Written Answers
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Attorney-General
To ask the Attorney-General in how many and what proportion of cases prosecuted by the Crown Prosecution Service the defendant entered a not guilty plea at each stage of the prosecution and trial in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
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Business, Innovation and Skills
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will take steps to ensure that Royal Mail (a) retains its name and (b) is able to retain its Royal Charter in circumstances in which it is sold to an overseas buyer.
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Cabinet Office
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Ministers were required to self-isolate on 21 July 2021.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Smart Freight system will be available for testing by road haulage drivers.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans for the Smart Freight facility to be (a) trialled and (b) operational.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans for the Kent Access Permit to be (a) ready for trialling and (b) operational.
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To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of UK nationals working as contractors who have been replaced by specialists from overseas in the latest period for which figures are available.
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To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether all payments of pensions payable to retired civil servants resident overseas are up to date; and whether the MyCSP mutual venture system and its associated information technology are working efficiently.
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To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his estimate is of the number of expatriate UK citizens who have lived overseas for more than 15 years and are as a consequence not allowed to vote in UK general elections.
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Communities and Local Government
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the regional fire and emergency response programme.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate he has made of (a) the likely date of commissioning of the new regional fire and emergency response centres and (b) the cost to the public purse of the construction programme for these centres.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the additional (a) costs of and (b) savings from an immediate termination of the regional fire and emergency response centre programme.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer from the Minister of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, of 19 February 2008, Official Report, column 559-60W, on wind power: noise, when he expects to announce permitted development…
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Culture Media and Sport
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects that the Triennial Review of the British Film Institute will be published.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will meet representatives of small commercial FM radio stations to discuss the impact of the digital radio switchover and Government support for this sector before her Department's announcement, scheduled for 16 December 2013, on the…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will discuss with the Royal Yachting Association measures to ensure that the activities of media boats do not interfere with competing yachtsmen during events for the London 2012 Olympics held in Dorset.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the findings of the International Olympic Committee investigation into corruption within FIFA; and if he will make a statement.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what discussions he has had with Ofcom on the (a) policing and (b) mitigation of interference with Freeview digital terrestrial services that may arise from the introduction of 4G mobile technology.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will ensure that universal broadband access at a minimum of 2MB/s is a priority following the sale of 800, 700 and 600 MHz spectrum.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his latest estimate is of the use by overseas visitors of self-catering holiday accommodation in this country in each of the last three years.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his latest estimate is of the monetary value to the economy of income generated by self-catering farm holiday accommodation in each of the last three years.
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Defence
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the names are of service personnel who have died in the UK following injuries sustained on active service in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan who are not included in the published statistics of those who have died on active service in each of those…
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Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to announce details of the discretionary local business grant scheme.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which aerodromes are located within the Enterprise Zones.
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Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) EU and (b) overseas nationals employed in low-skilled jobs in the (i) catering and (ii) hospitality industries.
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Department for Education
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to announce details of the Primary PE and Sport Premium for the 2022-23 academic year.
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What support his Department is providing to help safeguard (a) staff and (b) children in early years settings during the covid-19 outbreak.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that Modern Greek continues to be available to students to study as A and AS-levels after 2017.
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Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the average figure for energy production supplies to the grid was for (a) gas, (b) solar farms, (c) wind farms, (d) hydro-electric schemes, (e) nuclear, (f) biomass and (g) interconnectors for the last 12 months for which figures…
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Department for Energy and Climate Change
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will take steps to reduce the subsidies available to the promotion and construction of on-shore wind farms; and if she will bring forward proposals to ensure that local planning controls over such projects involve adequate…
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Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current animal welfare arrangements for the 77 million fish farmed annually in the United Kingdom.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many permits his Department has issued for the import of hunting trophies from Russia in each of the last three years.
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What assessment his Department has made of the effect of labour shortages on the harvesting of crops in autumn 2021.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much his Department spent on measures to prevent the illegal wildlife trade in each year since 2015.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to restrict the activities of supertrawlers operating within UK fishing grounds.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what further steps he plans to take to tackle the illegal importation of puppies into the UK.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the pet travel scheme, if he will (a) re-introduce (i) the rabies blood test with a wait period in line with the incubation of the disease and (ii) the requirement for dogs and cats to be treated against ticks…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will increase the sentences for the illegal importation of dogs and cats to include provision for a significant custodial sentence upon conviction.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to facilitate the re-opening of wildlife parks; and if he will make a statement.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) EU and (b) overseas nationals employed as (i) semi-skilled and (ii) unskilled workers in agriculture.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the value of top fruit left unpicked as a result of labour shortages during the 2018-2019 season.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) EU and (b) overseas nationals employed as (i) semi-skilled and (ii) unskilled workers in horticulture.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the additional costs incurred by the (a) agricultural and (b) horticultural sectors as a result of the proposed immigration controls on (i) semi-skilled and (ii) unskilled workers.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural affairs, following the granting of Royal Assent to Finns Law, when he plans to bring forward the legislative proposals necessary to introduce five-year sentences for cruelty to animals.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) prevent the spread of the outbreak of canine babesiosis and (b) deter the impact from mainland Europe of infected animals carrying tick-borne viruses.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of potential benefits of re-introduction of tick treatment as a requirement for the importation of dogs from mainland Europe into the UK under the Pet Passport scheme.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the European Commission's study on information to consumers on the stunning of animals, published in May 2015, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the findings of that report;…
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Department for Transport
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to bring forward the statutory instrument necessary to permit the use of hydrogen powered construction vehicles on public roads through amendment to the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the economic impact of the planned closures of the M2 motorway between junctions 5 and 6 at weekends in (a) spring and (b) summer 2022 on tourist industries in the seaside towns of (i) Whitstable, (ii)…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of future GDP growth on air freight tonnage for (a) imports into and (b) exports from the UK.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of new trade deals on the import and export volumes that will require air freight transportation.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of internet sales on demand for air freight services.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what modelling his Department has made of levels of future air freight volumes to and from the UK up to 2050.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the annual tonnage of air freight that is (a) trucked from the UK to EU airports for onward carriage by air and (b) flown into EU airports and then trucked onwards into the UK.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the air freight capacity available at (a) Heathrow (b) Stansted and (c) East Midlands airports.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of UK airfreight infrastructure required to accommodate (a) dedicated freighter aircraft using UK runway capacity, (b) belly freight on passenger aircraft served by existing UK airports and (c) airfreight trucked…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many pedestrians were involved in road traffic accidents while using a mobile phone in the last year for which figures are available.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will confirm the commitment given by his Department to reinstate Manston Airport following the cessation of the use of that airfield as a potential lorry park after the UK leaves the EU.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of electronic conspicuity devices on safety in general aviation.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of electronic conspicuity devices in general aviation.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Secretary of State for Defence was consulted on the use of Manston Airport as part of the planning process under the Town and Country Planning (Operation Stack) Special Development Order 2015 and its subsequent amendments in 2016 and 2017;…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the amount of historic public investment in aerodromes in years for which information is available.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department plans to make available for the provision of new aerodromes.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the validity of the UK driving licence in the EU after the UK has left the EU.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the costs to flying schools of complying with the UK's current EU targets for 8.33kHz radio adoption.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of re-designating formal (a) aerodrome traffic and (b) military air traffic zones handling below 10,000 commercial air traffic movements per year in order to allow more general aviation access.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make representations to Naric to recognise airline transport pilots' licence ground schooling as a formal accredited qualification.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a new type of professional pilot apprenticeship to incentivise those undertaking airline pilots' licence courses.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to postpone the proposed deadline for the installation of 8.33 KHz-compatible radio equipment in aircraft until the outcome of the negotiations on the UK leaving the EU is known.
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Department for Work and Pensions
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what average length of time is taken by her Department to process the mandatory reconsideration of a personal independence payment claim.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an estimate of the number of job vacancies that will be created in the event that the WASPI generation of women are permitted to retire immediately and on full pension.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons not all UK pensioners living overseas receive annual pension uprating.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on what basis the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Barthélemy, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna and New Caledonia are excluded from his calculations for the purposes of establishing the average mean…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a conclusion has been reached on infringement proceedings generated by the European Commission against the Government of the United Kingdom, with regard to the application of the 'Past Presence' test for disability benefit purposes as it…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of cases awaiting individual assessments by Atos; what estimate he has made of the waiting time between personal independence payment (PIP) claims, assessment and awards being made; and what estimate he has…
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Department of Health
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proposals NHS England has made for the replacement of paediatric respiratory services currently provided at the Royal Brompton Hospital.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the clinical evidence basis is that patient services will be improved as a result of the proposed closure of congenital heart disease services at the Royal Brompton Hospital.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost of NHS England’s proposal to close congenital heart disease services at the Royal Brompton Hospital.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the potential number of qualified medical staff who might leave the NHS as a result of the proposed closure of congenital heart disease services at the Royal Brompton Hospital.
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Department of Health and Social Care
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information the Government holds on the number of deaths from covid-19 occurring within twenty-eight days of receipt of a covid-19 negative test result.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people employed or volunteering in NHS hospitals who have died as the result of a covid-19 infection were working on (a) intensive care wards, (b) Blue (covid-19) wards and (c) Red (non-covid 19) wards.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the advice submitted to his Department by Public Health England on the provision and use of personal protective equipment was last updated.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) EU and )b) overseas nationals employed as semi-skilled ancillary staff in (a) National Health Service hospitals and (b) the private care sector as care assistants.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the additional cost to the (a) NHS and (b) private care sector of the proposed immigration limits on unskilled and low-paid workers from (i) the EU and (ii) overseas.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to tackle potential labour shortages as a result of the Government's proposed immigration controls.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the (a) CEO, (b) Accountable Officers and (c) chief nurses of the CCGs rated as inadequate in NHS England’s assessment framework on the performance of those CCGs; what measures have been agreed to help…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the social care green paper.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the Get it Right First Time report.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to make an announcement on the roll-out of HPV vaccination for boys.
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Education
To ask the Secretary of State for Education which schools other than academies had rebuilding programmes (a) authorised and (b) funded since his statement to the House on 5 July 2010, Official Report, columns 47-73, and the publication of further details on 12 July 2010; and if he will include…
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Energy and Climate Change
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure that no breaches of personal privacy or abuse of data arise from the installation and use of domestic smart meters; and if he will make a statement.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure the installation of Smart meters is done in such a way that data on the household will be made secure.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his most recent estimate is of the number of households in fuel poverty as a result of the costs arising from heating properties to the temperature required to manage disability and related long-term medical conditions.
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Environment Food and Rural Affairs
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the badgers culled and tested during the pilot cull programme were found to have been (a) carrying and (b) suffering from bovine tuberculosis.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to be in a position to publish the report that his Department has commissioned with regard to the effects of land-based wind farms upon property prices in rural areas.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many dogs have entered the UK from (a) other EU countries and (b) listed non-EU countries since his Department implemented the revised EU Pet Travel scheme in January 2012.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from which (a) EU and (b) non-EU countries dogs have been imported since the introduction of the revised EU Pet Travel scheme in January 2012.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations he has received from Eurostar on the EU Pet Travel scheme and what recent representations his Department has made to Eurostar to seek to bring to an end restrictions on transfrontier passengers…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects to make a statement relating to the introduction of enhanced dog control measures.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to co-ordinate responses to a national emergency; and which of these steps derive from recommendations of the Pitt Report.
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Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise the failure of the Tanzanian Government to take action in relation to the seizure of Silverdale farm by Mr Benjamin Mengi in his upcoming meeting with the President of Tanzania.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further information he has concerning the status of Jovica Kolakovic, a UK citizen detained in Malta for more than four years without charge or trial; and if he will make a statement.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will estimate the number of (a) annual UK citizen visitors to, (b) permanent expatriate UK citizens in and (c) other UK homeowners in the Balearic Islands in the latest year for which figures are available.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the reasons were for the downgrading of consular representation in the Balearic Islands; and if he will make a statement.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to put in place a system of standards and certification for private security companies operating in (a) high-risk environments and (b) the maritime and anti-piracy sector; and if he will make a statement.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 5 July 2011, Official Report, column 1118W, on prisoners, how many cases of UK citizens detained without trial in other EU member states for more than 12 months have been referred to his Department for (a)…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens he estimates had been held without trial for more than 12 months in countries that are member states of the Council of Europe in the latest period for which figures are available; and what steps he is…
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to reach a reciprocal agreement with the United States to ensure that UK citizens in that country whose visas have expired or are about to expire are granted the same concessions as those enjoyed, for the…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reciprocal arrangements the Government has made with the US Administration to extend the length of visas for UK and US citizens currently in either country whose visas are due to expire and who are unable to return home…
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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, If he will discuss with his Turkish counterpart the resolution of persons missing following the invasion of Cyprus in 1974 and the role that Turkey could play in providing access to military sites for exhumation and…
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HM Treasury
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to incentivise corporate sponsorship of not-for-profit flight training and flying schools.
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To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to incentivise corporate sponsorship of air ambulances, civil air patrols and other not-for-profit and charitable organisations.
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To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing the tax on aviation gasoline.
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Health
To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the speech by Simon Stevens, CEO, NHS England on 4 June 2014, if he will call in and review the decision taken by the East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust to transfer community services currently based at the Queen Victoria…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what safeguards he has put in place to ensure that there is no conflict of financial interest between membership of clinical commissioning groups and GP-run practices and health centres;(2) what provision has been made for the registration and…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that people affected by muscle-wasting conditions will be able to continue to access neuromuscular co-ordinator support in the South East coast health region following September 2013; and if he will make a statement.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by NHS South to secure the long-term future of the neuromuscular care pathway co-ordinator and patient advocate for the South Coast region; and if he will make a statement.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of (a) the number of hospital medical secretariat in England whose posts have been (i) abolished and (ii) downgraded from grade five to grade four or grade three and (b) the number of hospital staff posts in England at grade six and…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which hospital trusts in England currently send consultants’ letters electronically to the Indian subcontinent for typing and return to the UK for printing, editing and signature; what estimate he has made of the number of such letters that were…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the name is of each (a) NHS Commissioner and (b) provider of NHS-commissioned care that is not yet compliant with the IG toolkit requirement for the pseudonymisation of patient data and records.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost to the NHS was of the prescription of ranibizumab (Lucentis) for the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration in each of the last two years.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects avastin to be available through the NHS to patients suffering from wet age-related macular degeneration.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care advisers are available for muscular dystrophy patients within the area covered by the South East and Coastal Regional Health Authority.
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Home Department
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make over-the-counter retail sales of cannabis seed illegal; and if she will make a statement.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she anticipates that agreement will be reached between her Department, Eurostar and the authorities in Belgium and France to resolve border control problems that have arisen as a result of intra- and extra-Schengen ticket abuse.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when, and under whose authority, the practice of requiring Eurostar passengers travelling between Brussels and London to keep their boarding passes for checking on arrival at St Pancras was introduced.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the number of foreign national prisoners who have not been deported following their release from Swaleside prison in Sheppey and are now resident in Thanet.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if (a) she and (b) the Minister for Immigration will visit the UK Border Agency website and test themselves against the Life in the UK or knowledge of language test.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of illegal immigrants who may have entered the UK via the Eurostar route from Brussels via Lille during the six months ending November 2011; and if she will make a statement.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect of the withdrawal of the policy document entitled Guidance on R(S) Policydealing with Failed Asylum Claims Which May Have Lost the Benefit of an ELR Policy as a Result of Delay; and what estimate she…
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects of the outcomes of the comprehensive spending review on (a) her Department's funding of the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research and (b) the official…
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Home Office
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many passport applications are (a) outstanding and (b) remain unprocessed for more than ten weeks.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of staff in the Passport Office working from home as of 18 May 2022.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the backlog of outstanding passport applications.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many items have been seized under the terms of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) in each year since 2015.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department has spent on helping to prevent the illegal wildlife trade in each year since 2015.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many illegal immigrants have been apprehended while entering the UK in each of the 12 months from September (a) 2018 and (b) 2019.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what was the annual value of the health service charges that her Department collects from immigrants working the the NHS and social care services in each of the last two years for which figures are available.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will (a) place funding for the national wildlife crime unit on a permanent basis and (b) allocate to that unit sufficient funding to support the effective investigation of wildlife crimes.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the additional costs to be borne by the (a) catering and (b) hospitality industries as a result of the Government's proposals to limit low-skilled workers from (i) the EU and (ii) overseas.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure an adequate supply of labour for the (i) catering and (ii) hospitality industries after the introduction of controls on low-skilled workers from the (A) EU and (B) overseas.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of UK-trained overseas Veterinary Surgeons working in the UK under the current visa regulations that will be required to leave the UK in the next five years.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to ensure an adequate supply of hospital ancillary workers and care assistants from (a) EU member states and (b) non-EU countries to staff (i) the NHS and (ii) residential and nursing homes after the UK leaves the EU.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to improve the emergency services' efficiency for encouraging cooperation with air ambulances, civil air patrols and other charity organisations.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers in each force, are suspended and unavailable for duty as a result of the 63 active independent investigations currently being undertaken by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and which have taken more than 11…
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases currently under investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission have been live for more than 11 months.
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To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department plans to take to screen arrivals from West Africa via Europe at the Port of Dover for Ebola; and what steps her Department is taking to liaise with the French authorities to facilitate the screening of people…
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International Development
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reasons his Department recommended that funds agreed with the Serious Fraud Office should be paid by BAE to the Government of Tanzania rather than to Tanzanian charities; and if he will make a statement.
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Justice
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects that his proposed round- table meeting with groups representing survivors of childhood sexual abuse will take place; and when he expects that invitations to participate in that meeting will be issued.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the likely cost to the public purse of his proposals for further televising of aspects of the work of the judiciary; and from what budget such funding will be drawn.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will bring forward proposals to increase the number of cases tried before the magistrates courts and to reduce the number of minor offences heard by the Crown courts.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effects of the closures of magistrates courts on the number of minor offences that can be heard in those courts.
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Ministry of Defence
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to expand general aviation access to his Department's airfields as proposed in the Government's 2015 Aviation Strategy.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to prevent the illegal netting of wild birds within the sovereign base areas of Cyprus; and what steps are being taken to apprehend and prosecute those responsible for such acts.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of changes to business rates on high street activity; and if he will further review eligibility for non-residential business rate relief.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the criteria upon which high street shops were determined to be eligible for rate relief.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for what reasons adult gaming centres are excluded from high street rate relief.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals in respect of the non-domestic rating of public lavatories.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the timeframe is for the coming into force of the provisions of the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has undertaken an impact assessment of the proposed entry level exception site policy on rural occupation; and if he will make a statement.
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Ministry of Justice
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent estimate his Department has made of the average length of time taken to process an application for a Power of Attorney.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the waiting time between the commencement of a personal independence payment appeal and a decision for claimants in Thanet.
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Prime Minister
To ask the Prime Minister, what progress he has made on appointing the UK delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
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Transport
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of investment in selective heating of conductor rails on the rail line between Faversham and Ramsgate.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the potential effect that the change in journey times for trains running between London Cannon Street and East Kent to be introduced from 22 May 2011 will have on the performance targets needed to be achieved by Southeastern…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passenger rail services on High Speed One will run between London and points east of (a) Ashford and (b) Faversham under the new timetable for Southeastern passenger rail services.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what compensation was paid to rail passengers by each of the train operating companies operating the delay and pay scheme in each of the last two years for which figures are available.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the performance data for each relevant reporting period submitted to his Department by Southeastern Trains in respect of the review of the continuation of the franchise before any decision is taken on its renewal.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department provided in public subsidy to each train operating company in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10; and how many passengers were carried by each such company in each such year.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to maintain the independence of the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the incidence of the involvement of (a) foreign-registered and (b) all heavy goods vehicles in road traffic accidents in the latest period for which figures are available.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals for road worthiness inspections of foreign road haulage vehicles entering and leaving the UK.
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To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what penalty payments (a) NXEC and (b) National Express made to his Department following the termination of their tenure of the East Coast Main Line franchise.
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To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what proposals are under consideration for the provision of alternative services to Eurostar using the Channel Tunnel rail link; when such services could be operational; and if he will make a statement.
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Treasury
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to publish final guidance on the implementation of the Job Support Scheme.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether GB issued EORI numbers will be valid in Europe after 31 December 2020.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make provision to ensure that UK citizens resident in the remaining EU 27 countries are able to have British Civil Service and other state pensions paid into overseas bank accounts.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) passporting arrangements and (b) banking facilities used by UK citizens resident in the remaining EU 27 countries will be maintained after the 31 December 2020.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of IR35 tax reforms on rates of employment amongst contractors.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of IR35 tax reforms on (a) the economy and (b) flexibility in the workforce.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to fully re-open the Valuation Office Agency in order to clear the backlog of that Agency`s outstanding queries during the covid-19 outbreak.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to exempt electronic conspicuity devices used in general aviation from VAT.
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To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue was raised from fuel duty on aviation fuel in the last five years for which data is available.
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To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what comparisons he has made of the taxation of flight training in the UK with such taxation in other countries; and if he will make a statement.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the funding of the proposal to televise aspects of the work of the judiciary; and if he will make a statement.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the funding pledged by the G8 for the purpose of assisting economic reforms in Tunisia to be provided.
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the quantity of counterfeit branded spirits sold in the UK in each of the last three years; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of that quantity which (a) is manufactured within the UK and (b) enters the UK…
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to take steps to assist UK citizens who have lost funds invested in Kaupthing Singer, Isle of Man which were subsequently transferred to London.
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Work and Pensions
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of prosecutions investigated by the Health and Safety Executive for breaches of the ban on smoking in commercial and working vehicles since the introduction of that ban.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the refusal in the Court of Appeal on appeal from the upper tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber) on 23 October 2013, of his appeal against the decision made by the Upper Tribunal in CDLA/0735/2009, when disabled claimants…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on what basis the French départements d'outre mer of French Guyana, Martinique, Reunion and Guadaloupe are included as part of mainland Europe for the purpose of his Department's calculation of entitlement to winter fuel payments.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to his Department's announcement entitled, Don't Lose Out on Your UK pension or benefit payments”, published on 17 October 2013, what steps he has taken to prevent the fraudulent use of the information which his Department…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made on reaching an agreement with the European Commission in relation to developing a form suited to the exchange of medical information for benefit purposes; and if he will make a statement.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which French tropical overseas territories were included in his Department's average temperature calculations in respect of winter fuel payments to expatriate UK citizens living in the EU member states.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will publish his response to the European Commission's letter requesting clarification of the UK Government's position on the cumulative conditions that apply for waiving the past presence test in cross-border situations.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department takes to protect the pension rights of UK citizens who have lived in, but not worked in, other EU countries.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when she expects her Department to recommence the payment of re-instated exportable sickness benefits and back-dated payments due to UK citizens now resident in other EU member states and in Switzerland.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will bring forward proposals to assist with the heating bills of long-term sick and disabled people.
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will place in the Library before the Christmas Adjournment a copy of the Government's response to the European Commission on EU infringement proceedings in respect of the non-payment of exportable disability living allowances and other…
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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will place in the Library a copy of her substantive response to the letter sent to her by the European Commission on 1 October 2009 giving factual notice in respect of the UK Government's failure to comply with the ECJ ruling on exportable…
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