Session 2014-15
Publications on the internet
The Questions Book
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Friday 23 January 2015
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 Friday 23 January 2015
(the ‘Questions Book’)
Part 1: Written Questions for Answer on
Friday 23 January 2015
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 Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
1
N
Mr James Arbuthnot
(North East Hampshire):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the cost was of the Ordnance Survey's aerial photography programme in each of the last five years; and if he will make an estimate of the potential annual cost of licensing such photographs from other agencies and businesses.
(221332)
2
N
Mr James Arbuthnot
(North East Hampshire):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make it his policy to replace the Ordnance Survey's aerial photography programme with the licensing of such photographs from other agencies and businesses; and if he will make a statement.
(221333)
3
N
Mr Adrian Bailey
(West Bromwich West):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the cost of the Electricity Intensive Industries - Relief from the Cost of Renewables scheme.
(221316)
4
N
Mr Adrian Bailey
(West Bromwich West):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what information his Department holds on which industrial sectors reach the preliminary threshold of seven per cent electricity intensity, but in which a majority of businesses do not meet the added 20 per cent electricity intensity threshold.
(221317)
5
Mr Liam Byrne
(Birmingham, Hodge Hill):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, for how many months since 2010 the role of Chief Scientific Adviser for his Department has been vacant.
(221580)
6
N
Mr David Nuttall
(Bury North):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Council of the European Union will act by unanimity or qualified majority when adopting decisions authorising the EU's (a) signature and, if relevant, provisional application and (b) conclusions of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
(221468)
7
N
Mr David Nuttall
(Bury North):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Council of the European Union acted by unanimity or qualified majority when adopting the negotiating directives for the EU for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
(221469)
8
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on small and micro businesses of centralising local land charges registers.
(221555)
9
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what secondary legislation would be required, in addition to the Infrastructure Bill, in order to extend centralisation of local land charges register data to CON29 searches.
(221556)
10
N
Sir John Stanley
(Tonbridge and Malling):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he plans to publish the results of his call for evidence on the introduction of a pre-licensing register of arms brokers together with the Government's response in January 2015 at the latest.
(221258)
Questions to the Minister for the Cabinet Office
11
N
Mr Philip Hollobone
(Kettering):
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of recent trends in the number of workless households in (a) Northamptonshire and (b) England.
(221376)
Questions to Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer
12
Andrew Bingham
(High Peak):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with business organisations about changes to VAT invoicing requirements when discounting for early payment.
(221481)
13
Andrew Bingham
(High Peak):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the effect on businesses of changes to VAT invoicing on discounting for early payment schemes.
(221482)
14
Stella Creasy
(Walthamstow):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount of VAT collected from the sale of sanitary products in the last five years.
(221584)
15
Mr Nigel Dodds
(Belfast North):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide additional resources to the devolved administrations to tackle coastal erosion.
(221515)
16
Mark Garnier
(Wyre Forest):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2014 to Question 215879, what plans he has to publish the futures analysis on the potential impact of the introduction of standardised packaging on the illicit trade in tobacco.
(221535)
17
N
Richard Graham
(Gloucester):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reason is for the additional charge for payment of vehicle tax by direct debit over 12 or six monthly instalments; and for what purposes the funds from that additional charge are used.
(220917)
18
Mr Philip Hollobone
(Kettering):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the issue of pensioner bonds in January 2015, what lessons his Department has learnt on the ability of online application systems and telephone enquiry services to deal with large numbers of applicants, in planning for new public bond issues.
(221543)
19
N
Mr Laurence Robertson
(Tewkesbury):
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to introduce a transferable tax allowance between married couples.
(221471)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
20
Mr David Anderson
(Blaydon):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of 15 December 2014, Official Report, columns 1148-56, if the Minister will meet the Fire Brigades Union and fire authority employers, and their respective legal representatives, to discuss how commitments that she gave in that debate on fire service pensions will be implemented in practice; and if he will make a statement.
(221637)
21
N
Hilary Benn
(Leeds Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter of 18 January 2015 to Muslim faith leaders, what assessment he has made of the capacity of (a) LawWorks and (b) the Bar Pro Bono Unit to provide free legal advice to organisations experiencing problems with preachers of hate.
(221334)
22
N
Hilary Benn
(Leeds Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter of 18 January 2015 to Muslim faith leaders, what assessment he has made of whether all organisations that are at risk of experiencing problems with preachers of hate would meet the eligibility criteria applied by (a) LawWorks and (b) the Bar Pro Bono Unit for providing free legal advice.
(221337)
23
N
Hilary Benn
(Leeds Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to his letter of 18 January 2015 to Muslim faith leaders, what recent discussions he has had with (a) LawWorks and (b) the Bar Pro Bono Unit on this matter.
(221338)
24
Lyn Brown
(West Ham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what Government support (a) is available and (b) has been provided to secure private sector investment in the Thames Gateway since 2010.
(221627)
25
Lyn Brown
(West Ham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of progress in securing private sector investment in the Thames Gateway since 2010.
(221628)
26
Lyn Brown
(West Ham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has for Ministers to visit locations in the Thames Gateway in the period up to the dissolution of Parliament; and what the planned locations of those visits are.
(221629)
27
Lyn Brown
(West Ham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take to ensure that development of new Thames Gateway communities is sustainable, cohesive and integrated.
(221630)
28
Lyn Brown
(West Ham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of progress in securing private sector investment in Thames Gateway projects at (a) London Gateway Port, (b) Purfleet, (c) Paramount Park and (d) Southend Airport since 2010.
(221631)
29
N
Dan Jarvis
(Barnsley Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to promote tolerance of different minorities.
(221305)
30
Lisa Nandy
(Wigan):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the super-affirmative procedure will be followed when the Government brings foward proposals to amend the Greater Manchester Combined Authorities Order 2011 to create an interim eleventh chair of Greater Manchester.
(221610)
31
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to ensure that local authorities trading under the general power of competence granted by the Localism Act 2011 do not unfairly compete with existing local small businesses.
(221562)
32
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from small business owners about unfair competitive practices from local authorities trading under the general power of competence granted by the Localism Act 2011.
(221563)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
33
Mr Liam Byrne
(Birmingham, Hodge Hill):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for how many months since 2010 the role of Chief Scientific Adviser for his Department has been vacant.
(221581)
34
N
Damian Collins
(Folkestone and Hythe):
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support Sport England has given to organisations in Folkestone and Hythe constituency since 2010.
(228076)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Defence
35
Sir Menzies Campbell
(North East Fife):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2014 to Question 217205, if he will make it his Department's policy to collect and analyse data on the extent to which armed forces medical personnel are in breach of the single service harmony guidelines; and if he will make a statement.
(221530)
36
N
Dan Jarvis
(Barnsley Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy have sufficient submarine detection capabilities.
(221307)
37
N
Mrs Madeleine Moon
(Bridgend):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2015 to Questions 220492 and 220493, how many of the surveillance and monitoring activities involved claimants who had (a) sustained injuries on active service, (b) amputations, (c) mental health problems and (d) traumatic brain injuries; and if he will make a statement.
(221324)
38
N
Mrs Madeleine Moon
(Bridgend):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2015 to Questions 220492 and 220493, how many of the surveillance and monitoring activities resulted in (a) the withdrawal of a claim for compensation and (b) the disclosure of the monitoring and surveillance in court; and if he will make a statement.
(221328)
39
N
Mrs Madeleine Moon
(Bridgend):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2014 to Question 217721, whether personnel deployed on Operation Shader received hot meals at Crown expense before 4 December 2014.
(221449)
40
N
Angus Robertson
(Moray):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department's Tornado jets (a) are in service, (b) are in the forward fleet and (c) have the Honeywell Traffic Collision Avoidance System II installed.
(221470)
41
Sir Nicholas Soames
(Mid Sussex):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many airborne sorties have been carried out by the Royal Air Force to intercept Russian military aircraft approaching or entering British airspace in each month since April 2005.
(221517)
42
Sir Nicholas Soames
(Mid Sussex):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of Royal Navy personnel in each pinch point trade are exceeding their harmony guidelines.
(221525)
43
Sir Nicholas Soames
(Mid Sussex):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to increase the average length of Royal Navy deployments in the South Atlantic and the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.
(221526)
44
Sir Nicholas Soames
(Mid Sussex):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) length and (b) area was of each deployment by each Royal Navy (i) destroyer and (ii) frigate since 2005.
(221527)
45
Sir Nicholas Soames
(Mid Sussex):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many naval service personnel were deployed in breach of the Royal Navy's harmony guidelines in each financial year from 2005-06 to 2013-14.
(221528)
46
Sir Nicholas Soames
(Mid Sussex):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to fit Typhoon jets with the Brimstone missile; and if he will make a statement.
(221529)
47
Mike Weatherley
(Hove):
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to ensure that the Common Security and Defence Policy continues to increase Britain's capability in ensuring international security.
(221524)
Questions to the Deputy Prime Minister
48
N
Mr David Ward
(Bradford East):
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps his Department is taking to increase levels of individual electoral registration among (a) attainers and (b) students.
(221341)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Education
49
Richard Graham
(Gloucester):
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of new childcare places that will be created through the Childcare Business Grant scheme in 2015-16.
(221586)
50
N
Helen Jones
(Warrington North):
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of primary school teachers in (a) England, (b) the North West and (c) Warrington have a degree in (i) English and (ii) mathematics.
(221323)
51
N
Chris Leslie
(Nottingham East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 128 of her Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14, HC 745, what the reasons are for the increase in the cost of other office services since the previous financial year.
(221344)
52
N
Chris Leslie
(Nottingham East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the reasons were for the cash losses, fruitless payments and write-offs worth more than £100,000 referred to on page 156 of her Department's Annual Report and Accounts, 2013-14, HC 745.
(221472)
53
N
Steve McCabe
(Birmingham, Selly Oak):
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether there are circumstances in which, where parents have twins, each child is entitled to less than the standard allocation of 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year.
(221315)
54
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which organisations and individuals were consulted as part of her Department's review of asbestos policy in schools.
(221608)
55
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department's policy is on the use of asbestos in school buildings.
(221609)
56
N
Mr Dominic Raab
(Esher and Walton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much (a) revenue and (b) capital funding has been provided to each pupil in state (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in Surrey (A) in cash terms and (B) at 2015 prices in each year since 2005.
(221460)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
57
N
Mr Gregory Campbell
(East Londonderry):
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will discuss with his counterparts in the devolved administrations the merits of a common formula for the Warm Home discount and grant schemes across all those administrations.
(221330)
58
Mr Geoffrey Cox
(Torridge and West Devon):
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will take steps to ensure that both (a) Combined Heat and Power facilities where biogas production and combustion take place on the same site and (b) facilities that also produce biogas on the same site, but which generate their power from a combination of that biogas and some other energy source, receive equal treatment under the Government's proposal to amend the Renewable Heat Incentive Regulations.
(221585)
59
Mike Weatherley
(Hove):
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans he has to make provision for alternate means of electricity generation (a) to replace ageing nuclear power stations and (b) to meet the reduction in carbon emissions required by the Industrial Emissions Directive.
(221520)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
60
Huw Irranca-Davies
(Ogmore):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of people who will (a) leave and (b) join the labour market in rural areas before 2025.
(221619)
61
Huw Irranca-Davies
(Ogmore):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page six of her Department's policy brief, How increased Connectivity is Boosting Prospects of Rural Areas, published in December 2014, what estimate she has made of the proportion of areas which will not be covered by superfast broadband by 2017 that are (a) rural and (b) coastal.
(221620)
62
Huw Irranca-Davies
(Ogmore):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page seven of her Department's policy brief, How increased Connectivity is Boosting Prospects of Rural Areas, published in December 2014, what assessment she has made of the effect of UK RuralSkills on farmers' management and business skills to date.
(221621)
63
Huw Irranca-Davies
(Ogmore):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page seven of her Department's policy brief, How increased Connectivity is Boosting Prospects of Rural Areas, published in December 2014, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Skills and Knowledge Transfer Programme on business people in rural areas to date.
(221622)
64
Huw Irranca-Davies
(Ogmore):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page seven of her Department's policy brief, How increased Connectivity is Boosting Prospects of Rural Areas, published in December 2014, what assessment she has made of the effect of the International Food and Drink Action Plan on the level of (a) food and (b) drink exports to date.
(221623)
65
Huw Irranca-Davies
(Ogmore):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page seven of her Department's policy brief, How increased Connectivity is Boosting Prospects of Rural Areas, published in December 2014, what assessment she has made of the effect of Visit England's marketing campaigns on tourism to rural areas to date.
(221624)
66
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of milk sold in Britain comes from intensively farmed cows.
(221564)
67
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will take steps to ensure that all milk labelling clearly states the farming methods used in production of that milk.
(221565)
68
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to encourage more children to use national parks.
(221567)
69
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from nature bodies about the introduction of a Nature and Well-Being Bill.
(221568)
70
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what targets the National Wildlife Crime Unit has been set for dealing with wildlife cybercrime.
(221569)
71
Christopher Pincher
(Tamworth):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to improve protection for ancient woodland in (a) England and (b) Staffordshire.
(221541)
72
Christopher Pincher
(Tamworth):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support her Department is giving to Natural England for its work to update the Ancient Woodland Inventory in (a) England and (b) Staffordshire.
(221542)
73
N
Angela Smith
(Penistone and Stocksbridge):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how long she plans that the consultation for the 2015 review of the Greyhound Regulations (England) 2010 will take.
(221308)
74
Mike Weatherley
(Hove):
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to (a) return control of agricultural policy to member states and (b) reduce subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy.
(221523)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
75
Richard Burden
(Birmingham, Northfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has recieved about the imprisonment and welfare of (a) Dr Abduljalil Alsingace and (b) other political prisoners; and what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Bahrain about those matters.
(221611)
76
Ann Clwyd
(Cynon Valley):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will press the government of Turkmenistan to fulfil specific benchmarks set by the European Parliament as a condition of upgraded relations with the EU in the form of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
(221570)
77
Ann Clwyd
(Cynon Valley):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on ratification of the EU-Turkmenistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
(221571)
78
Ann Clwyd
(Cynon Valley):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on requiring benchmarks for human rights set by the European Parliament to be met by the government of Turkmenistan before the UK ratifies the EU-Turkmenistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
(221572)
79
Ann Clwyd
(Cynon Valley):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department last raised human rights concerns at ministerial level with the government of Turkmenistan.
(221573)
80
Ann Clwyd
(Cynon Valley):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether Turkmenistan remains a country of concern in relation to human rights; and when his Department's next annual Human Rights and Democracy Report will be published.
(221574)
81
Ann Clwyd
(Cynon Valley):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he next plans to convene his Human Rights Advisory Group.
(221575)
82
Mr Nigel Dodds
(Belfast North):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the accession of the Palestinian Authority to the International Criminal Court on the prospects for further negotiations between Israel and that Authority.
(221518)
83
Mr Nigel Dodds
(Belfast North):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote fundamental freedoms in Saudi Arabia and to dissuade the government of that country from misusing anti-terrorism laws.
(221519)
84
Zac Goldsmith
(Richmond Park):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to change the number of UK-based and locally-engaged staff of his Department working on tackling illegal wildlife trade; and if he will make a statement.
(221599)
85
Zac Goldsmith
(Richmond Park):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of links between the illegal wildlife trade and (a) conflict and (b) terrorism in Africa; and if he will make a statement.
(221600)
86
Zac Goldsmith
(Richmond Park):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the illegal wildlife trade on UK national security.
(221601)
87
Zac Goldsmith
(Richmond Park):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what funds his Department allocated to tackling the illegal wildlife trade in each financial year since 2010; and if he will make a statement.
(221602)
88
Zac Goldsmith
(Richmond Park):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which British embassies and high commissions include tackling the illegal wildlife trade in their business plans; and if he will make a statement.
(221603)
89
Zac Goldsmith
(Richmond Park):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many foreign UK-based and locally-engaged staff of his Department worked (a) part-time and (b) full-time on tackling the illegal wildlife trade in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13, (iv) 2013-14 and (v) 2014-15 to date; and if he will make a statement.
(221604)
90
Zac Goldsmith
(Richmond Park):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on the implementation of commitments made by (a) the UK and (b) partner nations at the London Conference on the illegal wildlife trade in February 2014.
(221605)
91
Pauline Latham
(Mid Derbyshire):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received about allegations of violence by Soco International in Virunga National Park.
(221548)
92
N
Kerry McCarthy
(Bristol East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict regarding sexual violence in Colombia; and what assistance the Government has offered to Colombia since the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict.
(221377)
93
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the capacity of the Economic Community of West African States to tackle the threat from Boko Haram.
(221551)
94
Mr Andrew Smith
(Oxford East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the government of Bahrain on the detention and treatment of political prisoners.
(221554)
95
Mr Andrew Smith
(Oxford East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei to protect Ngok Dinka returnees while they gather grass to rebuild homes in that region.
(221634)
96
Mike Weatherley
(Hove):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to bring about reform of the two seat operation of the European Parliament.
(221504)
97
Mike Weatherley
(Hove):
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress has been made on securing an emergency brake for any member state on future EU legislation affecting financial services.
(221522)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Health
98
N
Hilary Benn
(Leeds Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the letter of 15 January 2015 from him and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to the local authorities concerning additional health funding, to which local authorities the letter was sent; and which local authorities have confirmed they will accept the offered funding.
(221335)
99
N
Hilary Benn
(Leeds Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the letter of 15 January 2015 from him and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to local authorities concerning additional health funding, what the total amount will be of additional funding made available to local authorities through the ring-fenced grant referred to in that letter.
(221336)
100
N
Luciana Berger
(Liverpool, Wavertree):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he takes to ensure that all patients assessed as requiring inpatient treatment for eating disorders are admitted; and what criteria are used to decide whether a patient requires inpatient treatment for such disorders.
(221451)
101
N
Luciana Berger
(Liverpool, Wavertree):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS England (a) currently and (b) since the establishment of that body has operated a moratorium on the commissioning of additional funded beds for inpatient eating disorder treatment.
(221452)
102
N
Mr Jonathan Djanogly
(Huntingdon):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to pages five and six of the summary of findings of the Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust Quality Report of 9 January 2015, if he will publish the full list of organisations which were asked to share what they know about that hospital.
(221375)
103
Mr Nigel Dodds
(Belfast North):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has discussed with Ministers in the devolved administrations the merits of extending to their jurisdictions the recently-announced programme to screen newborn babies in England for four rare genetic disorders.
(221553)
104
Andrew Gwynne
(Denton and Reddish):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with local authorities in Greater Manchester concerning changes to capacity in adult social care.
(221479)
105
Andrew Gwynne
(Denton and Reddish):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what contingency plans he has for hospitals in Greater Manchester failing to meet the Government's A&E target.
(221480)
106
N
Dan Jarvis
(Barnsley Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the recommendation on the NHS Choices website that all children are offered vision screening between the ages of four and five by an orthoptist-led service, if he will introduce a national vision screening programme for children.
(221304)
107
N
Tessa Munt
(Wells):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients have been treated with the gamma knife at University Hospital, Bristol, since it opened in October 2013; and whether NHS England approved those patients' treatment through individual funding requests.
(221450)
108
N
Tessa Munt
(Wells):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the minimum number of annual procedures NHS England requires hospitals to deliver before they are allowed to treat cancer patients with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy.
(221465)
109
N
Tessa Munt
(Wells):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ensure that all stakeholder submissions to NHS England's review into stereotactic radiosurgery are made available to the public.
(221466)
110
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which bodies his Department and NHS England consulted before deciding to remove specialised commissioned service status from dialysis and passing down the commissioning of that treatment to clinical commissioning group level.
(221559)
111
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what basis his Department and NHS England decided to remove the specialised commissioned service status from dialysis.
(221560)
112
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what parliamentary oversight there is of changes to the list of the specialised commissioned services within the NHS in England.
(221561)
113
John Pugh
(Southport):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of potential financial loss to the NHS arising from failure to claim reimbursement from insurance companies.
(221606)
114
John Pugh
(Southport):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that the NHS is maximising its entitlement to reimbursement from insurance companies.
(221607)
115
Derek Twigg
(Halton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many elected operations were cancelled by Warrington and Halton NHS Foundation Trust in (a) November and (b) December 2014.
(221505)
116
Derek Twigg
(Halton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2014 to Question 208139, when he expects the results of the Health Protection Agency findings on the health effects of emissions from municipal waste incinerators to be published.
(221507)
117
Derek Twigg
(Halton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department provides to GPs about the prescription of anti-depressants and the need to reduce the risk of overdose.
(221508)
118
Mr Charles Walker
(Broxbourne):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department conducted its most recent study into the potency of skunk cannabis; and if he will commission a new potency study with respect to that drug.
(221547)
Questions to the Secretary of State for the Home Department
119
N
Richard Burden
(Birmingham, Northfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have (a) applied and (b) successfully resettled in the UK under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme to date; what the origin was of each applicant; which local authorities are participating in the scheme; and what the cost of the scheme has been to date.
(221467)
120
Mr Liam Byrne
(Birmingham, Hodge Hill):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many roles were added to the Tier 2 shortage occupation list in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014.
(221579)
121
N
Mr Jim Cunningham
(Coventry South):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal firearms were confiscated by UK customs officials at border checks in each of the last five years.
(221309)
122
N
Mr Jim Cunningham
(Coventry South):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time taken for firearms units to arrive at crime scenes was in each of the last five years.
(221310)
123
N
Mr Jim Cunningham
(Coventry South):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department last reviewed the adequacy of the response times of firearms units.
(221311)
124
N
Mr Jim Cunningham
(Coventry South):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times armed police were deployed in the UK in each of the last five years.
(221312)
125
N
Mr Jim Cunningham
(Coventry South):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department last reviewed the adequacy of the firearms unit provision made available to police forces in the UK.
(221313)
126
Mr Nigel Dodds
(Belfast North):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were returned to their country of origin in each year since 2010.
(221539)
127
N
Dan Jarvis
(Barnsley Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce the incidence of hate crimes against religious minorities.
(221306)
128
N
Steve McCabe
(Birmingham, Selly Oak):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the average length of time each police force has taken to return Disclosure and Barring Service checks since 2010.
(221314)
129
Fiona Mactaggart
(Slough):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what (a) acknowledgement and (b) information about action taken a victim receives following a report to Action Fraud.
(221638)
130
N
Greg Mulholland
(Leeds North West):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the threat of far right radicalisation.
(221195)
131
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to enquiries emailed to her office by the constituent of the hon. Member for Chesterfield, Gillian Norman, on 28 September, 13 October, 21 October 2014 and 9 January 2015 concerning allegations of heavy-handed treatment by security officials at Manchester Airport.
(221566)
132
N
Jim Shannon
(Strangford):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 25 February 2014, Official Report, House of Lords, column WA239, how many organisms of which species have been generated following pronuclear transfer by researchers at Newcastle in each year of the last decade according to records held by her Department.
(221476)
133
Mike Weatherley
(Hove):
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to exercise a block opt-out from the 131 pre-Lisbon EU policing and criminal justice laws.
(221552)
Questions to the Secretary of State for International Development
134
N
Gavin Shuker
(Luton South):
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if her Department will ensure that Parliament is given adequate opportunity for effective scrutiny of the positions taken by the EU in the post-2015 sustainable development goals process.
(221321)
135
N
Gavin Shuker
(Luton South):
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what development issues and goal area she expects will be led by individual EU member states in the post-2015 sustainable development goals process; and whether the UK will lead on any of these development issues or goal areas.
(221322)
136
N
Gavin Shuker
(Luton South):
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) female and (b) male burial operatives have been recruited (i) from the UK and (ii) from Sierra Leone to burial teams as part of her Department's response to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone.
(221454)
137
N
Gavin Shuker
(Luton South):
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many (a) female and (b) male patients have been treated for Ebola in each treatment centre funded by her Department.
(221455)
138
N
Gavin Shuker
(Luton South):
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding from her Department has been assigned to Ebola vaccine candidate and safety testing; how much of that funding has been spent in (a) 2014 and (b) 2015 to date; and what steps she is taking to ensure that vaccine candidates funded by her Department are safe for use by pregnant women and nursing mothers.
(221456)
139
N
Gavin Shuker
(Luton South):
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has provided any financial support towards the opening of Médecins Sans Frontières' maternity clinic for Ebola sufferers.
(221457)
140
N
Gavin Shuker
(Luton South):
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department has taken to target the increased contraction rate of Ebola amongst women in Sierra Leone; and if she will make a statement.
(221458)
141
Mr Andrew Smith
(Oxford East):
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make representations to the World Food Programme requesting it to consult South Sudanese members of AJOC and Dinka Ngok residents in Abyei about its report entitled, Abyei Integrated Rapid Food Security and Nutrition Assessment, and to revise the report and its recommendations in the light of their responses.
(221583)
142
Mr Andrew Smith
(Oxford East):
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether armed Misseriya or Twic militias have benefited from her Department's aid programmes targeted at northern areas of Abyei where Dinka Ngok are not present.
(221632)
143
Mr Andrew Smith
(Oxford East):
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has funded any aid or development programmes in (a) Al Dayiri, (b) El Tashween, (c) Makenis, (d) Al Askar, (e) Um Kanshel, (f) El Ishlag, (g) Um Kheir, (h) El Magboul, (i) Faroug, (j) Dumboloya, (k) Antila and (l) Mukhtar locations in northern Abyei carried out or scheduled since July 2014.
(221633)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Justice
144
N
Dan Jarvis
(Barnsley Central):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of defendants who represented themselves in court in each year since May 2010.
(221303)
145
N
Sadiq Khan
(Tooting):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which countries Just Solutions International (JSI) has worked with since it was established; what contracts it has with foreign companies; what visits Ministers in his Department have made relating to JSI; and what payments JSI has received from foreign contracts.
(221378)
146
N
Sadiq Khan
(Tooting):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many books were received by his Department during December 2014 as part of the books for prisoners campaign; and where those books were distributed.
(221459)
147
N
Mr Laurence Robertson
(Tewkesbury):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it is his policy to publish the names of people in England and Wales where the Royal Prerogative of Mercy has been used.
(221301)
148
N
Mr Laurence Robertson
(Tewkesbury):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times the Royal Prerogative of Mercy has been used in England and Wales in the last 20 years for which information is available.
(221302)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
149
N
Mr Gregory Campbell
(East Londonderry):
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will discuss with the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes would be needed to ensure that Northern Ireland citizens born in the Republic of Ireland are able to apply for UK passports on the same terms as those under which Northern Ireland citizens are able to apply for Irish passports.
(221331)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
150
Steve Baker
(Wycombe):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what instructions he has given to HS2 Ltd on minimising transport disruption in Buckinghamshire during the construction of High Speed 2 (a) affecting the emergency services and (b) generally; and if he will make a statement.
(221477)
151
Lyn Brown
(West Ham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to integrate the London Gateway port with inland transport modes.
(221626)
152
Mr Liam Byrne
(Birmingham, Hodge Hill):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for how many months since 2010 the role of Chief Scientific Adviser for his Department has been vacant.
(221582)
153
Clive Efford
(Eltham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many 12-carriage trains Southeastern rail has provided since work was completed to extend the platforms through (a) Eltham, (b) Plumstead and (c) New Eltham; and if he will make a statement.
(221617)
154
Clive Efford
(Eltham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many platforms at stations need further improvements to accommodate 12-carriage trains on the railway lines that run through (a) Eltham, (b) Plumstead and (c) New Eltham; and if he will make a statement.
(221618)
155
Ian Lavery
(Wansbeck):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2015 to Questions 219215 and 219414, what assessment he has made of (a) the comparative proportions of public and private sector investment in the railway, (b) the relationship between rail passenger journey growth and macroeconomic factors and (c) the proportion of revenue paid by private train companies to the public purse ultimately derived from passenger fares, since rail privatisation.
(221531)
156
Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil
(Na h-Eileanan an Iar):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2015 to Question 220504, if he will provide information equivalent to that in the Answer for the other 58 parliamentary constituencies within Scotland, for the period 1 January 2014 to 20 January 2015.
(221635)
157
Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil
(Na h-Eileanan an Iar):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2015 to Question 220504, what the average number of postponements of driving and motorcycle tests was in parliamentary constituencies in Scotland between 1 January 2014 and 20 January 2015; what the principal reasons for postponement were; and what average length of time it took for tests to be rescheduled.
(221636)
158
N
Lisa Nandy
(Wigan):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many stations at which Northern Rail services stop are currently (a) staffed and (b) unstaffed.
(221325)
159
N
Lisa Nandy
(Wigan):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of introducing Driver-Only Operation on delays and train dispatch times on the Northern Rail and TransPennine Express franchises.
(221340)
160
N
Lisa Nandy
(Wigan):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to include in his Department's contract with the successful bidder for Northern Rail and Transpennine Express franchises a requirement that there is a second person on board the train in addition to the driver in the event of the introduction of driver-only operation.
(221453)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Wales
161
N
Jesse Norman
(Hereford and South Herefordshire):
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of cross-border water regulation in England and Wales as it relates to domestic and commercial properties in England supplied by Welsh Water; and if he will make a statement.
(221339)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
162
Mr Douglas Carswell
(Clacton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will reduce the benefit cap further.
(221478)
163
N
Sheila Gilmore
(Edinburgh East):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether an external evaluator has been appointed to provide an independent assessment of the 17 Innovation Fund projects set up under the Help for Separated Families initiative to establish what works in assisting separated parents to co-operate in the interests of their children; when it is planned that that evaluation process will take place; and when it is planned that that evaluation report will be published.
(221342)
164
Kate Green
(Stretford and Urmston):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of Access to Work support packages are deafblind; and what the average cost to the public purse is of packages for those people.
(221576)
165
Kate Green
(Stretford and Urmston):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many deafblind recipients of Access to Work support have had a reduction in their support package in the last 12 months.
(221577)
166
Kate Green
(Stretford and Urmston):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how often his Department reviews the cost and availability of technologies that support deafblind people to work; and whether Access to Work applies a limit to the amount of funding available for assistance technologies in support packages.
(221578)
167
N
Steve McCabe
(Birmingham, Selly Oak):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that UK pensioners living in France receive winter fuel payments when the temperature where they live is below freezing.
(221343)
168
N
Steve McCabe
(Birmingham, Selly Oak):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer to Question 220107, if he will make it his policy to exclude French Overseas Departments in the calculation of average temperature for France for the purposes of determining eligibility for winter fuel payments to UK citizens.
(221473)
169
N
Pamela Nash
(Airdrie and Shotts):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of (a) pension credit, (b) winter fuel allowance and (c) Christmas Bonus there were in each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which figures are available in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, (iii) England, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland.
(221474)
170
N
Pamela Nash
(Airdrie and Shotts):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of (a) pension credit, (b) winter fuel allowance and (c) Christmas bonus there were in each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which figures are available in (i) Airdrie and Shotts constituency and (ii) North Lanarkshire.
(221475)
171
N
Stephen Timms
(East Ham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that the approach of Work Programme providers to benefit sanctions referrals is consistent.
(221461)
172
N
Stephen Timms
(East Ham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the consistency between different Work Programme providers of procedures on referrals for benefit sanctions.
(221462)
173
N
Stephen Timms
(East Ham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the principal risks are which his Department has identified with respect to the national rollout of universal credit in 2015.
(221463)
174
N
Stephen Timms
(East Ham):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Youth Unemployment Innovation Fund.
(221464)
175
Derek Twigg
(Halton):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the number of people affected by the under-occupancy penalty in Halton Borough council area.
(221506)
176
Mike Weatherley
(Hove):
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government has taken to gain greater control over the type and amount of benefits paid to EU nationals who reside in the UK but are not in employment.
(221521)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
177
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many local authorities were involved in trials of the new local land charges register scheme.
[Transferred]
(221557)
178
Toby Perkins
(Chesterfield):
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what safeguards are in place to ensure that prospective home-ownership deals do not collapse as a result of centralising local land charges registers.
[Transferred]
(221558)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
179
Mr Nigel Dodds
(Belfast North):
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he will take to ensure that, in relation to home heating and travel, consumers will benefit directly from the recent fall in oil prices.
[Transferred]
(221516)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Health
180
Mark Garnier
(Wyre Forest):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to revise the impact assessment for the proposed introduction of standardised packaging of tobacco in response to the analysis of that impact assessment by the Regulatory Policy Committee; and what plans he has to commission research to support such a revision.
[Transferred]
(221536)
181
Mark Garnier
(Wyre Forest):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to commission or conduct research on the potential cost of compensation to the intellectual property sector for the proposed introduction of standardised packaging of tobacco.
[Transferred]
(221537)
182
Mark Garnier
(Wyre Forest):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take in response to the request of the Regulatory Policy Committee that compensation be included as a transition cost in a revised impact assessment of the proposed introduction of standardised packaging.
[Transferred]
(221538)
183
Mr Charles Walker
(Broxbourne):
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will update the FRANK website to include information on skunk cannabis and links between that drug and psychosis.
[Transferred]
(221540)
Questions to the Secretary of State for Transport
184
Huw Irranca-Davies
(Ogmore):
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page six of his Department's policy brief, How increased Connectivity is Boosting Prospects of Rural Areas, published in December 2014, how much of the £15 billion investment in road infrastructure will be used to promote rural connectivity.
[Transferred]
(221625)