You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and records > House of Commons Business papers > Question Book > Question Book - Part 1

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 21 March 2012

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 Wednesday 21 March 2012
(the 'Questions Book')

Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 21 March 2012

This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 21 March of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper. They are arranged in alphabetical order of answering Department.

For other Written Questions for answer on Wednesday 21 March of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.

For Written and Oral Questions for answer after Wednesday 21 March see Part 2 of this paper.

Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
1
N 		Adam Afriyie (Windsor): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how his Department defines the term digital economy.
(101226)
2
Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will publish a timetable for reviewing the goldplating of EU legislation enacted in UK law since 1997.
(101364)
3
N 		Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will encourage universities to adopt a transparent approach to publicising all costs associated with courses in addition to tuition fees in their course prospectuses.
(100616)
4
N 		Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the capacity of the Higher Education Funding Council to monitor costs to students of university courses additional to tuition fees.
(100617)
5
N 		Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the role that (a) bursaries and (b) other factors play in widening access to education.
(100618)
6
N 		Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the effects of additional fees levied in some higher education institutions for items such as (a) core textbooks, (b) field trips and (c) laboratory equipment on the course decisions of undergraduates.
(100619)
7
N 		Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if his Department will bring forward proposals to introduce means-tested support for course costs additional to tuition fees available across all university departments.
(100620)
8
Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the cost to the public purse was of expenses paid to HRH the Duke of York between 22 July 2011 and 30 December 2011.
(101542)
9
Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effects of the work of the Small Business Administration on small businesses in the US and the transferable policy lessons for the UK.
(101463)
10
Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will assess the merits of establishing a Small Business Administration on the model of that body in the US.
(101464)
11
Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Ladywood): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with Ministers in the devolved administrations on higher education matters and Tier 4 visas.
(101354)
12
Tessa Munt (Wells): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what minerals are imported to the UK from countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
(101347)
13
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101416)
14
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101422)
15
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101454)
Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office
16
N 		Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Ladywood): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will estimate the level of female unemployment in Birmingham, Ladywood constituency.
(101213)
17
N 		Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Ladywood): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will estimate the level of ethnic minority unemployment in Birmingham, Ladywood constituency.
(101214)
18
N 		John Stevenson (Carlisle): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many unitary authorities have populations (a) under 150,000, (b) between 150,000 and 250,000 and (c) over 250,000.
(100838)
19
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101424)
20
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101439)
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
21
N 		Gordon Banks (Ochil and South Perthshire): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the value was of Gift Aid contributions made by non-taxpayers in error and then reported by HM Revenue and Customs in 2010-11.
(101236)
22
N 		Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of firefighters in each (a) region and (b) local authority area who will no longer be eligible to pay income tax once the income tax threshold is set at £10,000.
(101228)
23
N 		Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of firefighters who benefited from the increase in the personal allowance of income tax in 2011-12; and if he will estimate the likely number of firefighters who will benefit from the increase in 2012-13.
(101229)
24
N 		Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of local government staff in each (a) region and (b) local authority area who will no longer be eligible to pay income tax following the increase in the personal allowance in April 2012.
(101230)
25
N 		Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of local government staff in each (a) region and (b) local authority area who will no longer be eligible to pay income tax once the income tax threshold is set at £10,000.
(101231)
26
N 		Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of local government staff who benefited from the increase in the personal allowance of income tax in 2011-12; and if he will estimate the likely number of local government staff who will benefit from the increase in 2012-13.
(101232)
27
N 		Alun Cairns (Vale of Glamorgan): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review his policy on VAT insofar as it affects charitable organisations who serve their local communities.
(99374)
28
Mark Lancaster (Milton Keynes North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps he has taken to encourage the use of credit unions.
(101456)
29
Mr David Laws (Yeovil): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of people resident in Yeovil constituency who will no longer pay income tax consequent (a) on the proposed increase in the personal income tax allowance from April 2012 and (b) on the proposed increase in the personal income tax allowance to £10,000 by April 2015.
(101340)
30
N 		Naomi Long (Belfast East): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will consider bringing forward proposals to change the level of air passenger duty paid at band A by passengers travelling from Northern Ireland to destinations within the UK.
(101238)
31
N 		John Stevenson (Carlisle): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many taxable estates there were in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.
(100148)
32
N 		John Stevenson (Carlisle): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many taxable estates between (a) £325,000 and £500,000, (b) £500,000 and £1,000,000 and (c) over £1,000,000 there were in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11.
(100837)
33
N 		John Stevenson (Carlisle): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of estates that claimed (a) agricultural property relief, (b) business property relief and (c) any other relief apart from charitable relief or spouse relief in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11.
(100839)
34
N 		John Stevenson (Carlisle): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the revenue foregone through the claim of taxable estates for (a) agricultural property relief, (b) business property relief and (c) any other relief apart from spouse exemption or charitable relief in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11.
(100840)
35
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101417)
36
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101421)
37
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101453)
38
N 		Mr Mark Williams (Ceredigion): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of civil servants who benefited from the increase in the personal allowance of income tax in 2011-12; and if he will estimate the likely number of civil servants who will benefit from the increase in 2012-13.
(101233)
39
N 		Mr Mark Williams (Ceredigion): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of civil servants in each (a) region and (b) local authority area who will no longer be eligible to pay income tax once the income tax threshold is set at £10,000.
(101234)
40
N 		Mr Mark Williams (Ceredigion): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the number of civil servants in each (a) region and (b) local authority area who will no longer be eligible to pay income tax following the increase in the personal allowance in April 2012.
(101235)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
41
Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many full-time equivalent staff were employed to tackle benefit fraud in each English local authority in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11.
(101521)
42
Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by his Department to tackle benefit fraud in 2011-12.
(101522)
43
Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the proportion of households placed in bed and breakfast accommodation who remained in place for more than six weeks in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101523)
44
Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of whether local authorities placing homeless households in accommodation in other areas are notifying the receiving authority in all cases; and if he will make a statement.
(101524)
45
Graham Jones (Hyndburn): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his Department's definition is of a long-distance landlord.
(101518)
46
Graham Jones (Hyndburn): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his policy is on long-distance landlords.
(101519)
47
Graham Jones (Hyndburn): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has conducted research into the growth of long-distance landlords.
(101520)
48
Mark Lancaster (Milton Keynes North): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the editorial in the British Medical Journal of 8 March 2012, concerning potential health effects of wind farms, whether he plans to propose changes to planning policy relating to wind turbines.
(101457)
49
Mark Lancaster (Milton Keynes North): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to increase the minimum distance between wind turbines and dwellings.
(101458)
50
David Mowat (Warrington South): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what consideration he has given to extending the timetable for rent convergence between local authority housing and registered social landlords beyond 2015-16.
(101352)
51
N 		Dame Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the likely level of take-up of the New Buy Guarantee scheme in London.
(100699)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport
52
N 		Adam Afriyie (Windsor): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, how his Department defines the term digital economy.
(101224)
53
N 		Adam Afriyie (Windsor): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the likely effect of femtocell technology in expanding mobile coverage in not-spot areas.
(101225)
54
David Morris (Morecambe and Lunesdale): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, what progress his Department has made on promoting philanthropy in the arts.
(101549)
55
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101423)
56
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101452)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence
57
Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will review the security of transport arrangements for the purpose of identification of explosives and projectile ammunition carried by lorries.
(101544)
58
Mr David Hamilton (Midlothian): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of each rank in the Royal Navy have (a) been made redundant compulsorily and (b) taken voluntary redundancy in the last period for which figures are available.
(101483)
59
Graeme Morrice (Livingston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the Ministry of Defence Police Criminal Investigation Department; and how much money was recovered by the Ministry of Defence Police Criminal Investigation Department in each of the last five years.
(101514)
60
Graeme Morrice (Livingston): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has considered reducing the number of Ministry of Defence police officers at HMNB Clyde.
(101515)
61
Guy Opperman (Hexham): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for additional funding for forces' accommodation (a) nationally and (b) in Northumberland.
(101538)
62
Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of UK armed forces are Scottish regiments.
(101468)
63
Sir Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many members of the Ministry of Defence Police are based at Colchester Garrison.
(101359)
64
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101407)
65
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101429)
66
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101443)
67
N 		Chris Williamson (Derby North): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse has been of legal action relating to war pensions for nuclear test veterans.
(100772)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Education
68
N 		Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) primary school pupils and (b) secondary school pupils in each local education authority in (i) the East of England and (ii) Greater London did not have English as their first language as at 30 September (1) 2009, (2) 2010 and (3) 2011; and if he will make a statement.
(100773)
69
N 		Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding each (a) primary and (b) secondary school in Peterborough local education authority area had received in respect of the pupil premium at 28 February 2012; and if he will make a statement.
(100841)
70
Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the quality of the teaching of environmental sustainability in schools.
(101459)
71
Mr Matthew Offord (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what his policy is on local education authorities reclaiming resources from a school's budget for trade union activities by teachers.
(101355)
72
N 		Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children received A* to C grades in GCSE (a) mathematics, (b) English, (c) geography and (d) sciences in (i) West Sussex and (ii) Mid Sussex constituency in each of the last five years.
(101266)
73
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101420)
74
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101435)
75
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101449)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
76
Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether any officials of his Department attended the Royal Society conference on Nuclear Energy in the 21st century on 12-13 March 2012.
(101540)
77
Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will assess the proposition put forward by HM Chief Nuclear Inspector at the Royal Society nuclear conference on 12 March that the nuclear industry should be more open and transparent.
(101541)
78
Mark Lancaster (Milton Keynes North): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will increase the minimum distance that wind turbines must be sited from dwellings.
(101365)
79
Mark Lancaster (Milton Keynes North): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will make an assessment of the British Medical Journal editorial of 8 March 2012 on health effects of the distance of wind turbines to houses and its lessons for his policies.
(101366)
80
Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether civilian or military protection is provided for (a) conventional power stations, (b) nuclear power stations, (c) offshore oil platforms, (d) offshore wind farms and (e) onshore wind farms.
(101512)
81
Mr Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the cost of decommissioning windmills (a) on land and (b) offshore.
(101513)
82
Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2012, Official Report, column 787W, on natural gas: exploration, when his Department expects the completion of the (a) Environment Agency's investigation into the monitoring and control of unplanned emissions of methane from unconventional gas operations and (b) research assessing how his Department should incorporate methane emissions from this activity in the UK's greenhouse gas inventory under the Kyoto protocol; and if he will publish these documents.
(101487)
83
Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the effects of his Department's policy that post-2020 targets for decarbonisation should be neutral with respect to different low carbon technologies on (a) the level of employment in the renewables sector, (b) the level of private investment in renewable energy, (c) the potential UK share of the export market in renewable energy technologies and (d) the potential for the UK to become a global leader in (i) offshore wind and (ii) marine energy; what discussions he has had on this issue with representatives of the renewable energy sector; and if he will make a statement.
(101489)
84
Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the evidential basis is for the UK's comments on the EU 2050 Energy Roadmap that for the UK to meet its 2050 targets cost-effectively the electricity sector will need to decarbonise during the 2030s.
(101490)
85
Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the conclusions of the Independent Committee on Climate Change that an 80 per cent. reduction in emissions by 2050 requires that electricity generation is almost entirely decarbonised by 2030.
(101491)
86
Caroline Lucas (Brighton, Pavilion): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what consideration he has given to the letter dated 23 February 2012 from the coalition of eight European energy companies on binding 2030 targets for renewable energy, energy efficiency and carbon reduction; and if he will make a statement.
(101492)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
87
Neil Carmichael (Stroud): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that (a) home owners and (b) insurers are able to access flood maps indicating the impact of flood defences and national barriers when assessing flood risks.
(101488)
88
Philip Davies (Shipley): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of horses without a valid horse passport in each of the last three years.
(101341)
89
Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to end the tail docking of piglets.
(101543)
90
Mr Matthew Offord (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what reservoir capacity has been created since privatisation.
(101467)
91
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101418)
92
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101437)
93
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101438)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
94
Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on whether ammunition manufactured by Gamebore Cartridge Company and used against protestors in Bahrain may have been made in the UK; and if he will make a statement.
(101348)
95
Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the outcomes of Operation Atalanta.
(101344)
96
Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what analysis his Department has made of the progress of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards full implementation of, and compliance with the Dayton/Paris Peace Agreements.
(101345)
97
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101412)
98
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101434)
99
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101448)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Health
100
N 		Oliver Colvile (Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that members of GP Commissioning boards are trained on mental health issues.
(100843)
101
Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with clinical commissioning groups on collaborative commissioning for tuberculosis services; and what the outcomes were of these discussions.
(101479)
102
Michael Connarty (Linlithgow and East Falkirk): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure tuberculosis services are delivered in a co-ordinated way under his proposals for NHS reform.
(101493)
103
N 		Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the Urabe strains of the MMR vaccine Pluserix and Immravax were licensed for use in the UK.
(101084)
104
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent guidance he has issued to hospitals on car parking charges.
(101363)
105
Brandon Lewis (Great Yarmouth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much the NHS spent on caring for premature infants in the first six months of life in each of the last five years.
(101462)
106
Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Ladywood): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to announce tuition fee funding and NHS bursary arrangements for students beginning medical degrees in the 2013-14 academic year.
(101358)
107
Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that safety concerns over (a) pharmaceutical products and (b) medical devices are shared between EU member states.
(101346)
108
John Robertson (Glasgow North West): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether (a) he or (b) Ministers in his Department have met representatives of the Hands off our Packs campaign; and when any such meetings took place.
(101466)
109
Dame Joan Ruddock (Lewisham, Deptford): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the World Health Organisation's publication on The evolving threat of Antimicrobial Resistance.
(101511)
110
Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether manufacturers have a responsibility to notify his Department of potential drug shortages; and what steps his Department takes to inform pharmacists and physicians of potential shortages.
(101472)
111
Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to tackle shortages of (a) paediatric and (b) other tuberculosis drugs; and what steps it is taking to ensure that drug shortages do not occur in the future.
(101480)
112
Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason his Department does not classify tuberculosis risk as a priority for emergency or temporary accommodation.
(101481)
113
Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure the NHS has an appropriately-skilled workforce for tuberculosis control.
(101482)
114
Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to transfer (a) latent infection and (b) other tuberculosis treatment to GPs and pharmacists; and what plans he has for future funding of this care delivery.
(101494)
115
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101413)
116
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101433)
117
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101447)
Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department
118
N 		Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in contesting deportation appeals by those convicted of criminal offences before the first-tier and upper tribunal of the Asylum and Immigration Chamber, for what reason and on how many occasions the UK Border Agency has disclosed evidence from police officers and field intelligence officers to judges that had not been considered as part of their criminal trials.
(100771)
119
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for EEA2 residence cards were made by non-EU nationals living in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford, (b) the London Borough of Bexley and (c) England in each of the last five years.
(101362)
120
Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which Ministers are on the Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking.
(101477)
121
Mr Denis MacShane (Rotherham): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what dates the Interdepartmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking has met since May 2010.
(101478)
122
N 		Mr Dominic Raab (Esher and Walton): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 14 March 2012, Official Report, column 23WS, on EU justice and home affairs measures, what estimate she has made of the number of underlying measures the UK will continue to be bound by in each of the next three years; and what those measures are.
(101227)
123
Sir Bob Russell (Colchester): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of criminal investigations county and regional police forces will be required to carry out as a result of reductions in the funding of the Ministry of Defence Police Criminal Investigations Department; and if she will make a statement.
(101360)
124
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101411)
125
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101432)
126
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101446)
Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development
127
Ian Lucas (Wrexham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps he is taking to provide assistance for the development of water projects in (a) the Democratic Republic of Congo and (b) Uganda.
(101338)
128
Ian Lucas (Wrexham): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment his Department has made of governance in Rwanda.
(101339)
129
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101408)
130
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101431)
131
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101451)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
132
Guto Bebb (Aberconwy): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will consider the report commissioned by the Family Justice Council on Evaluating Expert Witness Psychological Reports; and if he will make a statement.
(101465)
133
Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were imprisoned following conviction under section 4 (putting a person in fear of violence) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in 2010-11.
(101473)
134
Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were imprisoned following conviction under section 5 (breach of a restraining order) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in 2010-11.
(101474)
135
Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted of breach of a restraining order under section 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 on (a) two, (b) three, (c) four, (d) five and (e) more occasions since the Act was passed.
(101475)
136
Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people received a prison sentence under section 4 (putting a person in fear of violence) of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 for (a) 12 months or less, (b) 12 to 24 months, (c) 24 to 48 months or (d) 60 months in 2010-11.
(101476)
137
Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the accession of additional countries to the 1980 Hague Convention on international child abduction.
(101342)
138
Stephen Phillips (Sleaford and North Hykeham): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what representations his Department has made at an EU level on the sharing of best practice between member states on pre- and post-trial detention.
(101343)
139
N 		Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to section 1 of the Administrator's Monitoring Requirements of the Framework agreement between his Department and Applied Language Solutions, how many performance management meetings between the administrator and the contractor have been held since the Framework Agreement went operational nationwide on 30 January 2012; and when the next meeting will be held.
(101267)
140
N 		Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the provisional Framework agreement between his Department and Applied Language Solutions that the contractor will provide management reports through the web-based portal, what management reports have been submitted to date containing information on (a) the breakdown of available interpreter numbers by region, language, tier and vetting status, (b) complaints received, upheld, timescale for resolution and outcome, per collaborative partner, (c) the number of new interpreters added per tier per region, (d) gaps in availability of languages per region, (e) report status on performance against collaborative partner key performance indicators, (f) telephone interpreting: monthly breakdown of number of calls, number of minutes, total price, per collaborative partner, (g) translation: monthly breakdown of number of single linguist tasks, number of second linguist proof reads, total price and discounts for translation memory, per collaborative partner, (h) transcription: monthly breakdown of number of tasks and total price, per collaborative partner and (i) British Sign Language/deaf blind: monthly breakdown of number of assignments, assignment costs, and travel costs, per collaborative partner; and if he will place those reports in the Library.
(101268)
141
N 		Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to consult on the regulation of claims management companies.
(101269)
142
N 		Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will take steps to curb the practice of claims management companies (a) pursuing claims against lenders where the product in question was never sold and (b) automatically referring claims to the Financial Ombudsman Service when the lender has confirmed that the product in question was never sold to the consumer.
(101270)
143
N 		Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure consumers are aware of the free alternative to using claims management companies.
(101271)
144
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101414)
145
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101430)
146
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101444)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
147
Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Ladywood): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with higher education institutions in Northern Ireland on changes to immigration rules; and what steps he is taking as a result of these discussions.
(101486)
148
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101415)
149
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101428)
150
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101445)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland
151
Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Ladywood): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with higher education institutions in Scotland on changes to immigration rules; and what steps he is taking as a result of these discussions.
(101485)
152
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101427)
153
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101442)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
154
Paul Blomfield (Sheffield Central): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) correspondence and (b) meetings her Department has had with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on changes to the drink drive rehabilitation scheme.
(101510)
155
Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 8 December 2011, Official Report, columns 56-8WS, on court notification of drink-drive offences, what progress she is making on her investigation into the sharing of data between the police, courts and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
(101469)
156
Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's publication, Economic Case for HS2, January 2012, what the projected change is in the (a) capacity and (b) frequency of intercity rail services compared to existing services.
(101470)
157
Maria Eagle (Garston and Halewood): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason high speed rail services from London to Liverpool will take 40 minutes longer than the London to Manchester journey.
(101471)
158
Jonathan Edwards (Carmarthen East and Dinefwr): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had on plans to move DVLA data services offshore .
(101353)
159
Mr David Evennett (Bexleyheath and Crayford): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations she has received from residents of the London Borough of Bexley on the proposed closure of the Sidcup DVLA office.
(101361)
160
N 		Martin Horwood (Cheltenham): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her policy is on the use of bus passes by disabled people before 9.30 am; and if she will make a statement.
(101237)
161
Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the likely benefits that the Northern Hub proposal could provide to residents of Hyde, Stalybridge and Mossley.
(101516)
162
Jonathan Reynolds (Stalybridge and Hyde): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the electrification of the railway line between Manchester and Leeds on her plans to provide additional cascaded rolling stock; and what recent progress she has made in introducing such rolling stock.
(101517)
163
Laura Sandys (South Thanet): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans her Department has for the revenue raised from charging foreign HGVs to use the UK road network.
(101350)
164
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much her Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101410)
165
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much her Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101426)
166
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much her Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101441)
167
James Wharton (Stockton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff the Traffic Penalty Tribunal employed on a (a) full-time equivalent and (b) headcount basis in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101349)
168
James Wharton (Stockton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what correspondence her Department received on the Traffic Penalty Tribunal in each of the last five years.
(101351)
169
James Wharton (Stockton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding her Department allocated to the Traffic Penalty Tribunal in each of the last five years.
(101460)
170
James Wharton (Stockton South): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what value-for-money assessment her Department has made of the work of the Traffic Penalty Tribunal.
(101461)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales
171
Jonathan Evans (Cardiff North): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had on the potential operation of an equivalent NewBuy scheme in Wales; and if she will make a statement.
(101539)
172
Shabana Mahmood (Birmingham, Ladywood): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions she has had with higher education institutions in Wales on changes to immigration rules; and what steps she is taking as a result of these discussions.
(101484)
173
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much her Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101409)
174
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much her Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101425)
175
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much her Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101440)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
176
N 		Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on how many occasions a Jobcentre Plus decision-maker did not follow the advice of an Atos-approved healthcare professional when making a decision on the eligibility for employment and support allowance in each month since May 2010.
(101240)
177
N 		Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many work capability assessments have been carried out by Atos Healthcare in each month since May 2010.
(101241)
178
N 		Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many appeals to work capability assessment decisions have been heard in each month since May 2010.
(101242)
179
N 		Barbara Keeley (Worsley and Eccles South): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost of digitising attendance allowance records for the purposes of allowing data to be used more widely by organisations in the care system to target prevention and other holistic services.
(99931)
180
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on taxis for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants between August 2011 and January 2012.
(101419)
181
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on (a) cut flowers and (b) pot plants between May 2010 and February 2012.
(101436)
182
Jon Trickett (Hemsworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on complimentary refreshments for (a) staff and (b) visitors in the latest period for which figures are available.
(101450)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
183
Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many staff will be based at the Green Investment Bank's office in (a) Edinburgh and (b) London.
[Transferred] (101550)
184
Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the role of staff at the Green Investment Bank's office will be in (a) Edinburgh and (b) London.
[Transferred] (101551)
185
Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when the Green Investment Bank's office in (a) Edinburgh and (b) London will be fully operational.
[Transferred] (101552)
186
Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the (a) staff and (b) administrative budget will be for the Green Investment Bank's office in (i) Edinburgh and (ii) London.
[Transferred] (101553)
187
Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when a decision will be made on the address of the Green Investment Bank's office in (a) Edinburgh and (b) London.
[Transferred] (101554)
188
Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the European Commission on state aid rules and the Green Investment Bank.
[Transferred] (101555)
189
Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he expects to appoint the (a) chair and (b) senior independent director of the Green Investment Bank; and in which office each will be based.
[Transferred] (101556)
190
Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he expects the Green Investment Bank's constitutional documents to be (a) finalised and (b) publicly available.
[Transferred] (101557)
191
Tom Greatrex (Rutherglen and Hamilton West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Government, as the sole shareholder, will have a representative on the board of the Green Investment Bank.
[Transferred] (101558)
Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister
192
Mr Matthew Offord (Hendon): To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the costs to public administration in England of Scottish independence.
[Transferred] (101357)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Education
193
Mr Matthew Offord (Hendon): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether local authorities can re-charge schools for the employment costs of teachers engaged in trade union activities.
[Transferred] (101356)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
194
N 		Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the threat to UK national security arising from the activities of the Taliban.
[Transferred] (101239)

Prepared 21st March 2012