House of Commons portcullis
House of Commons
Session 2008 - 09
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 20 January 2009

Notes:
* Indicates a Question for Oral Answer.
+ Indicates a Question not included in the random selection process but accepted because the quota for that day had not been filled.
[N] Indicates a Question for Written Answer on a named day, i.e. the Member has indicated under S.O. No. 22(4) the day on which he wishes the Question to be answered.
[R] Indicates that a relevant interest has been declared.
 


 

Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Tuesday 20 January 2009
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 20 January 2009


This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 20 January of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

For other Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 20 January of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Tuesday 20 January see Part 2 of this paper.


Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
1
N
Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, when his Department received the final report from Durham University into pedlars and street traders; and when it will be published.
(249473)
2
N
Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what the value of trade between the Uk and (a) Israel and (b) Palestine was in 2007-08.
(249671)
3
N
Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what was the total value of military equipment supplied by the UK to (a) Israel and (b) Palestine in 2007-08.
(249672)
4
N
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how much his Department received from Ofcom in remitted licence fees in each of the last five years.
(249675)
5
N
Geraldine Smith (Morecambe & Lunesdale): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many pension contribution holidays Royal Mail and its predecessors have taken in each year since 1980; and if he will express in current prices the monetary value of each contribution not made.
(249629)
6
N
Geraldine Smith (Morecambe & Lunesdale): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how much the Post Office has contributed to the Exchequer in external financing contributions to Government revenues (a) since its establishment as a public corporation and (b) in each of the last 30 years; and if he will express each figure in current prices.
(249630)
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
7
N
Mr John Baron (Billericay): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to encourage lenders to pass on recent Bank of England interest rate cuts to mortgage holders.
(249833)
8
N
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, in relation to the preference shares taken by the Government in (a) Lloyds Bank, (b) HBOS and (c) Royal Bank of Scotland, whether non-payment of the preference dividend by the board of directors would be treated as an act of default entitling the Government to initiate proceedings for winding-up the company.
(249678)
9
N
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, in relation to the preference shares taken by the Government in (a) Lloyds Bank, (b) HBOS and (c) Royal Bank of Scotland, if he will bring forward proposals to (i) make them cumulative and (ii) adjust the coupon on the shares to a lower rate.
(249679)
10
N
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, in relation to the preference shares taken by the Government in (a) Lloyds Bank, (b) HBOS and (c) Royal Bank of Scotland, whether, if the board of directors decide to pass the dividend the lost dividend will be recoverable for the public purse.
(249680)
11
N
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff have been employed by UK Financial Investments Ltd in salary bands of (a) up to £25,000, (b) £25,000 to £50,000, (c) £50,000 to £75,000, (d) £75,000 to £100,000 and (e) over £100,000.
(249664)
12
N
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the estimated cost of remuneration for staff at UK Financial Investment Ltd, including guaranteed bonuses and pension contributions will be in the next 12 months.
(249665)
13
N
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) salary and (b) total remuneration and title of post is of each of the five highest paid employees of UK Financial Investments Ltd.
(249666)
14
N
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what consultancy arrangements have been entered into by (a) his Department and (b) UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI) in connection with UKFI's activities; and what the (i) cost and (ii) nature of work under each contract is.
(249667)
15
N
Mr Graham Brady (Altrincham & Sale West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the establishment of UK Financial Investments Ltd has cost to date, broken down by category of expenditure.
(249668)
16
N
Sir John Butterfill (Bournemouth West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that guarantees by Derbyshire Building Society which were transferred to the Icelandic government are honoured in full.
(249669)
17
N
Sir John Butterfill (Bournemouth West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the government of the Isle of Man regarding funding to enable the Isle of Man to compensate British depositors with Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander.
(249670)
18
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the functions of UK Financial Investments are.
(249911)
19
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many shares in (a) Lloyds TSB, (b) HBOS and (c) the Royal Bank of Scotland were taken up by UK Financial Investments; and at what price.
(249912)
20
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the budget of UK Financial Investments is for (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.
(249913)
21
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff UK Financial Investments employs at each pay grade; and how many staff it plans to recruit in the next 12 months.
(249914)
22
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which third party advisers have been contracted to advise UK Financial Investments on the management of its holdings in UK banks.
(249915)
23
Mr Mark Hoban (Fareham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) business plan and (b) share management strategy has been put in place for UK Financial Investments; and if he will make a statement.
(249969)
24
N
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department received from Ofcom in remitted fines in each of the last five years; and what use has been made of these funds.
(249676)
25
Mr Angus MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will meet representatives of UK nationals who were depositors with Landsbanki Guernsey to discuss their position.
(249894)
26
N
Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he intends to publish his proposals for the reform of the regulatory process for inherited estates.
(249685)
27
N
Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the effect on public expenditure of removing the second income threshold on tax credits and applying a consistent taper rate of (a) 46 per cent., (b) 45 per cent., (c) 44 per cent. and (d) 43 per cent. in each of the next five years; if he will estimate the number of people who would no longer be eligible for tax credits in each case; and if he will make a statement.
(249567)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
28
Hugh Bayley (City of York): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what military equipment has been exported from the UK to Israel in the last three years; if he will take steps further to restrict UK exports of military equipment to Israel; and if he will make a statement.
(249882)
29
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what recent progress has been made in closing the funding gap between sixth form colleges and school sixth forms; and if he will make a statement.
(249883)
30
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what estimate he has made of the cost of closing the funding gap between sixth form colleges and school sixth forms; and if he will make a statement.
(249884)
31
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many schools entered one or more pupils for examination in (a) a modern language A level, (b) biology A level, (c) chemistry A level and (d) physics A level in the most recent year for which figures are available.
(249885)
32
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many schools entered one or more pupils for separate sciences at GCSE in the most recent year for which figures are available.
(249886)
33
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what the running cost of his Department and predecessor departments was in each of the last 10 years.
(249887)
34
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many staff his Department employs in each of its divisions.
(249888)
35
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what percentage of children (a) in England and (b) in each local authority area (i) were entitled to free school meals in (A) 2006, (B) 2007 and (C) 2008 and (ii) are so entitled in 2009; and if he will make a statement.
(249889)
36
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many applications for the education maintenance allowance are awaiting processing; and if he will make a statement.
(249929)
37
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, if he will estimate the amount of funds from the education maintenance allowance owed to students but not paid out as at 31 December 2008; and if he will make a statement.
(249930)
38
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of 16 year olds achieved at least one GCSE at grade (a) A*, (b) A, (c) C and (d) D in (i) English, (ii) mathematics, (iii) science (dual award), (iv) geography, (v) history and (vi) science (single award) in each of the last 10 years.
(249931)
39
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what the average (a) primary and (b) secondary school per pupil funding is in each local authority area in 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.
(249932)
40
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much expenditure under each budget heading his Department has incurred on the introduction of diploma courses and qualifications in each year since 2005.
(249971)
41
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many schools in the National Challenge programme were oversubscribed in September (a) 2007 and (b) 2008; and if he will make a statement.
(249972)
42
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what estimate his Department has made of its expenditure on diplomas in each of the next three years; and under what budgetary headings such expenditure is expected to be incurred.
(249973)
43
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, with reference to the Answer of 25 November 2008, Official Report, column 1418W, on children in care: boarding schools, when he expects the school census team to provide the information which is to be placed in the Library.
(249909)
44
N
Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, with reference to the Answer of 18 November 2008, Official Report, columns 274-5W, on pre-school education: standards, how many and what proportion of early years settings deemed inadequate by Ofsted since 1 September 2008 were (a) in the 10 per cent. of most deprived areas, (b) childminders, (c) private, voluntary and independent settings, (d) Montessori nurseries and (e) Steiner nurseries.
(249525)
45
N
Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of children attained the national standard in all of their Key Stage 1 assessments in the areas between (a) 0 and 10 per cent., (b) 10 and 30 per cent., (c) 30 and 50 per cent., (d) 50 and 70 per cent., (e) 70 and 90 per cent. and (f) 90 and 100 per cent. on the index of deprivation in each year since 1997.
(249526)
46
N
Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of children were working securely within each assessment of the foundation stage profile in the areas between (a) 0 and 10 per cent., (b) 10 and 30 per cent., (c) 30 and 50 per cent., (d) 50 and 70 per cent., (e) 70 and 90 per cent. and (f) 90 and 100 per cent. on the index of deprivation in each year since 2005.
(249527)
47
N
Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, whether the National Academy of Parenting Practitioners provides support and training directly to parents to train them to deliver parenting classes to other parents.
(249532)
48
N
Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many childcare settings have closed in each quarter of the last five years.
(249773)
49
N
Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what proportion of pupils in (a) England and (b) South West Bedfordshire constituency achieved five A* to C GCSE passes including English and mathematics in 2008.
(249626)
50
N
Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what proportion of pupils in (a) England and (b) South West Bedfordshire constituency who entered for one or more GCSE examinations entered for GCSE science at the end of Key Stage 4 in 2008.
(249627)
51
N
Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what proportion of pupils in (a) England and (b) South West Bedfordshire constituency achieved A level passes in 2008.
(249628)
Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
52
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he place in the Library a copy of the press cuttings pack prepared for the most recent meeting of the Cabinet.
(249901)
53
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many full-time equivalent staff work in the Cabinet Office's (a) Strategic Horizons Unit and (b) horizon-scanning divisions.
(249902)
54
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many hits the 10 Downing Street website has received since its most recent redesign.
(249903)
55
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer of 17 July 2008, Official Report, column 625W, on Downing Street: cost effectiveness, what Gershon savings have been made by 10 Downing Street in each year since the requirements for such savings were set.
(249904)
56
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Office of National Statistics' Public Sector Employment figures for (a) Q2 2008 and (b) Q3 2008, what increases in the employee headcount of which Government (a) departments and (b) agencies account for the overall increase in central government employment; and by how much the headcount increased in each case.
(249905)
57
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what planning applications the Cabinet Office has made in the last 18 months.
(249906)
58
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many and what proportion of Cabinet Office staff are members of a Civil Service final salary pension scheme.
(249907)
59
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the cost to the public purse of catering at the employment summit held on 12 January 2009 was; and what suppliers were used for catering at the event.
(249908)
60
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will place in the Library a copy of the list of attendees at the employment summit held on 12 January 2009.
(249916)
61
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the cost to the public purse was of the employment summit held on 12 January 2009.
(249917)
62
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the timetable is for removing the mandatory retirement age policy across the Civil Service; and whether such removal will apply to senior civil servants.
(249918)
63
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what guidance the Cabinet Office has issued on the provision of housing allowances for second homes as remuneration to staff in (a) the Civil Service and (b) non-departmental public bodies.
(249919)
64
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what job vacancies have been advertised on the (a) public version and (b) Civil Service-only version of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway in the last 12 month; and what the (i) job specification, (ii) job title, (iii) sponsoring body and (iv) salary range of the position advertised was in each case.
(249920)
65
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Communications Electronic Security Group Annual Report for (a) 2007 and (b) 2008.
(249921)
66
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, when he expects his Department to publish the next edition of Public Bodies.
(249922)
67
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 25 February 2008, Official Report, column 1184W, on civil servants: vacancies, what criteria are used to decide whether a vacancy is advertised on the public part of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway or on the staff-only section.
(249935)
68
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 25 February 2008, Official Report, column 1184W, on civil servants: vacancies, whether an equality impact assessment has been made of the criteria used to decide whether a vacancy is advertised on the public part of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway or the staff-only section.
(249937)
69
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer of 16 December 2008, Official Report, columns 643-644W, on National School of Government, which public sector organisations sent representatives to the Managing Diversity course held in Sunningdale Park in 2008.
(249938)
70
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 25 February 2008, Official Report, column 1185W, on trade unions, whether recognised trades unions are allocated departmental office space in which to conduct trades union work.
(249939)
71
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Chichester of 27 February 2008, Official Report, column 1619W, on trades unions, what the Cabinet Office policy is on granting (a) paid and (b) unpaid time off for trades union representatives to undertake (i) trades union duties and (ii) political campaigning.
(249940)
72
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer of 14 July 2008, Official Report, column 154W, on departmental telephones, how many Cabinet Office mobile telephones procured for official use through the Vodafone contracts have been replaced due to (a) loss, (b) theft or (c) damage in the last 18 months.
(249941)
73
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer of 21 July 2008, Official Report, column 785W, on departmental pensions, what account was taken of the (a) new FRS 17 accounting standard and (b) abolition of dividend tax credits in the decision to close the Duchy of Lancaster staff pension scheme to new entrants.
(249942)
74
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer of 21 July 2008, Official Report, column 785W, on departmental pensions, what percentage contribution the Duchy of Lancaster makes to staff pensions for staff who are not in the final salary scheme.
(249943)
75
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer of 21 July 2008, Official Report, column 785W, on departmental pensions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the meeting at which it was decided to close the Duchy of Lancaster Staff Pension Scheme to new entrants.
(249944)
76
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer of 21 July 2008, Official Report, column 783W, on departmental land, whether any of the land held for development within the Duchy of Lancaster's (a) Crewe and (b) Yorkshire Survey is (i) green belt and (ii) green field land.
(249945)
77
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer of 21 July 2008, Official Report, column 785W, on Rural Payments Agency, how much the Duchy of Lancaster received in payments from the Rural Payments Agency in the last year for which figures are available.
(249946)
78
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer of 4 November 2008, Official Report, column 335W, on departmental personnel, how many staff in the Cabinet Office have no post; how many such staff without posts were classified as being without post upon return from maternity leave; and how many of the staff without posts have been classified as such for at least (a) six months and (b) 12 months.
(249947)
79
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer of 26 November 2008, Official Report, column 1737W, on electronic government, which websites have been (a) closed and (b) identified for closure by the Department Website Review, broken down by sponsoring body.
(249948)
80
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 1124W, on Catz Club, what meetings Ministers in his Department have had with Catz Club representatives since April 2005.
(249949)
81
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, column 1124W, on Catz Club, whether a copy of the confidentiality agreement between Futurebuilders and Catz Club is held by the Cabinet Office; and if he will place in the Library a copy redacting commercially sensitive elements.
(249950)
82
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the written Ministerial Statement of 25 November 2008, Official Report, columns 76-78WS, on departmental expenditure limit (2008-09), what the functions and activities of the (a) i-Monitoring Security Co-ordination Centre and (b) Information Assurance Technical Programme are.
(249951)
83
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the retail prices of (a) oven gloves, (b) aprons, (c) teddy bears, (d) photo frames and (e) fruit drops were in the Downing Street gift shop (i) before and (ii) after the reduction in the rate of value added tax to 15 per cent.
(249952)
84
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will publish the information held on the (a) Knowledge Archive and (b) Retain databases on the Central Office of Information (i) employee headcount, (ii) job titles in use and (iii) staff allocations between divisions in each year since 2006-07.
(249953)
85
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many (a) applicants and (b) posts to available for such applicants there were to join the Civil Service fast stream in each year since 1996-97.
(249954)
86
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the median wage of a full-time (a) private and (b) public sector worker was in each year since 1996-97.
(249955)
87
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent guidance issued by the Cabinet Secretary on raising awareness of devolution among civil servants.
(249956)
88
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Fareham of 17 March 2008, Official Report, column 870W, on Warwick Task Force Group contact, what the names are of the members of the Public Services Forum Task Group; and if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes of Group meetings held in the last 12 months.
(249957)
89
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Cabinet Office's (a) document entitled Hospitality Received by Departmental Board Members and (b) List of Ministers' financial interests.
(249958)
90
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of the model declaration letter provided for Ministers to declare their interests.
(249959)
91
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many Cabinet Office posts have been relocated away from London and the South East since the adoption of relocation targets arising from the 2004 Spending Review; and when he expects these targets to be met.
(249960)
92
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2008, Official Report, column 835W, on Futurebuilders: Catz Club, on what date the decision was taken to write off the funding given to Catz Club.
(249961)
93
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many joint avoidable contact workshops were held in November and December 2008; and which Government departments were represented at such workshops.
(249962)
94
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, if he will place in the Library a copy of the background data for the Delivery Index provided by IPSOS MORI to the Cabinet Office on the public's attitude to and experience of public services relating to the last four quarters.
(249963)
95
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to staff survey reponse metric of the capable departments key performance indicator for Cabinet Office Departmental Strategic Objective 5, what proportion of civil servants in his Department (a) agreed and (b) disagreed with the statement that (i) this organisation as a whole is well-managed and (b) overall I have confidence in the senior managers in my organisation in the most recent period for which figures are available.
(249964)
96
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, when he expects to respond to the First Report from the Public Administration Committee on Lobbying: access and influence at Westminster (HC 36-I).
(249965)
97
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how much the Cabinet Office spent on (a) courier services and (b) venue hire in the most recent year for which figures are available.
(249966)
98
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the Cabinet Office's definition of avoidable contact as referred to in its Departmental Strategic Objective (DSO) 4 (Key Progress Measure 1) is; and whether the Cabinet Office has sole responsiblity for delivery against the targets associated with DSO 4.
(249967)
99
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2008, Official Report, column 835W, on Futurebuilders: Catz Club, which body scrutinises and evaluates the activities of the Futurebuilders Fund in place of the Futurebuilders Advisory Panel.
(249968)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
100
Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of empty habitable houses in (a) northern England, (b) the Midlands and (c) the South East and South West; and how many such houses are (i) publicly owned, (ii) privately owned and (iii) owned by housing associations.
(249881)
101
N
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, in what capacity she visited Wellingborough constituency on 5 December 2008; whether the costs of her travel were met by the public purse; and whether she travelled by ministerial car.
(249681)
102
N
Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of local authorities which have adjusted their relevant charges in order to pass on the temporary reduction in value added tax.
(249453)
103
N
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many (a) six, (b) five, (c) four, (d) three, (e) two and (f) one star homes have been built since the introduction of the Code for Sustainable Homes.
(249775)
104
N
Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will enable local authorities to advance loans to first-time buyers in the mortgage market.
(249475)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
105
N
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what changes he plans to make to licensing guidelines concerning gaming codes.
(249092)
106
N
Mr Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assistance the Government is providing to coastal towns to increase tourism to such towns in 2008-09.
(249777)
107
N
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many of his Department's 20 public service agreement 3 targets to increase the take-up of cultural and sporting opportunities by those aged 16 years and above from each of the priority groups have ben achieved; and if he will make a statement.
(249674)
108
N
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the annual growth rate of the creative industries was in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
(249677)
109
N
David Taylor (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to increase participation amongst under-16 year olds in (a) athletics, (b) badminton, (c) basketball, (d) cricket, (e) cycling, (f) gymnastics, (g) hockey, (h) netball, (i) rugby league, (j) rugby union, (k) squash, (l) tennis and (m) volleyball.
(248592)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence
110
N
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel were stationed in Northern Ireland on 1 January 2009.
(248114)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
111
N
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what funding is in place to encourage the construction of zero-carbon homes.
(249774)
112
N
Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many buildings in each of the last five years have been constructed to PassivHaus standards.
(249776)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
113
Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of single farm payments in respect of (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008-09 remain outstanding; and what the sum of such outstanding payments for each year is.
(249871)
114
Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the percentage change in the incidence of flooding in the west of England has been during the last five years.
(249872)
115
Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce the effects on the environment of the use of mercury in low-energy light bulbs.
(249873)
116
N
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which 10 individuals or organisations in England received the highest payments in sterling terms under subsidies available under the Common Agricultural Policy in 2007-08.
(249830)
117
N
Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the terms of reference of the Operational Efficiency Review of British Waterways are.
(247804)
118
N
Mr Bob Laxton (Derby North): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when and by what means stakeholders will be consulted on the Operational Efficiency Programme of British Waterways.
(247805)
119
N
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will meet representatives of (a) churches, (b) voluntary and community groups and (c) charities to discuss surface area water charges; and if he will make a statement.
(248857)
120
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the availability of water supplies for (a) Essex and (b) the South East during the next 20 years; and if he will make a statement.
(249891)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
121
N
Gordon Banks (Ochil and South Perthshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to seek the return to the UK of British residents detained in Guantánamo Bay.
(249524)
122
N
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the state of Israel concerning reports of Israel's alleged use of white phosphorus and cluster bombs in their military operation in Gaza.
(249088)
123
N
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) his Israeli counterpart and (b) officials of the International Criminal Court on investigation of Israel's Gaza military operation.
(249089)
124
N
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the government of Sri Lanka to call a ceasefire in its operations against Tamil forces in the north and east of the country.
(249090)
125
N
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on Islamist forces allegedly taking control of bases in Mogadishu vacated by departing Ethiopian troops.
(249832)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Health
126
Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what research his Department has (a) evaluated, (b) commissioned and (c) undertaken on the effects of the use of low-energy fluorescent bulbs on public health.
(249874)
127
N
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) men and (b) women were treated at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford for alcohol-related (i) injuries and (ii) illnesses in each of the last five years.
(249835)
128
N
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many (a) doctors, (b) nurses, (c) consultants and (d) auxiliary staff have been victims of violence in (i) accident and emergency areas in Broomfield Hopsital and (ii) all hospitals in the Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust area in each of the last five years.
(249836)
129
N
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the cost of the change of name of the Mid-Essex Primary Care Trust to NHS Mid-Essex.
(249837)
130
Natascha Engel (North East Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people had non-age-related macular degeneration in Derbyshire in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008.
(249975)
131
Natascha Engel (North East Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people had diabetes-related macular degeneration in Derbyshire in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008.
(249976)
132
N
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent progress has been made in (a) Peterborough and (b) the East of England in establishing in each health authority or trust a stroke care pathway; and if he will make a statement.
(248529)
133
N
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what provision is available in (a) Peterborough and (b) the East of England for patients who have undergone a stroke to receive support with communication skills; and if he will make a statement.
(248530)
134
N
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission research into the sporicidal effectiveness of (a) chlorine-based formulae and (b) quaternary ammonium-based formulae.
(246253)
135
N
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to encourage NHS trusts to use chlorine-based wipes as disinfectants in hospitals; and if he will make a statement.
(246254)
136
N
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what criteria are used in the NHS to decide whether a disinfectant product is sporicidal; and if he will make a statement.
(246255)
Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department
137
Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long on average a police officer took to (a) make an arrest, (b) issue a caution and (c) conduct a stop and search procedure in England in the latest period for which figures are available.
(249875)
138
Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the average proportion of police time spent on clerical or paper work in England.
(249876)
139
Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the proportion of an anti-terrorist police officer's time taken up (a) by anti-terrorist work and (b) in the detection of other forms of criminal activity.
(249878)
140
N
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the publication of her Department's report on Understanding the market for facilitated illegal entry in the UK has been delayed; and when she intends to publish it.
(247896)
141
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of appeals in immigration and asylum cases.
(249923)
142
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were waiting for a successful appeal against a UK Borders Agency determination to be reflected in their documented immigration status at 31 December (a) 2003, (b) 2004, (c) 2005, (d) 2006, (e) 2007 and (f) 2008.
(249924)
143
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of appeals against determination by the UK Border Agency and its predecessors were successful in each of the last 10 years.
(249925)
144
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she monitors the length of time taken by the UK Border Agency between a successful appeal against its decisions and the regularisation of the applicants' paperwork; and if she will make a statement.
(249970)
145
N
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many residents of Peterborough constituency are appealing against decisions not to grant them indefinite leave to remain; and if she will make a statement.
(249215)
146
N
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many residents of Peterborough constituency are awaiting determination of an application for indefinite leave to remain; and if she will make a statement.
(249216)
147
N
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2009 to Question 246149, in what format and at what location, information on individuals awaiting determination in respect of applications for indefinite leave to remain in Peterborough is held; and if she will make a statement.
(249311)
148
N
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2009 to Question 246149, what her estimate is of the cost of ascertaining how many individuals in Peterborough have been awaiting determination of their applications for indefinite leave to remain since May 2005; and if she will make a statement.
(249312)
149
N
Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 24 November 2008, Official Report, columns 1241-2W, on demonstrations: Parliament Square, when the Government's response to the Joint Committee on the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill's report, stated in the Answer to be imminent, will be published.
(249772)
150
Clare Short (Birmingham, Ladywood): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects a reply to be sent to the letter of 23 October 2008 to the UK Border Agency on behalf of Rizwan Aslam (Home Office Reference Number A1264393).
(249928)
151
N
Mr Andrew Smith (Oxford East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will consider the merits of changing to 20 years the period of service of award for the Police Long Service Medal.
(248428)
152
N
Mr Andrew Smith (Oxford East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a race impact study has been undertaken of the practice of removal from the UK of British citizen children with a foreign parent.
(248591)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills
153
Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many students were declared bankrupt in each of the last 15 years.
(249895)
154
Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many students have entered into individual voluntary arrangements since such agreements were introduced.
(249896)
155
N
Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, if he will reconsider his response to the recommendations contained in the Gowers report on intellectual property.
(249476)
Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development
156
Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the proportion of his Department's direct aid to Zimbabwe which has reached its intended recipients in the last 12 months.
(249869)
157
Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much direct aid his Department has provided to Gaza in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.
(249870)
158
N
Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much financial assistance was provided by his Department to (a) Palestine and (b) Israel in 2007-08.
(249673)
159
N
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funds the Government has provided to the disarmament and demobilisation programmes of Mai Mai groups in (a) south Kivu and (b) the rest of Democratic Republic of Congo where the Mai Mai are active.
(249528)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
160
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prosecutions for fraud were brought in each of the last five years, broken down by investigating agency; and how many such prosecutions brought by each investigating agency resulted in a conviction in each year.
(249926)
161
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what risks are taken into account in assessments made under the Offender Group Reconviction Score system; and what assessment he has made of the average level of accuracy of evidence upon which such assessments are made.
(249927)
162
N
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost of prosecuting suspected television licence fee evaders was in each of the last five years.
(249831)
163
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in respect of what schemes to tackle intolerance amongst prisoners pilots have been initiated.
(249880)
164
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) charges and (b) convictions there have been in (i) Essex and (ii) England under the provisions of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 since implementation of the Act.
(249892)
165
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make it his policy to bring into force immediately the remaining provisions of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007; and if he will make a statement.
(249893)
166
N
Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much has been distributed from the Victims Fund in each year since its creation in 2004.
(249662)
167
N
Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which specialist services for victims of particular types of crime have received funding from the Government in each of the last five years; and how much was granted in each case.
(249663)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
168
N
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he expects the 50/50 recruitment policy regarding the Police Service of Northern Ireland in Northern Ireland to be concluded and replaced with the merit principle of recruitment.
(248112)
169
N
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when the next International Monitoring Commission report is expected; and whether he expects it to include a section on the seizure in County Meath in the Irish Republic of Semtex during December 2008.
(248113)
170
N
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps are being taken to ensure the amount of cannabis used in Northern Ireland's prisons is reduced.
(248115)
171
N
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many road traffic accidents which resulted in one or more fatalities in 2007 there were in Northern Ireland in which excessive alcohol was assessed to have been a contributory factor.
(248116)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
172
N
Mr Clive Betts (Sheffield, Attercliffe): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to be able to make an announcement about electrification of the East Midland line north of Bedford to Sheffield.
(249771)
173
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average rise in regulated rail fares from Chelmsford Station to London was in each year since 1997.
(249977)
174
N
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Network Rail and (b) Transport for London on electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak section of the North London line.
(249091)
175
N
Justine Greening (Putney): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which railway stations in Wave One of the Access for All strategy are (a) fully completed, (b) started but not completed and (c) not yet started.
(249529)
176
N
Justine Greening (Putney): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has (a) budgeted and (b) spent on Wave One of the Access for All strategy in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08 and (iii) 2008-09, broken down by railway station.
(249530)
177
N
Justine Greening (Putney): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the guidelines for the completion of improvements to station buildings and platforms in Wave One of the Access for All strategy are.
(249531)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
178
N
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what courses his Department offered to claimants of jobseeker's allowance in Chelmsford in the last 12 months; and what the cost was per person of each course completed.
(249834)
179
N
Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to extend the consultation period for the Improving protection from disability discrimination consultation in line with criterion 2 of the Government's Code of Practice, as set out by the Cabinet Office; and if he will make a statement.
(249474)
180
N
Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints Jobcentre Plus have received from customers on the physical inaccessibility of Jobcentre Plus offices and facilities in each year since 1997.
(249631)
181
N
Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he plans to take to make his Department's customer information system compliant with Cabinet Office rules; and when he expects this will be achieved.
(249682)
182
N
Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the target processing period is for applications for bereavement benefit.
(249683)
183
N
Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what IT systems are used to process each of his Department's benefits.
(249684)
184
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Jobcentre Plus staff have been (a) recruited and (b) made redundant in each Jobcentre Plus region in each (i) year, (ii) month and (iii) quarter since 1 January 2006; and if he will make a statement.
(249890)
185
N
Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average weekly child maintenance payment to parents with care in receipt of means-tested benefits was in the latest period for which information is available.
(249625)
186
N
Mr Andrew Smith (Oxford East): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether representations will be invited from officers in local authorities' strategic housing and homeless services when the local housing allowance is reviewed by his Department.
(248700)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
187
Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what research his Department has undertaken on the proportion of domestic lighting fittings which have the capacity to take low-energy fluorescent bulbs.
[Transferred] (249877)
Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department
188
Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the knives used in knife crimes where convictions have been secured in the last 12 months were domestic or kitchen utensils.
[Transferred] (249879)
189
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) individuals and (b) establishments have been prosecuted for selling alcohol to under-age people in each year since 2003, broken down by police force area.
[Transferred] (249974)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
190
N
Mr Robert Goodwill (Scarborough & Whitby): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he will take to reinstate the inclusion of indirect land-use impacts in EU biofuel sustainability criteria.
[Transferred] (249624)

 
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Revised 20 January 2009