Written answers

Monday, 5 February 2018

  • Department for Transport

    • Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of staffing levels at DVLA in each year between 2009 and 2017.

    • Motor Vehicles: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to extend the ability to report excessive emissions at present applied to buses and commercial vehicles to private cars and...

      Heathrow Airport: Inland Waterways

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the effect on local waterways of the proposal to expand Heathrow.

  • Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    • Waste Management: Greenhouse Gas Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, by how much the UK waste management sector will have to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 as a result of the...

    • Insolvency

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to reform the corporate insolvency framework.

      GKN: Melrose

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department first learned about Melrose's proposed takeover of GKN.

      GKN: Melrose

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on (a) jobs, (b) operations and (c) the wider economy...

      Mineworkers' Pension Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to re-negotiate the surplus-sharing agreement between the Government and the Trustees of...

      Regulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress has been made on the Cutting Red Tape programme since 2015.

      Energy: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to reduce the high deemed rental costs associated with contracts between meter asset providers...

      Energy: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many (a) SMETS1 and (b) SMETS2 gas meters have been installed under the smart meters roll-out programme.

      Energy: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether smart meter installation costs have increased from the time when the 2016 cost-benefit analysis was conducted.

      Energy: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate has he made of the number of smart meters that will be installed under the smart meter roll-out programme...

      Fuel Oil: Government Assistance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will withdraw support from oil-heated properties where that property is off the gas grid and fuel inefficient.

      Hydrogen: National Grid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the merits of using the current gas grid to transport hydrogen.

      Natural Gas: National Grid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of homes are not currently attached to the gas grid by region.

      Nuclear Safeguards Bill 2017-19

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on what date was the original impact assessment prepared by his Department for the Nuclear Safeguards Bill was...

      Coal: Overseas Trade

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what information his Department holds on the amount of coal (a) imported into the UK and (b) exported from the UK in...

      Temporary Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and...

      Climate Change

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of methodology used in the Committee on Climate Change report,...

      *No heading*

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the recommendations of the Bloomberg New Energy Finance report...

      Carbon Monoxide: Alarms

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his Department's policy to ensure that people installing smart meters are equipped with carbon...

      Carbon Monoxide: Alarms

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his Department's policy to ensure that checks are made for carbon monoxide gas from gas appliances...

      Energy: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will provide support for people in households whose boiler is condemned as a result of the smart meter roll-out.

      Crops: Patents

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many patents have been filed for climate-ready crops between 2015-17.

      Carbon Emissions: North Cornwall

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department plans to make funding available for the delivery of the Government’s clean growth strategy...

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    • Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he had discussions with his South African counterpart on Emmerson Mnangagwa in the weeks before then Zimbabwean...

    • Zimbabwe: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he had discussions he with his South African counterpart on Emmerson Mnangagwa in the weeks after then Zimbabwean...

      Burma: Rohingya

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the likelihood of the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission being implemented; and...

      Zimbabwe: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations has he made to his Zimbabwean counterpart on the role of (a) Zimbabwe Defence Forces and (b) war veterans...

      Zimbabwe: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Zimbabwean counterpart on ensuring that the 2018 elections in that country are...

      Zimbabwe: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions has he had with Cabinet colleagues on providing support to Zimbabwe to ensure that the 2018 elections in that...

  • Department for Exiting the European Union

    • Brexit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 21 December 2017 to Question 118696 on Brexit and the oral contribution of the Secretary of State for...

    • UK Notified Bodies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the paper entitled Withdrawal of the United Kingdom and EU Rules in the Field of Industrial Products, published by...

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Home Care Services: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his Department’s policy that domiciliary care should be means-tested against the value of a person's home.

    • NHS: Crimes of Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients were referred to NHS England for placement on the Violent Patient Scheme, in each commissioning area, in each of the...

      Cervical Cancer: Screening

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to increase the take-up of cervical cancer screening.

      Eating Disorders: Children and Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of eating disorder services for children and young people in Yorkshire and the Humber.

      Hyperactivity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people were diagnosed with ADHD in each of the last five years.

      Social Services: Reform

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress the Government is making on its proposals to reform the social care system.

      Brain: Tumours

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department's Task and Finish Working Group on Brain Tumour Research plans to publish its second report; and if he will make a...

      Health Services and Social Services: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the Government’s strategy is for meeting the challenges of rural vulnerability as defined by distance from health and social...

      Patients: Transport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to improve the availability of transport services for elderly patients to get to hospital appointments.

      Restraint Techniques: Children and Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the response to his Department's consultation entitled Restraint and restrictive intervention: draft guidance,...

      Healthy Start Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to increase the uptake of the healthy start programme among pregnant women and young families.

      Domestic Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how the upcoming Domestic Violence and Abuse...

      Flour: Folic Acid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to require that folic acid is added to all flour sold in the UK to reduce the number of birth defects.

      Carillion: Insolvency

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January to Question 125124, on Carillion: Insolvency, when he expects a new contractor to be appointed to...

  • Department for International Development

    • Nigeria: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to provide humanitarian support to people (a) forced to flee their homes and (b) otherwise affected as a...

    • Developing Countries: Disease Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effect of its investment in the Robert Carr Civil Society Networks Fund on the...

      Zimbabwe: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support the Government is providing to Zimbabwe to ensure that the 2018 elections in that country are free and fair.

      Bangladesh: Clothing

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to help promote ethical working practices in Bangladeshi factories that supply clothing stores in...

      Developing Countries: HIV Infection

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to deliver her commitment to leave no-one behind within the global HIV response.

      Palestinians: Radio

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and her Department, what discussions her...

      Palestinians: Television

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and her Department, what discussions her...

      Palestinians: Television

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and her Department, what discussions her...

      Palestinians: Television

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and her Department, what discussions her...

      Palestinians: Newspaper Press

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Memorandum of Understanding between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and her Department, what discussions her...

      Palestinians: Television

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Palestinian Authority (PA), whether her Department has had discussions with the...

      Palestinians: Parades

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Palestinian Authority (PA), what discussions her Department has had with the PA...

      Palestinians: Television

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Palestinian Authority (PA), whether her Department has had discussions with the...

      Palestinians: Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Palestinian Authority (PA), whether her Department has had discussions with the...

      Usa: Unrwa

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the reduction in US funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency on assistance for...

      Unrwa

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of people dependent on UN Relief and Works Agency funding in (a) Gaza, (b) the...

      Usa: Unrwa

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Government plans to increase its funding for UN Relief and Works Agency in the light of the reduction in funding from the...

  • Department for Education

    • Respite Care: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of provision of respite care for children with severe and multiple additional behavioural...

    • Pupil Exclusions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to press release Prime Minister launches world-leading project on impact of ethnicity on everyday life, published on 10 October 2017,...

      Teachers: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure providers of initial teacher meet the requirements set out in the Framework of core content for initial...

      Schools: Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to mental health services in schools.

      Free School Meals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children will be eligible for free school meals as a result of the protections for entitlement under the existing arrangements.

      School Day

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the number of schools reducing their school week to fewer than five full days; and if he will make a statement.

      Special Educational Needs: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2018 to Question 123718, on Special Educational Needs: Finance, if he will name the (a) 41 local authorities who...

      Apprentices: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department plans to issue guidance on the transfer of apprenticeship vouchers between employers.

      Adoption

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress is being made on the regionalisation of local authority adoption teams.

      Adoption

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the current number of adopters is in England; and how many children are awaiting adoption.

      Adoption

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many local authorities are currently not accepting new applications for people to become adopters.

      Foster Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the first report of the Education Committee, Fostering, published on 22 December 2017, HC 340, what steps his Department is taking...

      Children: Day Care

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how he fulfils his duty under section 1(1) of the Childcare Act 2016 alongside or in conjunction with the duty of local authorities as set out in...

      Children's Centres: Inspections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 25 January 2018 to Question 124199 on children's centre inspections, what plans his Department has to reintroduce regular...

      Teachers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department used the teacher supply model to model the number of teachers needed in each region in each of the last five years.

      Carillion: Insolvency

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make it his policy to ensure that former Carillion Training Services apprentices are paid until they find new employment or training; and...

      Apprentices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the number of apprentices who are being trained while working on public sector contracts delivered by private contractors.

      Apprentices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2018 to Question 124463, what plans he has to increase the rate of apprenticeship starts in order to meet the...

      Training: Devolution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to Answer of 30 January 2018 to Question 124959, what his policy is on devolving the skills budget other than adult learning to directly...

      Department for Education: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people working for his Department have experience of working in statutory children's social work.

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Approved Premises

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the commencement date is for the HMPPS Approved Premises (manned) Guarding Service contracts with Sodexo and OCS.

    • Approved Premises

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) has made of the effect on the health and safety of (a) residents, (b) staff and (c)...

      Approved Premises

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what contingency plans (a) his Department and (b) HM Prisons and Probation Service have in the event that (a) Sodexo and (b) OCS do not recruit...

      Parole

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on the publication of the reasons for Parole Board decisions.

      Birmingham Prison: Civil Disorder

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the report on the investigation into the disturbance at HMP Birmingham led by Sarah Payne will be published.

      Sex Offender Treatment Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2018 to Question 124275, on Sex Offender Treatment Programme, in what number of cases the Parole Board has taken...

      Prison Sentences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were sentenced to custodial sentences in (a) men's and (b) women's prisons in each year since 2010.

      Eastwood Park Prison: Mother and Baby Units

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women have been (a) refused entry to a Mother and Baby Unit and (b) relocated elsewhere since the closure for repair of Eastwood Park Mother...

      Offences against Children: Sports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to extend the scope of the proposed regulations on including sports coaches within the definition of a position of trust to...

      Social Security Benefits: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will release the criteria used by social security tribunals in determining whether to expedite the hearing of appeals against...

      Cybercrime

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, under what categories cyber crime is recorded in the justice service systems.

      Residence Orders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the (a) cost and (b) number of applications (i) made and (ii) granted for the enforcement of existing section 8 orders in...

  • Department for International Trade

    • Members' Interests

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Trade Policy of 30 January 2018, Official Report, column 242, what instance the...

    • Trade Remedies Authority: Public Appointments

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Trade Policy of 30 January 2018, Official Report, column 243, if he will take...

      Trade Remedies Authority

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Trade Policy of 30 January 2018, Official Report, column 254 , what the period...

      Revenue and Customs: Disclosure of Information

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Trade Policy of 30 January 2018, Official Report, column 261, for what reasons...

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Leasehold

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing,Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Written Statement of 21 December 2017, HCWS384, what steps he is taking to ensure that existing...

    • High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether Approved Document B allows for combustible material to be used in the cladding of a building with a storey of...

      High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many times which materials have failed the 8414 large-scale tests conducted by the Building Research Establishment...

      Housing: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure the costs of making buildings safe are not passed on to tenants.

      Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Chief Scientific Advisers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government how many meetings he held with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser between October 2017 and December 2017.

      Housing: Cooperatives

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage the growth of housing co-operation; and if he will make a statement.

      Churches: Bellringing

      To ask the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2018 to Question 116503, whether the revised National Planning Policy Framework to include...

      Private Finance Initiative

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 1.25 of PFI and PF2, published by the NAO on 18 January 2018, HC 718, what plans his...

      Housing: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 January 2018 to Question 123693, if he will publish updated figures on the (a) number,...

      Planning Permission: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2018 to Question 121545, on Planning Permission: Appeals, what the Planning...

      Planning Permission: Quarrying

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Sections 70a and 70b of the Town and County Planning Act 1990 (as amended), what estimate he has...

      Ground Rent

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to tackle leaseholds with doubling ground-rents; and what support his Department...

      Land Use: West Midlands

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of hectares of land in the West Midlands changing to residential use that was...

      Sleeping Rough

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the cost of the increase in rough sleeping since 2010 on (a) local authorities and (b)...

      Social Rented Housing: Consultation Papers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish the social housing green paper.

      Housing: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of his Department's house building targets on the ability of...

      Supported Housing: Local Government Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that his proposed ring-fence on local authority funding for short-term supported...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Ministry of Defence: Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if his Department will meet representatives of (a) Arnish fabrication yard and (b) other organisations to discuss access for small and medium-sized...

    • Armed Forces: Resignations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to provide further education for armed forces personnel on leaving the services.

      Armed Forces: Cadets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding was allocated to youth cadets in North Yorkshire in (a) 2015-2016 and (b) 2016-2017.

      Ministry of Defence Police

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Ministry of Defence Police has achieved the reinstatement of its Firearms Training Licence; and if he will make a statement.

      Ministry of Defence: Technology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has published guidelines for employees on wireless-enabled activity trackers or other personal items of wearable technology; and...

      Annington Homes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many houses are planned to be returned to Annington Homes under the Better Defence Estate Strategy; and where those houses are located.

      Army: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people (a) applied for and (b) were enlisted in the British Army in (i) April to June, (ii) July to September and (iii) October to December...

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Personal Independence Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were refused personal independence payment in 2016-17.

    • Personal Independence Payment: Aberdeen South

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people had personal independence payment decisions overturned because of (a) mandatory reconsideration and (b)...

      Disability Living Allowance: Medical Examinations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many reports were requested from GPs in connection with claims for Disability Living Allowance claims in (a) 2017, (b) 2016 and (c) 2015.

      Universal Credit: Credit Unions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit payments have been made to credit unions in each month since its introduction.

      Pensions: Advisory Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which types of pension scheme will be required to provide information to the pensions dashboard in 2019.

      Pensions: Advisory Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions her Department has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on making the provision of pensions dashboards a regulated activity.

      Pensions: Advisory Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions her Department has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the timeframe for consultation and implementation of new...

      Universal Credit: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects the Universal Credit landlord portal to be fully accessible to all housing associations, mutuals and co-operatives.

      Slavery: Victims

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to enhance support for (a) victims of modern slavery and (b) people who have been trafficked.

      Personal Independence Payment: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2018 to Question 123047, if the Government will review the guidelines for decisions on mandatory...

      *No heading*

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Urgent Question of 30 January 2018, Official Report, columns 703 to 717, on PIP Back Payments, how many FTE staff in her...

      Personal Independence Payment: Mental Health

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, from which budget any back payments due to personal independence payment claimants will be funded.

      Winter Fuel Payments: Care Homes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason a self-funding resident of a care home who is receiving pension credit is not eligible for the shared rate of the winter fuel...

      Work Capability Assessment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if the Government will review of its approach to the work capability assessment process.

      Children: Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will remove the Child Maintenance Service fees for the parent with care in cases where a pay and collect arrangement is required due to...

      Social Security Benefits: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 25 January 2018 to Question 123740 on social security benefits: disability, how many times decision makers or...

      Personal Independence Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what feedback mechanisms for reporting errors relating to personal independence payments assessments are in place between the courts and...

      Personal Independence Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to provide personal independence payments (PIP) claimants with an accompanying list of functional descriptors used to...

      Social Security Benefits: Witham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, If she will make an estimate of the number of unemployed people claiming benefits in Witham constituency.

      *No heading*

      What steps her Department is taking to ensure that personal independence payment assessments are undertaken fairly and efficiently.

      *No heading*

      What recent assessment she has made of the accuracy and efficiency of contracted-out health assessments for employment and support allowance and personal independence payment.

      *No heading*

      How many applicants for personal independence payment who appealed the initial assessment died between their initial assessment result and the date of their appeal.

      *No heading*

      What recent assessment she has made of the effect of the benefit freeze on trends in the level of child poverty.

      *No heading*

      What assessment she has made of the effect of changes to the level of universal credit work allowance on the number of people entering work.

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Plastics: Waste

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the amount of plastic waste which was (a) incinerated and (b) sent to landfill in...

    • Horticulture

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the White Paper on agriculture will contain specific provisions for protecting and supporting British horitculture.

      Forests: North of England

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has plans to work together with local authorities and charities in the North of England to engage...

      Forests: Environment Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has for preserving ancient woodland.

      Rural Areas: EU Grants and Loans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to match the funding provided by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development after the...

      Waste Disposal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2018 to Question 123768, when he plans to consult on the proposed new strategy on...

      Waste Disposal: Incinerators

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to require operators of waste incineration plants to (a) monitor and (b) publish levels of emissions...

      Waste Disposal: Incinerators

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2017 to Question 115115, on Waste Disposal: Incinerators, how much and what proportion...

      Incinerators

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2017 to Question 117198, on incinerators, whether the permitted capacity for...

      Rolling Stock

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2017 to Question 116533, on rolling stock, whether his Department has made an...

      Railways: Exhaust Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2017 to Question 118503, whether his Department has made an assessment of the...

  • Home Office

    • Slavery

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to implement framework options for monitoring performance and progress in reducing modern slavery, as recommended...

    • Slavery

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will undertake a review of the funding allocated across Government to tackle modern slavery and how effective that...

      Slavery

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date her Department will introduce an all-encompassing cross-Government governance structure for tackling modern slavery.

      Slavery

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to collect information on outcomes for victims once they leave support for people rescued from modern slavery.

      Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether UK Visas and Immigration expedites cases in which an applicant’s entry to the UK via air may be restricted due to pregnancy...

      Drugs: Internet

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to prevent the sale of illegal drugs online.

      Offensive Weapons: Internet

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to prevent the illegal sale of knives and other offensive weapons online.

      Civil Servants

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of UK Home Civil Servants there will be in December 2018.

      Immigrants: Detainees

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many immigration detainees who are (a) illegal immigrants and (b) asylum seekers from outside the EU were returned from the UK to an EU...

      Refugees: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to amend current legislation in order to fulfil the remaining unallocated spaces under Section 67 of the...

      Passports

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether UK passports will be printed and manufactured in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

      Deportation: Vietnam

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of Vietnamese children who were (a) arrested in and (b) deported from the UK between 2012-17.

      Cybercrime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under what categories cyber crime is recorded by police service systems.

      Slavery

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long on average it takes for a person to go through the National Referral Mechanism.

      Slavery

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the proportion of victims of modern slavery who go on to be re-trafficked after they leave the National...

  • HM Treasury

    • Electronic Commerce: VAT

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many joint and several liability notices HMRC has issued to online marketplaces due to overseas sellers failing to meet UK VAT requirements since...

    • Electronic Commerce: VAT

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out every enforcement action taken against online marketplaces that have been issued with a joint and several liability notice due to...

      Electronic Commerce: VAT

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out every online marketplace that has been issued with a joint and several liability notice and the number of notices issued to each of those...

      Bank Services: Competition

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Open Banking in encouraging consumers to switch current accounts.

      European Regional Development Fund

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to match the funding provided by the European Regional Development Fund after the UK leaves the EU.

      Child Care Vouchers: Yorkshire and the Humber

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many households claimed childcare vouchers in (a) the Harrogate District, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) Yorkshire and The Humber in 2016-2017.

      Children: Day Care

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to publish additional guidance on the changes to childcare vouchers for (a) employers (b) parents and (c) childcare providers;...

      Compulsory Purchase

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on implementing (a) clauses 195 and 196 of the Housing...

      Cash Dispensing: Rural Areas

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure the continuing availability of cash dispensers in rural areas.

      Poverty: Children

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the freeze in child benefit and child tax credits on child poverty in the past seven years.

      Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to pages 6 and 7 of the HMRC Code of Practice 26, how much in tax credits overpayments has been written off due to error on the part of HMRC...

      Arts: Tax Allowances

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it remains his policy to provide creative industry tax relief schemes; and if he will make a statement.

      Revenue and Customs: Correspondence

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will include the addresses of tax offices in documentation accompanying tax returns.

      Welfare Tax Credits: Overpayments

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 154 of the HMRC Annual Report and Accounts 2016-17, how much in tax credits overpayments is written off due to the sums being...

      Children: Disability

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2018 to Question 124887, what additional funding he plans to make available to support the working parents of disabled...

      Children: Day Care

      To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse has been of the Childcare Choices website.

  • Cabinet Office

    • Revenue and Customs: Blackburn

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to ensure that staff at the HM Revenue and Customs office in the Blackburn office are offered exit compensation terms in place on...

    • Carillion: Insolvency

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department made an assessment of the effect of Carillion's liquidation on the viability of the small businesses in its supply chain in (a)...

      Business Appointments Advisory Committee

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the three appointments to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments announced on 18 January 2018, how those positions were...

      Health: Children

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will establish a Cabinet subcommittee on child health.

      Contracts: Billing

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January to Question 123892, if he will publish the payment performance data for each prime contractor for the period...

      Government Departments: Procurement

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2018 to Question 121455, if he will publish the robust contingency plans referred to.

      Children: Social Services

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 25 January 2018 to Question 120865, if he will publish the reports (a) his Department and (b) other Government Departments...

      Capita

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the value is of all government contracts held with Capita.

      Capita

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times the Crown Representative to Capita has met with that company in the last six months.

      Capita

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether a crown representative has been appointed to cover Capita.

      Capita

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Capita is designated as a high risk strategic supplier.

      Government Departments: Procurement

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made on the level of compliance with the prompt payment code of major government suppliers.

  • Northern Ireland Office

    • Borders: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions her Department has had with the Scottish Government on future border arrangements between Scotland and Northern Ireland after...

    • Trade: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what estimate her Department has made of the value of cross border trade between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

      Trade: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps her Department is taking to increase cross border trade between Scotland and Northern Ireland.

      Cairnryan Port: Roads

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether her Department has received representations from (a) ferry operators and (b) hauliers on the quality of road links to and from the Port...

      Blood: Contamination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the Minister for the Cabinet Office on the inquiry into contaminated blood under the Inquiries Act 2005.

      Cairnryan Port: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether she will make an assessment of the contribution to the economy of Northern Ireland of the Port of Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway...

  • Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

    • Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Families

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2017 to Question HL3576, what steps her Department is taking to strengthen families.

    • Housing: Broadband

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of reports of poor broadband provision for new housing developments, particularly...

      Broadband

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the number of broadband cabinets that are (a) at capacity and (b) over capacity;...

      Nuisance Calls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps his Department has taken to prevent cold calls from call centres based abroad being routed through UK phone...

      Broadband: Bexley

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to facilitate access to superfast broadband for people who live in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford...

      *No heading*

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of adequacy of the coverage of internet speeds required to access the digital economy...

      Gambling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of problem gambling (a) in betting shops, (b) in casinos, (c) in...

      Public Libraries: Somerset

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make assessment of the effect of Somerset County Council's proposed changes to the Somerset library service on its...

      Departmental Records

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department plans to undertake an investigation into the disappearance of government files while those files were...

      Theatres

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will assess the potential effect of the loss of the 35 theatres on the Theatres Trust at-risk register on...

      Public Statues: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what information his Department holds on the number of public statues of women who are not royalty.

      Mobile Phones: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to ensure mobile phone companies inform customers when they have paid for their handsets.

      S4C Independent Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will publish the independent review of S4C before 28 February 2018.

      Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility Measures Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to publish the results of his Department's consultation on proposals for changes to gaming machines and social...

      Performing Arts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on creative freelancers.

      Government Art Collection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2017 to Question HL6040 on Government Art Collection, when his Department plans to make an...

  • House of Commons Commission

    • Parliamentary Estate: Waste Management

      To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 25 January 2018 to Question 122009, how much of the 36.7 per...

    • Parliamentary Estate: Waste Management

      To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2018 to Question 124972, on Incinerators, whether...

  • Women and Equalities

    • Gender Recognition: Hate Crime

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to promote zero tolerance of transphobic abuse in the workplace.

  • Department for Transport

    • Low Emission Zones

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they provide guidance to local authorities on ultra low emission zones.

    • Low Emission Zones

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in relation to ultra low emission zones, they consider motorcycles and other two-wheel motorised vehicles separately from cars.

      Motorcycles

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the use of motorcycles and other two-wheel motorised vehicles for reducing congestion and pollution.

  • Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    • Bombardier: USA

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister has raised the issue of exceptional tariffs being imposed on Bombardier aircraft by the government of the United States, with President...

    • Construction: Females

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage the creation of jobs for women in the construction industry.

      Tidal Power: Swansea Bay

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to take a decision on whether to proceed with the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project; what factors they will take into account in taking that...

      Insolvency Service

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 25 January (HL4836), how many Insolvency Service reports have been published since January 2015; and how many...

      Energy: UK Trade with EU

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to diminish the impact of Brexit on energy trading following the report of the European Union Committee, Brexit: energy...

      Global Challenges Research Fund

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the Global Challenges Research Fund is spent on (1) family planning, (2) sexual and reproductive health and rights, and (3) population issues,...

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    • Philippines: Press Freedom

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of the Philippines following reports by the International Federation of Journalists of the assassinations of...

    • Turkey: Press Freedom

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the journalists Can Dundar and Erdem Gul were released from custody, following a ruling by the Constitutional Court of Turkey; and whether they are making...

      Turkey: Syria

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are supporting the request of France for a UN Security Council meeting to discuss attacks by Turkey on Afrin Canton in Syria.

      Israel: Palestinians

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they plan to make to the government of Israel in respect of the demolition of internationally funded buildings and equipment in the Occupied...

      Israel: Palestinians

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to call on the government of Israel to pay compensation to Palestinians whose homes were officially demolished in 2017.

      Gaza: Economic Situation

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of recent statements by Israeli officials that the economy of Gaza is on the verge of collapse.

      Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Public Expenditure

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office budget, if any, originated from the Department for International Development.

      Developing Countries: Health Services

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office budget is spent on (1) family planning, (2) sexual and reproductive health and rights, and (3) population...

  • Attorney General

    • Law Officers: Disclosure of Information

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Keen of Elie on 8 January (HL4364), whether there have been instances where the advice of the law officers has been shared...

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Health Services: Foreign Nationals

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to extend the deadline of 31 January for the submission of evidence to the Department of Health's formal review of the National Health Service...

    • Benzodiazepines: Misuse

      To ask Her Majesty's Government why they do not collect data centrally on benzodiazepine dependence.

      Prescription Drugs: Misuse

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to mandate NHS England to commission services locally for patients who are suffering from the impact of long-term use of dependence forming...

      Strokes

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to publish the National Stroke Plan.

      Prescription Drugs: Misuse

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to raise awareness amongst GPs of the problems arising for patients suffering from the impact of long-term use of dependence forming medicines.

      Domestic Violence: Injuries

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to designating facial injuries resulting from domestic violence as a notifiable condition.

      Muscular Dystrophy

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of services to monitor and support patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy who are experiencing respiratory decline.

      Orphan Drugs

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many treatments with an orphan designation have been subject to a Highly Specialised Technology evaluation by the National Institute for Health and Care...

      European Medicines Agency

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the European Medicines Agency relocating to the Netherlands; and how many jobs they estimate will be lost as a result.

      Radioisotopes

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord O'Shaughnessy on 18 January (HL4659), whether, after exit from the EU, the licensing regime for medical isotopes will...

  • Department for International Development

    • UNRWA: Finance

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of refugees who will be affected by the decision of the government of the United States to withdraw funding for the UN...

  • Department for Education

    • Apprentices: Travellers

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 15 January (HL Deb, col 432), how many young people from gypsy and traveller families have taken up...

    • Design and Technology: GCSE

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, given their commitment to improving technical education, what steps they will take to arrest the decline in the number of students taking GCSEs in Design and...

      Apprentices: Contracts

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how non-levy apprenticeship contracts are awarded; and who within the Education and Skills Funding Agency is responsible for making such awards.

      Academies: Standards

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what shortcomings, if any, they have identified with the performance of multi-academy trusts; what are the oversight arrangements for governance and public...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Immigration: Legal Profession

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that there is a sufficient number of qualified immigration lawyers to meet present demands.

    • Prisons: Health Services

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions have taken place between the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health and Social Care concerning the provision of adequate healthcare in...

      Prisoners: Mental Illness

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what training is given to prison officers regarding mental illness amongst inmates.

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Flats: Safety

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps, if any, they plan to take to protect leaseholders from being required by freeholders to pay excessively large sums for remedial work to ensure the...

    • Housing: Design

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for Homes England to take account of the importance of high standards of design quality when making its decisions.

      Planning

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the revised National Planning Policy Framework, placing a stronger emphasis on design quality; whether copies of the Framework will be...

      Housing: Construction

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on their housebuilding programme of the announcement by the Federation of Master Builders that two-thirds of SME...

  • Department for Exiting the European Union

    • UK Trade with EU

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, as part of their Brexit negotiating strategy, they are seeking to ensure that during the transition period following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU...

    • Brexit

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, as part of their Brexit negotiating strategy, they intend UK products to be treated, during the transition period, as EU content for the purposes of (1)...

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Ivory: Sales

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the potential loss of value that will be experienced by UK owners of legitimately acquired sculpted ivory as a result of the...

    • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Staff

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current permanent establishment of staff in the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and what was the previous establishment for...

      Roads: Litter

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 22 January (HL4503), when they expect to receive the results of the independent assessment by...

      Fisheries

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that the loss of foreign catching rights will have on the British fish processing industry after Brexit.

  • Home Office

    • Asylum: EU Law

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total number of requests made in 2016 to other EU member states for the transfer of those claiming asylum in the UK who were believed to have first...

  • HM Treasury

    • Public Expenditure

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 21 March 2017 (HL5881), whether they will publish an updated table including (1) pensions, (2)...

    • Credit Cards: Fraud

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to have discussions with the major banks about the use of contactless credit cards for sums under £30 and the ease with which such cards...

      Cash Dispensing: Rural Areas

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that rural communities in the UK have adequate access to free-to-use cash machines now and in the future.

      Exchange Rates

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the performance of sterling in the last 12 months, in comparison to the dollar, the euro and the yen.

  • Cabinet Office

    • Ethnic Groups: Equality

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what action plans are in place to address the inequality deficiencies identified in the Race Disparity Audit; and what arrangements are in place to review and...

  • Department for International Trade

    • Overseas Trade

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to address the findings of the National Audit Office report Implementing the UK's Exit from the European Union: The...

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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