Written answers

Tuesday, 11 December 2018

  • Department for Transport

    • High Speed Two: Redundancy Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much severance pay the Chairman of HS2 Ltd is entitled to.

    • Rail Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Williams rail review will include an assessment of HS2; and what assessment he has made of the optimum rail industry structure to ensure...

      Railways: Croydon

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2018 to Question 191424 on Railways: Croydon, whether the Rail Enhancements Pipeline contains provisions to...

      Railways: Tickets

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many train operating companues offer tickets on smartcards that can be used throughout the rail network.

      Road Traffic Offences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the recent Government consultation on New cycling offences: causing death or serious injury while cycling, whether his Department...

      South Eastern Rail Franchise

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December to Question 196117 on South Eastern Rail Franchise, when in the New Year he plans to make an announcement on the...

      South Eastern Rail Franchise

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to award Govia an extension to the South eastern rail franchise contract.

      Rail Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Williams Rail Review been directed to consider (a) Network Rail’s debt and (b) the railway pension scheme.

      Public Transport: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will accompany a person with disabilities on public transport in order to gain first-hand experience of the difficulties disabled people can...

      Public Transport: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve assisted travel for disabled people across public transport.

      Department for Transport: EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many in-flight files of EU legislation exist that affect the policy areas managed by his Department; and which in-flight files of EU legislation...

      Govia Thameslink Railway: Fares

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will exempt Southern and Thameslink passengers affected by the disruption caused by the May 2018 timetable changes from the 3.1 per cent fare...

      Railways: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure effective policies are in place to assist disabled passengers during episodes of disruption to train...

      Northern Rail Franchise

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with Arriva Rail North on renegotiating the...

      Northern Rail Franchise

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contingency plans his Department has made for an operator of last resort for the Northern Rail franchise.

  • Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    • Energy: Industry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness and affordability for industry of his energy efficiency policies.

    • Energy: Public Opinion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the BEIS Public Attitudes Tracker, which types of energy are the (a) most and (b) least popular among...

      Biotechnology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish the bioeconomy sector deal.

      Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what proportion of his Department's ODA-funded projects are listed on the Department for International Development's...

      Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Independent Commission for Aid report, Global Challenges Research Fund - a rapid review,...

      Health Services and Social Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans he has for a care sector deal.

      Nuclear Installations: Inspections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many inspectors have been appointed to carry out functions previously administered by Euratom since June 2016.

      Energy: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress his Department is making on the roll-out of smart meters to every home by 2020.

      Iron and Steel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to introduce a Steel Sector Deal.

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    • Eswatini: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the level of human rights violations in eSwatini.

    • United Arab Emirates: Prisoners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK citizens are imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates.

      Yemen: UN Resolutions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to table a new resolution on Yemen to the Security Council of the UN.

      Eswatini: Elections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment has he made of whether the eSwatini elections were free and fair.

      South Sudan: Arms Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he Department allocates funding to projects to reduce the number of small arms imported into South Sudan.

      South Sudan: Reparation by Offenders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the wider take-up of restorative justice as a form of reconciliation in South...

      Hamas and Palestinians: Torture

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the conclusions of the report entitled, Two Authorities, One Way, Zero Dissent on arbitrary...

      Afghanistan: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of political stability in Afghanistan.

      Egypt: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of human rights protection in Egypt.

      Central African Republic: Courts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support the work of the Special Criminal Court established in the Central African...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Public Expenditure

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has had discussions with the Treasury on the National Audit Office report on improving the Government's planning and spending...

    • Facebook: Advertising

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the Facebook advertisement entitled The Brexit Deal explained does not appear in Facebook Ad Library as a political advertisement.

      Brexit

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the (a) legislative requirements and (b) timetable required to hold a second referendum on the UK leaving the EU.

      Government Departments: Social Media

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent from the public purse on promoting social media posts on (a) Twitter, (b) Facebook and (c) other social media relating to the...

      Prime Minister: Brexit

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2018 to Question 192871 on Prime Minister: Brexit, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse on...

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Paramedical Staff: Pensions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for how many years on average paramedics contribute to their employee pensions.

    • Childbirth

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many women reported experiencing birth trauma; and how much funding his Department has allocated to birth trauma support in each of...

      Clinical Waste

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will estimate how much (a) anatomical and (b) cytotoxic waste the NHS (i) produced in (A) 2017 and (B) 2018 and (ii) will produce...

      Smoking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on campaigns to promote the cessation of smoking in 2018-19; and what funding his Department plans to...

      Diabetes: North East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of people with diabetes in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside and (c) the North East.

      HIV Infection: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the date by which all places for gay and bisexual men on the PrEP Impact Trial will have been filled; and if...

      Nabiximols

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people in England have been prescribed Sativex in each year since 2010

      Diabetes: Lewisham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people in the (a) London borough of Lewisham and (b) Lewisham Deptford constituency are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

      Primary Health Care: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government announcement of 21 November 2018 entitled New funding for primary and community healthcare by 2023-24...

      Patients: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October to Question 177600 on Patients, how many patient safety incidents were recorded as absconder or...

      General Practitioners: Essex

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many GP vacancies there are in (a) Witham constituency and (b) Essex.

      Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2018 to Question 193434, what plans his Department has to ensure 100 per cent of people with first...

      Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 188806, what plans his Department has to make an assessment of the effect of...

      Drugs: Misuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the publication entitled, NHS Digital Statistics on drug misuse (November update) published November 2018, what plans...

      Prescriptions: ICT

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made on the roll-out of electronic prescribing medications systems; and if he will make a statement.

      NHS: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the administration of medicines in NHS trusts.

      NHS: Drugs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the potential savings to the public purse of the NHS of the mandatory introduction of automated...

      Dental Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made a comparative assessment of dental treatments available through the NHS and private dentists.

      Social Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the potential merits of a care...

      Department of Health and Social Care: EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many in-flight files of EU legislation exist that affect the policy areas managed by his Department; and which in-flight files of EU...

      Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients: Ethnic Groups

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983, published on 6 December 2018, what assessment he has made of the...

      Breast Cancer

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the number of patients in England who are currently receiving treatment for secondary breast cancer.

      Mental Health Act 1983 Independent Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Final report of the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983, published on December 2018, what steps the...

  • Department for International Development

    • Developing Countries: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Government’s response to the Fifth Report of the International Development Committee, HC246 of Session...

    • Colombia: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many Afro-descendant-led organisations in Colombia are in receipt of UK Government funding.

      South Sudan: Conflict Resolution

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether his Department allocates funding to the church-led people-to-people initiatives in South Sudan.

  • Department for Education

    • Children: Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to support local leaders in delivering better outcomes for vulnerable children.

    • Social Services: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to support local leaders in delivering the best outcomes for children through the delivery of high-quality...

      Social Services: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of demand for local authority-provided children’s services.

      Social Services: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has made of the long-term economic merits of supporting children to have a safe, happy and healthy childhood.

      Social Services: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of local authority children’s services budgets.

      Schools: Food

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2018 to Question 189628, whether the healthy rating scheme will (a) be linked to Ofsted ratings and (b) apply to...

      Teachers: Lewisham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the pupil to teacher ratio was in primary schools in (a) Lewisham Deptford constituency and (b) the London borough of Lewisham in each year since...

      Department of Education: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pots of funding there are in his Department for training, upskilling and incentivising recruitment; and what the value is of those funds.

      Children in Care: Missing Persons

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many looked-after children placed in children’s homes (a) inside and (b) outside the borough of the authority responsible for their care...

      Students: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies on affordable student accommodation of the 3 December 2018 Huffington Post article...

      Students: Loans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, further to his Written Statement of 4 December 2018 on Government Asset Sale Update, HCWS1137, what the carrying value was that his Department had...

      Students: Loans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, further to his written ministerial statement HCWS1137 Government Asset Sale Update, published 4th December 2018, what assessment his Department has...

      Erasmus+ Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on the UK's continued participation of FE college...

      Apprentices: Nurses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people have started the Registered Nursing Apprenticeship programme to date.

      Special Educational Needs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) Special Education Need units and (b) Specialist Resource Provisions there were in each region of the UK in each of the last 10 years.

      Children: Care Homes

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children’s homes have been issued with a (a) suspension and (b) cancellation by Ofsted in each of the last five years.

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Prison Sentences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for which offence or offences each current prisoner serving a sentence of 12 months or less was imprisoned.

    • Social Security Benefits: North West

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of appeals to the tribunals service in (a) Salford and Eccles constituency, (b) Greater Manchester and (c) the North West relating to...

      Reoffenders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Serious Further Offence investigations in which the supervising body was (a) the National Probation Service and (b) a Community Rehabilitation...

      Child Arrangement Orders: Grandparents

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals in relation to access rights to grandchildren by grandparents; and if he will make a statement.

      Fireworks: Misuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted of offences relating to the misuse of fireworks in each of the last five years.

      Administration of Justice

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that access to justice is maintained after the implementation period of the Withdrawal Agreement.

      Social Security Benefits: Stockport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answers of 3 December 2018 to Questions 196136 and 196137 on Social Security Benefits: Stockport, and with reference to the Answers of...

      County Courts: Opening Hours

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the effect on HM Courts and Tribunals Service staff will be included in the evaluation of the flexible operating hours pilots at (a) Brentford...

      Courts: Fines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of (a) court fines and (b) surcharges remain uncollected; and what steps he is taking to increase the rate of collection for those penalties.

      HM Courts and Tribunals Service: Consultants

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service is expecting to spend from the public purse on that service's change management consultancy...

      Coroners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of coroners’ inquests that delivered a verdict of suicide in the cases of the deaths of former...

      Prisons: Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 December 2018 to Question 196269, what estimate he has made of the cost of producing an in-house bid for the operation of...

      Prisons: Crimes of Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of the funding allocated to his Department in Budget 2018 will be used to tackle violence in prisons.

      Prisons: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the announcement entitled, Minister announces 10 Prisons Project to develop new model of excellence, what criteria his Department...

      Children: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government plans to respond to the official questionnaire of the UN Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty.

      Family Courts: Domestic Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has plans to include in proposals for a Domestic Abuse Bill, provisions to ban the cross-examination of victims by perpetrators of domestic...

      Social Security Benefits: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for appeals for social security and child support cases.

      Social Security Benefits: Appeals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average length of time was for a Social Security and Child Support case to be resolved in each of the last three years.

      Prison Officers: Private Sector

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of prison officers working in each prison were employed by the private sector in each of the last eight years.

      Prisons: Crimes of Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the different categories of assaults that occur in prisons.

      Prisons: Crimes of Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2018 to Question 186964 on Prisons: Crimes of Violence and Self-harm, how many incidents of violence per 100...

      Prisons: Private Sector

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2018 to Question 188131 on Prisons: Private Sector, what criteria his Department uses to decide which prison...

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • UK Shared Prosperity Fund

      To ask the secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the timetable is for the public consultation on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

    • Local Government Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the Written Statement of 29 November 2018, Official Report HCWS1126 on Grenfell update, how much money has...

      Travellers: Caravan Sites

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has taken steps to implement the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s recommendation...

      National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the article entitled, Why a new memorial to the Holocaust is essential, published in the Evening...

      National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the news story entitled, Public consultation marks the next stage in development of UK Holocaust...

      National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the document entitled, National memorial and learning centre search for a central London site,...

      National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the news story entitled, Public consultation marks the next stage in development of UK Holocaust...

      National Holocaust Memorial Centre and Learning Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the news story entitled, Public consultation marks the next stage in development of UK Holocaust...

      Social Rented Housing: Mental Illness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an estimate of the number of people with mental health problems that are on social housing waiting lists.

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Nato

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what contribution the Government is (a) making and (b) has plans to make to NATO's (i) new Command in Norfolk, (ii) new Command in Ulm, (iii) Counter...

    • Army: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many army recruits have enlisted from each parliamentary constituency since 2013; and how many of those recruits from each constituency were aged...

      Army Foundation College: Qualifications

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what Ofqual-accredited qualifications are offered at the Army Foundation College; and how many recruits achieved each type of qualification in the most...

      University Royal Naval Units: Aberdeen

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason records of the membership of the University Royal Naval Unit in Aberdeen between 2008 and 2012 were not retained.

      Defence Fire and Rescue Service: Capita

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the delay in Capita taking up the contract for the Defence Fire and Rescue Service.

      Defence Equipment: Cost Effectiveness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's Financial Summary of the Defence Equipment Plan 2018, which capabilities that are uneconomic to maintain is his...

      Defence in UK Prosperity Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to respond to the Dunne review on defence prosperity.

      Ministry of Defence: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 12 May 2014 to Question 188387, on Nuclear Reactors, how many nuclear-qualified and experienced personnel have been...

      Army: Suicide

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to tackle the matter of soldiers taking their own life (a) during and (b) after active service.

      Ministry of Defence: Empty Property

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) number and (b) value of empty homes in the Ministry of Defence estate in each parliamentary constituency.

      Ministry of Defence: Equality

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2018 to Question 197453 on Ministry of Defence: Equality, what assessment he has made of whether the means for...

      EU Defence Policy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK will continue to participate in the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence after the UK leaves the EU.

      Awe

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to restart Project Pegasus.

      Northern Ireland Security Guard Service: Pay

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of changes to Northern Ireland Security Guard Service pay structures on the pay grading of employees.

      Defence Equipment and Support: Surveys

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the results of the Defence Equipment and Support People Survey 2018.

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of creating a work allowance for second earners as part of universal credit.

    • Social Security Benefits: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of working people in receipt of top-up benefits are resident in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b)...

      Employment and Support Allowance: Salford and Eccles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people undergoing a work capability assessment for employment and support allowance in Salford and Eccles constituency were found to...

      Personal Independence Payment: Salford and Eccles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people undergoing a work capability assessment for personal independence payment in Salford and Eccles constituency were found to be...

      Universal Credit: North East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment the Government has made of the effect on low-income families of the roll-out of universal credit in (a) Jarrow...

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of universal credit are in receipt of the additional amount payable for limited capability for work and...

      Social Security Benefits: EU Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many EU nationals have claimed each type of benefit in each year since 2000.

      Sign Language

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's response to the consultation entitled, Market review of British Sign Language and communications provision...

      Housing Benefit: Social Rented Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the savings to the Exchequer as a result of reducing housing benefit entitlement for those deemed to be...

      Universal Credit: South Glamorgan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in (a) Cardiff and (b) Vale of Glamorgan have made successful claims for underpayments of universal credit since the beginning...

      Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received a benefit sanction in December 2017.

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her policy is on the provision of Departmental (a) guidance and (b) information to people that are subject to universal credit migration.

      Christmas Bonus

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the trend in the number of benefit recipients receiving the Christmas bonus in each year since...

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that universal credit claimants without internet access in (a) Brent Central and (b) England...

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the introduction of universal credit on the level of demand for councils’ Local Welfare...

      Department for Work and Pensions: Telephone Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) efficiency and (b) effectiveness of her Department’s call centres.

      Universal Credit: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will remove the non-dependent deduction from universal credit housing costs for people aged over 21 who are students.

      Universal Credit: Mental Illness

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure universal credit claimants who suffer from mental health issues are adequately supported during the managed...

      Personal Independence Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect on disabled claimants of personal independence payment (PIP) of the closure of the Atos...

      Personal Independence Payment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department has taken to ensure that disabled people have access to a customer service email address for personal independence...

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Veterinary Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will list the veterinary agreements which have been concluded between the UK and international trade partners in each...

    • Clinical Waste

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will estimate how much (a) anatomical and (b) cytotoxic waste the UK (i) produced in (A) 2017 and (B) 2018 and (ii)...

      Clinical Waste

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many incinerators of anatomical and cytotoxic waste operate in the UK; what the volume of capacity of each incinerator...

      Meat: Ritual Slaughter

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to respond to representations for greater clarity from consumers of meat products on...

      Dangerous Dogs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to legislate to provide for compensation to be payable to owners of animals in cases where the animal...

      Dogs: Meat

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions officials of his Department has had with colleagues in the US Administration on the recent ban on the human...

      Waste Disposal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on the proportion of recyclable material collected by each local authority responsible...

      Environment Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on...

      Air Pollution: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to protect children from the effect of toxic air on their health.

      Air Pollution: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much money has been allocated to (a) local authorities and (b) other relevant bodies for the purpose of reducing...

      Dogs: Meat

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ban the human consumption of dog meat.

      Dogs: Electronic Training Aids

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the change in the number of dogs with electronic collars has been in the last two years.

      Curlews: Special Protection Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled The status of UK SPAs in the 2000s: the Third Network Review, published by the Joint...

      Trees: Diseases

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many incidences of each notifiable tree disease have been reported to his Department; what species of tree was affected...

      Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: EU Law

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many in-flight files of EU legislation exist that affect the policy areas managed by his Department; and which in-flight...

      Insecticides

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the use of Redigo Deter by farmers; and if he will make a statement.

      Hunting

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle trophy hunting across the world.

  • Home Office

    • Crime: Greater Manchester

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions his Department has had with Greater Manchester Police on the effect of (a) funding and (b) the number of police officers on...

    • Domestic Violence: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding has been provided by his Department for (a) domestic violence prevention programmes and (b) services to support victims of...

      Fireworks: Injuries

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases are known to officials of his Department of people who have been injured due to the misuse of fireworks since 2015.

      Missing Persons

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are registered as missing in the UK.

      Police: Cameras

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many BMV cameras have been deployed in police forces in England and Wales.

      Serious Violence Taskforce

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions the Serious Violence Taskforce has met.

      Europol

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure the maintenance of the UK's leading status in Europol after the implementation period of the Withdrawal...

      Crimes of Violence: International Cooperation

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has plans to host an international violent crime symposium.

      Internet: Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to publish the joint White Paper with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on online harms.

      Deportation: Libya

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Libyan nationals have been deported as a result of being suspected members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group since 2010.

      Asylum: Cardiff South and Penarth

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers (a) with children and (b) without children resided in the Cardiff South and Penarth constituency and were...

      Immigration: EU Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to plan for processing new residence documents as outlined in Article 18 of the EU Withdrawal Agreement.

      Educational Testing Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer dated 4 December 2018 to Question 197314, in what circumstances was it (a) relevant and (b) not relevant to require...

      Immigrants: EU Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Department for Exiting the European Union policy paper entitled Citizens’ Rights - EU citizens in the UK and UK...

      Mental Health Act 1983 Independent Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Final report of the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act 1983, published on 6 December 2018, what steps his...

      Seasonal Agricultural Workers' Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what dates his Department had meetings with representatives from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority on the Seasonal Workers Pilot...

  • Department for Exiting the European Union

    • Brexit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the UK is able unilaterally to withdraw from the proposed EU withdrawal agreement; and if he will make a statement.

    • Brexit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how much the Government plans to spend on preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal in each month until March 2019.

      Court of Justice of the European Union

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the publications entitled, Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the...

      Brexit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the cost to the public purse was of the Government's case against the ECJ's hearing whether the UK is able unilaterally to...

      Fisheries: UK Relations with EU

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether he has received a commitment from the EU that future arrangements for fisheries between the UK and the EU will not be linked...

      Department for Exiting the European Union: Travel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what the cost to the public purse was of travel between the UK and Brussels by Ministers, civil servants and ministerial staff in...

      Trade Agreements

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether the Withdrawal Agreement will allow the UK to negotiate trade deals with third countries.

      Brexit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many people were involved in negotiating the EU Withdrawal Agreement.

      Customs Unions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the UK is not forced to stay in a customs union by the EU.

      Borders: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for a hard border on the island of Ireland of the UK leaving the EU without...

      Department for Exiting the European Union: Facebook

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2018 to Question 188822 on Department for Exiting the European Union: Facebook, which...

      EU Action

      To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will list all outstanding infraction proceedings which the EU is pursuing against the UK; and what estimate he has made of the...

  • Treasury

    • Brexit

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will ensure that the views of civil society organisations are included in the insight from external stakeholders document that will be provided to...

    • Social Services: Finance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an estimate of the revenue that will accrue to the public purse from an age-related levy to pay for social care; and if he will make a...

      Network Rail: Finance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether Network Rail is entitled to carry over funds for each financial year in Control Period 6 between 2019 and 2024.

      Research: EU Grants and Loans

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the funding made available to underwrite successful bids by UK organisations to (a) Horizon 2020 and (b) other competitive EU grant programmes is...

      Customs Declaration Services Programme

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Customs Declaration Service will be fully operational by January 2019.

      A303 and Lower Thames Crossing: Private Finance Initiative

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November to Question 188205, what range of models involving investment in infrastructure his Department plans to use to meet...

      Small Businesses: Taxation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to advise small and medium-sized businesses on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on tax regulations.

      National Income

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will produce a regional breakdown for the estimated change in GDP predicted to occur in the event that (a) the UK adopts the...

      Training: Expenditure

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the UK spent as a proportion of GDP on in-work training for 2017-18; and how that figure compares to the average spends within the (a) G7 and (b) EU.

      Transport: Infrastructure

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the UK spent as a proportion of GDP on transport infrastructure in 2017-18; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the proportion of...

      European Investment Bank

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2018 to Question 196880 on the European Investment Bank (EIB), what steps his Department is taking to (a) control,...

      Married People: Tax Allowances

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to increase the marriage allowance.

      Block Grant: Scotland

      What assessment he has made of the effect of recent budgetary decisions on the Scottish block grant.

      Credit Unions

      What further steps he plans to take to support credit unions.

      Bankruptcy: Tax Avoidance

      What estimate he has made of the number of people who will be made bankrupt as a result of the 2019 Loan Charge.

      Industry

      What progress has been made on the creation of local industrial strategies.

  • Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

    • Mobile Phones: Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with mobile phone networks on preventing under-18s accessing inappropriate material.

    • Huawei

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions has he had with Huawei regarding security concerns from other nations.

      Internet: Mass Media

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with online media providers on preventing fake news from being placed on their platforms.

      5G

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of the recommendations for spectrum licensing made in...

      National Gallery: Employment Tribunals Service

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the total cost to the public purse is of the tribunal involving the National Gallery which commenced on 26 November 2018.

      Arts: Productivity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of measures of productivity for the UK creative sector.

  • Women and Equalities

    • Access to Elected Office for Disabled People

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Written Statement of 17 May 2018 on Access to Elected Office for Disabled People, HCWS695, when she plans to publish further...

    • Government Equalities Office: Meetings

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November 2018 to Question 194662 and Question 194663 on Government Equalities Office: Meetings, on how many occasions...

  • Department for Transport

    • Cross Country Rail Franchise

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 20 November (HL11313), whether any steps are available to them quickly to alleviate overcrowding on the...

    • Gatwick Airport Station

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 20 November (HL11312), what proportion of the passengers using Gatwick Airport railway station are...

      Aviation: USA

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when any planned post-Brexit aviation arrangements agreed between the UK and the United States will be implemented; and whether they anticipate that date will be...

      Road Works

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the requirements local councils must adhere to in relation to the notification and coordination of street works.

  • Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    • Climate Change Convention

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to hosting the 24th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in London.

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    • Bangladesh: Elections

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the forthcoming general election in Bangladesh will be free and fair.

    • Burma: Human Rights

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the human rights situation in Kachin and Shan states of Burma.

      Burma: Sanctions

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to implement targeted sanctions against the military in Burma.

      Victor Mallet

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received an explanation from the government of Hong Kong for the rejection of a visa for the British journalist Victor Mallett; and if so, what...

  • Department for International Development

    • Palestinians: Overseas Aid

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 23 November (HL11378), whether they have made any assessment as to whether the non-publication of the audit reports...

    • Madagascar: Contraceptives

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to make representations to the government of Madagascar about contraceptive stocks in that country; and whether they will consider supplying...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Appledore Shipyard

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to find (1) a new operator for the Appledore Shipyard, and (2) new orders from the defence and commercial sectors to maintain...

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Universal Credit

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how the additional funding announced for claimants migrating to Universal Credit will be spent.

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Hare Coursing

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what resources are in place to implement the ban on hare coursing.

  • Home Office

    • Refugees: Syria

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many refugees resettled in the UK under the Syrian Vulnerable Resettlement Scheme since 2015; what were the ages of such refugees when resettled; and what...

    • Visas

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many visas they have refused to delegates wishing to enter the UK to attend international scientific conferences; how many of those refusals were for...

      Immigration: EU Nationals

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Draft Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic...

      EU Immigration: Children

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the actions which the other 27 member states of the EU are taking, individually and collectively, to address the problems faced...

  • Treasury

    • Cryptocurrencies

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans for market regulation of crypto-currencies.

    • Interest Rates

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of the impact of Brexit on interest rates and mortgage defaults.

  • Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

    • Gambling

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many problem gamblers they estimate are (1) under 18 years old, and (2) 18 years old or more, in (a) England, (b) Scotland, and (c) Wales.

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.

December 2018
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31