Order Book Part 1

House of Commons

Session 2009 - 10
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 14 January 2010

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 Thursday 14 January 2010
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Thursday 14 January 2010

This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Thursday 14 January of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

For other Written Questions for answer on Thursday 14 January of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Thursday 14 January see Part 2 of this paper.

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

1
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many students from Lewes constituency attended university courses in each year since 1996-97.

(311174)

2
Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what legislative provisions require (a) the convening of annual meetings by publicly-funded companies requiring the participation of ordinary shareholders and (b) the establishment of shareholder committees.

(311268)

3
Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of voting rights of shareholders in companies publicly operated in the UK; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which (a) banks and (b) stockbrokers have taken up powers in respect of nominee shareholders contained in the Companies Act 2006.

(311269)

4
Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on the number of universities which should be entitled to offer research courses leading to doctoral qualifications; and what assessment he has made of the effects of this policy on universities in the West Midlands.

(311270)

5
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many students in higher education have received payments in respect of (a) tuition fee loans, (b) maintenance loans, (c) grants for living costs, (d) bursaries and scholarships and (e) extra help for students with children or adult dependents in Gloucestershire in each of the last three years; and what the amount was of payments of each such type made to students from Gloucestershire in each such year.

(310980)

6
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many students normally resident in Gloucestershire have (a) attended and (b) received student loans to attend university courses in each year since 1997.

(310981)

7
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of people in the South West who have been paid at the rate of the uprated minimum wage in the last 10 years.

(310985)

8
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department and its predecessors have taken to support small businesses in Preston since 1997.

(311131)

9
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many and what percentage of women resident in Preston have taken 26 weeks maternity leave since 1997.

(311132)

10
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many residents of Preston qualify for paid leave entitlements.

(311133)

11
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many residents of Preston have received a reduction in their working hours as a result of the reduction in the maximum length of the working week to 48 hours.

(311134)

12
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what funding his Department and its predecessors have made available to improve adult (a) literacy and (b) numeracy in Preston since 1997.

(311135)

13
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much funding his Department and its predecessors have allocated to higher education in Preston in each year since 1997.

(311141)

14
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what record his Department holds of the number of women in Preston who have visited an information and communications technology training centre in order to gain return to work skills in each year since 1997.

(311142)

15
Peter Luff (Mid Worcestershire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the implication for competition in the UK retail motor industry of the European Commission's proposals to replace sector-specific block exemptions for the industry with a general exemption; and if he will make a statement.

(311021)

16
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311255)

17
Lembit Öpik (Montgomeryshire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the merits of providing support to producers of electric motorcycles and mopeds.

(310927)

18
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he expects the (a) eligibility of Susan Coombe a constituent of the hon. Member for Torbay ref. 50247451102, for parent learning allowance to be confirmed and (b) first payment under that allowance to be made to that constituent.

(310990)

19
Dr Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many requests from businesses for help from the Automotive Assistance Programme have been (a) received and (b) approved.

(311121)

20
Dr Richard Taylor (Wyre Forest): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many school and sixth form college leavers went on to universities on average in each year in the period (a) 1981 to 1990, (b) 1991 to 2000 and (c) 2001 to 2009.

(311122)

21
Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will assess the ability of third party services to provide access to next generation and mobile networks.

(310971)

22
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many students enrolled on a foundation degree course in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

(311119)

23
Stephen Williams (Bristol West): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of undergraduates studying (a) part-time and (b) full-time were from low participation neighbourhoods in each of the last five years.

(311120)

Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office

24
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people between (a) 35 and 45, (b) 46 and 55 and (c) 56 and 65 years old died of diseases related to obesity in (i) England, (ii) East Sussex and (iii) Lewes constituency in each year since 2000.

(311168)

25
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the level of unemployment has been in Preston in each year since 1997.

(311018)

26
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of invoices from suppliers her Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311199)

Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

27
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his most recent estimate is of the number of families in each ward of Lewes constituency in receipt of (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit.

(311175)

28
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons the capital allowances for railway assets will be decreased to 10 per cent. in January 2011; and what assessment has been made of the effect on the rail industry of this decision.

(311176)

29
Tony Baldry (Banbury): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs has plans for staff redundancies at the Banbury tax office.

(310989)

30
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the rate of taxation was on standard 95 RON unleaded petrol in July 2008.

(311043)

31
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his estimate is of the amount of revenue from petrol retail outlets which the new business rate will generate in 2010-11.

(311048)

32
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much business rate revenue was generated from petrol retail outlets in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08 and (c) 2008-09.

(311050)

33
Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what account he has taken of reports of the level of joblessness in the eurozone in November 2009 in his most recent assessment of the EU's economic performance; and if he will make a statement.

(311271)

34
Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government reached a binding agreement with the government of Iceland on the repayment of that country's debt to the UK prior to the Government's agreement to reimburse UK savers who had deposited funds in Icelandic banks.

(311273)

35
Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions the then Chancellor of the Exchequer had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the availability of funding for the purchase of military helicopters to be used for future services in Afghanistan in the period between 2002 and 2004; and what response was made to each request by the Secretary of State for Defence for funding to purchase such helicopters in this period.

(311276)

36
N Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on the proposal to discontinue bank cheques; and what steps he plans to take to protect the interests of (a) elderly and (b) other bank customers who do not have access to internet banking in circumstances in which that proposal is implemented.

(310708)

37
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many families in Preston were in receipt of child tax credit on the latest date for which information is available.

(311023)

38
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of businesses in Preston which have received 100 per cent. tax exemption in respect of the purchase of computer and internet-related equipment.

(311024)

39
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311256)

40
N Mr Mark Oaten (Winchester): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2009, Official Report, column 857W, on taxation: health professionals, if he will bring forward legislation to apply the same treatment for value-added tax purposes to pharmacy contractors and appliance contractors.

[R] (310675)

41
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have had their tax credit payments suspended due to overpayment in (a) each county in England and Wales and (b) Hemel Hempstead constituency in each year since 2005.

(311026)

42
Mike Penning (Hemel Hempstead): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit claimants in Hemel Hempstead constituency there were in each year since the scheme began; and how many such claimants have been (a) underpaid and (b) overpaid.

(311027)

43
N Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of alcohol duty fraud.

(310566)

44
N Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps (a) his Department and (b) HM Revenue and Customs is taking in co-operation with European counterparts to reduce levels of alcohol duty fraud.

(310567)

45
N Dan Rogerson (North Cornwall): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many allegations have been received by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in the last 12 months of the sale of alcohol on which duty has not been paid; and how many such allegations have been investigated by HMRC.

(310568)

46
Clare Short (Birmingham, Ladywood): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood's letter of 29 October 2009 to the Financial Secretary on Asghar Khan, Treasury PO Ref: 3/11525/2009.

(310937)

47
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2010, Official Report, column 768W, on imports: Israel, whether the issuing authority is different to the authority providing the original designation of origin.

(311127)

48
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2010, Official Report, column 768W, on imports: Israel, in how many cases there has been doubt over the place of production and verification has been requested from the issuing authority in Israel.

(311195)

49
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2010, Official Report, column 768W, on imports: Israel, what recent reports HM Revenue and Customs have received on checks by the European Commission that the Israeli authorities record the actual place of production rather than a head office on the proof of origin.

(311196)

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

50
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many staff are (a) employed by and (b) assigned to the Youth Taskforce.

(311228)

51
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps his Department is taking to reduce levels of youth crime and anti-social behaviour; and if he will make a statement.

(311229)

52
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how the funding provided by his Department under the Youth Crime Action Plan has been spent.

(311230)

53
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what the remit of the Youth Taskforce is; how much his Department has allocated to the programme for (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; what measures he uses to assess the performance of the taskforce; what activities it is undertaking; and if he will make a statement.

(311231)

54
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, whether he plans to encourage local authorities to publish the annual balances of individual schools in their areas.

(310940)

55
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, whether he plans to review the respective roles of investigating officer and the chair of a board of governors in investigating the suspension of a head teacher or member of school staff for the purpose of distinguishing those roles; and what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on the suspension of school staff.

(310941)

56
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what advice his Department provides to local authorities on whether the chair of the board of governors acting as an investigating officer should be able to choose the panel for a hearing in respect of an investigation into the performance of a head teacher or other member of school staff.

(310942)

57
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many cases in each local authority have been referred to his Department for advice on an investigation into the performance of a head teacher in each of the last two years.

(310943)

58
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many staff of his Department are trained to provide advice to local authorities on suspensions of school head teachers or other staff.

(310944)

59
N Mr Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, when he expects to make a final decision on the proposed Academy for Sevenoaks.

(310707)

60
Michael Gove (Surrey Heath): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many teachers qualified to teach Mandarin are teaching in (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) special schools.

(311106)

61
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much funding his Department and its predecessors have provided in respect of (a) computers and (b) information and communications technologies in schools in Preston since 1997.

(311065)

62
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many childcare places have been created in Preston since 1997.

(311066)

63
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what recent assessment he has made of the effects on schools of changes to the level of expenditure on school sports in Preston since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

(311233)

64
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many full-time equivalent teaching assistants there were in schools in Preston in (a) 1997 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available.

(311234)

65
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much has been spent per pupil in Preston in each year since 1997.

(311235)

66
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many (a) free nursery and (b) pre-school places were available for (i) three and (ii) four year-olds in Preston in each year since 1997.

(311236)

67
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many (a) Sure Start centres and (b) early excellence centres have been established in Preston since 1997.

(311237)

68
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many new nurseries have been established in Preston since 1997.

(311238)

69
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how much has been spent repairing schools in Preston in each year since 1997.

(311239)

70
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many schools in Preston deemed to be failing have since reached a satisfactory standard since 1997.

(311240)

71
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what system his Department has in place to (a) monitor and (b) assess the performance of academy sponsors in improving the (i) Ofsted status and (ii) number of examination passes in academies.

(311243)

72
Robert Key (Salisbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, which schools in Wiltshire education authority have (a) applied for and (b) been granted exemption from holding religious assemblies.

(310918)

73
N Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many and what proportion of pupils who were (a) eligible and (b) not eligible for free school meals achieved five A* or A grades at GCSE, including English and mathematics but excluding equivalents in the (i) earliest and (ii) most recent year for which figures are available.

(310643)

74
N Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, in what proportion of schools in each decile of the index of multiple deprivation less than 30 per cent. of pupils obtained five GCSEs including English and mathematics at A* to C grades in the (a) earliest and (b) most recent year for which figures are available.

(310645)

75
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, whether he plans to change the protection provided for in law against the teaching of sex and relationships education not appropriate to the age, religious and cultural background of pupils.

(311015)

76
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, whether sex and relationships guidance issued under Section 403 of the Education Act 1996 would apply to the teaching of understanding physical development health and well-being in primary schools under the provisions proposed in the Children, Schools and Families Bill.

(311025)

77
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2010, Official Report, columns 726-27W, on primary education, how the information included in the Answer was compiled.

(311101)

78
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many children attended (a) two, (b) three, (c) four and (d) five schools in 1980.

(311158)

79
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in November and December 2009.

(311203)

80
N Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what advice he has given to (a) schools and (b) education authorities on teachers using electronic communications to undertake distance teaching for pupils at schools closed because of inclement weather; and if he will make a statement.

(310836)

81
N Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, if he will make it is his policy that where a school has remained open during the recent inclement weather those days should not be included in statistics on absenteeism; if he will advise education authorities accordingly; and if he will make a statement.

(310837)

82
N Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what his policy is on the recording in statistics on absenteeism those children who are receiving treatment, in hospital or at home, for illness or injury; and if he will make a statement.

(310838)

83
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many school leavers have participated in programmes under the Future Jobs Fund (a) nationally and (b) in Milton Keynes since its inception.

(311246)

84
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many students received education maintenance allowance in (a) England and (b) Milton Keynes in 2009-10.

(311247)

85
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many Sure Start centres have been opened since 2005 (a) nationally and (b) in Milton Keynes; and how much capital funding has been allocated to such centres.

(311248)

86
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps have been taken to inform children in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools about diabetes.

(311159)

87
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps his Department is taking to promote healthy eating by children.

(311160)

88
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what steps his Department has taken to promote healthy options for children when choosing their lunch at school.

(311161)

89
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what factors are required to be taken into account in deciding on school lunch menus in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.

(311162)

90
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, what estimate his Department has made of the number of children under the age of 16 years who (a) had lunches provided by and (b) took packed lunches to (i) primary and (ii) secondary school in (A) England, (B) Leicester and (C) the East Midlands in the latest period for which figures are available.

(311163)

91
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many children under the age of 16 years received free (a) primary and (b) secondary school lunches in (i) England, (ii) Leicester and (iii) the East Midlands in the latest period for which figures are available.

(311164)

92
Keith Vaz (Leicester East): To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many food vending machines there are in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in (i) England, (ii) Leicester and (iii) the East Midlands.

(311165)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

93
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to increase the number of dwellings available for low-cost home ownership in Lewes constituency.

(311169)

94
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what average catalyst price per litre of unleaded fuel was used to calculate the business rate for (a) non-supermarket and (b) supermarket petrol retail outlets in the year to 1 April 2009.

(311044)

95
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what ceiling applied to (a) non-supermarket and (b) supermarket petrol retail outlet shop sales in assessing rateable values for the purpose of calculating the business rate to come into effect from 1 April 2010.

(311045)

96
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many petrol retail outlets have had a reduction in their rateable value for the purpose of calculating the business rate to come into effect from 1 April 2010.

(311046)

97
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what methodology will be used to rate (a) supermarket petrol retail outlets and (b) non-supermarket petrol retail outlets for their new rateable value for the purpose of calculating the business rate to come into effect on 1 April 2010.

(311047)

98
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many petrol retail outlets have been notified that their rateable value (a) has been reduced, (b) remains unchanged and (c) has risen by over (i) 10 per cent., (ii) 50 per cent., (iii) 100 per cent., (iv) 150 per cent., (v) 200 per cent., (vi) 250 per cent., (vii) 300 per cent. and (viii) 350 per cent. for the purpose of calculating the business rate to come into effect on 14 April 2010.

(311049)

99
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what relative changes in property values have been taken into account in assessing the rateable values of petrol retail outlets for the purpose of calculating the business rate to come into effect on 1 April 2010.

(311051)

100
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what method was used to assess the rateable value of a high street shop for the purposes of calculating the business rate to come into effect from 1 April 2010.

(311052)

101
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many petrol station outlets will be eligible for rural rate relief from 1 April 2010.

(311053)

102
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many properties there were to which rateable values for petrol retail outlets applied in (a) in 1990, (b) 2000 and (c) 2008.

(311054)

103
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information was used to reach the assessment of the new rateable values for petrol retail outlets prior to the business rate to come into effect on 1 April 2010.

(311055)

104
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which petrol retail outlets were used in the assessment of the new rateable values for the purpose of calculating the business rate to come into effect on 1 April 2010; and what the (a) location and (b) region was of each.

(311056)

105
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many supermarket petrol retail outlets have been notified that their rateable value (a) has been reduced, (b) remains unchanged and (c) has risen by over (i) 10 per cent., (ii) 50 per cent., (iii) 100 per cent., (iv) 150 per cent., (v) 200 per cent., (vi) 250 per cent., (vii) 300 per cent. and (viii) 350 per cent. for the purpose of calculating the business rate to come into effect on 1 April 2010.

(311057)

106
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the date was of the revaluation of petrol retail outlets used for the purpose of calculating the current business rate for such outlets.

(311080)

107
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what formula was used to assess the rateable value of a supermarket convenience store for the purpose of calculating the new business rate for such a store from 1 April 2010.

(311081)

108
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many petrol retail outlets will be eligible for small business rate relief after 1 April 2010.

(311082)

109
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, over what period the assessment took place of rateable values of petrol retail outlets for the purpose of calculating the business rate to come into effect on 1 April 2010; and what information has become available to his Department on (a) the volume of forecourt petrol sales and (b) levels of revenue from forecourt (i) shops and (ii) car washes since the end of that period.

(311083)

110
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether trading conditions in the petrol retail trade since the last date used to assess the rateable value of petrol retail outlets for the purpose of calculating the business rate from 1 April 2010 have been taken into account in setting that rate.

(311084)

111
Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the level of compliance with the requirement for all air conditioning systems over 250kW to be inspected under the terms of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive by 4 January 2009; and if he will make a statement.

(310923)

112
Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the level of compliance in Government buildings with the requirement under the terms of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive for air conditioning systems over 250kW to be inspected by 4 January 2009; and if he will make a statement.

(310924)

113
Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to require all mandatory air conditioning systems reports to be logged on a central database; and if he will make a statement.

(310925)

114
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many homes in (a) Chesterfield constituency, (b) Derbyshire and (c) England have been repossessed in each year since 1979.

(310934)

115
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311260)

116
N Mr Anthony Steen (Totnes): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will direct the local planning authority to conduct an environmental impact assessment in respect of planning application 52/1442/09/F Rowes Farm Development, Aish Road, Stoke Gabriel, Totnes.

(310801)

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

117
Mr Don Foster (Bath): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many of the planned 10,000 additional jobs in the sport and cultural sectors have been created; how much the Government has contributed to the creation of such jobs; and what timetable he has set for creating the remainder.

(310977)

118
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311264)

119
Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Devonport): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress his Department has made on the development and implementation of a policy on historic ships; how many historic vessels have been recorded since the publication of the consultation document, Understanding historic vessels; and where each such vessel is located.

(310992)

120
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received on the likely effect on health of the relaxation of product placement rules in the context of broadcast television programmes.

(310970)

121
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many persons over 75 years old received a free television licence in 2008-09.

(311232)

122
Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2010, on Arts Council England, whether Arts Council England has used (a) National Lottery proceeds and (b) grant-in-aid funding to reduce its pension fund deficit in each of the last three years.

(311085)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence

123
Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will reply to the letters from the hon. Member for North East Hampshire of 26 June and 14 August 2009 on Calthorpe Park Secondary School.

(310921)

124
Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the letter of 7 January 2006 to the hon. Member for North East Hampshire, whether the comprehensive review of the board of inquiry report into the sinking of HMS Sheffield has been completed.

(310995)

125
Nick Harvey (North Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of deferring the Operational Utility Vehicle System programme for two years; and what assessment he has made of the likely trends in (a) production and (b) deployment of small and medium support vehicles during that period.

(311277)

126
Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) forces and (b) equipment the UK has contributed to the security arrangements for the Kajiki dam in Afghanistan; what the expected duration of UK involvement in this operation is; and on what date the UK will hand over responsibility to other coalition forces.

(311227)

127
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311266)

128
N Willie Rennie (Dunfermline and West Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many properties owned by his Department had been unused for between one and five years in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK on the latest date for which figures are available.

(310650)

129
N Willie Rennie (Dunfermline and West Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the monetary value was of allowances paid to civilian staff based in Afghanistan in each of the last five years.

(310651)

130
N Willie Rennie (Dunfermline and West Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what equipment tests using animals were conducted by his Department in each of the last five years.

(310652)

131
Willie Rennie (Dunfermline and West Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many cases of computer (a) hacking, (b) fraud and (c) theft his Department recorded in each of the last five years.

(311086)

132
Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated cost is of developing the (a) platform and (b) propulsion system for the successor submarine to Trident.

(311155)

133
Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the maintenance cost of the Vanguard class submarines in (a) 2009-10 and (b) each of the next five years.

(311156)

134
Angus Robertson (Moray): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the maintenance cost for the Vanguard class submarine was in 2008-09.

(311157)

135
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to answer Question 304940, on the deployment of 10 Afghan companies in Helmand province tabled on 2 December 2009.

(311062)

136
Mr Keith Simpson (Mid Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to answer Question 304938 on the deployment of 600 Afghan soldiers in Helmand province tabled on 2 December 2009.

(311063)

137
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what aspects of military co-operation were to have been discussed with the group of military officers from Israel whose proposed visit to the UK was recently cancelled.

(311031)

138
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions Israel Defence Forces personnel have been invited to the UK for discussions with (a) Ministers or officials of his Department and (b) members of the armed forces since 2005; and what topics were discussed.

(311032)

139
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what areas of expertise of the Israel Defence Forces that have been shared with (a) his Department and (b) members of the armed forces.

(311033)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

140
Mr David Anderson (Blaydon): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether he and his officials have had meetings with colleagues at the Treasury on the introduction of a feed-in tariff for micro-combined heat and power since December 2009; and if he will make a statement.

(310988)

141
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many households applied for grants under the Warm Front scheme in Lewes constituency in each year since the inception of the scheme.

(311170)

142
Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what his estimate is of the amount of electricity generated by onshore wind farms in each of the last two months.

(310919)

143
Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress he has made on the Government's commitment to raise the perception of energy demand from renewable sources to 15 per cent. by 2020; what assessment he has made of the contribution of the offshore wind turbines to be developed under Round 3 to this target; and if he will make a statement.

(311272)

144
Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what his most recent assessment is of the state of climate science research on the effect of climate change on changes in sea level; what projections he made of changes to sea level by 2100; and if he will make a statement.

(311274)

145
David T. C. Davies (Monmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate his Department has made of the average temperature in the UK in each of the last 10 years.

(311192)

146
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of households in (a) Stroud constituency and (b) Gloucestershire which (i) were in fuel poverty in the latest period for which figures are available, (ii) have come out of fuel poverty since 1997 and (iii) re-entered fuel poverty since 1997.

(310978)

147
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how often his Department reviews its definition of fuel poverty.

(310979)

148
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many households in Preston have received assistance under the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme since the inception of the scheme.

(311143)

149
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will review Lancashire County Council's recent decision to refuse planning permission for additional gas storage capacity in that area.

(310933)

150
N Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2010, Official Report, column 636W, on wind power: noise, for what reasons he endorses the current maximum permitted night-time noise limit from onshore wind turbines.

(310705)

151
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311261)

152
Mr Rob Wilson (Reading East): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans he has for his Department's funding of the climate programme at the Hadley Centre after 2010.

(310991)

153
Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what guaranteed price Round 3 offshore wind development partners have been given for the future (a) energy they produce and (b) theoretical energy they could produce; and for what duration in each case.

(311088)

154
Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what generating capacity of what types is planned to be built to provide back-up to support the nine zone Round 3 offshore wind generating turbines; and at what cost.

(311089)

155
Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what income is to be guaranteed to generating plants built as back-up to the nine zone Round 3 offshore wind generating turbines when they are (a) not generating and (b) operating at low capacity.

(311090)

156
Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what percentage of Round 3 offshore wind generating platforms will be constructed in the UK.

(311091)

157
Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the planned timetable is for (a) commissioning and (b) construction of each Round 3 offshore wind (i) generator and (ii) platform.

(311092)

158
Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, in which country each company is based which will (a) install and (b) run the generating platforms in each zone of Round 3 offshore wind development.

(311093)

159
Ann Winterton (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, from what source the nine Round 3 offshore wind developments will be funded.

(311094)

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

160
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it remains his policy to introduce a ban on beak trimming of laying hens in 2011.

(311179)

161
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is his policy to identify waste streams that should not be disposed of (a) in landfill and (b) by incineration.

(311182)

162
Mr Richard Benyon (Newbury): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many proposals for (a) special areas of conservation and (b) special protection areas in the UK offshore marine environment beyond the 12 nautical mile limit the Government has submitted to the European Commission since November 1999.

(311079)

163
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the cost to the agricultural industry of cross-compliance inspections carried out by (a) the Rural Payments Agency, (b) the Environment Agency, (c) Animal Health, (d) the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and (e) his Department under (i) cattle and (ii) sheep identification rules in each of the last five years.

(310646)

164
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of records relating to sheep born in the UK that have been lost in each of the last five years.

(310647)

165
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people (a) entered and (b) left the employment of the Rural Payments Agency in each of the last five years.

(310648)

166
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cattle were slaughtered as a consequence of bovine tuberculosis precautions in (a) Cumbria and (b) England in each of the last 24 months.

(310649)

167
N Tim Farron (Westmorland & Lonsdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of dairy farmers in (a) 1997 and (b) 2009.

(310674)

168
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311259)

169
N Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many citizen juries or summits have been hosted by his Department since October 2008; on what date each event took place; and which Ministers were present at each event.

(310781)

170
N Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what studies Natural England has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated to secure bathymetric and other data to measure adverse effects of ferry movements on the Lymington river mudflats and the effectiveness of potential mitigation and compensation measures.

(310730)

171
N Mr Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what budget has been allocated to the process of evaluating submissions to the consultation on the proposal to deposit dredge material on the Lymington mudflats scheduled to end on 22 January; and if he will make a statement.

(310731)

172
N Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall North of 8 December 2009 on the UK egg industry.

(310659)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

173
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the issue of Morocco's compliance with UN Security Council resolutions on a referendum on self-determination were raised in discussions between the EU and Morocco on advanced status.

(311123)

174
Mr Mark Lancaster (North East Milton Keynes): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress he has made in discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence on the future financial arrangements for Ascension Island.

(311125)

175
Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effects on (a) the economy, (b) the health service and (c) tourism provision in the Turks and Caicos Islands since the suspension of the constitution and institution of direct government by the Governor.

(310993)

176
Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 205W, on Nosratollah Tajik, for what purpose officials in his Department have had discussions with officials of the US Administration in London and Washington; and whether officials on each occasion indicated that extradition was a judicial process over which the Foreign Secretary had no control.

(311126)

177
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311257)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Health

178
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the (a) South Essex Partnership NHS University Foundation Trust and (b) South Essex Mental Health Trust has spent on advertising in the last 12 months.

(311099)

179
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many officials employed by (a) South Essex Partnership NHS University Foundation Trust and (b) South Essex Mental Health Trust at each pay band were eligible for performance bonuses and special bonuses in each of the last five years; how many people received each type of bonus; and what the (i) average and (ii) payment was for each type of bonus at each pay band.

(311251)

180
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward proposals to regulate the (a) pay and conditions and (b) special bonuses of chief executives of NHS foundation trusts; what recent discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on the pay of chief executives of NHS foundation trusts; what recent representations he has received on the issue; and if he will make a statement.

(311252)

181
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the Chief Exeuctive of (a) South Essex Partnership NHS University Foundation Trust and (b) South Essex Mental Health Trust was given in performance bonuses and special bonuses in each of the last five years; what the average payment was for each type of bonus; what maximum payment was for each type of bonus; and if he will make a statement.

(311253)

182
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the salary of the Chief Executive of (a) South Essex Partnership NHS University Foundation Trust and (b) South Essex Mental Health Trust was in each of the last five years.

(311254)

183
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the turnover rate of staff of each grade employed by the (a) South Essex Partnership NHS University Foundation Trust and (b) South Essex Mental Health Trust was in the last six months.

(311280)

184
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many employees of each (a) sex and (b) age (i) entered and (ii) left the employment of the (A) South Essex Partnership NHS University Foundation Trust and (B) South Essex Mental Health Trust in each of the last six months.

(311281)

185
Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will establish an independent inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 into the operation of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

(311278)

186
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in Stroud constituency have claimed attendance allowance in each of the last five years.

(310946)

187
N Patrick Hall (Bedford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance's report Joint Working?: An audit of the implementation of the Department of Health's Musculoskeletal Services Framework.

(310782)

188
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in Preston are receiving treatment for drug addiction.

(310987)

189
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds were available in NHS hospitals in Preston in each year since 1997.

(311067)

190
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding his Department has allocated for the treatment of heart disease and cancer care in Preston in each year since 1997.

(311068)

191
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what percentage of women resident in Preston with suspected breast cancer have seen a specialist within two weeks of referral in each year since 1997.

(311069)

192
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been spent on healthcare in Preston in each year since 1997.

(311070)

193
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many of those resident in Preston over retirement age have access to free eye tests.

(311144)

194
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many of those resident in Preston over the age of 60 are entitled to free eye tests.

(311145)

195
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS (a) doctors and (b) nurses there were in Preston in each year since 1997.

(311146)

196
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS (a) therapists and (b) scientists there were in Preston in each year since 1997.

(311147)

197
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of NHS waiting list times in Preston since 1997.

(311148)

198
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what percentage of suspected cancer patients resident in Preston saw an NHS consultant within two weeks of referral in each year since 1997.

(311149)

199
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of NHS waiting times for heart surgery in Preston.

(311150)

200
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many of those resident in Preston awaiting heart surgery have had the option of choosing an alternative hospital in the last 12 months.

(311151)

201
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many beds were available in NHS hospitals in Preston in each year since 1997.

(311152)

202
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consideration he has given to the recommendation of Lord Bradley's review of people with mental health problems or disabilities in the criminal justice system for a review to examine the potential for early intervention and diversion for children and young people with mental health problems or learning difficulties who have offended or who are at risk of offending.

(310994)

203
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether steps have been taken to implement the new minimum target for the National Health Service of 14 days to transfer a prisoner with acute, severe mental illness to an appropriate health care facility.

(311221)

204
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were treated at Lancashire teaching hospitals for injuries relating to snow and icy roads in the last quarter.

(311058)

205
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the Chief Executive of Monitor received in (a) salary and (b) expenses in the latest year for which information is available.

(311102)

206
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many paid directors are on the board of Monitor.

(311103)

207
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the running costs of Monitor headquarters were in the latest year for which information is available.

(311104)

208
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans there are to improve NHS dental provision in (a) Chorley and (b) Lancashire in 2010.

(311105)

209
N Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of children in each multiple deprivation decile were classified as obese in 2009.

(310644)

210
Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2010, Official Report, column 476W, on health services: Isle of Man, if he will (a) place in the Library and (b) provide to the Isle of Man authorities a copy of the dataset used in the calculation of the allocation of funding provided to the Isle of Man under the present bilateral agreement.

(311128)

211
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311262)

212
N Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many citizen juries or summits have been hosted by his Department since October 2008; on what date each event took place; and which Ministers were present at each event.

(310778)

213
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients saw a cancer specialist within two weeks of diagnosis in (a) England and (b) Milton Keynes in 2008-09.

(311096)

214
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were administered (a) swine influenza vaccines and (b) seasonal influenza vaccines by the Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust in 2008-09.

(311097)

Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department

215
Mr James Arbuthnot (North East Hampshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to reply to the letters from the hon. Member for North East Hampshire of 18 June and 17 August 2009 on his constituent, Mr Peter Booth.

(310920)

216
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance his Department provides to employers in receipt of information from enhanced Criminal Record Bureau checks on assessment of the nature of the data provided.

(311137)

217
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding his Department has allocated to (a) the Tackling Knives Action Programme and (b) the Tackling Gangs Action Programme for (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11.

(311138)

218
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps are required in order for the UK to achieve ratification of the Council of European Convention on Cybercrime.

(311139)

219
James Brokenshire (Hornchurch): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) committees and (b) sub-committees of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs are; when each such committees last met; and who the (i) chair and (ii) members of each committee are.

(311140)

220
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department's planned (a) comprehensive generic and (b) sector specific guidance on the Vetting and Barring scheme will make reference to (i) parish and (ii) town councillors.

(310982)

221
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many reported incidents of (a) burglary, (b) thefts from cars, (c) assault and (d) offences involving the carrying of an offensive weapon there were in Gloucestershire police force area in each year since 1997.

(310983)

222
N Mr Frank Field (Birkenhead): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will require the Migration Advisory Committee in formulating its advice on the level of immigrant labour needed to complete the (a) London Olympics and (b) Crossrail construction work to obtain information on whether jobs on these projects are first advertised through Jobcentre Plus.

(310657)

223
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offenders were removed from the country under the Facilitated Returns Scheme in each year from October 2006 to October 2009; what the cost of the scheme was in each of those years; and what the average level of grant to offenders was in each of those years.

(311016)

224
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was spent on the reintegration scheme in 2008-09.

(311017)

225
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many animals were used in the safety testing of shellfish in 2008; which shellfish were being tested; and for which poisons the animals were tested.

(311019)

226
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the 9,120 other birds used in scientific procedures in 2008 were (a) passerines (songbirds) and (b) taken from the wild; and whether his Department plans to provide details of species used in future such statistical releases.

(311020)

227
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the percentage change in the number of full-time police officers in Preston has been since 1997.

(310996)

228
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the percentage change in numbers of (a) overall recorded crimes, (b) recorded violent crimes, (c) burglaries and (d) vehicle thefts in Preston has been since 1997.

(310997)

229
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures for the prevention of racial harassment his Department has introduced since 1997; and how many times these powers have been used in Preston.

(310998)

230
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much his Department spent on programmes to tackle the misuse of drugs in Preston in (a) 1997-98 and (b) 2008-09.

(310999)

231
N Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents of violence against the person (a) with and (b) without injury were recorded by each police force in each month since April 2006.

(310709)

232
N Mr Adam Holloway (Gravesham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many incidents with notifiable crime codes (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 4.1, (d) 4.2, (e) 4.3, (f) 4.4, (g) 4.6, (h) 4.7, (i) 4.8, (j) 4.9, (k) 4.10, (l) 5A, (m) 5B, (n) 5C, (o) 8A, (p) 8D, (q) 8F, (r) 8G, (s) 8H, (t) 8J, (u) 8K and (v) 37.1 which were also monitored under Priority 1 of Public Service Agreement 23 were recorded by each police force in each month since April 2006.

(310732)

233
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of co-operation between his Department and EU institutions on immigration (a) policy and (b) operations.

(311245)

234
Mr Lindsay Hoyle (Chorley): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions he had with the Chief Constable of Lancashire Police on the closure of Chorley Forensic Science Service laboratory.

(311129)

235
N Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department plans to begin issuing passports containing fingerprint data; and how many such passports it expects to issue in each of the five years following their introduction.

(310655)

236
N Chris Huhne (Eastleigh): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of whether biometric information in the UK passport complies with (a) International Civil Aviation Organisation standards, (b) American visa waiver standards and (c) Schengen standards.

(310656)

237
Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications have been made by residents of (a) Manchester and (b) the Greater Manchester area for (i) a stand alone identity card, (ii) a passport plus identity card and (iii) a stand alone passport.

(310938)

238
Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) flats and (b) houses are (i) owned and (ii) rented by his Department for use by officials who are required to work in London away from home.

(310929)

239
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311258)

240
Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions he has had with the UK Border Agency on policy on detention of children in immigration removal centres.

(311098)

241
N Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many citizen juries or summits have been hosted by his Department since October 2008; on what date each event took place; and which Ministers were present at each event.

(310779)

242
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what capital funding has been allocated to Thames Valley Police in each year since 2005.

(311249)

243
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers Thames Valley Police have employed in each year since 2005.

(311250)

Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development

244
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in November and December 2009.

(311201)

245
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many armoured cars have been purchased with funds from his Department for the use of the UN Relief and Works Agency in Gaza since January 2008; what the total cost was to his Department; how many such vehicles have entered Gaza; how many are stored awaiting permission to enter Gaza; and what the cost to his Department has been to date of such vehicle storage prior to their delivery to Gaza.

(311197)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice

246
Mr David Amess (Southend West): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) males and (b) females in each age group who were prosecuted for speeding offences were subsequently found to be without (i) insurance and (ii) a valid driving licence in each of the last two years.

(311191)

247
N Mr Simon Burns (West Chelmsford): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Answer of 12 November 2009, Official Report, column 842W, on interpreters: finance, for what reasons he has not yet written to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford with the information he undertook to provide by Christmas 2009.

(310642)

248
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which prisons in England and Wales provide (a) free parking and (b) charged parking for (i) disabled and (ii) other visitors.

(310959)

249
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many violent incidents were recorded at properties operated by ClearSprings Ltd under the Bail and Accommodation Support Service in each of the last three years.

(310960)

250
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much funding his Department has provided to the Gender Recognition Panel in each of the last three years.

(310961)

251
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many juveniles sentenced to a custodial sentence in the last year for which information is available had served more than three previous custodial sentences.

(310962)

252
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish his response to his Department's consultations on court closures which ended on 5 January 2010.

(310963)

253
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) men and (b) women released from prison in each year since 2000 had served (i) four, (ii) five, (iii) six, (iv) seven, (v) eight, (vi) nine and (vii) 10 or more previous custodial sentences.

(310964)

254
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what average fine was imposed for each type of (a) summary non-motoring offence, (b) summary motoring offence and (c) indictable offence in 2008.

(310965)

255
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish his response to his Department's second consultation on the voting rights of prisoners.

(310966)

256
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish his response to his Department's consultation on weekend voting.

(310967)

257
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish his response to his Department's consultation on the future of the Parole Board.

(310968)

258
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish his response to his Department's consultation on defamation, the internet and the multiple publication rule.

(310969)

259
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) prosecutions, (b) convictions and (c) cautions there were for offences under the Hunting Act 2004 in (i) 2008 and (ii) 2009 to date.

(310986)

260
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many full-time equivalent staff are working on preparation of his Department's response to its consultation on pleural plaques.

(311153)

261
N Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people of each sex aged 65 and above have been convicted of each offence involving violence against the person in each police force area in each year since 1997.

(310728)

262
N Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many juvenile prisoners aged (a) 15, (b) 16 and (c) 17 are in detention at locations more than 50 miles from their home address.

(310729)

263
N Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2010, Official Report, columns 546-7W, on prison accommodation, of the cells not included in the certified normal accommodation of the prison estate, how many are (a) part of segregation units, (b) part of in-patient health care centres and (c) holding cells in prison receptions.

(310736)

264
N Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many females were given custodial sentences in each of the last three years.

(310827)

265
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2010, Official Report, columns 546-7W, on prison accommodation, how many cells are not included in the certified normal accommodation of the prison estate for (a) operational reasons relating to cell (i) heating, (ii) lighting, (iii) ventilation and (iv) size and (b) other reasons relating to cell maintenance.

(311241)

266
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many mother and baby units for female prisoners there are in England and Wales; and what the capacity of each such unit is for (a) female children and (b) babies.

(311242)

267
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he expects to designate academy schools as public authorities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

(311244)

268
N Mr Bernard Jenkin (North Essex): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the Prime Minister's policy is on the (a) retention and (b) deletion of emails in Government departments.

(310706)

269
N Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many persons have been convicted of (a) attempting to smuggle and (b) smuggling drugs into prison in each of the last five years.

(310701)

270
N Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what percentage of staff at adult prisons are searched for illegal substances on arrival at work.

(310702)

271
N Mr Humfrey Malins (Woking): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what percentage of young offenders released from Medway Secure Training Centre have subsequently entered (a) full or part-time education, (b) full or part-time employment and (c) full or part-time training in each of the last five years.

(310703)

272
N Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many citizen juries or summits have been hosted by his Department since October 2008; on what date each event took place; and which Ministers were present at each event.

(310780)

Questions to the Leader of the House

273
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Leader of the House, how much in public duty costs allowance has been paid to former Prime Ministers in each year since 1991.

(311222)

274
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Leader of the House, what the limit is of the public duty costs allowance for former Prime Ministers; and when that limit will next be reviewed.

(311223)

275
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Leader of the House, what rules apply to claims made by former Prime Ministers from the public duty costs allowance.

(311224)

276
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Leader of the House, which office administers the public duty costs allowance for former Prime Ministers; and what checks are made to ensure that claims against the allowance meet the criteria for funding from the allowance.

(311225)

277
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Leader of the House, what guidance is provided to former Prime Ministers on claiming from the public duty costs allowance; and if she will place a copy of that guidance in the Library.

(311226)

278
N Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield): To ask the Leader of the House, how many citizen juries or summits have been hosted by her Office since October 2008; on what date each event took place; and which Ministers were present at each event.

(310777)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

279
Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2009, Official Report, column 497W, on clergy: misconduct, what his policy is on initiating discussions on the report of the commission of inquiry with each of the parties specified in the Question; and if he will make a statement.

(311118)

Questions to the Minister for the Olympics

280
Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Minister for the Olympics, what procedures are in place under which British citizens may apply to work on construction projects in connection with the London 2012 Olympics.

(310928)

281
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Minister for the Olympics, what proportion of invoices from suppliers the Government Olympic Executive paid within 10 days of receipt in November and December 2009.

(311202)

Questions to the Prime Minister

282
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Prime Minister, what severance payments have been made to Ministers who have left office since May 2007.

(311198)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland

283
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311263)

Questions to the Minister of State, Department for Transport

284
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2010, Official Report, column 336W, on rolling stock, how many vehicles were offered to the Department where the purchase option was not pursued and the vehicles were subsequently exported.

(311166)

285
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, if he will assess the effect of reopening the Derby to Manchester rail line to passenger rail traffic; and what recent discussions he has had with the Peak District National Park Authority in respect of their plan to open up closed tunnels to cyclists.

(311177)

286
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, if he will list, and quantify, those items of expenditure which since April 2009 have been reallocated to be off balance sheet transactions, pursuant to advice received from HM Treasury.

(311178)

287
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what steps the Highways Agency is taking to ensure that contractors have direct incentives to minimise whole life costs.

(311180)

288
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, how many quantity surveyors have been employed by the Highways Agency in each year since its inception.

(311181)

289
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of constructing a new dual carriageway between Ellington and Fen Drayton as part of the A14 improvement work.

(311183)

290
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of widening the A1 to three lanes in each direction between the new Brampton interchange and the existing junction at Brampton Hut as part of the A14 improvement work.

(311184)

291
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of the demolition of the Huntingdon Railway viaduct as part of the A14 improvement work.

(311185)

292
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of improving local roads in Huntingdon following the demolition of the Huntingdon Railway viaduct as part of the A14 improvement work.

(311186)

293
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of widening the Huntingdon to Brampton Road following the demolition of the Huntingdon Railway viaduct as part of the A14 improvement work.

(311187)

294
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what estimate he has made of the cost of noise mitigation measures to be implemented along the A1 at Brampton as part of the A14 improvement work.

(311188)

295
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, whether any air pollution mitigation measures are planned as part of the A14 improvement work; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such measures.

(311189)

296
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what discussions he had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer prior to his decision to reduce capital allowances for railway assets; and what assessment he has made of the effect of this decision on the railway industry.

(311190)

297
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, whether there are mechanisms in place to compensate local authorities in circumstances in which companies contracted by them to provide salt have not fulfilled their contractual obligations as a result of the intervention of the Salt Cell.

(310939)

298
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what the percentage change in the number of (a) deaths and (b) serious injury as a result of road accidents has been in Preston between 1997 and the most recent year for which information is available.

(311071)

299
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, how many miles of priority bus lanes have been introduced in Preston since 1997.

(311072)

300
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, how many smartcard concessionary bus passes have been issued to residents of Chesterfield constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.

(310936)

301
Glenda Jackson (Hampstead & Highgate): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, when he will announce the successful bidder for the Thameslink rolling stock order.

(310926)

302
Tim Loughton (East Worthing & Shoreham): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2010, Official Report, column 659W, on aviation: security, when the code of practice will be finalised; and which airport operators are working with his Department on its development.

(311087)

303
Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2010, Official Report, column 90W, on Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: tolls, what the evidential basis is for the assertion that traffic levels between 06.00 and 22.00 generally exceed the crossing's capacity; if he will place in the Library a copy of the data on which that assertion is based; and to which EU directives he made reference in the Answer.

(311116)

304
Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2010, Official Report, column 339W, on the Policing and Crime Act 2009, for what reason it is necessary to use the powers in the Policing and Crime Act 2009 to ensure that correct policing arrangements can be maintained at (a) Belfast City Airport and (b) Belfast International Airport; whether officers of the (i) Northern Ireland Airport Police and (ii) Belfast Harbour Police (A) have powers to police each airport and (B) exercise powers as constables within the curtilage of each airport; to what purpose his Department proposes to work closely with the airports concerned and the Northern Ireland Office; and if he will make a statement.

(311117)

305
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311267)

306
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what driving test centres have closed in each of the last three years.

(311034)

307
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, which driving test centres are planned to be relocated in the next three years.

(311035)

308
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, how many full-time equivalent employees of the Driving Standards Agency are in the salary band (a) £150,000 and above, (b) £100,000 to £149,999, (c) £80,000 to £99,999, (d) £60,000 to £79,999, (e) £40,000 to £59,999, (f) £25,000 to £39,999 and (g) £24,999 and under.

(311036)

309
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, how much was claimed in expenses by each member of the senior management of the Driving Standards Agency in each of the last three years.

(311037)

310
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, how much was spent on the salaries of press officers employed by the Driving Standards Agency in each of the last three years.

(311038)

311
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, how much the Driving Standards Agency has spent on (a) Twitter and (b) other online communications systems in each of the last three years.

(311039)

312
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what the net effects on his Department's expenditure will be of relocation of the Wisbech driving test centre to Kings Lynn in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12.

(311040)

313
Mr Malcolm Moss (North East Cambridgeshire): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what estimate has been made of the net effect on the costs of (a) driving instructions and (b) driving examiners of the relocation of the Wisbech driving test centre to Kings Lynn in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11 and (iii) 2011-12.

(311041)

314
Mr Mike Weir (Angus): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what progress his Department has made in assessing the potential for high-speed rail services to Scotland.

(311154)

315
N Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport, what discussions he has had with (a) Network Rail and (b) South East Trains on the closure of the Sittingbourne to Sheerness line.

(310653)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales

316
N Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what bilateral meetings he has had with each of his Cabinet colleagues in the last 12 months.

(310704)

317
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of invoices from suppliers his Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311200)

Questions to the Minister for Women and Equality

318
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, how many staff from each ethnic group were employed by the Equality and Human Rights Commission between October 2007 and March 2009.

(310515)

319
N John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Minister for Women and Equality, how many people from each ethnic group (a) applied for and (b) secured (i) permanent employment, (ii) temporary employment, (iii) promotion and (iv) staff training at the Equality and Human Rights Commission between 1 October 2007 and 31 March 2009.

(310516)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

320
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people resident in Lewes constituency claimed attendance allowance in each of the last five years.

(311167)

321
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she has taken to reduce the level of unemployment amongst disabled people resident in Lewes constituency since 2001; and if she will make a statement.

(311171)

322
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners resident in Lewes constituency are in receipt of winter fuel allowance; and how much her Department has paid to such pensioners in winter fuel allowance in 2009-10 to date.

(311172)

323
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) incapacity benefit and (b) employment and support allowance claimants there were in Lewes constituency on the latest date for which figures are available.

(311173)

324
N Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which weather stations are used in (a) Orkney and (b) Shetland to determine cold weather payments.

(310733)

325
N Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has had recent discussions with the Met Office on the inclusion of the wind chill factor in the methodology for calculating cold weather payments; and if she will make a statement.

(310734)

326
N Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the merits of taking account of the wind chill factor in the methodology for calculating cold weather payments; and if she will make a statement.

(310735)

327
Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she expects to bring into force the Financial Assistance Scheme (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulation 2010; and what estimate she has made of the losses incurred as a result of the failure of occupational pension schemes operating under the existing regulations.

(311275)

328
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people resident in Stroud constituency have claimed disability living allowance in each of the last five years.

(310945)

329
Jeff Ennis (Barnsley East & Mexborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many former miners have (a) applied for and (b) been granted industrial injuries benefit for miners' knee; and what have been the five most frequent reasons for refusing applications.

(310922)

330
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department issues on medical assessments of benefit claimants.

(311064)

331
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many challenges to determinations made in medical assessment findings by ATOS Medical there have been at tribunals (a) since the start of the ATOS Medical contract and (b) in the last 12 months; and what the cost of such tribunals has been in each case.

(311100)

332
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate has been made of the net effect on expenditure from the public purse of the reclassification of benefits claimants as a result of ATOS Medical assessments (a) since the start of the ATOS Medical contract and (b) in the last 12 months.

(311193)

333
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit claimants have been assessed by ATOS Medical (a) since the start of their contract and (b) in the last 12 months.

(311194)

334
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the level of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth employment in Preston in each year since 1997.

(311073)

335
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department has taken in respect of the working conditions of disabled workers resident in Preston in the last seven years; and if she will make a statement.

(311075)

336
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women resident in Preston have been awarded the Sure Start Maternity Grant since its introduction.

(311076)

337
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women resident in Preston have participated in (a) the New Deal for Lone Parents and (b) the New Deal for Partners since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

(311077)

338
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners resident in Preston have received the winter fuel allowance since its introduction.

(311078)

339
Paul Holmes (Chesterfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people resident in Chesterfield constituency claimed attendance allowance in each of the last five years.

(310935)

340
John Mason (Glasgow East): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of invoices from suppliers her Department paid within 10 days of receipt in December 2009.

(311265)

341
N Willie Rennie (Dunfermline and West Fife): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which Minister in her Department is responsible for policy on (a) services provided by Jobcentre Plus for and (b) the eligibility for benefits of people with autism.

(310783)

342
N Andrew Selous (South West Bedfordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the 10 largest benefit debts owed to her Department by individuals were at the latest date for which figures are available; and to which principal benefit the debts related in each such case.

(310658)

343
Dr Phyllis Starkey (Milton Keynes South West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in (a) the UK and (b) Milton Keynes received the winter fuel allowance in 2008-09.

(311095)

344
Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to assist people with autism to obtain support available to them through the benefits system.

(310917)

345
Mr Gary Streeter (South West Devon): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the compliance of the benefits application process for employment and support allowance with disability discrimination legislation.

(310930)

346
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of the sum overspent on pension credit between April 2008 and March 2009 was attributable to fraudulent claims; and what steps she plans to take to change the pension credit application process to prevent such claims.

(310972)

347
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what targets her Department has for (a) the acknowledgement and (b) the issue of a substantive answer to an enquiry from (i) an hon. Member, (ii) a media source and (iii) other sources.

(310973)

348
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department's information assurance procedures have been independently audited.

(310974)

349
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobs in her Department she plans to outsource in the next five years.

(310975)

350
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department has spent on behavioural research consultants in the last five financial years.

(310976)

351
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason her Department's estimate of the proportion of pension credit benefit expenditure overpayments rose in each year since 2007; and what steps she plans to take to (a) improve levels of accuracy in forecasting such over expenditure and (b) reduce the number of overpayments of pension credit.

(311022)

352
Mr Nigel Waterson (Eastbourne): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much press officers in her Department and its agencies claimed in reimbursable expenses in 2008-09.

(311124)

353
N Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne & Sheppey): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will hold a consultation on the merits of using unemployed people to clear snow from outside the homes of disabled people; and if she will make a statement.

(310654)

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

354
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many of those resident in Preston have been paid at the national minimum wage rate since its introduction.

[Transferred] (311074)

Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office

355
Mr David Drew (Stroud): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of people employed in manufacturing in (a) the UK, (b) Gloucestershire and (c) Stroud constituency in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990, (iii) 2000 and (iv) the latest year for which figures are available.

[Transferred] (310984)

356
Mr Mark Hendrick (Preston): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many businesses have started up in Preston since 1997.

[Transferred] (311130)

Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

357
Sir Paul Beresford (Mole Valley): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average forecourt price was of standard (a) BS-EN-590 diesel and (b) 95 RON unleaded petrol in July 2008.

[Transferred] (311042)

358
N Mr Ben Wallace (Lancaster & Wyre): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of progress by his Department in the development of the patent box policy as set out in the 2009 Pre-Budget Report.

[Question Unstarred][Transferred] (310589)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

359
Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, who has been invited to the conference on Afghanistan which he announced in December; and where and when it will be held.

[Transferred] (310931)

360
Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what arrangements have been made for the conference on Yemen which he recently announced.

[Transferred] (310932)

Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

361
Mr William Cash (Stone): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Oral Answer of 12 December 2007, Official Report, column 299, whether the Government will guarantee to a minimum of 90 per cent. assistance from the Financial Assistance Scheme to those whose pension schemes failed between 1997 and 2005.

[Transferred] (311279)

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Revised 14 January 2010