Darren Paffey MP: written questions
150 published records · newest first.
Written questions
IVF: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5196More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to review guidance to Integrated Care Boards on access to NHS-funded frozen embryo transfers for patients with remaining embryos from previous NHS-funded IVF cycles see
Answer: Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their local population.On 31 March, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published its updated fertil...
Answered 15 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncillors: VettingMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring newly elected councillors to undergo Disclosure and Barring Service checks after taking office.
Answer: We keep local government member criminal record check policy under review. All local government members are eligible for Basic criminal records checks provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service. Members in unitary and upper tier authorities who are be...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordLeaseholdMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 5153More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the provisions in the Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill for leaseholders of houses on mixed estates containing flats and houses.
Answer: Owners of existing leasehold houses will benefit from a number of the provisions of our draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill including the abolition of forfeiture for leasehold; regulation of estate rentcharges; and the capping of ground rents at £2...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRegistration of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Civil PartnershipsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4821More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure families are not penalised under the 5 day legal requirement to register a death when facing delays caused by (a) lack of appointments and (b) administ
Answer: The Department has policy and operational responsibility for the death certification process in England and Wales, which includes the medical examiner function which scrutinises all non-coronial deaths. Medical examiners and their officers are expected to...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordRented Housing: DisabilityWomen and EqualitiesTabled 29 May 2026AnsweredUIN 4820More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to respond to the consultation entitled Improving disabled people’s access to let residential premises: reasonable adjustments to common parts, a new duty, which closed on 18 August 2022.
Answer: This Government will provide a response to this consultation in due course.
Answered 9 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordParkingDepartment for TransportTabled 15 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1798More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential risks posed by vehicles parking facing oncoming traffic.
Answer: Rule 248 of the Highway Code states that drivers must not park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space. The Department has made no such assessment and does not plan to extend this requiremen...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordTeachers: TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1478More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment the Department has made of the potential impact of the recent changes to teacher training funding eligibility on the provision and uptake of language teaching in schools.
Answer: The department has now achieved over 70% of our target to recruit 6,500 additional expert teachers by the end of this Parliament. There are 4,654 additional expert teachers in secondary and special schools and colleges.Recruitment of physics trainee teach...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordTeachers: TrainingDepartment for EducationTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1476More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment the Department has made of the potential impact of the recent changes to teacher training funding eligibility on recruitment to Modern Foreign Languages and Physics teacher training courses.
Answer: The department has now achieved over 70% of our target to recruit 6,500 additional expert teachers by the end of this Parliament. There are 4,654 additional expert teachers in secondary and special schools and colleges.Recruitment of physics trainee teach...
Answered 12 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordBuilding Safety RegulatorMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the remit is of the external remediation team at the Building Safety Regulator; and how it is engaging with stakeholders on applications.
Answer: The External Remediation team assess building control applications for proposed remediation works to the external envelope of a building, such as cladding, renders, and balconies. Individual team members liaise with the applicant throughout the applicatio...
Answered 8 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBuildings: SafetyMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123471More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish details of the new batching model being trialled by the Building Safety Regulator to reduce the length of time taken to assess building control applications, i
Answer: The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) publishes monthly data on Building Control Approval applications, including progress on the batching pilot launched in September 2025. Latest data, published in February 2026, showed average approval times for new cases...
Answered 8 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBuilding Safety RegulatorMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123469More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress the remediation enforcement unit within the Building Safety Regulator has made on its objectives.
Answer: The External Remediation team assess building control applications for proposed remediation works to the external envelope of a building, such as cladding, renders, and balconies. Individual team members liaise with the applicant throughout the applicatio...
Answered 8 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSupport for Mortgage InterestDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123468More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average processing time is for a support for mortgage interest claim; and what proportion of claims have been approved over the last two years.
Answer: In answer to your first question, we do not record processing times for Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) Loans. This is because the start date of the process is not consistently defined or easily identifiable. There is flexibility built into the timing...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRented Housing: DisabilityWomen and EqualitiesTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123467More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she plans to respond to the consultation entitled Improving disabled people’s access to let residential premises: reasonable adjustments to common parts, a new duty, which closed on 18 August 2022.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordReadingDepartment for EducationTabled 24 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 908040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to promote the National Year of Reading 2026 in educational settings.
Answer: This government has committed to strong foundations in reading and writing for all children, to help every child achieve and thrive at school. We know that reading for pleasure is hugely important and brings a range of benefits, including strong links wit...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectronic Travel Authorisations: Dual NationalityHome OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113234More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of alternative arrangements for British dual nationals travelling to the UK who do not hold a British (a) passport and (b) certificate of entitleme
Answer: British citizens seeking to enter the UK may only evidence their right of abode in the UK at the border with a valid British passport, or other passport endorsed with a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode. On 26 February 2026, certificates of...
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordLarge Goods Vehicles: Driving TestsDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112788More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of HGV testing capacity provided by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in Southampton; what assessment she has made of the potential impact of examiner shortage
Answer: The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is committed to ensuring there are sufficient vocational driving tests to meet demand from the HGV and PSV training sector across the country, including in major port cities. In 2024/25, the national average ...
Answered 25 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordAstronomy and Nuclear Physics: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 3 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110605More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of recent UK Research and Innovation and The Science and Technology Facilities Council's decisions to reduce funding for particle p
Answer: DSIT and UKRI remain committed to international scientific collaboration, and UKRI’s record £38.6 billion settlement over the Spending Review will support areas including talent, scientific capability and international collaboration, including £14 billion...
Answered 10 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordOccupational HealthDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 109398More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) existing mechanisms for an employee to raise concerns about an occupational health provider appointed by their employer and (b) independent oversight o
Answer: Employers are responsible for providing a mechanism for employees to raise concerns about an occupational health provider through their own industrial relations arrangements. Concerns about the quality and conduct of occupational health practitioners shou...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing: Change of UseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107583More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of requiring planning permission to change residential homes to short-term lets.
Answer: While short-term lets can benefit local economies, the government recognise that excessive concentrations of them impact on the availability and affordability of homes for local residents to buy and rent, as well as local services. We are considering what...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: RegistrationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107582More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the proposed mandatory national register for short term lets will be introduced.
Answer: We are committed to the introduction of the new national short-term lets registration service as soon as possible. The service entered user testing at the end of October 2025 to ensure it is robust, easy to use and meets the needs of the scheme, ahead of ...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordBereavement Support Payment: CoronersDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104042More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of delays to coroner proceedings in excess of 18 months on eligibility for Bereavement Support Payments.
Answer: Delays to coroner proceedings do not change eligibility for Bereavement Support Payment. DWP encourages those who are eligible for Bereavement Support Payment to make a claim even if they do not yet have a death certificate. DWP will work with the custome...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordLump Sum Payments: Widowed PeopleTreasuryTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104041More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make it her policy to extend the two year limit on the tax free payment of a pension lump sum following the death of a spouse when the withdrawal is delayed by a coroner's investigation.
Answer: The Government recognises the distress that bereavement and any subsequent investigations can cause. The two‑year limit for tax‑free pension death benefits is a long‑standing feature that supports prompt payment and consistent administration. The Governme...
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGround RentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if his Department will make an assessment of the extent and impact of mortgage providers rejecting mortgages for leasehold properties with ground rent over 0.1% of the sale price
Answer: I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 74455 on 15 September 2025. In addition, measures in the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, which came into effect in December, will prevent long leases with grounds rents of £250 (or £1,000 in London) f...
Answered 12 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordRoads: SafetyDepartment for TransportTabled 18 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 101609More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the New Road Safety Strategy will be published.
Answer: On 7 January 2026, we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. The Strategy sets an ambitious target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65% by 2035....
Answered 8 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNeurodiversity: AssessmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 99441More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact on children and families of local pauses to neurodevelopmental assessments under the NHS Right to Choose pathway; and what steps his Department i
Answer: The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe del...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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