Written answers

Thursday, 30 January 2020

  • Department for Transport

    • Taxis: Licensing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his policy on the Task and Finish group report on Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing is the same as the previous Government's as...

    • Public Transport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislation proposals to give local authorities control over regional public transport similar to the remit of Transport for...

      Electric vehicles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of amending the Road Traffic Act 1988 to enable the legal road usage of personal light electric...

      Transport: North East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if the Government will undertake a review of transport infrastructure to identify schemes with the aim of improving (a) regional connectivity, (b)...

      High Speed 2 Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer of 27 January 2020 to Question 6592, on High Speed 2 Railway Line, if he will list (a) the 2,000 organisations that have been...

      High Speed 2 Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2020 to Question 6592, on High Speed 2 Railway Line, whether Ministers in his Department authorised the award of...

      High Speed Two: Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, above what level of contractual payment are contracts awarded to HS2 Ltd required to be authorised by (a) a Minister and (b) the Treasury.

      Roads: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve the road network in England.

      *No heading*

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve rail services in the Midlands.

      Transport: Planning Permission

      What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the adequacy of planning requirements for new housing developments in relation to...

      High Speed Two Railway Line: Forests

      What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the effect of High Speed Two on ancient woodland.

      Railways: West Midlands

      What steps his Department is taking to improve rail services in the West Midlands.

      Railways: Urban Areas

      What steps his Department is taking to connect more towns to the rail network.

  • Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    • Electricity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether she plans to provide further support for the development of flexible electricity markets.

    • Electricity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress has been made against the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan since 2018.

      Electricity: Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the (a) most expensive and (b) cheapest form of electricity to produce is.

      Hydrogen

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether her Department plans to establish a Hydrogen cluster by the end of the next Parliament.

      Ofgem: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans she has to amend Ofgem’s remit to incorporate the Government’s Net Zero target.

      Solar Power: Non-domestic Rates

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions her Department has had with the Treasury on the application of business rates to solar power.

      Energy: Meters

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timeframe is for the introduction of smart meters on Glenhinnisdal on the Isle of Skye.

      Ofgem: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps she is taking to amend Ofgem’s remit to incorporate the Government’s Net Zero target.

      Minimum Wage

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many employers that were identified as non-compliant by the national minimum wage enforcement unit were not...

      Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate she has made of the rate of reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in each of the last five years.

      Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of progress on decarbonising energy for (a) heat and (b) transport.

      Renewable Energy: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of jobs in the low carbon and renewable economy.

      Trains

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps her Department is taking to support the development of battery trains.

      Construction: Billing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans her Department has for eliminating the use of cash retentions in the construction industry; and if she will...

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    • Kurds: Foreign Relations

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what projects are in place under the reform partnership between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the UK; and if he will...

    • Iraq: Kurds

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps his Department has taken to support peace and stability in (a) Iraq and (b) the Kurdistan region;...

      Iraq: Kurds

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to support the development of democracy in (a) Iraq and (b) the Kurdistan Region in that...

      Iran: Prisoners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many British citizens imprisoned in Iran (a) he and (b) representatives of his Department have visited in the last 12 months.

      Iran: Detainees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to protect British citizens illegally imprisoned in Iran from torture.

      Iran: Torture

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations on the torture of British citizens he has made to the Government of Iran in the last 12 months.

      Burma: Rohingya

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support he will provide for the enforcement of the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures indicated...

      Kashmir: Humanitarian Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to help support the people of Kashmir.

      Kashmir: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the human rights situation in Kashmir.

      China: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on (a) the situation in Hong Kong and (b) recent UN reports on the...

      Kashmir: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is providing to Kashmiris living in the UK who are concerned for the safety of family members...

      Developing Countries: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress his Department has made on delivering the goals agreed at the first meeting of the Platform for Girls Education...

      Nepal: Christianity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the treatment of Christians in Nepal.

      Egypt: Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the Government in Egypt in providing for the security and well-being of (a) Coptic...

      Diplomatic Service: Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure the implementation of its revised toolkit on freedom of religion or belief...

      Christianity: Oppression

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support Christians at risk of religious persecution in countries around the world.

      Hong Kong: Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the (a) Hong Kong Chief Executive and (b) representatives of the Chinese Government on...

      Iran: Nuclear Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on proposals to redraft the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to include provisions to curtail Iran’s...

      Israel: Palestinians

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of Fatah’s recent celebrations marking 55 years since their first terrorist...

      Seas and Oceans: Treaties

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to secure a global ocean treaty at the United Nations.

      Climate Change Convention: Glasgow

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on preparations to host the UN climate change summit in Glasgow in late 2020.

      Lebanon: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps he has taken to help ensure a secure and stable Government in Lebanon.

      United Arab Emirates: Freedom of Expression

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of freedom of expression in the United Arab Emirates.

      Yemen: Military Intervention

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) size of armed groups trained by the United Arab Emirates operating...

      China: Transplant Surgery

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he holds information on the number of UK nationals who have travelled to China for organ transplants in the last five years.

      China: Transplant Surgery

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether (a) legal and (b) other provisions are in place to ensure that UK nationals do not unknowingly take part in...

      China: Oppression

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Chinese Government on the long-term persecution of (a) the Uyghur...

      China: Uighurs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Chinese Government on the finding by the China Tribunal that the...

      Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts throughout the world on the protection of religious freedoms in their...

      Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2020 to Question 3169 on Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, what the composition was of the...

      Hong Kong: Embassies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish the legal advice which led his Department to conclude that the arrest of the fifteen year old girl directly...

  • Attorney General

    • Restraining Orders: Employment

      To ask the Attorney General, what assessment he has made of the effect of restraining orders on the career prospects of defendants who have been acquitted.

    • Prosecutions: South West

      To ask the Attorney General, what comparative assessment he has made of (a) the number of cases the CPS agreed to pursue came to court and (b) the average waiting time for those cases to be heard...

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Opiates: Prescriptions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to tackle the over-prescription of opioids by GPs in deprived areas.

    • General Practitioners: Vacancies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many vacant GP places there are in (a) Preston, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West; and what (i) short- and (ii) long-term steps...

      Health Services: Rural Areas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that rural communities have adequate access to health care facilities.

      NHS: Innovation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that the NHS is able to adopt new technology to enable the effective delivery of services.

      Sapropterin

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has met BioMarin to discuss securing NHS access to Kuvan for people with PKU; and if he will make a statement.

      Eating Disorders: Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to improve access to treatment for people with eating disorders.

      Hormone Replacement Therapy: Shortages

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress he has made in tackling the shortage of Hormone Replacement Therapy drugs.

      Joint Replacements: Waiting Lists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people waited for more than 40 weeks from referral to treatment for (a) hip and (b) knee replacements by NHS Hospital Trust in...

      Joint Replacements: Waiting Lists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people waited for more than 52 weeks from referral to treatment for (a) hip and (b) knee replacements, by NHS Hospital Trust in...

      Joint Replacements: Waiting Lists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time was for (a) hip and (b) knee replacement surgery in each NHS Foundation Trust in each month of 2018-19.

      Hospitals: Waiting Lists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce consultant-led referral to treatment waiting times; and if he will make a statement.

      General Practitioners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of (a) the Primary Care Network draft outline service specifications and (b) primary...

      Clinical Commissioning Groups

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which clinical commissioning groups (a) have been approved (i) conditionally and (ii) unconditionally and (b) are under consideration for...

      Accident and Emergency Departments: Lincolnshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients attended A&E at (a) Grantham and District Hospital, (b) Pilgrim Hospital Boston and (c) Lincoln County Hospital in...

      South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding his Department plans to allocate to South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group in the next three years.

      Employment: Bullying

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will meet with the hon. Member for Harlow to discuss the steps his Department is taking to address the effect of workplace bullying...

      Cannabis: Medical Treatments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average cost to the NHS was of prescriptions for unlicensed cannabis-based products for medicinal use from November 2018 to...

      Non-surgical Cosmetic Procedures: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 21 October 2019 to Question 757 on cosmetic fillers and Botox injections for children, what progress he...

      Urgent Treatment Centres: Bradford

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January to Question 2446 on Urgent Treatment Centres, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that...

      NHS: Migrant Workers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many migrants from EU countries have been employed by the NHS in England in each year from 2015 to date.

      Urgent Treatment Centres

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2020 to Question 2446 on Urgent Treatment Centres, how many cities in England and Wales with a...

      Mental Health Services: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) researching and (b) introducing multi-diagnostic pathways for...

      Mental Health Services: Inspections

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve hospital inspections to ensure adequate treatment and care for patients with mental health conditions.

      Autism: Prisoners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the diagnosis process for autistic spectrum disorder for people in custody.

      Smoking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to publish a White Paper on implementing the key recommendations on smoking cessation from the recent Prevention Green...

      Social Services: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of recruitment in social care; whether he is taking steps to increase the level...

      Hospitals: Admissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS hospital admissions resulted from violent crime in 2019.

      NHS: Directors

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many non-medical directors employed in NHS Hospital Trusts and NHS England earn more than the Prime Minister.

      Coronavirus

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment the Government has made of the health effects of the outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus.

      Mental Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that mental health is prioritised within the Primary Care Network Contract Direct Enhanced...

      Obesity: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of his Department's policy, Childhood obesity: a plan for action.

      General Practitioners

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure sustainable workforce planning for GPs.

      Cervical Cancer: Screening

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made on the adequacy of the availability of cervical cancer screenings for women with physical disabilities.

      Ophthalmic Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to increase capacity in NHS eyesight services and ensure all patients are seen within a safe time frame.

      Visual Impairment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many patients have suffered severe or permanent loss of sight whilst awaiting treatment; and what the cost to the NHS has been in...

      Surrogate Motherhood

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals on surrogacy before the planned report on the issue by the Law...

      Coronavirus

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on additional measures to respond to an outbreak...

      Mental Health Services: Out of Area Treatment

      To ask the Secretary of state for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to reduce the number of people sent out of area for mental health treatment.

      Abortion: Counselling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to help improve the (a) quality and (b) access to counselling services provided to women considering an abortion.

      Abortion

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has plans undertake a review of the abortion time-limit.

      Organs: Donors

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to publicise the changes to the law resulting from the introduction of the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act 2019.

      NHS: Digital Technology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the ability of elderly people to engage with NHS digital services.

      WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether at the ninth Conference of Parties of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control the UK will be required procedurally to vote in...

      NHS Trusts: Subsidiary Companies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many applications have been considered under the process set out in the Addendum to the transactions guidance for trusts forming or...

      Tobacco: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Green Paper entitled Advancing our health: prevention in the 2020s, when he will call for independent evidence to...

  • Department for International Development

    • Developing Countries: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how Official Development Assistance has been allocated to Education Cannot Wait in each financial year since it was established; and...

    • Developing Countries: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much UK aid has been allocated to the International Financing Facility for Education; and what assessment his Department has made...

      Developing Countries: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the Girls' Education Challenge has achieved to date; and what the projected outcomes are of its programmes.

      Asia and South America: Infrastructure

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether he is taking steps to prioritise infrastructure investment in (a) Asia and (b) South America; and if he will make a statement.

      Developing Countries: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 23 January 2020 to Question 3741 on Developing Countries: Education, how much of the £7.08 billion was...

      Tanzania: Non-governmental Organisations

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much and what proportion of Official Development Assistance allocated to Tanzania was received by local and national...

      Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which five countries have received the largest proportion of Official Development Assistance in each of the last three years.

      Palestinians: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Official Development Assistance is not allocated by the Palestinian Authority to...

      Developing Countries: Sustainable Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of the UK Government's capability to support the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

      Democratic Republic of Congo: Measles

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support he has provided to the (a) Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and (b) World Health Organisation to tackle the...

      Philippines: Volcanoes

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support he has offered to the Philippine Government for evacuations within the Cavite province.

      Israel: Palestinians

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans he has for the People for Peaceful Change programme after 31 March 2020.

      Developing Countries: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the economic effect of climate change does not result in a disproportionate...

      Developing Countries: Human Trafficking

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much his Department spent from the public purse on preventing the trafficking of adolescent girls in humanitarian crises in (a)...

      Marie Stopes International: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether he has plans to undertake a review of the funding allocated by his Department to Marie Stopes International.

      Lebanon: Humanitarian Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps he has taken to enable the provision of humanitarian aid in Lebanon.

  • Department for Education

    • Food Poverty: Academic Year

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for holiday hunger that resulted in the piloting of funding for free holiday activities and...

    • Further Education: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the base rate of funding was for 16-19 year olds in 2013, in 2019-20 prices.

      Erasmus+ Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answers of 21 January 2020 to Questions 4479, 4480 and 4481 on the Erasmus+ Programme, what assessment he has made of the implications...

      Breakfast Clubs: Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2020 to Question 1022 on Breakfast Clubs: Schools, what the annual value was of the contract awarded to Family...

      Social Services: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how the £1 billion in additional funding allocated to children's and adult social care will be divided between (a) children's and (b) adult...

      Children: Daycare

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the £1 billion additional funding allocated to (a) wraparound and (b) holiday childcare will result in an increase in the number of...

      Children: Poverty

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the relationship between child poverty and demand on children's services.

      National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many student places the National College for Advanced Transport and Infrastructure has; and how many students have (a) enrolled on, (b) completed...

      Pupil Exclusions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of permanent school exclusions.

      Alternative Education: Scotland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Scottish Government on the effectiveness of nuture groups in Scotland.

      Schools: Industry

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to encourage industry to engage with local schools on increasing (a) employment and (b) apprenticeship opportunities.

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Prisoners: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many women serving a custodial sentence have been a victim of domestic violence.

    • Probate: Greater London

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many complaints his Department has received on the effectiveness of the London Probate Office in each of the last five years.

      Youth Custody: Restraint Techniques

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will extend the Government's guidance, Reducing the need for restraint and restrictive intervention, published on 27 June 2019, to...

      European Convention on Human Rights

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many declarations of incompatibility the Supreme Court has issued, and how many declarations of incompatibility the Government has acted on.

      Dangerous Driving: Sentencing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make each category of careless and inconsiderate driving an offence that carries a custodial sentence.

      Trials: Crown Courts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what criteria his Department uses to assess whether the average time from first listing of a case to trial in a Crown court is (a) increasing and (b)...

      Trials

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of listed cases are listed as floaters each month.

      Trials: Crown Courts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time was between the first appearance of a case in the Crown Court to the commencement of the trial in (a) Southwark Crown Court, (b)...

      Trials: Crown Courts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of cases were heard in more than one Crown Court in 2019.

      Offences Against Children: Convictions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders have been convicted of offences relating to the live-streaming of the sexual exploitation of children in each of the last three years.

  • Treasury

    • Vans: Input Tax

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will issue updated guidance on the makes and models of car-derived vans and combi-vans which HMRC defines as (a) cars and (b) vans for input tax...

    • Financial Conduct Authority and Financial Services Authority

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times senior executives of the (a) Financial Conduct Authority and (b) Financial Services Authority met representatives of a foreign government in...

      Financial Conduct Authority and Financial Services Authority: Russia

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times the Russian Ambassador to the UK met representatives of the (a) Financial Conduct Authority and (b) Financial Services Authority to discuss...

      Electronic Publishing: VAT

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the merits of VAT on eBooks and audiobooks in the upcoming Budget.

      Government Securities: Environment Protection

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government has plans to issue a sovereign green gilt as part of the transition to a net zero economy.

      Average Earnings

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the average wage of people in employment who had been unemployed in the latest period for which figures are available.

      Child Benefit: Romford

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many children there are in households to which the high income child benefit charge applies in Romford constituency.

      Tax Avoidance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to tackle the sale of loan charge products.

      Coinage

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the manufacturing cost per coin of the commemorative 50 pence coins that are due to enter circulation on 31 January 2020 to...

      Coinage

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) designing, (b) producing and (c) publicising the commemorative 50 pence coins that are due to enter...

      Coinage

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) designing, (b) producing and (c) publicising the 50 pence coins that were due to enter circulation on (i) 29...

      Non-domestic Rates

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the timeframe is for his Department's review of business rates; and whether the findings of that review will be implemented before April 2021.

      Tax Avoidance

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many individuals (a) in total and (b) per parliamentary constituency will HMRC directly notify of the changes to the application of the loan charge.

      National Minimum Wage Enforcement Unit: Staff

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many FTE staff worked in the national minimum wage enforcement unit in each month in each of the last three years.

      Non-domestic Rates: Retail Trade

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many retail businesses have a rateable value of under £51,000.

      Vat

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Health on 9 January 202, Official Report, Column 727, what progress his Department has made on...

      Botulinum Toxin: VAT

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether botox injections for cosmetic surgeries that are regarded as essential medical procedures are VAT deductible.

      Child Trust Fund

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to (a) raise public awareness of and (b) encourage young people to access monies held in their name in Child Trust Fund...

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

    • Buildings: Insulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policy on the applicability to cladding of...

    • Housing: Solar Power

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring solar panels to be installed on all new dwellings.

      Buildings: Insulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policy on the applicability to cladding of...

      Knowsley Heights: Fires

      To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department holds a copy of the report undertaken by the Building Research Establishment on behalf of the...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Veterans: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many investigations of veterans in relation to the conflict in Northern Ireland have been found to be vexatious.

    • Defence: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has plans in place for joint procurement between the UK and EU member states after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.

      Unmanned Air Vehicles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the international legal framework is for the use of drones in conflict zones.

      International Military Services: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 7 October 2019 to Question 292965, on International Military Services: Finance, when he plans to bring forward...

      *No heading*

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the equity of paying the equivalent of (a) £6.28 an hour for a newly trained army reservist, or (b) £4.68 an...

      Iran: International Military Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the instruction was given to IMS Ltd to settle its debt with Iran's MOSDAF agency.

      Iran: International Military Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 8 October 2019 to Question 292967, whether the dividend received by the then Secretary of State in 2010 from IMS Ltd was...

      International Military Services: Legal Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much IMS Ltd spent on legal costs in the 2018-19 financial year.

      Defence: Conferences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 9 September 2019 to Question 286671 on Defence in UK Prosperity Review, what recent progress has been made on arranging...

      Army: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many soldiers who enlisted aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 or over dropped out of the army before completing their phase two training in the (i)...

      Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2020 to Question 4716 on Royal Fleet Auxiliary: Procurement, for what reason disclosure of the cost to the public...

      Army: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applicants for enlistment into the Army were aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 or over in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

      Army: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many applicants to enlist in the army did not end up doing so; and for what reason, in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

      Army: Deployment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British Army units are (a) deployed on operations throughout the world and (b) able to be deployed within 48 hours; and if he will make a statement.

      Ministry of Defence: Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the quality of service provided by contracts outsourced by his Department.

      Iran: International Military Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the potential risk to UK citizens from the debt dispute between International Military Services Ltd and Iran's MODSAF is included in his...

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Universal Credit: Severe Disability Premium

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to complete the process of back paying claimants who were incorrectly moved from severe disability premium on to universal credit.

    • Employment and Support Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to implement the recommendations of the Seventh Report of the Work and Pensions Committee, PIP and ESA assessments, Session...

      Employment: Autism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help support people with autistic spectrum disorder in making job applications.

      Employment: Autism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to encourage (a) managers and (b) employees to undertake autism awareness training in the workplace.

      Career Development: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support upward mobility for women in low wage jobs.

      Poverty: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will introduce a target to (a) reduce child poverty to four million children by 2021, (b) reduce child poverty to two million children...

      Disability: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to increase the financial support parents receive for raising children with disabilities.

      Child Benefit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the two child benefit limit on the income of single parents.

      Poverty: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many children lived in (a) poverty and (b) extreme poverty in (i) the North West, (ii) Merseyside and (iii) Wallasey in each of the last...

      Food Poverty: Wallasey

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take to tackle food poverty in Wallasey.

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the five-week wait for a first payment of universal credit on levels of poverty.

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the five-week wait for a first payment of universal credit on levels of homelessness.

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the five-week wait for a first payment of universal credit on the mental health of...

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Dogs: Meat

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with (a) her global counterparts and (b) animal rights groups on cruelty in the...

    • Fishing Catches: Computer Software

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on how many fishing vessels the catch recording app was live tested during fishing trips, prior to the fish being landed,...

      Food: Imports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) tonnage and (b) value of (i) beef, (ii) sheep meat, (iii) pork, (iv) dairy and (v) poultry products have been...

      Food: Imports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the (a) value and (b) proportion of market share was of imports of (i) beef, (ii) sheep meat, (iii) pork, (iv) dairy...

      Food: Exports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the (a) tonnage and (b) value was of exports of (i) beef, (ii) sheep meat, (iii) pork, (iv) dairy and (v) poultry...

      Beef: Sub-Saharan Africa

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for the UK's net imports of carbon dioxide per head of the potential...

      Beef: Imports

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to protect the UK's beef from imports from countries with lower regulatory standards.

      Agriculture: Migrant Workers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many non- UK EU nationals worked in the agricultural sector in each of the last three years, by county.

      Tree Planting: Wallasey

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase the number of trees planted in Wallasey.

  • Home Office

    • Domestic Abuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on progressing the Government's plans for the Domestic Abuse Bill.

    • Gambling: Crime

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the 28 December 2019 NHS England news story on gambling, whether she has had discussions with the Chancellor of the...

      Human Trafficking: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 5 November 2019 to Question 8260, when the Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship scheme will be rolled...

      British Nationality: Northern Ireland

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on providing a legal entitlement for citizens of Northern Ireland to be recognised as (a) Irish, (b) British and (c) both.

      Repatriation

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many voluntary removals were performed in each of the last five years; and how many of those voluntary removals were classified as (a)...

      Police: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training her Department provides to police officers to improve awareness of autism.

      Slavery

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has plans to implement a licensing system to protect people in the UK working in fast fashion garment factories from modern...

      Betting Shops: Crimes of Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many violent incidences have been recorded in betting shops in the six months (a) before 1 April 2019 and (b) after 1 April 2019.

      Immigration: EU Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 3 July 2019 to Question 269726 on Immigration: EU Nationals, what proportion of the 2% of people whom her...

      Immigration: EU Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 5 November 2019 to Question 4998 on Immigration: EU Nationals, whether the Government plans to share...

      Immigration: EU Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister of State for Security and Deputy for EU Exit and No Deal Preparation of 7 January...

      Merseyside Police: Recruitment

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress she is making on the recruitment of new frontline police officers in Merseyside.

      Refugees: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to permit unaccompanied refugees the right to family reunion in the UK.

      Refugees: Syria

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it remains the Government's policy to resettle 20,000 Syrian refugees in Syria by the end of 2020; and how many Syrian refugees have...

      Undocumented Migrants

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been arrested for immigration offences as part of Operation Nexus in each of the last three years.

      Asylum: Applications

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the time taken to process asylum and refugee claims.

  • Cabinet Office

    • Infant Mortality

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the infant mortality rate has been in England in each year since 2010.

    • Cabinet Office: Sustainable Development

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he will take to ensure his Department meets the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

      Civil Servants: Scotland

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans there are to increase the number of civil service (a) jobs and (b) offices located in Scotland.

      Climate Change

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will produce a report on progress made towards COP26.

      Climate Change

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government is requesting that international governments submit their Nationally Determined Contributions ahead of COP26 in November.

      Boston Consulting Group

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has employed Boston Consulting Group in relation to Government preparations for the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties.

      Freedom of Information: Disclosure of Information

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reasons the proportion of Freedom of Information requests granted in full across Government has decreased since 2005.

      Civil Servants: Average Earnings

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the civil service median gross salary is by (a) region and (b) grade.

      Buy British Campaign

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the oral contribution of 22 January 2020 of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Official Report column 289, what legislative...

      Employment: Parents

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of families with (a) three year old and (b) four year old children that have (i) all parents in...

      Police and Crime Commissioners: Elections

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to publicise the Police and Crime Commissioner elections on 7 May 2020.

      Childbirth

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many babies were born prematurely in each (a) nation and (b) region of the UK in each of the last five years.

  • Department for International Trade

    • UK-Africa Investment Summit

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2020 to Question 2474, what businesses (a) were invited to and (b) attended the UK-Africa Investment...

    • Beef: Uganda

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans she has to increase the import of Ugandan beef into the UK.

      Overseas Trade: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether her Department has made an assessment of the carbon footprint of each economic sector in its trade strategy.

      World Expo: United Arab Emirates

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of protections of the (a) human rights and (b) safety of workers building the British pavilion...

      Agricultural Products: Overseas Trade

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to encourage fair trade in agricultural produce.

      Department for International Trade: Northern Ireland Executive

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions she has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.

      Trade Agreements: British Overseas Territories

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the potential advantages that the British Overseas Territories could provide when negotiating new...

      Trade Agreements: Japan and South Korea

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the publication of the negotiation objectives for trade deals with (a) Japan...

  • Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

    • Internet: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on progressing the Government's plans for the Online Harms Bill.

    • Gambling: Advertising

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential effect...

      Gambling: Advertising

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the voluntary ban on gambling adverts during live,...

      Music: Discrimination and Harassment

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the level of (a) harassment and (b) discrimination in the music sector.

      Lotteries

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the Government plans to respond to the consultation on minimum ages for National Lottery games; and whether he...

      Museums and Galleries: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of national museums charging for specific exhibitions.

      National Lottery

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will ensure that all recorded (a) breaches by and (b) fines levied on the National Lottery operator in the...

      Irish National Lottery

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what representations his Department has received on missing scratch card prizes in the Irish National Lottery.

      BBC: Information Services

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with representatives of the BBC on its decision to end BBC teletext pages 102 and 1610.

      BBC: Information Services

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has undertaken an impact assessment on the effect on people who are both deaf and elderly of...

      Television: Licensing

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department will take to ensure that (a) deaf and (b) elderly BBC licence fee payers will be...

      Gambling: Regulation

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the powers of the Gambling Regulator.

      Football: Living Wage

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has had discussions with Premier League football teams on paying the living wage to their...

      Football: Homophobia

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what support his Department has provided to LGBT+ football fans in relation to tackling homophobia in that sport.

      Sports: Females

      To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when her Department plans to respond to the consultation on including the women's equivalent to men's sporting...

  • Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority

    • Members: Pay

      To ask the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what plans the Committee has to review the arrangements on access to salaries and expenses for hon. Members...

    • Members: Allowances

      To ask the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the total cost has been to the public purse of hon. Members who have not taken their seats in the House...

  • Women and Equalities

    • Offshore Industry: Discrimination

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent offshore employment providers recruiting in the UK from discriminating against an...

    • Employment Tribunals Service: Pregnancy

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment her Department has made of the effect on the ability of pregnant women to represent their cases of the three-month time limit for...

      Disability: Employment

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions her Department has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the fiscal support available for employers who incur costs by making...

  • Department for Transport

    • Railways: North of England

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the possible changes to the Northern franchise, what consideration, if any, they have given to transferring Leeds to Carlisle services via the Settle...

    • Airlines: Insolvency

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their decision to provide state aid to Flybe, what assessment they have made of the case for (1) planning for a possible public take-over of essential...

  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    • Hong Kong: Police Brutality

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the decision in December 2019 of the panel of international experts to stand aside from the Independent Police...

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Mental Health Services: Finance

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the proportion of the revenue resources specified in the NHS Funding Bill that will be allocated to mental health services for each...

  • Department for Education

    • *No heading*

      Her Majesty's Government which higher education providers have declined to participate in the Teaching Excellence Framework.

    • *No heading*

      Her Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister raised the issue of potential cuts to the Fulbright Programme as a result of the US administration's budget proposals during her meeting with...

      *No heading*

      Her Majesty's Government whether social workers working with children who show indicators that they may be victims of modern slavery receive any training on the Achieving Best Evidence guidelines.

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Family Proceedings

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the report of the panel assessing risk of harm to children and parents in private law children cases.

  • Home Office

    • Midwives: Training

      Her Majesty's Government how many people were killed by individuals who had previously been convicted of murder or manslaughter, in each of the last ten years for which figures are available.

    • Criminal Records: EU Nationals

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Bethell on 15 January (HL Deb, col 707), when the Association of Chief Police Officers Records Office first become aware of the...

      Drugs: Organised Crime

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services Both Sides Of The Coin: The Police And National Crime...

  • Treasury

    • National Insurance Contributions

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) part-time, and (2) low paid workers, will no longer be credited with a pensions contribution as a result of the proposed raising of the National...

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.

January 2020
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031