Darren Paffey MP: written questions 2025
74 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Water Supply: FluorideDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65068More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of (a) the potential merits of adding fluoride to drinking water and (b) the potential impact of this on oral health for children.
Answer: Water fluoridation is an evidence based, effective public health intervention for improving the oral health of children and adults. The 2022 Health Monitoring Report showed that five-year-olds were less likely to experience dental caries, and less likely ...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPrivate Rented Housing: Tenancy Deposit SchemesMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62502More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of using (a) no-deposit and (b) deposit alternative schemes in the private rented sector on tenants; and wha
Answer: The government is aware of the issues raised in 2023 by the Competition and Markets Authority in relation to deposit products.While my Department has not conducted a detailed assessment of ‘zero-deposit’ or ‘deposit alternative’ products, we continue to m...
Answered 2 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPlanning: Environment ProtectionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59256More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the role of the mitigation hierarchy of (a) avoidance, (b) mitigation and (c) compensation in ensuring ecological protections (i) during the plann
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that when determining planning applications, local planning authorities should apply the principle that if significant harm to biodiversity resulting from a development cannot be avoided, adequately mitigate...
Answered 19 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHealthy Start Scheme: Southampton ItchenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58541More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of eligible families were in receipt of Healthy Start in Southampton Itchen constituency on 9 June 2025.
Answer: The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) operates the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. Monthly figures for the number of people on the digital Healthy Start scheme are published on the NHS Healthy Start website, which is available at ...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordFree School Meals: HealthDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58539More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department plans to take with the Department for Education to monitor the potential impact of the (a) expansion of free school meal eligibility and (b) changes to School Food Standar
Answer: Free school meals offer a critical nutritional safety net to those children who require it most. Expanding the eligibility criteria to all families in receipt of universal credit will provide 500,000 more children with access to a nutritious lunchtime mea...
Answered 16 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAccess to Work ProgrammeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57593More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will change the ownership arrangements for equipment funded through the Access to Work scheme to allow disabled employees to retain their assistive technology when they change or leave employment
Answer: In March 2025, the Department published the Pathways to Work Green Paper, which is consulting on the future of Access to Work. We are also considering the role of employers in creating accessible and inclusive workplaces as well as how we can shape the ma...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBuses: WheelchairsDepartment for TransportTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56611More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that wheelchair users have reliable access to priority spaces on buses.
Answer: The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (PSVAR) require buses and coaches designed to carry over twenty-two passengers and used on local and scheduled services to incorporate features to support disabled people to travel safely and in r...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLicensing Laws: Fees and ChargesHome OfficeTabled 20 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of current fee levels under the Licensing Act 2003; and whether she plans to review that Act to ensure that licensing fees reflect the actual costs incurre
Answer: The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that alcohol licensing fees, set under Section 55 of the Licensing Act 2003, are fair, proportionate and reflective of the costs incurred by local authorities in administering the licensing system.A pre...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: RecruitmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 20 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53761More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to (a) review and (b) remove the upper age limit for entry into flying and other officer roles in the armed forces.
Answer: The Department is assessing current policies and identifying those which obstruct individuals from joining the Armed Forces. It is essential that new entrants to the Armed Forces meet set requirements so that they are capable of successfully tackling the ...
Answered 3 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordNeuroendocrine Cancer: RadiotherapyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51694More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to update NHS commissioning policy to include funding for Selective Internal Radiation Therapy for patients with neuroendocrine tumours with liver metastases.
Answer: The Department recognises the need to offer patients the most suitable treatment, including the use of selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT).NHS England is currently in the early stages of policy development for SIRT as an additional treatment optio...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHormone Replacement TherapyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51693More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate availability of Premarin in the NHS; and what steps he is taking to support patients who are unable to access it.
Answer: Premarin tablets remain available. However, the supplier of Premarin has debranded this product, which means the product's brand name, Premarin, has been removed and it is now available and known under its generic name, which is conjugated oestrogens tabl...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment: Young PeopleDepartment for EducationTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 903829More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase post-18 opportunities for young people.
Answer: Our new Youth Guarantee will provide tailored support to young people aged 18 to 21 to help them access high-quality education, training and employment opportunities. £45 million has been allocated to test the Youth Guarantee in eight locations.
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMathematics: Adult EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 28 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 42358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Multiply Programme on adult numeracy skills; and whether she plans to introduce further funding or alternative provisions to support (a) ad
Answer: The extensive Multiply programme evaluation is ongoing and will conclude in winter 2025.The final evaluation report will provide valuable lessons to take into future policy development and delivery of the adult skills fund (ASF) and Tailored Learning.The ...
Answered 8 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness Premises: Change of UseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41363More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to require full planning permission to convert commercial premises for residential use.
Answer: The government recognises that there has been criticism of some of the homes delivered under permitted development rights for change of use. We continue to keep permitted development rights under review.
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste Disposal: AdvertisingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37467More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to (a) support a repair and reuse economy and (b) prioritise waste reduction measures; and whether his Department plans to help reduce advertising of
Answer: This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. We have convened a Circular Economy Taskforce, comprising experts from industry, academia, and civil society, to help develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The Strategy will m...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCare ProceedingsDepartment for EducationTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32727More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that care proceedings are concluded within 26 weeks.
Answer: Reducing unnecessary delays in family courts is a priority for this government. The Family Justice Board (FJB) meets quarterly to set direction and oversee performance in the family justice system. This includes progress in meeting the 26-week Public Law ...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPhysics: TeachersDepartment for EducationTabled 21 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 32668More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that there is adequate training for physics teachers.
Answer: The within-school factor that makes the biggest difference to a young person’s educational outcome is high quality teaching. We want to ensure all teachers have access to and stay up-to-date with best practice in continuing professional development at e...
Answered 27 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordLeasehold: ReformMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29698More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's planned timetable for abolishing ground rents and implementing broader leasehold reforms is.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).On 31 January 2025, provisions in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 to remove the two-year qualifying period in relation to enfranchisement and lease ...
Answered 21 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHigh Rise Flats: Home InsuranceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 6 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29688More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to tackle increases in building insurance premiums for leaseholders in high-risk buildings.
Answer: Buildings insurance premiums remain unacceptably high for many leaseholders in buildings with fire safety issues, who have been paying too much for too long.My officials have already started working with the insurance industry, as announced in the Remedia...
Answered 13 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPoverty: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 902511More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the impact of parental employment on child poverty.
Answer: The Child Poverty Action Group estimates 38% of children in My Hon Friend’s constituency are now growing up in povertyIncreasing the employment rate for lone parents, and increasing the number of second earners in couples, is absolutely crucial to tacklin...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordDomestic AbuseMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 24 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26391More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to facilitate co-operation under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 between local authorities in cases of domestic abuse.
Answer: This government is committed to tackling violence against women and girls and supporting victims of domestic abuse.Since 2021, local authorities in England have had a duty to ensure that all victims and their children who need to flee their homes have acc...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordOutdoor EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25095More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of outdoor education for (a) children’s access to outdoor learning opportunities and (b) the development of skills; and the (i) adequacy and (ii) sust
Answer: All children and young people should have the opportunity to learn about and connect with nature.Spending time in, and connecting with, nature has been linked with improved mental and physical health outcomes for children and young people. The most consis...
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCommunity Ownership FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans she has for the future of community involvement schemes following the closure of the Community Ownership Fund.
Answer: This Government remains committed to the communities’ sector and to community empowerment.The Devolution White Paper, which was published on 16 December 2024, set out plans which demonstrate our commitment and there will be further announcements relating ...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordRoyal Mail: Universal Service ObligationDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 16 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24589More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is having discussions with Royal Mail on (a) instances of repeat error charges and (b) the effectiveness of its complaints processes, in the context of the universal service obligation.
Answer: Ministers and officials have discussions with Royal Mail on a regular basis in its capacity as the universal service provider. However operational issues such as error charges and complaints procedures are a matter for Royal Mail as an independent busines...
Answered 23 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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