Paula Barker MP: written questions 2025
129 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Mental Health: MenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63132More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the proportion of boys and men aged between 10 and 50 that have suffered from mental health issues.
Answer: The following table shows the percentage of male children and young people with a probable disorder, sorted by age group: Age group in years8 to 1617 to 1920 to 25Male children and young people with a probable disorder20.8%15.4%13.4%Source: Mental Health ...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDrugs: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63129More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of children aged between 12 and 16 years inclusive that have taken illegal drugs.
Answer: There are two official national surveys on illicit drug use among children. NHS England’s Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People surveys pupils aged between 11 and 15 years old in England. In 2023, 13% of pupils reported that they had taken dru...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: DrugsDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63128More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of schools reported finding students in possession of illegal drugs.
Answer: The department does not collect such information centrally.The Searching, Screening and Confiscation guidance emphasises the importance of the school’s duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of all pupils. Searching can play a critical role in ensuring...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: Electronic CigarettesDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63127More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has issued to (a) schools and (b) teaching bodies on using vapes in school settings.
Answer: In the UK, it is against the law to sell nicotine vaping products to under 18s or for adults to buy them on their behalf. Young people should not have these products in schools.Schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy that sets out what is e...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordElectronic Cigarettes: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63125More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the proportion of children aged 12-16 who are vaping.
Answer: NHS England publishes estimates of the prevalence of vaping in children in the Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use among Young People in England Survey. This survey covers children in years 7 to 11 in secondary school, the majority of whom will be aged 12 to 1...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordStudents: Cost of LivingDepartment for EducationTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63124More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support university students with the cost of living.
Answer: The government recognises the impact that the cost-of-living crisis has had on students.The government has therefore announced that maximum loans for living costs will increase by 3.1% for the 2025/26 academic year. A 3.1% increase is in line with forecas...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCannabisHome OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63123More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate her Department has made of the cost of policing the supply of cannabis.
Answer: The Dame Carol Black Independent Review of Drugs (2020) is the most recent estimate of the total cost of drug-related enforcement costs.
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCannabis: ConvictionsMinistry of JusticeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63122More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted for carrying cannabis in England and Wales in the last 12 months.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice publishes data on convictions for possession of cannabis at criminal courts in England and Wales in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCricket: Urban AreasDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63091More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of (a) the long-term viability, (b) the financial position and (c) levels of participation in cricket clubs in cities.
Answer: This Government is committed to ensuring everyone, no matter their age, background or ability, should be able to play sport and be active. The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests o...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCricket: SchoolsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63090More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of cricket participation rates among state school pupils.
Answer: Sport England’s Active Lives Children and Young People Survey for Academic Year 2023-24 shows that 252,500 (6.6%) children in academy schools have participated in cricket at least once a week or more, and 253,000 (7.3%) children in maintained schools have...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCricket: Urban AreasDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63089More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions her Department has had with the England and Wales Cricket Board on increasing levels of access to cricket in cities.
Answer: This Government is committed to ensuring everyone, no matter their age, background or ability, should be able to play sport and be active. The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests o...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: OffendersHome OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63082More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many failed asylum seekers still in the UK hold criminal records.
Answer: I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 19 June to Question 58400.
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: Disclosure of InformationHome OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the reporting rate is of failed asylum seekers to her Department.
Answer: There is no specific figure available of the type described in these questions.
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDeportation: Mental HealthHome OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63076More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of failed asylum seekers scheduled for deportation are known to have mental health issues.
Answer: There is no specific figure available of the type described in these questions.
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDeportation: SomaliaHome OfficeTabled 26 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63075More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many deportations have taken place to Somalia since 8 July 2024.
Answer: Statistics on returns from the UK by nationality and destination are published on a quarterly basis. These returns are published in the Returns Detailed Datasets, and are currently available to the end of March 2025, available at: Immigration system stati...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordJerusalem: Cultural HeritageForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his Israeli counterpart on (a) threats and (b) attempts by Israeli settlers to forcibly take over parcels of land in (i) Goverou
Answer: The UK recognises that Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It has been the position of the UK Government since 1967 that the Occupied Palestini...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordJerusalem: Cultural HeritageForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59779More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the intimidation against Armenian Christians in Jerusalem; and whether his Department plan
Answer: The UK recognises that Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It has been the position of the UK Government since 1967 that the Occupied Palestini...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordJerusalem: Cultural HeritageForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59778More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will send a formal delegation to (a) Israel and (b) the Occupied Palestinian Territories to (i) visit the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem, (ii) meet the Armenian communit
Answer: The UK recognises that Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It has been the position of the UK Government since 1967 that the Occupied Palestini...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordJerusalem: Cultural HeritageForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 13 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59777More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the situation of the Armenian community in Jerusalem.
Answer: The UK recognises that Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It has been the position of the UK Government since 1967 that the Occupied Palestini...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Domestic VisitsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 7 May 2024 to Question 24352 on Dietetics: Prescriptions, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the findings of the report
Answer: The Department remains committed to exploring the extension of medicines responsibilities for non-medical professionals. This will support the aim that patients are cared for, and treated by, the most appropriate healthcare professional to meet their need...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTemporary AccommodationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 51683 on 19 May 2025.
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHomelessness: Young PeopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52343More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to involve young people with lived experience of homelessness in the development of the cross-departmental homelessness strategy.
Answer: As part of the development of the cross-Government homelessness strategy the Government has engaged representatives from across the homelessness and rough sleeping sector, local and combined authorities and wider experts, including those who have lived ex...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSupporting People ProgrammeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51474More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a national Supporting People programme.
Answer: Local authorities are best placed to decide how their funding is spent locally. The Government has a delivered a Settlement that begins to fix the foundations of local government by providing significant investment redirecting funding towards the services...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHomelessness: Young PeopleMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51473More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will meet with representatives from the youth homelessness sector to discuss a dedicated chapter on youth homelessness in the proposed policy paper on homelessness.
Answer: Homelessness levels are far too high, and I recognise the unique challenges young people face in securing stable housing. The Government has engaged with stakeholders within the youth homelessness sector to discuss the needs of this cohort as we work to d...
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHomelessnessMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51472More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how often the inter-ministerial group on homelessness meets.
Answer: The Inter-Ministerial Group on homelessness meets as often as is required to develop the Government’s long-term homelessness strategy. The most recent meeting took place on Tuesday 13 May 2025.
Answered 19 May 2025
Original Parliament record
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