Session 2013-14
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 12 February 2014
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 12 February 2014
(the ‘Questions Book’)
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Wednesday 12 February 2014
This paper contains only Written Questions for answer on the date of issue of this paper of which previous notice has been given in the Notices of Questions paper.
For other Written Questions for answer on the date of this paper of which no previous notice has been given, see the Order Paper.
For Written and Oral Questions for answer on future days, see Part 2 of this paper.
Questions to the Attorney General
1
Mr Adrian Sanders
(Torbay):
To ask the Attorney General, what plans he has to relocate staff of the Treasury Solicitor's Department to the South West of England.
(187676)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
2
Mr Liam Byrne
(Birmingham, Hodge Hill):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many full-time equivalents were employed through the National Apprenticeship Service in April (a) 2012 and (b) 2013; and if he will estimate that figure for April (i) 2014 and (ii) 2015.
(187659)
3
Mr Liam Byrne
(Birmingham, Hodge Hill):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will estimate the number of apprentices in each of the UK's 20 largest cities as a proportion of the local labour force in the most recent period for which figures are available.
(187660)
4
Mr Liam Byrne
(Birmingham, Hodge Hill):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will estimate the number of apprentices employed in each of the UK's 20 largest cities by level of (a) study and (b) apprenticeship in the most recent period for which figures are available.
(187661)
5
Mr Liam Byrne
(Birmingham, Hodge Hill):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will estimate the average per head of population budget for the Skills Funding Agency in (a) England and (b) the 10 local authority areas where unemployment is highest.
(187662)
6
Robert Halfon
(Harlow):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of micro businesses are run by (a) women and (b) people of each age group.
(187502)
7
Meg Hillier
(Hackney South and Shoreditch):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, under what cost headings the £2 million of funding allocated by his Department to Tech City will be spent.
(187445)
8
Lisa Nandy
(Wigan):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the EU proposal to update the accounting directives to include non-financial reporting for large companies; and if he will support amendments to the legislation to require companies to report in accordance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
(187664)
Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office
9
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that charities do not use Government aid for political purposes.
(187692)
10
David Simpson
(Upper Bann):
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to stop excessive salary payments to executives of charities.
(187480)
11
Mr Tom Watson
(West Bromwich East):
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Intelligence and Security Committee has visited RAF Croughton during the last two years.
[R] (187448)
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
12
Heidi Alexander
(Lewisham East):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the future income to the Exchequer resulting from the changes to capital gains tax on overseas owners of UK property announced in the Autumn Statement 2013.
(187549)
13
Heidi Alexander
(Lewisham East):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to ring-fence the money raised by the changes to capital gains tax on overseas owners of UK property announced in the Autumn Statement 2013 for any particular purpose.
(187598)
14
Mr William Bain
(Glasgow North East):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the head of the Financial Conduct Authority on the number of people employed at the headquarters of those banks and financial services providers registered in Scotland and the number of jobs which have a direct or indirect connection to the headquartering of the banks and other financial services providers in Scotland.
(187556)
15
N
Mr Jim Cunningham
(Coventry South):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of how much more VAT a couple with two children and earning £20,000 a year have paid in (a) cash terms and (b) as a proportion of their household income as a result of the increase in the standard rate of value added tax to 20 per cent.
(187436)
16
N
Mr Jim Cunningham
(Coventry South):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the net effect in (a) cash terms and (b) as a proportion of the average annual income of the 2.5 per cent increase in the standard rate of value added tax on (i) pensioner couples, (ii) single pensioners, (iii) couples with children and (iv) single parents with children.
(187437)
17
N
Mr Jim Cunningham
(Coventry South):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many firms benefited from the regional employer national insurance contributions holiday in each region.
(187438)
18
N
Mr Jim Cunningham
(Coventry South):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average length of time taken by his Department is to answer a freedom of information request.
(187439)
19
Mr Frank Field
(Birkenhead):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the revenue accruing to the Exchequer through the application of business rates on ATMs in each year to 2018-19.
(187501)
20
N
Catherine McKinnell
(Newcastle upon Tyne North):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish the assessment by the Office of Tax Simplification of his proposals for a transferable tax allowance.
(187393)
21
N
Catherine McKinnell
(Newcastle upon Tyne North):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff HM Revenue and Customs expects to dedicate to administering the transferable tax allowance (a) in its first year of operation and (b) each year thereafter.
(187394)
22
N
Catherine McKinnell
(Newcastle upon Tyne North):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to HM Revenue and Customs of administering the transferable tax allowance in (a) its first year of operation and (b) each year thereafter.
(187395)
23
N
Catherine McKinnell
(Newcastle upon Tyne North):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people who will become higher rate taxpayers between 2010-11 and 2014-15 as a result of changes to income tax rate thresholds.
(187396)
24
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187649)
25
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to help first-time buyers find affordable mortgages.
(187691)
26
Mr Mark Williams
(Ceredigion):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the US regulatory authorities' interventions in the market on the price of gold; and what assessment he has made of the effect such interventions have had in the UK on investments by members of the public in (a) gold-related securities and (b) ISAs and related schemes.
(187611)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
27
Hilary Benn
(Leeds Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his contribution of 28 October 2013, Official Report, column 678, on the Second Reading of the Local Audit and Accountability Bill [Lords], when he intends to bring forward legislative proposals to allow local authorities in the same local enterprise partnership and functional economic area which do not have a contiguous boundary to join combined authorities.
(187539)
28
Roberta Blackman-Woods
(City of Durham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department takes if a local authority assessment of Gypsy and Traveller need is unsatisfactory and results in too little land or too few sites coming forward; and how his Department measures the adequacy of such assessments.
(187594)
29
Roberta Blackman-Woods
(City of Durham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have developed realistic and inclusive policies as set out in his Department's Planning policy for traveller sites guidance; and how his Department evaluates these policies.
(187595)
30
Roberta Blackman-Woods
(City of Durham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how his Department monitors the number of unauthorised developments and encampments; and how many unauthorised developments and encampments have been recorded since May 2010.
(187596)
31
Roberta Blackman-Woods
(City of Durham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how his Department monitors the use of rural exception site policy.
(187597)
32
Roberta Blackman-Woods
(City of Durham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what mechanisms his Department uses to determine whether private Traveller site provision is adequate.
(187599)
33
Roberta Blackman-Woods
(City of Durham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to reduce potential tension arising from his Department's guidance on Planning policy for traveller sites.
(187600)
34
Roberta Blackman-Woods
(City of Durham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many additional Gypsy and Traveller sites have come forward in each region of England (a) in 2013 and (b) since 2010.
(187629)
35
Roberta Blackman-Woods
(City of Durham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what mechanisms there are to enable local authorities to work collaboratively in relation to his Department's planning policy for traveller sites; and what sanctions apply if local authorities do not work together.
(187658)
36
Roberta Blackman-Woods
(City of Durham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve the accuracy of (a) population and (b) household projections available to local authorities.
(187663)
37
Mr David Crausby
(Bolton North East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the total net change in central government funding to Bolton Council between 1997 and 2012 was.
(187551)
38
Mr David Crausby
(Bolton North East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much general revenue funding was allocated to Bolton Council in each year between 1997 and 2012 in (a) cash and (b) real terms.
(187552)
39
Mr David Crausby
(Bolton North East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has has made of the effect of the change in financing local authorities for 2013-14 on the spending power of Bolton Council.
(187553)
40
Mr Roger Godsiff
(Birmingham, Hall Green):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when the report on the Business Improvement District for Sparkbrook and Springfield will be published; and when a decision on this matter will be reached.
(187503)
41
Mr Stephen Hepburn
(Jarrow):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much his Department has spent to prevent and tackle homelessness since May 2010.
(187498)
42
Chris Leslie
(Nottingham East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what his Department's 10 largest contracts let since the financial year 2010-11 are; what savings have been made in such contracts; what the level of overspend or underspend was in each such contract; and what steps his Department has taken to monitor the performance of each supplier following the contract award.
(187589)
43
Mr Barry Sheerman
(Huddersfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to encourage local authorities to promote gas safety among leaseholders in local authority-managed properties.
(187486)
44
David Simpson
(Upper Bann):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to change planning policy to ensure that local inhabitants are not disadvantaged in consideration of applications for traveller sites.
(187601)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
45
Mrs Sharon Hodgson
(Washington and Sunderland West):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she intends to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West dated 28 November 2013 and 8 January 2014 on the effect of the changes to the art, craft and design curriculum on the creative industries and the correspondence received by the National Society for Education in Art and Design from the hon. Member for Didcot and Wantage on 24 June 2013.
(187491)
46
Mrs Sharon Hodgson
(Washington and Sunderland West):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions (a) she, (b) Ministers in her Department and (c) officials in her Department have had with the Department's directors on secondary ticketing.
(187504)
47
Mrs Sharon Hodgson
(Washington and Sunderland West):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with internet service providers on establishing common standards for automatic internet filtering software in respect of (a) the kind of material causing a website to be blocked and (b) the process for appealing wrongly blocked websites.
(187507)
48
Mrs Sharon Hodgson
(Washington and Sunderland West):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effect of automatic internet filtering on access to sexual health advice and support services.
(187513)
49
Mrs Sharon Hodgson
(Washington and Sunderland West):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effect of automatic internet filtering on access to websites and forums run by or for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex people.
(187514)
50
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure the restoration of damaged war memorials over the course of the First World War centenary.
(187669)
51
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking over the next four years to commemorate those hon. Members and Peers who fell during the First World War.
(187670)
52
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to encourage UK citizens to visit the battlefields of northern France over the course of the First World War commemorations.
(187671)
53
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to encourage foreign tourists to visit sites in the UK of relevance to the First World War.
(187672)
54
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to visit First World War battlefields outside Europe during the centenary commemorations.
(187673)
55
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in other European nations on co-operation over the commemoration of the First World War between now and 2018.
(187674)
56
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that troops from the British Overseas Territories who took part in the First World War are commemorated during the centenary.
(187675)
57
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that troops from Commonwealth nations who took part in the First World War are commemorated during the centenary.
(187677)
58
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has for commemoration of the Battle of the Somme in 2016.
(187679)
59
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on the importance of education about the First World War over the next four years.
(187680)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence
60
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187636)
61
Angus Robertson
(Moray):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what equipment belonging to the Royal Regiment of Scotland is being stored at Stirling Castle.
(187612)
62
Angus Robertson
(Moray):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the benefits of the addition of a ski ramp to the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers' radar cross-section.
(187613)
63
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what military resources are currently available for immediate use by the British Government on the Falkland Islands.
(187565)
64
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether British military activity increased in Gibraltar and surrounding waters following border incursions by Spanish government vessels; and whether his Department has made increased military resources available in that area in the last six months.
(187566)
65
David Simpson
(Upper Bann):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to protect serving female personnel from sexual assault.
(187479)
66
Mr Tom Watson
(West Bromwich East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civilian casualties have been recorded by (a) his Department and (b) the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan as a result of weapon release by RAF personnel operating US unmanned systems in Afghanistan.
[R] (187451)
67
Mr Tom Watson
(West Bromwich East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will revise his Department's figures for weapons release from unmanned aerial systems by the UK in Afghanistan to include RAF personnel operating US systems; and if he will make a statement.
[R] (187452)
68
Mr Tom Watson
(West Bromwich East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) role, (b) training, (c) extent of duty to investigate compliance with UK law, (d) line of command and (e) reporting obligations are of the RAF commander and senior liaison officer at each US base in the UK.
[R] (187453)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Education
69
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187637)
70
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to ensure that schools provide a daily act of worship as required by the Education Act 1944.
(187696)
71
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools have opted out of the daily act of worship required by the Education Act 1944; and what criteria are used to grant that exemption.
(187697)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
72
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187638)
73
Mr Adrian Sanders
(Torbay):
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to allow all (a) social and (b) private tenants to switch from prepayment to credit meters for gas and electricity supplies.
(187678)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
74
Tracey Crouch
(Chatham and Aylesford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of whether a vaccination programme against TB would be cheaper per infected badger than culling.
(187666)
75
Mr Tobias Ellwood
(Bournemouth East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funds are available for heightening of sea walls to protect against flooding.
(187450)
76
Mr Tobias Ellwood
(Bournemouth East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of likely increases in sea levels affecting Bournemouth East constituency in the next (a) 25, (b) 50 and (c) 100 years; and if he will make a statement.
(187454)
77
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187639)
78
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that all agricultural environmental programmes include strict predator control on a condition.
(187686)
79
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with landowners and farmers about deer management groups.
(187694)
80
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to eradicate grey squirrels.
(187695)
81
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of trees that have been planted in the UK in each of the last three years.
(187698)
82
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the role of tree planting in flood prevention.
(187699)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
83
Ms Diane Abbott
(Hackney North and Stoke Newington):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the initiation of an independent, international war crimes inquiry in Sri Lanka.
(187499)
84
Ms Diane Abbott
(Hackney North and Stoke Newington):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the accountability process in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.
(187500)
85
N
Fiona Bruce
(Congleton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of rape, sexual violence and murder of rape victims by members of the military in Burma; and what assessment he has made of whether such crimes amount to a crime against humanity.
(187397)
86
N
Gregg McClymont
(Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent meetings HM Ambassador to Cambodia has had with family members of Cambodian political prisoners who remain in jail.
(187417)
87
N
Gregg McClymont
(Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what meetings he has had with Cambodian political and civil society leaders since May 2010.
(187418)
88
N
Gregg McClymont
(Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Cambodian counterpart on (a) land grabs, (b) human rights, (c) free and fair elections and (d) freedom of expression in that country.
(187419)
89
N
Gregg McClymont
(Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Cambodia.
(187420)
90
N
Gregg McClymont
(Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the UK took (a) unilaterally and (b) through the EU prior to elections in Cambodia in July 2013 to ensure they were free and fair.
(187421)
91
Stephen Metcalfe
(South Basildon and East Thurrock):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his US counterpart on Linda Carty; and if he will make a statement.
(187490)
92
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187640)
93
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to take steps to ensure that UK aircraft comply with China's air defence zone.
(187557)
94
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on bringing an end to the civil war in Syria.
(187558)
95
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on continued US-South Korean military drills in and around South Korea.
(187559)
96
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that the British Overseas Territories are bound into the British constitution beyond any reasonable doubt.
(187560)
97
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance his Department is providing in the process of installing democratic systems in Libya.
(187561)
98
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on allowing British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to lay individual wreaths at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.
(187562)
99
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage participation in sport in the British Overseas Territories.
(187563)
100
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that citizens moving from the British Overseas Territories to Britain are settled as quickly and comfortably as possible.
(187564)
101
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that endangered species in the British Overseas Territories are protected.
(187567)
102
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what action he is taking to develop the UK's trading relationship with other Commonwealth countries.
(187667)
103
Andrew Rosindell
(Romford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Ukranian counterpart aimed at bringing to an end the recent restrictions on human rights following protests in that country.
(187668)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Health
104
N
Mr David Amess
(Southend West):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has (a) taken and (b) plans to take in the next 12 months against IVF clinics which have destroyed embryos in error without patient consent; how many incidences of such destruction of embryos have occurred in each of the last five years; what action was taken under section 17(1)(c) of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; and if he will make a statement.
(187161)
105
Hugh Bayley
(York Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the outpatient follow-up ratio average across all specialties was in each (a) NHS acute trust in Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) government region in England in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12, (iv) 2012-13 and (v) 2013-14 to date.
(187444)
106
Mr David Crausby
(Bolton North East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change about the effects of cold homes on (a) individual health and (b) NHS services.
(187554)
107
Tracey Crouch
(Chatham and Aylesford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of introducing safe staffing levels for (a) accident and emergency units, (b) doctors, (c) midwives and (d) social workers comparable to current nursing standards.
(187471)
108
Tracey Crouch
(Chatham and Aylesford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the Cancer Outcomes and Services dataset is complete; and whether the symptom first noted date section of that dataset is available for use by clinical researchers.
(187472)
109
Tracey Crouch
(Chatham and Aylesford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the reasons for changes in the number of people being detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 over the last five years; and what plans he has to reduce instances of mental health patients being detained in police custody rather than a healthcare setting.
(187473)
110
Meg Hillier
(Hackney South and Shoreditch):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on retaining access to free diagnosis and treatment for every resident in England for all the diseases included in Schedule 1 of the National Health Service (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2011.
(187447)
111
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187642)
112
Chris Ruane
(Vale of Clwyd):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent estimate he has made of the average cost to the public purse of treating repeated episodes of depression by (a) drugs, (b) individual counselling and (c) mindfulness-based therapy in the most recent period for which figures are available.
(187485)
113
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in the UK have had age-related macular degeneration in each of the last three years.
(187684)
114
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had about use of the Eylea form of aflibercept.
(187685)
115
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of (a) the number and (b) the age groups of tinnitus sufferers in each of the last three years.
(187687)
116
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had about use of EMA40 to treat shingles.
(187688)
117
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of cases of shingles in each of the last three years.
(187689)
118
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discretion GPs will have not to make patients records automatically available to NHS schemes.
(187690)
119
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will discuss post-operation joint replacements for elderly people with the BMA and other medical bodies.
(187700)
120
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of elderly people who have had post-operation problems with joint replacements in each of the last three years.
(187701)
121
David Simpson
(Upper Bann):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the projected rise in cancer cases.
(187478)
122
David Simpson
(Upper Bann):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to tackle neknomination.
(187487)
Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department
123
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187643)
124
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to enable minimum pricing for alcohol.
(187693)
125
Mr Barry Sheerman
(Huddersfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many former care staff and teachers who worked in approved schools or community homes with education in the 1970s and 1980s in (a) England and Wales and (b) North Wales have been arrested for offences of (i) physical assault and (ii) sexual offences against former residents of the institutions in the last 30 years; how many such people have been (A) subsequently charged, (B) tried, (C) found guilty and (D) had convictions overturned on appeal.
(187494)
126
Sarah Teather
(Brent Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Pre-Action Protocol letters in relation to immigration decisions have been received by her Department in each of the last five years; and how many such letters have been responded to within (a) 14 days and (b) three months.
(187497)
127
Sarah Teather
(Brent Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many claimants who sent Pre-Action Protocol letters to her Department in relation to immigration decisions which were not responded to within three months have subsequently sought judicial review proceedings.
(187555)
Questions to the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission
128
N
Sir Greg Knight
(East Yorkshire):
To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reason the entrance and exit gates at Carriage Gates were closed to traffic, including hon. Members, on 13 January 2014; what steps he is taking to prevent such closures taking place again during periods when the House of Commons is sitting; and if he will make a statement.
(187256)
Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development
129
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187644)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
130
Mr John Baron
(Basildon and Billericay):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the potential effect of the proposed General European Data Protection Regulation on medical research.
(187540)
131
Sarah Champion
(Rotherham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what projections his Department has made of the female prison population over the next five years.
(187442)
132
Sarah Champion
(Rotherham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what criteria he plans to use to award Transforming Rehabilitation contracts in respect of women's services.
(187443)
133
Sarah Champion
(Rotherham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of women who will be recalled to custody under his Department's Transforming Rehabilitation proposals.
(187505)
134
Sarah Champion
(Rotherham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the closure of open women's prisons on reoffending rates.
(187506)
135
Sarah Champion
(Rotherham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure women released from prison into a different-contract package area receive high quality and holistic rehabilitation services and support.
(187568)
136
Jenny Chapman
(Darlington):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect of reducing the number of mother and baby units from three to one on the ability of women in prison to maintain family contact.
(187493)
137
Jenny Chapman
(Darlington):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what criteria will be used to award transforming rehabilitation contracts in respect of women's services.
(187665)
138
Philip Davies
(Shipley):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of offenders who (a) breached their licence conditions and (b) re-offended while on licence were recalled to prison in each year since 2008.
(187481)
139
Philip Davies
(Shipley):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) male and (b) female prison officers have been convicted of (i) any criminal offence and (ii) a criminal offence relating to their role as a prison officer by offence type in each of the last five years.
(187482)
140
Philip Davies
(Shipley):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of (a) male and (b) female prison officers have been the subject of internal disciplinary action in each of the last five years.
(187483)
141
Philip Davies
(Shipley):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of prison officers working in (a) male and (b) female prisons are (i) male and (ii) female.
(187484)
142
Huw Irranca-Davies
(Ogmore):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeals against decisions on entitlement to (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payment there were in each month in each of the last three years in each court and in each local authority area.
(187550)
143
N
Susan Elan Jones
(Clwyd South):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if the Government will undertake a full review of the sentencing guidelines relating to dangerous driving offences.
(187435)
144
N
Sadiq Khan
(Tooting):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many safeguarding referrals remained unprocessed by the Office of the Public Guardian on the first day of each month from 1 May 2010.
(187422)
145
N
Sadiq Khan
(Tooting):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many safeguarding referrals were (a) received and (b) processed by the Office of the Public Guardian in each month since May 2010.
(187423)
146
N
Sadiq Khan
(Tooting):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by the Office of the Public Guardian in each month since May 2010.
(187424)
147
N
Sadiq Khan
(Tooting):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the publicised (a) opening and (b) closing date was of each recruitment campaign for a magistrate vacancy since May 2010; for which of those recruitment campaigns the application process was closed early; and on what date each such early closure took place.
(187425)
148
Mr John Leech
(Manchester, Withington):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that the proposed General European Data Protection Regulation does not prevent health research involving personal data from taking place.
(187610)
149
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187645)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
150
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187646)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland
151
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187647)
Questions to the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
152
Chris Ruane
(Vale of Clwyd):
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what steps the Electoral Commission is taking to correct misconceptions held by the public about levels of electoral registration fraud.
(187541)
153
Chris Ruane
(Vale of Clwyd):
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the accuracy and fairness of media coverage of electoral registration fraud.
(187542)
154
Chris Ruane
(Vale of Clwyd):
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent discussions the Electoral Commission has had with the Electoral Registration Officer for Denbighshire on what lessons can be drawn from his success in increasing registration in the Vale of Clwyd.
(187543)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
155
Mr Tobias Ellwood
(Bournemouth East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans there are to improve disability and pushchair access to Pokesdown for Boscombe Railway Station; and if he will make a statement.
(187449)
156
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187648)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales
157
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187650)
Questions to the Minister for Women and Equalities
158
Mrs Sharon Hodgson
(Washington and Sunderland West):
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what targets she has set for the representation of women on Government departmental boards.
(187508)
159
Mrs Sharon Hodgson
(Washington and Sunderland West):
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of whether the recruitment process for non executive directors of Government departments meets equality and diversity guidance used in the wider Civil Service.
(187509)
160
Mrs Sharon Hodgson
(Washington and Sunderland West):
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether her Department operates a video relay telephony service to those for whom British Sign Language is their first language.
(187511)
161
Mrs Sharon Hodgson
(Washington and Sunderland West):
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what guidance her Department has provided to other Departments on the provision of video relay telephony services to those for whom British Sign Language is their first language.
(187512)
162
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187641)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
163
Mr Stephen Hepburn
(Jarrow):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK have disputed a sanction of their benefit in each of the last five years.
(187492)
164
Mr Stephen Hepburn
(Jarrow):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of jobseeker's allowance in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK who have disputed a sanction of their benefit in each of the last five years have had their sanction overturned following appeal.
(187495)
165
Huw Irranca-Davies
(Ogmore):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for changes in the number of appeals against decisions on entitlement to (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payment (i) over the last three years and (ii) as predicted to occur over the next two years.
(187470)
166
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) total departmental expenditure, (b) number and (c) cost of people employed for the purpose of promoting equality and diversity was for each of the last five years.
(187651)
167
Mr Barry Sheerman
(Huddersfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on whether requirements similar to those on landlords under Regulation 36 of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 should also apply to the leaseholder market.
(187488)
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
168
Bill Esterson
(Sefton Central):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of business rates on the international competitiveness of UK manufacturing firms.
[Transferred]
(187681)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
169
Mr John Leech
(Manchester, Withington):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to stop Japan's large-scale killing of whales and breaching of international treaties.
[Transferred]
(187489)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
170
Meg Hillier
(Hackney South and Shoreditch):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Nigerian government about including James Ibori in a prisioner transfer agreement.
[Transferred]
(187446)
171
Mrs Sharon Hodgson
(Washington and Sunderland West):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans she has to review the Gender Recognition Act 2004 to remove the spousal veto for gender reassignment.
[Transferred]
(187510)
172
Mr Barry Sheerman
(Huddersfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress has been made on the enquiry by Judge Macur into the Waterhouse (North Wales Tribunal) enquiry; and when this report is planned to be released.
[Transferred]
(187496)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
173
Huw Irranca-Davies
(Ogmore):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the likely number of appeals against decisions on entitlement to (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payment in the next two years.
[Transferred]
(187469)