Questions for Oral or Written Answer beginning on Monday 24 November 2008

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TUESDAY 25 NOVEMBER

Questions for Oral Answer

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport

*1
John Barrett (Edinburgh West): What recent representations he has received on the proposal for a third runway at Heathrow.
(238592)
*2
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): What estimate he has made of the number of people using public bus services in 2006-07; and if he will make a statement.
(238593)
*3
Mr David Jones (Clwyd West): What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the rail network; and if he will make a statement.
(238594)
*4
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): What his Department's policy is on the future of the South London line; and if he will make a statement.
(238595)
*5
Natascha Engel (North East Derbyshire): What measures he is taking to encourage more people to cycle.
(238596)
*6
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough): What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the rail network; and if he will make a statement.
(238597)
*7
Malcolm Bruce (Gordon): What assessment he has made of the effects of the new fare structure for railways introduced by the Association of Train Operating Companies.
(238598)
*8
Mr David Heathcoat-Amory (Wells): When he plans to introduce the new motorcycle driving test; and if he will make a statement.
(238599)
*9
Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): What proportion of fatal road accidents were caused or contributed to by drivers under the influence of illegal drugs in the latest period for which figures are available.
(238600)
*10
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): What recent assessment he has made of customer satisfaction levels with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
(238601)
*11
John Mann (Bassetlaw): What recent representations he has received on the future of the 16-25 railcard.
(238602)
*12
John Robertson (Glasgow North West): What steps his Department has considered to reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions from air travel; and if he will make a statement.
(238603)
*13
Andrew Rosindell (Romford): What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the capacity of the rail network; and if he will make a statement.
(238604)
*14
Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): What his most recent assessment is of the adequacy of his Department's funding of the national concessionary bus fares scheme.
(238605)
*15
Mrs Linda Riordan (Halifax): What recent progress has been made on the provision of a direct rail link between Halifax and London.
(238606)
*16
Mr Michael Jack (Fylde): What recent discussions his Department has had with the Local Government Association on the operation of the national concessionary bus fares scheme.
(238607)
*17
Paddy Tipping (Sherwood): Whether he plans to modify the renewable transport fuel obligation; and if he will make a statement.
(238608)
*19
Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): If his Department will take steps to build a high speed rail line north from London.
(238610)
*20
Hugh Bayley (City of York): What his policy is for regional airports in the north of England; and if he will make a statement.
(238611)

At 3.05 p.m.

Topical Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport

The Members listed below have been selected by ballot to ask a Topical Question.

*1
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
(238612)
*2
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire):
(238613)
*3
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):
(238614)
*4
Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough):
(238615)
*5
Richard Ottaway (Croydon South):
(238616)
*6
Mr John Baron (Billericay):
(238617)
*7
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey):
(238618)
*8
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough):
(238619)

At 3.15 p.m.

Oral Questions to the Minister for Women and Equality

*1
John Mann (Bassetlaw): What estimate she has made of the effect on the expenditure of public bodies of replacement of the requirement to undertake separate equality impact assessments with a requirement to undertake a single assessment.
(238582)
*2
Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): What further steps the Government is taking to reduce the incidence of domestic violence.
(238583)
*3
Philip Davies (Shipley): What pay gaps there are in respect of gender, race and disability amongst employees of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
(238584)
*4
Angela Watkinson (Upminster): What steps she is taking to tackle violence against women.
(238585)
*5
Laura Moffatt (Crawley): What progress she has made on providing emergency funding support for rape crisis centres.
(238586)
*6
Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): What recent steps the Government has taken to support women who are subject to domestic violence.
(238587)
*7
James Duddridge (Rochford & Southend East): What steps the Government is taking to reduce levels of violence against women.
(238588)
*8
Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): What discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues on measures to increase the proportion of people with disabilities employed as civil servants.
(238589)
*9
John Robertson (Glasgow North West): What steps she plans to take to encourage individuals who are victims of domestic violence to seek assistance to prevent continued abuse.
(238590)
*10
Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): If she will hold discussions with Ministerial colleagues on the reasons for the over-representation of women amongst those brought before the courts for evading payments for television licence fees.
(238591)

Questions for Written Answer

Notices given on Tuesday 18 November
1
N
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what steps the Government has taken to promote the growth of small businesses during the recent economic difficulties.
(238158)
2
N
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what recent steps the Government has taken to reduce regulatory requirements on small businesses.
(238159)
3
N
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps the Government has taken to reinforce child protection in schools in the last 12 months.
(238196)
4
N
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many people have used Sure Start services in the last 12 months.
(238197)
5
N
Mr Andrew Smith (Oxford East): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to fulfil the Government's commitment to the principles established in the Annex to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.
(238465)
6
N
Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how much funding the Government will allocate for horse riding and horse care national vocational qualifications in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.
(238471)
7
N
Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what public funds were made available for national vocational qualifications in horse riding and horse care in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08 .
(238472)
8
N
Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, whether he has plans further to develop the national vocational qualifications for horse riding and horse care.
(238473)

Notices given on Wednesday 19 November
1
N
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Children Act proceedings he expects to be brought by local authorities in each of the next three years.
(238576)
2
N
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Children Act proceedings were brought by local authorities on each of the last five years.
(238577)
3
N
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which 93 local authorities responded to the consultation on public law family fees expressing concern that the new court fees would be unaffordable.
(238578)
4
N
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which 12 local authorities responded to the consultation on public law family fees expressing concern that children would be put at risk due to the increase in court fees.
(238579)
5
N
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the expected fee income of HM Courts Service for Children Act proceedings is in each of the next three years.
(238580)
6
N
Paddy Tipping (Sherwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many complaints about the new facilities management contractors within the 101 probation approved premises were received in the year ended 31st October 2008; and how many were received in each of the last three years.
(239126)
7
N
Paddy Tipping (Sherwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what percentage of the Probation Services budget was spent on staffing in approved premises in the latest period for which figures are available.
(239127)

Notices given on Thursday 20 November
1
N
Miss Anne McIntosh (Vale of York): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the operation of the EU Package Travel Directive; and if he will make a statement.
[Question Unstarred][Transferred] (238609)
2
N
Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) lamb, (b) beef, (c) chicken, (d) pork, (e) turkey, (f) other meats, (g) vegetables and (h) fruit to be served by his Department at Christmas functions which will be sourced from British producers.
(239545)
3
N
Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what his plans are for the future of Nominet; and if he will make a statement.
(239260)
4
N
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Government will respond to the Ombudsman's report on Equitable Life.
(239330)
5
N
Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether community sports clubs are eligible to apply to the Landfill Communities Fund for grants.
(239231)
6
N
Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have been in the (a) lowest and (b) highest income tax band in each of the last 10 years.
(239262)
7
N
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what estimate he has made of the number of suicides of people aged 16 years or under in which bullying was a factor in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
(239335)
8
N
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many students have (a) received a notice of entitlement for the education maintenance allowance, (b) successfully enrolled and (c) received at least one payment since September 2008.
(239469)
9
N
Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps are being taken to ensure that acoustics in new school buildings are in compliance with building regulations to enable all children to listen and learn effectively, with particular reference to hearing impaired children.
(239183)
10
N
Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, if he will publish the letter he sent in September together with the Secretary of State for Health to all secondary schools promoting the Give and Let Live donor education programme; and if he will specify (a) the number of letters which were sent and (b) the date on which the letters were sent.
(239229)
11
N
Helen Southworth (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what guidance his Deaprtment has issued to schools on provision of support to children with long-term conditions, particularly children with type 1 diabetes; and if he will make a statement.
(239237)
12
N
Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) lamb, (b) beef, (c) chicken, (d) pork, (e) turkey, (f) other meats, (g) vegetables and (h) fruit to be served by his Department at Christmas functions which will be sourced from British producers.
(239546)
13
N
Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) lamb, (b) beef, (c) chicken, (d) pork, (e) turkey, (f) other meats, (g) vegetables and (h) fruit to be served by his Department at Christmas functions which will be sourced from British producers.
(239544)
14
N
Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the proportion of (a) lamb, (b) beef, (c) chicken, (d) pork, (e) turkey, (f) other meats, (g) vegetables and (h) fruit to be served by her Department at Christmas functions which will be sourced from British producers.
(239547)
15
N
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to increase the percentage of visitor accommodation which is accredited since identifying a target figure in his Department's report Winning: A Tourism Strategy for 2012 and Beyond.
(239461)
16
N
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding (a) the National Lottery and (b) his Department has allocated to support (i) individual rowers and (ii) rowing national governing bodies in each year since 1997.
(239462)
17
N
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress has been made in the establishment of a tourism intelligence unit; and when he expects the unit to be operational.
(239463)
18
N
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff were employed in each of Visit Britain's overseas offices in each of the last five years.
(239464)
19
N
Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has been made of the number of people likely to visit the London 2012 Olympics by caravan.
(239232)
20
N
Mr Roger Williams (Brecon & Radnorshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) lamb, (b) beef, (c) chicken, (d) pork, (e) turkey, (f) other meats, (g) vegetables and (h) fruit to be served by his Department at Christmas functions which will be sourced from British producers.
(239543)
21
N
Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance Royal Navy personnel (a) have been and (b) will be given on (i) the impact of human rights legislation on the ability to transfer captured pirates to other countries, including their own, (ii) the prospect of such captives claiming rights and benefits in the United Kingdom and (iii) whether to take pirates into captivity on Royal Navy vessels.
(239467)
22
N
Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the EU Operation Atalanta, what assets will be committed by each nation state; what rules of engagement will apply; what command and control arrangements are in place; and if he will make a statement.
(239191)
23
N
Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many projects have received funding from the Marine Renewable Deployment Fund, broken down by (a) nation and (b) region.
(239230)
24
N
Jo Swinson (East Dunbartonshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much the average annual fuel bill for households in Scotland has changed in each of the last 10 years.
(239263)
25
N
Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether his Department has offered compensation to EDF in exchange for the sale of land to potential new-build competitors at existing British Energy sites; and what discussions his Department has had with other shareholders in British Energy over the sale of British Energy to EDF.
(239180)
26
N
Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether the Office of Fair Trading has contacted his Department concerning potential monopoly issues relating to the sale of British Energy and access to sites by competitors; and what discussions he has had with EDF over referring its buyout of British Energy to the EU Competition Commission.
(239181)
27
N
Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, on what basis his Department set the quantity of emission allowances to be auctioned in the second stage of the European Emissions Trading Scheme; for what reasons his Department has not auctioned the maximum number of allowances possible at this stage; what additional revenue he estimates he would have received from such an auction; and if he will make a statement.
(239549)
28
N
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much of the £50 million originally left unallocated in his Department's budget for 2007-08 has now been allocated; and for what purposes.
(239222)
29
N
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what purposes funds in his departmental budget were unallocated for 2007-08.
(239223)
30
N
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what purpose £50 million was left unallocated in his departmental budget for 2007-08.
(239224)
31
N
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of the 2007-08 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget was allocated to the top 10 recipients of CAP payments.
(239225)
32
N
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost was of the contract awarded by his Department to IBM for the disposal of all redundant electrical and electronic equipment in each of the last five years.
(239226)
33
N
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19th November 2008, Official Report, column 476W, on public relations: Forestry Commission, if he will break down the indicative cost for 2007-08 by category of services provided.
(239465)
34
N
Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made in processing grant applications made to the Rural Payments Agency by Mr Norman Coles of Vine Cottage, Lower Street, Broomfield, N Maidstone, Kent; and if he will make a statement.
(239234)
35
N
Adam Price (Carmarthen East & Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what changes have been proposed by other EU member states in EU discussions to the budgets and co-financing rules of the European Structural Funds and Cohesion Fund as a result of the global economic downturn.
(239179)
36
N
Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on average how many units of dental activity per head of population were funded by the NHS in each local authority area in England in each of the last five years.
(239327)
37
N
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether there are any restrictions on prosthetics practitioners from other EU member states practising in the United Kingdom.
(239454)
38
N
Helen Southworth (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues in the Department for Children, Schools and Families on the provision of training for school staff in supporting schoolchildren with diabetes; and if he will make a statement.
(239235)
39
N
Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many complaints have been made against police community support officers in each police authority area in each of the last five years; and what analysis her Department has conducted on the nature of complaints made.
(239468)
40
N
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Independent Police Complaints Commission has the power to investigate complaints about allegedly unlawful conduct by serving police officers.
(239550)
41
N
Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12th November 2008, Official Report, columns 317-18W, on Department written questions, at what locations the information referred to is held.
(239328)
42
N
Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans there are to introduce a content filtering scheme for the internet.
(239261)
43
N
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many hearing centres (a) have closed in the last 12 months and (b) are scheduled for closure in the next 12 months.
(239456)
44
N
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of invoices to (a) his Department and (b) its agencies were paid late in the last 12 months.
(239457)
45
N
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department and its predecessor spent on artwork in each of the last five years.
(239458)
46
N
Mr Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department and each of its agencies spent on overseas travel in the last 12 months.
(239548)
47
N
Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken to ensure that employment tribunals are fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and what mechanisms are in place to ensure that employment tribunals fully implement their disability equality schemes.
(239182)
48
N
Mr David Heath (Somerton & Frome): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on links between the nature of work undertaken by prisoners and (i) employment of prisoners after release and (ii) re-offending rates.
(239192)
49
N
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what arrangements HM Prison Service staff make for the payment of tax and national insurance of prisoners participating in the Barbed project at Coldingley prison.
(239455)
50
N
Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Minister for the Olympics, whether any plans have been made to accommodate extra caravaners near to London 2012 Olympics during the games.
(239233)
51
N
Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what effect publication of the Highway Code has on his Department's finances.
(239329)
52
N
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which construction projects Network Rail has completed in fulfilment of its obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what has been the cost of each such project.
(239227)
53
N
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is Network Rail's policy to allocate a budget for each construction project in advance of (a) procurement and (b) commencement of work.
(239228)
54
N
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what percentage of bills the Shared Service Centre has paid within 10 days or less in the last 12 months.
(239331)
55
N
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many holding answers his Department has given in response to written parliamentary questions in the last 12 months; and of those how many have been followed up by final responses.
(239332)
56
N
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for each year since the formation of DfT(C) what percentage of DfT(C)'s staff recorded as being (a) from an ethnic minority and (b) white were given the highest marking in the annual appraisal round in each year since DfT(C)'s formation.
(239333)
57
N
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has a formal policy on steps to be taken when a race impact assessment demonstrates that there has been an adverse impact on a racial group arising from a departmental policy.
(239334)
58
N
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what basis the Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency ordered the confiscation of union material from a union official who was visiting the Shared Service Centre on 11th June 2008; and what happened to the confiscated material.
(239466)
59
N
Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimates (a) his Department and (b) the Highways Agency have made of the effect on M3 traffic flows of the three proposed new distribution centres at Andover, Pyestock and Newbury.
(239178)
60
N
Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the proportion of central government funding for the concessionary fares scheme; and if he will make a statement.
(239193)
61
N
Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Gloucestershire County Council, (b) Tewkesbury Borough Council and (c) Cheltenham Borough Council on their funding of free off-peak travel for elderly and disabled people; and if he will make a statement.
(239194)
62
N
Helen Southworth (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of overcrowding on East Midlands trains during peak times on train services from Warrington station; and what steps are being taken to address the issue.
(239236)
63
N
Mrs Theresa Villiers (Chipping Barnet): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many days in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available runway alternation at Heathrow Airport has been (a) fully and (b) partially suspended (i) overall and (ii) during the morning peak.
(239460)
64
N
Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance is given to staff administering disability living allowance on using the supplementary application form for people with autism.
(239184)
65
N
Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, by what date the review of the closure plan for Jobcentre Plus offices will be completed; and if he will make a statement.
(239326)
66
N
Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 19th November 2008, Official Report, columns 561-2W, on the Post Office Card Account, what were the names of the other bidders who were still in the competition at the point it was halted.
(239459)
 
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