Alex Ballinger MP: written questions 2025
119 published records · newest first.
Written questions
NHS: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to expand protected research time for NHS clinicians contributing to research.
Answer: The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future highlights the opportunities for improved care and innovation that comes from research and life sciences in the National Health Service. The upcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan is considerin...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97682More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support research teams undertaking long-term cancer prevention and early-detection research.
Answer: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology invests approximately £200 million annually in cancer research via UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spent £141.6 million in 2024/25 via the Nationa...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97681More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of long-term, stable funding models for cancer research projects.
Answer: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s Medical Research Council (MRC) delivers a substantial portfolio of researcher-led projects, building on long-standing partnerships, including with Wellcome and CRUK, to fund investments such as the Francis Crick Institu...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: FinesDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97679More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is taking steps to improve grace periods for parking fines and transparency for the appeal and enforcement process.
Answer: A 10-minute grace period became mandatory for all councils in England on 6 April 2015. It applies at local authority owned or operated car parks and at the end of paid-for and free on-street parking in England. The grace period only applies at the end of ...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordFood BanksDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure support is available for vulnerable people in poverty to have improved access to food banks.
Answer: Foodbanks are independent organisations and remain in control of who they provide support to and how people can access that support. However, our Work Coaches are adept at providing holistic support to customers, and use their knowledge of local provision...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: GamblingMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the NHS on improving prevention and treatment of gambling harms among Armed Forces personnel and veterans.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence takes problem-gambling very seriously and works closely with Armed Forces personnel and Veterans who require support. The comprehensive Defence Primary Health Care Gambling pathway within the Defence Medical Services, assesses and ...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: GamblingMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of gambling harms among serving members of the Armed Forces.
Answer: Defence recognises that gambling-related harms can have significant impacts on the health and wellbeing of Service personnel. In addition to the limits placed on gambling by Kings Regulations, active efforts are made to highlight both the harms of problem...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: West MidlandsTreasuryTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97675More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support access to finance for SMEs in the West Midlands.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that businesses across the UK, including in the West Midlands, can access the capital they need to grow. Through the British Business Bank (BBB), we are delivering a range of targeted interventions, including loan g...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGrowth and Skills Levy: West MidlandsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support SMEs in the West Midlands to access the Growth and Skills Levy.
Answer: To support SMEs to access apprenticeships, the government will fully fund apprenticeship training for non-levy paying employers (essentially SMEs) for all eligible people aged under 25 from the next academic year. This change will make it easier for those...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCycling: PupilsDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89964More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure more children are able to cycle safely to school.
Answer: Active Travel England provides funding to The Bikeability Trust to deliver Bikeability cycle training to children in England (outside London). In addition, active travel revenue funding can be used by local authorities to deliver cycle training and engage...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGaming: DisadvantagedDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89874More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of adult gaming centres on trends in the level of gambling harms in deprived areas .
Answer: We do not hold official data on the relationship between deprivation and participation in gambling at adult gaming centres. As part of the Pride in Place Strategy, published on 25 September, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to introducing cumulati...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGamblingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89873More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she will assess the potential merits of reviewing the aim to permit duty under the Gambling Act 2005 to strengthen the ability of local authorities to limit gambling harms.
Answer: Local authorities are vital partners in the regulation of gambling and have a range of powers to influence the operation of gambling premises and limit gambling harm. These include site inspections, restrictions on opening hours, and suspending or revokin...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: LicensingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89872More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential merits of including public health officials in the gambling license process.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has not had discussions on this matter with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.There are several ways that public health officials at local authorities contribute to the gambling licensing...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMortgages: Individual Savings AccountsTreasuryTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89360More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing the maximum amount that can be added to a cash ISA on mortgage rates.
Answer: The pricing of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. However, mortgage rates are influenced by a range of factors, including Base Rate, which has been cut five times since this Government came to power....
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBuilding Societies: Individual Savings AccountsTreasuryTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89359More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing the maximum amount that can be added to a cash ISA on small building societies.
Answer: The pricing of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. However, mortgage rates are influenced by a range of factors, including Base Rate, which has been cut five times since this Government came to power....
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: FireworksDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89269More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of commissioning research into the impact of firework noise on animal welfare.
Answer: The Government is continuing to engage with animal welfare stakeholders, businesses, consumer groups and charities on the impacts of fireworks, to inform any future action.
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFireworks: MisuseDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89268More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to improve enforcement laws relating to the (a) setting off of fireworks (i) in public places and (ii) outside permitted hours and (b) misuse of fireworks in general.
Answer: Enforcement powers exist for local authorities to act when fireworks are unsafe, sold illegally or misused. Local authorities and the police also have powers to tackle anti-social behaviour caused by the misuse of fireworks, including setting off outside ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordFly-tipping: West MidlandsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89248More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support local authorities to tackle persistent cases of fly-tipping in the West Midlands.
Answer: Local councils are responsible for tackling fly-tipping in their area and have a range of enforcement powers to help them do so. These include fixed penalty notices of up to £1000, seizing and crushing of vehicles and prosecution action. We encourage coun...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: FireworksDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89247More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to help limit the impact of fireworks on (a) pets, (b) livestock and (c) other animals.
Answer: The Government is continuing to engage with animal welfare stakeholders, businesses, consumer groups and charities on the impacts of fireworks, to inform any future action.
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: FireworksDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89246More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reducing the maximum noise level for consumer fireworks from 120 to 90 decibels on the welfare of (a) horses and (b)
Answer: The Government is continuing to engage with animal welfare stakeholders, businesses, consumer groups and charities on the impacts of fireworks, to inform any future action.
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSkin Piercing: AgeDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 88073More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing (a) national guidance and (b) regulations on setting a minimum age for body piercings.
Answer: There are no plans to set a national minimum age for body piercings. The Department has produced model byelaws for cosmetic piercing under the Local Government Act 2003 and Local Government (miscellaneous provisions) Act 1982. The purpose of the model bye...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDriving: DisqualificationHome OfficeTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that (a) long and (b) lifetime driving disqualifications are enforced.
Answer: The Government takes road safety extremely seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. We have tough penalties and rigorous enforcement in place to deter offending behaviour.The police have a suite of power...
Answered 5 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: AccidentsDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of young drivers killed in road traffic collisions.
Answer: We absolutely recognise that young people are disproportionately victims of tragic incidents on our roads and continue to tackle this through our THINK! campaign. We are considering measures to address this problem and protect young drivers, as part of ou...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordRoad Traffic OffencesDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85559More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to suspend driving licences immediately for people arrested on suspicion of driving offences carrying mandatory d
Answer: This Government takes road safety seriously. We are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads.The Government is listening closely to the concerns of those affected by tragic cases of death or serious injury on our roads.We...
Answered 4 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordRoads: AccidentsDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 85558More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reducing the 24-hour time period allowed to report road traffic collisions.
Answer: This Government takes road safety seriously. We are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads.We are considering a range of policies under the new strategy; the first for 10 years. This includes the case for changing motor...
Answered 30 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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