Alex Ballinger MP: written questions 2026
34 published records · newest first.
Written questions
International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian PeaceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24576More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress has been made on establishing and implementing the International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace since its launch.
Answer: The UK, alongside Australia and Canada, launched the International Peace Fund in June 2026 to support practical, grassroots initiatives that bring Israelis and Palestinians together, rebuild trust and support a sustainable two-state solution. The UK, Aust...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordInternational Fund for Israeli-Palestinian PeaceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 28 Aug 2026AnsweredUIN 24575More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will provide an update on the implementation of the International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace, including the steps the Government is taking to support Israeli an
Answer: The UK, alongside Australia and Canada, launched the International Peace Fund in June 2026 to support practical, grassroots initiatives that bring Israelis and Palestinians together, rebuild trust and support a sustainable two-state solution. The UK, Aust...
Answered 8 Sept 2026
Original Parliament recordGambling: LicensingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18347More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to Investigate Europe's report entitled Payment firms handled millions for companies linked to unlicensed gambling network, published on 9 July 2026, whether the payments associati
Answer: We are committed to taking action on the illegal gambling market. Since its launch in January this year, the Illegal Gambling Taskforce has worked with payment providers and other relevant stakeholders to consider the best way to tackle the issue of payme...
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordCryptocurrencies: GamblingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 13 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 18346More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on the Reform Party holding discussions with the Gambling Commission on Crypto Gambling.
Answer: The Gambling Commission, as the independent regulator for gambling, has responsibility for making decisions around licensing. The Gambling Commission has not been approached or held any discussion with the Reform Party on crypto gambling.
Answered 20 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordGambling: InternetDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17575More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Gambling Commission is taking to prevent UK licensed gambling software companies providing games to illegal gambling sites.
Answer: The Gambling Commission, as the independent regulator for gambling, has responsibility for making decisions around licensing. As part of its regulatory approach, the Gambling Commission assesses applicants against the statutory licensing objectives and ma...
Answered 17 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordGambling: CryptocurrenciesDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 9 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 17574More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will publish a list of organisations that have lobbied the Gambling Commission or her Department on the subject of crypto gambling.
Answer: As the Gambling Commission is an independent regulatory body, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not hold records of which organisations have lobbied the Commission on any particular topic. Transparency data for ministerial meetings will be ...
Answered 16 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordEmployment: Young PeopleDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 900682More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking in response to the findings of the report entitled Young people and work: interim report, published on 28 May 2026.
Answer: I commissioned Alan Millburn’s review precisely because this is one of the key issues we inherited. And I am determined, my department will play its role in addressing this.We are doing this through investing £2.5 billion through the Youth Guarantee, Expa...
Answered 29 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: GamblingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Government is taking to prevent AI tools from directing UK consumers to black market gambling websites.
Answer: The Government takes the issue of children being directed to illegal gambling sites very seriously.AI chatbots covered by the Online Safety Act must protect all users from illegal content. We continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure th...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordGambling: ChildrenDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with social media and streaming platforms about preventing gambling promotions from reaching under-18s.
Answer: Gambling advertising on social media must adhere to the same standards set for other mediums. Advertising codes require operators to ensure targeting is used responsibly, utilising tools available on platforms to exclude under-18s and other vulnerable gro...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordGambling: Children and Young PeopleDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to prevent gambling operators from using content marketing to reach children and young people.
Answer: The Government is committed to prioritising protections for children and young people.Operators must comply with the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing (CAP Code) when advertising online, including when utilising c...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordBBC: West MidlandsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 24 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129759More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the BBC’s Digbeth development on regional storytelling in the West Midlands.
Answer: The Government wants broadcasters to be more ambitious in growing the TV sector outside London and the South East and commissioning content nationwide, and for British storytelling to reflect the full diversity of people, communities and experiences acros...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBBC: Royal ChartersDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 24 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129758More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that a new BBC Charter provides sustainable and stable funding.
Answer: As we consider BBC funding as part of Charter Review, we will look at how we can ensure the funding model is sustainable while also being fair and affordable for households. This will allow the BBC to deliver for all of us, drive growth of the creative in...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHospices: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123945More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of potential shortfalls in funding for service delivery by hospice providers.
Answer: Palliative care services are included in the list of services that an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. To support ICBs in meeting this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications. The statutory guidance makes ...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAmeer KotechaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121556More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Mr Ameer Kotecha was given a leave of absence from her Department to (a) run the Platinum Pudding Competition and (b) write the Platinum Cookbook.
Answer: There is no record of Mr Kotecha being granted a period of unpaid leave during his employment with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). His work on producing the cookbook and running the pudding competition over the course of 2021-22 w...
Answered 1 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Ethnic GroupsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121550More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether an event was held within her Department to mark World Afro Day in August 2021.
Answer: There is no record of Mr Kotecha being granted a period of unpaid leave during his employment with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). His work on producing the cookbook and running the pudding competition over the course of 2021-22 w...
Answered 1 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordWork Capability AssessmentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 121007More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to provide support for people who are disabled and on benefits when their condition deteriorates; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introduci
Answer: Individuals claiming Employment and Support Allowance or the health element of Universal Credit are encouraged to report any changes to their health condition to DWP immediately, whether an improvement or deterioration. If an individual with Limited Capab...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFurs: Imports and SalesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120461More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to limit the import and sale of fur produced from unethical practices overseas.
Answer: As set out in the Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra will publish the results of the previous government’s call for evidence on the fur trade and publish and consider carefully the report from our independent expert Animal Welfare Committee on th...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Integrated Security Fund: Gender Based ViolenceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department's press release entitled New international coalition launched to end violence against women and girls globally, published on 2 December 2025,
Answer: The Integrated Security Fund-supported Gender and National Security portfolio has a total budget of £4.85 million in 2025/26, of which approximately £1.6 million (33 per cent) is targeted specifically to tackling Violence against Women and Girls.
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Integrated Security Fund: WomenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes in gender and conflict advisory capacity on the ability of the Integrated Security Fund to mainstre
Answer: The Integrated Security Fund-supported Gender and National Security portfolio has a total budget of £4.85 million in 2025/26, of which approximately £1.6 million (33 per cent) is targeted specifically to tackling Violence against Women and Girls.
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordConflict Prevention and Peacekeeping OperationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117550More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) value for money of (i) Official Development Assistance allocations to peacekeeping and multilateral commitments
Answer: The Department assesses the effectiveness and value for money of UK-funded projects in the areas mentioned through its business case process, quarterly progress reports, annual reviews and Project Completion Reviews, including checks on financial performa...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Integrated Security FundCabinet OfficeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114714More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the UK Integrated Security Fund will deliver programmes through contracting and pre-qualified partners during 2026 to 2029; and whether he plans to amend the UK Integrated Security Fund's procurement and
Answer: From 2026 to 2029, the Integrated Security Fund (ISF) will continue to deliver programmes through a range of delivery mechanisms, including contracting and prequalified partners where this provides the most effective and agile route to achieving national ...
Answered 9 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Integrated Security FundCabinet OfficeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114713More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department made of the potential impact of the level of conflict prevention on UK national security when determining the of the multi-year level of funding for the UK Integrated Security Fund
Answer: The Integrated Security Fund (ISF) will narrow its focus towards the UK’s top national security priorities, as set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 10 February 2026. This includes tackling five key threat areas (Russia; Iran & its proxies; ...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordWestern Balkans: Soft PowerForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the projected level of loss of UK soft power in the Western Balkans in the next five years.
Answer: Last year, the Government invested over £31 million in programmes in the Western Balkans, supporting women and girls, protecting democratic values, and enhancing resilience to hostile state influences, including funding for counter-disinformation and cybe...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRolling Stock: LeasingDepartment for TransportTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of bringing train leasing companies into public ownership, including to achieve a fair price for leasing rolling stock.
Answer: Rolling stock companies own and lease trains and carriages worth billions of pounds. It would not be responsible for the Government to take on the cost of renationalising all the rolling stock at the present time, as there are other urgent pressures on th...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordUK Integrated Security FundCabinet OfficeTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114710More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will set out the basis for determining the funding level of the UK Integrated Security Fund multi-year allocations for (a) conflict prevention and (b) Women, Peace and Security, including the advice and im
Answer: The Integrated Security Fund (ISF) will narrow its focus towards the UK’s top national security priorities, as set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 10 February 2026. This includes tackling five key threat areas (Russia; Iran & its proxies; ...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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