Written answers

Wednesday, 14 February 2018

  • Department for Transport

    • Diesel Vehicles: Pollution Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government has plans to introduce a diesel vehicle scrappage scheme for people on low incomes.

    • East Coast Rail Franchise: Incentives

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will obtain confirmation from Virgin and Stagecoach that none of the Directors working in the East Coast franchise have received or will receive...

      Motor Vehicles: Insurance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on vehicle owners of the ruling by the European Court of Justice of 13 July 2017 on third party...

      Railways: Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much money his Department has spent on UK railways in each year since 2010.

      Severn River Crossing: Tolls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what modelling the Government has conducted on the potential effect on traffic on nearby roads of the removal of the Severn Bridge tolls.

      Severn River Crossing: Tolls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans the Government has to ensure that adequate infrastructure is in place to cope with the potential increased traffic flow caused by the...

      Severn River Crossing: Tolls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Government plans for the Severn Bridge toll to be removed entirely.

      Severn River Crossing: Tolls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment the Government has made of the potential benefits of the removal of the Severn Bridge toll to the surrounding communities and...

      Severn River Crossing: Tolls

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to collect any excess funds from the continuation of the Severn Bridge toll in 2018 beyond that which is expected to be...

      Public Transport: Yorkshire and the Humber

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve (a) rail and (b) bus links in Yorkshire and the Humber.

  • Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    • Energy: Overseas Trade

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the ten largest global markets are for UK energy (a) exports and (b) imports.

    • Energy: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on trends in switching of the implementation of the price cap...

      Energy: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of its proposal for an energy price cap on levels of...

      Energy: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department plans to take to withdraw evergreen tariffs in the domestic energy market.

      Energy: Billing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his Department's most recent estimate is of the proportion of an average domestic energy bill which results from...

      Energy: Billing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to encourage energy suppliers to provide simpler bills for domestic customers.

      Energy: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what allowance it made for the average cost to suppliers of installing a smart meter when setting the pre-payment meter...

      Energy: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of an energy price cap on delivery of (a) switching rates and (b)...

      Energy: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reasons his Department's impact assessment for the draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill does...

      Energy: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of implementation of proposals in the draft Domestic Gas...

      Energy: Prices

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions his Department has had with (a) the Competition and Markets Authority, (b) Ofgem and (c) energy...

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    • Diplomatic Service: Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make Religious and Freedom of Religion or Belief Literacy training compulsory for diplomats serving in countries...

    • Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy: Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what positive outcomes for freedom of religion or belief were achieved from Magna Carta Fund funding in 2016-17.

      Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy: Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what projects in which countries were funded from his Department's Magna Carta Fund to support freedom of religion and belief in...

      Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Brexit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will...

      Eastern Europe: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what projects the Good Governance Fund has supported since its inception; and what projects it will fund in the 2017 - 22...

      Sri Lanka: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the delivery of commitments made by the Government of Sri Lanka under UN Human...

      Israel: Technology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to strengthen trade cooperation with Israel in the high tech sector.

      Anguilla: Companies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2017 to Question 115638 on Anguilla: Companies, what the timetable is for Anguilla’s...

      Russia: Nuclear Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of claims by the President of Lithuania that...

      Israel: Gaza

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the Middle East Peace Process of renewed rocket firings from Gaza into Israel.

      Iran: Nuclear Weapons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment the Government has made of the effect on stability in the Middle East of Iran's ballistic missile programme.

      Osman Kavala

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will take steps to seek the release of Osman Kavala from prison in Turkey.

  • Department for Education

    • Sex and Relationship Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will include child early forced marriage and female genital mutilation in his Department's review of relationship and sex education.

    • Department for Education: Brexit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which...

      Higher Education: Strikes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consideration he has given to refund tuition fees to students whose lectures are cancelled as a result of strike action by lecturers.

      Physical Education: Teachers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate he has made of the number of teachers specialising in physical education.

      Literacy: Disadvantaged

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to raise literacy standards amongst children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

      Further Education: Social Mobility

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to encourage further education providers to promote social mobility.

      Schools: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the average yearly expenditure (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in each year since 2010.

      Pupils: Eating Disorders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that information and support is provided on eating disorders for pupils in secondary schools.

      Pupils: Sanitary Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to ensure all school students have access to sanitary products.

      Arts: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to increase funding for arts in schools.

      Universities: Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department provides to universities on the provision of mental health services.

      Adult Education: Public Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the underspend against his Department's adult education budget in the academic year 2016-17.

      Free Schools: Greater Manchester

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many times the Regional Schools Commissioner or her staff visited (a) Collective Spirit Free School in Oldham and (b) the Manchester Creative...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Juries

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance his Department provides to people selected for jury service to ensure that they understand their duties as jurors.

    • Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2017 to Question 118773, on Employment Tribunals Service: Fees and Charges, what progress his Department is making...

      Ministry of Justice: Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many contracts worth more than £1 million his Department signed in each year since 2010; with which companies such contracts have been signed;...

      Ministry of Justice: Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what contracts for consultancy services (a) his Department and (b) his Department's arms length bodies have agreed in each year since 2010; and for each...

      Immigration: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of appeals heard in the First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in...

      Ministry of Justice: Brexit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the projects to which...

      Domestic Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assistance his Department provides for women engaged with the criminal justice system as a result of domestic abuse.

      Prisons: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many outstanding (a) preventative and (b) reactive maintenance actions on the prisons estates (i) at each location and (ii) under each facilities...

      Courts: Video Conferencing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many defendants aged between 10 and 17 year's old have appeared in court via live video link in each year since 2010; and how many of those video...

      Courts: Video Conferencing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many young offenders institutions and secure training centres in England and Wales have live link facilities to allow children to take part in court...

      Sexual Offences: Rehabilitation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much it has cost his Department to deliver the (a) Core Sex Offender Treatment and (b) Extended Sex Offender Treatment programme in the last 12...

      Courts: Video Conferencing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of appearing in court via live video link on a child defendant's (a) ability to participate...

      Offenders: Rehabilitation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of (a) the cost, (b) the availability, (c) the size of waiting lists for and (d) the average length of wait to participate...

      Judgements: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost to the public purse has been of the Government's appeals which were heard in the case of R (on the application of P and Others) v...

      Criminal Cases Review Commission

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the budget of the Criminal Cases Review Commission was in each year since 2010; and what the budget of that organisation is for 2017-18.

      Criminal Cases Review Commission

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications the Criminal Cases Review Commission has received in each year since 2010.

      Criminal Cases Review Commission

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many applications the Criminal Cases Review Commission has received that subsequently succeeded on appeal since its creation.

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Housing: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to reconcile the data tables published in (a) net additional dwellings and (b) housebuilding; new...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • China: Ballistic Missile Defence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the announcement by China's Ministry of National Defence that it...

    • Reserve Forces: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a list of all UK Armed Forces reserve units based in Scotland.

  • Department for Work and Pensions

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Tree Planting

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the Department did not meet the target to plant 11 million trees by 2015; and if he will make a statement.

    • Heathrow Airport: Inland Waterways

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of proposals to expand Heathrow airport on the (a) environmental and (b) financial...

  • Home Office

    • Nuisance Calls

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the police response to reports of an 0800 number making repeated threatening phone calls.

    • Home Office: Written Questions

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to Question 115815, tabled by the hon. Member for Halifax on 27 November 2017.

      Carillion

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Carillion was responsible for the delivery of any contracts for police forces across the country; and if she will make a statement.

      Prisoners: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her polices of the report by the Prison Reform Trust, Domestic abuse as a driver to...

      Key Forensic Services: Insolvency

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of the collapse of Key Forensic Services.

  • HM Treasury

  • Department for Exiting the European Union

    • Immigration

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with the Governments of (a) Norway, (b) Switzerland, (c) Iceland and (d) Liechtenstein on (i) their...

  • Department for International Trade

    • USA: Visas

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether his Department plans to raise the relaxation of visa restrictions for UK musicians performing in the USA in negotiations on a...

    • UK Trade With EU

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 31 January 2018 to Question 125208 on UK trade with EU, which of the EU free trade agreements and other EU...

      UK Trade With EU

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will list the...

      Revenue and Customs: Disclosure of Information

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 126040 on Revenue and Customs: Disclosure of Information, for what reason a request...

      Members' Interests

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 126037 on Members' interests, what the evidential basis is for his assessment that the...

      Trade Remedies Authority

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2015 to Question 126039 on Trade Remedies Authority, what his Department's definition is of a timely manner.

      Trade Remedies Authority: Public Appointments

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant the Answer of 5 February 2018 to Question 126038 on Trade Remedies Authority: Public Appointments, if he will make it his policy...

      Israel: Medicine

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to increase trade in medical research and development with Israel.

      Israel: Agriculture

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to increase trade in the agricultural technology sector with Israel.

  • Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

    • Healthy Living Ministerial Group

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how often the Inter-Ministerial Group on Healthy Living plans to meet; and whether his Department plans to publish the minutes...

    • Health

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of Sport England’s Wellness Hub initiative; and if he will make a statement.

      Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport: Brexit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department plans to spend on projects relating to the UK leaving the EU in the next five years; and if he will...

      Gaming Machines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to (a) respond to the consultation on proposals for changes to gaming machines and social responsibility...

      National Lottery: Tickets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what information his Department holds on the number of National Lottery tickets sold in the last 12 months.

      HMS Victory

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which expert bodies and experts in historic artillery were consulted by his Department during the preparation of the Deed of...

      HMS Victory

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has been told that the Maritime Heritage Foundation has a commercial salvage contract with American...

  • Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    • Labour Market

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the labour market in the coming decades.

    • Industry

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what actions they are taking in response to reports of slowing growth in the services, manufacturing, and construction sectors.

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    • Religious Freedom

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks made by the Rt Hon Mark Field MP on 26 October 2017 (HC Deb, col 233 WH) that in partnership with Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon he would...

    • Religious Freedom

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks made by the Rt Hon Mark Field MP on 26 October 2017 (HC Deb, col 233 WH) that in partnership with Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon he would...

      Religious Freedom

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what training in the use of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's freedom of religion or belief toolkit is given to UK employed staff before deployment to posts...

      Somaliland: Politics and Government

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy towards the newly elected government of Somaliland; whether they intend to give support for any planned reform in that country; and if so,...

      Maher al-Khabbaz

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what urgent representations, if any, they have made to the government of Bahrain concerning the decision of the Court of Cassation on 29 January to uphold the...

      Duaa Alwadaei

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 8 January (HL4428), whether they have received any updates from the British Embassy in Bahrain...

      Nabeel Rajab

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of case and trial of the human rights activist Nabeel Rajab, and of the decision of the Bahraini Court of Cassation on 15 January to...

      Bahraini Ministry of Interior Ombudsman

      To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 24 January (HL4611), whether the UK played any role in awarding the EU Chaillot Prize to the Bahraini...

      Bahrain: Nationality

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures, if any, they have taken to tackle reports of arbitrary revocations of citizenship in Bahrain; and what assessment they have made of the findings of...

      Bahrain: Deportation

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations, if any, they have made to the government of Bahrain to stop the imminent deportations of Mohammed Ali, Abdul Amir, Abdulnabi Almosawi, and...

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Accountable Care Organisations

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many accountable care organisations they plan to establish; and in which areas.

    • Pneumococcal Diseases: Vaccination

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to conduct a public consultation on changing the pneumococcal vaccination programme, following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and...

      Midwives and Nurses: Degrees

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) nurses, and (2) midwives, on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register hold a degree-level qualification in (a) nursing, and (b) midwifery.

      Social Services: Learning Disability

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Statement by the first Secretary of State on 16 November 2017 (HCWS25), what progress they have made on the parallel programme of work for...

  • Department for Education

    • St Stephen's School Newham

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they have given to the head and governors at St Stephen's School in Newham; and what assessment they have made of whether the head and governors...

    • Faith Schools: Admissions

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 23 January (HL4568), why the Department for Education has not collected data about the preferences...

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • High Rise Flats: Fire Extinguishers

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 23 January (HL4567), whether, since the statutory guidance was revised, they are satisfied...

    • Housing Revenue Accounts

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extension of the Housing Revenue Account borrowing cap in local authority areas of high affordability pressure.

      Private Rented Housing: Standards

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, following reports of poor standards of private rental accommodation, what remedial measures they are taking in conjunction with local and national housing...

      Devolution: Sheffield City Region

      To ask Her Majesty's Government which of the powers due to be devolved as part of the devolution agreement with South Yorkshire to the Sheffield City Region Mayor will still be devolved if full...

      Housing

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, for each local housing authority area, how many (1) council sales under the Right to Buy Scheme there were, (2) council houses were constructed, (3)...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Defence: Finance

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what inflation rates they are assuming for each of the next five years in planning for defence budgets to rise by inflation plus 0.5 per cent.

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Tideway: Pay

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what, in 2016–17, were the remuneration packages, including bonuses, of the top three executive directors of Tideway; and what assessment they have made of...

    • Trees

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the publication of their 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment, when they will announce (1) to whom the Tree Champion will report, (2) the...

      Flood Control: Earby

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what actions they have taken since the floods which took place in Earby on Boxing Day 2015, through the Environment Agency or otherwise, to reduce the probability...

      Flood Control: Earby

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Environment Agency’s flood alleviation study for Earby will be published; and when they will make a decision on the proposed community flood...

      Environment Protection

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the role of the Natural Environment Research Council in guiding and monitoring their 25-year plan for improving the environment; and which areas of...

      Agriculture: Overseas Trade

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to prevent adverse impacts on the agriculture industry of future trade deals.

  • Home Office

    • Asylum: Deportation

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how much notice failed asylum seekers are given to leave the UK.

  • Department for Exiting the European Union

    • Brexit

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make available to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee, the European Union Committee, and its sub-committees, the data, modelling...

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.

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