Steve Darling MP: written questions 2025
347 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Personal Independence Payment: CarersDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41963More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to the Personal Independence Payment qualifying criteria on unpaid family carers.
Answer: We have committed to introduce a new requirement that, in addition to the existing eligibility criteria, claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component of Personal Independ...
Answered 3 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security benefits: ReformDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40904More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on what basis her Department decided which aspects of the proposed reforms to the benefits system would be subject to consultation.
Answer: This consultation sets out plans and proposals to reform health and disability benefits and employment support. We are committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people and people with health conditions at the heart of everything we do. We urge...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordProstate Cancer: Research and ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40877More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of recommendation on (a) screening and (b) research on prostate cancer in Council of the EU recommendation on
Answer: The United Kingdom is not bound by the Council of the European Union's recommendations. The UK National Screening Committee is currently looking at the evidence for prostate cancer screening in accordance with its published processes. This work will evalu...
Answered 2 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRefugees: UkraineHome OfficeTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40876More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff in her Department were working on the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme on 24 March 2025.
Answer: Specific resource has been allocated to process Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) Scheme applications, which will allow for fluctuations in application volumes. As of 24 March, we had 30.9 full time equivalent staff working on UPE.
Answered 1 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40867More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure changes to the eligibility of Personal Independence Payments don't disproportionately impact individuals with fluctuating conditions.
Answer: Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, with some information published here alongside the Spring Statement.A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper ...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: ReformDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 24 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 40865More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to ensure that disabled people who do not receive Personal Independence Payment but have work-related limitations are not adversely impacted by welfare reforms.
Answer: We are committed to protecting disabled people who can't and won’t ever be able to work and support them to live with dignity. As part of making changes to the payment rates in Universal Credit, we are proposing that the incomes of those with the most sev...
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39988More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's Pathways to work: reforming benefits and support to get Britain working green paper, published on 18 March, when accessible versions will be published.
Answer: Further accessible formats will be published on GOV.UK in due course. The consultation will close 12 weeks after the point at which all accessible versions of this Green Paper are available, to ensure that all stakeholders have sufficient time to engage a...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordTorbay Hospital: VacanciesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39987More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department has on the (a) number of unfilled vacancies, (b) cost for using (i) locum and (ii) bank staff to fill vacancies at Torbay Hospital in the most recent period for whic
Answer: The Department does not hold information on the number of unfilled vacancies or the costs of using locum or bank staff to fill vacancies at Torbay Hospital. NHS England published vacancy rates by trust as of June 2024, with further information available a...
Answered 26 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Security BenefitsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39611More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that adequate transition arrangement are put in place to help support people with changes to the levels of benefits.
Answer: There will be no immediate changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Our intention is that the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. For those already on PIP, the changes will only ...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Written QuestionsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39610More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to provide an Answer to Question 35806 on Resettlement: Afghanistan, tabled on 5 March 2025.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 35806 on 20 March 2025.
Answered 27 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordCarers: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 17 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to provide financial support for unpaid carers through the social care system.
Answer: Local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. Under the Care Act 2014, they are required to undertake Carer’s Assessments to support people caring for their family and friends who appear to have a need for support, a...
Answered 25 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: ProsecutionsMinistry of JusticeTabled 14 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38404More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many defendants were (a) prosecuted and (b) found guilty of offences under each relevant section of (i) the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, (ii) the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, (iii) the Deer Act 1991,
Answer: The Ministry of Justice publishes data on prosecutions and convictions offences under i) the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, (ii) the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, (iii) the Deer Act 1991, (iv) the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and (v) the Hunti...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38403More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2025 to Question 36169 on Health Services, what tests (a) his Department and (b) NHS England require before a substantial planned service change.
Answer: The tests the Department requires are set out in NHS England’s guidance to the National Health Service on planning, assuring and delivering service change, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/planning-assuring-a...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: Incapacity BenefitDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 38169More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of raising the standard rate of Universal Credit on the number of people claiming incapacity benefits.
Answer: Universal Credit awards include a standard allowance, which is the core component of any award and is paid according to age and household unit. The purpose of the standard allowance is to provide towards basic living costs. Additional amounts are added to...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37744More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to respond to the letter of 3 February 2025 on (a) mental health support for school staff and (b) automated external defibrillators governance and compliance from the Hon. Member for Torbay.
Answer: I can confirm that a response to the correspondence dated 3 February 2025 from the hon. Member for Torbay was sent on 26 February 2025.
Answered 20 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLong CovidDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37743More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has issued to NHS trusts on the provision of support for long COVID (a) clinics and (b) patients.
Answer: Commissioning of post-COVID services transitioned from the long COVID national programme to local integrated care boards (ICBs) at the end of March 2024. Funding for post-COVID services in 2024/25 was expected to be allocated based on the 2023/24 distribu...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordLong Covid: ClinicsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37742More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support NHS long Covid clinics.
Answer: Commissioning of post-COVID services transitioned from the long COVID national programme to local integrated care boards (ICBs) at the end of March 2024. Funding for post-COVID services in 2024/25 was expected to be allocated based on the 2023/24 distribu...
Answered 24 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: RadioDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37741More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help support hospital radio stations.
Answer: Hospital radio can provide National Health Service patients and visitors with a positive experience at a time when they are feeling vulnerable. NHS trusts work locally with volunteers and organisations to provide this service. Decisions about supporting t...
Answered 19 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the impact of the removal of the additional Limited Capability for Work payment in 2017 on the likelihood of claimants applying for the Limited Capability for Work
Answer: The removal of the Work-Related Activity Component in the 2017 change made the financial distinction between those found to have Limited Capability for Work (LCW) and those with Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity (LCWRA) sharper. The De...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUniversal CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 11 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 37360More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the introduction of Universal Credit on the ease of applying for (a) the Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity element and (b) o
Answer: We are always looking to make improvements to the service we provide to customers, including how they apply for benefits As a modern digital service Universal Credit is iterated all the time. It is developed taking into consideration the users of the serv...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordIncontinence: MenDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36834More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the provision of waste disposal bins in male toilets for people experiencing incontinence due to (a) prostate
Answer: Officials are working across the Government to deal with this important issue. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reviewing the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 regarding pr...
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordArts: CurriculumDepartment for EducationTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36833More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to enhance arts and culture in the national curriculum.
Answer: The department has announced a new National Centre for Arts and Music Education. The National Centre will promote arts education, including signposting to careers guidance and opportunities for children and young people to pursue their artistic and creati...
Answered 7 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordUrban Areas: Regional AssistanceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36832More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to increase funding support for towns and coastal communities.
Answer: The Government will set out a refreshed approach to local growth funding at the multi-year Spending Review in the Spring. An approach that includes more integrated settlements, over longer term, with less central direction and more local choice.
Answered 18 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUK City of CultureDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36831More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if her Department will consider changing the terms of reference for the UK City of Culture competition to allow towns to participate.
Answer: The Government’s approach to a future City of Culture competition will be announced in due course.The current application guidance for the UK City of Culture competition already allows towns to enter. We keep under review our competition criteria feeding ...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament recordUK City of CultureDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 10 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 36830More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the competition for the UK City of Culture enables all participants to enhance their cultural offer.
Answer: The Government’s approach to a future City of Culture competition will be announced in due course.The current application guidance for the UK City of Culture competition already allows towns to enter. We keep under review our competition criteria feeding ...
Answered 17 Mar 2025
Original Parliament record
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