Paula Barker MP: written questions
275 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Artificial Intelligence: EmploymentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31134More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the growth of AI on individual employment sectors.
Answer: We are already witnessing AI’s impact within the labour market: transforming the workplace, demanding new skills and displacing old ones. The Government will work to harness the benefits that AI can bring – such as productivity gains, rising living standa...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: UnemploymentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31133More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of AI on structural unemployment.
Answer: We are already witnessing AI’s impact within the labour market: transforming the workplace, demanding new skills and displacing old ones. The Government will work to harness the benefits that AI can bring – such as productivity gains, rising living standa...
Answered 28 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Order Act 2023Home OfficeTabled 12 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 31130More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of (a) arrests and (b) cost of enforcement of the Public Order Act 2023 since its implementation.
Answer: The Home Office does not hold the requested data, but the department has published statistics on arrests for public order offences in the year ending March 2024, the first statistical series since the Public Order Act 2023 was implemented:Stop and search,...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: GirlsDepartment for EducationTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30788More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with teachers on recent trends in the level of (a) misogynistic and (b) violent attitudes towards women and girls expressed by boys in education settings.
Answer: As set out in the government’s Plan for Change, the Safer Streets Mission aims to reduce serious harm and increase public confidence in policing and in the criminal justice system. Integral to this is the ambition to halve violence against women and girls...
Answered 26 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: Hate CrimeDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 11 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 30780More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of social media algorithms on recent trends in the level of misogynistic content targeted at (a) boys and (b) young men.
Answer: The Online Safety Act (OSA) places safety duties on in-scope user-to-user and search services. Services must employ age-appropriate measures to protect children from legal abusive and hateful misogynistic content. Additionally, the largest services (categ...
Answered 25 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza and PalestiniansForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29122More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the comments made by President Trump on 4 February 2025 on Palestinians in Gaza.
Answer: As the Foreign Secretary has said, for the people of Gaza - so many of whom have lost lives, homes or loved ones - the last 14 months of conflict have been a living nightmare. Palestinian civilians should be able to return to, and rebuild, their homes and...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Feb 2025AnsweredUIN 29121More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the comments made by US President Trump on 4 February 2025 in relation to the future of Gaza.
Answer: As the Foreign Secretary has said, for the people of Gaza - so many of whom have lost lives, homes or loved ones - the last 14 months of conflict have been a living nightmare. Palestinian civilians should be able to return to, and rebuild, their homes and...
Answered 12 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26523More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is available for pensioners to assist with pension credit applications.
Answer: The Government wants those eligible for Pension Credit but not currently claiming it to receive the benefits they are entitled to. We know there are low-income pensioners who are not claiming Pension Credit, and we urge those people to apply. We encourage...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordTravel: North WestDepartment for TransportTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26522More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to help (a) prevent (i) serious delays and (ii) cancellations and (b) provide adequate alternate travel provisions when weather conditions cause severe disruptions in the Nor
Answer: The Department requires train operating companies and Network Rail to put in place measures to avoid, where possible, the potential impact of disruption including as a result of weather. Network Rail owns and is responsible for maintaining railway infrast...
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing FirstMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26520More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment on the potential merits of rolling out Housing First pilots to all combined authorities.
Answer: The three Housing First pilot areas secured funding up to March 2025 through the Rough Sleeping Initiative 2022-25. From April 2025, local and combined authorities have the flexibility to choose to continue provision of their Housing First or Housing Led ...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26518More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Government's decision not to implement the recommendations of the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman entitled Women’s
Answer: Equality Analysis was published as part of the Government response to Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s Investigation into Women’s State Pension age communications and associated issues, which is available at the following link: Government resp...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26517More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the (a) Pensions Act 1995 and (b) Pensions Act 2011 on women.
Answer: No recent assessments have been made.
Answered 4 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26516More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill on disabled people in receipt of the Personal Independence Payment.
Answer: The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill will help the Government to better identify, prevent and deter public sector fraud and error and enable the better recovery of debt owed to the taxpayer. Safeguarding vulnerable claimants is always a...
Answered 31 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordStudents: Fees and ChargesDepartment for EducationTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26515More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the increase in university tuition fees on university enrolment.
Answer: An Equality Impact Assessment of changes to tuition fees and student support for the 2025/26 academic year was published on GOV.UK on 20 January when the Higher Education (Fee Limits and Fee Limit Condition) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 were lai...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordGaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 27 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26514More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure humanitarian aid continues to reach Gaza throughout the ceasefire; and what diplomatic steps he is taking to encourage a two-sta
Answer: A ceasefire is just the first step towards a lasting solution to this crisis. Crucially, we need to see a sustained surge of aid into Gaza, and we will work with Israel, the UN and all partners to facilitate that. We have provided £112 million this financ...
Answered 3 Feb 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24957More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether artificial intelligence is being used to make decisions on individual caseworks (a) across government departments, (b) in the Home Office and (c) in the Department for Work and
Answer: Individual departments have responsibility for their specific adoption of Artificial Intelligence. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) supports their adoption by providing frameworks, guidance and a community of practice. DSIT is ...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: EnergyDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 20 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of potential impact of the cost of energy required to power AI capabilities on the feasibility of the AI Opportunities Action Plan, published on
Answer: The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out how we will achieve our AI ambitions by laying the foundations for AI growth, driving adoption and building UK capability at the frontier.We recognise that data centres face sustainability challenges, from energy ...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordDomestic Abuse: SuicideHome OfficeTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of deaths by suicide as a result of (a) domestic violence and (b) emotional abuse.
Answer: The Home Office is working to develop the evidence base on suicides that follow domestic abuse through funding research into the Domestic Homicide Project, which captures information on suicides with a known history of domestic abuse from all 43 police fo...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCuba: Development AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to provide development support to Cuba in the context of that country's removal from the US state sponsor of terrorism list.
Answer: The decision to remove Cuba from the US State Sponsor of Terrorism List has now been reversed by the new administration in Washington. The UK has contributed to the response to humanitarian crises in Cuba, including most recently through the United Nation...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing First: North West and West MidlandsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions her Department has had with (a) Greater Manchester Combined Authority, (b) the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and (c) the West Midlands Combined
Answer: My officials and advisers work closely with local and combined authorities to review and explore options to respond to homelessness and rough sleeping in their areas, including through Housing First where appropriate.Government funding for the Housing Fir...
Answered 24 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Media: ChildrenDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 17 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning social media for under-16s.
Answer: We continue to consider all options in the pursuit of online safety for children. We live in a digital age and it is important we strike the right balance. Our priority is the effective implementation of the Online Safety Act so children can benefit from ...
Answered 27 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHomelessness: Departmental CoordinationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24267More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to help (a) Ministers and (b) officials from other departments fully participate in the Inter Ministerial Group on Homelessness.
Answer: The Deputy Prime Minister chairs an Inter-Ministerial Group which includes Ministers from across government and is focused on developing a long-term strategy to get us back on track to ending homelessness, an urgent priority for this Government. Departmen...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordTemporary Accommodation: Infant MortalityMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24266More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of standards of temporary accommodation on child infant mortality.
Answer: Too many children are spending years in temporary accommodation, at a point in their lives when they need space to play and develop, nutritious food to thrive and access to education. We must build more homes so we can reduce the number of households in t...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordBed and Breakfast AccommodationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 15 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 24265More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her Department's target date is to ensure that homeless households with children are not housed in bed and breakfast accommodation longer than the statutory six weeks maximu
Answer: Too many children are spending years in temporary accommodation, at a point in their lives when they need space to play and develop, nutritious food to thrive and access to education. We must build more homes so we can reduce the number of households in t...
Answered 22 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordCharities: Employers' ContributionsTreasuryTabled 10 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23181More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what actions is her Department taking to mitigate the rise in employer NI contributions on the homelessness charities.
Answer: In order to repair the public finances and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance contributions (NICs). HMRC published on 13 November...
Answered 15 Jan 2025
Original Parliament record
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