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

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Friday 6 March 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 Friday 6 March 2009
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Friday 6 March 2009


This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Friday 6 March 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 Friday 6 March of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Friday 6 March see Part 2 of this paper.


Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
1
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what checks are undertaken to prevent the direct or indirect importation of manufactured products containing asbestos.
(261866)
2
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many Business Link staff were assigned to the London Borough of Sutton in each of the last five years; how many (a) contacts and (b) cases were recorded by Business Link in the London Borough of Sutton in each of the last five years; what steps are being taken by Business Link to support business in Sutton; and if he will make a statement.
(262121)
3
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what steps his Department is taking to assist small to medium-sized enterprises through the current economic downturn.
(261966)
4
Mr Frank Doran (Aberdeen North): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to govern the practice of compulsory redundancy.
(261814)
5
Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how much of the £2.3 billion set aside to support the UK car industry has been spent.
(262049)
6
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many health checks on businesses in Wales have been carried out under his Department's Flexible Support for Business service in each of the last six months.
(261934)
7
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many companies in Wales have (a) applied for and (b) received assistance under the Capital for Enterprise Fund in each of the last six months.
(261984)
8
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many companies in Wales have (a) applied for and (b) received assistance under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme in each of the last six months; and how much each participating lender has provided to each in each month.
(261985)
9
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many companies in Wales have (a) applied for and (b) received help under the Working Capital Scheme since its inception.
(261986)
10
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many companies in Wales have (a) applied for and (b) received loans from the European Investment Bank Group in each of the last six months.
(261998)
11
N
Stewart Hosie (Dundee East): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, when the Working Capital Scheme began operation; and how much funding has been provided under the scheme.
(261386)
12
N
Stewart Hosie (Dundee East): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what the monetary value is of secured loans to the automotive industry which have been facilitated by his Department.
(261387)
13
Mr Nick Hurd (Ruislip-Northwood): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what his Department's policy is on holding departmental away days outside his Department's buildings.
(262029)
14
Mr Nick Hurd (Ruislip-Northwood): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what guidance his Department issues on whether staff may claim for first class rail travel if there are no seats available in standard class.
(262033)
15
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262074)
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
16
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what mechanism is used to determine how much each sub-group of lorries should pay in terms of vehicle excise duty and fuel duty, to ensure that the public costs engendered by their use of the road network are covered in accordance with Government policy.
(261874)
17
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether each sub-group of lorries, according to gross permitted vehicle weight and number of axles, covers the costs to the public purse which they cause in using the road network through the taxation they pay.
(261875)
18
Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons licensed electricity providers may not claim enhanced capital allowances.
(262110)
19
Sir John Butterfill (Bournemouth West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of the amount paid by the Government to the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has been allocated to the RBS pension scheme; what estimate he has made of the current deficit of the RBS pension scheme; whether Sir Fred Goodwin has commuted any part of his pension entitlement into a lump sum; and if he will make a statement.
(262126)
20
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to improve the speed and efficiency of processing claims for new mothers applying for child tax credits.
(262062)
21
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the number of children in West Lancashire constituency who have been taken out of poverty as a result of tax credits.
(262063)
22
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses in Wales have applied to defer their tax bills in each of the last six months; and how many have been (a) granted and (b) refused deferment in each month.
(261933)
23
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what financial transfers his Department has made to (a) the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and (b) the Department for International Development in 2008-09 to fund shortfalls in funding caused by exchange rate movements; and if he will make a statement.
(261883)
24
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reasons were for his Department's decision to withdraw support for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's overseas pricing mechanism; and when the decision was made.
(262094)
25
Mr Nick Hurd (Ruislip-Northwood): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department's policy is on holding departmental away days outside the Department's buildings; and what the policy of HM Revenue and Customs is on the matter.
(262026)
26
Mr Nick Hurd (Ruislip-Northwood): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance his Department issues on whether its members of staff may claim for travel in first class carriages on trains if there are no seats in standard class; and what the policy of HM Revenue and Customs is on the matter.
(262031)
27
N
Mr Adam Ingram (East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much the Barnett consequentials will be for Scotland of the recently announced funding to underwrite private finance initiative/ public-private partnership (PFI/PPP) schemes; and what mechanisms will be used to ensure that that funding is spent on PFI/PPP schemes in Scotland.
(261383)
28
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will defer the changes to vehicle excise duty planned to be introduced in 2010 in order to assist the automotive sector.
(261876)
29
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Lloyds TSB and (b) RBS on (i) the volume of their assets held in each (A) UK dependent territory, (B) UK overseas territory and (iii) Crown dependency; and what information his Department holds on the names of the subsidiaries of each bank registered in each (1) UK dependent territory, (2) UK overseas territory and (3) Crown dependency.
(261834)
30
N
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect a reduction in the rate of value added tax on repairs and maintenance would have on (a) the care and conservation of historic buildings and (b) the construction industry.
(261465)
31
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which trade unions are recognised in (a) his Department and (b) HM Revenue and Customs.
(262092)
32
Margaret Moran (Luton South): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance he has issued to Government departments on the advertisement of procurement contracts on the website for www.supply2.gov.uk; and which (a) departments and (b) agencies use the website.
(261732)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
33
N
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what his policy is on shared catchment areas for schools.
(261670)
34
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many children were not offered a place at their first preference secondary school in West Chelmsford constituency in each of the last five years.
(261764)
35
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what percentage of pupils resident in West Chelmsford constituency achieved more than five A* to C grades at GCSE in each year since 1997.
(261774)
36
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much funding was allocated to primary schools in (a) West Chelmsford constituency, (b) the Chelmsford local authority area and (c) England for children diagnosed with specific learning difficulties in 2008-09; and how much funding was allocated for special education schools operating in (i) West Chelmsford constituency, (ii) the Chelmsford local authority area and (iii) England in 2008-09.
(261805)
37
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what information his Department will require from the London Borough of Sutton to assess its need for emergency capital and revenue funding to meet an increase in demand for primary school places from 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.
(262125)
38
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many people (a) are eligible for and (b) are claiming education maintenance allowance in West Lancashire constituency.
(261967)
39
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many childcare places there were in West Lancashire constituency in (a) 1997 and (b) 2008.
(261968)
40
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what percentage of GCSE students in schools in West Lancashire constituency achieved five or more A* to C grades including English and mathematics in 2008.
(261969)
41
N
Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many pupils dropped out of school before the age of 16 in (a) Northamptonshire and (b) England in the last 12 months.
(261672)
42
Mr Nick Hurd (Ruislip-Northwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what his Department's policy is on holding departmental away days outside his Department's buildings.
(262025)
43
Mr Nick Hurd (Ruislip-Northwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what guidance his Department issues on whether staff may claim for first class rail travel if there are no seats available in standard class.
(262030)
44
Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what estimate his Department has made of the additional time taken to make access arrangements arising from the transfer of cases between Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service offices.
(261690)
45
N
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1068-9W, on children: databases, what assessment he has made of the merits of enabling ContactPoint to match variant spellings of surnames.
(261667)
46
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what percentage of pupils with statemented special educational needs of (a) behavioural, emotional or social difficulties and (b) autism were given (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four, (v) five and (vi) more than five fixed-period exclusions from (A) mainstream primary and (B) mainstream secondary schools in the latest year for which data are available.
(262105)
47
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of pupils who were eligible for free school meals and had special educational needs were given (a) fixed-term and (b) permanent exclusions in each year since 1997.
(262106)
48
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1317W, on special educational needs, which 10 non-maintained special schools had 100 or more pupils.
(262132)
49
Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on using unspent capital allocations in that Department's budget for capital projects in the further education sector; and if he will make a statement.
(261761)
50
N
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2009, Official Report, column 443W, on departmental disciplinary proceedings, how many cases of bullying and harassment in his Department have been (a) formally investigated and (b) referred for mediation in the last three years.
(261674)
51
N
John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, by what date he expects free full-time childcare for children aged (a) three and (b) four years to be available.
(261675)
52
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what requests he has received from the Jewish community for additional school security measures in the last three months.
(261740)
53
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many young people were involved in the determination of the content of each myplace application.
(261838)
54
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262079)
55
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what provision is made within the national curriculum for the discussion of non-religious beliefs.
(261880)
Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
56
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, which trade unions are recognised in the Cabinet Office.
(262080)
57
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what the total cost of non-departmental public bodies was in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008-09 to date.
(262048)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
58
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to encourage local authorities to reduce the length of time they take to pay the invoices from small and medium-sized enterprises.
(261970)
59
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much funding her Department has allocated for affordable housing in West Lancashire constituency in the next three years.
(261971)
60
Mr Nick Hurd (Ruislip-Northwood): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what her Department's policy is on holding departmental away days outside her Department's buildings.
(262028)
61
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's Fire and Resilience Research Programme for 2008, whether she plans to commission a longitudinal study of the effects of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; and if she will make a statement.
(261738)
62
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's Fire and Resilience Research Programme for 2008, what progress has been made on research into the optimal size of a fire and rescue service; and if she will make a statement.
(261739)
63
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 3 November 2008, Official Report, column 132W, on small business: tax allowances, whether empty property below the appropriate rateable value threshold is automatically billed at the small business rate multiplier rate.
(261835)
64
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to Lord Greaves of 23 February 2009, Official Report, House of Lords, column 17WA, on Housing North West, in which other Government Office regions in England regional partnerships have been established.
(261836)
65
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to Lord Greaves of 23 February 2009, Official Report, House of Lords, column 26WA, on the Joint Economic Commission, in which other Government Office regions in England joint economic commissions have been established.
(261837)
66
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Membe for Bromley and Chislehurst of 20 January 2009, Official Report, column 1277W, on non-domestic rates: business, whether the 2010 rates revaluation will be revenue-neutral (a) in the first year and (b) over the five year cycle.
(261904)
67
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many sub-locations there are in each billing authority in England outside Greater London.
(261905)
68
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether complaints about (a) joint waste authorities and (b) safety camera partnerships fall within the remit of the Local Government Ombudsman.
(261983)
69
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 17 October 2008, Official Report, column 1577W, on local government: bank services, what information (a) her Department and (b) the Audit Commission received from (i) the Financial Services Authority, (ii) the Bank of England and (iii) HM Treasury on the level of risk associated with investment in Icelandic banks before October 2008.
(261989)
70
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what retirement ages are set for members of the Local Government Pension Scheme; and what estimate she has made of the number of scheme members eligible to retire at 60 years under the Rule of 85 test.
(261990)
71
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much funding her Department and its predecessor have given to the Local Government Information Unit in each of the last five years; and for what purposes.
(261991)
72
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the total financial correction likely to be imposed on the UK by the European Commission in respect of irregularities in management of European funds.
(261992)
73
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what powers to levy fines have been conferred on local authorities in the last 18 months.
(261993)
74
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the effect of changes to business rates in ports on (a) yacht clubs and (b) fishing companies located within the curtilages of ports.
(261994)
75
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the terms of reference of her Department's review of council housing finance and rents policy are; and who is undertaking the review.
(261995)
76
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the percentage change in business rates for (a) small and (b) medium and large firms which will take effect in April 2009 in (i) England and (ii) the City of London.
(261996)
77
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which local authorities offer a local council tax discount to pensioners.
(261999)
78
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many press, media and communications personnel the Homes and Communities Agency plans to employ.
(262000)
79
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on what date the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme will become operational; and what estimate she has made of the number of households which will participate in the scheme in 2009-10.
(262001)
80
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what timetable she has established to bring forward legislative proposals to require greater public accountability on remuneration for senior staff in local government.
(262002)
81
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what account (a) local planning authorities and (b) the Planning Inspectorate will be required to take of national policy statements (i) before and (ii) after the Infrastructure Planning Commission is operational.
(262034)
82
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 20 January 2009, Official Report, column 1277W, on non-domestic rates: business, whether the business rate multiplier will be reduced in April 2010 if retail price index inflation in September 2009 is negative.
(262035)
83
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what each of the classifications is of the codes used by the Valuation Office Agency to group properties for sub-locations.
(262036)
84
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what additional levy there is on top of the standard business rates bill in each business improvement district which has been established.
(262037)
85
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham of 3 September 2007, Official Report, column 1644W, on departments: freedom of information, what requests have been made to her Department under the (a) Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2000 and (b) Environmental Information Regulations since September 2007; and what the (i) FOI case reference number, (ii) nature and topic of information requested, (iii) request outcome and (iv) where appropriate, reason for exemption was in each case.
(262039)
86
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what (a) regulations and (b) circulars have been issued on rules relating to councillor (i) allowances and (ii) pensions since May 1997.
(262041)
87
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many fire and rescue authorities are contracted to support the FiReControl project; and whether there are break clauses in each of those contracts.
(262042)
88
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for what projects the Improvement and Development Agency receives funding from her Department.
(262043)
89
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the consultation document on local spending reports under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.
(262093)
90
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what statistics (a) her Department and (b) the Audit Commission collect on local authority chief executives' pay.
(262096)
91
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 19 January 2009, Official Report, column 1072W, on councillors: Arun, for what reasons Arun was chosen by the Audit Commission to ask councillors for their bank account details.
(262097)
92
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many households were on local authority housing waiting lists in (a) England and (b) each local authority area at the latest date for which figures are available.
(262098)
93
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment has been made of the likely effect on local authority expenditure of the proposed new duty for public authorities to help those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
(262099)
94
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting of the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit's board in the last 12 months.
(262100)
95
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting of the National Community Forum's board in the last 12 months.
(262101)
96
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if she will place in the Library a copy of the presentation and handouts provided for the Strategy Unit seminar of 26 January 2009 by the Chairman of the Tenant Services Authority on the subject Where next for local government.
(262102)
97
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, in respect of how many individual properties in each local authority area records are held on the National Register for Social Housing.
(262103)
98
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many hereditaments there were on the ratings list in each of the last 24 months in (a) England and (b) Wales.
(262104)
99
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which trade unions are recognised in her Department.
(262078)
100
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2008, Official Report, columns 582-3W, on community relations, what steps her Department has taken in response to the observations on page 6 of the report on the learning and development exercise issued by the Audit Commission and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary.
(262007)
101
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Anwer of 16 December 2008, Official Report, column 584W, on community relations, which departments have spent money on Prevent-related projects and activities in each year since 2006; and how much has been spent on Prevent-related projects and activities in each such year.
(262008)
102
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2008, Official Report, columns 583-4W, on community relations, how many area-based grants have been made by her Department; which other departments have made area-based grants; and how much her Department has spent on area-based grants in each year since 2006.
(262009)
103
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2008, Official Report, columns 582-3W, on community relations, when Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary plans to report on its inspection of Prevent performance in police forces in England and Wales.
(262011)
104
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Anwer of 16 December 2008, Official Report, columns 582-3W, on community relations, how many local authorities have selected National Indicator 35 as part of their local area agreements; and when local authorities are due to report on progress against that indicator in respect of work done under the Prevent strand of Project Contest in 2008.
(262012)
105
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how the 79 priority local authorities provided with £12 million under the Prevent strand of Project Contest in 2008-09 were selected; how much each one received in 2008-09; and what mechanisms are in place to assess whether measures implemented by these local authorities are effective.
(262122)
106
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how the priority local authorities selected to receive funding from the £33 million left to be distributed to priority local authorities under the Prevent strand of Project Contest for April 2008 to March 2011 were selected by her Department; how much each will receive; and what mechanisms are in place to assess whether measures implemented by these local authorities are effective.
(262123)
107
Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the area of farmland of (a) grade 1 (excellent), (b) grade 2 (very good), (c) grade 3a (good), (d) grade 3b (moderate), (e) grade 4 (poor) and (f) grade 5 (very poor) in England taken for development in each of the last 10 years.
(262114)
108
Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many planning applications have been granted on farmland in England classified as (a) grade 1 (excellent), (b) grade 2 (very good), (c) grade 3a (good), (d) grade 3b (moderate), (e) grade 4 (poor) and (f) grade 5 (very poor) in each of the last 10 years.
(262115)
109
Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what role regional Ministers have in the allocation of regional transport funds.
(261791)
110
N
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1227W, on Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, what groups, causes or organisations the Community Development Foundation has funded using public funds other than those allocated to the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund programme rounds; and how much was given to each.
(261563)
111
N
Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1227W, on Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, which other groups, causes or organisations were funded in each round of the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund programme; and how much was given to each.
(261564)
112
Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the meaning is of the measurement ten rotor diameters of a turbine referred to in paragraph 76 of the Planning for Renewable Energy Companion Guide to PPS22; and what guidance has been provided on that meaning.
(261877)
113
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many buildings which were exempt from the regulatory requirements of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 are subject to the requirements of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
(261815)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
114
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations his Department has received on the effect of radio licensing fees on the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
(261972)
115
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of (a) the effects of community sport and cultural activities funded by his Department on young people at risk of committing anti-social behaviour and (b) the effectiveness of such activities in West Lancashire constituency in meeting their objectives.
(261973)
116
Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many pensioners over the age of 75 resident in Bolton received a free television licence in 2008.
(261790)
117
N
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, by what date he expects the Sport England Strategy for 2008 to 2011 to have been implemented.
(261466)
118
N
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what impact assessment his Department has undertaken of options for changes to the system of age classification for video games.
(261467)
119
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262077)
120
Alun Michael (Cardiff South & Penarth): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effects of the decision taken by ITV Wales to discontinue the provision of British Sign Language interpretation of their flagship news programme on the company's ability to meet its public service obligations.
(261757)
121
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether any items from the national collection were damaged as a result of the recent failure of the sprinkler system at the National Library of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
(261691)
122
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps have been taken to minimise the possibility of a fire sprinkler malfunction at (a) the British Library and (b) other places where items from the national collection are stored.
(261692)
123
N
Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many playing fields owned by private companies there are; and how many such fields have closed in the last 10 years.
(261437)
124
N
Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the number of sports facilities owned by industrial concerns which have closed in the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
(261438)
125
N
Sir Michael Spicer (West Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 3 February 2009 on noise limits for musical performances.
(261365)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence
126
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what standard of accommodation is being planned for Joint Helicopter Command under Project Belvedere; what criteria are being used to make the decision; and what the cost would be of upgrading RAF Lyneham to (a) Royal Air Force, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Army accommodation standards.
(261906)
127
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to date of Programme Belvedere.
(262055)
128
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the reasons are for the time taken to announce the outcome of Programme Belvedere.
(262056)
129
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what criteria will be used in selecting an airfield for Joint Helicopter Command under Programme Belvedere.
(262057)
130
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who in his Department has lead responsibility for Programme Belvedere.
(262058)
131
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who in his Department is responsible for ensuring that Programme Belvedere adheres to its timetable.
(262059)
132
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long he expects production of the environmental impact assessment on the airfield to be selected for Joint Helicopter Command under Programme Belvedere to take.
(262060)
133
Mr James Gray (North Wiltshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long he expects the process of costing the outcome selected by Programme Belvedere to take.
(262061)
134
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2009, Official Report, column 1878W on Navy: deployment, what the outcome of his Department's consideration of the commitment of naval resources to combat arms smuggling into Gaza has been; and if he will make a statement.
(261742)
135
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many helicopters (a) have been repainted for desert conditions, (b) are awaiting a repaint for desert conditions and (c) have been withheld from frontline duty as a result of incorrect camouflage colours in the last 12 months.
(261680)
136
Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what military equipment he expects to leave in Iraq following the withdrawal of most UK forces later this year.
(261793)
137
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262076)
138
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the monetary value of the surface ship refitting contracts was at HM Naval Base Portsmouth in each year since 1997.
(261789)
139
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) capacity and (b) capabilities of (i) HM Naval Base Plymouth Devonport and (ii) HM Naval Base Faslane in respect of submarines.
(261808)
140
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects to announce the Government's proposals for HM Naval Base Plymouth Devonport.
(261809)
141
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) capacity and (b) capabilities of (i) HM Naval Base Plymouth Devonport and (ii) HM Naval Base Portsmouth in respect of surface ships.
(261810)
142
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the monetary value of surface ship refitting contracts was at HM Naval Base Plymouth Devonport in each year since 1997.
(261811)
143
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the monetary value of surface ship refitting contracts was at HM Naval Base Rosyth in each year since 1997.
(261812)
144
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the monetary value of surface ship refitting contracts which will be awarded to UK naval bases in the next three years.
(261981)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
145
Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when he plans to publish the results of his Department's modelling of the effects of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme phase 3 on combined heat and power plants.
(262111)
146
Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what account will be taken of carbon dioxide emission levels from combined heat and power installations in the benchmarking allocation under phase 3 of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
(262112)
147
Gregory Barker (Bexhill & Battle): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he plans to take to support the financing and development of heat networks.
(262113)
148
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps his Department is taking together with local authorities and devolved administrations to reduce levels of fuel poverty.
(261974)
149
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many households in (a) West Lancashire constituency and (b) England have received Warm Front grants in each year since the establishment of the scheme.
(261975)
150
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much was paid in Warm Front grants to residents in West Lancashire constituency in 2007-08.
(261976)
151
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the merits of settling coal health claims handled by firms of solicitors whose majority partners have been subject to professional disciplinary action over matters directly related to such claims.
(261839)
152
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262075)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
153
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many prosecutions have been brought for fly-tipping offences in West Chelmsford constituency in the last four years.
(261773)
154
N
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of revenue raised through the landfill tax was reallocated directly to local authorities in each of the last five years.
(261565)
155
N
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much liquid milk was imported into the UK in (a) 1997, (b) 2000 and (c) 2008.
(261566)
156
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the amount paid in export refunds in respect of (a) pig meat, (b) eggs and (c) poultry in each of the last five years.
(262013)
157
Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications for Common Agricultural Policy export refunds were made in each project sector in the last 12 months.
(262014)
158
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of establishing the Welsh-language function for each (a) customer call centre and (b) helplines operated by his Department and its agencies that operate in Welsh.
(261987)
159
N
Nick Herbert (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on the development of a voluntary code to encourage the positioning of accessible recycling bins in public areas.
(261360)
160
N
Nick Herbert (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which local authorities carry out on-street recycling.
(261361)
161
N
Nick Herbert (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding his Department has given to the Keep Britain Tidy campaign in each of the last five years.
(261362)
162
N
Nick Herbert (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of clearing litter from (a) roads, (b) railways, (c) footpaths, (d) beaches, (e) national parks and (f) other public spaces in the last 12 months.
(261363)
163
N
Nick Herbert (Arundel & South Downs): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost to local authorities of removing chewing gum from (a) streets and (b) other public places was in each of the last five years.
(261436)
164
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262091)
165
Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been allocated under Axis 1 of the Rural Development Programme England for 2007 to 2013 for (a) vocational training and information actions for persons engaged in the agricultural, food or forestry sectors, (b) use of advisory services by farmers and forest holders, (c) setting up of farm management, farm relief and farm advisory services, as well as foresty advisory services, (d) modernisation of agricultural holdings, (e) improving the economic value of forests, (f) adding value to agricultural and forestry products, (g) cooperation for development of new products, processes and technologies in the agriculture and food sector and in the foresty sector, (h) improving and developing infrastructure related to the development and adaptation of agriculture and forestry, (i) restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural disasters and introducing appropriate prevention actions and (j) supporting producers groups for information and promotion activities for products under food quality schemes.
(261822)
166
Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been allocated under Axis 3 of the Rural Development Programme England 2007 to 2013 for (a) diversification into non-agricultural activities, (b) support for the creation and development of micro enterprises with a view to promoting entrepreneurship and developing economic fabric, (c) encouragement of tourism activities, (d) basic services for the economy and rural population and (e) conservation and upgrading of rural heritage.
(261823)
167
Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what area of farmland in England was classified as (a) grade 1 (excellent), (b) grade 2 (very good), (c) grade 3a (good), (d) grade 3b (moderate), (e) grade 4 (poor) and (f) grade 5 (very poor) in each of the last 10 years.
(262116)
168
Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the area of farmland of each agricultural land classification at risk of flooding.
(262117)
169
N
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions the Environment Agency has had with Castle Point councillor Ray Howard on development on flood risk areas on Canvey Island in the last three years; and if he will make a statement.
(260871)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
170
N
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will undertake a value for money assessment of UK funding provided for the activities of Tony Blair as Middle East Envoy.
(261359)
171
Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he plans to hold with the Iranian government on the fate of the seven Baha'is who are expected shortly to be put on trial by the Iranian authorities.
(261733)
172
Mr Colin Breed (South East Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what decision he has made on the relocation of the British Embassy in Tel Aviv.
(261792)
173
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Sri Lankan government on access for humanitarian agencies and independent media organisations to areas of conflict and military operation in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.
(262118)
174
Mr Bruce George (Walsall South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the British delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on proposals to reduce his Department's budget for election observation in 2009-10.
(261920)
175
Mr Bruce George (Walsall South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues in the Treasury and the Department for International Development on alternative sources of funding for election observation in 2009-10.
(261958)
176
Mr Bruce George (Walsall South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department has spent on sending secondees to the OSCE in each of the last five years.
(261959)
177
Mr Bruce George (Walsall South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) staff of his Department and (b) other UK nationals are seconded to the OSCE institutions, including Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and OSCE field missions; and how many of each have been so seconded in each of the last five years.
(261960)
178
Mr Bruce George (Walsall South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the cost to the Government was for election observation conducted by (a) OSCE, (b) the European Union and (c) the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in each of the last 10 years.
(261961)
179
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 27 February 2009, Official Report, columns 34-36WS, on the General Affairs and External Relations Council, for what reasons the Council was unable to reach a conclusion on the proposed closure of the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and what proposals the UK made on the matter.
(261737)
180
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1242W, on Guantanamo Bay: detainees, if he will place in the Library a copy of the written transfer agreement for the return of Binyam Mohamed concluded on 20 February 2009.
(261819)
181
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which (a) commercial banks and (b) independent financial experts his Department consulted on managing its exposure to foreign currency movements following the Treasury's withdrawal of support for the overseas price mechanism.
(261824)
182
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps will be taken to manage his Department's exposure to foreign currency movements when his Department's contract with the Bank of England to buy 80 per cent. of net US dollar and euro exposure ends.
(261825)
183
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1240W, on departmental public expenditure, what efficiency savings have been (a) made in 2008-09 and (b) identified for financial year 2009-10; and what the estimated saving from each is.
(261937)
184
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1240W, on departmental public expenditure, which activities have been (a) delayed in 2008-09 and (b) identified for delay in 2009-10; and what the estimated saving from each delay is.
(261938)
185
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, columns 1237-8W, on departmental public expenditure, what estimate he has made of the additional amount in sterling required to meet the UK's commitments in respect of (a) international subscriptions and (b) peacekeeping activities in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10.
(261939)
186
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, columns 1239-40W, on departmental public expenditure, what estimate he has made of the additional sum each of his Department's overseas posts will require in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10 to maintain the purchasing power of each of their local budgets.
(261940)
187
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1250W, on overseas trade: prices, what position he took on the future of the overseas price mechanism in his discussions with Ministerial colleagues preceding the announcement of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
(261941)
188
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1240W, on departmental public expenditure, what the cost to his Department of each UK contribution to peacekeeping operations overseas (a) was in 2007-08 and (b) has been in 2008-09.
(261942)
189
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1240W, on departmental public expenditure, what his Department's budget for costs of overseas posts was in each of the last five financial years.
(261943)
190
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the US administration on the possible appointment of a US special representative for Kashmir.
(261759)
191
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262090)
192
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will assess the likely effects of recent decisions of the International Criminal Court in relation to Sudan on levels of co-operation between the government of Sudan and the UN Mission in Sudan; and if he will make a statement.
(261735)
193
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 12 February 2009, Official Report, columns 85-88WS, on departmental expenditure limits, what assessment he has made to the merits of establishing reciprocal arrangements with the country of origin when visas are offered gratis to fans visiting the UK to attend sporting events; and if he will make a statement.
(261736)
194
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the current state of relations between Sudan and Chad; and what discussions he has had with UN Security Council counterparts on the matter.
(261922)
195
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of (a) the effectiveness of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad and (b) its ability to protect civilians in Chad; and if he will make a statement.
(261923)
196
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad to reach the full mandated strength authorised by UN Security Council Resolution 1861.
(261924)
197
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the US administration on its policy on Burma; and if he will make a statement.
(261925)
198
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the level of threat to British interests from instability in the Horn of Africa; and if he will make a statement.
(261926)
199
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of the number of Kenyan people who have returned to their homes since the post-election violence in 2008.
(261927)
200
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government plans to make a financial contribution to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' 2009 programme in Thailand; and if he will make a statement.
(261928)
201
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan government on the conditions of resettlement camps established for Tamil refugees; and what assessment he has made of their compatibility with international standards.
(261929)
202
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Kenyan government on the establishment of a special tribunal in relation to the post-election violence in Kenya in 2008.
(261997)
203
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2009, Official Report, column 1522W, on Democratic Republic of Congo: mining, which other UK companies are involved in the exportation of minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
(262038)
204
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in the Straits of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.
(261813)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Health
205
N
Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will hold a public inquiry into the infection of haemophiliacs with hepatitis C and HIV due to the use of contaminated blood by the NHS.
(261080)
206
N
Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to pay compensation to haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C and HIV following the use of contaminated blood by the NHS.
(261081)
207
N
Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consideration his Department gave to providing witnesses to give evidence in public to the Archer Inquiry into contaminated blood and blood products.
(261082)
208
Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 25 Feburary 2009, Official Report, columns 888-90W, on steroid drugs, what the figures for (a) glucocorticoids and synthetic analogues, (b) other estrogens and progestogens, (c) androgens and anabolic congeners and (d) mineralcorticoids and their antagonists are.
(261936)
209
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were treated for cancer at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford in 2007.
(261765)
210
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many men under the age of 35 years resident in (a) West Chelmsford constituency and (b) England had heart attacks in each of the last five years.
(261766)
211
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people under 25 years received treatment for each sexually transmitted infection in (a) West Chelmsford constituency and (b) Essex in each of the last 10 years.
(261769)
212
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what resources will be allocated to Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford following the Government's recent announcement of extra staff to tackle hospital infections.
(261772)
213
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many licensed pharmacies there were in West Chelmsford constituency in each of the last five years.
(261804)
214
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2009, Official Report, column 877W, on local public health laboratories, which department had responsibility for the Public Health Laboratory Service between 1999 and 2003; and where the information relating to local public health laboratories during that period is held.
(261817)
215
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2009, Official Report, column 878W, on nutrition: screening, if he will discuss with healthcare professionals the inclusion of nutritional screening as a directed enhanced service in the community pharmacy contract.
(261818)
216
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the potential additional cost to the NHS of changes to the value added tax treatment of agency staff; what estimate he has made of that potential cost; and if he will make a statement.
(262120)
217
Mr David Crausby (Bolton North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many girls aged between 12 and 13 years have been vaccinated against human papilloma virus in (a) the UK and (b) Bolton.
(262024)
218
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cases of (a) encephaly and (b) spina bifida following (i) live births and (ii) elective terminations were diagnosed in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.
(261734)
219
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the net funding allocation to the Peterborough Primary Care Trust for primary dental services was in each year since 1 April 2006; and if he will make a statement.
(261903)
220
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many reports of physical attacks against NHS hospital staff there were in each of the last three years; and how many prosecutions were made in respect of each which resulted in conviction.
(261868)
221
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262089)
222
N
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many transplant operations were performed on people from the Republic of Ireland in each of the last 10 years; how many organs for transplant were imported from the Republic of Ireland in each of the last 10 years; and how much the Irish Government paid the NHS for the procedures in each such year.
(261366)
223
N
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2009, Official Report, column 1029W, on malnutrition, how many people were (a) admitted to and (b) discharged from each NHS hospital with a primary or secondary diagnosis of (i) malnutrition, (ii) nutritional anaemias and (iii) other nutritional deficiences in each year from 1997-98 to 2007-08.
(261614)
224
N
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 18 December 2007, Official Report, column 1396W, on nutrition, what codes his Department used in collating the information provided in the Answer.
(261673)
225
N
Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what percentage of organ transplants to transplantees resident (a) in and (b) outside the UK were successful at (i) three months and (ii) one year in the last 10 years, broken down by organ; how many transplantees resident (A) in and (B) outside the UK have received transplants in the last 10 years subsequently died, broken down by cause of death; and how many transplants undertaken on each category of person in the last 10 years were unsuccessful.
(261676)
226
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was paid by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) to the 11 firms on the NHSLA panel for clinical cases for their services (a) on behalf of the NHSLA and (b) provided to claimants in each year since 1996-97.
(262044)
227
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which independent sector treatment centres have contracts due for renewal in the next (a) six and (b) 12 months.
(262045)
228
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what independent sector treatment centre projects are under contract in (a) phase 1 and (b) phase 2.
(262046)
229
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what occasions other than meetings of the EU Council of Ministers, Ministers from his Department expect to meet the European Commissioner for Health over the next six months.
(262095)
230
Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the total cost of equipment (a) lost by and (b) stolen from the NHS in 2007-08.
(262006)
231
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people of working age in each local authority who were assessed as having a level of social care need (a) received and (b) did not receive state-funded social care support in each of the last five years.
(262047)
232
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many assertive outreach teams there were in (a) England, (b) the South West, (c) Devon and (d) East Devon in each of the last 10 years.
(261788)
233
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the average cost of complying with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on computerised cognitive behavioural therapy, broken down by (a) primary care trust and (b) strategic health authority.
(261978)
234
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what effect he expects the NHS Constitution will have on levels of access to National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence-approved psychological therapies; and if he will make a statement.
(261980)
235
Mr Hugo Swire (East Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost of prescribing anti-depressant drugs in (a) each primary care trust, (b) strategic health authority and (c) England was in each of the last three years; and what steps he is taking to reduce these costs.
(261982)
236
Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discretion is available to (a) Ministers and (b) pension scheme trustees in respect of the annual indexation for retired members of the (i) NHS Pension Scheme and (ii) New NHS Pension Scheme; and whether pension payments will fall should the retail price index inflation fall in the 12 month period to the end of September 2009.
(262005)
237
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the smoking ban in reducing levels of smoking in England.
(261860)
Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department
238
Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many citizenship ceremonies have been conducted in each (a) English region and (b) London local authority area in each of the last two years.
(261861)
239
Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been registered as British citizens in each English local authority area since 2005.
(261862)
240
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals were found to be carrying illegal (a) weapons and (b) drugs during stop and search procedures by the police in West Chelmsford constituency in each of the last 10 years.
(261768)
241
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people (a) were arrested and (b) received on-the-spot fines for possession of cannabis in West Chelmsford constituency in each of the last five years.
(261806)
242
Mr Paul Burstow (Sutton & Cheam): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2009, Official Report, column 671W, on appropriate adults, when she expects to (a) make decisions on and (b) implement changes to the role, training and use of appropriate adults following the public consultation launched in August 2008; and if she will make a statement.
(261802)
243
N
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the government of Belarus on measures to allow children from that country who have visas to enter the UK for the purposes of tourist visits to depart Belarus without hindrance; and if she will take steps to put in place an agreement with the government of Belarus to facilitate such visits.
(261364)
244
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average processing time for family reunion visas where the application has been made from a UK overseas mission in South Africa was in the latest period for which information is available.
(261979)
245
Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons she did not invite representatives of the Master Locksmiths' Association to her recent burglary summit.
(261907)
246
Mr Nick Hurd (Ruislip-Northwood): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's policy is on holding departmental away days outside her Department's buildings.
(262027)
247
Mr Nick Hurd (Ruislip-Northwood): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department issues on whether its members of staff may claim for travel in first class carriages on trains if there are no seats in standard class.
(262032)
248
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which trade unions are recognised in her Department.
(262088)
249
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Anwer of 16 December 2008, Official Report, columns 583-4W, on community relations, how much police forces in England and Wales have spent on Prevent-related projects and activities to date.
(262010)
250
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will place in the Library a copy of the Association of Chief Police Officers' Strategy and Delivery Plan, referred to on page 49 of The Prevent Strategy: A Guide for Local Partners in England.
(262107)
251
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2009, Official Report, column 695W, on terrorism, what proportion of the £2.5 billion counter-terrorism and intelligence budget is accounted for by the counter-terrorism strategy.
(262108)
252
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2009, Official Report, column 695W, on terrorism, what estimate she has made of the counter-terrorism and intelligence budget in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11, broken down by the proportion to be spent on the counter-terrorism strategy in each year.
(262109)
253
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of the money which has been allocated to police forces under the Prevent strand of Project Contest for 2008-09 has been spent on (a) recruiting, (b) training and (c) paying community engagement and counter terrorism intelligence officers.
(262119)
254
Patrick Mercer (Newark): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much police forces under the Prevent strand of Project Contest for 2008-09 (a) have been allocated for 2008-09 and (b) is planned to be allocated for 2009-10 to each of the 24 police forces; how those police forces were selected; and how many community engagement and counter terrorism intelligence officer appointments have so far been made.
(262124)
255
Margaret Moran (Luton South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 Feburary 2009, Official Report, column 1652W, on offences against children: internet, when her Department commenced its review of ways in which the final five per cent. of internet service providers could be covered by blocking; what timetable has been set to achieve 100 per cent. blocking coverage; and what steps she plans to take to achieve that objective.
(261935)
256
N
Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which police forces will be responsible for the security of the training camps for teams competing in the London 2012 Olympics; and if she will make a statement.
(261367)
257
Clare Short (Birmingham, Ladywood): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the UK Border Agency plans to reply to the letter of 6 November 2008 (Special Delivery reference ZC982623786GB), the email of 2 December 2008 and letter of 19 January 2009 from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, sent on behalf of Satnam Kaur Thomas (Home Office reference number J1055280).
(261681)
258
N
Mr Edward Vaizey (Wantage): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects to conclude the draft agreement with Belarus concerning the travel for medical treatment abroad of children from that country.
(261460)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills
259
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what percentage of school leavers resident in (a) West Chelmsford constituency and (b) Essex went on to higher education in each of the last 10 years.
(261771)
260
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many businesses in (a) West Chelmsford constituency, (b) London and (c) England have signed the skills pledge.
(261807)
261
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to support universities whose research has been judged as excellent and of national importance.
(261977)
262
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effects of age discrimination legislation on the numbers of people from each age group taking part in adult education courses.
(261829)
263
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what percentage of 18 to 24 year olds in (a) Bexley, (b) London and (c) England were in full-time education in each year since 1997.
(261830)
264
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what proportion of people who started training under Train to Gain did not complete their course in the last period for which figures are available.
(261831)
265
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of non-EU nationals who completed further education courses in England in the last five years.
(261832)
266
Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the availability of resources to fund capital projects in the further education sector in the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.
(261760)
267
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262087)
268
Margaret Moran (Luton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2009, Official Report, column 789W, on employment-related skills, how much of the funding allocated to improve the employment-related skills of people with low skills he expects to be spent in Luton.
(261758)
269
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many apprenticeships have been (a) advertised and (b) filled through the National Apprenticeship Vacancy Matching Service in 2009 to date.
(261828)
270
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what estimate he has made of the average insurance cost to employers of taking on an apprentice.
(261857)
271
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what support is available for apprentices whose employer terminates their contract before they have completed their apprenticeship.
(261858)
272
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many graduates are continuing to repay mortgage-style student loans taken out before 1998.
(261859)
273
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many undergraduates enrolled on their first degree course are studying part-time.
(261908)
274
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what amount of mortgage-style student loans taken out before 1998 is yet to be repaid.
(261909)
275
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many full-time undergraduates received (a) a maintenance loan and (b) a tuition fee loan in each year since 2001.
(261910)
276
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, which higher education institutions are in risk category (a) 1 and (b) 2.
(261911)
277
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, if he will publish his most recent risk assessments relating to institutions in the university sector.
(261912)
278
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what response his Department has made to recent representations it has received from the Medical Schools Council and Dental Schools Council on visas for overseas medical and dental undergraduate students.
(261913)
279
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, who will conduct the 2009 review of funding arrangements for undergraduates.
(261914)
280
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what the terms of reference of the 2009 review of funding arrangements for undergraduates will be; and when the review will commence.
(261915)
281
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many live accounts are held by the Student Loans Company in relation to which no repayment is currently being received, broken down by reason for the lack of repayment.
(261916)
282
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many apprenticeship places there have been in the public sector in each of the last 10 years.
(261918)
283
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many apprentices there were in the (a) construction, (b) administration and human resources, (c) agricultural and land based services, (d) broadcast film and media, (e) chemical, oil and nuclear energy, (f) customer service and retail, (g) energy and utilities, (h) electrical and engineering, (i) financial services, (j) food and drink, (k) hair and beauty, (l) logistics, (m) hospitality and travel, (n) marine industry, (o) property, (p) public services, (q) sports and fitness and (r) chemical, oil and nuclear industry sectors in each region in the latest period for which figures are available.
(261919)
284
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of proposals to restrict the duration of student visas to four years from March 2009 on current undergraduates on (a) dental, (b) medical and (c) architecture courses.
(262023)
Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development
285
Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the Government's position is on the cancellation of debt arising from irresponsible lending to debtor countries; and if he will make a statement.
(261820)
286
N
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Government response to the International Development Committee's Report on HIV/AIDS and his Department's New Strategy, HC 235, what the Government's imputed share of core contributions to multilateral organisations was in the last 12 months, broken down by recipient organisation.
(260659)
287
N
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of his Department's (a) funding contributions in the last 12 months and (b) planned funding contributions in the period up to 2015 to multilateral organisations will form part of the Government's £6 billion spending commitment on health systems strengthening.
(260660)
288
N
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate his Department has made of its imputed share of core contributions to each multilateral organisation which it funds in each year up to 2015.
(260662)
289
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what agreement has been reached with the Palestinian Authority about mechanisms for the delivery and distribution of UK aid to Gaza; and if he will make a statement.
(261826)
290
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the cost to his Department of its subscription to each international organisation was in 2007-08.
(261881)
291
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which of his Department's offices in each country overseas has reported a decline in the purchasing power of their local budget as a result of recent exchange rate movements; and what the size of the reported decline was in each case.
(261882)
292
Mr William Hague (Richmond (Yorks)): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps his Department has taken to mitigate the effects of adverse exchange rate movements on its budget.
(261884)
293
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the most recent schedule for the construction of an airport on St Helena is; and if he will make a statement.
(261816)
294
N
Mark Hunter (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent estimate he has made of the number of people in developing countries directly affected by HIV/AIDS; and what percentage of such people have access to HIV/AIDS treatments.
(261462)
295
N
Mark Hunter (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment he has made of levels of malnutrition in Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.
(261463)
296
N
Mark Hunter (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what estimate he has made of the number of people in Zimbabwe who are reliant upon international food aid; and if he will make a statement.
(261464)
297
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262086)
298
N
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if he will place in the Library a copy of his reply to the letter of 12 February 2009 from the hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk on his Department's Spring Supplementary Estimates.
(261562)
299
N
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 12 February 2009, Official Report, columns 100-01WS, on departmental expenditure limits, what the (a) nature and (b) location of the work undertaken by locally-engaged staff in Iraq in respect of which his Deparment plans to transfer £300,000 to the Ministry of Defence was.
(261671)
300
Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when he plans to answer Question 251225, tabled on 21 January 2009, on the Doha round of world trade talks.
(261944)
301
Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding his Department has allocated to support for (a) food aid programmes in developing countries in Africa in each of the last 10 years and (b) the development of agriculture in such countries in each such year.
(261821)
302
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding his Department has provided for (a) research and (b) practical assistance relating to diabetes in developing countries in each of the last three years; and what such funding is planned for the next three years.
(261827)
303
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Anwer of 29 January 2009, Official Report, column 737W, on Sri Lanka: internally displaced persons, when he expects the findings of the report of the humanitarian assessment mission to Sri Lanka to be placed in the Library.
(262065)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
304
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders re-offended while on probation in (a) West Chelmsford constituency and (b) Essex in the last five years.
(261770)
305
Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many individuals below the age of 18 years have been imprisoned for (a) less than six months and (b) six months or more for breaching an anti-social behaviour order in each of the last two years.
(262050)
306
N
Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2008, Official Report, column 474W, on the Bradley Review, what date he has set for the publication of Lord Bradley's Review.
(261385)
307
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, at which courts in England and Wales free legal representation funded by the Government at repossession hearings is available; and how many legal advisers have been allocated to each court.
(261930)
308
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Leeds West of 26 November 2008, Official Report, columns 1500-01W, on housing: low incomes, how many people in Wales have received assistance from each of the desks established in courts to provide free legal representation at repossession hearings in each month since the scheme's inception.
(261931)
309
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the implementation by (a) churches and (b) local authorities of his Department's guidelines on health and safety in graveyards.
(261741)
310
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will review the accuracy of summaries produced of his Department's guidelines on graveyard health and safety over the last three months.
(261840)
311
N
Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will refer to the Committee on Standards in Public Life the matter of tax exiles and non-domiciled people who donate to UK political parties; and if he will make a statement.
(261358)
312
Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2009, Official Report, column 1507W, on legal aid: housing, how many applications for acts of assistance relating to housing have been received in 2008-09; and how many such applications have been accepted.
(261945)
313
Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2009, Official Report, column 1507W, on legal aid: housing, how much the Legal Services Commission spent on acts of assistance relating to housing in each of the last five years; and how much has been spent in 2008-09 to date on applications for acts of assistance.
(261946)
314
Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2009, Official Report, column 1507W, on legal aid: housing, how many new housing matters have been started by the Legal Services Commission in 2008-09.
(261947)
315
Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2009, Official Report, column 1507W, on legal aid: housing, what proportion of all applications for (a) civil representations and (b) legal help in 2008-09 to date have been related to housing.
(261948)
316
N
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) prisoners on early release and (b) people currently on bail and not living at their previous home are (i) housed and (ii) planned to be housed in Castle Point.
(260463)
317
Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether boys held on red level in Wetherby Young Offenders Institution are permitted to telephone their solicitors during office hours.
(261682)
318
Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much outdoor exercise boys in Wetherby Young Offenders Institution are able to take.
(261683)
319
Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how often boys held on red level in Wetherby Young Offenders Institution have association with other young people; and how long on average they spend alone in their cells each day.
(261684)
320
Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how often boys held on red level in Wetherby Young Offenders Institution are permitted to telephone their families.
(261685)
321
Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the arrangements for providing boys in Wetherby Young Offenders Institution with decent clothing are.
(261686)
322
Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how often boys held on red level in Wetherby Young Offenders Institution are allowed to have a shower.
(261687)
323
Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many boys in each age cohort have been placed on red level in Wetherby Young Offenders Institution in each month since January 2008; and for how long each was on red level.
(261688)
324
Dr Rudi Vis (Finchley & Golders Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) juveniles and (b) young adults have been physically restrained in Feltham Young Offenders Institution in each month since January 2008.
(261689)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
325
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262085)
Questions to the Minister for the Olympics
326
Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Minister for the Olympics, what steps her Department is taking to provide that half of the tickets for the London 2012 Olympics will be sold for less than £20; how many tickets for the London 2012 Olympics she estimates will be priced at under £20; and when the final price of tickets will be established.
(262015)
327
N
Hugh Robertson (Faversham & Mid Kent): To ask the Minister for the Olympics, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2009, Official Report, column 1115W, on the Olympic Games 2012, when each of the key stakeholder forums to design and deliver the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies is to take place; what the location of each is; who has been invited to each; what account the London Olympic Committee plans to take of the outcome of each event; and if she will make a statement.
(261677)
Questions to the Prime Minister
328
Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Prime Minister, if he will discuss with the President of the United States the matters of (a) the proposed expansion of NATO to include Ukraine and Georgia and (b) nuclear disarmament; and if he will make a statement.
(261856)
329
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2009, Official Report, column 1198W, on the diplomatic service, on how many occasions he has appointed a special representative or special envoy to a particular region since 1997.
(261921)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland
330
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262084)
Questions to the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
331
Mr David Heath (Somerton & Frome): To ask the honourable Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what further information the Speaker's Committee has received about the outside interests of the Chairman of the Electoral Commission.
(261803)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
332
N
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in which country the (a) design and development work and (b) construction of the initial batch of engines and carriages for the new Intercity Express Programme train will take place.
(261552)
333
N
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Statement of 12 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1531-3, how many of the 12,500 jobs he expects will be (a) existing jobs safeguarded and (b) new jobs created (i) in the train vehicle manufacturing industry and (ii) for third party suppliers to the industry; and on what assumptions these estimates are based.
(261553)
334
N
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the energy consumption, exclusive of passenger capacity, of (a) an Intercity 225 train and (b) the proposed Intercity Express Programme train.
(261554)
335
N
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the compatibility with EU competition law of the undertaking given by Hitachi and its partners that 70 per cent. of the contract value for the new Intercity Express Programme train will be spent in the UK.
(261555)
336
N
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many employees of (a) the Highways Agency and (b) external contractors he expects to work on (i) the motorways and major trunk roads scheme, (ii) electrification of the Midland Mainline and Great Western lines and (iii) High Speed Two in (A) 2009-10, (B) 2010-11 and (C) 2011-12.
(261556)
337
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential health implications of the use of advanced backscatter x-rays and millimetre wave technology in body scanners at airports.
(261870)
338
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to allow travellers at airports who do not wish to be subject to a body scanner using advanced backscatter x-rays and millimetre wave techology to opt instead for a manual pat-down search.
(261871)
339
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons publication of the annual report entitled The Allocation of Road Track Costs was discontinued after 1996-97.
(261872)
340
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people (a) took and (b) passed their driving test in (i) Chelmsford, (ii) Essex and (iii) the UK in each of the last five years.
(261775)
341
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many (a) injuries and (b) deaths have occurred in accidents on railway crossings in (i) Essex and (ii) the UK in each year since 1998.
(261776)
342
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people have registered for the DART-Tag scheme for the Dartford Crossing.
(261777)
343
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make all people living in West Chelmsford constituency eligible to register for the local residents scheme for the Dartford Crossing.
(261778)
344
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department plans to spend on the maintenance and development of railway stations in (a) West Lancashire constituency and (b) England in the next three years.
(262064)
345
N
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of road safety partnership grants in (a) Lancashire and (b) England.
(260661)
346
N
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2008, Official Report, column 23W, on roads: Lancashire, how many meetings his officials have held with Lancashire County Council officials about work supported by a road safety partnership grant not specific to the A59; where those meetings were held; and what decisions were made at those meetings.
(260663)
347
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the roadworks in Nottinghamshire on the M1 motorway north of junction 25 to be completed; and if he will make a statement.
(261869)
348
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much the Highways Agency has spent on relocating people from their land or houses during the widening of the M1 motorway between junctions 25 and 28.
(261873)
349
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262083)
350
N
Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to bring forward legislative proposals to legalise the display of national flags on number plates in Great Britain to take effect on 23 April 2009.
(259641)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales
351
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262082)
Questions to the Minister for Women and Equality
352
Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough): To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, what discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues on the provision of services for women who have been trafficked into the UK for sexual exploitation.
(261779)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
353
N
John Barrett (Edinburgh West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2009, Official Report, column 787W, if he will direct his Department to send copies of the responses to the hon, Member for Edinburgh West's letters on behalf of his constituent Joe Shepherd to the hon. Member's constituency office.
(261557)
354
John Battle (Leeds West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government plans to relax the 16 hour rule relating to work and benefits; and if he will make a statement.
(261867)
355
N
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any bonuses were paid to senior Remploy staff in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.
(261668)
356
N
Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of Remploy on their future plans; and if he will make a statement.
(261669)
357
Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) jobseeker's allowance (JSA) claimants and (b) JSA claimants with children have been subject to benefit sanctions in each quarter since the beginning of 2007.
(261864)
358
Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many households were in receipt of (a) income support, (b) incapacity benefit and (c) employment support allowance in each London (i) borough and (ii) constituency at (A) 31 March 2005 and (B) 31 December 2008.
(261865)
359
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many families received benefits in excess of £15,000 in (a) West Chelmsford, (b) Essex and (c) Greater London in each of the last five years.
(261767)
360
Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people entitled to a winter fuel payment in West Chelmsford constituency are yet to receive their payment from the last round of applications.
(261833)
361
N
Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications for mortgage relief have been (a) received, (b) processed to the point of completion and (c) granted in the last 12 months.
(259012)
362
Derek Conway (Old Bexley & Sidcup): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many meetings his Ministers and officials have held with the Royal London Society for the Blind on the impact of changes for blind and partially-sighted employment support projects under the Workstep programme in London.
(261780)
363
Derek Conway (Old Bexley & Sidcup): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the length of the 24-month supported-employment period for people with some types of disabilities within the Workstep programme.
(261781)
364
Derek Conway (Old Bexley & Sidcup): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) contractors for Workstep and (b) specific disability charities in securing sponsoring employers and mentoring-assisted employment placements for disabled people.
(261782)
365
Derek Conway (Old Bexley & Sidcup): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to ensure that contractors under the Workstep programme provide equal treatment for people with different categories of disability.
(261783)
366
Derek Conway (Old Bexley & Sidcup): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his estimate is of the percentage of funding under the relevant contract which has been spent on administration by (a) prime contractors on the Pathways to Work programme and (b) disabled charity providers under Workstep.
(261784)
367
Derek Conway (Old Bexley & Sidcup): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many representations he has received on the effectiveness of the Workstep programme.
(261785)
368
Derek Conway (Old Bexley & Sidcup): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent representations he has received in favour of the extension of the Workstep programme beyond 24 months for people with certain categories of disability.
(261786)
369
Derek Conway (Old Bexley & Sidcup): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in each category of disability have been assisted through the Workstep programme since it was introduced.
(261787)
370
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of carers' interest groups on proposals for payments of carers' allowance to people who have retired from work and continue to care for relatives.
(261962)
371
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much he expects to pay to pensioner households in West Lancashire constituency in winter fuel payments in 2008-09.
(261963)
372
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of households in West Lancashire constituency which will receive the (a) £250 and (b) £400 winter fuel payment in 2008-09.
(261964)
373
Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of increases in living costs on pensioners; and what steps his Department is taking to assist pensioners affected by such increases.
(261965)
374
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Wales (a) applied for and (b) received assistance under the Support for Mortgage Interest Scheme in January and February 2009; and how much was granted in total.
(261932)
375
N
Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many children living in poverty live in households which are not eligible for (a) full and (b) partial council tax benefit.
(261558)
376
N
Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) pensioners and (b) people of working age are (i) in receipt of council tax benefit and (ii) eligible for council tax benefit and live in households where no one is eligible to pay income tax.
(261559)
377
N
Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners not in receipt of pension credit are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of council tax benefit.
(261560)
378
N
Julia Goldsworthy (Falmouth & Camborne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) pensioners and (b) people of working age at each household income level are (i) in receipt of and (ii) eligible for council tax benefit.
(261561)
379
N
Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many housing benefit claimants there were in (a) the North West and (b) Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council area in each month since January 2007.
(261468)
380
N
Mark Hunter (Cheadle): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobseeker's allowance claimants there were in (a) the North West, (b) Stockport local authority area and (c) Cheadle constituency in each month since January 2007.
(261461)
381
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which trade unions are recognised in his Department.
(262081)
382
N
Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department holds on the number of Jobcentre Plus benefit applicants or customers who are in receipt of food from foodbanks or other community or voluntary organisations.
(261459)
383
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an estimate of the weekly pension credit entitlement to the nearest whole pound of an individual retiring at age 68 in (a) 2028,(b) 2038, (c) 2048 and (d) 2058 with a full basic state pension but no other pension saving.
(261949)
384
Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2009, Official Report, columns 572-4W, on Jobcentre Plus: recruitment, how many of the 6,000 extra staff to be recruited by Jobcentre Plus will be working as personal advisers; and how many of these will be recruited on (a) part-time and (b) temporary contracts.
(261988)
385
Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times deductions have been made from benefits for non-payment of council tax in each local authority area since August 2007; and how many claimants have had deductions made from their (a) pension credit, (b) jobseeker's allowance and (c) income support for not paying council tax in each local authority area since August 2007.
(262003)
386
Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many personal advisers working in Jobcentre Plus are graded at (a) executive officer and (b) higher executive officer level; and what the pay scales for each of those grades is.
(262004)
Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
387
N
Dr Vincent Cable (Twickenham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, whether the confidential dossier drawn up by his Department making the case for waiving competition law submitted in evidence to the Competition Appeal Tribunal in the December 2008 hearing of the case of Merger Action Group v. Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform still exists in (a) electronic and (b) paper form.
[Transferred] (261384)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families
388
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many apprenticeship places have been created by the Building Schools for the Future Programme.
[Transferred] (261917)
Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
389
Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many civil partnership ceremonies have been conducted in each English local authority area.
[Transferred] (261863)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
390
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what powers regional development agencies will have in respect of local planning authorities' local development frameworks when the new regional strategies are implemented.
[Transferred] (262040)
Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department
391
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government plans to provide standard disclosures for criminal record bureau checks.
[Transferred] (261878)
392
Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate she has made of the cost of introducing standard disclosures for criminal record bureau checks.
[Transferred] (261879)

 
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