|
Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Thursday 2 April 2009
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 2 April 2009
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Thursday 2 April 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 Thursday 2 April of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper. For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Thursday 2 April see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 1
N | Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of employed women who are employed and have no entitlement to maternity leave. | | (268637) | 2
N | Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, whether organisations which offer salary sacrifice childcare vouchers are required to offer childcare vouchers when employees are on maternity, paternity and parental leave. | | (268638) | 3
| Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many questions tabled to his Department for ordinary written Answer in Session 2007-08 were (a) answered (i) in up to three days, (ii) in between four days and two weeks, (iii) in between two weeks and one month, (iv) in between one month and two months and (v) two months or more after tabling and (b) were not answered. | | (268661) | 4
| Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many questions tabled to his Department for named day written Answer in Session 2007-08 (a) received a substantive answer (i) on the day named and (ii) (A) in up to three days, (B) in between four days and two weeks, (C) in between two weeks and one month, (D) in between one and two months and (E) more than two months after the day named and (b) were not answered. | | (268662) | Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer 5
N | Mr Mark Francois (Rayleigh): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on the representation of EU member states by one voice at the International Monetary Fund; and if he will make a statement. | | (268603) | 6
| John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times the Council of Economic Advisers has met; when it last met; who the members of the Council are; how many civil servants attended each meeting of the Council; and how much the Council has spent on (a) travel, (b) hospitality and (c) other expenses since June 2007. | | (268857) | 7
N | Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his most recent estimate is of the level of take-up of the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit. | | (268639) | 8
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has examined the practice in other tax jurisdictions of publishing the tax returns of individuals; and if he will make a statement. | | (268884) | 9
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the merits of publishing the tax returns of individual taxpayers. | | (268885) | 10
N | Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his officials have had with representatives of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills on funding allocations for capital building projects in further education colleges to be made in the current spending review period. | | (268463) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 11
| Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset & North Poole): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps have been taken to ensure that users of ContactPoint will not be able to save information from the database onto a portable storage device or laptop computer; and if he will make a statement. | | (268696) | 12
N | Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of children in areas of each decile of multiple deprivation of (a) pupil residence and (b) local authority did not gain any GCSEs in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (267428) | 13
N | Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what estimate he has made of the change in his Department's deprivation expenditure relating to schools in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02 and (d) 2002-03. | | (267429) | 14
N | Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps he takes to monitor the use by local education authorities of funding for schools allocated by local distribution formula; and if he will make a statement. | | (267430) | 15
N | Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much on average his Department spent per pupil in (a) primary and (b) secondary education at the school, excluding special schools, where the average spend per pupil was (i) highest and (ii) lowest in each local education authority in the last year for which figures are available. | | (267431) | 16
| Michael Gove (Surrey Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many teachers (a) retired, (b) retired on grounds of ill health and (c) took early retirement in the last year for which figures are available. | | (268883) | 17
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, which schools in each local authority are participating in the Gaining Ground initiative; which local authorities have entered schools for the initiative; and if he will make a statement. | | (268676) | 18
| Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, which local authorities he expects to join the Building Schools for the Future programme after 2010; and if he will make a statement. | | (268677) | 19
N | Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many cases investigated by independent reviewing officers have been referred to the Children and Family Court Advsory and Support Service in the past five years. | | (268597) | 20
N | Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many mothers have more than (a) one, (b) five, (c) 10 and (d) 15 children in care. | | (268598) | 21
| Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what estimate he has made of local authorities' expenditure on legal counsel in preparation for and for representation at special educational needs and disability tribunals related to autism in 2007-08. | | (268741) | 22
N | Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many full day care settings closed in each quarter of the last year. | | (268636) | Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 23
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, whether those participating in the (a) Work Trial, (b) Workstep, (c) Work Preparation, (d) Work Path, (e) Employment Zones and (f) Progress2Work programme are classified as unemployed for the purposes of unemployment statistics. | | (268685) | Questions to the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners 24
| Mr Nick Gibb (Bognor Regis & Littlehampton): To ask the honourable Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners, how much the Church Commissioners spent on church buildings in (a) 2006 and (b) 2007. | | (268848) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 25
| Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2009, Official Report, column 550W, on mobile homes, if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's ad hoc survey on local authorities in England. | | (268828) | 26
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when she plans to answer Question 245558, tabled on 18 December 2008, on Government plans to promote the UK as a standard setter for Islamic studies outside the Islamic world. | | (268606) | 27
N | Tony Lloyd (Manchester Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for what reasons the Transitional Relief Scheme is not to be renewed; what assessment she has made of the effect on small businesses of the discontinuation of the scheme; and what representations she has received on the matter from representatives of businesses. | | (268462) | 28
| Anne Milton (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the planned timetable is for the publication of the final version of the South East Plan. | | (268812) | 29
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the (a) top, (b) median and (c) average salary of chief executives in (i) county and (ii) district councils in England. | | (268909) | 30
N | Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what percentage of her Department's social rented programme budget for 2010-11 has been brought forward for use in 2008-09 and 2009-10; and if she will make a statement. | | (268600) | 31
N | Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of the Housing Revenue Account's annual income was derived from rent (a) from dwellings and (b) sources other than dwellings in each year since 1997. | | (268601) | 32
N | Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what expenditure under what main budget headings was incurred on the spending on supervision and management out of the Housing Revenue Account for the last financial year for which figures are available. | | (268602) | 33
| Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2009, Official Report, column 79W, on the Tenant Services Authority, what the cost under each budget heading was of each regional National Conversation event for tenants. | | (268917) | 34
| Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2009, Official Report, column 79W, on the Tenant Services Authority, how much was spent on each National Conversation event for landlords (a) in total, (b) on venue hire and (c) on food and drink. | | (268918) | 35
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 6.5 of her Department's document entitled Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill: policy document on regional strategies, if she will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting of the SNR Transition Steering Group to date; and what the membership of the Steering Group is. | | (268690) | 36
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 6.5 of her Department's document entitled Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill: policy document on regional strategies, if she will place in the Library a copy of the business planning guidance issued to regional assemblies by her Department. | | (268691) | 37
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 11 March 2009, Official Report, column 483W, on the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, for what reasons the British Humanist Association was funded from the Fund. | | (268692) | 38
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Peterborough of 11 March 2009, Official Report, column 483W, on the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund, what funding her Department and its agencies have allocated to the British Humanist Association other than through the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund; and for what purposes. | | (268693) | 39
| 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 9 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1695-6W, on local government finance, if she will seek to obtain information on the levels of exposure of local authorities to the Madoff hedge fund. | | (268729) | 40
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer to the hon, Member for Peterborough of 6 March 2009, Official Report, columns 1885-6W, on joint economic commission, what funding has been given to each regional economic commission; what the remit of each is; who the members of each are; and how each was appointed. | | (268730) | 41
| 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 19 January 2009, Official Report, columns 1072-3W, on councillors: Arun, whether the Audit Commission plans to obtain bank account information from councillors in other local authorities during its next National Fraud Initiative national data matching exercise. | | (268732) | 42
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the likely effect on the retail price of an average home information pack for a (a) leasehold and (b) freehold property of the April 2009 changes to rules on such packs. | | (268750) | 43
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 6 March 2009, Official Report, columns 71-2WS, on local authority rents, what estimate she has made of the likely change to the Housing Revenue Account of local authorities which bid for additional subsidy. | | (268754) | 44
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance has been provided to local authorities on (a) the setting of investment strategies in respect of the Local Government Pension Scheme and (b) appropriate levels of exposure to equities. | | (268829) | 45
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the cost was of producing the eco-town video on the directgov website; and which organisation produced the video. | | (268830) | 46
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate she has made of the number of firms eligible for transitional rate relief in each year of the 2005 to 2010 business rates rating cycle. | | (268831) | 47
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which Government Office regions of the Homes and Communities Agency have not met their targets for new homes (a) started and (b) completed for the beginning of 2008-09. | | (268832) | 48
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of applications for judicial review of discussions taken by the Infrastructure Planning Commission which will be made in the first three years of its operation. | | (268833) | 49
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on redundancy payments to local authority staff. | | (268834) | 50
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the system for the remuneration of (a) board members and (b) special advisers in her Department includes an incentive or bonus element. | | (268835) | 51
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether members of local authority independent remuneration panels are required to be resident in the local authority area. | | (268836) | 52
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what criteria the South East England Regional Assembly uses to determine the admissibility of submissions to the Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople Review. | | (268837) | 53
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the eligibility criteria are for small business rate relief in (a) England outside London and (b) London. | | (268838) | 54
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what powers she has in respect of the (a) amendment and (b) revocation of regional spatial strategies. | | (268839) | 55
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of unitary authorities which have set their absolute rate of council tax since the establishment of unitary local government arrangements. | | (268880) | 56
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which of the proposals made in the 2006 Local Government White Paper have not been implemented; and for which such proposals no timetable for implementation has been set. | | (268881) | 57
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, in respect of which Government Office regions (a) her Department and (b) the relevant Government Office has been notified that the regional assembly is to be replaced by a Leaders' Board; and what the name and address of each such board will be. | | (268882) | 58
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what role her Department had in the drafting of the Equality Standard for Local Government. | | (268919) | 59
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much funding regional improvement and efficiency partnerships have allocated to the development of the Equality Standard for Local Government in the last 12 months. | | (268920) | 60
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average cost was of employing a full-time equivalent (a) fire fighter and (b) retained fire fighter in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (268921) | 61
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many fire stations in each fire and rescue authority area were staffed in (a) whole and (b) part by retained fire fighters in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (268922) | 62
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance (a) her Department and (b) the Standards Board has issued to local authorities on the undertaking of Criminal Records Bureau checks in respect of councillors who (a) have and (b) do not have responsibility for functions relating to children or vulnerable adults. | | (268923) | 63
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much revenue was raised in absolute terms through the fire precept on council tax in each precepting authority in the last year for which figures are available. | | (268924) | 64
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the Band D council tax fire precept was in the last year for which figures are available. | | (268925) | 65
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average percentage change was in the council tax precepts levied by (a) district councils, (b) county councils, (c) London boroughs, (d) unitary authorities, (e) metropolitan boroughs and (f) police authorities since 1997-98. | | (268926) | 66
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's National Indicators for Local Authorities and Local Authority Partnerships: Handbook of Definition, what recent discussions Government Offices for the Regions have had with local authorities on meeting National Indicator 14 on reducing avoidable contact. | | (268927) | 67
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information her Department and its agencies hold on the amount of mortgage lending which has funded mortgages (a) for new build, (b) for first-time buyers and (c) with high loan to property value ratios in the last (i) six and (ii) 12 months. | | (268933) | 68
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what requirements there are on trustees of local government pension schemes in relation to maximising returns on their investments. | | (268934) | 69
| Sarah Teather (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average amount of a mortgage taken out by a buyer purchasing property under HomeBuy schemes in each region was in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (268815) | 70
| Sarah Teather (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average sum provided as a deposit by buyers purchasing a property under HomeBuy schemes in each region was in the latest period for which information is available. | | (268817) | 71
| Sarah Teather (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average (a) service charge and (b) ground rent paid on properties bought through HomeBuy schemes in each region is. | | (268818) | 72
| Mr Charles Walker (Broxbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the social effect on communities of the Government's target of building three million new homes by 2020 not being met. | | (268745) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 73
N | Justine Greening (Putney): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2009, Official Report, column 254W, on parks: Greater London, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Royal Parks Agency's (a) most recent research on visitor profiles and (b) 2006 in-depth study on park usage; and if he will make a statement. | | (268652) | 74
N | Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many members of staff of (a) the Big Lottery Fund, (b) the Heritage Lottery Fund, (c) English Heritage, (d) Arts Council England, (e) UK Sport, (f) the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and (g) Sport England received a bonus in each of the last three years for which figures are available. | | (268428) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence 75
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what forewarning the US military gives to British armed forces commanders in Afghanistan of (a) Predator unmanned aerial vehicle attacks into Pakistan and (b) Predator unmanned aerial vehicle flights originating within Pakistan. | | (268694) | 76
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British military pesonnel are deployed in (a) Tajikistan, (b) Uzbekistan, (c) the Kyrgyz Republic and (d) Turkmenistan. | | (268695) | 77
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many conventional British military personnel are working in Frontier Corps training schools in Pakistan; and at which schools. | | (268738) | 78
N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to develop the site of the former Wellington Barracks in Bury; and if he will make a statement. | | (266518) | 79
| Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many complaints about the outcomes of claims for (a) war disablement pension and (b) compensation for injuries or illness incurred during service in the armed forces his Department has received in each year since 2000. | | (268672) | 80
| Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what percentage of unsuccessful claimants for (a) war disablement pensions and (b) compensation for injuries or illness incurred during service in the armed forces made a subsequent claim in each of the last three years. | | (268673) | 81
| Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average length of time taken by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency and its predecessors to deal with cases relating to (a) war disablement pensions and (b) compensation for injuries or illness incurred during service in the armed forces was in each year since 2000. | | (268674) | 82
| Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many cases the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (a) referred to and (b) received from the Department for Work and Pensions in each year since 2007. | | (268675) | 83
| Anne Snelgrove (South Swindon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many soldiers from The First Battalion The Rifles have sustained injuries in Afghanistan in the category of (a) very seriously injured, (b) seriously injured, (c) temporary incapacitating illness and (d) injury unlisted. | | (268770) | 84
| Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff work in his Department's Intellectual Property Rights Directorate employs; and what the Directorate's (a) expenditure and (b) income was in each of the last five years for which figures are available. | | (268778) | 85
| Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost of administering Defence Crown Copyright was in each of the last five years; and how much was received in copyright fees in each such year. | | (268779) | 86
| Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2009, Official Report, column 424W, on Afghanistan: peacekeeping operations, with whom the national contract for providing medium and heavy helicopter lift is placed. | | (268780) | 87
| Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1366W, on Hercules aircraft, how many platforms were factored into the figure of 15,680 flying hours for the 2008-09 financial year. | | (268781) | 88
| Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department is having with Lockheed on the purchase of tactical airlift aircraft. | | (268782) | 89
| Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information his Department holds on the sources of capital for the (a) suppliers and (b) backers of the A400M aircraft. | | (268783) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 90
N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many fuel-poor households there were in West Chelmsford constituency in each of the last five years. | | (268403) | 91
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the levels of employment that would result from the liquefied natural gas facility on Anglesey and the gas storage facility at Preesall coming on-stream. | | (268594) | 92
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the changes in the ability to import and store gas that would result from the liquefied natural gas facility on Anglesey combined with the proposed gas storage facility at Preesall, Lancashire coming on stream. | | (268595) | 93
N | Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the effects of the current level of availability of finance on the delivery of new gas storage projects. | | (268596) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 94
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made in reducing (a) pollution in and (b) water abstraction from English rivers since 2005. | | (268736) | 95
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on controlling the grey squirrel population since 2005. | | (268737) | 96
N | Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the electronic maps developed by the Environment Agency which identify those areas vulnerable to flash flooding from surface water. | | (268404) | 97
| Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect on animal health in counties in England on the border with Wales should the Welsh Assembly Government decide to pursue a strategy of culling to reduce the level of bovine tuberculosis. | | (268698) | 98
N | Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the likely average business income from a cropping farm in 2008-09. | | (268399) | 99
N | Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average business income from cropping farms was in each of the last 10 years. | | (268400) | 100
N | Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cattle were slaughtered owing to irregularities with their passports in each of the last 10 years. | | (268427) | 101
N | Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contracts under the private finance initiative his Department has entered into in each of the last four years; and what the monetary value of each was. | | (268461) | 102
| Stephen Hesford (Wirral West): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage appropriate biodegradable packaging of products. | | (268777) | 103
N | Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the security of food supply. | | (268339) | 104
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contact his Department has had for monitoring purposes with businesses operating dog rental schemes in England in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. | | (268907) | 105
N | Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been spent on media training for each Minister in his Department in each of the last three years; how many sessions have been provided; and who provided such training. | | (268608) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 106
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Canadian counterpart on Russian military deployments in the Arctic. | | (268751) | 107
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the US Secretary of State on President Obama's recent video broadcast to the Iranians. | | (268752) | 108
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on (a) human rights abuses in countries from which people undertake enforced migration to the UK and (b) levels of inequality in such countries; and what discussions he has had on measures to reduce levels of enforced migration. | | (268794) | 109
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Israeli government on the recent attack on a convoy in Sudan alleged to have been carrying arms to the Gaza Strip; and if he will make a statement. | | (268622) | 110
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the US administration on the recent attack on a convoy in Sudan alleged to have been carrying arms to the Gaza Strip; and if he will make a statement. | | (268623) | 111
N | Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Sudanese government on the closure of Sudan Social Development Organisation. | | (268624) | 112
N | Mr Paul Goodman (Wycombe): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2009, Official Report, column 778W, on British Council: finance, how much expenditure (a) in which countries and (b) on what programmes he expects the British Council to incur under its Reconnect Programme in 2008-09. | | (268605) | 113
| Mr David Kidney (Stafford): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much EU grant-aided funding for non-member states there was in 2007. | | (268796) | 114
| Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department first assessed the feasibility of the project which became the Future Firecrest programme; and if he will make a statement. | | (268875) | 115
| Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the contract with Hewlett-Packard to provide the Future Firecrest programme was signed. | | (268876) | 116
| Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Future Firecrest programme was initially scheduled for completion; and what the initial estimate of its cost was. | | (268877) | 117
| Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Future Firecrest programme is scheduled for completion; and what his most recent estimate of the cost of the programme is. | | (268878) | 118
| Mr David Lidington (Aylesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many bidders his Department initially considered to supply its Future Firecrest programme. | | (268879) | 119
| Mrs Madeleine Moon (Bridgend): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 30 March 2009, Official Report, columns 40-2WS, on Colombia, what plans there are for future UK bilateral counter-narcotics assistance to the Colombian security forces. | | (268865) | 120
| Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the budget of the Returns and Reintegration Fund (a) was in 2008-09 and (b) is planned to be in 2009-10; what proportion of that total in each case is being provided by (i) his Department, (ii) the Ministry of Justice, (iii) the UK Border Agency and (iv) the Department for International Development; and if he will make a statement. | | (268856) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 121
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to reduce the amount of money available to the NHS in respect of legal actions. | | (268733) | 122
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of children up to the age of six years old were inoculated against measles in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008-09; and how many such inoculations were for measles only. | | (268734) | 123
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the population was inoculated against influenza in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008-09. | | (268735) | 124
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new cases of influenza were diagnosed in December and January of the year (a) 2008-09, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2006-07. | | (268763) | 125
| Mr Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department's Pacesetters programme is estimated to cost; how many staff of his Department are engaged on it; how long (a) Wave 1 and (b) Wave 2 is expected to last; and what assessment of the costs and benefits of the programme have been carried out. | | (268910) | 126
| Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to receive the Independent Review Panel's report on A Picture of Health for South East London; and if he will make a statement. | | (268681) | 127
| Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how long the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's review of the (a) use of and (b) segregated use of anti-TNF drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has lasted; and when he expects the appraisal of sequential use of anti-TNFs to be completed. | | (268870) | 128
| Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the (a) scheduling and (b) timescale of the reappraisal process undertaken by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in respect of the sequential use of anti-TNF drugs for rheumatoid arthritis; and what representations he has received on this matter. | | (268871) | 129
| Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will produce its guidance on the use of (a) bevacizumab, (b) sorafenib, (c) sunitinib (second-line) and (d) temsirolimus for the treatment of advanced and metastatic renal cell carcinoma in the NHS. | | (268705) | 130
N | Mr John Grogan (Selby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) target and (b) actual allocation for North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust is in 2009-10. | | (268631) | 131
N | Mr John Grogan (Selby): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the allocation to North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust in 2008-09 under the terms of the funding formula adopted for 2009-10. | | (268634) | 132
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will discuss with his EU counterparts the adequacy of labelling on meat products which are injected with a mixture of salt, phosphates and water; and if he will make a statement. | | (267983) | 133
N | Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward proposals in respect of the labelling of enhanced fresh meats to indicate if they have been injected with a mixture of salt, phosphates and water; and if he will make a statement. | | (267984) | 134
| Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department has issued on the legality of the use of e-cigarettes in enclosed public spaces. | | (268697) | 135
| Anne Milton (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many recorded complaints about pressure sores were made to (a) hospitals, (b) primary care trusts and (c) strategic health authorities in each of the last five years. | | (268813) | 136
| Anne Milton (Guildford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which bodies, other than individual mental health NHS trusts, are responsible for ensuring that patients committed to (a) low security, (b) medium security and (c) high security mental health hospitals and required to reside there for treatment do not abscond. | | (268814) | 137
N | Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of follow-up care for procedures carried out (a) privately and (b) abroad in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (268408) | 138
N | Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what effect the implementation of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (a) has had and (b) is expected to have on the workload of the Health Service Ombudsman. | | (268654) | 139
N | Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 1 September 2008, Official Report, column 1676W, on departmental ICT, whether his Department has received a certificate in respect of compliance with the ISO 27001 standard for (a) IT systems and (b) services operated by his Department. | | (268655) | 140
N | Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has requested additional funding from HM Treasury in relation to the Health Ombudsman's new role in the NHS complaints process. | | (268656) | 141
N | Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received from local authorities on the transfer of learning disability commissioning funds from primary care trusts to local authorities. | | (268657) | 142
| Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on changes in acute care in Hemel Hempstead and the surrounding area following the removal of acute services from Hemel Hempstead hospital. | | (268872) | 143
| Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the changes in the levels of local demand for (a) double-manned ambulances, (b) emergency care assistants and (c) community first responders following the closure of acute services at Hemel Hempstead hospital. | | (268886) | 144
| Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the likely effect on the time taken to transfer patients by ambulance to appropriate acute care facilities of the closure of acute services at Hemel Hempstead hospital. | | (268887) | 145
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he last met the Chief Executive of Monitor to discuss salary levels of senior management of NHS foundation trusts. | | (268873) | 146
| Mr Lee Scott (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what dates meetings took place between Ministers of his Department and representatives of Quality Health Ltd. in the last 12 months; which Ministers attended each meeting; whether minutes were kept of each meeting; and what other communications his Department has had with Quality Health Ltd. during that period. | | (268658) | 147
| Mr Lee Scott (Ilford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department paid to Quality Health Ltd. in the last 12 months. | | (268659) | 148
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will undertake a review of the effectiveness of the overview and scrutiny functions of local government in relation to the NHS in light of the findings of the Healthcare Commission's report on Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. | | (268935) | 149
| Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what records (a) his Department and (b) NHS bodies hold on the (i) source of individual blood batches used in the NHS and (ii) destinations to which blood batches used in the NHS have been forwarded; and on how many occasions his Department has sought to trace the (A) origin and (B) destination of blood batches in the last 12 months. | | (268663) | 150
| Dr Desmond Turner (Brighton, Kemptown): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to increase the uptake of new and innovative medical technology devices across the NHS. | | (268849) | 151
| Dr Desmond Turner (Brighton, Kemptown): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much Government funding will be provided to develop new medical devices for use in the NHS during 2009-10. | | (268850) | 152
| Dr Desmond Turner (Brighton, Kemptown): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many funding applications for development of medical devices were received in the last three years for which information is available. | | (268851) | 153
| Dr Desmond Turner (Brighton, Kemptown): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many medical devices that received Government funding for their development were used by the NHS within (a) 12 months and (b) 24 months of funding being approved in the last three years for which information is available. | | (268852) | 154
| Dr Desmond Turner (Brighton, Kemptown): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many medical technology developers received development grants of above £30,000 in the last three years for which information is available. | | (268853) | 155
| Dr Desmond Turner (Brighton, Kemptown): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which Government funding agency distributed the most funding to medical technology developers in the last three years for which information is available. | | (268854) | 156
| Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department issues to acute care units on the emergency classifications of stroke; and if he will make a statement. | | (268911) | 157
| Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many specialised stroke units there are in England; and what his plans are for the future numbers of such units. | | (268912) | 158
| Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many stroke patients have been treated in specialised units in each of the last three years for which figures are available. | | (268913) | 159
| Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase patient access to (a) diagnostic scans and (b) thrombolysis for those whose stroke was caused by a blood clot; and if he will make a statement. | | (268914) | 160
| Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients with suspected stroke or transient ischaemic attack receive (a) rapid assessment, (b) access to imaging and (c) necessary treatment. | | (268915) | 161
| Sir Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of patients' ability to obtain stroke services in rural areas; and what steps he is taking to increase access to stroke services for patients in rural areas. | | (268916) | Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department 162
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2009, Official Report, column 663W, on the Diplomatic Service: security guards, how many requests to carry firearms whilst in Great Britain were received from each country in each of the last five years. | | (268795) | 163
N | Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many legacy cases of indefinite leave to remain are under consideration; what the longest time for a decision to be made on such a case has been; and when she expects the last such case to have been disposed of. | | (267716) | 164
N | Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) passports sent to the UK Border Agency and its predecessors by applicants for leave to remain and (b) files of cases under active consideration by the Agency have been lost by the Agency and its predecessors in (i) 2009 to date and (ii) each year since 2004. | | (267718) | 165
| Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to counter terrorist activity in Coventry. | | (268764) | 166
| Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to protect businesses in Coventry from criminal activities. | | (268765) | 167
| Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to protect (a) domestic properties and (b) families in Coventry from criminal activities. | | (268766) | 168
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) complaints and (b) items of correspondence (i) her Department and (ii) Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary has received in respect of historical investigations of allegations of sex abuse in each year since 2001. | | (268773) | 169
N | Mr John Grogan (Selby): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been granted leave to remain on the grounds of at least 14 years continuous residence in the UK in each year since 2004. | | (268632) | 170
N | Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether an applicant from the UK applying for Tier 1 migrant status is required to demonstrate evidence of funds of £800 or more in each of the three months preceding the date of the application. | | (268225) | 171
N | Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training on the Tier 1 points-based system her Department has provided to (a) entry clearance officers and (b) other employees of (i) her Department and (ii) the UK Border Agency. | | (268226) | 172
N | Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West & Abingdon): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the merits of (a) reducing the scope of the offence in section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 in respect of insulting words or behaviour and (b) issuing guidance to (i) police forces and (ii) the Crown Prosecution Service on the handling of complaints relating to section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986. | | (267174) | 173
N | Mr David Jones (Clwyd West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) financial and (b) other assistance her Department provides to local authorities for the installation of town centre closed circuit television security systems for the purposes of crime reduction and detection. | | (268409) | 174
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2009, Official Report, column 1093W, on the national identity register, in what type of cases may individuals be asked to attend an interview when they apply for registration on the National Identity Register or for a replacement card. | | (268936) | 175
| Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish the wheel-clamping study recently sent to her by the Security Industry Authority. | | (268739) | 176
| Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her proposals for the future of the wheel-clamping industry will include changes to (a) the regulation of wheel clamping companies, (b) the maximum level of charges that clamping companies can impose on private land and (c) the minimum standards for signage on private land; and when she plans to publish her proposals. | | (268740) | 177
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers who retired from police forces at the rank of (a) assistant chief constable and above and (b) assistant commissioner and above and who are in receipt of a police pension are employed in authorities and agencies for which she is responsible. | | (268908) | 178
| Sarah Teather (Brent East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department has allocated for promotion of and publicity for its policing pledge. | | (268816) | 179
| Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what investigations she has undertaken in respect of (a) terrorism and (b) organised crime in relation to travel between (i) the South Coast and the Isle of Wight, (ii) mainland Great Britain and British offshore islands other than the Isle of Wight, (iii) Great Britain and Northern Ireland and (iv) Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the last 12 months; and whether she plans to initiate a consultation on the use of the information-gathering powers under section 14 of the Police and Justice Act 2006. | | (268660) | Questions to the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission 180
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many staff of hon. Members hold parliamentary passes; and how many such passholders are non-UK nationals. | | (268793) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 181
N | Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of London Metropolitan University's contribution to widening participation in higher education. | | (268617) | 182
N | Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many people from Islington North constituency are enrolled on a course at London Metropolitan University. | | (268618) | 183
N | Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the financial situation at London Metropolitan University. | | (268619) | 184
N | Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what recent estimate he has made of the number of higher education institutions that will be required to repay funds to the Higher Education and Funding Council for England resulting from overpayments based on the mis-reporting of student completion rates. | | (268620) | 185
N | Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the suitability of the funding process for universities which are involved in initiatives to widen participation in higher education. | | (268621) | 186
| Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what support his Department makes available to further education colleges awaiting approval in detail under the Building Colleges for the Future programme that have begun works. | | (268678) | 187
| Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many further education colleges have merged in each year since 1997. | | (268679) | 188
| Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) HM Treasury and (b) the Department for Children, Schools and Families on the Building Colleges for the Future programme. | | (268680) | 189
| Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, which further education colleges with capital funding projects which have been submitted to the Building Schools for the Future programme will not receive funding in the current spending round. | | (268682) | 190
| Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, pursuant to his Written Ministerial Statement of 4 March 2009, Official Report, column 55WS, on capital investment (further education colleges), what estimate he has made of expenditure incurred by further education and sixth form colleges on capital building projects (a) in advance of the feasibility stage, (b) between the feasibility stage and an approval in principle and (c) between an approval in principle and an approval in detail since 1997. | | (268742) | 191
| Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath & Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 4 March 2009, Official Report, column 55WS, on capital investment: further education colleges, which colleges had received funding from the Learning and Skills Council in advance of an approval in principle for a capital building project at the latest date for which information is available. | | (268855) | 192
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what percentage of students who attended Aimhigher courses, events or workshops subsequently enrolled in a university in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2005-06. | | (268784) | 193
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many sixth form students attended Aimhigher courses, events or workshops in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2005-06. | | (268785) | 194
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many 16 to 18 year olds who attended Aimhigher courses subsequently enrolled in a university in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2005-06. | | (268786) | 195
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how the effectiveness of the Aimhigher programme in encouraging school students into higher education is measured. | | (268787) | 196
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Aimhigher programme. | | (268788) | 197
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what the budget for the Aimhigher programme was in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2005-06. | | (268789) | 198
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how much was spent on all programmes to encourage and widen participation in higher education in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2005-06. | | (268790) | 199
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, how many unique visitors the website www.careersadvice.direct.gov.uk had in (a) 2008 and (b) 2007. | | (268791) | 200
| Mr John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what the advertising budget was for Aimhigher programmes in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2006-07 and (c) 2005-06. | | (268792) | 201
N | Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 4 March 2009, Official Report, column 55WS, on capital investment (further education colleges), whether (a) the effect on regeneration programmes and (b) co-funding from other organisations will be included in the criteria for allocating outstanding funds to college capital funding projects. | | (268530) | 202
N | Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 4 March 2009, Official Report, column 55WS, on capital investment (further education colleges), what capital funding he plans to make available to the (a) 79 colleges with approval in principle and (b) 65 colleges awaiting approval in principle for their building projects; and when such funds will be made available. | | (268531) | 203
N | Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, for what reasons the restrictions on borrowing placed upon further education colleges and other providers of further and higher education vary; and if he will make a statement. | | (268604) | Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development 204
| Mr Michael Ancram (Devizes): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, for what reasons his Department's Community Linking scheme has been delayed; and if he will make a statement. | | (268753) | 205
N | Mr Mark Lancaster (North East Milton Keynes): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 16 March 2009, Official Report, column 40WS, on St Helena, what estimate he has made of the cost of the consultation on options for access to St Helena. | | (268426) | 206
| Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether funding under the Returns and Reintegration Fund is classified as official development assistance; and if he will make a statement. | | (268867) | 207
| Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding his Department provided to the (a) Home Office and (b) Foreign and Commonwealth Office migration funds in each financial year since 2001. | | (268868) | 208
| Mr Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding his Department provided to the (a) International Inspiration project and (b) International Sport Development initiative in each of the last five years; how much of that funding was related to the London 2012 Olympics; and if he will make a statement. | | (268869) | 209
N | Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much has been spent on media training for each Minister in his Department in each of the last three years; how many sessions have been provided; and which organisations provided such training. | | (268607) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice 210
| Mr Edward Garnier (Harborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish his response to the consultation on Titan prisons. | | (268771) | 211
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2009, how many women who gave birth in prison were aged (a) 16, (b) 17 and (c) 18 years in each year since 2005. | | (268769) | 212
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has issued guidance to the probation service on conducting unpaid work assignments in bad weather. | | (268774) | 213
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many probation areas provide unpaid work assignments for offenders in the evening. | | (268775) | 214
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children were born to mothers in (a) young offenders' institutions, (b) secure training centres and (c) secure children's homes in each of the last three years. | | (268776) | 215
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will commission the Social Exclusion Unit to review its work on the prison population and the cost of reoffending. | | (268819) | 216
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what percentage of all registrations received by HM Land Registry in each of the last three years were processed within two working days. | | (268820) | 217
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many breaches of security at his Department were recorded in the last 12 months. | | (268821) | 218
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many convictions for (a) shoplifting, (b) robbery of business property and (c) theft by an employee there were in the quarter between July and September in (i) 2003, (ii) 2004, (iii) 2005, (iv) 2006, (v) 2007 and (vi) 2008. | | (268822) | 219
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was spent on discharge grant in each of the last five years. | | (268823) | 220
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offences of (a) shoplifting, (b) robbery of business property and (c) theft by an employee have been committed by offenders released from prison on an end-of-custody licence. | | (268824) | 221
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders held on remand were not given a custodial sentence in each of the last five years. | | (268825) | 222
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders held in a cell designed for one inmate shared it with one other in each of the last five years. | | (268826) | 223
| Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many cases were heard in magistrates' courts in each year since 1997. | | (268866) | 224
N | Mr John Grogan (Selby): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans the Government has to bring forward proposals to amend the law on the rehabilitation of offenders in line with the 2002 report, Breaking the Circle. | | (268633) | 225
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) members of HM Prison Service Board and (b) Prison Service area managers have been employed at HM Prison Swaleside in the last 12 months. | | (268755) | 226
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many members of staff were employed at (a) HM Prison (i) Belmarsh, (ii) Brixton, (iii) Holloway, (iv) Latchmere House, (v) Pentonville, (vi) Wandsworth and (vii) Wormwood Scrubs, (b) HM Young Offenders, Institution Feltham and (c) Clelland House on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. | | (268756) | 227
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many illicit mobile telephones were found at each prison in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. | | (268757) | 228
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners were released from each prison in London under home detention curfew orders in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement. | | (268758) | 229
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many staff in each (a) age and (b) ethnic group have been dismissed from each London prison in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. | | (268759) | 230
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance is provided to HM Prison Service staff in respect of political activity; and if he will make a statement. | | (268760) | 231
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which prisons participated in the most recent performance testing exercise; and if he will make a statement. | | (268761) | 232
| Dr Andrew Murrison (Westbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, by what method of competition the Director General of the National Offender Management Service was recruited; and if he will make a statement. | | (268762) | Questions to the Leader of the House 233
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Leader of the House, if she will make it her policy to provide that a copy of each (a) parliamentary report and (b) other material funded from the Communications Allowance produced by hon. Members be placed in the Library. | | (268664) | 234
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Leader of the House, how many hon. Members have been required to reimburse the Members' Vote following a determination that a parliamentary report funded from the Communications Allowance fell outside the rules which apply to that allowance in the last 12 months for which figures are available. | | (268665) | Questions to the Minister for the Olympics 235
| Tom Brake (Carshalton & Wallington): To ask the Minister for the Olympics, which businesses in the London Borough of Sutton have applied for permission to use the Inspire Mark; and which have been (a) granted and (b) refused permission. | | (268704) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport 236
| Mr David Anderson (Blaydon): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that Network Rail does not defer essential renewal work. | | (268666) | 237
| Mr David Anderson (Blaydon): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure there is no reduction in the frequency of signal maintenance on railway lines. | | (268667) | 238
| Mr David Anderson (Blaydon): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that there is no reduction in the frequency of rail track inspections. | | (268668) | 239
| Mr David Anderson (Blaydon): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that Network Rail maintains its expenditure levels on track and overhead line renewals. | | (268669) | 240
| Mr David Anderson (Blaydon): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to bring forward capital expenditure on rail infrastructure projects. | | (268670) | 241
N | Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with Transport for London on the electrification of the Barking to Gospel Oak line. | | (267717) | 242
N | Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which organisations answered (a) yes, (b) no and (c) blank in respect of each of the questions contained in the consultation on the definition of eligible services for the statutory bus concession in England. | | (268635) | 243
N | Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 27 October 2008, Official Report, column 601W, on the blue badge scheme, what progress has been made in developing a project implementation plan for the blue badge reform scheme; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the implementation plan when finalised. | | (268401) | 244
| Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost to driving licence holders of applying for renewal of a photo driving licence every 10 years. | | (268744) | 245
| Mr Gordon Prentice (Pendle): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is consulted on the (a) salary and (b) bonuses of board members of Network Rail; and if he will make a statement. | | (268874) | 246
N | Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will ensure that before work is undertaken by the Highways Agency which adversely affects residents, information is provided directly to each affected household before work begins. | | (268395) | 247
N | Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the contract of the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency is due to expire; and what procedures will be followed for the appointment of his successor. | | (268396) | 248
N | Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what procedures govern responses by the Highways Agency to letters and emails from members of the public; what proportion of such letters and emails were responded to within the last 12 months; how long it took to make each such response; and if he will make a statement. | | (268397) | 249
N | Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings there have been between Ministers in his Department and the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to discuss the workings of the Agency in the last 12 months. | | (268398) | 250
N | Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people are employed in the section of the Highways Agency that deals with the media and public relations; and what the salary of the person in charge of that section is. | | (268460) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 251
N | Ms Karen Buck (Regent's Park & Kensington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) single pensioners and (b) pensioner couples are in receipt of pension credit in each Parliamentary constituency; and what the average entitlement is in each case. | | (267432) | 252
N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff the Health and Safety Executive has relocated in response to the recommendations made by Sir Michael Lyons in his report on local government; and how many of those staff were (a) relocated prior to 31 March 2008 and (b) working in the Offshore Safety Division on the latest date for which figures are available. | | (266464) | 253
N | Mr David Chaytor (Bury North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff are employed by the Health and Safety Executive at its (a) London and (b) Bootle offices; and how many staff were employed at those offices immediately prior to the publication of Sir Michael Lyons' report on local government in March 2007. | | (266465) | 254
| Mrs Claire Curtis-Thomas (Crosby): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit entitlement checks have been carried out on people in (a) Crosby constituency and (b) England in the last 12 months. | | [R] (268772) | 255
| Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was paid out from the Social Fund in the last five years. | | (268699) | 256
| Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people given a crisis loan from the Social Fund repaid the loan in the latest period for which figures are available. | | (268700) | 257
| Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much funding the Government plans to allocate to the Social Fund in 2009-10; and if he will make a statement. | | (268701) | 258
| Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance Social Fund administrators offer to potential recipients of assistance from the fund on other potential sources of assistance. | | (268702) | 259
| Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of payments from the Social Fund were for crisis loans in the latest period for which information was available; and what other types of payments were made during that period. | | (268703) | 260
N | Mr Mark Harper (Forest of Dean): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the budget for the Flexible New Deal in (a) phase 1 and (b) phase 2 is; and whether he plans to revise the budget following the revised estimates of the numbers of people flowing through each phase provided to those tendering to administer the Flexible New Deal. | | (268402) | 261
| Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases his Department has referred to the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency in each year since 2007. | | (268671) | 262
| Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2009, Official Report, column 1210W, on vocational training: lone parents, what steps his Department took in response to the results of the research into non-participation. | | (268859) | 263
N | Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consultations he has undertaken on his proposal to limit claimants to three Social Fund crisis loans a year. | | (268405) | 264
N | Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria he plans to use to determine whether an application for a Social Fund crisis loan will be granted in circumstances where the applicant has received three such loans in the preceding 12 months. | | (268406) | 265
N | Mr Terry Rooney (Bradford North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department gathers to monitor the level of fraudulent applications for Social Fund crisis loans. | | (268407) | 266
N | Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on the application of the provisions of the national minimum wage to individuals whom it is proposed should work for their benefits under the provisions of the Welfare Reform Bill; and if he will make a statement. | | (268425) | 267
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals in each region have been on the Work Trial programme more than once since its inception. | | (268683) | 268
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals in each region took part in the Work Trial programme (a) in each year since its inception and (b) in each of the last eight quarters. | | (268684) | 269
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in each region have participated in the (a) Workstep, (b) Work Preparation, (c) Employment Zones, (d) Progress2Work, (e) Work Path and (f) New Deal for (i) 50 plus, (ii) disabled people, (iii) partners and (iii) musicians programme more than once in each relevant year since 2001. | | (268686) | 270
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in each region have participated in the (a) Workstep, (b) Work Preparation, (c) Work Path, (d) Progress2Work and (e) Employment Zones programme in each (i) relevant year since 2001 and (ii) of the last eight quarters. | | (268687) | 271
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals have been on the (a) new deal 25 plus, (b) new deal 50 plus, (c) new deal for partners, (d) new deal for disabled people, (e) new deal for young people, (f) new deal for lone parents and (g) new deal for musicians programmes more than once in a year by region since their inception. | | (268688) | 272
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals have been on the (a) Work Trial, (b) WORKSTEP, (c) Work Preparaion, (d) WorkPath, (e) progress2work and (f) Employment Zones programme more than once in a year by region since their inception. | | (268689) | 273
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to use the broad definition of work-related activity contained in the Gregg review in regulations to be made under the Welfare Reform Bill if enacted. | | (268768) | 274
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals in each region have been on the new deal for young people more than once since its inception. | | (268841) | 275
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals in each region have been on the new deal 25 plus more than once since its inception. | | (268842) | 276
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals in each region were on the new deal for young people (a) in each year since its inception and (b) in each of the last eight quarters. | | (268843) | 277
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals have been on the (a) new deal 25 plus, (b) new deal 50 plus, (c) new deal for partners, (d) new deal for disabled people and (e) new deal for musicians programmes in each region (i) in each year since their inception and (ii) in each of the last eight quarters. | | (268844) | 278
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to provide a substantive answer to Question 264368, on jobseeker's allowance and voluntary drug rehabilitation programmes, tabled by the hon. Member for Rochdale on 13 March 2009 for answer on 18 March. | | (268845) | 279
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many individuals in each region have been on the new deal for lone parents more than once since its inception. | | (268846) | 280
| Paul Rowen (Rochdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many 18 to 24 year olds in each region have been on the new deal for lone parents more than once since its inception. | | (268847) | 281
| Bob Spink (Castle Point): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what (a) qualifications and (b) experience will be required of applicants for Jobcentre Plus drug co-ordinator posts; and if he will make a statement. | | (268767) | Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 282
| John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, how many times the Council of Business Advisers has met; when it last met; who the members of the Council are; how many civil servants have attended each meeting of the Council; and how much the Council has spent on (a) travel, (b) hospitality and (c) other expenses since June 2007. | | [Transferred] (268858) | Questions to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 283
| Mr David Blunkett (Sheffield, Brightside): To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, how many people were (a) claiming jobseeker's allowance and (b) unemployed according to the International Labour Organisation definitions in each quarter since 1979. | | [Transferred] (268743) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 284
N | Alun Michael (Cardiff South & Penarth): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking at EU level to encourage a prohibition on seal products entering the EU. | | [Question Unstarred] (268328) | 285
| Mrs Caroline Spelman (Meriden): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer to the hon, Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 2 February 2009, Official Report, column 974W, on waste management: South East, what advice the Waste Improvement Network has given to local authorities on the frequency of collection of household waste. | | [Transferred] (268731) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Health 286
| Andrew George (St Ives): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much each local authority in England spent on (a) handling complaints relating to assessment and delivery of care packages for adult social care at stages 1, 2 and 3 of the complaints procedure and (b) handling any such complaints in respect of which applications for review were made to the courts in each of the last five years. | | [Transferred] (268827) | Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice 287
| Mr Gerald Howarth (Aldershot): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what representations he has received in favour of repeal of the so-called Waddington amendment in respect of incitement to homophobic hatred; and from which organisations he has received such representations. | | [Transferred] (268840) | 288
N | Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many care orders were (a) sought and (b) granted in each month in 2008. | | [Transferred] (268599) |
|
