MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2012

Joseph Johnson: It is clearly welcome news that India came off the fence and supported the resolution, marking an end to three decades of that country's ties with the Assad family. To what extent did New Delhi seek to dilute the final text so that it made no mention of automatic measures in the event of non-compliance?

Mr Hague: Like my hon. Friend, I welcome the fact that India voted for the resolution. It is true that several countries on the Security Council wanted a resolution that did not go beyond the draft resolution as it was put to the vote on Saturday. Certainly, India is one country that would not have wanted a stronger resolution with the authorisation of sanctions or other measures. I stress that the prime negotiations in the Security Council were always with Russia. The objections raised and amendments put forward came from Russia primarily, rather than from India, South Africa or Pakistan.

MONDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2012

Joseph Johnson: Will my right hon. Friend give an update on recent progress she has made in reforming the Criminal Records Bureau status checks regime?

Mrs May: I am happy to give an update. We are, of course, completely changing the way in which the Criminal Records Bureau, and the previous Independent Safeguarding Agency, operate. We are creating a new bureau that will ensure that those who need to be checked will be checked and, unlike under the previous Government, many people who are volunteers helping in their community will not have their records checked.

TUESDAY 31 JANUARY 2012

Joseph Johnson: I welcome the Prime Minister's commitment to trade deals with fast-growing parts of the world. An ambitious trade deal between the EU and India, which would help us double our trade with India by 2015, has eluded negotiators since 2007. Does he agree that next week's EU-India summit in Delhi should see a clear timetable for the delivery of an ambitious deal as soon as possible?

The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend is entirely right, and I know that he has a lot of experience in this sphere. We are totally committed to trying to get this free trade agreement going. I think that there are real opportunities for both sides. I have mentioned the fact that we want to open up retail and services in banking and insurance in India. Frankly, we will have to do quite a lot of work to convince the Indians that that is in their interests too, but I profoundly believe that it is, as they want to be a rapidly growing success story of the future.

THURSDAY 26 JANUARY 2012

Joseph Johnson: Does the Minister realise that he could help businesses, as well as households, to reduce their energy bills, by introducing mandatory motion-sensitive lighting systems? That would reduce the carbon intensity of our built environment and promote the ability of many people to enjoy starry, starry nights.

Gregory Barker: That is just the kind of technology that will be brought into the reach of millions of homes by the green deal, and it is just the kind of innovation that we want to spur. We would also look at how we might drive that by making amendments to consequential improvements. I am very interested in my hon. Friend's ideas.

TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2011

Joseph Johnson: Hard-working commuters and others in Orpington who depend on Southeastern trains have for years been hit by a fare increase regime of RPI plus 3%. May I therefore welcome my right hon. Friend's decision to cap rail increases at RPI plus 1%, which will provide hard-working families with much needed support in these difficult times?

Mr Osborne: I welcome my hon. Friend's support. I hope that this measure will help people living in Orpington who commute into London to work and that it will really enable us to help local people at this difficult time with their costs of living.


TUESDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2011

Joseph Johnson: Does the Foreign Secretary want to welcome the announcement by New Delhi on Friday of the partial opening up of the vast Indian retail sector to foreign supermarket groups such as Tesco, which has been a key objective of UK commercial diplomacy for many years?

Mr Hague: Yes, my hon. Friend points to a very important development. We have long advocated the liberalising and the opening up of the Indian economy. This will be vastly beneficial to the people of Indian and to the growth of trade. We want to see progress made on a free trade agreement between India and the whole of the European Union.


WEDNESDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2011

Joseph Johnson: Italian bond yields have jumped this morning by more than a percentage point to an unsustainable 8.1%. Could the Prime Minister please say what eurozone leaders must now do to stop the contagion?

The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend makes an important point. If you do not have credibility about your plans to deal with your debts and deal with your deficits, whether you like the markets or not, they will not lend you any money. That is what we are seeing in countries like Greece and now, tragically, in Italy, where the price of borrowing money is reaching a totally unsustainable level. It is a lesson for all of us to have sustainable plans to get on top of our debt and our deficits. In terms of Europe, the problem of contagion is that as we agree a decisive write-down of Greek debt, people inevitably start asking questions about other countries. As that happens, you need to have in place the biggest possible firewall. That is what the European Financial Stability Facility is all about, and eurozone leaders urgently need to put flesh on the bones and put figures on the size of that firewall, to stop this contagion going any further.


MONDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2011

Joseph Johnson: Did the Prime Minister see at the G20 any evidence that eurozone leaders were becoming clearer that it is an entirely fanciful notion to expect China to bail out eurozone countries whose GDP is many times its own?

The Prime Minister: I would not underestimate the huge pressure that the eurozone leaders are under to come up with a solution to the crisis in the eurozone. Clearly some of them have huge ideological difficulties with seeing a greater role for eurozone institutions. I do not think it is completely out of the question that other countries—China, or Saudi Arabia—might at some stage want to contribute to a eurozone fund, not least because the risk would be taken with the eurozone money and not with the Chinese or other money. In the end, however, there is no substitute for the eurozone acting first to sort out its difficulties.


THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2011

Joseph Johnson: According to the BBC's economics editor, Stephanie Flanders, the European Commission said this morning that any country that left the euro would also have to leave the European Union. Is that the Government's understanding of the EU treaties?

Mr Hoban: I am not a constitutional lawyer, for my blessings, but it is plainly necessary to establish the legal basis for any such action. I am not aware of what the Commission has said, and I think it very dangerous for us to engage in speculation on the subject.


THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2011

Joseph Johnson: Heathrow and Gatwick are operating at 99% capacity, leaving little scope for the UK economy to take advantage of the growth opportunities in the BRIC economies—those of Brazil, Russia, India and China. After the debate on the airstrip on the island of St Helena, in which the Leader of the House expressed such interest, might we perhaps find time for a further debate on UK aviation strategy and proposals for a new hub airport for London, so that such important opportunities do not go begging for a moment longer than necessary?

Sir George Young: There will be an opportunity at the next Transport questions for my hon. Friend to raise that issue. He raises a serious point about the future of aviation policy. I would welcome such a debate in Westminster Hall, either according to the guidance of Mr Speaker or in Backbench Business Committee time, so that the Government can set out their current aviation policy and those who are in favour of alternative provision can make their case.


THURSDAY 27 OCTOBER 2011

Joseph Johnson: RBS shares have jumped 7% this morning in response to the eurozone statement. Does the Chancellor share the markets' view that British banks are sufficiently capitalised to withstand not just the haircut to Greek debt, but any other eventualities that might arise in the eurozone over the next few months?

Mr Osborne: Yes, I am confident about that, which is also something that the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority monitor carefully. The important thing about the test that the European Banking Authority applied was that it not only required banks to hold 9% core tier 1, but marked to market their sovereign debt exposures, which is something that the eurozone resisted for the last year and a half. Of course, the market has priced in some haircuts—to continue the barbershop analogy—of other sovereign debts. That does not mean that I think they will happen; they are what the market thinks will happen. The fact that we have now tested our banks against those marked to market on sovereign debt gives us confidence that the banking system in Britain can withstand whatever is thrown its way in the next couple of months.


THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER 2011

Joseph Johnson: As a London MP, I am often struck by the energy inefficiency of office buildings in the capital, whose lights blaze throughout the night, regardless of whether there is anybody inside working in them. Will the Minister say what steps he is taking to tackle light pollution and the energy inefficiency of office buildings? In particular, is there a case to be made for mandatory movement-sensitive lighting systems?

The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Charles Hendry): My hon. Friend raises an extremely interesting issue. I have the sense sometimes that Canary Wharf would be visible from Mars at night, and there are some lessons that we need to learn. The Government are showing leadership on this: simply by using energy-saving measures we have cut our own emissions by 20% in DECC over the year, and all Government Departments have cut theirs by 10%. We need to involve people who work in such buildings so that we can get their ideas about the contribution they can make, because this is as much about human endeavour as the advances in technology.


MONDAY 17 OCTOBER 2011

Joseph Johnson: There is a strong feeling in Bromley, which is in the vanguard of the academies movement, that the proposed formula for the top-slicing of LACSEG—local authority central spend equivalent grant—unfairly penalises very efficient local authorities. Will the Secretary of State agree to a meeting to discuss this concern?

Michael Gove: Strong feelings in Bromley always weigh with me. It is the case that the approach to LACSEG needs reform, and we are consulting on it. I expect that, as ever, voices from Bromley will be among the most persuasive.


MONDAY 10 OCTOBER 2011

Joseph Johnson: Can the Chancellor confirm that Moody's downgrades of 14 UK banks on Friday reflected the planned and progressive withdrawal of state support for the banking system and a reduction of the likelihood of further taxpayer bail-outs for the UK banks, rather than any weakening of the UK banking system per se?

Mr Osborne: Yes, I can confirm that. Moody's was explicit in saying that that was not a reflection of financial conditions in the UK or the financial strength of the Government. Rather, it was a recognition of the fact that the current Government are trying to move away from the taxpayer either implicitly or explicitly standing behind our largest banks. That is sensible policy, and I hope it commands support on the Opposition Benches.


THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2011

Joseph Johnson: Daniel Upcraft and his fiancée Nicola were hit by a heavy lorry while queuing in traffic on the M25 last April. Daniel was left with very serious brain injuries and Nicola tragically lost her life. The driver of the lorry was found to have had undiagnosed sleep apnoea and the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case against him. Will the Minister please agree to meet Daniel's mother, Carole, my constituent, who is running a campaign to raise awareness of the impact of sleep apnoea on drivers' ability to maintain vigilance?

Mike Penning: It would be a pleasure to meet the family, and I praise the work they are doing. This tragic loss was the result of a medical condition that is very difficult to diagnose, and we need to do a lot of work prior to diagnosis so that people are not driving with this terrible illness.


THURSDAY 8 SEPTEMBER 2011

Joseph Johnson: I thank the Minister for his kind words of thanks to the Bill Committee members. It was the first Bill Committee of which I have been a member, and I enjoyed it very much. He has alluded to the technical difficulties that officials must confront, and I want to bring to his attention a set of technical difficulties relating to the sharing out of media accreditations to the British media. It is a cause of great concern to me that local media, particularly in London—the city on whose good will the success of these games depends—are being shut out. Will he join me in calling on the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport to look closely at the decision by the British Olympic Association to deny media accreditation to such fine local London papers as the News Shopper?

Hugh Robertson: I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. He speaks from a powerful position, not only as a London Member of Parliament, but as a former journalist. As he is aware, responsibility for the accreditation of local media outlets lies with the BOA. In the short time between now and his raising this with me in the Lobby during the previous vote, I have checked the current position. I suspected that accreditation is massively over-subscribed, which is what he indicated to me. That said, I understand the logic of giving as many passes as possible to the international media and national news outlets, but he is right that it has to be balanced with local media outlets, many of which have been extraordinarily supportive of the games and on whose doorstep they are taking place. There is a possible second channel for non-accredited media, and considerable provision is being made for those who cannot get formally accredited. The Mayor of London has done an enormous amount to help that take place. The best thing that I can do now is to give my hon. Friend a promise to write to the BOA about the matter. I will particularly investigate the position regarding London media, because this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. I will come back to him with an answer.


THURSDAY 11 AUGUST 2011

Joseph Johnson: Will the Prime Minister join me in paying tribute to the 1,300 voluntary special constables who played a vital part in restoring calm in the capital on Tuesday? Will he also take note that many special constables, including one in my constituency, Orpington, struggled to secure permission from their employer to enable them to take part in the surge effort, which was eventually so successful?

The Prime Minister: My hon. Friend is entirely right. There has recently been a growth in specials in some forces and that is hugely welcome, but we need employers to show a sense of social responsibility to release them rapidly for service when they are needed.


TUESDAY 19 JULY 2011

Joseph Johnson: Nitin Gadkari, president of the Bharatiya Janata party—India's main opposition party—was in Parliament yesterday singing the praises of Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat. What is the United Kingdom's stance? Would Narendra Modi be a welcome visitor to the UK in the light of the massacres in Godhra 10 years ago?

Mr Hague: I shall be meeting the president of the BJP later today. No doubt we shall have an opportunity to discuss the issue then, and I think that we will determine our answer to my hon. Friend's question after those discussions.


WEDNESDAY 29 JUNE 2011

Joseph Johnson: Is there a danger that Colonel Gaddafi misreads recent statements by Amr Moussa, the outgoing secretary-general of the Arab League and current presidential candidate in Egypt, in which he has called for a ceasefire and the commencement of peace talks while the existing Libyan leader is in place, and therefore underestimates the unity of purpose in the international community in enforcing the UN resolutions?

Mr Hague: I hope that any such danger will be removed by the continued meetings of the contact group, on which the Arab League is represented and at which international unity is strengthening, not weakening. The contact group meeting in Abu Dhabi was attended by seven additional nations, as well as by organisations such as the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the Arab League. I am sure that the meeting in Istanbul in two weeks' time will also be well attended and very united, so if Gaddafi is under any misapprehension about the unity of the international community, he will find that that is rapidly removed.


THURSDAY 16 JUNE 2011

Joseph Johnson: Many of my constituents depend on the existence of a thriving financial services industry in London. They are hard-working, responsible and diligent employees and not at all deserving of the opprobrium that is often heaped on people who work in the sector. Like Professor Willem Buiter of the London School of Economics, they are very much of the view that the financial crisis damaged London's prestige and international standing much more than it did other leading financial centres around the world. Does the Minister share that view?

Mr Hoban: The financial crisis clearly had an impact on London's standing as a global financial centre, but my hon. Friend will be pleased to note than in the most recent survey of global financial centres London still came top. That is a recognition of London's continued strength. It is important to ensure that we have a well-regulated and well-functioning financial services sector that can not only meet domestic demand, but serve the interests of an array of international companies. I believe that the package we have announced today, coupled with further regulatory changes being made in the European Union and internationally, will help to ensure London's continued pre-eminence as a centre for financial services.


MONDAY 16 MAY 2011

Joseph Johnson: Would the Minister like to take this opportunity to welcome the news that India has just put the European Typhoon, made by BAE Systems, on a shortlist of just two for the hugely valuable multi-role combat aircraft tender, one of the biggest defence orders on the horizon anywhere in the world?

Peter Luff: The simple answer is yes. That is an extremely successful outcome, and we are delighted with it. A lot of effort has been expended by the four partner nations. I was at the Bangalore air show myself in February pursuing the cause, and I am delighted by the outcome. We must now pursue the campaign to a successful conclusion.


WEDNESDAY 11 MAY 2011

Joseph Johnson: I echo the right hon. Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz) in welcoming the announcement of an additional 30 diplomats for the network in India. They will play a valuable part in creating the enhanced partnership that the two countries are seeking, and in reversing the decline in our trading relationships that we witnessed under the previous Government. In 1999 the UK was India's fourth most important source of imports, but by 2009 we were its 22nd most important. I urge my right hon. Friend to ensure that the 30 new diplomats put trade representation at the top of their priorities.

Mr Hague: As my hon. Friend knows, we already afford great importance to the links with India. In July last year the Prime Minister led our largest ever ministerial and trade delegation to India, and we are continuing to build up those links. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his welcome for the additional staff in India. I hope that that addition will allow us to open new consulates general at various locations, although we have to discuss that matter with the Indian Government to ensure that they are happy with the locations.


TUESDAY 10 MAY 2011

Joseph Johnson: US Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, recently praised the Government's fiscal reduction plans, saying that the Chancellor had locked the coalition Government into a set of reforms that were "very good". What lessons has he drawn from this powerful endorsement?

Mr Osborne: Of course it is welcome to have the support of the US Treasury Secretary. It is interesting that we have been urged for some months by Labour to follow the US example. The Obama Administration, in the speech the President gave at George Washington university, set out a deficit reduction plan—it is not yet legislated for in Congress—that goes faster and deeper than the one we are promoting here in the UK. I suspect that we will not now hear the argument that we have heard for the past few months from the Labour party.


TUESDAY 3 MAY 2011

Joseph Johnson: Does the Minister know of any plans for the Indian Prime Minister to reciprocate, in the light of our Prime Minister's successful visit to India last July?

Mr Browne: Discussions are under way, and we would greatly look forward to welcoming such an eminent political leader to this country. There are no fixed plans at this point, but we hope to advance such plans as soon as possible.


WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH 2011

Joseph Johnson: What recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation on Libya's borders with Tunisia and Egypt. [49673]

The Secretary of State for International Development (Mr Andrew Mitchell): More than 350,000 people have crossed the Libyan borders since the crisis began. Early action by Britain and others has ensured that a logistical crisis has not, so far at least, developed into a humanitarian emergency.

Joseph Johnson: One of the biggest challenges facing Egypt's transition to democracy is the fragile state of its economy, with capital rapidly leaving the country. Can the Secretary of State please say what he will do to stop the additional pressure on the Egyptian economy from the influx of refugees from Libya, which is draining it of remittances and pushing up already high unemployment?

Mr Mitchell: My hon. Friend is right to identify a most important issue. I have made clear Britain's significant contribution to ensuring that migrants are flown home. On the other points that he mentioned, some of that is a matter for the Paris Club of creditors, the other international financial institutions and the significant funding available from the European Union through the neighbourhood funds.


TUESDAY 15 MARCH 2011

Joseph Johnson: What is the position of the UK Government on the legitimacy of Saturday's constitutional referendum, given that many opposition leaders including Mohamed el-Baradei and Amr Moussa have called on their supporters to vote no to changes that they regard as something of a charade?

Mr Hague: These things are of course to be decided in Egypt itself. There has been a tremendous chain of events, which led to the revolution in Egypt. The clear aspiration of the people of Egypt is to have not only good economic development but an open and democratic political system. That will mean the holding of elections, and in the view of the interim Government it means the holding of the referendum as well. It is not for us to determine the outcome of that referendum or what questions are put in it, but it is for us to urge that it is properly and fairly conducted. We would certainly encourage the Egyptian authorities to allow international observers to observe the referendum and the subsequent elections.


WEDNESDAY 2 MARCH 2011

Joseph Johnson: What steps he is taking to reduce the risk of fraud in public sector procurement. [42481]

The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Mr Francis Maude): The National Fraud Authority estimates that £21 billion is lost to fraud in the public sector each year, on top of which there is a so far unquantified loss from error and from uncollected debt. It is estimated that £2.4 billion of that £21 billion is lost to procurement fraud, and that is unacceptable. The Prime Minister has asked me to chair a counter-fraud taskforce comprising members from government and private sector experts to tackle the issue. We are overseeing a series of pilots, including one on procurement, to drive forward ways to tackle public sector fraud, and we will report our findings in due course.

Joseph Johnson: I thank the Minister for that answer. That figure of £21 billion is truly shocking. Will the Minister update the House on progress towards developing a more robust methodology for quantifying how much taxpayers' money is being wasted in this way?

Mr Maude: It is actually difficult to know exactly how much is being lost. The numbers are increasing each year, but that is largely because there is a better handle on the data. The quality of much Government data is lamentably poor and it is particularly difficult to obtain accurate figures on some procurement fraud, such as collusion or bid rigging. However, in one of the taskforce pilots, the Department for Transport is using data analytics to detect overpayments from the Department's accounts payable systems. A similar exercise undertaken by the Home Office detected and recovered no less than £4 million in overpayments as a result of fraud or error.


TUESDAY 1 MARCH 2011

Joseph Johnson: I welcome the tighter focus of the aid programme, but the India programme continues to present a juicy target for aid sceptics who criticise it for being a nuclear power and a space power. Does the Secretary of State agree that it would be fairer for them to acknowledge that the civil nuclear programme is playing an essential part in meeting India's energy deficit, and that since its inception the space programme has focused largely on development, using satellite technology to give Indians in rural areas access to long-distance learning opportunities, remote health care and crop-related weather analysis?

Mr Mitchell: My hon. Friend makes an extremely good point. India presents a paradox, because although it has the programmes to which he refers, there are also more poor people in India than in the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. Our programme is in transition: we are shifting its focus on to only three of the poorest states in India, and over the next four years up to half the programme will be spent on pro-poor private sector investment for development. We will not be there for ever, but now is not the time to end this programme.


WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2011

Joseph Johnson: Which bodies he has consulted in the preparation of guidance on the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010. [40454]

The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Kenneth Clarke): I am at present working on the guidance to commercial organisations to make it practical and useful for legitimate business and trade. It will be published once I am confident that it addresses the legitimate concerns of all those who took part in the consultation process and who have made representations to me. The publication of the guidance will be followed by a three-month notice period before full implementation of the Act.

Joseph Johnson: Many of our competitors overseas will not be so keen to rule out bribery as a means of competing. What steps will the Secretary of State take to ensure that British businesses are not put at a competitive disadvantage?

Mr Clarke: Along with the United States and others, we are one of the leading countries in pressing for a drive against corruption in the world, because corruption is bad for all business, including British business when it tries to export to other countries. Because of the debate that is taking place about the Act, I have had to reassure my American colleagues that we are not falling behind and that we will implement the Act. It is very important that we put ourselves where we should be-in the forefront of stamping out corruption not only in the developing world but in international trade generally.


THURSDAY 13 JANUARY 2011

Joseph Johnson: Is it possible for the House to debate the lamentable value for money of commuter rail services provided by Southeastern? Its fares have just risen by a higher rate than any other operator in the country to the outrage of my constituents in Orpington and doubtless those of many other MPs in the franchise region.

Sir George Young: I understand my hon. Friend's concern on behalf of his constituents. There will be questions to the Secretary of State for Transport on 27 January, but in the mean time, he and other Members for south-east London might like to apply for a debate in Westminster Hall or an Adjournment debate. Let me say finally that the comprehensive spending review provided a generous settlement for rail investment. That has to be funded and I think it is legitimate to look to travellers to pay their part in funding that investment.


TUESDAY 22 DECEMBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the private finance initiative. [31829]

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Danny Alexander): In the spending review the Government abolished the private finance initiative credit system, which provided Departments with a ring-fenced budget that could be used only to support local authority PFI projects. The change levelled the playing field between PFI and other forms of procurement.

Joseph Johnson: Has my right hon. Friend had a chance to read the Public Accounts Committee's recent report on PFI in the credit crunch? It suggested that many projects are locked into very high financing costs for periods of up to 30 years. I wonder what scope there is to claw back some of the gains in the event of any refinancing.

Danny Alexander: The Treasury will respond in the normal way to that report, and it would not be proper for me to comment on it until we have published the relevant Treasury minute. The Treasury and the Cabinet Office are working closely together to ensure that the PFI industry contributes its fair share of savings from operational projects.


MONDAY 20 DECEMBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: A structural lack of competitiveness is one of the fundamental problems underlying the current crisis. Can the Prime Minister say whether there was any discussion of the Lisbon 2020 agenda and how it will differ from the original Lisbon agenda in 2000, which failed dismally to make Europe the most competitive and dynamic economy in the world by 2010?

The Prime Minister: We did discuss the 2020 agenda. I think there is a feeling among a number of other Heads of Government that it is all very well-it has some good targets and a lot of sensible things about investing in skills and education and the rest of it-but it does not really do the hard things that we need to do in Europe to make our economies more competitive with those in the far east. That is the agenda that we need now-not just easy-to-agree targets and headlines but the tough things we need to do to make us more competitive.


WEDNESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: The Chancellor speaks of a comprehensive solution. Does he recognise that we face not only a crisis of liquidity in Portugal, Greece and Ireland, which we are assisting bilaterally, but a crisis of solvency? The solvency crisis will require us to address not just Irish bank restructuring, but Ireland's sovereign debt-it is impossible to distinguish the two, given that the Irish state has guaranteed all the Irish banking system's liabilities-and the solvency of other peripheral eurozone economies. We are helping with financing, but we have not yet addressed the fundamental solvency of those peripheral countries.

Mr Osborne: My hon. Friend makes a very good point. There was a debate-it was pretty widely reported, so I am not betraying anything that was not read by everyone throughout the world-about whether to address the solvency issues, and whether there should be a contribution-or a haircut, to use the jargon-from senior debt holders in the banks or, indeed, sovereign debt holders. The international community's view, with which we absolutely agree, is that such a contribution risked a very serious contagion that might spread through many different banking systems, not just those of the countries to which my hon. Friend refers. So the decision was taken not to require a private sector bail-in from senior debt holders in the banks or, indeed, sovereign debt holders.


TUESDAY 14 DECEMBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: If he will assess the compatibility of the provisions of the Vienna convention on consular relations with the effectiveness of the internet as a means of promoting democracy worldwide. [30259]

Mr Jeremy Browne: There is no incompatibility between the Vienna convention on consular relations, which is an international treaty ratified by 172 countries, and which defines a framework for consular relations between independent countries, and the development of the internet, which is indeed a vital tool in the development of democracy. However, we condemn the release of classified information through the internet. That can damage national security and may put lives at risk.

Joseph Johnson: Will the Minister give an assessment of the impact of the WikiLeaks affair on the conduct of diplomacy, and will he say what steps he plans to take, on the one hand, to tighten access to diplomatic cables that need protecting and, on the other hand, to free up access to the other information that can and should be in the public domain? The latter would also enhance the Government's transparency agenda.

Mr Browne: We believe in freedom of information and open and transparent government, but there is a private realm and a legitimate area for confidentiality in diplomatic relations between nations. We need to get that balance right to ensure that we are secure when trying to safeguard confidential information. That is what we are working to do.


TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: I am grateful to the Secretary of State for agreeing to visit Queen Mary's Sidcup, tomorrow, recognising the strength of local opinion there about the closure of accident and emergency and maternity services temporarily over the winter period. I hope that on his return he will reassure my constituents in Orpington that the closure will not mean that the review of reconfiguration of local NHS services will be prejudged and will not put neighbouring hospitals such as those in my constituency under undue pressure.

Mr Lansley: I am grateful. Tomorrow, I hope to assure myself, among other things, that the closure is temporarily demanded by virtue of the inability to secure enough staff to maintain a safe service for the time being and that it will not and does not pre-empt the question of availability of services at Queen Mary's, Sidcup, on which a decision has not yet been reached locally or referred to me.


THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: Will the Minister undertake a review of overcrowding and value for money in general on commuter trains run by Southeastern to Orpington, which, uniquely in the country, has been saddled with a retail prices index regime of RPI plus 3 over recent years?

Mr Hammond: The faster rate of fare increases on Southeastern is, as my hon. Friend knows, related to the introduction of the high-speed Javelin trains, which have managed to continue running very effectively during the current period of weather disruption. We are reviewing value for money on the rail network as a whole. Sir Roy McNulty is conducting that review, and I will publish his interim findings shortly, and a final report in April next year.


THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: What recent discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. [27901]

The Minister for Equalities (Lynne Featherstone): I discussed the reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission with ministerial colleagues only yesterday. We want to focus on its core regulatory and human rights functions and improve its value for taxpayers' money, and we intend to consult on our proposals early next year.

Joseph Johnson: Will the Minister say why she believes a voluntary regime for the reporting of equality data will be sufficient to eliminate the persistent gender pay gap that the EHRC identified in its latest triennial review?

Lynne Featherstone: It will most certainly help. The voluntary approach, as introduced by Labour in the Equality Act 2010, is a very good mechanism. However, Government must not dictate to business. Business, the voluntary sector and all participants must come forward to publish details, and we will work with partners to ensure that voluntary publishing goes forward. We expect that it will, but we will not commence, amend or repeal section 78 of the Act, so the stick remains.


MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: Does my hon. Friend agree that the role of regulators in promoting and sustaining competition in the UK financial services market has been greatly complicated by the decision of the previous Administration to allow the merger of Lloyds and HBOS, and to waive all competition criteria which would normally have been applied to such a merger?

Andrea Leadsom: That is absolutely right. We are certainly in a worse position than we were pre-crisis in terms of a lack of competition and massive market share. The five top players in the UK dominate the mortgage market, the retail market and much of the wholesale market.


MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: Could the Chancellor say whether he thinks Ireland's move to tap international financial assistance will reduce or increase the risk of contagion to other euro-area sovereigns and their banking systems? What assessment has he made of the risk of countries such as Portugal, Italy and Spain to the UK?

Mr Osborne: I hope my hon. Friend will allow me not to engage in speculation about any other country at the moment. The package today shows the willingness of the international community, the IMF and so on to help countries that get themselves into trouble, whether they are in Europe or anywhere else in the world.


WEDNESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: What recent assessment he has made of the value for money of his Department's aid delivered through the UN Relief and Works Agency. [24347]

The Minister of State, Department for International Development (Mr Alan Duncan): UNRWA is performing well against agreed performance indicators and delivering value for money with United Kingdom funding. For instance, it is delivering teaching to nearly half a million children, and social services to more than a quarter of a million. During my recent visit to the Palestinian territories, I announced an extra £8 million to reward UNRWA's good performance and ease its budget shortfall.

Joseph Johnson: During a recent visit to Gaza, it was obvious that UNRWA was struggling to obtain the construction materials that it needs to rebuild schools and find housing for refugees. Does the Minister agree that DFID would derive greater value for money if the partial blockade were completely lifted?

Mr Duncan: I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I am glad that he was able to see the situation in Gaza for himself.  Although some progress has been made since Israel eased access restrictions, UNRWA is still unable to import the volume of reconstruction materials that it needs. Any restricted access enhances the tunnel economy and risks putting revenue straight into the hands of Hamas, which in itself is entirely counter-productive.


TUESDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: Will the Prime Minister join me in welcoming to Westminster today the large delegation of Indian chief executives, many of whom he met on his trip to India in July, who are here to discuss ways of deepening trade and investment ties between the UK and India?

The Prime Minister: There is a very impressive team of Indian CEOs, some of whom are here to discuss climate change, green-tech jobs and how we can exchange technology and investment between our economies. That is an incredibly promising agenda. We have a very good green-tech sector and a lot of expertise in technology, and many other countries-India, in particular, perhaps-would like to see that technology brought to bear in their own countries, which, again, means jobs for them, jobs for us.


TUESDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: Could the Secretary of State give an indication of the value-for-money savings to be achieved over the 50-year life of the treaties, or if that is not possible, over the course of this Parliament?

Dr Fox: We will be looking in that context at some of the projects that we considered in the SDSR, such as A400M support and training. As I said in answer to a previous question, there is no point in us reinventing the wheel at taxpayers' expense. Where we have common platforms, we should be looking at common support and training. We will also want to look at the future strategic tanker aircraft programme to see whether, within the private finance initiative set out and agreed by the previous Government, we can get better value for money for British taxpayers by having the French use some of that facility.


MONDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: Does the Home Secretary agree that the best way of defending this country against the terrorist threat is to win the battle of hearts and minds, as has been said? I happened to spend Saturday and Sunday in Gaza, talking to young Palestinian people, and it was very clear to me that we are losing that battle at quite a rate-in large part because of the continuation of the blockade of Gaza. I wonder whether my right hon. Friend feels that our efforts might best be spent not in reaching for the latest bit of technology-my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre and Preston North (Mr Wallace) mentioned that-but in deploying ever-greater diplomatic efforts to resolving that particular long-standing conflict?

Mrs May: There are many issues to be addressed in the fight to prevent the cancer of terrorism. As I said, it is not simply about physical security; many aspects need to be dealt with. I assure my hon. Friend that the Government are well aware of the many issues that need to be considered.


WEDNESDAY 13 OCTOBER 2010

Joseph Johnson: What mechanisms are in place to monitor value for money derived from overseas aid; and if he will make a statement.   (16516)

The Secretary of State for International Development (Mr Andrew Mitchell): We are moving from a focus on inputs to a focus on outputs and outcomes-the results our money actually achieves. We will gain maximum value for money for every pound we spend through greater transparency, rigorous independent evaluation and an unremitting focus on results.

Joseph Johnson: Will the Secretary of State say what assessment he has made of value for money from the more than £2 billion that the Department has given to the International Development Association over the three years ending June 2011, indicating whether he intends to match past commitments in the next funding period-that is, the 16th replenishment of the IDA?

Mr Mitchell: The hon. Gentleman raises an important point about the next replenishment of the World Bank IDA funds. As I mentioned in answer to the last question, the multilateral aid review will be the body that looks at value for money. At the last replenishment-IDA15-as anyone who follows these things closely knows, Britain was the biggest contributor and that contribution was £2 billion. What I what from the next replenishment is for people to know to what extent we are getting clean water, sanitation, basic education and health care to the people at the end of the track, who do not have them in our world today.


 Written Questions to Ministers

MONDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has made an assessment of the recent surveys of (a) nuisance lighting and (b) light pollution by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the British Astronomical Association's Campaign for Dark Skies. [77582]


THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many notices requiring the abatement of light nuisance, or prohibiting or restricting its occurrence or recurrence, have been issued by London borough councils in the last 12 months. [77191]

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to reduce the level of (a) nuisance lighting and (b) light pollution in London. [77220]


TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on (a) carbon emissions and (b) energy efficiency of the introduction of mandatory motion-sensitive lighting systems in the commercial property sector. [77226]


MONDAY 31 OCTOBER 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to encourage businesses and owners of office buildings to install motion-sensitive lighting systems. [77219]


THURSDAY 29 OCTOBER 2011

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking in respect of property transactions that are not recorded by the Land Registry or subject to a property tax. [74310]


MONDAY 24 OCTOBER 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Civil Aviation Authority.  [75545]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on (a) the legality of downgrading customers if a commercial flight is oversold and (b) the appropriateness of a statutory obligation to provide 75 per cent. compensation.  [75546]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has considered steps to tackle overselling on commercial flights.  [75547]


THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to raise awareness of the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs. [75542]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has received on proposals to (a) introduce roadside drug testing devices and (b) increase sentences on people found guilty of driving whilst under the influence of drugs.  [75543]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will meet the family of Lillian Groves to discuss their campaign to introduce roadside drug testing devices and increase sentences on people found guilty of driving whilst under the influence of drugs. [75544]


MONDAY 17 OCTOBER 2011

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of homes in each price band in (a) London, (b) England and (c) the UK that were sold in the last (i) 12, (ii) 24, (iii) 36 and (iv) 48 months were bought or sold by or traded between offshore companies. [74311]

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of property transactions in each price band in (a) London and (b) England that were not recorded by the Land Registry or subject to a property tax. [74309]


THURSDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department holds on the causes of road accidents. [70326]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness within the road haulage industry of the risks associated with undiagnosed sleep apnoea. [70327]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet Ms Carol Upcraft to discuss her campaign to raise awareness about the contribution of sleep apnoea to road accidents. [70328]


TUESDAY 13 SEPTEMBER 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (1) what representations he has received from London-based local newspapers concerning media accreditation during the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics; [71684]

(2) what advice he has received from (a) the British Olympic Association and (b) the International Olympic Committee concerning media accreditation for London-based local newspapers during the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics; [71685]

(3) what discussions he has had with (a) the British Olympic Association and (b) the International Olympic Committee on steps to ensure that London-based local newspapers are able to provide coverage of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics; [71686]


TUESDAY 12 JULY 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of the potential role of Biggin Hill airport in the regional aviation strategy for the south-east; [62932]  (2) if he will assess the effects of the operations of Biggin Hill airport on the Government's objectives for increasing the number of passengers using public transport. [62933]


THURSDAY 7 JULY 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the effects of a time-limited waiver to the terms of Biggin Hill airport's lease with Bromley council allowing extended hours and additional flights during the period of the London 2012 Olympics. [63303]


TUESDAY 5 JULY 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will assess the adequacy of the surface access strategy of Biggin Hill airport to handle traffic arising from any time-limited waiver to the terms of its lease with Bromley council during the period of the London 2012 Olympics. [62925]

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what contribution his Department expects Biggin Hill airport to make in meeting demand for air travel during the London 2012 Olympics. [62927]


MONDAY 4 JULY 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate hourly traffic flows in both directions on the A233 in Orpington constituency (a) at peak hours and (b) at other times; and if he will make a statement. [63304]


TUESDAY 28 JUNE 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that any grant by Bromley council of a time limited waiver to the terms of lease to Biggin Hill Airport Ltd to allow extended hours and additional flights during the period of the London 2012 Olympics does not set a precedent for future expansion of the airport. [62591]


TUESDAY 14 JUNE 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the contribution of the European Commission's European Neighbourhood Policy to the transition process in (a) Egypt and (b) Tunisia. [59322]


TUESDAY 7 JUNE 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent representations he has received from local authorities that have academy schools within their boundaries concerning proposals to fine councils for failing to reduce carbon dioxide emissions across their estate. [57473]

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his policy is on imposing financial penalties on local authorities in respect of carbon dioxide emissions from academy schools. [57474]


WEDNESDAY 16 MARCH 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of regular weekly listeners of BBC World Service Hindi-language radio broadcasts in each year since 2006. [44704]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what cost benefit analysis his Department conducted prior to the decision to end BBC World Service transmission of Hindi-language radio broadcasts from 1 April 2011. [44707]


TUESDAY 15 MARCH 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the expected saving to the public purse is of ending BBC World Service transmission of Hindi-language radio broadcasts over the Comprehensive Spending Review period. [44703]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the likely trends in audiences for short-wave radio in India over the next four years. [44705]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the level of influence of the BBC World Service Hindi radio service in the last five years. [44706]


WEDNESDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent progress he has made on the provision of guidance on implementation of the Bribery Act 2010.  (40924)


THURSDAY 27 JANUARY 2011

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the effect on survival rates of implementation of his Department's cancer strategy. (36363)


THURSDAY 16 DECEMBER 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will assess the value-for-money of the proposed merger between Bromley College and Orpington College.   (31461)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of the clean-up operation following the disturbances in central London on 9 December 2010.   (31647)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of policing the demonstrations in central London on 9 December 2010.   (31648)


THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to privatise the Overseas Market Introduction Service within UK Trade and Investment.   (28508)


WEDNESDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward proposals to designate areas of special residential character designated by the London Borough of Bromley as special areas of conservation.   (23177)

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to prevent repeat applications for planning development in cases where the first attempt has been rejected by the local council.   (23178)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that the closure of Accident and Emergency and maternity departments at Queen Mary's Hospital Sidcup does not prejudge the outcome of the reconfiguration programme, A Picture of Health.   (23176)


MONDAY 18 OCTOBER 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effects of implementation of the Academies Act 2010 on core funding for (a) Bromley Youth Music Trust and (b) other independent music services funded through top-slicing of local authority education budgets.   (18036)


WEDNESDAY 13 OCTOBER 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress he has made in reducing the number of non-governmental public bodies and executive agencies sponsored by his Department.   (17347)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the likely effects on the competitiveness of the economy in London of a cap on work visas for highly-skilled migrants from outside the EU.   (17348)


MONDAY 11 OCTOBER 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to sustain and develop relations with India following the Prime Minister's visit in July 2010.   (16089)

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what his most recent assessment is of the humanitarian situation in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.   (16060)

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals Review Summit in New York in September 2010.   (16071)


WEDNESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2010

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when he plans to respond to the Committee on Climate Change second annual report.   (15528)

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he is taking to promote the development of carbon capture and storage technologies internationally.   (15529) 

To view written answers and statements from the Ministers, click here