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evidence he has received and assessed in to claims that trade union leaders are encouraging Govia Thameslink Rail employees to take unofficial...

      Shipping: Minimum Wage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations his Department have received from (a) individual shipping companies, (b) the UK Chamber of Shipping, (c) maritime trades unions...

      Electric Vehicles: Greater Manchester

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many charge points for electric vehicles have been installed in Greater Manchester in each year since 2009-10.

  • Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    • Shipping: Minimum Wage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the effect of National Minimum Wage...

    • Shipping: Minimum Wage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the effect of National Minimum Wage...

      Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will request that the Medical Research Council conducts an inquiry into the management of the PACE trial to...

      Sizewell C Power Station: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timetable is for the construction of Sizewell C; and who will be responsible for the construction of that site.

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    • Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff his Department has dedicated to the competition process for European Capital of Culture 2023.

    • Syria: Military Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the Government provides to Syria civil defence in (a) Syria and (b) Aleppo.

      United Arab Emirates: Freedom of Expression

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support people in the United Arab Emirates who are threatened, harassed or face arrest...

      United Arab Emirates: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to support the release of Dr Mohamed al-Roken and other human right activists imprisoned in the United...

      United Arab Emirates: Freedom of Expression

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his United Arab Emirates counterpart on the respect for freedom of expression in that country.

      Somalia: Refugees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the Kenyan government to ensure that Somali refugees in the Dadaab camp are being...

      Democratic Republic of Congo: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on the postponement of their...

      Ghana: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the government of Ghana to ensure that the elections taking place next month in that country...

      Ecuadorian Embassy: Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what costs have accrued to his Department for the protection of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since that building's hosting...

      Israel: Bedouin

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Israel on the demolition of the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran.

      Gambia: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that the elections taking place in December 2016 in the Gambia are conducted in a free...

      Middle East: Refugees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the Government is providing to Yazidi and Christian minority refugee groups from Syria and Iraq who have...

      Developing Countries: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the Government plans to provide minority women and girls overseas who are victims of sexual abuse.

      Bangladesh: Minority Groups and Radicalism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on protecting minorities and tackling extremism in Bangladesh.

      Developing Countries: Minority Groups

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to provide trauma support for (a) Yazidis and Christians and (b) other minority communities.

      Iran: Baha'i Faith

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he has received reports on forced closure of Baha'i shops and businesses in Iran and associated economic repression by the...

  • Cabinet Office

  • Attorney General

  • Department for International Development

    • Developing Countries: HIV Infection

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans her Department has for the inclusion of HIV and AIDS within its Leaving No-One Behind framework.

    • CDC: Investment

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to paragraph 10 of the explanatory memorandum to the Commonwealth Development Corporation Bill, what estimate she has...

      CDC: Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the net receipts were from the Commonwealth Development Corporation in each of the last seven financial years; and what...

      CDC: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the (a) total remuneration package, (b) amount of expenses claimed and (c) number of first and business class flights taken was...

      CDC: Investment

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, in which countries the Commonwealth Development Corporation has invested in the last seven years; and what the total value of...

      CDC: Investment

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the (a) number and (b) value of re-capitalisations carried out by the Commonwealth Development Corporation was since the...

      Prosperity Fund: Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of her Department's contribution to the Prosperity Fund was allocated to energy projects in each financial year since...

      Prosperity Fund: Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of her Department's contribution to the Prosperity Fund was allocated to (a) coal, oil and gas projects and (b)...

      Occupied Territories: Demolition

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 22 November 2016 to Question 53572, what discussions she has had with the European Commission on...

      Conflict, Stability and Security Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund is included as part of her Department's commitment to spending 0.7 per cent of gross...

  • Department for Education

    • Bright Tribe Multi Academy Trust

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will place a copy of the 2015 report on Bright Tribe Multi Academy Trust prepared by the Risk Analysis Division of the Education Funding Agency...

    • Department for Education: Departmental Responsibilities

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many projects in operation in her Department are related to the UK's exit of the EU.

      Pupils: Camberwell and Peckham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the potential financial effect of the proposed changes in the level of per pupil funding on schools in...

      Special Educational Needs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) Warrington Borough Council and (b) other local authorities are fully funded to implement the Government's...

      Grammar Schools: Urban Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the distance is to the nearest selective school from the centre of each of the towns and cities in England with a population over 75,000; and for...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Youth Custody: Restraint Techniques

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times children have been restrained in secure training centres and young offender institutions, by establishment, in each month since March 2015.

    • Young Offender Institutions: Segregation of Prisoners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many days children have spent on segregation units in each month since January 2015.

      Youth Custody: Restraint Techniques

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many injuries were sustained by children during restraint in each custodial institution in each month since March 2015.

      Criminal Injuries Compensation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme's policy on unspent convictions on victims of crime.

      Oakhill Secure Training Centre

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the timeframe is for the sale of the G4S contract to run Oakhill secure training centre.

      Crime: Victims

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to (a) monitor and (b) improve compliance with the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime among criminal justice...

      Social Security Benefits: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of appeals to the Tribunals Service from appellants in (a) Coventry, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England in relation to (i) personal...

      Immigration: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether she has made an assessment of the financial means of the users of each of the Chambers of the First-tier Tribunal by Chamber in each of the last...

      Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department has made an assessment of the effect of the requirement to pay employment tribunal fees on the (a) financial and (b)...

      Tickets: Touting

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) successful prosecutions there have been under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 on the misuse of bots for the harvesting of...

  • Prime Minister

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Ministry of Defence: Russian Language

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many interpreters and translators with Russian language skills are (a) employed by his Department and (b) members of the armed forces.

    • Yemen: Military Intervention

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the role is of UK military liaison officers with responsibility for liaison with the Saudi Arabian military; and what role those military liaison...

      War Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to protect war pensions from the effect of changes in the level of funding to his Department.

      Military Bases: Glencorse

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2016 to Question 52240, in what format information on Hard Facilities management is held for financial years...

      Military Bases: Glencorse

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2016 to Question 52240, in what format information on project expenditure in financial years earlier than 2007-08...

      Armed Forces: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on service family accommodation, by region, in each of the last 15 years.

      Armed Forces: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which facilities are included in his Department's definition of service family accommodation.

      Defence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the publication of the UK's defence mechanisms in the media for reasons of national security.

      Ministry of Defence: Departmental Responsibilities

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many projects in operation in his Department are related to the UK's exit of the EU.

      Estonia: Armed Forces

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the Framework Battalion, together with its armoured component, will be in place in Estonia.

      Awards for Valour (Protection) Bill 2016-17

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make the provisions contained in the Awards for Valour (Protection) Bill his Department's policy.

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Social Security Benefits: Telephone Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on its review of the numbering policy pertaining to 0345 and 0800 telephone numbers provided for benefit...

    • Social Security Benefits: Telephone Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of making all social security telephone lines freephone.

      Social Security Benefits: Telephone Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with private telephone companies to ensure social security enquiry lines are maintained at the lowest possible...

      Children: Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the amount of child maintenance arrears is in (a) England and (b) Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency.

      Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will carry out an impact assessment on the freedom and choice pension reforms.

      Child Poverty Unit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress has been made by the Child Poverty Unit; and if he will make a statement.

      State Retirement Pensions: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much (a) basic and (b) additional state pension per week that woman born on 5 April 1953 would receive with 35 years' worth of both...

      Department for Work and Pensions: Telephone Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and which public telephone lines operated by his Department are higher rate lines; how many calls have been made to those lines in...

      Occupational Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps have been taken to make contact with people who had previously been enrolled automatically into a workplace pension scheme since...

      Employment and Support Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much he plans to spend on employment support for claimants of employment and support allowance in each of the next three years.

      Social Security Benefits: Terminal Illnesses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which terminal illnesses he plans to make exempt from benefits assessments.

  • Department for Communities and Local Government

  • HM Treasury

    • Ministry of Defence: Land

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any alternative funding arrangements provided by his Department for the Ministry of Defence's Footprint Strategy will be dependent on the Defence...

    • Bank Services

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to make representations to the British Bankers Association on reviewing the industry protocol on access to banking.

      Financial Services

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential demand for Mutual Guarantee Societies is in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

      Financial Services: Self-employed

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the major barriers to self-employed people accessing bank lending.

      VAT: Sanitary Protection

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the European Commission since the EU referendum on its timetable for proposals to allow member states to set their own VAT...

      Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and which public telephone lines operated by HM Revenue and Customs are higher rate lines; how many calls have been made to those lines in the last...

      Personal Savings

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the cash savings market study, published by the Financial Conduct Authority in January 2015, how quickly he expects any benefits to be...

      Tax Avoidance: Self-employed

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to announce the next steps in reforming IR35 investigations.

      Sterling: Exchange Rates

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what effect recent changes in the sterling rate has had on the UK's contribution to the EU.

      Ports: Import Duties

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of eliminating customs tariffs at British ports after the UK leaves the EU.

  • Department for Exiting the European Union

    • Economic Situation: North East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on the economy in the North East.

    • Higher Education: North West

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of exiting the EU on higher education research and development in the North West.

      Industry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2016 to Question 51791, if he will define what is considered to be a network industry.

      EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will make time available for hon. Members to debate the potential merits of repealing EU legislation other than the European...

      EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what time period his Department has set aside to draft EU legislation into UK law.

  • Department for International Trade

    • Trade Agreements

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the Government's capability of negotiating trade agreements.

    • Overseas Investment: Treaties

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2016 to Question 52404, what discussions he has had with officials of his Department to prepare a...

  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    • Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Ministerial Policy Advisers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2016 to Question 50349, what the (a) job title and (b) specific responsibilities and associated...

    • Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Liverpool City Region

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many people working for her Department or its executive agencies in the Liverpool City Region on a (a) directly employed, (b)...

      Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2016 to Question 51894, how many officials in her Department work in the EU team.

      Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans the Government has to ratify the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage; what discussions she...

      Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Departmental Responsibilities

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many projects in operation in her Department are related to the UK's exit of the EU.

      Sports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations she has received from sports bodies to discuss the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU; and if she will make...

      Sportsgrounds

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of introducing safe-standing facilities at higher tier sports stadia;...

      Arts: EU Grants and Loans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which UK projects have received how much funding from the Creative Europe Programme in each of the last six years; and where each such...

      Arts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of the UK's GVA was contributed by the creative industries in each of the last six years.

  • Department of Health

    • Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many referrals ended that entered Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services treatment for each mental health cluster by clinical...

    • Strokes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what condition-specific strategies are in place for stroke care to help the Five Year Forward View to deliver its strategic aims.

      Female Genital Mutilation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to make training on how to respond to cases of female genital mutilation mandatory for all doctors, nurses and medical staff.

      Medical Records: Databases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patient medical records are held electronically on the GP2GP system.

      Health Services: Foreign Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent estimate he has made of the total amount of uncollected fees related to the use of the NHS by foreign nationals; and if he will make a statement.

      Circle Holdings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with Greenwich Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS, England, NHS Improvement and Lewisham and Greenwich Healthcare Trust as a...

      Circle Holdings

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the performance of (a) NHS England, (b) NHS Improvement and (c) Greenwich Clinical Commissioning Group in the awarding of...

      Russells Hall Hospital: Private Finance Initiative

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent estimate his Department has made of the real terms amount in (a) interest and (b) service charges and (c) all other costs repayments in...

      Pregnancy: Mental Illness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which public information campaigns his Department funds on perinatal mental illness; and what the cost is of each of those campaigns.

      Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of people referred for talking therapies received cognitive behaviour therapy in each of the last five years.

      Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the proportion was of people accessing mental health services who are allocated to the wrong mental health cluster after their initial assessment in...

      NHS: Compensation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the NHS has paid in compensation to people receiving a misdiagnosis for their (a) mental and (b) physical illness in each of the last five years.

      Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Medical Treatments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will remove CBT and GET from the list of treatments for ME patients.

      NHS: Mergers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, in what circumstances NHS organisations are allowed to apply to reinstate merger proposals which have been previously rejected by the Competition and...

      Community Hospitals: Dorset

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2016 to Question 53429, how many community hospital beds are located in East Dorset; and what plans he has for the...

      Air Pollution: Death

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the mortality rate in (a) England and (b) Greater Manchester caused by long-term exposure to particulate air pollution...

      Patients: Low Incomes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will make available travel assistance to families who do not meet the criteria of the NHS Low Income Scheme.

      Clinical Commissioning Groups: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding was allocated to each clinical commissioning group area in London per head of population in 2016-17; what funding is proposed to be so...

      Criminal Proceedings: Mental Illness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2016 to Question 51510, by what date he plans for liaison and diversion coverage to be extended to 100 per cent of...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Civil Servants: Languages

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are planning to conduct a language skills audit across the whole civil service; and if so, whether they will publish the results.

    • Muslim Brotherhood Review

      To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to publish evidence given to the Muslim Brotherhood Review; and if so, when, and whether they will state which items are omitted.

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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