To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has budgeted for Christmas decorations in 2009. (300401)

The Department has budgeted £560 for three Christmas trees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Christmas parties his Department plans to host in 2009; what has been budgeted for each such reception; what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) lamb, (b) beef, (c) chicken, (d) pork, (e) turkey, (f) other meats, (g) vegetables, (h) fruit and (i) alcohol to be served at each such function which is produced in the UK; and if he will make a statement. (300878)

No plans have yet been made for Christmas parties in 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants from his Department will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in an official capacity. (300886)

No Ministers or civil servants from this Department are attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on interior decoration in each of the last three years. (300590)

The Department spent the following amounts on internal decoration in each of the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) laptop computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) items of office furniture and (d) works of art have been (i) lost by and (ii) stolen from his Department in each of the last three years; whether his Department made an insurance claim in respect of each such item; and what the estimated value of each item was. (300992)

The information is as follows:

(a) My Department has not had any laptops lost or stolen in the last three financial years.

(b) The numbers of lost or stolen mobile phones for each of the last three financial years are:

2006-07: One lost.

2007-08: Four lost. Two stolen.

2008-09: Two lost.

Equipment is not insured. My Department does not record the value of lost mobile phones but as an indication the current replacement cost of a mobile phone is £195.

(c) My Department has not lost any items of office furniture lost or stolen in the last three financial years.

(d) The numbers of lost or stolen works of art for each of the last three financial years are:

2006-07: None.

2007-08: Four lost. Two stolen, but since recovered.

2008-09: Four lost.

None of these items have been lost by the DCMS itself or stolen from DCMS buildings. At any one time approximately 70 per cent. of the Government art collection's holding of over 13,500 works of art is on display in over 400 buildings operated by different Government Departments in the UK and around the world.

No insurance claim has been made for any of the lost items as none of them were commercially insured (HMG carries its own risk). The borrower's commercial insurance was in place for the two items stolen from Somerset House whilst on loan, in February 2008. DCMS did not take the payout because the two items were recovered by the police (in September 2008).

Estimated valuations have not been provided in this answer. In common with other national collections, the Government art collection is normally not commercially insured nor treated as a financial asset. Against a background of constant and volatile fluctuations in the art market, current valuations of every work of art in the collection are not maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) bonuses and (b) incentives have been paid to (i) consultants and (ii) contractors engaged by his Department in each of the last three years. (300647)

In the past three years the Department has paid £5,210.00 to a contractor who exceeded his service level and qualified for an incentive. No bonuses have been paid to either consultants or contractors engaged by the Department in the last three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) bonuses and (b) incentives have been paid to (i) consultants and (ii) contractors engaged by executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible in each of the last three years. (300648)

The Department does not hold any central records. To answer this question would incur disproportionate costs. Individual non-departmental public bodies and Executive agencies should be contacted directly as they are responsible for their own contractors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what weight of paper his Department recycled in each of the last five years. (300776)

The Department recycled 47.29 tonnes of paper in 2008-09. In previous years the Department recorded only the total weight of recycled waste: the weight of recycled paper was not separately recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department has spent on taxis in 2008-09. (300721)

All official travel is undertaken in accordance with rules set out in the Department’s Travel and Subsistence guidance and is consistent with the Civil Service Management Code.

The Department’s expenditure on taxis in 2008-09 was £32,179.

This figure represents expenditure on taxis and black cabs which is separately identified in the Department’s accounting system. In addition there is an element of this expenditure included in the general travel and subsistence account which can be identified only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what expenditure his Department has incurred on (a) international travel and (b) overseas accommodation in respect of staff in each of the last three years. (300591)

All official travel is undertaken in accordance with rules set out in the Department’s Travel and Subsistence guidance and is consistent with the Civil Service Management Code.

Overall departmental expenditure for international travel and subsistence by officials from 2006-07 to 2008-09 is set out in the following table. To disaggregate travel and accommodation costs would incur disproportionate cost as these are not separately recorded on the Department’s accounting system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Premier League 4 Sport partnerships have so far been set up; and what assessment he has made of their impact. (300366)

To date, 20 Premier League 4 Sport partnerships have been set up comprising all of the football clubs competing in the 2008-09 Premier League season.

Premier League 4 Sport activities began in September 2009. The scheme is a good example of partnership working which will contribute to our ambition of offering every young person five hours of high quality PE and sport per week. In particular, the scheme aims to help young people make the step from school sport into community clubs.

Hall Aitken has been commissioned to evaluate this initiative. We expect to receive details about the numbers of young people who have been engaged in the first term of the scheme in January.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the timetable for further steps to be taken in response to the David Davies Review of Listed Events. (300214)

We intend to publish shortly a formal Government consultation on the report's recommendations.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics what the (a) cost and (b) purpose was of legal (i) representation and (ii) advice sought by her Department and its agencies in each year since May 1997. (300372)

As my officials report to me through the permanent secretary of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the information requested is incorporated within the answer provided to the hon. Member by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether the Government Olympic Executive has held discussions with the London Development Agency on altering the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between her and the former Mayor of London; and if she will make a statement. (300216)

The Government Olympic Executive has not held any discussions with the London Development Agency about altering the terms of the memorandum of understanding between the Government and the Mayor of London on Olympic funding.

To ask the Minister for the Olympics which community projects have received direct funding from the Olympic Lottery Distribution since its inception. (300215)

The Olympic Lottery Distributor (OLD), which is an independent public body, publishes details of its grants in its annual report and on its website at www.olympiclotterydistributor.org.uk:

http://www.olympiclotterydistributor.org.uk

The OLD has to date not made any grants to community projects but it has plans to support community projects in the five Olympic boroughs. The OLD is in the process of developing a £4 million funding round for these purposes, with a view to inviting formal applications for grants in 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many police stations in Northern Ireland have closed permanently in the last four years; and how many police personnel posts have been freed for other duties as a result of such closures in the same period. (300458)

That is an operational matter for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many domestic flights within Great Britain officials from his Department took in an official capacity in 2008-09; and at what cost to the public purse such flights were taken. (300420)

In 2008-09 officials in the Scotland Office took 231 domestic return flights within Great Britain at a total cost of £67,608.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the (a) energy rating and (b) energy band of each building occupied by his Department and its agencies was in each year for which figures are available. (299696)

Dover House is required under the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 to have and display a copy of a display energy certificate. A copy of the certificate has been placed in the House Library. The regulations do not apply to our Edinburgh branch.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the level of economic inactivity in Scotland. (300318)

The Secretary of State for Scotland has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, most recently on 17 November about the specific challenges of economic inactivity in Glasgow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants in her Department will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in an official capacity. (300996)

There are no plans to include any DWP Ministers or officials in the delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will estimate the cost to the Exchequer of the payment of the full basic state pension to all those reaching the state retirement age in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14 and (d) 2014-15. (300693)

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many domestic flights within Great Britain officials from his Department took in an official capacity in 2008-09; and at what cost to the public purse such flights were taken. (300421)

This information is not recorded centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many vehicles have been given away by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency as prizes for motorists taxing their vehicles online in (a) 2009 to date and (b) the previous three calendar years; what has been the cost to the public purse of these prizes; and for what reasons such gifts are assessed to be necessary. (300474)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency introduced a prize draw for motorists taxing or declaring their vehicle off the road, either online or by telephone in July 2008.

During 2008, 18 cars were awarded as prizes and 30 cars have been awarded so far this year. All the cars have been supplied free of charge by the manufacturer. There has been no cost to the public purse.

The prize draw is part of a marketing strategy to increase awareness and use of the automated service and has helped raise take-up to 50 per cent. for tax discs due on 1 August 2009.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport with reference to the answer of 5 November 2009, Official Report, column 1103W, on railways: franchises, in which dispute in October 2006 the Department made a payment; and what the monetary value was of the payment. (300508)

I refer my hon. Friend, to my answer of 10 November 2009, Official Report, column 205W.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport if he will publish the report commissioned by his Department from Oliver Wyman on the use of Stratford as a Eurostar station after 2012. (300218)

The Oliver Wyman study was commissioned by Eurostar and not the Department for Transport. The Department is therefore not in a position to publish the study.

The Government understands that Eurostar has considered the potential markets that could be served by Stratford International station and that no firm decision has been made on the use of this station for passenger services after 2012.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Belarus on the death sentence passed on a young man in that country on 29 June 2009; and if he will make a statement. (300402)

Vasily Yuzepchuk and Andrei Zhuk have been sentenced to death in Belarus this year.

We, and EU partners, have raised their cases with the Belarusian authorities on a number of occasions. We also took part in a European Commission press conference on 12 October 2009 to mark World Day Against the Death Penalty. EU member states are working with local and international non-governmental organisations to promote public debate, and publicise EU views on the death penalty.

We continue to urge Belarus to abolish the death penalty or, as an initial measure, to introduce a moratorium. A moratorium would be beneficial for the development of EU-Belarus relations, and is a pre-requisite for enhanced relations with the Council of Europe. We have agreed with Spain that the death penalty will be one of four priority areas when the UK holds the local presidency on behalf of Spain in the first half of 2010.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had discussions with the Chinese authorities on the regulation of Chinese fur farms; and if he will make a statement. (300359)

Given the very wide range of issues we pursue with China in our bilateral relationship, our ability to focus on animal welfare issues specifically with our Chinese counterparts is limited. However the UK has worked with our European partners to introduce an EU-wide ban on the trade in domestic cat and dog fur and products containing such fur, which came into force on 1 January 2009.

We also welcome the work of organisations like the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Care for the Wild and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. These organisations work with the Chinese authorities to improve standards of animal welfare and to gradually build support for animal-welfare issues in China.

We support work to raise standards of animal welfare at home and abroad and have played an active role in promoting good welfare standards internationally. However, we believe that it is for the authorities in each country to introduce and enforce the necessary legislation to promote good animal welfare in their countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members of staff are employed in each department at Hanslope Park. (300542)

There are 145 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) staff at Hanslope Park, working in nine departments, as follows:

There are also 605 FCO Services staff at Hanslope Park.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) Milton Keynes Council and (b) Hanslope Parish Council on future developments at Hanslope Park. (300543)

Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials meet Milton Keynes Council as and when necessary, for example on planning issues. The most recent meetings have been discussions about a Green Travel Plan for staff based at Hanslope Park. There have been no recent meetings with Hanslope parish council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the government of Morocco on the number of applications for citizenship it has received from (a) citizens and (b) residents of Morocco in the last 12 months. (301421)

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had any discussions with the Government of Morocco on citizenship applications in the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the incidence of religiously-motivated violence against Christians and Muslims in Nepal, with particular reference to the activities of the Nepal Defence Army; and if he will make a statement. (300299)

Religiously motivated attacks against Christians and Muslims are rare in Nepal. However, the Nepal Defence Army (NDA), an extremist Hindu fundamentalist group, has carried out a number of attacks, including a bomb attack on a Catholic church in Kathmandu on 23 May 2009 in which three people were killed, the murder of a Catholic priest at Dharan in July 2008, and a bomb attack on a Muslim mosque in Biratnagar in March 2008, in which two people were killed.

The Nepalese Prime Minister and political leaders from across the political spectrum swiftly condemned the attack in May and visited the church and the victims. The Nepal police launched a prompt investigation into the incident and have arrested both the women responsible for placing the bomb and four leaders of the NDA, including its chairman, R. P. Mainali.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how much the Secret Intelligence Service spent on security for (a) Sir Richard Dearlove in the six months prior to September 1999, (b) Sir John Sawers in the six months prior to November 2009 and (c) Sir John Scarlett in the six months prior to May 2004; (300749)

It is the long standing policy of the Government not to comment on the personal security arrangements for individual members of Secret Intelligence Staff and their families.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 11 November 2009, Official Report, column 548W, on Western Sahara: landmines, whether the Moroccan authorities are marking and disposing of mines and unexploded ordinance in the occupied territory of Western Sahara. (301035)

In his report of 13 April 2009, the Secretary-General of the UN detailed Moroccan efforts to destroy mines, unexploded ordnance and expired ammunition.

The Royal Moroccan Army reported to the UN Secretary-General that its de-mining units had processed 420 square kilometres between 1 May 2008 and 28 February 2009 as part of a comprehensive mine clearance operation in Western Sahara, west of the Berm.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an assessment of the value for money of the fees charged by the Audit Commission for auditing the annual accounts of town and parish councils; and if he will make a statement. (300248)

We have made no such assessment. It is for the independent Audit Commission, after consultation, to set the fees charged by them for auditing the annual accounts of town and parish councils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of answering Questions 292544 to 292558, 292572 to 292585, 292587 to 292595, 292615 to 292635, 292637, 292639 to 292645, 292663, 292664, 292690 to 292708, 292710 to 292714, 292723, 292725 to 292735, 292737 to 292740, 292742 to 292750, 292752 to 292757, 292802 to 292827, 292839 to 292861, 292863, 292865 to 292899, 292975 to 292978, 292983 to 293005, 293010, 293015, 293020 to 293028, 293031, 293032 and 293035 tabled on 9 October 2009 by the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) for written answer on 13 October 2009. (301026)

The average cost of answering a written question is £149, as set out in the written ministerial statement made by the former Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) on 8 December 2008, Official Report, column 24WS. The estimated cost of answering the 250 questions tabled by the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 9 October 2009 would therefore be £37,250.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many of his Department's officials have (a) been reprimanded, (b) had their contract of employment terminated and (c) been prosecuted for theft of departmental property in each of the last three years; and what items were stolen in each case. (300962)

No departmental officials have been reprimanded, had their contract of employment terminated or been prosecuted for theft of departmental property in any of the previous three years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of local government employees earn more than £50,000 per annum. (300816)

The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) year end and (b) in year bonuses were paid to officials in his Department in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08; how many in year bonuses were paid in 2008-09; and how much was paid out in bonuses in each year. (301016)

The following table shows the number of year end performance bonuses that were paid to staff in Communities and Local Government over the last three years.

The Department also has a Special Bonus Scheme to reward exceptional performance in particularly demanding tasks or situations. The maximum bonus under these arrangements is £600 but records are not yet available to show the number of in-year payments made under this scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) laptop computers, (b) mobile telephones, (c) items of office furniture and (d) works of art have been (i) lost by and (ii) stolen from his Department in each of the last three years; whether his Department has made an insurance claim against each such item; and what the estimated value of each item was. (300993)

The following table identifies the number of laptops and mobile phones that have been reported lost or stolen from this Department in each of the last three years, together with the approximate value of each item.

The Department has not had any items of office furniture or works of art stolen or lost in this period nor has it made any insurance claim for any item referenced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned, (b) funded and (c) undertaken on fire safety in rented properties; and if he will make a statement. (300220)

We have not commissioned, funded or undertaken any research specifically on rented properties. Various projects in the fire and resilience research programme have included rented accommodation along with other types of premises, e.g.:

Cost-effectiveness of sprinklers in high risk buildings

Cost-effectiveness of sprinklers for offsetting fire cover for new homes

An evaluation of the Fire Safety Order.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many functions his Department has hosted in each of the last three years; and at which such functions the services of the Government Hospitality Unit were provided. (300434)

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new domestic dwellings which use (a) electricity and (b) gas as their primary source of heat have been built since 1997. (300584)

Information on primary heat source is not available for dwellings built since 1997. The English House Condition Survey provides an estimate for the main fuel type used in all housing built after 1990. The survey estimates that in 2007 there were 2,531,000 dwellings that had been built after 1990, of which 2,149,000 (84.9 per cent.) used gas as their main fuel and 264,000 (10.4 per cent.) used electricity. Virtually all other post-1990 dwellings used oil.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new houses were completed in Milton Keynes unitary authority in each of the last 12 months. (300548)

Information on house building completions is collected quarterly, and is not available on a monthly basis.

The following table shows the number of houses completed in Milton Keynes unitary authority in each of the last four quarters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 5 November 2009, Official Report, column 1124W, on house prices, by what means his Department establishes a 1991 sale price for a newly constructed property in Yate, South Gloucestershire for council tax banding purposes. (301033)

In England, the Valuation Office Agency is responsible for ascribing a property to a council tax band, based on its expected sale price on 1 April 1991. Therefore, a property built in 2009 would be banded for council tax by reference to: (1) sales of newly built properties of a similar size, character and location that were sold on or around 1 April 1991: (2) the council tax band of similar tax band of similar properties already on the list: (3) the outcomes of any proposals made by tax payers on similar properties in the area: (4) any Valuation Tribunal decision affecting similar properties in the locality

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was paid in salary and wage costs for local government employees in the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the proportion paid to such employees who earn more than £50,000 per annum. (300845)

In the latest year for which figures are available, 2007-08, total pay including employers National Insurance and Pensions contributions for all local government staff including teachers, police and fire fighters, was £58.8 billion. Further information is available from:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/pdf/1240028.pdf

No estimate has been made of the proportion paid to employees who earn £50,000 per annum. This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the written ministerial statement on 30 June 2008, Official Report, columns 43-44WS on planning appeals, what guidance he has issued to (a) Government offices and (b) local authorities on the reasons for which a residential development of over 150 units might be considered to have an impact sufficiently significant to instigate a recovery of a planning appeal by the Secretary of State. (300428)

As the power to recover planning appeals rests with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and is exercised on his behalf by the Planning Inspectorate (PINS), no such guidance has been issued or is necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many times he has exercised his powers to recover a planning appeal under section 79 and paragraph 3 of Schedule 6 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in each year since 2005. (300722)

The following table sets out the number of times the powers under section 79 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 have been exercised in England to recover appeals made under section 78 of that Act for decision by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The figures relate to calendar years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households in each London local authority were placed in temporary accommodation in each other London local authority area in 2008. (300400)

Information about English local housing authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level. Data collected include the number of applicants accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to secure that suitable accommodation is available). If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.

Data collected on temporary accommodation include the number of households placed in temporary accommodation by each London local authority at the end of each quarter, including the number housed in a different local authority district. However, information on which different local authority area these households were housed in is not held centrally.

The following table shows the number of households in temporary accommodation in each London borough on 30 June 2009, and of those the number which were housed in another local authority district:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether his Department has plans to alter the threshold for the tenant deposit protection scheme. (300256)

The Government's response to the Review of the Private Rented Sector, published for consultation in May, announced our intention to review the annual rental threshold for assured and assured shorthold tenancies. This threshold currently excludes tenancies with annual rents of more than £25,000 from being assured shorthold tenancies, with the implication that any deposits taken do not have to be protected under the tenancy deposit protection scheme. The consultation closed in August. We have been considering the responses received and plan to publish the results shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the number of tenants in houses of multiple occupation whose deposits are not protected under the tenancy deposit scheme. (300257)

Over 1.6 million deposits for tenants with assured shorthold tenancies have been protected since tenancy deposit protection provisions commenced in April 2007. We do not hold figures on the proportion or number of deposits that are unprotected.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect on small businesses of the time to pay measures. (300367)

The Business Payment Support Service was launched on 24 November 2008 to support viable businesses in temporary financial difficulties. Up to 15 November 2009, the service has agreed over 231,600 time to pay arrangements with businesses to spread tax payments of £4.07 billion.

This has helped to support over 150,000 businesses, the vast majority of whom are small and medium sized, that employ an estimated 600,000 people. Over 90 per cent. of the value of arrangements is being paid in line with agreed instalments.

Businesses tell us that they have found the service very helpful by giving them the breathing space they need and by helping them pay their tax bills in a managed and structured way with the full help and support of HM Revenue and Customs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the levying of corporation tax on credit unions; and if he will make a statement. (300984)

As industrial and provident societies, credit unions are liable to corporation tax as any other company but subject to specific exemptions under section 486 and 487 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. This legislation provides that the principal activity carried out by a credit union, namely making loans to its members, is not liable for corporation tax. However, credit unions are liable on their investment income and any chargeable gains arising.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid in corporation tax by credit unions in each of the last five financial years; and how much he estimates will be paid (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11. (300985)

The figures requested are not available because it is not possible to identify credit unions from other credit providers through corporation tax records.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department carried out a regulatory impact assessment on new tax rules for furnished holiday lettings included in the Budget 2009. (300324)

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire (Lembit Öpik) on 12 October 2009, Official Report, column 263W.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to complete the review of the de minimis rules on value added tax; and when any changes to the rules will be announced. (300365)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) consulted on proposals to simplify the VAT Partial Exemption and Capital Goods Scheme rules in summer 2008, as part of the wider VAT simplification review. That consultation included the de minimis rules.

Responses to the consultation confirmed widespread support for taking this work forward over a three-year period, focusing on the standard method for partial exemption in 2008-09, the de minimis rules and non-business interaction in 2009-10 and the Capital Goods Scheme in 2010-11. The consultation and a summary of the responses, entitled: “Simplifying the Value Added Tax Partial Exemption and Capital Goods Scheme Rules”, are available on HMRC’s website.

In line with the responses, changes to simplify the standard method were introduced on 1 April 2009. HMRC is currently working on the 2009-10 programme, which includes the de minimis rules, and hopes to announce any changes arising from this work early next year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether (a) pharmacy contractors and (b) appliance contractors are zero rated for value added tax when supplying products and service on NHS Form F.P.10; and if he will make a statement. (300370)

When they are dispensed to an individual for their personal use, by a registered pharmacist, against a prescription issued by a doctor, dentist, or certain other health professionals with prescribing rights (whether on form FP 10 or otherwise), most drugs and medicines are zero-rated for VAT. There is no similar zero rate for goods supplied against a prescription by appliance contractors, although zero-rating may apply to certain goods supplied by such contractors to disabled people for their personal use, or to charities for use by disabled people, without a prescription.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of nutrition provided to troops in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement. (300303)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 11 November 2009, Official Report, column 399W, to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Andrew Gwynne).

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of enemy losses in Helmand province in the last 12 months. (300459)

The UK does not routinely collate or maintain an overall estimate of the number of insurgents killed in Afghanistan. The long-term strategy for defeating the insurgency in Afghanistan is not as a purely military campaign, but rather through a wide range of military and non-military activities. Therefore, the number of insurgents killed or injured during the campaign does not provide a useful measure of success.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what overseas dockyards have been considered by his Department as potential support locations for the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers. (300660)

The in-service support solution for the Queen Elizabeth (QE) class aircraft carriers has yet to reach its main investment decision point, and so no decision has yet been taken on this issue. All options for QE class docking will be thoroughly examined; this will include potential location and commercial options for docking work. While overseas locations have not been ruled out, given the nature of these ships and security issues, it is unlikely that this would provide the best solution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer of 10 November 2009, Official Report, column 223W, on armed forces: housing, what the average monthly rent under the substitute service single accommodation scheme was in each post code area in Greater London in the latest period for which figures are available; what the (a) maximum and (b) minimum amount paid in rent in each such area was; how many personnel at each (i) staff officer rank and (ii) equivalent Civil Service payband were accommodated under the scheme in that period; and how much was paid out under the scheme in that period. (300246)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) currently rents 1,113 Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA) properties in Greater London to accommodate 1,330 Service personnel. The following tables include all SSSA properties within each postcode area. Details of average, maximum and minimum rents, together with the total monthly rent for all SSSA properties as at 20 November is provided in the following table:

The ranks of the personnel currently occupying these properties is shown in the following table. SSSA is provided to entitled, Serving Armed Forces personnel in cases where Single Living Accommodation either does not exist or is not available at or close to their permanent duty station. SSSA is not available to civilian personnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many requests for repair call-outs were received by Modern Housing Solutions in each region in each of the last 12 months. (300762)

The number of repair jobs raised in the last 12 months as a result of calls to Modern Housing Solutions (MHS) is provided in the table.

MHS provide a comprehensive repair and maintenance service to occupants of service family accommodation in England and Wales. Repair requests range from emergencies such as burst water pipes to routine tasks associated with the everyday wear and tear of domestic occupation. Figures also include work orders raised in relation to communal areas, children’s playgrounds and other facilities managed by MHS.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of armed forces personnel earn more than £50,000 per annum. (300812)

At 1 September 2009, there were 14,430 personnel earning more than £50,000 per annum in gross basic pay, including X Factor but excluding allowances, which represents 8.5 per cent. of trained UK Regular Armed Forces personnel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid in salary and wage costs for armed forces personnel in the last 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the proportion paid to such personnel who earn more than £50,000 per annum. (300846)

For Financial Year 2008-09 the total bill for basic gross pay for Regular and Reserve forces, including X Factor but excluding allowances, was £5,928,226,958.00.

An estimated total of £934,300,000.00 (15.76 per cent. of total basic pay) was paid to those personnel earning more than £50,000 per annum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants from his Department will be attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in an official capacity. (300885)

The Department of Energy and Climate Change will determine the official UK delegation list. This list is not finalised, but at present does not contain any MOD Ministers or officials.

Nevertheless, the MOD takes the issue of climate change seriously and recognises the importance of achieving a strong international agreement to address climate change, which will also be of benefit for future global stability and security. In December 2008 the MOD published a climate change strategy, which can be found online at:

www.mod.uk

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the stages were of the procurement process for the new sniper rifle sight recently deployed by the army. (300349)

The original requirement was for a number of Sniper Thermal Imaging Capability (STIC) systems as an Urgent Operational Requirement. This was advertised in the Defence Contracts Bulletin and eight companies expressed an interest. Five companies were unable to meet the key requirement to provide a thermal device that would work in line with the in-service day sight, and a further two companies could not supply equipment in time for user trials. The remaining company’s equipment was trialled, modified in the light of the trials results and a contract for the supply of STIC was agreed with Qioptiq Ltd. in March 2008. Since the initial contract further STIC units have been ordered from the company. The Sniper Thermal Imaging Capability was introduced into service in July 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many properties owned by his Department had been unused for (a) under three, (b) between three and six, (c) between six and 12, (d) between 12 and 24 and (e) between 24 and 36 months on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such properties had been unused for over five years on that date. (300674)

The requested information is not held in the format requested and is not held centrally. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The Ministry of Defence keeps its estate in Great Britain, around 240,000 hectares, under continual review to ensure that it is no larger than is required for defence purposes. Land and property may be used temporarily, or be vacant for periods, for many reasons and no central record is maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has spent on advertising in the last 12 months. (301404)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 October 2009, Official Report, column 34W.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what programmes the Investment Approvals Board has under consideration; and by what date the Board is expected to make its determination in each case. (300210)

The Investment Approvals Board considers all major investment projects undertaken by the Department both out of committee and at its meetings. The board sets no rigid timetable; cases are considered once they are sufficiently mature.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he made of the likely effect on Territorial Army training of the original £20 million reduction in the Territorial Army budget made in the current financial year. (300538)

The effect of the £20 million reduction in Territorial Army activity this year was to suspend the majority of training activity that was not directly supporting preparations for Operations. Following the Defence Secretary’s subsequent announcement on 28 October 2009, Official Report, column 353, an additional £20 million has been provided to enable routine Territorial Army activity to continue for the remainder of the year. Commanding Officers have been revising their training plans to reflect this clear direction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on each brand of antibiotics in each primary care trust area in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008. (300254)

The net ingredient cost by brand of drug for each primary care trust, in the period specified, has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 5 November 2009, Official Report, column 1165W, on chronic fatigue syndrome, what discussions his Department has had with myalgic encephalomyelitis charities and campaign groups on recognition of the condition as a notifiable disease. (300427)

Since 2007, the Department of Health has received a large number of requests from many organisations, including chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) stakeholders, campaigning for their disease or condition to be recognised as a notifiable disease. The Department's position remains that this classification should be used only for a relatively small number of infectious diseases where monitoring is required to identify sources of infection, and not as a means for collecting statistical information on the prevalence of specific conditions.

We have had no recent discussions with CFS/ME charities or campaign groups on this issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many health checks for those aged between 40 and 74 years were carried out by general practitioners in (a) 2007 and (b) 2008. (300255)

The NHS Health Check programme is a systematic programme that assesses all those eligible between the ages of 40 and 74 for their risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. The aim is to identify people's risk of these diseases earlier and support them to reduce their risk through lifestyle changes, such as smoking cessation or weight management programme, or through clinical management such as prescribing statins.

Primary care trusts began phased implementation of the NHS Health Check programme in April 2009. General practitioners were not, therefore, carrying out NHS health checks before then. Prior to this, some primary care trusts did have similar programmes in place that general practitioners were involved in. However, we do not collect information centrally about these.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility (a) his Department, (b) strategic health authorities, (c) NHS hospital trusts and (d) primary care trusts have for implementing the Hepatitis C Action Plan for England; what recent assessment he has made of progress in the implementation of the Plan; and if he will make a statement. (301148)

The Department has set a national framework in the Hepatitis C Action Plan for England (2004) for the national health service and other key stakeholders to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C. A copy has already been placed in the Library. Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for implementing the action plan at the local level and commissioning services from NHS hospital trusts and others according to local needs and priorities. Strategic health authorities are responsible for seeing that appropriate local NHS arrangements are in place to meet the objectives of the action plan.

The NHS has made significant progress in implementing the Action Plan. For example, the Association of Greater Manchester PCTs is funding a local hepatitis C strategy to improve and co-ordinate local services. NHS East Midlands has developed a regional hepatitis C strategy overseen by a regional multi-agency group. The Department has supported implementation of the Action Plan since 2004 with an ongoing national hepatitis C awareness campaign for healthcare professionals and the public.

Surveillance of hepatitis C testing, diagnosis and prescribing indicates that more patients with hepatitis C are being tested, diagnosed and treated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department plans to revise its leaflet on mobile telephones and health. (300228)

The Department does not intend to change the leaflet on mobile telephones and health. The advice given to the public remains as in our current leaflet on mobile phones, which can be viewed on the Department's website at:

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4123979

and companion leaflet on base stations at:

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4123980

Copies of both leaflets have been placed in the Library.

The Department keeps these leaflets under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what targets have been set in relation to the savings to be made as a consequence of the North Central London Service and Organisational Review; and if he will make a statement; (300417)

These are matters for the local national health service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make it his policy to ensure that Celvapan will be made available to pregnant women who have declined to be vaccinated with Pandemrix; (300461)

Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to complications should they get swine flu and so the Department strongly recommends that pregnant women should have the vaccine. Health care staff have been given the extensive information to provide to their patients about the vaccine, how it will protect them and how it has been tested to ensure safety. This information is available at:

www.dh.gov.uk/swinefluvaccinetools

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended that pregnant women should be given Pandemrix since a one-dose schedule with this vaccine appears to give adequate levels of antibodies and thereby confers more rapid protection than would be afforded by a two-dose schedule. Expert scientific advice is clear that thiomersal-containing vaccines, such as Pandemrix, do not present a risk to pregnant women or their offspring. However, as it is better to be vaccinated than not at all, if a pregnant woman does not wish to receive Pandemrix despite receiving clear advice about the more rapid protection this would offer, we have advised that primary care trusts should ensure that there are arrangements in place for the woman to be able to receive Celvapan, and that general practitioners are aware of these.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the number of (a) children, (b) adults aged between 18 and 65 years and (c) older people who (i) have and (ii) have not been vaccinated against swine influenza in (A) England and (B) each county and metropolitan area. (300661)

At this stage, no national health service wide data are available on the uptake of swine flu vaccinations given either by general practitioners (GPs) to priority groups or by trusts to frontline health and social care workers.

The Department plans to release NHS-wide vaccine uptake data on a regular basis both for vaccinations administered by GPs to priority groups and by trusts to frontline health and social care workers once these data have been collected, collated and validated. We anticipate that data will be available for publication in December 2009.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable for re-development of Townlands Hospital in Henley-on-Thames is; what funding will be allocated to ensure its completion; and what risk assessment has been undertaken in relation to future revenue funding for the hospital. (300361)

This information is not collected centrally. Planning for services is a matter for the local national health service.