Written answers

Tuesday, 16 November 2021

  • Department for Transport

    • Blue Badge Scheme: Reciprocal Arrangements

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on negotiations with (a) his Spanish counterpart and (b) his counterparts in other EU states that do not have reciprocity...

    • Railway Stations: Visual Impairment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of stations have tactile paving on platforms; what plans he has to increase the number of platforms with tactile paving;...

      GMB

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his oral contribution of 4 November 2021, Official Report, Column 1047, what the basis is for his statement that the GMB union...

      Travel: Coronavirus

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to engage with carriers that refuse refunds for customers who were not legally allowed to fly during lockdown.

      Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Driving Licences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of enabling holders of licences for passenger carrying vehicles to drive large goods vehicles of a...

      Driving Licences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to tackle (a) delays in the processing of applications by the DVLA and (b) the underlying causes of those delays.

      Aviation: Alternative Fuels

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the £180 million funding for the development of alternative aviation fuel plants in the Net Zero Strategy, what that funding...

      Shipping: Carbon Emissions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much and what proportion of the £300 million investment identified in the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 for the extension of the...

      Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Driving Licences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure a sufficient number of DVLA staff to process driving licence renewal and HGV applications.

      Driving Licences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made on reducing the backlog in licence applications at the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency.

      High Speed 2 Railway Line: Iron and Steel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using Sheffield and Rotherham steel in the construction of HS2.

      High Speed 2 Railway Line: Iron and Steel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason steel sourced from outside the UK is being used in the construction of HS2.

      High Speed 2 Railway Line: Iron and Steel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the national provenance of the steel used in the construction of HS2.

      Biofuels

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government carried out comparative fuel economy trials for the change from E5 unleaded petrol to E10; and if he will make a statement.

      West Midlands Rail Franchise: Shropshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of cancellations of West Midlands Railway trains travelling in and out of Shropshire.

      High Speed 2 Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative assessment he has made of the (a) cost and (b) disruption of (i) phase 2b of HS2, (ii) the revival of the Great Central Main Line and...

      Hammersmith Bridge

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the recent progress of the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce.

      Imports: Brexit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer of 29 October 2021 to Question 63799 on Imports, what assessment has he made of the impact of the UK’s withdrawal from the...

      Leamside Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the feasibility of expanding (a) rail and (b) light rail services on the former Leamside railway line.

      High Speed 2 Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to conclusion 23 of the Oakervee Review, what recent steps have been taken to reduce the specifications of HS2 Phase One.

      High Speed 2 Railway Line: Buckinghamshire

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many new jobs the construction of HS2 Phase 1 has created in Buckinghamshire.

      Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Driving Licences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Written Statement of 18 October 2021 on Motor Vehicle Driving Licences, HCWS311, if he will publish (a) details of the 25...

      Hammersmith Bridge

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the level of Government funding for the restoration of Hammersmith Bridge will be agreed.

  • Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    • Wave Power: Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much public funding has his Department allocated to the development of wave electricity generation in each year...

    • Russia: Natural Gas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on reducing reliance on Russian gas imports.

      Fireworks: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress (a) her Department and (b) the Office for Product Safety and Standards have made on assessing the...

      Self-employed: Adoption

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason there is different (a) maternity and (b) adoption financial support for the self-employed; and what...

      Clean Steel Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the Clean Steel Fund is allocated before 2023, in response to successful...

      Iron and Steel: Hydrogen

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate a pilot for hydrogen-based steelmaking in the UK.

      Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to paragraph 1.38 of the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021, what services will be procured from the...

      Electricity Generation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions officials in his Department have had with Ofgem on the balance of reactive power in the UK’s...

      Nuclear Power: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish details of (a) spending on the development of nuclear energy projects since 2010 and (b) funding...

      Offshore Industry

      What steps his Department is taking to introduce a regulated asset base for the offshore grid.

      Small Businesses: Harlow

      What steps he will take to support small businesses in Harlow.

      Low Pay

      What steps he is taking to increase pay for low-paid workers.

      Research: Finance

      What steps his Department is taking to increase funding for research and development.

      Conditions of Employment

      What plans he has to extend employment rights to (a) workers in the gig economy and (b) all workers.

      Energy: Scotland

      What new support he plans to provide to energy transition projects in Scotland.

      Tidal Power: Contracts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of a ringfenced contract for difference scheme for tidal stream...

      Energy Supply: Hydrogen

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with metro mayors on converting the gas grid in their area from natural gas to hydrogen.

      Aerospace Technology Institute: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make a statement on the Government’s Spending Review commitment to extend funding for the Aerospace...

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Ambulance Services: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce ambulance waiting times.

    • Dementia: Health Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) his Department plans to introduce a cross-government approach to dementia risk reduction and (b) dementia risk reduction will...

      Surgery

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS Trusts in England have cancelled priority two elective procedures, as of 12 November 2021.

      Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that community and NHS mental health provision is integrated for children and young people.

      Hospitals: Coronavirus

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase access to phone calls for vulnerable covid-19 patients and their families at the beginning of their...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay of 16 July 2021 and chase up...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department will respond to the letter of 24 August 2021 from the hon. Member for West Lancashire on regarding dentists and ICS...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Lancashire of 18 August 2021 on ambulance waiting times, reference...

      Dental Services: Fees and Charges

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing free dental care for cancer patients.

      Cancer: Knowsley

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the length of time it will take to clear the cancer treatment backlog in Knowsley.

      Research: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the UKRI Board on research funding allocations.

      Patients: Safety

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the (a) national patient safety recommendations and (b) maternity safety...

      Epilepsy: Assistance Animals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of recent scientific studies undertaken at Queens University Belfast...

      Dementia: Health Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, (a) what role the Office for Health Promotion will have in dementia risk reduction and (b) which Directorate will be responsible for...

      Dementia

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Lancet Commission on Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report on the modifiable risk factors...

      Radiology: Vacancies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many vacancies for diagnostic radiographers there are in each NHS commissioning region in England.

      Health Professions: Termination of Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) nurses, (b) health visitors and (c) Hospital and community health services doctors left the NHS in England in 2020-21, by...

      Members: Correspondence

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Sefton Central to the Minister for International Trade, dated...

      Ambulance Services: Staff

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of staffing levels in the ambulance service in (a) London and (b) England; and what...

      Ambulance Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to relieve pressure on ambulance workers and to improve working conditions within the ambulance service.

      Muscular Dystrophy: Health Services

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether integrated care systems or NHS England has responsibility for continuing to commission specialised services for muscular dystrophy.

      Christianity: Nurses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the equity of Christian nurses facing discrimination on grounds of religion.

      Hospitals: Coronavirus

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November to Question 68465 on Hospitals: Coronavirus, notwithstanding the imminent delivery plan for reducing...

      Global Health Insurance Card: Welsh Language

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether people applying for the UK's Global Health Insurance Card are able to complete the application form in Welsh.

      Coronavirus: Contact Tracing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason local public health teams are not authorised to provide day zero contract tracing for covid-19 infections.

      Coronavirus: Contact Tracing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve contact tracing services.

      Motor Neurone Disease: Research

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to increase the amount of funding allocated to research on Motor Neurone Disease.

      Coronavirus: Screening

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the levels of regular covid-19 testing among the public.

      Health Services: Children

      To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2021 to Question 66266 on Health Services: Children, for what reason that Answer did not itemise the...

  • Department for Education

    • Afghanistan: Refugees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding his Department has provided to support the 300 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for Afghan nationals at UK universities...

    • School Exclusions Review

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his planned timetable is for completing implementation of the commitments made in response to The Timpson review of school exclusion.

      Department for Education: Stonewall

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2021 to Question 61056 on Department for Education: Stonewall, if he will make an assessment of the consistency...

      Schools: Ventilation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make it his policy to provide Government funded schools with the funding to install portable high efficiency particulate filters in...

      Education: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average educational attainment is for (a) boys and (b) girls at ages (i) 11, (ii) 16 and (ii) 18 in each (A) county and (B) region of England.

      Special Educational Needs: Pupil Exclusions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what responsibilities his Department is placing on (a) directors of children's services, (b) school governing bodies, (c) academy trusts and (d) local...

      Special Educational Needs: Reviews

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of (a) involving SEND groups that have not to date been involved in the SEND Review in...

      Special Educational Needs: Reviews

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his planned timetable is for completion of the SEND Review.

      Special Educational Needs: Pupil Exclusions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking with Ofsted to (a) define and (b) tackle the practice of off-rolling in relation to the exclusion of SEND children.

      Special Educational Needs: Pupil Exclusions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department plans to take to make schools accountable for the outcomes of permanently excluded SEND children.

      Special Educational Needs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of establishing a programme for SEND children to embed effective partnership working...

      Performing Arts: Schools

      To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to use his Department’s covid-19 recovery funding to increase participation in drama and theatre in schools.

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Domestic Abuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what protection UK victims of coercive control have under the Hague Convention when subject to proceedings of that convention.

    • Young Offender Institutions: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report, Out of sight: Girls in the Children and Young People’s Secure Estate, published by Centre for Mental Health on 5...

      Ministry of Justice: Stonewall

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2021 to Question 61053 on Stonewall: Ministry of Justice, if he will make a comparative assessment of the accuracy...

      Crown Court: Kingston upon Thames

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) knives and (b) other bladed implements were removed from witnesses and visitors on entry to Kingston Crown Court and County Court premises...

  • Treasury

    • Non-domestic Rates: Tax Allowances

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made a comparative assessment of the impact on large business that have several venues of introducing the 50 per cent business rates relief...

    • Defibrillators: VAT

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2021 to Question 68145 and the Answer of the 26 October 2021 to question 60363, on what evidential basis his...

      Non-domestic Rates: Tax Allowances

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the 50 per cent business rates relief discount will be afforded per businesses or per premises; and whether high street and seaside arcades will be...

      Gaming Machines: Non-domestic Rates

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the amusement machine industry will be eligible for the 50 per cent business rates relief discount afforded to the retail, leisure and hospitality...

      Wealth: Taxation

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish a response to Early Day Motion 420 on Introducing a wealth tax.

      Tax Evasion: Appeals

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of introducing a right of appeal for people affected by the Loan Charge.

      Schools: Uniforms

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2021 to Question 58455, on Schools: Uniforms, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of VAT on school...

      Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Travel

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to support people who work in the travel industry following the end of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

      Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 1.38 of the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021, what companies he (a) has had discussions and (b) plans to have discussions...

      Treasury: Stonewall

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2021 to Question 68994, on Treasury: Stonewall, if he will provide details of any funding for Stonewall from his...

      Children: Day Care

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the tax-free childcare scheme, how many user accounts have been closed as a result of inactivity in each of the last five years; and what...

      Economic Situation: China

      To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential risks posed to UK financial stability as a result of developments in China’s economy in recent months;...

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • Aukus

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish a response to Early Day Motion 493 on US-UK-Australia military pact.

    • Palestinians: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to ensure that Palestinian communities have been meaningfully consulted...

      Afghanistan: Refugees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the status is of the around 175 British Council contractors who have applied to the Afghan Relocations and...

      Palestinians: Overseas Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 October 201 to Question 903830 on the Palestinian Authority: ODA recognising the...

      Afghanistan: British Nationals Abroad

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the number of British nationals who (a) are in and (b) are wanting to...

      Sub-Saharan Africa: Private Military and Security Companies

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the presence of foreign private military companies operating in conflict areas in...

      Christianity

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations she has made to her foreign counterparts to prevent the abuse of the human rights of...

      Ethiopia: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had (a) at the United Nations Security Council and (b) with the African Union and...

      Afghanistan: Home Country Nationals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many Afghan nationals with UK visas who served (a) as interpreters and (b) in other locally employed staff...

      Sudan: Paramilitary Forces

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of whether arms and equipment provided by the UK to the Saudi and Emirati Governments...

      Afghanistan: Refugees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support (a) Afghan Nationals and (b) the dependents of Afghan nationals who are in...

      Zhang Zhan

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to her Chinese counterpart on the situation of journalist, Zhang Zhan.

      Eswatini: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has made to the Government of Eswatini on (a) allegations of police brutality, (b)...

      Sudan: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Sudanese Government on the (a) release of civilian leaders, (b) a...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Ministry of Defence: ICT

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 145 of his Department's annual report and accounts 2019-2020, for what reason the project to procure a new information system was...

    • Shipbuilding: Public Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 will effect the publication timeline for the National Shipbuilding Strategy refresh.

      Type 23 Frigates: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 2.11 of the NAO report entitled Improving the performance of major equipment contracts, published on 24 June 2021, what...

      National Army Museum: Medals

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to return the (a) Distinguished Conduct Medal and (b) campaign medals awarded in WWII to Sergeant Sidney Morton Vernon to his son,...

      Armed Forces: Transport

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Operation Pitting, what recent assessment he has made of the UK's strategic transport capability.

      Afghanistan: Refugees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will include people in Afghanistan who have been previously funded by the Cultural Protection Fund in the selection criteria for the Afghan...

      Afghanistan: Refugees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2021 to Question 44193 on Afghanistan: Refugees, how many of the of the 981 locally employed staff that were...

      Afghanistan: Refugees

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which Government department is responsible for building a credible case for Afghan nationals who (a) were previously employed by the National...

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Local Housing Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2021 to Question 65363, what estimate her Department has made of the number of tenants in the private...

    • Pensions: Fraud

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the announcement of 8 November 2021 on preventing pension scams, what estimate she has made of the impact on the number of...

      National Insurance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that all holders of a Turkish Businessperson Visa applying for a National Insurance number are granted it...

      National Insurance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the processing time for National Insurance number applications is 16 weeks; and what steps her Department is taking to reduce...

      Employment and Support Allowance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer on 25 October 2021 to Question 57146 on Employment Support Allowance (ESA), what steps her Department is taking to...

      Pensioners: Government Assistance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to provide additional financial support to pensioners during winter 2021-22.

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2021 to Question 62643 on Universal Credit, whether his Department has made an assessment of the...

      Kickstart Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many referrals from Job Centre work coaches have been made to the Kickstart Scheme; and how many of those referrals were people classified...

      Employment Schemes: Disability

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disabled people have undertaken work placements under the Kickstart scheme or other similar programmes as part of the Plan for Jobs.

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Ash Dieback Disease

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of ash trees felled in the last period for which data is available.

    • Climate Change: North East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has he made of the impact on the North East environment & food production of global warming of (a) 1.5...

      Water Treatment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the amount of mined coal required annually for water filtration purposes.

      Sewage: Waste Disposal

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Nature Recovery and the Domestic Environment of 20 October 2021,...

  • Home Office

    • Refugees: Afghanistan

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when each Afghan national who arrived in the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, Operation Pitting and the Afghan...

    • Trade Unions: Protection

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what engagement her Department has with (a) the FDA, (b) the BMA, (c) the NUJ and (d) other trade union bodies on protections for public...

      Pensions: Police

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that police officers are not discriminated against within the new Police Pension Scheme.

      Money Laundering

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) investigations, (b) arrests, (c) disruptions, (d) prosecutions and (e) convictions have been undertaken by the National Crime...

      Refugees: Afghanistan

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues on opening the Afghan citizens' resettlement scheme; and what estimate she...

      National Crime Agency: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the budget was for the National Crime Agency's Civil Recovery Team in each of the last five years.

      Domestic Abuse

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to include (a) a legal interest in...

      Crimes of Violence: Females

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure the development of an expert-informed public awareness campaigns on violence against women in the forthcoming Violence...

      Crimes of Violence

      To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the data she holds on the number of people reporting offences under the Offences against The Person Act 1861, section...

  • Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

    • Housing: Insulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2021 to Question 69091 on Housing: Insulation, of the 27 homes of which Homes England...

    • Housing: Insulation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2021 to Question 69091 on Housing: Insulation, what estimate he has made of the...

      Building Safety Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answer of 26 October 2021 to Question 58300 on the Building Safety Fund, when he plans to publish the text...

      Affordable Housing: Private Rented Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the impact of the Affordable Homes Programme on the buy-to-let sector.

      Regional Planning and Development

      To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he made (a) oral and (b) written requests to any hon. Members that were expressed as conditions of departmental...

      Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether (a) he and (b) his Ministerial colleagues informed hon. Members that funding for their constituency via the (i)...

  • Cabinet Office

    • Imports: Supply Chains

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to Answer of 29 October 2021 to Question 63799 on Imports, if he will publish his Department's...

    • Cabinet Office: Brexit

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people and organisations were signed up to receive email alerts from his Department's Brexit checker...

      Coronavirus: Disease Control

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has met the National Foresight Group to discuss their reports on the Government response to...

      Emergencies: Planning

      To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the readiness of each local resilience forum to respond to future emergencies.

  • Department for International Trade

    • Shipping: Exports

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 will affect the proposed establishment of a Maritime Capability Campaign Office.

    • Overseas Trade: Climate Change

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the role of trade policy in helping to tackle climate change.

      UK Trade with EU: Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of (a) trends in the costs of imports from and exports to the EU and (b) the effects on small businesses of...

  • Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

    • Gambling

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, (a) what sanctions apply to gambling companies which breach license terms by failing to remove self excluded people from...

    • Local Press: Access

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to improve access to local newspaper records.

      Art Works: Nigeria

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of the repatriation of the Benin Bronzes to Nigeria.

      Youth Services: Holiday Activities and Food Programme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of coordinating the provision of youth services with the Holiday...

      Cricket: Racial Discrimination

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps his Department has taken to support victims of racist abuse within cricket.

      Broadband: North East

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the timescale is for the (a) procurement and (b) connections for the regional supplier procurements for Durham and...

      Young Audiences Content Fund

      To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to make a decision on whether to close, continue or expand the Young Audience Content Fund.

  • Cop26

  • Women and Equalities

    • Conversion Therapy

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to bring forward legislative proposals to end conversion therapy.

  • Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    • Natural Gas: Russia

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 26 October (HL2999), when they last communicated with the government of Russia regarding the gas supply...

    • Energy Supply: Prices

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of those who have been moved to a new energy supplier due to their own supplier ceasing to trade were previously on a green tariff and have now...

      Insolvency Service: Finance

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 2 November (HL3272), what plans they have to commit extra resources to the Insolvency Service should the...

      Property: China

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 2 November (HL3262), what details they can provide regarding the 60 titles within the Greater London...

      Electricity Generation

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the frequency with which Distribution Network Operators supply power outside the allowed fluctuations, and (2) the effects of...

      Help to Grow Scheme

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to change the eligibility of the Help to Grow scheme to permit charities to participate.

  • Department of Health and Social Care

    • Embryos

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Kamall on 2 November 2021 (HL3362), how prospective patients are best enabled to give informed consent if the Human...

    • General Practitioners: Working Hours

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many GPs are currently working for (1) three or fewer days per week, (2) four days per week, and (3) five days per week; and what is the average salary for...

      Lung Diseases: Screening

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people in England are waiting to have spirometry testing in primary care; and how many people are waiting for their diagnosis of suspected lung disease to...

      Dentistry: Coronavirus

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) dentists, (2) dental surgeons, and (3) dental hygienists working for the NHS or privately in England are required to have COVID-19 vaccinations.

      Office for Health Improvement and Disparities

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend (1) to launch, and (2) to chair, a partnership forum on behalf of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities; and if so, who...

      Office for Health Improvement and Disparities: Finance

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities will receive a separate funding allocation from HM Treasury; and if so, whether that will be for the next...

      Health: Exercise

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role of physical activity in tackling health (1) improvement, and (2) disparities.

      Office for Health Improvement and Disparities: Staff

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what the staffing compliment for the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities will be; and what percentage of staff will transfer from Public Health England.

      NHS: Coronavirus

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the latest figures for NHS staff who have refused to have COVID-19 vaccinations.

      Office for Health Improvement and Disparities

      To ask Her Majesty's Government why the initial priorities for the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities do not include (1) mental health, or (2) physical activity.

      Coronavirus: Vaccination

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that people living in rural areas are able to go to their nearest vaccination centre to receive their COVID-19 booster jab.

      Care Homes: Coronavirus

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the safety of care home (1) residents, and (2) staff, given recent reports that only 28.8 per cent of residents and 14.1 per cent...

      Health Services: Equality

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 26 October (HL3010), what plans they have to engage with stakeholders before the publication of NHS England's...

      Catheters: Urinary Tract Infections

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the number of catheter associated urinary tract infections acquired by patients while in hospital.

      Steroid Drugs: Misuse

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional steps they intend to take to identify patients at risk of long-term overuse of mid to high potency topical steroids, as a result of the recent...

      Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote the wearing of face masks in crowded locations, particularly indoors.

  • Wales Office

    • Coal: Mining

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations, if any, they have received from the Welsh Government requesting financial assistance to make safe coal-tips that existed prior to 1999.

  • Department for Education

    • Languages: Primary Education

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to monitor the delivery of the national curriculum requirement that a foreign language be taught at Key Stage 2.

  • The Senior Deputy Speaker

    • House of Lords Chamber

      To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answers by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 2 November (HL3271, HL3268, HL3269), what consultation about the wearing of wigs took place...

    • House of Lords Chamber

      To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answers by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 2 November (HL3271, HL3268, HL3269), how many clerks that undertake duties at the Table of the...

      Victoria Tower: Floods

      To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment has been made of the risk from flooding to Victoria Tower.

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • Cuba: Human Rights

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to raise human rights abuses with the government of Cuba, including the rights to freedom of assembly, expression, and religion or belief; and...

    • Bosnia and Herzegovina: Visits Abroad

      To ask Her Majesty's Government which ministers (1) have visited, and (2) are due to visit, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2021.

      Office of the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has to meet with Christian Schmidt the EU's High Representative for Bosnia and...

      Omar Hasan Abu al-Nil

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the killing of Omar Abu a-Nil.

      Tareq Zubeidi

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the reported kidnap and torture of Tareq Zbeidi by Israeli settlers.

      Israeli Settlements

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the statement from US state department spokesman Ned Price on 26 October that the government of the USA “strongly...

      Balkans: Foreign Relations

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions on the Western Balkans (1) the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, (2) the Secretary of State for Defence, and...

      Tigray: Conflict Resolution

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Olusegun Obasanjo since his appointment as High Representative for the Horn of Africa Region by the Commission of the African...

      Cuba: Religious Freedom

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in response to the 4 November statement by the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief on the...

      Armenia: Azerbaijan

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the OSCE Minsk Group regarding the withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from the (1) Syunik, and (2) Gegharkunik, provinces.

      Armenia: Azerbaijan

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Azerbaijan regarding the returning of all Armenian prisoners of war.

      West Bank: Palestinians

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they will make to the government of Israel about reports of Israeli settlers firing at Palestinians in the West Bank on 26 June.

      Israel: Palestinians

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, if any, to the government of Israel in relation to reports of the use by Israeli forces of (1) tear gas, and (2) sound bombs,...

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Flood Control: Millbank

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to prevent flooding along Millbank; and what measures are involved.

    • Deposit Return Schemes

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish their response to the Consultation on Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Second...

      Plastic Bags: Charities

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the environmental impact of the fundraising practice of delivering plastic charity bags to millions of households.

      Graffiti

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of money being spent on graffiti removal; and what assessment they have made of its impact in residential areas.

      Waste Disposal

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the provision of the Environment Bill to enable charges to be levied on single-use items made from any material will enable charges to be placed on...

      Deposit Return Schemes

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with relevant industries regarding the membership of the proposed Deposit Management Organisation.

      Packaging: Waste

      To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish their response to the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging: Consultation Document, published on 25 March.

  • Home Office

    • Asylum: Napier Barracks

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact on integration of housing people seeking asylum in Napier Barracks.

    • Town and Country Planning (Napier Barracks) Special Development Order 2021

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions (1) Ministers, and (2) representatives, from the Home Office had with Shepway District Council before the Town and Country Planning (Napier...

      Offenders: Deportation

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many convicted foreign offenders were deported after completing their prison sentences in each quarter since 1 January 2020.

  • Cabinet Office

    • Public Consultation: Codes of Practice

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all government departments are expected to abide by the Cabinet Office Consultation Principles and Code of Practice to conduct 12-week formal written...

  • Treasury

    • VAT: Tax Evasion

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many businesses have been investigated for VAT evasion that took place before January as a direct result of changes to VAT remittance and collection...

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Youth Custody: Safety

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address safety concerns across the youth custody estate in England and Wales.

    • Crown Court: Coronavirus

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how long it will take to clear the backlog of Crown Court cases resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

      Criminal Proceedings

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent steps they have taken to increase confidence in the criminal justice system.

      Judicial Review: Reform

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reform the rules regarding judicial review.

      Human Rights

      To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reform human rights legislation.

      Prisoners: Gender Recognition

      To ask Her Majesty's Government how many female prisoners who are transitioning to male, or who have a gender recognition certificate, are incarcerated in prison units holding male biological sex...

  • Women and Equalities

    • Government Departments: Gender Recognition

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord True on 1 November (HL3551), why giving civil servants in departments and arms-length bodies the opportunity to declare...

    • Women's Rights: Gender Recognition

      To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord True on 1 November (HL3551), how the rights of biological women will be affected if they are included statistically in...

      Conversion Therapy

      To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their consultation on how to make coercive conversion therapies illegal is in line with the Cabinet Office Consultation Principles in that all...

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.

November 2021
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930