Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2008 - 09
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 10 November 2009

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

Questions for Oral or Written Answer
beginning on Tuesday 10 November 2009
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 10 November 2009

This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 10 November of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

For other Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 10 November of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Tuesday 10 November see Part 2 of this paper.

Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

1
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent representations he has received from the brick manufacturing industry on the adequacy of financial and other business support available to that industry; and if he will make a statement.

(299439)

2
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299276)

3
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in 2008-09.

(299289)

4
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department and its agencies on procurement under tender because the tender process had been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299346)

5
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299333)

6
N Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress has been made with the competition for a national composites centre as part of the Strategic Investment Fund programme; how invitations to compete for the centre were issued; which organisations have submitted bids; how much of the Fund's resources will be allocated to the centre; and if he will make a statement.

(299012)

7
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Answer of 10 September 2007, Official Report, column 2011W, on conditions of employment, what provisions of the 2004 Warwick Agreement have (a) been implemented and (b) not been implemented.

(299297)

8
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2009, Official Report, column 2072W, on Derek Draper and Charlie Whelan, what the purpose was of the meeting with Mr Charlie Whelan on 15 January 2009.

(299328)

9
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2009, Official Report, column 2072W, on Derek Draper and Charlie Whelan, on what date the Secretary of State most recently spoke to Mr Derek Draper in the course of his official duties.

(299329)

10
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, for what reasons the offices of (a) the Commissioner for Rights of Trade Union Members and (b) the Commissioner for Protection Against Unlawful Industrial Action were abolished.

(299401)

11
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department holds records of the efficiency of central public sector bodies in paying their invoices within 10 days.

(299415)

12
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's Departmental Trade Union Side Officers agreement.

(299416)

13
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many departmental trade union side officers are employed by his Department; and how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department work exclusively on union activities.

(299441)

14
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much funding has been given to date by (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) regional development agencies to support the regional union network.

(299442)

15
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much is held in the political fund of each trade union with a political fund according to the latest figures held by the Certification Officer.

(299443)

16
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Secretary of State has requested the use of an official residence.

(299471)

17
N Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, for how long funding for the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme is estimated to last; and whether he plans to provide further assistance to small and medium sized enterprises after that date.

(299084)

18
N Mr Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps each regional development agency is taking to inform prospective parliamentary candidates about their work.

(298894)

19
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, with which providers (a) his Department and (b) its agencies had a contract to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299437)

20
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the cost to businesses of business interruption insurance as a result of industrial action by Royal Mail staff in each of the last 10 financial years.

(299438)

21
N Jenny Willott (Cardiff Central): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2009, Official Report, columns 436-7W, on departmental reorganisation, what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of merging the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to form his Department; and if he will make a statement.

(299090)

Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office

22
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much her Department spent on Christmas (a) cards, (b) parties and (c) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299275)

23
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether her Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299334)

24
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire of 26 February 2007, Official Report, column 1000W, on Project George, (a) how much has been spent and (b) what works have been completed in respect of Project George to date.

(299243)

25
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 15 May 2009, Official Report, column 1047W, on 10 Downing Street: e-mail, whether the pilot scheme allowing web-based e-mail accounts to be used on Cabinet Office systems has commenced; what additional charges are introduced by the pilot system; and which users will be authorised to use web-based accounts.

(299244)

26
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2009, Official Report, column 1081W, on the Charity Commission: surveillance, what the nature of the surveillance undertaken in each of the eight cases since 2004 was; and whether any prosecutions were brought.

(299245)

27
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2009, Official Report, column 1081W, on the Charity Commission: surveillance, if she will place in the Library a copy of each of the Office of the Surveillance Commissioner's inspection reports of the Charity Commission that are held by the Commission.

(299246)

28
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2009, Official Report, column 1081W, on the Charity Commission: surveillance, whether the Charity Commission has (a) made and (b) rejected any requests for authorisations under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for surveillance of schools with charitable status.

(299247)

29
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Reading West of 21 April 2009, Official Report, column 550W, on Government departments: telephone services, if she will place in the Library a copy of the Cabinet Office survey of different telephone number types used by Government departments and agencies.

(299248)

30
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 21 October 2009, Official Report, column 55WS, on the draft Census (England and Wales) Order 2009, which Minister approved the wording and proposed questions in the draft Order for the 2011 Census.

(299249)

31
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Hammersmith and Fulham of 6 May 2009, Official Report, column 182W, on Derek Draper, whether Mr Derek Draper has ever held a security pass to No. 10 Downing Street.

(299250)

32
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2009, Official Report, column 1254W, on departmental manpower, what the job title is of each of the 200 staff working in No. 10 Downing Street.

(299251)

33
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 5 October 2009, Official Report, column 2315W, on Derek Draper and Charlie Whelan, how many times (a) Mr Derek Draper and (b) Mr Charlie Whelan visited the Downing Street/Cabinet Office complex in the prior 18-month period.

(299252)

34
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 5 October 2009, Official Report, column 2315W, on Derek Draper and Charlie Whelan, for how long records of visitors to the Downing Street/Cabinet Office complex are retained.

(299253)

35
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2009, Official Report, columns 267-8W, on Operation Miser, if she will place in the Library a copy of her Department's protocol, Handling unauthorised disclosures and national security cases.

(299254)

36
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2009, Official Report, column 873W, on private detectives, whether other Government departments have hired or commissioned individuals from the panel of independent investigators.

(299257)

37
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2009, Official Report, column 873W, on private detectives, how much her Department spent on hiring or commissioning individuals from the panel of independent investigators in each of the last five years.

(299258)

38
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for North East Hertfordshire of 28 November 2006, Official Report, column 652W, on the Heavy Hitter Programme, what the cost of the Heavy Hitter Programme Delivery Director Service has been to date; which IT projects each consultant worked on; and what payments have been made to each consultant for work undertaken in connection with the Heavy Hitter Programme.

(299259)

39
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2009, Official Report, column 422W, on civil servants, if she wil place in the Library a copy of the guidance on taking minutes.

(299319)

40
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will place in the Library a copy of the Cabinet Office document Guidance on leak investigation policy and procedures.

(299320)

41
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 24 June 2009, Official Report, column 57WS, on Report to Parliament on Civil Service Delegations/Authorisations, what the details of each delegation or authorisation were; and what the purpose was of each.

(299321)

42
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2009, Official Report, columns 422-3W, on civil servants: vacancies, what the (a) job title, (b) salary range and (c) sponsoring public body was of each job vacancy posted on the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway that was only only advertised on the private part of the website in the last three months.

(299322)

43
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 20 July 2009, Official Report, column 1035W, and of 27 April 2009, Official Report, columns 1082-4W, on civil servants: pay, how many employees of the public bodies listed are in receipt of a salary of over (a) £100,000, (b) £150,000 and (c) £200,000.

(299330)

44
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the (a) mean and (b) median full-time wage for (i) private sector and (ii) public sector employees was in (A) 1997 and (B) the most recent period for which figures are available.

(299397)

45
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what dates the Public Services Forum has met in the last 12 months; and who the members are of the Forum.

(299398)

46
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether minutes of meetings of the Public Services Forum are taken.

(299399)

47
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what dates the Public Services Forum task group on the Joint Statement on Access to Skills, Trade Unions and Advice in Government Contracting has met in the last 12 months; and who the members are of the group.

(299400)

48
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, in which of the Duchy of Lancaster's landholding's allotments have been (a) sold, (b) otherwise disposed and (c) developed over in the last 36 months.

(299402)

49
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Duchy of Lancaster is taking in response to the September 2009 ruling of the Advertising Standards Authority against the Duchy.

(299404)

50
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what requirements there are on the use of open competition to recruit people to Civil Service posts.

(299405)

51
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether a privacy impact assessment has been prepared in relation to the proposed questions to be asked in the 2011 Census.

(299406)

52
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment has been made of the levels of compliance with her Department's guidance on public sector open source software procurement; and what steps are being taken to ensure compliance.

(299407)

53
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether her Department plans to undertake legal action to recover losses from the SCOPE IT project.

(299408)

54
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost of the SCOPE IT project to the public purse has been; how much has been paid to IBM under the project; and how much is planned to be spent on the replacement for SCOPE.

(299409)

55
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what definition of a quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation her Department uses.

(299410)

56
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance her Department has produced on re-employing former civil servants as (a) fee paid staff, (b) contractors, (c) agency staff and (d) consultants.

(299411)

57
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance the Cabinet Secretary has given to Departments on making public appointments in the period before the general election.

(299412)

58
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many special advisers in the Government are (a) members of the Government Communications Network and (b) primarily involved in the field of communications.

(299413)

59
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether she plans to renew the Futurebuilders England Limited contract on its expiry.

(299414)

60
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what targets (a) her Department and (b) the Government Communication Group have for the time to (i) acknowledge and (ii) provide a substantive reply to external correspondence.

(299446)

61
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what her most recent estimate is of the cost to the public purse of the 2011 Census; and in which years such expenditure is expected to be incurred.

(299448)

62
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether her Department issues guidance to Government departments in respect of the circumstances in which privacy impact assessments are (a) required and (b) encouraged.

(299449)

63
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much interns in (a) No. 10 Downing Street and (b) the Cabinet Office are paid.

(299450)

64
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what payments her Department has made to charities to tackle socio-economic disadvantage and promote social inclusion in the last 12 months.

(299451)

65
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the decision of the British Council to outsource staff to India, whether her Department has issued recent guidance to non-departmental bodies and executive agencies on the outsourcing of Civil Service jobs to areas outside the UK.

(299453)

66
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether her Department has issued recent guidance to Government departments on the termination of public sector worker contracts because of inefficiency.

(299454)

67
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many sales there have been of each stock item in the Downing Street gift shop in the last 12 months.

(299458)

68
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much her Department has spent on advisory non-departmental public bodies in each year since 1996-97.

(299459)

69
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much her Department has spent on executive non-departmental public bodies in 2008-09.

(299460)

70
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what payments her Department has made to the Smith Institute in the last 36 months.

(299461)

71
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether she plans to publish a privacy impact assessment for the 2011 Census.

(299462)

72
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will place in the Library a copy of the letter from the Cabinet Office's Director of Security and Intelligence (a) dated 8 October 2008 sent to SO15 Counter Terrorism Command requesting the assistance of the police into the investigation of Home Office leaks and (b) of 29 October 2008 sent to the Deputy Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick calling for a scoping exercise to be undertaken.

(299467)

73
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many layers of line management there are (a) in her Department and (b) on average in all Government departments.

(299468)

74
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what directions Ministers have given to the UK Statistics Authority on the 2011 Census under section 2 of the Census Act 1920, as amended.

(299469)

75
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the (a) Building Britain's Future and (b) Real Help Now campaign is covered by Crown copyright; and whether permission has been given to non-governmental organisations to reproduce the artwork or branding from each such campaign.

(299470)

76
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will place in the Library a copy of the Central Office of Information's White Book produced for the second half of 2009.

(299472)

77
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what use her Department makes of electronic auctions when undertaking procurement exercises.

(299474)

78
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the policy of the Charity Commission is on undertaking investigations of whether schools with charitable status are promoting the public benefit; and what statutory provisions govern such Charity Commission investigations.

(299475)

79
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many full-time equivalent staff were recruited by the Charity Commission in each year since 1996-97.

(299476)

80
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many charities were removed from the Charity Commission's register for (a) ceasing to exist or operate due to merger, incorporation or transfer of funds, (b) ceasing to exist or operate for other reasons, (c) voluntary removal below the minimum threshold and (d) duplicate registrations and other corrections in each financial year since 1997-98.

(299477)

81
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether her Department plans to issue a formal response to the parts of the Review of the lessons learned from the Metropolitan Police Service's investigation of Home Office leaks by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary that relate to it.

(299478)

82
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the results of the 2011 Census rehearsal that took place in October 2009 will be published.

(299479)

83
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps her Department is taking to facilitate data sharing amongst public sector bodies.

(299480)

84
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the proposed changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme will require changes in (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation.

(299481)

85
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what maximum fine may be imposed on a householder for not answering, in whole or in part, the 2011 Census.

(299482)

86
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with which providers (a) her Department and (b) its agency had contracts to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299432)

Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

87
N Mr David Gauke (South West Hertfordshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the merits of introducing new mechanisms for settling tax liabilities.

(299220)

88
N Mr David Gauke (South West Hertfordshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what mechanisms HM Revenue and Customs has in place to assess the cost-effectiveness of different methods of debt collection.

(299221)

89
N Mr David Gauke (South West Hertfordshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent progress HM Revenue and Customs has made on its risk-profiling work in relation to tax debt.

(299222)

90
N Mr David Gauke (South West Hertfordshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment HM Revenue and Customs has made of the performance of private debt collection agencies in collecting tax debt.

(299223)

91
N Mr David Gauke (South West Hertfordshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the level of compatibility of corporation tax regimes in the Crown Dependencies with the EU code of conduct on taxation.

(299224)

92
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299261)

93
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in 2008-09.

(299277)

94
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish at the time of the Pre-Budget Report a full list of Government assets planned to be sold.

(299299)

95
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what evidential basis the estimate that sale of Government assets is expected to raise £16 billion between 2011 and 2014 was made.

(299300)

96
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department spent on (a) Ministerial photoshoots and (b) production of videos in which Ministers appear in the last three years.

(299301)

97
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for the Vale of York of 27 October 2009, Official Report, column 275W, on Revenue and Customs: repayment, how much (a) capital and (b) interest has been paid by HM Revenue and Customs on sums it has collected in error in each of the last three years.

(299342)

98
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to publish his Department's factual paper on the Barnett formula.

(299343)

99
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department and its agencies on procurement under tender because the tender process has been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299358)

100
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 254W, on departmental training, how many staff attended courses on (a) harnessing the power of your personality, (b) overpayments recovery workshop, (c) your contribution to tackling avoidance, (d) dog behaviour and (e) reduction of administrative burdens on business in the last 12 months; and at what cost.

(299403)

101
Mr Paul Keetch (Hereford): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what changes there have been in the application of the rules for the Research and Development Tax Credits Scheme in the last 18 months; and if he will make a statement

(299255)

102
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299384)

103
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Ruislip-Northwood of 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 256W, on Gift Aid, whether the terms of reference of his Department's research into Gift Aid includes examination of the effect of reducing the availability of Gift Aid for those on (a) 40 per cent. income tax and (b) 50 per cent. income tax.

(299326)

104
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer 21 May 2009, Official Report, column 1510W, on job creation, what methodology will be used to assess whether 100,000 new jobs have been created; and what role the UK Statistics Authority will play in vetting such statistics.

(299327)

105
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons an impact assessment was not produced for the implementation of the EU Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive.

(299395)

106
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what use (a) his Department and (b) its agencies make of electronic auctions when undertaking procurement exercises.

(299455)

107
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many layers of line management there are in HM Revenue and Customs between the Chief Executive and frontline staff.

(299456)

108
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) average time to answer a call, (b) average waiting time for a member of the public during a call, (c) percentage of calls dropped or not answered and (d) average length of a call was in call centres run by HM Revenue and Customs in the latest period for which figures are available.

(299463)

109
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment has been made of the level of failure demand in call centres run by HM Revenue and Customs.

(299464)

110
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the number of full-time equivalent net jobs which have been created due to Government's stimulus measures; and over what period of time these jobs have been created.

(299465)

111
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, at what rate individuals paying the 50 per cent. income tax rate, who donate to charities, will be eligible to claim back via gift aid.

(299466)

112
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which company has obtained the framework agreement for the Government air programme; and what is the monetary value of the agreement.

(299473)

113
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with which providers (a) his Department and (b) its agencies had a contract to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299435)

114
N Jenny Willott (Cardiff Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of receipts to the Exchequer were received from those (a) of working age and (b) over retirement age in payment of (i) income tax and (ii) inheritance tax in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

(298979)

115
N Jenny Willott (Cardiff Central): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much and what proportion of council tax is raised from (a) those over retirement age and (b) people of working age; and if he will make a statement.

(298980)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families

116
N Michael Gove (Surrey Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many pupils in receipt of free school meals achieved five GCSEs, including a science, mathematics, English and history in (a) 1997, (b) 2003, (c) 2008 and (d) 2009.

(299010)

117
N Michael Gove (Surrey Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many pupils in receipt of free school meals achieved seven GCSEs, including physics, biology, chemistry, mathematics, English, English literature and history in (a) 1997, (b) 2003, (c) 2008 and (d) 2009.

(299011)

118
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much his Department spent on Christmas (a) cards, (b) parties and (c) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299271)

119
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department in 2008-09.

(299290)

120
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299332)

121
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many pupils in each Bassetlaw secondary school had an unauthorised absence in the latest period for which figures are available.

(299304)

122
N Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, with reference to the contribution of the Minister for Children of 23 June 2009, Official Report, column 214-17WH, on safeguarding children, when he plans to engage in dialogue on those matters; and when the Minister for Children plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for Totnes of 21 October 2009 on a proposed meeting with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Trafficking of Women and Children.

(298320)

123
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, with which providers his Department had a contract to provide postal services in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (d) since 1 July 2009.

(299434)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

124
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his most recent estimate is of the number of planning applications which have been approved in respect of sites previously contaminated with asbestos; and if he will make a statement.

(299015)

125
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299274)

126
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in 2008-09.

(299288)

127
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department and its agencies on procurement under tender because the tender process has been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299349)

128
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299331)

129
N Anne Main (St Albans): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on how many occasions he and his predecessors have personally intervened to set a date for an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate in each of the last five years.

(298977)

130
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on their powers to (a) evict unruly tenants and (b) take action against tenants (i) whose refuse causes a hazard to neighbours, (ii) who frequently burn rubbish in their gardens and (iii) who have dogs which are a nuisance to neighbours.

(299337)

131
N Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much the (a) Homes and Communities Agency, (b) Tenant Services Authority and (c) Homes and Communities Agency Academy have spent on public affairs consultancy in 2009-10; and what the budget of each for such services is for 2009-10.

(299229)

132
N Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much the Tenant Services Authority has spent on assessing the financial viability of registered social landlords since its inception.

(299230)

133
N Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many full-time equivalent employees the Tenant Services Authority employs to assess the financial viability of registered social landlords.

(299231)

134
N Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the (a) salary band and (b) area of responsibility is of each of the full-time equivalent staff members employed in his Deaprtment's Housing Directorate.

(299232)

135
Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the (a) energy rating and (b) energy band of each building occupied by his Department and its agencies was in each year for which figures are available.

(299312)

136
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with which providers (a) his Department and (b) its agencies had a contract to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299433)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

137
N Mr Parmjit Dhanda (Gloucester): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with (a) the Football Association and (b) Premier Rugby on primacy of tenure at shared stadia.

(299091)

138
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much (a) his Department and (b) its agency have spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299273)

139
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agency in 2008-09.

(299287)

140
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department and its agency on procurement under tender because the tender process has been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299347)

141
N Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many page hits the Big Lottery Fund website has recorded in each year since its creation.

(299213)

142
N Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many page hits the (a) Visit Britain and (b) Enjoy England website has recorded in each year since its creation.

(299214)

143
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299371)

144
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many convictions there have been of Bassetlaw residents for non-payment of a television licence in the last five years.

(299302)

145
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many residential properties in Bassetlaw had no television licence at the latest date for which information is available.

(299303)

146
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with which providers (a) his Department and (b) its agency had a contract to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299430)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence

147
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299272)

148
N Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK soldiers have (a) died and (b) suffered injury that has required aeromedivac to the UK, due to improvised explosive devices detonated in the course of logistical moves in Helmand Province since 2005.

(298421)

149
N Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many limbs have been lost by UK troops in Helmand Province since 2005.

(298422)

150
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299372)

151
Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with which organisations his Department has had exclusivity agreements relating to information technology (a) hardware and (b) software in each of the last five years.

(299298)

152
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with which providers (a) his Department and (b) its agencies had a contract to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299429)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

153
N Mr Tim Boswell (Daventry): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, for what reasons his Department has reduced the rate of return achievable through feed-in tariffs for photovoltaic power generation; and if he will make a statement.

(299016)

154
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much his Department spent on Christmas (a) cards, (b) parties and (c) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299270)

155
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department in 2008-09.

(299286)

156
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department on procurement under tender because the tender process had been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299348)

157
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299373)

158
Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin & Harpenden): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the proportion of electricity generated (a) in total and (b) from offshore wind farms was lost in transmission to final users in the latest period for which figures are available.

(299336)

159
N Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) energy companies, (b) non-governmental organisations, (c) local authorities and (d) others on the setting of levels for feed-in tariffs.

(299211)

160
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with which providers his Department had a contract to provide postal services in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (d) since 1 July 2009.

(299427)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

161
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 number of single farm payments which have been (a) withheld and (b) cancelled by the Rural Payments Agency in each of the last five years.

(298978)

162
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299269)

163
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in 2008-09.

(299285)

164
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department and its agencies on procurement under tender because the tender process has been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299350)

165
N Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many domestic flights within Great Britain officials from his Department made in 2008-09; and at what cost.

(298252)

166
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299375)

167
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release of 14 July 2009, on surface water drainage charges, what system of surface water charging for voluntary groups is in operation in each water company area.

(299318)

168
N Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) bacillus thuringiensis and (b) agro bacterium have been identified in cases of bee colony collapse.

(299013)

169
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with which providers (a) his Department and (b) its agencies had a contract to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299428)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

170
N Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what consideration his Department has given to extending the definition of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty to include cyber attacks; and if he will make a statement.

(297678)

171
Ms Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will seek a report from the UK Ambassador in Rabat on allegations of repression by Moroccan forces in September in Bojador, Aaiun and Smra in Western Sahara.

(299306)

172
Ms Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his Moroccan counterpart on mine clearance in the occupied territory of Western Sahara.

(299307)

173
N Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what facilities his Department offered Ehud Barak during his visit to the UK in September 2009; and what meetings took place between Mr Barak and representatives of the Government.

(299217)

174
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in 2008-09.

(299284)

175
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299376)

176
N Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on a European Union-Libya co-operation agreement; what assessment he has made of the issues to be resolved before an agreement can be reached; and when he expects the agreement to be concluded.

(299153)

177
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what role his Department plays in (a) approving and (b) arranging foreign visits on official business by Ministers from other Departments.

(299293)

178
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance given to his Department's staff on the Hornby system for claiming for foreign travel.

(299294)

179
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2009, Official Report, column 1153W, on trade unions, what the function of the Trade Union Secretariat (TUS) is; and whether the TUS may engage in political activity related to trade union representation.

(299335)

180
N Lindsay Roy (Glenrothes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his most recent assessment is of the state of relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority; and if he will make a statement.

(298971)

181
N Lindsay Roy (Glenrothes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the US administration on progress towards peace in the Middle East.

(298972)

182
N Lindsay Roy (Glenrothes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Commonwealth counterparts on the political situation in Zimbabwe.

(298974)

183
Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with which organisations his Department has had exclusivity agreements relating to information technology (a) hardware and (b) software in each of the last five years.

(299345)

184
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with which providers (a) his Department and (b) its agencies had a contract to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299426)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Health

185
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299268)

186
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in 2008-09.

(299282)

187
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department and its agencies on procurement under tender because the tender process has been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299351)

188
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299377)

189
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many departmental trade union side officers are employed by his Department; and how many full-time equivalent staff members exclusively undertake union activities.

(299295)

190
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's departmental trade union side officers agreement.

(299296)

191
N Mr Stephen O'Brien (Eddisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) actual and (b) risk-adjusted backlog maintenance was for each NHS trust in (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09.

(299212)

192
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with which providers (a) his Department and (b) its agencies had a contract to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299425)

193
N Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on (a) the number of clinicians suspended from their posts and (b) the cost to trusts of such suspensions.

(297860)

194
N Steve Webb (Northavon): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many finished consultant episodes each NHS Trust in England undertook under hospital resource group (a) N12 antenatal admissions not related to delivery event, (b) N03 neonates with one minor diagnosis, (c) F06 diagnostic procedures oesophagus and stomach, (d) F35 larger intestine endoscopic or intermediate procedures, (e) N07 normal delivery without complications, (f) C58 intermediate mouth or throat procedures, (g) B13 phakoemulsification cataract extraction and insertion of lens, (h) L21 bladder minor endoscopic procedure without complications and (i) J37 minor skin procedures-category 1 without complications in 2008-09.

(298976)

Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

195
N Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many raids were conducted in each region by UK Border Agency officials in 2008.

(299225)

196
N Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what percentage of immigration removals were made successfully at the (a) first and (b) second attempt in each of the last five years.

(299226)

197
N Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff left (a) the UK Border Agency in 2008 and (b) its predecessors in each of the four preceeding years through (i) resignation, (ii) retirement, (iii) termination and (iv) redundancy.

(299227)

198
N Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff of the UK Border Agency moved jobs within the agency in 2008.

(299228)

199
N Damian Green (Ashford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of his Department's presenting officers were appointed (a) in 2007, (b) in 2008 and (c) between 1 January and 31 October 2009.

(299234)

200
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299267)

201
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department and its agencies on procurement under tender because the tender process had been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299352)

202
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in 2008-09.

(299374)

203
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299378)

204
N Mr Angus MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to reduce the backlog in processing visa applications.

(297679)

205
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer to Lord Stoddart of 14 October 2009, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 26-27WA, on the National Identity Register, how many fingerprints (a) per person and (b) in total he expects to be stored on the National Identity Register from 2012.

(299315)

206
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer to Lord Stoddart of 14 October 2009, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 26-27WA, on the National Identity Register, what estimate has been made of the number of citizens who will have their fingerprints stored on the National Identity Register by 2022.

(299316)

207
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the first annual report by the National Identity Scheme Commissioner is expected to be published.

(299387)

208
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals who are not required to have a compulsory identity card have applied for a voluntary national identity card.

(299388)

209
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many individuals are recorded on the National Identity Register.

(299389)

210
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) average time to answer a call, (b) average waiting time for members of the public during a call, (c) percentage of calls dropped or not answered and (d) average length of calls was in call centres run by his Department and each of its agencies in the latest period for which figures are available.

(299390)

211
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the level of failure demand in call centres run by (a) his Department and (b) each of its agencies.

(299391)

212
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of applications the Independent Safeguarding Authority will process in its first 12 months.

(299396)

213
Clare Short (Birmingham, Ladywood): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he expects to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood of 28 September 2009 on the case of Tuet Chun Teung, Ref: B35067/9.

(299256)

214
N Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in respect of how many individuals of each nationality (a) reasonable and (b) conclusive grounds for having been trafficked have been determined under the National Referral Mechanism for Victims of Trafficking.

(298926)

215
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with which providers (a) his Department and (b) its agencies had a contract to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299436)

216
N Mike Wood (Batley & Spen): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when a new chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs will be appointed; and if he will make a statement.

(299085)

217
N Mike Wood (Batley & Spen): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will in future publish a Government response to each recommendation from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

(299086)

218
N Mike Wood (Batley & Spen): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what factors he takes into consideration when taking decisions on recommendations from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

(299087)

219
N Mike Wood (Batley & Spen): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether there is a code of practice for members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.

(299088)

220
N Mike Wood (Batley & Spen): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons he rejected the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs that cannabis should remain a class C drug.

(299089)

Questions to the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission

221
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2009, Official Report, column 781W, on Members: email, if the Commission will make it its policy to allow Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) software to be installed on hon. Members' computers and ensure that hon. Members' computers are compatible with PGP software.

(299324)

222
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009, Official Report, column 1212W, on trade unions: political levy, whether the staff handbook has now been amended to inform House of Commons staff of their right to opt out of the political levies of trade unions.

(299440)

Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development

223
N Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance his Department has provided to Syria (a) directly and (b) through multi-lateral agencies for assistance to Palestinian refugees in each year since 2002.

(299219)

224
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much his Department spent on Christmas (a) cards, (b) parties and (c) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299266)

225
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in 2008-09.

(299283)

226
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department on procurement under tender because the tender process had been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299353)

227
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299379)

228
N Lindsay Roy (Glenrothes): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what his most recent assessment is of the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe.

(298973)

229
Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the (a) energy rating and (b) energy band of each building occupied by his Department and its agencies was in each year for which figures are available.

(299313)

230
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with which providers his Department had a contract to provide postal services in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (d) since 1 July 2009.

(299424)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice

231
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299265)

232
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in 2008-09.

(299281)

233
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department and its agencies on procurement under tender because the tender process had been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299354)

234
N Simon Hughes (North Southwark & Bermondsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many domestic flights within Great Britain officials from his Department made in 2008-09; and at what cost.

(298253)

235
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299380)

236
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2009, Official Report, columns 2251-2W, on elections: costs, in what cases expenditure by hon. Members, other than from Parliamentary allowances, is included in the new pre-candidacy election spending limit; and whether expenditure by constituency offices is counted towards that limit.

(299325)

237
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the timetable is for the commencement of (a) new reporting and recording thresholds for donations and (b) section 17 of the Political Parties and Elections Act 2009.

(299386)

238
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what types of expenditure will be included in the new pre-candidacy election spending limits; and how expenditure will be calculated against the limits if it partially or wholly promotes local government candidates for a party.

(299457)

239
N Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many confiscation orders against people convicted of human trafficking offences have been made in each of the last three years; and how much money has been realised from them.

(298927)

240
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with which providers (a) his Department and (b) its agencies had a contract to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299431)

Questions to the Leader of the House

241
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to the new rules on the Communications Allowance to accompany the new pre-candidacy spending limit, whether hon. Members will be able to reclaim cancellation fees for post-1 January 2010 communications that were booked before the new rules came into force.

(299393)

242
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Leader of the House, what steps will be taken to consult the public on the Draft Legislative Programme 2009-10.

(299394)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

243
N Mr Jeffrey M. Donaldson (Lagan Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many people in Northern Ireland have a criminal record.

(298807)

244
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299264)

245
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in 2008-09.

(299280)

246
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department and its agencies on procurement under tender because the tender process had been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299355)

247
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299381)

248
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with which providers (a) his Department and (b) its agencies had a contract to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299422)

Questions to the Prime Minister

249
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to the Answer of 14 July 2008, Official Report, column 19W, on Ministerial policy advisers, what (a) envoys and (b) special representatives he has personally appointed since becoming Prime Minister; which of them are still in post; and on what dates those who are no longer serving resigned.

(299317)

250
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Prime Minister, on what dates Lord Mandelson of Foy has visited Chequers since his most recent appointment as Secretary of State.

(299444)

251
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Prime Minister, what steps he plans to take to involve the public in his plans to pursue democratic reform announced on 10 June 2009.

(299445)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland

252
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department has spent on Christmas (a) cards, (b) parties and (c) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299263)

253
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department in 2008-09.

(299279)

254
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department on procurement under tender because the tender process had been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299356)

255
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299382)

Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Transport

256
Mr David Anderson (Blaydon): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2009, Official Report, column 1103W on railways; franchises, which franchise operator received a payment from his Department in October 2006; and how much that payment was.

(299344)

257
N Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what representations he has received on the future of the Freedom Pass in London, and from whom; how much was spent on the scheme in London in each of the last three years; how much is projected to be spent in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

(299216)

258
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, how much (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have spent on Christmas (i) cards, (ii) parties and (iii) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299262)

259
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department and its agencies in 2008-09.

(299278)

260
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department and its agencies on procurement under tender because the tender process had been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299357)

261
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, whether his Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299383)

262
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2008, Official Report, column 212W, which (a) Ministers and (b) senior civil servants are allocated use of a car with a driver at public expense, according to records held by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

(299323)

263
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has produced a privacy impact assessment in relation to any of its databases or data held within them.

(299392)

264
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, with which providers (a) his Department and (b) its agencies had a contract to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299423)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales

265
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much his Department has spent on Christmas (a) cards, (b) parties and (c) decorations in the last 12 months.

(299260)

266
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by press officers in his Department in 2008-09.

(299341)

267
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede & Weybridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether there has been any nugatory cost to his Department on procurement under tender because the tender process had been cancelled prior to the award of the contract in the last 12 months.

(299359)

Questions to the Minister for Women and Equality

268
N Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, what services for rape and sexual abuse counselling there are in Winchester; how much funding has been allocated to refuge and rape crisis centres in Winchester (a) in the last 12 months and (b) for 2009-10; and how many women have been turned away from such centres in Winchester because of the no recourse to public funds rule in each of the last five years.

(299014)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

269
N Mr Jeremy Hunt (South West Surrey): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobs in culture and creative industries have been created through the Future Jobs Fund since its inception; and what the average (a) length of contract and (b) salary for each such job is.

(299215)

270
Mrs Eleanor Laing (Epping Forest): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department's information assurance procedures have been subject to an independent audit.

(299385)

271
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many convictions for benefits fraud there have been in the last five years.

(299305)

272
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the terms and conditions of the directgov website prohibit photocopying of individual pages downloaded from the site.

(299291)

273
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many layers of line management there are in Jobcentre Plus between board members and frontline staff.

(299292)

274
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) average time to answer a call, (b) average waiting time for a client during a call, (c) percentage of calls dropped or not answered and (d) average length of a call was in a call centre run by her Department and each of its agencies in the latest period for which figures are available.

(299338)

275
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether an assessment has been made of the level of failure demand in call centres run by her Department and each of its agencies.

(299339)

276
N Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have been unemployed for 12 months or more and who have not been referred to the flexible New Deal scheme.

(299017)

277
N Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have been referred to the flexible New Deal scheme since 6 October 2009.

(299018)

278
N Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many flexible New Deal phase 1 suppliers were fully operational on 6 October 2009.

(299019)

279
N Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which of the milestones referred to in her Department's paper Transforming Britain's labour market: Ten years of the New Deal (a) have and (b) have not been delivered on time; and what progress has been made on those milestones which have not been delivered.

(299020)

280
N Mrs Theresa May (Maidenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was spent by her Department on providing translation services for customers in each of the last 10 years.

(299233)

281
N Mr Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local housing allowance claimants pass their local housing allowance on to their landlords; and if she will make a statement.

(299092)

282
Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) energy rating and (b) energy band of each building occupied by her Department and its agencies was in each year for which figures are available.

(299314)

283
Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with which providers (a) her Department and (b) its agencies had a contract to provide postal services in (i) 2007, (ii) 2008, (iii) between 1 January 2009 and 1 July 2009 and (iv) since 1 July 2009.

(299421)

Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office

284
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, by what process the trustees of Dorneywood are appointed.

[Transferred] (299417)

285
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Lords Lieutenant in each region there are of each (a) sex, (b) age group and (c) ethnicity; what the average salary is of Lords Lieutenant; and if she will make a statement.

[Transferred] (299340)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families

286
N Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what funding he has allocated to train those practitioners involved in safeguarding child victims of trafficking.

[Transferred] (298925)

Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

287
N Lindsay Roy (Glenrothes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress is being made in international efforts to combat the trade in illegal drugs; and if he will make a statement.

[Transferred] (298975)

Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development

288
N Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many visits members of his Department have made to the camps for internally-displaced Tamils in Sri Lanka since May 2009; and how many requests to visit such camps have been refused by the Sri Lankan authorities.

[Transferred] (299218)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice

289
N Sandra Gidley (Romsey): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on reducing the number of women in prison.

[Question Unstarred] (298576)

290
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what criteria apply to public bodies in determining whether a document (a) has been identified as being available for re-use and (b) is available for re-use under the Re-use of Public Sector Information provisions.

[Transferred] (299447)

291
Mr Francis Maude (Horsham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which Minister has responsibility for the (a) release and (b) re-use of public sector data.

[Transferred] (299452)

© Parliamentary copyright 2009
Revised 10 November 2009