Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 15 June 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 Tuesday 15 June 2010
(the 'Questions Book')
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Tuesday 15 June 2010
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 15 June of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.
For other Written Questions for answer on Tuesday 15 June of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.
For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Tuesday 15 June see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
1
N
|
Andrew Griffiths (Burton): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what (a) in-house and (b) external lobbying activity (i) each regional development agency and (ii) the National Secretariat for Regional Development Agencies has undertaken for the retention of regional development agencies since the general election. |
|
(2427)
|
2
N
|
Andrew Griffiths (Burton): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which public affairs firms have been hired by (a) each regional development agency and (b) the National Secretariat for Regional Development Agencies in the last 12 months. |
|
(2429)
|
3
N
|
Andrew Griffiths (Burton): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what activity (a) each regional development agency and (b) the National Secretariat for Regional Development Agencies undertook prior to the general election to (i) lobby and (ii) communicate with Parliamentary candidates who were not previously hon. Members. |
|
(2430)
|
4
|
Laura Sandys (South Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many post office branches there were in South Thanet constituency (a) in 1997 and (b) on the latest date for which information is available. |
|
(2668)
|
Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office
5
|
Mr David Blunkett (Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much funding will be available from the Communities First Fund; when it will be made available; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2691)
|
6
N
|
Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to reduce the cost to the public purse of maintaining Government websites; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2288)
|
7
N
|
Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) special advisers, (b) consultants and (c) civil servants appointed since 6 May are being paid more than £150,000 per annum. |
|
(2634)
|
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
8
N
|
Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the estimated number of Government financial transactions of amounts greater than £25,000 was in the latest year for which figures are available. |
|
(2289)
|
9
N
|
Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether publication of items of departmental expenditure above £25,000 per annum will be mandatory or voluntary. |
|
(2290)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
10
N
|
Andrew Griffiths (Burton): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the proposals on page 12 of the Coalition Agreement on allowing councils to return to the committee system, if he will make it his policy to remove the requirement on councils to consult on adopting an indirectly-elected leader model of government. |
|
(2426)
|
11
N
|
Andrew Griffiths (Burton): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations his Department has received for the retention of regional development agencies since the general election. |
|
(2428)
|
12
|
Laura Sandys (South Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will undertake a review of local development frameworks in light of the ending of regional spatial strategies. |
|
(2664)
|
13
|
Laura Sandys (South Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the acreage of (a) brownfield and (b) greenfield land in South Thanet constituency was (i) in 1997 and (ii) on the latest date for which information is available. |
|
(2685)
|
14
|
Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his timetable is for the introduction and passage of a Decentralisation and Localism Bill; and whether he plans to consult on proposals to be contained in the Bill. |
|
(2658)
|
15
|
Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to implement the draft Planning Policy Statement on (a) Planning for a Healthy and Natural Environment and (b) Planning for a Low Carbon Future. |
|
(2659)
|
16
|
Joan Walley (Stoke-on-Trent North): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to bring empty homes back into use. |
|
(2660)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence
17
N
|
Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent upgrading single living service accommodation in each of the last five years. |
|
(2642)
|
18
N
|
Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the future of the regional War Pension committees; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2643)
|
19
N
|
Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the future of the Armed Forces Shared Equity scheme; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2644)
|
20
|
Mr Douglas Carswell (Clacton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 7 June 2010, Official Report, column 178W, on defence, if he will publish a list of senior personnel from his Department working in the team when its final membership is determined. |
|
(2693)
|
21
|
Mr Douglas Carswell (Clacton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the monetary value is of the contract for the delivery of Mantis Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs); what criteria were used by his Department in deciding to award the contract; what alternatives to the Mantis UAVs were considered; and if he will make a statement . |
|
(2694)
|
22
|
Mr Douglas Carswell (Clacton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will review his Department's contract for the Lynx Wildcat project to ensure it represents value for money. |
|
(2695)
|
23
|
Mr Douglas Carswell (Clacton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to review defence procurement contracts; how many contracts will be reassessed on value-for-money grounds; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2696)
|
24
N
|
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which events Ministers of his Department will attend in connection with Armed Forces Day; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2150)
|
25
N
|
Mike Gapes (Ilford South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in the review of the six NHS mental health pilot schemes for former armed forces personnel; when he expects to publish the conclusions of the review; and what plans he has to allocate funding in support of the review's conclusions. |
|
(2648)
|
26
N
|
Mike Gapes (Ilford South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the relocation of Defence Medical Services to Lichfield; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2649)
|
27
N
|
Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which defence projects are awaiting approval. |
|
(2539)
|
28
N
|
Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) new helicopters, (b) armoured vehicles and (c) protected vehicles have been delivered to Afghanistan in each of the last five years; and how much funding is planned to be allocated for such purposes by (i) his Department and (ii) the Treasury Reserve in each of the next three years. |
|
(2540)
|
29
N
|
Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many helicopters are under order from his Department; and when he expects them to be delivered into theatre. |
|
(2541)
|
30
N
|
Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects the seventh C-17 Globemaster 111 aircraft to enter into service. |
|
(2542)
|
31
N
|
Mr Kevan Jones (North Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for delivery of the second batch of Light Patrol protected vehicles; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2543)
|
32
N
|
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on condoms for members of the armed forces in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and for what reasons. |
|
(2377)
|
33
N
|
Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he plans to take on the issue of nuclear test veterans; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2638)
|
34
N
|
Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made towards awarding Afghan campaign medals to those who have served in the aero-med teams; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2639)
|
35
N
|
Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his latest assessment is of research undertaken into the health of nuclear test veterans and their families. |
|
(2640)
|
36
N
|
Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department (a) spent in each of the last five years and (b) intends to spend in each of the next two years upgrading armed forces housing. |
|
(2647)
|
37
N
|
Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding his Department (a) has allocated in the last five years and (b) intends to allocate in the next five years to the King's Centre for Defence Medicine; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2635)
|
38
N
|
Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the future of the six NHS mental health pilot schemes for former armed forces personnel; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2636)
|
39
N
|
Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for the future of the Army Recovery Capability; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2637)
|
40
|
Laura Sandys (South Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is planning to take to observe the principles of the military covenant. |
|
(2667)
|
41
N
|
Derek Twigg (Halton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for the entry of the Watchkeeper air system into service in Afghanistan. |
|
(2517)
|
42
N
|
Derek Twigg (Halton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many C-17 Globemaster Aircraft have been delivered for use by the armed forces in the last five years. |
|
(2518)
|
43
N
|
Derek Twigg (Halton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what change there has been in the number of UK military airframes available to commanders in the last three years. |
|
(2519)
|
44
N
|
Derek Twigg (Halton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) Mastiff, (b) Ridgeback and (c) other armoured vehicles are on order; and what the timetable is for their entry into theatre. |
|
(2520)
|
45
N
|
Derek Twigg (Halton): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for the entry into service of the first of the new Chinook helicopters; and how much has been spent from the public purse on the development of the new Chinook helicopters in the last five years. |
|
(2521)
|
46
N
|
Mr Tom Watson (West Bromwich East): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the timetable is for the delivery of each Astute class submarine; and how many have been ordered in the last five years. |
|
(2516)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for Education
47
N
|
Angie Bray (Ealing Central and Acton): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what requirement applies to schools to inform the police when a criminal act involving the possession of a knife is committed on school property. |
|
(2538)
|
48
N
|
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department plans to take to implement its responsibilities in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; if he will withdraw the reservation and declaration made by his Department to the Convention; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of disabled children educated a long distance away from their homes. |
|
(1602)
|
49
|
Laura Sandys (South Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, in how many households in South Thanet constituency a child under the age of 18 years fulfils the role of a carer for a disabled parent. |
|
(2686)
|
50
|
Laura Sandys (South Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the teacher-pupil ratio is in each school in South Thanet constituency. |
|
(2687)
|
51
|
Laura Sandys (South Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much capital funding was allocated to schools in South Thanet constituency in (a) 1997 and (b) the latest year for which information is available. |
|
(2688)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
52
N
|
Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what his plans are for the future of the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2546)
|
53
|
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many individual car journeys have been made on ministerial duties by Ministers in his Department in the last four weeks. |
|
(2690)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
54
N
|
Gordon Banks (Ochil and South Perthshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost of (a) service charge, (b) sewerage charge, (c) water usage charge, (d) fire-fighting provision charge and (e) any other relevant charge for water and sewerage provision was to Site 5 Almondbank, Perthshire in (i) 2005, (ii) 2006, (iii) 2007, (iv) 2008, (v) 2009 and (vi) 2010; and to which companies these payments were made. |
|
(2553)
|
55
|
Laura Sandys (South Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will request the Environment Agency to report on the status and timing of the commencement of work on flood defence measures for Sandwich, Kent. |
|
(2662)
|
56
|
Laura Sandys (South Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take to protect Grade One agricultural land. |
|
(2663)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
57
N
|
Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assurances he has received from the government of Israel that it will not sanction the misuse of British passports. |
|
(2515)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for Health
58
N
|
Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding has been provided for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related research by his Department in the last five years. |
|
(2152)
|
59
N
|
Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ensure that in all cases when allegations are made to social services or health services of abuse of residents of care homes that the police are informed. |
|
(2450)
|
60
N
|
Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will hold a meeting with Essex County Council to discuss the findings of the Essex Safeguarding Adults Board into the performance of the Greenways Care Home in Colchester. |
|
(2451)
|
61
N
|
Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will undertake an investigation into the appropriateness of the transfer by Essex County Council of care homes to care home company Excelcare; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2452)
|
62
N
|
Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received about the standard of operation by Excelcare (a) of care homes nationally and (b) of the Greenways Care Home in Colchester. |
|
(2453)
|
63
|
Laura Sandys (South Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will undertake a review of the level of support provided to carers with particular reference to carers who are pensioners. |
|
(2665)
|
64
N
|
Mr Andrew Smith (Oxford East): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much funding he plans to allocate to hospitals for the purpose of providing patient care for the first 30 days after discharge as a consequence of the proposals announced on 8 June 2010; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2081)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department
65
N
|
Mr Richard Bacon (South Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the 1,023 failed asylum applicants released from prison who were referred to in the then Home Secretary's announcement of 25 April 2006 are unaccounted for. |
|
(2552)
|
66
N
|
Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the English language requirement for those wishing to settle in the UK will apply to former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas. |
|
(2645)
|
67
N
|
Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas have chosen to settle in the UK since the change in the immigration rules; and at what cost to the public purse. |
|
(2646)
|
68
N
|
Mr Mike Hancock (Portsmouth South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of whether the reservation made by the previous Government to the UN Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities on disabled people's rights to liberty of movement is compatible with the object and purpose of the Convention; and when her Department plans to conduct a review of the reservation. |
|
(1601)
|
69
N
|
Alan Johnson (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which elements of the proposed £82 million savings announced to the budgets of her Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies were contained in the £346 million savings to her Department's budget announced in the most recent budget statement. |
|
(2431)
|
70
N
|
Alan Johnson (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the likely change to the number of police officer posts following the changes to her Department's budget announced on 24 May 2010. |
|
(2432)
|
71
N
|
Mr Greg Knight (East Yorkshire): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to introduce a code of practice for wheelclampers. |
|
(2376)
|
72
N
|
Mr Gordon Marsden (Blackpool South): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many identity cards have been issued on a voluntary basis to applicants in (a) the North West and (b) Blackpool. |
|
(2641)
|
73
N
|
Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many former members of the Brigade of Gurkhas who have chosen to settle in the UK since the change in the immigration rules are aged (a) below 40 years, (b) between 41 and 50 years, (c) between 51 ad 60 years and (d) above 60 years old. |
|
(2650)
|
74
N
|
Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department plans to take to increase conviction rates in cases of rape. |
|
(2218)
|
75
N
|
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many regulations permitting forcible entry without a warrant there were at the end of (a) 1997 and (b) 2007. |
|
(2535)
|
76
N
|
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many databases managed by her Department hold information relating to at least 100,000 people. |
|
(2536)
|
77
N
|
Mr Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any language requirements apply to migrant spouses from other EU countries seeking to settle in the UK. |
|
(2537)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development
78
|
Mr David Blunkett (Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have responsibility for ensuring that children with disabilities (a) have input into and (b) are taken account of in his Department's work on education. |
|
(2692)
|
79
N
|
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps he plans to take to reduce levels of child poverty in developing countries. |
|
(2211)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
80
N
|
Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what regulations govern unsolicited communications from law firms advertising their services to prison inmates. |
|
(2547)
|
81
N
|
Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was spent from the public purse on legal aid to Roy Whiting during his appeal seeking reduction of the length of his sentence. |
|
(2548)
|
82
N
|
Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the appeal by Roy Whiting against the length of his sentence. |
|
(2549)
|
83
N
|
Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will review his policy on access to legal aid for prisoners seeking a reduction in the length of their sentences. |
|
(2550)
|
Questions to the Prime Minister
84
|
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Prime Minister, how many requests by hon. Members from each party for their constituents to be given a tour of No. 10 Downing Street have been (a) made and (b) granted since the Government came into office. |
|
(2689)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
85
N
|
Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he estimates the extension work to phases 3a and 3b of the Manchester Metrolink will be completed. |
|
(2375)
|
86
N
|
Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evaluation has been made of the cost to the economy of not completing phases 3a and 3b of the extension to Manchester Metrolink. |
|
(2378)
|
87
N
|
Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much has been spent from the public purse on phases 3a and 3b of the Manchester Metrolink extension. |
|
(2379)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales
88
|
Mr Wayne David (Caerphilly): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the development of a defence technical college at St Athan. |
|
(2697)
|
89
|
Mr Wayne David (Caerphilly): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether she has authorised any building renovations to Gwydr House; and whether she plans to make any structural changes to Gwydr House. |
|
(2698)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
90
N
|
Mr Richard Bacon (South Norfolk): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent under the Independent Living Fund in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11 to date. |
|
(2551)
|
91
N
|
Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what procedure is followed when more than one error is discovered in a targeted audit of a medical report carried out by medical services on behalf of his Department for the purpose of determining a claimant's eligibility for incapacity benefit; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2544)
|
92
N
|
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he plans to take to reduce levels of child poverty. |
|
(2210)
|
93
N
|
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce the level of financial exclusion of the most vulnerable families. |
|
(2212)
|
94
N
|
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to improve levels of access to public services for deaf children. |
|
(2213)
|
95
N
|
Michael Fallon (Sevenoaks): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the upper earnings limit for Child Support Agency assessments has not been uprated since its introduction; and if he will make a statement. |
|
(2545)
|
Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
96
|
Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress has been made in complying with the European Union requirement under Article 18 section 2b of Regulation (EC) No. 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council, with regard to reporting of injury statistics; and if he will make a statement. |
|
[Transferred]
(2699)
|
97
|
Laura Sandys (South Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what criteria will be applied to decide on provision of additional capital funding for further education colleges. |
|
[Transferred]
(2666)
|
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
98
|
Laura Sandys (South Thanet): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses (a) were registered, (b) were newly registered and (c) ceased to be registered for value added tax in South Thanet in each year since 1997. |
|
[Transferred]
(2669)
|
|
