Mike Hancock

Independent - Former Member for Portsmouth South

First elected: 1st May 1997


Mike Hancock is not a member of any APPGs
Panel of Chairs
26th Jun 2001 - 11th Jul 2014
Defence Committee
1st Feb 1999 - 24th Oct 2011
Shadow Spokesperson (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
6th Apr 2000 - 5th Apr 2001
Public Administration Committee
16th Jul 1997 - 5th May 1999
Shadow Spokesperson (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)
3rd Apr 1997 - 1st Apr 1999
Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee)
21st Nov 1986 - 16th Mar 1987
Statutory Instruments (Select Committee)
21st Nov 1986 - 16th Mar 1987


Division Voting information

Mike Hancock has voted in 1070 divisions, and 79 times against the majority of their Party.

19 Apr 2012 - Finance (No. 4) Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 231 Noes - 298
18 Apr 2012 - Finance (No. 4) Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 45 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 256 Noes - 323
17 Apr 2012 - Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 32 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 288 Noes - 246
17 Apr 2012 - Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 294 Noes - 250
17 Apr 2012 - Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 39 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 292 Noes - 256
17 Apr 2012 - Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 297 Noes - 252
22 Feb 2012 - NHS Risk Register - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 33 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 246 Noes - 299
21 Feb 2012 - Welfare Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 9 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 36 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 316 Noes - 263
8 Feb 2012 - Local Government Finance - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 292 Noes - 213
1 Feb 2012 - Welfare Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 44 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 324 Noes - 265
1 Feb 2012 - Welfare Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 48 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 332 Noes - 266
1 Feb 2012 - Welfare Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 43 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 328 Noes - 265
1 Feb 2012 - Welfare Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 310 Noes - 268
1 Feb 2012 - Welfare Reform Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 45 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 318 Noes - 257
31 Jan 2012 - Local Government Finance Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 46 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 233 Noes - 291
31 Jan 2012 - Local Government Finance Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 46 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 233 Noes - 294
31 Jan 2012 - Local Government Finance Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 45 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 225 Noes - 309
18 Jan 2012 - Local Government Finance Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 45 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 246 Noes - 316
10 Jan 2012 - Local Government Finance Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 49 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 332 Noes - 232
2 Nov 2011 - Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 10 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 238 Noes - 301
2 Nov 2011 - Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 36 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 233 Noes - 298
31 Oct 2011 - Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 39 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 237 Noes - 305
14 Sep 2011 - Energy Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 32 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 128 Noes - 278
14 Sep 2011 - Energy Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 5 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 219 Noes - 281
18 Jul 2011 - National Policy Statements (Energy) - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 2 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 267 Noes - 14
22 Jun 2011 - Smoking in Private Vehicles - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 11 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 78 Noes - 66
17 May 2011 - Localism Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 36 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 297 Noes - 232
10 Feb 2011 - Voting by Prisoners - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 9 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 234 Noes - 22
2 Feb 2011 - Public Forest Estate (England) - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 43 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 260 Noes - 310
2 Feb 2011 - Public Forest Estate (England) - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 39 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 301 Noes - 253
12 Jan 2011 - Postal Services Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 319 Noes - 238
9 Dec 2010 - Higher Education Fees - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 27 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 323 Noes - 302
9 Dec 2010 - Higher Education Fees - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 27 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 323 Noes - 302
1 Nov 2010 - Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 9 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 42 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 257 Noes - 315
7 Sep 2010 - Superannuation Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 42 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 326 Noes - 244
7 Sep 2010 - Superannuation Bill (Programme) - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 307 Noes - 244
26 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 35 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 229 Noes - 303
26 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 5 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 39 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 227 Noes - 310
26 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 45 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 319 Noes - 222
26 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 39 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 223 Noes - 315
26 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 0 Noes - 0
22 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 185 Noes - 302
21 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 226 Noes - 319
21 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 39 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 202 Noes - 312
21 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 43 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 200 Noes - 314
21 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 43 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 118 Noes - 321
21 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 44 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 213 Noes - 327
21 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 42 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 213 Noes - 322
19 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 43 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 326 Noes - 236
19 Jul 2010 - Academies Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 322 Noes - 238
28 Jun 2010 - Capital Gains Tax (Rates) - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 50 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 346 Noes - 270
19 Jan 2010 - Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 35 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 183 Noes - 303
9 Nov 2009 - Coroners and Justice Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 3 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 299 Noes - 145
13 May 2009 - Finance Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 1 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 154 Noes - 285
13 May 2009 - Finance Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 2 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 15 Noes - 310
22 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 23 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 25 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 206 Noes - 298
22 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 30 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 194 Noes - 306
22 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 18 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 31 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 183 Noes - 308
22 Oct 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 16 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 30 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 355 Noes - 129
8 Jul 2008 - Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill (Allocation of Time) - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 3 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 283 Noes - 145
2 Jul 2008 - Finance Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 1 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 15 Noes - 309
10 Jun 2008 - Counter-Terrorism Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 56 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 269 Noes - 331
20 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 23 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 32 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 233 Noes - 304
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 26 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 29 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 223 Noes - 286
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 20 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 34 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 181 Noes - 314
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 16 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 149 Noes - 318
19 May 2008 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 32 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 200 Noes - 293
11 Mar 2008 - European Union (Amendment) Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 44 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 346 Noes - 206
5 Mar 2008 - European Union (Amendment) Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 46 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 355 Noes - 218
5 Mar 2008 - European Union (Amendment) Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 51 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 48 Noes - 380
3 Mar 2008 - European Union (Amendment) Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 36 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 324 Noes - 152
29 Jan 2008 - Lisbon Treaty (No.1) - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 51 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 360 Noes - 167
9 Jan 2008 - Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 55 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 481 Noes - 46
24 Oct 2007 - Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 3 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 287 Noes - 155
28 Mar 2007 - Communications Allowance - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 19 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 26 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 283 Noes - 188
7 Mar 2007 - House of Lords Reform - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 61 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 416 Noes - 163
1 Nov 2006 - Legislative Process - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 18 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 34 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 290 Noes - 199
1 Nov 2006 - Legislative Process - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 17 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 36 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 122 Noes - 354
9 Oct 2006 - Road Safety Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Mike Hancock voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 3 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 164 Noes - 290
View All Mike Hancock Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lord Coaker (Labour)
Opposition Whip (Lords)
(14 debate interactions)
Kevan Jones (Labour)
(11 debate interactions)
Nick Gibb (Conservative)
(8 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department for Education
(50 debate contributions)
Department for Transport
(24 debate contributions)
Ministry of Defence
(14 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Mike Hancock has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Mike Hancock's debates

Portsmouth South Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Mike Hancock has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Mike Hancock

23rd March 2015
Mike Hancock signed this EDM as a sponsor on Monday 23rd March 2015

PARLIAMENTARY REFORMS

Tabled by: Paul Flynn (Labour - Newport West)
That this House records its disappointment at five wasted years in which the Coalition Government has failed to reform the parliamentary abuses that continue to undermine the reputation of politics, such as cash for access to politicians and cash for peerages continuing unabated, 99 per cent of corporate lobbying untouched …
13 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Mar 2015)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 3
Independent: 1
Green Party: 1
23rd March 2015
Mike Hancock signed this EDM as a sponsor on Monday 23rd March 2015

INVITATION TO FRANCES CROOK TO VISIT HM PRISON OAKWOOD

Tabled by: Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat - Cambridge)
That this House notes that G4S issued an invitation to Frances Crook, the Chief Executive of the Howard League, to visit HM Prison Oakwood; further notes that the Director of Custodial Services at the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), Ian Blakeman, decided that the visit would not be appropriate at …
19 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Mar 2015)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 5
Conservative: 1
Green Party: 1
View All Mike Hancock's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Mike Hancock, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Mike Hancock has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Mike Hancock has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Mike Hancock has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Mike Hancock has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
7 Other Department Questions
10th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the potential economic contribution of the export of UK expertise in the climate change mitigation and adaption sector as a result of other states' efforts to meet Intended Nationally Determined Contributions commitments.

All countries are expected to come forward with their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) well ahead of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) in December 2015. Countries are in most cases already taking action to reduce emissions. A credible assessment of the additional export potential related to INDCs is not possible, as INDCs that are yet to be determined.

10th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what bi-lateral discussions he has had with international partners on their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions before the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference; and if he will make a statement.

My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has discussed the negotiations for a new global climate deal, including countries’ Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), with a large number of his international counterparts.

15th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department has (a) commissioned or (b) conducted research on the effects on a business's competitiveness of building sustainability into its core strategy.

The Department has not commissioned or conducted research into this issue.

15th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make it his policy that the National Minimum Wage should apply to seafarers working on ferry services from (a) Portsmouth to the Channel Islands, (b) Weymouth to the Channel Islands, (c) Poole to the Channel Islands and (d) Portsmouth to Cherbourg.

The Government is examining the application of the legislation to seafarers, in particular those seafarers working on ferry services.

Officials have been working closely with the Department for Transport, unions and stakeholders to fully understand pay practices in the maritime industry.

Seafarers who ordinarily work in the UK are entitled to the National Minimum Wages (NMW). Seafarers who believe they are entitled to the NMW and have not received it should contact the free and confidential Pay and Work Rights helpline on 0800 917 2368.

The Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011 extend certain equality rights, including pay, to all seafarers serving on UK or EEA registered vessels operating wholly or partly in Great Britain and its territorial waters. Seafarers from the EEA or designated States, whose legal relationship in regard to their employment is located within Great Britain, are also covered to the same extent. Outside our territorial waters the same level of protection is afforded to the same category of seafarers on UK registered vessels.

The Department for Transport is currently reviewing the application of the Equality Act Regulations with the social partners, this Department and other Departments.

However, the UK must give due consideration to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that states that a vessel is entitled to the right of innocent passage when in the territorial waters of another State. The majority of ferries operating out of Great Britain are not flagged with the UK register and the Channel Islands and Cherbourg are beyond our territorial waters.

13th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much energy was generated from renewable sources in (a) England, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales in each of the last 10 years.

DECC does not hold information on how much energy was generated from renewable sources by nation. The table below shows how much electricity was generated, by nation, for each of the last ten years.

Renewable electricity generation by UK country (GWh)

England

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales

2004

7,120

153

5,832

1,029

2005

8,963

271

6,486

1,196

2006

9,362

350

6,956

1,411

2007

9,690

510

8,003

1,469

2008

10,429

606

9,058

1,711

2009

12,008

818

10,582

1,761

2010

13,835

761

9,419

1,731

2011

17,573

996

13,539

2,330

2012

22,951

1,179

14,584

2,434

2013

32,417

1,531

16,967

2,664

Source: DECC Regional Renewable Statistics, Generation, 2003-2013, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/regional-renewable-statistics

Note: Figures may not add up to the totals presented in the Digest of UK Energy Statistics for the UK as a whole, as a result of a small amount of generation from sites for which there are no location details.

12th Sep 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he last met (a) officials and (b) trades union representatives from Portsmouth International Port.

Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published quarterly on the Gov.uk website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-business-innovation-skills&publication_type=transparency-data

Information for January – June 2014 is due to be published soon.

12th Mar 2015
BBC
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has regular discussions with BBC management on the sources from which the BBC receives external financing.

My Right Hon Friend the Secretary of State has had no regular discussions of this kind. The BBC is operationally independent of Government and it is a duty of the BBC Trust to exercise rigorous stewardship of public money and keep the BBC’s financial needs under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what comparative assessment he has made of superfast broadband coverage in (a) Hampshire and (b) other counties in the UK.

Ofcom monitors the availability of broadband in the UK, including superfast broadband availability, and publishes comparative data on its web site, which can be found at http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/broadband/ . Ofcom's 2013 report provides the following comparative data on the availability of superfast broadband in Hampshire compared with the UK average.

Local Authority

Superfast broadband availability

City of Portsmouth

96.4%

City of Southampton

91.7%

Hampshire County

78.3%

United Kingdom

73%

The full Ofcom data table can be found at http://d2a9983j4okwzn.cloudfront.net/downloads/ofcom-uk-broadband-speed-data-2013.csv

31st Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people under the age of 18 in the care of Portsmouth City Council have been reported missing in the last three years; and how many such people are still unaccounted for.

The Department for Education currently collects information on children looked after by local authorities in England who went missing from their agreed placement for a period of 24 hours or more.

The table attached shows the number of children who went missing from their agreed placement whilst looked after by Hampshire, Portsmouth or Southampton local authority, during the years ending 31 March 2012 to 2014. Children who went missing on more than one occasion during the year have been recorded only once for that year. The table also shows the number of these children who were still missing at 31 March 2014, the latest date for which data are available. In addition to these, there will also be some children who have turned 18, and therefore ceased to be looked after whilst missing. In such cases, information is not collected on whether these young people are still missing.

Comparisons with other data sources, including numbers of missing children reported to the police, indicate that the number of children missing from their agreed placement may be an undercount of the true figure and should be treated with caution. Extensive work on improving the quality of this data has been undertaken during the past two years’ data collections. An increase in the number of children missing from their agreed placement over recent years may therefore be due to improved recording rather than a true increase. From 2015, the information will be collected differently to improve the quality.

31st Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people under the age of 18 in the care of Southampton City Council have been reported missing in the last three years; and how many such people are still unaccounted for.

The Department for Education currently collects information on children looked after by local authorities in England who went missing from their agreed placement for a period of 24 hours or more.

The table attached shows the number of children who went missing from their agreed placement whilst looked after by Hampshire, Portsmouth or Southampton local authority, during the years ending 31 March 2012 to 2014. Children who went missing on more than one occasion during the year have been recorded only once for that year. The table also shows the number of these children who were still missing at 31 March 2014, the latest date for which data are available. In addition to these, there will also be some children who have turned 18, and therefore ceased to be looked after whilst missing. In such cases, information is not collected on whether these young people are still missing.

Comparisons with other data sources, including numbers of missing children reported to the police, indicate that the number of children missing from their agreed placement may be an undercount of the true figure and should be treated with caution. Extensive work on improving the quality of this data has been undertaken during the past two years’ data collections. An increase in the number of children missing from their agreed placement over recent years may therefore be due to improved recording rather than a true increase. From 2015, the information will be collected differently to improve the quality.

31st Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people under the age of 18 in the care of Hampshire County Council have been reported missing in the last three years; and how many such people are still unaccounted for.

The Department for Education currently collects information on children looked after by local authorities in England who went missing from their agreed placement for a period of 24 hours or more.

The table attached shows the number of children who went missing from their agreed placement whilst looked after by Hampshire, Portsmouth or Southampton local authority, during the years ending 31 March 2012 to 2014. Children who went missing on more than one occasion during the year have been recorded only once for that year. The table also shows the number of these children who were still missing at 31 March 2014, the latest date for which data are available. In addition to these, there will also be some children who have turned 18, and therefore ceased to be looked after whilst missing. In such cases, information is not collected on whether these young people are still missing.

Comparisons with other data sources, including numbers of missing children reported to the police, indicate that the number of children missing from their agreed placement may be an undercount of the true figure and should be treated with caution. Extensive work on improving the quality of this data has been undertaken during the past two years’ data collections. An increase in the number of children missing from their agreed placement over recent years may therefore be due to improved recording rather than a true increase. From 2015, the information will be collected differently to improve the quality.

13th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the link between financial education in schools and sustainable and responsible investment practices.

While we have not made a formal assessment of the link between financial education and sustainable and responsible investment practices, our decision that personal financial education should be included in the citizenship national curriculum for key stage 3 and 4 is designed to help pupils manage their money. OECD research concluded that the new national curriculum meets all of the building blocks they recommend for a sound financial education in schools. Through this aspect of the curriculum pupils should develop their knowledge and skills so they can make sound financial decisions and take their place in society as responsible citizens.

At key stage 3, pupils should be taught about the functions and uses of money, the importance and practice of budgeting, and managing risk. At key stage 4, pupils should be taught about income and expenditure, credit and debt, insurance, savings and pensions, financial products and services, and how public money is raised and spent.

18th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department issues to members of the public about where to buy a puppy.

Defra provides guidance on buying a puppy which is available on the GOV.UK website. The advice includes encouraging people to read the Puppy Information Pack provided by the Animal Welfare Foundation and RSPCA and to also use the Puppy Contract to get as much information about the puppy as possible.

18th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will encourage local authorities to use Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme inspectors to (a) conduct inspections on behalf of local authorities and (b) train local authority inspectors.

We are aware of the offer made by the Kennel Club to inspect and train local authority inspectors. Local authorities may choose to take up this offer or those made by other organisations.

18th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make the principles of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme mandatory for anyone breeding dogs.

Defra fully supports the principles of the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder Scheme but considers it goes beyond the minimum standards set by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and so could not be used as the basis for regulations under the 2006 Act.

12th Sep 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect on ferry companies operating from Portsmouth International Port of (a) port and (b) local transport infrastructure investment under the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.

I have made no formal assessment of this kind. However, the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership has secured £124.8M for the first phase of its Strategic Economic Plan, and this will bring benefits through reducing journey times to Portsmouth which stand to benefit ferry users there generally, in parallel with the specific improvements benefiting Southampton services to the Isle of Wight.

12th Sep 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have had with representatives of Condor Ferries Ltd since 1 May 2010.

Condor Ferries Limited attended attended a workshop organised by officials on ro-ro vessels and their stability in 2011. The Department for Transport’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch also met Condor Ferries Limited in relation to two accident investigations involving the ro-ro ferry Commodore Clipper; a fire on 16 June 2010 and a grounding on 14 July 2014. There have been no other meetings between officials and Condor Ferries Limited.

12th Sep 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what correspondence there has been between (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department with Condor Ferries Ltd since 1 May 2010; and what the subject of each instance of correspondence was.

Officials at the Department for Transport have had correspondence with Condor Ferries Limited on maritime security and accident investigation since 1 May 2010.

Some of the correspondence was with Marine Accident Investigation Branch on two accident investigations involving the ro-ro ferry Commodore Clipper: a fire on 16 June 2010 and a grounding on 14 July 2014. There was also correspondence on minor accidents involving vessels operated by Condor Ferries. The other correspondence related to pre-arrival security exemption and the impact of offshore renewable energy installation on the company.

12th Sep 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he last met (a) officials and (b) trades union representatives from Portsmouth International Port.

The Secretary of State for Transport has, to date, met neither officials nor trades union representatives from Portsmouth International Port. I am, however, keen to meet union representatives and arrangements are currently being made to bring such a meeting about, if the unions wish to have a meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much has been invested in road infrastructure in (a) Portsmouth South constituency and (b) Hampshire in each of the last four years.

The Department for Transport is responsible for the strategic road network which is managed by the Highways Agency on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport. The remaining roads are the responsibility of local highway authorities under the Higways Act 1980.

Highways Agency spending on improving road infrastructure (including smaller schemes and technology improvements) on the strategic road over the last four financial years in Hampshire is as follows:

Financial Year

Funding (£m)

2010/11

49.415

2011/12

65.526

2012/13

51.296

2013/14

71.830

The strategic road network does not extend into Portsmouth South.

The Department for Transport also provides funding to local highway authorities through Integrated Transport and Highways Maintenance Block grants. This funding can be used to improve local roads that the authorities manage if they so wish. The following tables provide this information.

Highways Maintenance Block & Top-Up Funding

Year

Portsmouth City Council

(£m)

Hampshire County Council

(£m)

2010-11

1.316

21.392

March 2011 – Pothole Funding

0.259

6.016

2011-12

1.260

24.268

2012-13

1.099

23.230

2013-14

1.108

22.052

2013-14 Top-Up (as announced in December 2012 Autumn Statement)

0.201

3.990

2013-14 – Flood Repairs

0.147

11.509

The Department for Transport is also supporting the Portsmouth highways maintenance project and a street lighting project in Hampshire which are both being funded through the private finance initiative. The total Department for Transport funding being provided for the scheme over a twenty five period is as follows:

Scheme

Total Cost (£m)

Portsmouth Highways Maintenance PFI Project

253.775

Hampshire Street Lighting PFI project

234.328

Integrated Transport Block & Top-Up Funding

Year

Portsmouth City Council (£m)

Hampshire County Council

(£m)

2010-11

2.067

10.017

2011-12

1.484

6.547

2011-12 Top-Up Funding

0.247

1.091

2012-13

1.583

6.984

2013-14

1.583

6.984

Local authorities are also able to use revenue funding allocated by the Department for Communities and Local Government through the Revenue Support Grant for maintaining their local highways.

Neither capital nor revenue highways maintenance funding is ring-fenced and it is for local highway authorities to decide upon their spending priorities across the whole range of services they provide.

In addition, the Department for Transport also provides capital funding for local major schemes, costing over £5 million. The Department for Transport has agreed to provide a funding contribution to two schemes being promoted by Portsmouth City Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people on (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment and support allowance have moved from the Work Programme to Work Choice in (a) Portsmouth South constituency and (b) Hampshire in the last three years.

The information requested is not available.

Esther McVey
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in (a) Portsmouth South constituency and (b) Hampshire who applied to the jobseeker's allowance hardship regime were (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful in each of the last three years.

This data is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Esther McVey
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have received sanctions of their jobseeker's allowance for non-attendance in (a) Portsmouth South constituency, (b) Portsmouth, (c) Hampshire and (d) England to date.

The information requested is shown in the table below.

Number of individuals who had their Jobseeker's Allowance sanctioned for failure to attend, from April 2000 to September 2013.

Failure to attend

England

1,408,227

Hampshire

16,794

Portsmouth UA

5,169

Portsmouth South constituency

3,158

Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database.

Notes:

  1. Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) figures have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data.

2. A table produced with no breakdowns, only containing a total, will be a measure of the total number of individual people who have had a (JSA) sanction decision made i.e. an individual person will be counted once, irrespective of their characteristics, sanction decision outcome, reason for referral etc.

3. New sanctions rules came into force for JSA from 22 October 2012. The number of JSA sanctions applied for the new regime is the number of low, intermediate, and high level referrals where the decision was found against the claimant. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jobseekers-allowance-overview-of-sanctions-rules

4. Information on the old JSA regime is available from April 2000 to 21 October 2012. The number of JSA sanctions applied was the number of fixed length, varied length and entitlement decisions where the decision was found against the claimant.

5. The figure for Hampshire includes the following local authorities: Basingstoke and Deane, East Hampshire, Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Hart, Havant, New Forest, Rushmoor, Test Valley and Winchester.

6. Failure to attend includes: Failure to attend a place on a training scheme or employment programme, Failure to attend or failure to participate in an Adviser interview and Failure to attend Back to Work Session, without good reason.

7. This information is published and available at:

https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

Esther McVey
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
11th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of research on the efficacy and safety of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid.

According to the ASH Smokefree GB survey, around two million adults in Great Britain currently use e-cigarettes. A third are ex-smokers who have given up completely, and a further third are using them as part of a quit attempt.

While e-cigarettes are not completely without risk, they carry a far lower risk to health than smoking tobacco. A recent Cochrane Review found that e-cigarettes can help smokers to quit or reduce their smoking and the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) advice to local stop smoking services is that they should be open to helping smokers who want to quit smoking with the help of e-cigarettes, especially in those that have tried, but not succeeded, in stopping smoking with the use of licenced stop smoking medicines.

Public Health England (PHE) is responsible for reviewing the evidence on e-cigarettes and providing evidence-based recommendations to inform the Government’s future thinking. In May 2014 PHE published an expert report from Professor John Britton, one of the UK’s leading respiratory physicians and tobacco researchers (available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/311887/Ecigarettes_report.pdf).

11th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the positive and negative effects of e-cigarettes on people with asthma.

No such assessment has been made.

4th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will assess the potential merits of signing a covenant with Portsmouth City Council to prevent the land at the St James' Hospital site being developed.

This is a matter for NHS Property Services (NHS PS).

NHS PS has advised that there is no operational rationale for a covenant to restrict the future use and development of surplus land and buildings at the site.

We understand there are local proposals, under the St Mary’s and St James’ Estate Project in Portsmouth, aiming:

- to make St Mary’s Community Health Campus the focus of community care services in Portsmouth;

- to retain mental health facilities at St James’ Hospital;

- to reduce substantial areas of unused space at both sites;

- to dispose of surplus land and buildings at St James’ and invest in St Mary’s and other NHS facilities in the city, and

- to generate savings of circa £3 million in the ongoing cost of running the NHS-owned and occupied estate.

As part of the rationalisation plans, we are advised surplus land and buildings at St James’ Hospital will be released for redevelopment and this will take place over two phases.

3rd Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prisoners in England and Wales have received prescription drugs for psychiatric illness in the last three years.

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of deaths in (a) Portsmouth, (b) Hampshire and (c) the South East attributed to air pollution in each of the last 10 years.

Estimates of the fraction of mortality in English local authority areas and regions in 2010 and 2011 attributable to long-term exposure to particulate air pollution arising from human activities are published by Public Health England (PHE) as one of the indicators in the Department of Health's Public Health Outcomes Framework. For Portsmouth Unitary Authority this figure was 5.9% in both 2010 and 2011; for Hampshire County Council this figure was 5.3% in 2010 and 5.4% in 2011; and for the South East this figure was 5.5% in both 2010 and 2011.

PHE has also published mortality estimates for 2010 as attributable deaths[1] and associated years of life lost. The estimated mortality burdens attributable to long-term exposure to particulate air pollution arising from human activities were: 95 attributable deaths and 1059 associated years of life lost in Portsmouth Unitary Authority; 601 attributable deaths and 6211 associated years of life lost in Hampshire County Council; and 4,034 attributable deaths and 41,729 associated years of life lost in the South East.

[1] The ‘number of deaths' attributable to a risk factor is a metric which is widely used in communicating about public health risks. Nonetheless, a calculated figure of ‘attributable deaths' does not represent the number of individuals whose length of life has been shortened by air pollution. Long-term exposure to air pollution is understood to be a contributory factor to deaths from respiratory and, particularly, cardiovascular disease, ie unlikely to be the sole cause of deaths of individuals. This means that it is likely that air pollution contributes a smaller amount to the deaths of a larger number of exposed individuals rather than being solely responsible for a number of deaths equivalent to the calculated figure of ‘attributable deaths'. The distribution of the mortality effect within the population is unknown.

19th Mar 2015
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs has made special arrangements with English Premier League clubs about their tax affairs.

Where a dispute arises between HMRC and a customer in relation to their tax affairs, HMRC will only resolve the dispute in a way that secures the tax that is due under the current law. HMRC’s Litigation & Settlement Strategy (LSS) – which applies to all tax disputes - sets out its approach to securing the tax due as efficiently as possible and in accordance with the law. The governance procedures for how HMRC settles disputes are set out in the published Code of Governance for resolving tax disputes. Together the LSS and the Code of Governance assure taxpayers that tax rules are applied appropriately and even-handedly by HMRC.

16th Mar 2015
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information HM Revenue and Customs holds on the number of football players in the English Premier League who pay no tax in the UK from their earnings.

The information requested is not available.

25th Feb 2015
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the performance of the Pensions Infrastructure Platform; and if he will make a statement.

The Pensions Infrastructure Platform (PIP) continues to make progress in supporting investment by UK pension funds in UK infrastructure by providing a platform for these funds to work together.

3rd Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been stopped from leaving the UK by officials at the ferry port in Hull in the last year.

To ensure the integrity and security of the UK border Her Majesty’s Government does not comment on port specific statistics.

3rd Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times there have been no police or immigration officials at the ferry port in Portsmouth checking people leaving the UK in the last year.

The requested information has not been released as it is Border Force policy
not to release port-specific staff numbers on grounds of national security.

Exit checks were abolished by the last government. This Government is committed
to reintroducing exit checks by April 2015 on scheduled commercial
international air, sea and rail routes.

3rd Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been stopped from leaving the UK by officials at the ferry port in Dover in the last year.

To ensure the integrity and security of the UK border Her Majesty’s Government does not comment on port specific statistics.

3rd Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times there have been no police or immigration officials at the ferry port in Dover checking people leaving the UK in the last year.

The requested information has not been released as it is Border Force policy
not to release port-specific staff numbers on grounds of national security.

Exit checks were abolished by the last government. This Government is committed
to reintroducing exit checks by April 2015 on scheduled commercial
international air, sea and rail routes.

3rd Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times there have been no police or immigration officials at the ferry port in Hull checking people leaving the UK in the last year.

The requested information has not been released as it is Border Force policy
not to release port-specific staff numbers on grounds of national security.

Exit checks were abolished by the last government. This Government is committed
to reintroducing exit checks by April 2015 on scheduled commercial
international air, sea and rail routes.

3rd Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been stopped from leaving the UK by officials at the shuttle tunnel in Folkestone in the last year.

To ensure the integrity and security of the UK border Her Majesty’s Government does not comment on port specific statistics.

3rd Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times there have been no police or immigration officials at the shuttle tunnel in Folkestone checking people leaving the UK in the last year.

The requested information has not been released as it is Border Force policy
not to release port-specific staff numbers on grounds of national security.

Exit checks were abolished by the last government. This Government is committed
to reintroducing exit checks by April 2015 on scheduled commercial
international air, sea and rail routes.

26th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-EU students who were given visas to study in the UK failed to leave the UK after their studies had ended in each of the last four years.

In 2012, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) changed its methodology to
provide a better indicator of how many people leaving the UK first came here as
students. The ONS uses this data to estimate that in the year to September
2014, 133,000 non-EU students came to the UK to study for more than 12 months
while only 48,000 left - a difference of 85,000. This is partly because
students are able to extend their Tier 4 visa or switch into another
immigration route in-country, and so remain in the UK. Therefore student
emigration or the lack of it is a key driver of overall net migration.

The Immigration Act 2014 has provided new powers to implement exit checks,
which the last Labour government scrapped in 1998. The data collected by exit
checks will provide the most comprehensive picture we have ever had of whether
those who enter the UK leave when they are supposed to. The Act will also stop
migrants using public services to which they are not entitled, reduce the factors which
encourage people to come to the UK and make it easier to remove people who
should not be here.

26th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many schools and colleges that have had their right to sponsor overseas students removed have been subject to criminal proceedings in each of the last four years.

The information requested is not recorded in this way.

Immigration Enforcement prosecutes individuals rather than schools
and companies who have had their right to sponsor overseas students
removed.

It would be a disproportionate cost to disaggregate information on the number
of individuals prosecuted for this offence from all of those prosecuted.

26th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign students at schools and colleges that have lost their right to sponsor such students were removed from the UK in each of the last four years.

Immigration removal statistics do not capture the category in which those
removed originally came to the UK. Since 2010, UK Visas and Immigration have
removed more than 860 education institutions from the register of those
licensed to recruit international students to the UK. Students whose sponsors’
licence has been revoked must find a new licensed sponsor or leave the UK
within 60 days of notification.

5th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people seeking British nationality have been waiting more than (a) nine months and (b) one year for their application to be processed having paid all due fees.

(a) between 9 – 12 months 369 people.
(b) More than 12 months 487 people.

These figures are as of the end of September 2014, in line with the latest published data.

This compares with a peak in 2007-08 of 2592 people waiting between 9 and 12 months and 4166 people waiting more than 12 months.

5th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the current average waiting time is for her Department to process applications for people who are seeking British nationality.

The average processing time for applications for British citizenship is 70 days from receipt of application to decision.

These figures are for the year 1 October 2013 – 30 September 2014, in line with the latest published data.

This compares with a peak average waiting time of 100 days from 1 October 2008 – 30 September 2009.

12th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on British army pensions in each of the last three years.

The information in the table below has been extracted from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme Annual Accounts and shows how much was spent on British Army pensions in each of the last three financial years.

£ millionPensionsLump Sums

Widows/

Dependants

Total

2013-141,450.8330.61,48.61,930.0
2012-131,443.1307.31,47.21,897.6
2011-121.364.01263.41,40.21,767.6

Note 1: Figure Contains Early Departure lump sum payments and Early Departure Payment ongoing payments. Later years do not include Early Departure Payment ongoing payments.

11th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many days Trident submarines have not been at sea in each of the last three years.

The United Kingdom has maintained a continuous at sea deterrent for more than 45 years, during which time we have always had at least one submarine at sea on deterrent patrol.

11th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans for UK-crewed fighter jets to be stationed on the deck of a Queen-Elizabeth class aircraft carrier.

HMS Queen Elizabeth will spend time on acceptance, commissioning and trials activity, and training of the ship's company, to ensure she is ready to start aircraft operations. This will allow a coherent build-up of capability including aircraft trials, in order to deliver an Initial Operating Capability (Carrier Strike) in 2020, at which point she will be capable of operating a wide number of aircraft, including helicopters and the UK's F-35B aircraft.

11th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent on refitting HMS Vengeance in each of the last three years.

The table below summarises the cost of maintenance and refit for the four Vanguard class submarines for the last three financial years.

Total Maintenance Costs

(£ million)

Refit Costs

(£ million)

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

2011-12

2012-13

2013-14

Vanguard

2.4

4.4

0

0.1

4.1

Vengeance

0.8

0.8

43.5

105.6

119.2

Vigilant

1.8

1.4

74.1

8.0

0.1

Victorious

1.6

1.5

0

0

0

Total

10.6

6.6

8.1

117.6

113.7

123.4

Maintenance costs for the Vanguard Class for financial year 2011-12 cannot be broken down by individual vessels as the information is not held in the format requested.