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Part 2: Oral or Written Questions from
Tuesday 13 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 Monday 12 January 2015

(the ‘Questions Book’)

Part 2: Oral or Written Questions from

Tuesday 13 January 2015

For Written Questions for answer on the date of this paper, see Part 1 of this paper and the Order Paper.

Questions in this paper are arranged in the following way: date for answer; Oral before Written under each date; date of tabling under each answering date; unstarred and transferred questions followed by answering departments in alphabetical order.

Tuesday 13 January  

Questions for Oral Answer

 
Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Health
 
★ 1
Mr Stewart Jackson (Peterborough): What steps he is taking to improve mental health care for pregnant women and new mothers in (a) Peterborough and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.
    (906953)
★ 2
Bridget Phillipson (Houghton and Sunderland South): What steps he is taking to improve ambulance response times.
    (906954)
★ 3
Bill Esterson (Sefton Central): What the average waiting time was for a GP appointment in the most recent period for which figures are available.
    (906955)
★ 4
Caroline Nokes (Romsey and Southampton North): What progress his Department has made on its long-term plans for easing pressures on A&E departments and preparing the NHS for the future.
    (906956)
★ 5
Robert Halfon (Harlow): What steps have been taken to help the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow deal with extra pressure over the winter.
    (906957)
★ 6
Charlie Elphicke (Dover): What assessment he has made of the level of improvement made by East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust since it was put into special measures.
    (906958)
★ 7
Mr Tom Clarke (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill): With reference to his Department's publication, Transforming care: a national response to Winterbourne View Hospital, published in December 2012, if he will take steps to ensure that the statutory guidance implementing the adult autism strategy uses clear language and is mandatory.
    (906959)
★ 8
Mrs Linda Riordan (Halifax): What the clinical reasons are for plans to close Calderdale Royal Hospital A&E department.
    (906960)
★ 9
Chloe Smith (Norwich North): What steps have been taken to support NHS hospitals in meeting increased demand in winter 2014-15.
    (906961)
★ 10
Mark Pawsey (Rugby): What steps his Department is taking to ensure support for smaller district hospitals.
    (906962)
★ 11
Robert Jenrick (Newark): What proportion of 111 calls resulted in an ambulance being called in the most recent period for which figures are available.
    (906963)
★ 12
Derek Twigg (Halton): What recent assessment he has made of the reasons for increased attendances at A&E departments in 2014.
    (906964)
★ 13
Mr Mark Spencer (Sherwood): What progress his Department has made on its long-term plans for easing pressures on A&E departments and preparing the NHS for the future.
    (906965)
★ 14
Sir Tony Baldry (Banbury): How many nurses worked in the NHS (a) in 2010 and (b) on the most recent date for which figures are available.
    (906966)
★ 15
Julian Sturdy (York Outer): What progress his Department has made on its long-term plans for easing pressures on A&E departments and preparing the NHS for the future.
    (906967)
★ 16
Henry Smith (Crawley): What progress his Department has made on its long-term plans for easing pressures on A&E departments and preparing the NHS for the future.
    (906968)
★ 17
Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford): What progress has been made on conducting tests identified by the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority as critical before the implementation of mitochondrial transfer regulations.
    (906969)
★ 18
John Robertson (Glasgow North West): What assessment he has made of the effect of social care budget changes on A&E attendances.
    (906970)
★ 19
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield): What assessment he has made of the (a) Government's genomics programme and (b) work of the Department of Translational Medicine at Birmingham University to offer new treatments for cancer.
    (906971)
★ 20
Graeme Morrice (Livingston): How many patients waited longer than four hours in A&E departments in 2014.
    (906972)
★ 21
Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering): How many patients attended A&E departments in (a) 2010 and (b) 2014.
    (906973)
★ 22
Tom Blenkinsop (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland): How many patients waited longer than four hours in A&E departments in 2014.
    (906974)
★ 23
Mr David Anderson (Blaydon): What steps he is taking to resolve the pay dispute iin the NHS.
    (906975)
★ 24
Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West): If he will commission research on the reasons for people going to a GP surgery.
    (906976)
★ 25
Mr Iain Wright (Hartlepool): What recent representations he has received on hospital services in the North East of England.
    (906977)
At 12.15pm
Topical Questions to the Secretary of State for Health
The Members listed below have been selected by ballot to ask a Topical Question.
★ 1
Heidi Alexander (Lewisham East): If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
    (906943)
★ 2
Dame Angela Watkinson (Hornchurch and Upminster):  
    (906944)
★ 3
Duncan Hames (Chippenham):  
    (906945)
★ 4
Steve McCabe (Birmingham, Selly Oak):  
    (906946)
★ 5
Jeremy Lefroy (Stafford):  
    (906947)
★ 6
Sir Bob Russell (Colchester):  
    (906948)
★ 7
Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South):  
    (906949)
★ 8
Angela Smith (Penistone and Stocksbridge):  
    (906950)
★ 9
Kevin Barron (Rother Valley):  
    (906951)
★ 10
Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East):  
    (906952)

Questions for Written Answer

Notices given on Tuesday 6 January

1
N
Mr Tom Clarke (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Supreme Court decision on the Abortion Act 1967 in relation to staff of NHS Greater Glasgow and North Clyde in December 2014, if he will take steps to protect individual rights of conscience for administrative personnel in the NHS and ensure that the decisions of those who do not wish to be involved in any aspect of abortion procedures are respected; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals to clarify the legal rights of healthcare workers across the UK in relation to this issue.
    (219895)
2
N
Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what recent discussions the Commission has had with the appropriate trades unions regarding the position of employees of the House of Commons whose duties are such that they cannot be carried out during the period of Dissolution of Parliament; and if he will make a statement.
    (219961)

Notices given on Wednesday 7 January

1
N
Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time (i) UK and (ii) other EU students started undergraduate higher education courses in England in (A) 2013-14 and (B) 2014-15.
    (220139)
2
N
Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent estimate he has made of the number of additional students that will enter higher education in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18 as a result of the removal of the cap on student numbers.
    (220140)
3
N
Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent estimate he has made of the additional costs of (a) the face value of student loans, (b) the resource costs of student loans, (c) teaching grant through the Higher Education Funding Council for England, (d) maintenance grant that will arise from the removal of the cap on student numbers.
    (220141)
4
N
Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many additional students entered higher education in 2014-15 as a result of the increase in the cap on student numbers announced in the 2014 Autumn Statement.
    (220142)

Notices given on Thursday 8 January

1
N
Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent representations he has received from universities about the future viability of Initial Teacher Training courses and university education departments.
    (220155)
2
N
Mr Gareth Thomas (Harrow West): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect on mail volumes to the universal service provider in the HA postcode area of London of end-to-end competition; and if he will make a statement.
    (220228)
3
N
Stephen Timms (East Ham): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he plans for the Skills Funding Agency to have a data sharing agreement in place with London Work Programme providers so that referrals to Skills support for Work Programme participants in Employment can commence.
    (220236)
4
N
Mr David Winnick (Walsall North): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2014 to Question 217619, when the hon. Member for Walsall North will receive a reply to his letter of 10 November 2014, reference MC2014/04463; and what the reason was for the time taken to respond.
    (220231)
5
N
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will introduce a time limit by which investigations undertaken by the Service Complaints Commissioner must be concluded.
    (220229)
6
N
Mr Nigel Evans (Ribble Valley): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the Service Complaints Commissioner provides full disclosure of complaints and how they are determined to interested parties.
    (220230)
7
N
Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many trainee secondary school chemistry, physics and mathematics teachers there are in each region of England.
    (220153)
8
N
Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish her Department's quality grade of academy sponsors.
    (220154)
9
N
Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons the National College of Teaching and Leadership has withdrawn Initial Teacher Training students from future National Student Surveys.
    (220156)
10
N
Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of children (a) in receipt of free school meals, (b) with a statement of special educational needs, (c) from a BME community and (d) looked after by a local authority received a place in a grammar school in each of the last five years.
    (220222)
11
N
Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many primary school teachers in each parliamentary constituency in the South West have a science degree.
    (220221)
12
N
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support UK dairy farmers who are producing milk without the use of intensive indoor practices.
    (220168)
13
N
Richard Burden (Birmingham, Northfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on implementation of point 7, on constantly improving standards of animal health and welfare, in the dairy industry growth plan, Leading the Way, published in June 2014.
    (220185)
14
N
Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which fish species have been overfished in 2013-14.
    (220169)
15
N
Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the announcement by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on 7 January 2015, on January 2015 catch limits, from which industry bodies the MMO received feedback; which fisheries representatives contacted the MMO; and how many members each such organisation represents.
    (220194)
16
N
Alison Seabeck (Plymouth, Moor View): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 November 2014 to Question 214438, when she plans to publish the triennial review of the Maritime Management Organisation.
    (220243)
17
N
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when and for what reasons permission was given to representatives of the Zoological Society of London to travel to the Chagos Islands.
    (220170)
18
N
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps are being taken to ensure that the Chagossians are taken to the Chagos Islands as soon as possible, since the cancellation by his Department of their scheduled annual trip in November 2014.
    (220171)
19
N
Sir George Young (North West Hampshire): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to support the petition from British survivors of thalidomide damage to the EU Commissioner for Health and MEPs which seeks to secure a fair level of compensation for the costs and losses arising from the damage done to them by thalidomide.
    (220224)
20
N
Luciana Berger (Liverpool, Wavertree): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many staff in (a) his Department and (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies were absent from work through sickness in December 2014.
    (220225)
21
N
Fiona Bruce (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the studies recommended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's expert review panel in the publication, Scientific review of the safety and efficacy of methods to avoid mitochondrial disease through assisted conception: update, published in March 2013 on mosaicism in human morulae have been concluded; and in which peer-reviewed journal his Department plans to publish the findings of those studies.
    (220195)
22
N
Fiona Bruce (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the experiment on vitrifying zygotes created through pronuclear transfer, recommended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's expert panel in its publication Scientific review of the safety and efficacy of methods to avoid mitochondrial disease through assisted conception, published in April 2011, has been concluded; and in which open access peer-reviewed journal he plans to publish the results of that experiment.
    (220217)
23
N
Fiona Bruce (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the experiments on human embryonic stem cells derived from blastocysts that are heteroplasmic for abnormal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and blastocysts created through maternal spindle transfer and pronuclear transfer where the oocytes had abnormal mtDNA, recommended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's expert panel in its publication Scientific review of the safety and efficacy of methods to avoid mitochondrial disease through assisted conception, published April 2011, has been concluded; and in which peer-reviewed journal he plans to publish the results of those experiments.
    (220218)
24
N
Fiona Bruce (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the experiment involving the use of induced pluripotent stem cells derived from patients carrying different mitochondrial DNA mutations, recommended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's expert panel in its publication Scientific review of the safety and efficacy of methods to avoid mitochondrial disease through assisted conception, published April 2011, has been concluded; and in which peer-reviewed journal he plans to publish the results of that experiment.
    (220219)
25
N
Fiona Bruce (Congleton): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the experiment on mitochondrial DNA carry-over on non-human primate model into the possible heteroplasmy of tissues in the foetus, recommended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's expert panel in its publication Scientific review of the safety and efficacy of methods to avoid mitochondrial disease through assisted conception, published April 2011, has been concluded; and in which peer-reviewed journal he plans to publish the results of that experiment.
    (220220)
26
N
Jack Dromey (Birmingham, Erdington): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average waiting time is for talking therapy in Birmingham.
    (220193)
27
N
Mrs Mary Glindon (North Tyneside): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of whether eggs used in the creation of embryos through maternal spindle transfer or pronuclear transfer have had their mitochondrial or nuclear genes altered in the process.
    (220181)
28
N
Mrs Mary Glindon (North Tyneside): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for public safety in relation to his policy on mitochondrial transfer of the study by Professor John Zhang et al, published in Fertility and Sterility, Vol 80, Suppl. 3, September 2003.
    (220182)
29
N
Mrs Mary Glindon (North Tyneside): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to put contingency arrangements in place to ensure support for recipients of mitochondrial donation techniques in the event of failure or abnormal development in the resulting child.
    (220183)
30
N
Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to raise awareness of mesothelioma and its cause by (a) exposure to asbestos and (b) other causes.
    (220226)
31
N
Mr David Blunkett (Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2015 to Question 219411, what policy considerations led to the decision to retain the Census 2001 framework.
    (220227)
32
N
Diana Johnson (Kingston upon Hull North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many fines relating to performance have been levied on providers of the COMPASS service in each of the past two years; how many such fines were levied on each provider in each year; what those fines were for; and what the amount was of each fine.
    (220186)
33
N
Mr Steve Reed (Croydon North): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the current number of police officers employed as crime prevention officers; and if she will make a statement.
    (220223)
34
N
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to page 169 of her Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14, what the equivalent value of Departmental Expenditure Limit Capital was in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11 and (c) 2011-12.
    (220232)
35
N
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what amount from the funds allocated by her Department to the International Climate Fund has been disbursed in each year since that fund's inception.
    (220233)
36
N
Sadiq Khan (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on what date the Legal Aid Agency introduced a prescribed time period of 24 months for evidence relating to domestic violence cases.
    (220160)
37
N
Sadiq Khan (Tooting): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether it remains the policy of his Department not to fund Christmas parties for staff.
    (220163)
38
N
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to Question 217807, tabled on 9 December 2014, when he plans to answer Question 213688, tabled on 6 November 2014.
    (220162)
39
N
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to answer Question 217822, tabled on 9 December 2014.
    (220164)
40
N
Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Written Statement of 8 January 2015, WS175, on Rail in the North: Rolling Stock, what estimate he has made of the total cost of leasing the new rolling stock; and what proportion of that cost will be borne by (a) his Department and (b) train operating companies in each year until the end of the lease.
    (220238)
41
N
Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Written Statement of 8 January 2015, WS175, on Rail in the North: Rolling Stock, how long he expects the lease for the new rolling stock to run; and which rolling-stock leasing company will provide the new rolling stock.
    (220239)
42
N
Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Written Statement of 8 January 2015, WS175, on Rail in the North: Rolling Stock, what the average age is of the new rolling stock; and whether the new rolling stock meets the requirements in the Persons of Reduced Mobility Specification for Interoperability.
    (220240)
43
N
Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Written Statement of 8 January 2015, WS175, on Rail in the North: Rolling Stock, whether it is his policy that the operator of Northern Rail and TransPennine Express services after the new franchise commences will be required to continue using that rolling stock.
    (220241)
44
N
Mrs Louise Ellman (Liverpool, Riverside): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his Written Statement of 8 January 2015, WS175, on Rail in the North: Rolling Stock, how many seats are available on Northern Rail and TransPennine Express; how many seats will be available once the new rolling stock comes into service; when he expects this rolling stock to be put into service; and how long he expects such rolling stock to remain in service.
    (220242)
45
N
Stephen Timms (East Ham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who the (a) Chair and (b) other members are of the Universal Credit Programme board.
    (220184)
46
N
Stephen Timms (East Ham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 28 of work programme evaluations: operation of the commissioning model, finance and programme delivery, published by his Department on 18 December 2014, what assessment he has made of the finding that only a small proportion of subcontractors were positive about the commerical attractiveness of their contracts with the primes.
    (220234)
47
N
Stephen Timms (East Ham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 122 of work programme evaluation: operation of the commissioning model, finance and programme delivery, published by his Department on 18 December 2014, for what reasons the performance management approach applied in the Work Programme was replaced by a more prescriptive system.
    (220235)
48
N
Stephen Timms (East Ham): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of differential pricing on provider behaviour in the Work Programme; and if he will make a statement.
    (220237)

Notices given on Friday 9 January

1
N
Sir Nicholas Soames (Mid Sussex): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2014 to Question 208622, if she will reconsider her decision not to publish the Shale Gas Rural Economy Impact Report.
[Transferred]   (220152)
2
N
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many convictions there have been for driving while disqualified in each year since 2010.
[Transferred]   (220161)
3
 
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he intends to reply to the letter dated 25 November 2014, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms C Gazelet, forwarded from the Department for Work and Pensions.
    (220258)
4
 
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with businesses on the effects on vehicle leasing companies of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012; and if he will make a statement.
    (220310)
5
 
Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2015 to Question 203110, what the total cost of administering his Department's employee check-off service is; and which organisations contribute financially towards that service.
    (220266)
6
 
Paul Flynn (Newport West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any resources or staff of his Department were used in the drafting of or analysis for the document A Cost Analysis of Labour Party Policy, published by the Conservative Party on 5 January 2015.
    (220253)
7
 
Jonathan Ashworth (Leicester South): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with the London Borough of Redbridge on gravel extraction in Aldborough Hatch.
    (220245)
8
 
Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many planning appeals relating to development on green belt land have been recovered for a decision by the Secretary of State in each of the last five years.
    (220268)
9
 
Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, from which local authorities planning appeals were recovered in 2014.
    (220269)
10
 
Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many planning appeals were recovered from local authorities in each of the last five years.
    (220270)
11
 
Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many planning appeals related to Gypsy and Traveller sites were recovered for a decision by the Secretary of State in each of the last five years.
    (220271)
12
 
Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many planning appeals related to wind energy projects were recovered for a decision by the Secretary of State in each of the last five years.
    (220296)
13
 
Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many recovered planning appeals he has upheld in each of the last five years.
    (220297)
14
 
Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many recovered planning appeals he has refused in each of the last five years.
    (220298)
15
 
Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many planning appeals have been recovered from local authorities which have no local plan or whose plan (a) dates from later than 2004 and (b) is not compliant with the National Planning Policy Framework; and how many such appeals resulted in a refusal decision.
    (220299)
16
 
Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many planning appeals have been recovered from local authorities which have an adopted local plan which (a) dates from later than 2004 and (b) is compliant with the National Planning Policy Framework; and how many such appeals resulted in a refusal decision.
    (220300)
17
 
Roberta Blackman-Woods (City of Durham): To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of homes planned for in development applications which were refused by the Secretary of State in each of the last five years.
    (220301)
18
 
Chris Bryant (Rhondda): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much of the cost of phase 2 broadband projects in (a) County Durham, (b) Oxfordshire, (c) Hampshire, (d) Essex and (e) Wokingham will be met by (i) BT, (ii) BDUK and (iii) the relevant local authority.
    (220290)
19
 
Chris Bryant (Rhondda): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what work his Department has done with local authorities in County Durham, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Essex and Wokingham to identify, in relation to the broadband rollout, (a) alternative solutions, (b) joint working and fair capital contributions from suppliers and (c) other opportunities to promote competition and value for money.
    (220294)
20
 
Chris Bryant (Rhondda): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, the (a) County Durham, (b) Oxfordshire, (c) Hampshire, (d) Essex and (e) Wokingham phase 2 broadband projects received bids or offers from suppliers other than BT.
    (220295)
21
 
Chris Bryant (Rhondda): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the County Durham, Oxfordshire, Hampshire, Essex and Wokingham phase 2 broadband projects produced coverage maps of their broadband implementation plans at a full 7-digit postcode level.
    (220308)
22
 
Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to prevent households which do not have a television receiving correspondence from the TV licensing Authority threatening them with legal action.
    (220311)
23
 
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with (a) the Read On. Get On. campaign and (b) members and supporters of that campaign on improving the reading ability of primary school children.
    (220283)
24
 
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that every child can read by the time they finish primary school.
    (220284)
25
 
Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to support parents in bolstering the cognitive development of their children before they reach primary school.
    (220285)
26
 
Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the extent of persecution of Christians in (a) Nigeria and (b) Iran.
    (220309)
27
 
Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS staff have been made redundant and subsequently re-employed by NHS organisations on a (a) permanent and (b) fixed-term contract basis since the provisions of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 came into force.
    (220252)
28
 
Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GP practices informed NHS England they would (a) reduce their opening hours and (b) not offer face-to-face appointments at any point over the 2014-15 Christmas and New Year period.
    (220302)
29
 
Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance NHS England gave GP practices on opening hours during the 2014-15 Christmas and New Year period.
    (220303)
30
 
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many admissions to hospital through accident and emergency with an alcohol-related diagnosis involving people (a) under and (b) over the age of 18 there were in each NHS hospital trust in the East of England in each year since 2005.
    (220254)
31
 
David Simpson (Upper Bann): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of recent research into the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis carried out by Professor Paul-Peter Tak of the Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam.
    (220305)
32
 
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many foreign exchange transactions involving less than £2 million her Department made to Bangladesh in each financial year since 2010-11.
    (220275)
33
 
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many foreign exchange transactions involving less than £2 million her Department made to India in each financial year since 2010-11.
    (220276)
34
 
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many foreign exchange transactions involving less than £2 million her Department made to Ethiopia in each financial year since 2010-11.
    (220277)
35
 
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many foreign exchange transactions involving less than £2 million her Department made to Nigeria in each financial year since 2010-11.
    (220278)
36
 
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many foreign exchange transactions involving less than £2 million her Department made to Pakistan in each financial year since 2010-11.
    (220279)
37
 
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many foreign exchange transactions involving less than £2 million her Department made to Afghanistan in each financial year since 2010-11.
    (220280)
38
 
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many foreign exchange transactions involving less than £2 million her Department made to Tanzania in each financial year since 2010-11.
    (220281)
39
 
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, for what reasons her Department is increasing its allocation of non-humanitarian funding to the Caribbean from 2013-14 to 2014-15.
    (220282)
40
 
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison officers (a) work in each prison and (b) are authorised to work in each prison at the latest date for which figures are available.
    (220267)
41
 
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) convictions and (b) fixed penalty notices there have been in respect of people arrested for speeding offences in Suffolk (i) in total and (ii) on the (A) A143 and (B) A14 in each year since 2005.
    (220273)
42
 
Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran): To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with (a) the Scottish Government and (b) his ministerial colleagues on the sustainability of employment and exploration levels in the North Sea oil and gas industry; and if he will make a statement.
  [R] (220246)
43
 
Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress his Department has made on increasing the use of renewable energy in transport in Greater Manchester.
    (220304)
44
 
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2014 to Question 217210, how much funding his Department has allocated to each district and unitary council in (a) Suffolk, (b) Bedfordshire, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Essex, (e) Hertfordshire and (f) Norfolk for road improvement in each year since 2005.
    (220289)
45
 
Ian Austin (Dudley North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people in England who have waited more than (a) 30 days, (b) 60 days, (c) 90 days, (d) 120 days, (e) 150 days, (f) 180 days and (g) one year for a personal independence payment application to be completed.
    (220255)
46
 
Ian Austin (Dudley North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people in Dudley who have waited more than six months for a personal independence payment application to be completed.
    (220256)
47
 
Ian Austin (Dudley North): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people in Dudley who are waiting for a personal independence payment application to be completed.
    (220257)
48
 
Katy Clark (North Ayrshire and Arran): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has conducted an impact assessment of proposed changes to the widowed parent's allowance; and if he will make a statement.
    (220244)
49
 
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 25 November 2014, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr M A De Barrus.
    (220259)
50
 
Sir Gerald Kaufman (Manchester, Gorton): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he intends to reply to the letter to him dated 26 November 2014, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr A Farooqi.
    (220260)
51
 
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of benefit fraud which was attributable to identity fraud for each benefit in (a) Suffolk, (b) Bedfordshire,(c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Essex, (e) Hertfordshire and (f) Norfolk in each year since 2005 for which figures are available.
    (220272)
52
 
Mr David Ruffley (Bury St Edmunds): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many payments for jobseeker's allowance were terminated (a) as a result of employment and (b) for other reasons in (i) Suffolk, (ii) Bedfordshire, (iii) Cambridgeshire, (iv) Essex, (v) Hertfordshire and (vi) Norfolk in each of the last five years.
    (220274)
Wednesday 14 January  

Questions for Oral Answer

 
Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Scotland
 
★ 1
Sheila Gilmore (Edinburgh East): If he will make it his policy that responsibility for licensing shale gas extraction should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
    (906918)
★ 2
Ann McKechin (Glasgow North): What change there has been in the level of child poverty in Scotland since 2010; and if he will make a statement.
    (906919)
★ 3
Dame Angela Watkinson (Hornchurch and Upminster): What assessment he has made of the potential effect on businesses in Scotland of the removal of the requirement for employers to pay National Insurance Contributions in respect of employees under the age of 21 and apprentices under the age of 25.
    (906920)
★ 4
Mr Mike Weir (Angus): What steps the Government is taking to maintain existing Scottish rail services on and connected to the East Coast Mainline.
    (906921)
★ 5
Mr Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute): What assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of broadband and mobile phone coverage in rural Scotland.
    (906922)
★ 6
Pamela Nash (Airdrie and Shotts): What discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on job losses in Scotland resulting from City Link entering administration.
    (906923)
★ 7
Lorraine Fullbrook (South Ribble): What the next steps are for implementation of the Smith Commission proposals.
    (906924)
★ 8
Mike Crockart (Edinburgh West): What discussions he has had with the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries on how effectively the Government is protecting vulnerable consumers in Scotland from nuisance calls.
    (906925)
★ 9
John Mann (Bassetlaw): What assessment he has made of the level of anti-Semitism in Scotland.
    (906926)
★ 10
John Robertson (Glasgow North West): What estimate he has made of the effect on tax revenue from Scotland of the recent fall in the price of oil.
    (906927)
★ 11
Cathy Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun): What discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on support for the oil and gas sector in Scotland.
    (906928)
★ 12
Iain McKenzie (Inverclyde): What plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to devolve responsibility for the franchise in Scottish Parliament elections to the Scottish Parliament.
    (906929)
★ 13
Mr Frank Roy (Motherwell and Wishaw): What assessment he has made of the potential effect on jobs in Scotland of the fall in the price of oil.
    (906930)
★ 14
John Stevenson (Carlisle): What assessment he has made of recent trends in the number of visitors to Scotland and their contribution to the economy in Scotland.
    (906931)
★ 15
Jim Sheridan (Paisley and Renfrewshire North): What discussions he has had with his Cabinet colleagues and Ministers of the Scottish Government on the relationship between oil prices and travel costs for cross-border commuters.
    (906932)
At 12 noon
Oral Questions to the Prime Minister
Unless otherwise indicated the Members listed below will ask a question without notice
★ 1
Gregg McClymont (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East): If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 14 January.
    (906978)
★ 2
Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test):  
    (906979)
★ 3
Michael Fabricant (Lichfield):  
    (906980)
★ 4
Stephen Metcalfe (South Basildon and East Thurrock):  
    (906981)
★ 5
Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe):  
    (906982)
★ 6
Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon):  
    (906983)
★ 7
Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch):  
    (906984)
★ 8
James Morris (Halesowen and Rowley Regis):  
    (906985)
★ 9
Toby Perkins (Chesterfield):  
    (906986)
★ 10
Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry):  
    (906987)
★ 11
John Cryer (Leyton and Wanstead):  
    (906988)
★ 12
Mr Adrian Sanders (Torbay):  
    (906989)
★ 13
Robert Halfon (Harlow):  
    (906990)
★ 14
David Rutley (Macclesfield):  
    (906991)
★ 15
Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South):  
    (906992)

Questions for Written Answer

Notices given on Friday 2 January

1
N
Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy that biometric material is taken from and retained in respect of suspected criminals in England and Wales who have been convicted of serious offences previously in (a) Scotland, (b) Northern Ireland and (c) other EU countries; and if she will make a statement.
    (219655)

Notices given on Friday 9 January

1
N
Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Hall Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he takes to ensure that equipment for which arms export licences to Saudi Arabia have been granted is not used for internal repression.
    (220307)
2
N
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what amount each Government department has spent on external legal fees relating to each case involving substantive judicial review hearings since May 2010; and what the outcome of the proceedings was in each such case.
    (220247)
3
N
Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what funds are currently managed by the Pool Re scheme; and if he will make a statement.
    (220318)
4
N
Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the anticipated dividend payment to the Government and the insurance industry from the assets managed in the Pool Re scheme in 2014-15 is; and if he will make a statement.
    (220319)
5
N
Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has for the division of dividends on the assets held by the Pool Re scheme; and if he will make a statement.
    (220320)
6
N
Chris Bryant (Rhondda): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2014 to Question 218397, on broadband: urban areas, to which 28 cities his Department has written.
    (220287)
7
N
Chris Bryant (Rhondda): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Answer of 16 December 2014 to Question 217969, which four cities were considered and rejected in wave 1; which six cities were considered and rejected in wave 2; and for what reasons each city in each wave was rejected.
    (220292)
8
N
Chris Bryant (Rhondda): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the recommendations of the Independent Library Report for England, published in December 2014, what estimate he has made of the cost of providing WiFi in all public libraries.
    (220293)
9
N
Chris Bryant (Rhondda): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which recommendations in the Independent Library Report for England he (a) accepts and (b) rejects.
    (220312)
10
N
Chris Bryant (Rhondda): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department has spent on the Government Art Collection in each year since May 2010.
    (220313)
11
N
Chris Leslie (Nottingham East): To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department's Annual Report and Accounts for 2013-14 will be published; and what the reasons are for the time taken to publish that report.
    (220261)
12
N
Stephen Gilbert (St Austell and Newquay): To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the cost of energy for homes not connected to mains gas or electricity.
    (220250)
13
N
Tracey Crouch (Chatham and Aylesford): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of changes introduced by her Department to the EU pet travel scheme which came into force on 29 December 2014 on illegal imports of puppies to the UK from other EU countries; what discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on abuse of the PETS system to illegally import puppies for sale; and if she will make a statement.
    (220249)
14
N
Mr Roger Godsiff (Birmingham, Hall Green): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Saudi Arabian government on the public flogging of Raif Badawi on 9 January 2015.
    (220263)
15
N
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps that do not require legislation have been taken by her Department in response to its review of new psychoactive substances since its publication; and what further such steps she plans to take before the end of the present Parliament (a) overall and (b) relating to head shops.
    (220314)
16
N
Norman Baker (Lewes): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for implementation of each of the recommendations of her Department's review of new psychoactive substances.
    (220315)
17
N
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment criteria are used for the Syrian vulnerable person relocation scheme.
    (220264)
18
N
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) average and (b) longest time taken has been to process a Syrian refugee through the Syrian vulnerable person relocation scheme up to their relocation in the UK.
    (220306)
19
N
Jack Dromey (Birmingham, Erdington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) total cost and (b) cost in each principal category of expenditure was of the Police and Crime Commissioner elections in 2012; and in which months of 2012 costs for each of the principal items were incurred.
    (220265)
20
N
Mary Creagh (Wakefield): To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2014 to Question 216682, what the top five countries were to which payments under £2 million were made in each financial year since 2010-11.
    (220288)
21
N
Mr Andy Slaughter (Hammersmith): To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much the Government spent on legal fees in the case Gudanaviciene & Ors, R (on the application of) v The Director of Legal Aid Casework & Or [2014] EWCA Civ 1622 (15 December 2014).
    (220248)
22
N
Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the performance metrics for jobcentres.
    (220262)
23
N
Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent on in-work housing benefit for migrant workers from the European Economic Area who have arrived in the UK within the last (a) six months, (b) 12 months and (c) 24 months.
    (220286)
24
N
Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what incentives jobcentres have to sanction benefit claimants.
    (220291)
25
N
Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit sanctions have been overturned on appeal because the claimant met the reasonableness test because of (a) domestic violence, (b) mental health conditions or disorders, (c) bullying or harassment in the workplace, (d) homelessness, (e) losing a work experience opportunity, other than for a reason of gross misconduct, (f) travelling time, (g) break-up of the family, (h) short notice caring commitments for the elderly, sick or children, (i) domestic emergency, (j) family bereavement, (k) learning difficulties, poor numeracy or literacy, (l) legal constraints and (m) temporary changes in circumstances in (i) 2009-10, (ii) 2010-11, (iii) 2011-12, (iv) 2012-13, (v) 2013-14 and (vi) 2014-15 to date.
    (220316)
26
N
Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland): To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many sanctions relating to each benefit have been overturned on appeal in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13, (e) 2013-14 and (f) 2014-15 to date.
    (220317)
Thursday 15 January  

Questions for Written Answer

Notices given on Wednesday 7 January

1
N
Mr Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that UN Security Council Resolutions 2098 and 2147 are implemented in full and that effective steps are taken to demobilise and disband the FDLR from North and South Kivu; and if he will make a statement.
    (220017)
Friday 16 January  

Questions for Written Answer

Notices given on Tuesday 6 January

1
N
John Mann (Bassetlaw): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which people, excluding Ministers and Diplomats, have represented the Government at inaugurations abroad since May 2010; and what the cost was of that representation in each such case.
    (219962)

Notices given on Friday 9 January

1
N
David Tredinnick (Bosworth): To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of regulated complementary and alternative medical practitioners to reducing demands on the NHS.
    (220251)
Tuesday 20 January  

Questions for Written Answer

Notices given on Wednesday 7 January

1
N
Chris Williamson (Derby North): To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to reduce the number of fatal shootings of cats; and if she will make a statement.
    (219993)
Wednesday 21 January  

Questions for Written Answer

Notices given on Friday 9 January

1
N
Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses were instructed by the Financial Services Ombudsman to award consumers the maximum compensation of £150,000 in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.
[Transferred]   (220172)
2
N
Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses were recommended by the Financial Services Ombudsman to award consumers fair compensation above the £150,000 limit in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.
[Transferred]   (220187)
3
N
Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses were recommended by the Financial Services Ombudsman to award consumers fair compensation above the £100,000 limit in each year from 2001 to 2011.
[Transferred]   (220188)
4
N
Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West): To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on removing the compensation limit set by the Financial Services Ombudsman.
[Transferred]   (220196)

Prepared 9th January 2015