Alex Ballinger MP: written questions
87 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Employment: 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 recordGambling: AdvertisingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114516More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking in the context of the University of Sheffield’s findings that gambling advertisements during the 2022 FIFA World Cup significantly influenced betting behaviour
Answer: We consider a wide range of evidence when making policy and regulatory decisions. This includes consideration of Sheffield University’s recent report on World Cup advertising and its impact on gambling behaviour. All operators advertising in the UK must c...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHealthwatch DudleyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114488More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which organisations will replace Healthwatch Dudley; and how health and social care will be monitored in Dudley borough.
Answer: As set out in the Review of patient safety across the health and care landscape report published in July 2025, and in the 10-Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, the statutory functions of local Healthwatch bodies will be transferred to integ...
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordProperty Development: LandslipsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112730More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, under what legislation developers are responsible for mitigating the risk of landslides in their property developments.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 46774 on 29 April 2025.
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDudley Metropolitan Borough CouncilMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106776More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) financial and (b) any other support (i) is and (ii) will be available to Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, in the context of improvement notice and auditor evaluation
Answer: My department continues to work closely with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council to ensure strong oversight of progress against the requirements of the best value notice issued in July 2025. The council is leading its own improvement journey and has secur...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106775More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how he plans to support Councils with low council tax bases and entrenched deprivation.
Answer: Following extensive consultation and engagement, we are realigning funding distributed through the Local Government Finance Settlement with need and deprivation. We will target a greater proportion of grant funding towards the most deprived places which n...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordM6: TollsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105478More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of nationalising the M6 Toll road.
Answer: There are currently no discussions underway about nationalising the M6 Toll. The M6 Toll sits outside of the Strategic Road Network managed by National Highways and is owned and operated by private entity Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL).
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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