Written answers

Tuesday, 13 September 2022

  • Department for Transport

    • Hybrid Air Vehicles: Loans

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the decision not to provide a loan to Hybrid...

    • Avanti West Coast: Standards

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Schedule 6.2, Clause 10.6 of the West Coast Rail Franchise Agreement, what key performance indicators he agreed with Avanti West...

      Driving Tests: Waiting Lists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in the context of the driving test backlog, if he will take steps to increase the number of driving test slots available, particularly in rural areas.

      Department for Transport: Termination of Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many members of staff have left his Department since 12 December 2019.

      Driving Tests: Waiting Lists

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people were awaiting a practical driving test as on 2 September (a) 2021 and (b) 2022.

      Driving Tests

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to recruit 300 new driving examiners; and how many and what proportion...

      Italy: Driving Licences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with his Italian counterpart on the right of former UK residents living in Italy to use their UK driving licence.

      Driving Licences

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many drivers medical applications were waiting to be processed as on 1 September (a) 2021 and (b) 2022.

      A10: West Winch

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the Strategic Outline Business Case for the A10 West Winch Housing Access Road submitted to his Department by Norfolk...

      Motor Vehicles: Air Pollution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the roadside vehicle noise measurement scheme to include measurements of air...

      West Coast Railway Line

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Schedule 6.2, Clause 10.6 of the West Coast Rail Franchise Agreement, what train driver (a) recruitment and (b) training plans were...

      Motor Vehicles: Noise

      To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of expanding the roadside vehicle noise measurement scheme after its trial period.

  • Northern Ireland Office

    • Northern Ireland Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with his Cabinet colleagues on power sharing in Northern Ireland.

  • Ministry of Justice

    • Social Security and Child Support Tribunal: Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an estimate of the average cost per disposed case in the Social Security & Child Support Tribunal in each year since 2012-13 for (a)...

    • Sexual Offences: Remand in Custody

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to help ensure that a suspect remanded in custody pending trial for sexual assault will not be released prior to a court...

      Administration of Justice: Digital Technology

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to support the digital transformation of the legal sector.

      Prisoners: Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost was of imprisoning people found to have breached civil injunction orders in each year since 2014.

      Civil Proceedings: Reviews

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Lord Justice Briggs’ review of the structure of the civil courts in England and Wales published in 2016, which recommendations...

      Sexual Offences: Trials

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has plans to allow historical sexual abuse victims to have a character witness during trial.

      Rape: Trials

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the (a) capital and (b) revenue budgets allocated for each of the pilot specialist rape courts are, as announced on 16 June 2022.

      Sexual Offences: Reoffenders

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in the context of delays to cases of alleged sexual offences reaching trial, what recent estimate his Department has made of the rate of reoffending...

      Women's Prisons: Prison Accommodation

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the press notice entitled Extra funding for organisations that steer women away from crime, published by his Department on 23 January...

      Powers of Attorney

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average time taken was to register a Power of Attorney with the Office of the Public Guardian in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021 and (d) January...

      Prisoners: Wales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish the number of Welsh people in prison based on home address prior to entering custody by establishment for each year between 2007 and 2012.

      Legal Aid Scheme: Human Trafficking

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many victims of human trafficking have received Legal Aid in each of the last three years.

      County Courts: Judgements

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the number of county court judgements in (a) Newport West constituency, (b) Wales and (c) England; and...

      Legal Aid Scheme: Newport West

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the access to legal aid for families in Newport West constituency.

      Legal Aid Scheme: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has made a recent estimate of the number of local authority areas in (a) Wales and (b) England that do not have a housing legal aid provider.

      Courts: Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on the Courts in England and Wales of the rising cost of energy.

      Humanism: Education

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of his proposed reforms to the Human Rights Act on humanist education.

      Religious Freedom: Telecommunications

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the judgment in Blackburn (t/a Cornish Moorland Honey) v Revenue and Customs Commissioners [2013] UKFTT 525 and the Answer of 15...

      Legal Aid Scheme

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has taken recent steps to improve the availability of and access to legal aid.

      Custody: Fathers

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of support available to fathers going through custody proceedings.

      Religious Freedom

      To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 15 February 2022 to Question 119628 on Religious Freedom and to his Department's consultation entitled Human Rights Act...

  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

    • Chile: Constitutions

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Chilean counterpart on Chile's national plebiscite on a new constitution.

    • Jamaica: Republicanism

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact on UK and Jamaica relations of Jamaica's intention to become a Republic.

      Argentina: Politics and Government

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the political situation in Argentina.

      Ramiro Durán

      To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the murder of former FARC combatant and peace...

  • Ministry of Defence

    • Ukraine: Military Aid

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) UK and (b) non-UK armed forces personnel are involved in Operation Interflex.

    • Somaliland: Military Alliances

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to increase the UK’s military cooperation with Somaliland in the (a) Horn of Africa and (b) Gulf of Aden.

      Somaliland: Military Alliances

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish details of the UK’s military cooperation with Somaliland in the (a) Horn of Africa and (b) Gulf of Aden.

      Indo-Pacific Region: Armed Forces

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 67 of the Integrated Review 2021 and the escalation of tensions on the Taiwan border, what recent assessment his Department has...

      Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many small boats has the Royal Navy intercepted in the English Channel as part of Operation Isotrope.

      AWACS: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the date of initial operating capability is for the E-7 Wedgetail as of 6 September 2022.

      Defence: Finance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of inflation on defence spending.

      Ministry of Defence: Energy

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on energy in each of the last three years.

      F-35 Aircraft

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK's F-35Bs can be fully upgraded to the combat capable Block 4 standard without a new engine.

      AWACS: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason his Department decided to reduce the number of E-7 Wedgetail aircraft it will purchase from five to three.

      F-35 Aircraft: Engines

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what pans he has to upgrade the (a) RAF and (b) Fleet Air Arm F-35Bs with the (i) General Electric XA100 or (ii) Pratt & Whitney XA101 engine.

      Ministry of Defence: Public Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will set out the annual budget for (a) Navy Command, (b) Army Command, (c) Air Command, (d) Strategic Command, (e) Defence Nuclear Organisation,...

      Military Bases: Natural Gas

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the increased price of wholesale gas on properties on the defence estate.

      National Grid Electricity Transmission: AAC Wattisham

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the East Anglia GREEN proposals on operations at Wattisham Air Base.

      Military Aircraft: Training

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place a copy of the contract between his Department and the Ascent consortium relating to the Military Flying Training System contract in the...

      Armed Forces: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to improve the insulation of (a) Service Living Accommodation and (b) Service Family Accommodation to help reduce energy bills in...

      Ministry of Defence: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many payments were fraudulently charged to his Department’s budget using electronic purchasing cards in the financial years (a) 2019-20, (b)...

      Defence: Employment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support defence jobs in (a) Merseyside and (b) Lancashire.

      Ministry of Defence: Travel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the travel sections of his Department’s publications of government procurement card spending over £500, whether the...

      Ministry of Defence: Travel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the travel sections of his Department’s publications of government procurement card spending over £500, first published on...

      Ministry of Defence: Travel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the travel section of his Department’s government procurement card spending over £500 for December 2021, for what reason...

      Ministry of Defence: Travel

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the travel section of his Department’s Government procurement card spending over £500 for February 2022, for what reason...

      Russia: Military Equipment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent potential smuggling of British military and dual-use technology into Russia through the use of...

      Military Bases: Operating Costs

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 4 of his Department's report A Better Defence Estate, published in November 2016, how much the Defence estate optimisation...

      Military Bases: Sales

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 4 of his Department's report A Better Defence Estate, published in November 2016, how many new homes were built on land formerly...

      Defence: Radar

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many fixed radar sites form part of the UK air defence network as of 6 September 2022.

      AWACS: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the individual unit cost is of the proposed three E-7 Wedgetail aircraft, expressed as (a) acquisition and (b) through-life cost.

      Ministry of Defence: Public Expenditure

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates on the projected affordability of his Department's major projects.

      Armed Forces: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints has the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Navy received on Single Living Accommodation in each month in (i) 2021 and (ii) 2022.

      Armed Forces: Housing

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints his Department received on Service Family Accommodation in each month in 2022.

      Fleet Solid Support Ships: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Capital Adequacy Tests will be undertaken on all companies and teams bidding into the Fleet Solid Support Ship competition.

      Ajax Vehicles: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he next plans to make a statement to the House of Commons on the status of the Ajax Armoured Vehicle project.

      Russia: Military Equipment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to prevent British technology from being used in Russian radars and missile systems; and if he will make a statement.

      Defence Equipment

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a list of approved non-issued kit suitable for use by armed service...

      Artillery: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to replenish its supply of long-range artillery weapons.

      Tanks: Procurement

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of procuring Leopard 2s to (a) further complement the British Army's fleet of main...

      Challenger Tanks and Horses

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Challenger tanks and (b) horses are currently operational.

      Unmanned Air Vehicles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department are taking steps to develop the British Army's loitering munitions capabilities.

      Challenger Tanks

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the potential saving to the public purse of reducing the number of Challenger 2 battle tanks.

      Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Repairs and Maintenance

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the British Army's 979 Armoured Personnel Carriers are rated RED on the Joint Asset Management and Engineering Solutions system.

      Armed Forces: Vehicles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what mounting jacks are used on British military vehicles; and whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of moving towards...

      Artillery

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the UK’s current long-range artillery capability.

      Armoured Fighting Vehicles

      To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the combat suitability of The Jackal 2 platform when pitted against (a) peer and (b) near peer opponents.

  • Department for Work and Pensions

    • Working Tax Credit: Newport West

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who did not receive housing benefit were in receipt of (a) the childcare element and (b) other elements of Working Tax Credit...

    • Discretionary Housing Payments

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with Local Authorities on the Government's decision to cut the Discretionary Housing Payment budget from £140...

      Universal Credit: Newport West

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people claimed Universal Credit in Newport West constituency in each of the last four years.

      Universal Credit

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons it is her policy that there should be a managed migration of legacy benefits to Universal Credit.

      Social Security Benefits: Debts

      To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to pause deductions from benefit payments which aim to recover a claimant's debts.

  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    • Food Supply

      To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure UK food security.

  • Scotland Office

  • Cabinet Office

    • Balance of Trade

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate his Department has made of the balance of trade for Standard Industrial Classification groups (a) J.58.1, (b) J.58.2, (c) J.60, (d) J.62,...

    • Retail Prices Index

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the methodology for calculating the Retail Price Index used at the Budget statements of (a) 27 October 2021, (b) 3 March 2021 and...

      Local Resilience Forums: Weather

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will (a) instruct all resilience forums to establish a plan for tackling extreme heat, including checks on vulnerable residents and cool rest...

      Government Departments: Birmingham

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many jobs have been created in the West Midlands as a result of the establishment of the cross-Government hub at 23 Stephenson Street in Birmingham.

      Blood: Contamination

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the interim report by Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, published on 29 July 2022, and the endorsement in...

      Government Departments: Buildings

      To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many work stations were available for civil servants to use in each Department as of 2 September 2022.

  • Women and Equalities

    • Equal Pay

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 129064 on Equal Pay, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of...

    • Civil Servants: Training

      To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to Section 109(4) of the Equality Act 2010, whether the provision of mandatory training for civil service staff regarding their...

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