Steve Darling MP: written questions 2024
137 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Visual Impairment: RehabilitationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing vision rehabilitation services under the same (a) regulatory and (b) monitoring regimes as other adult social care serv
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Colne Valley on 4 October 2024 to Question 7299.
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordOphthalmic Services: Special Educational NeedsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17305More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that the fee paid to deliver the Special Schools Eye Care Service is not reduced so that (a) children with Special Educational Needs can receive free eye care in sch
Answer: To address the access challenges that children and young people with learning disabilities or autism, or both, face in accessing high street sight testing services, regulations were laid on 28 November to support the roll out of sight testing in special e...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPayment Methods: Bank CardsTreasuryTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17304More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that touch screen card payment devices are made accessible for people with visual impairments.
Answer: The government is committed to ensuring high standards of financial inclusion across the financial services sector. The Treasury has been engaging with UK Finance, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Royal National Institute of Blind People, and other Go...
Answered 9 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordOphthalmic Services: Learning DisabilityDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17303More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to address eye care inequalities for adults with learning disabilities.
Answer: Alongside the duty placed upon integrated care boards to reduce inequalities, regulations were laid on 28 November to support the roll out of sight testing services in special educational settings across England, which has the potential to reach approxima...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16979More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will publish a breakdown of reasons why pension credit applications have been rejected (a) nationally and (b) by constituency.
Answer: We do not hold information in our data sources why Pension Credit applications are not awarded, either nationally or by constituency.
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16978More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of claims to pension credit have been rejected by constituency since 29 July 2024.
Answer: On 28 November 2024 we published national statistics for claims that were not awarded/rejected, up to 17 November 2024. Pension Credit applications and awards: November 2024 - GOV.UK We do not hold the information requested at a constituency level.
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16977More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people her Department estimates are eligible for but not claiming pension credit in each constituency.
Answer: Estimates for pensioner households who are eligible for but not receiving Pension Credit in 2022/23 can be found at: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2023 - GOV.UK.We do not hold the information requested at constituenc...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 29 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16975More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of pension credit applicants were waiting for their application to be processed in the period between (a) 29 July 2024 and 17 November 2024, (b) 1 April 2024 and 28 July 202
Answer: We have provided outstanding Pension Credit claims at the date nearest to the date requested.(a) Outstanding PC claims as at end of w/c 11th November 2024 was 91,200 (including Unregistered and Advanced claims) (b) Outstanding PC claims as at end of w/c 2...
Answered 5 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 28 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16827More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people are waiting for their pension credit application to be processed in each constituency.
Answer: We do not hold data requested at constituency level, however the total outstanding Pension Credit claims as at the end of week commencing 18th November 2024 was 91,075. This includes 9,343 advanced claims where the application can be started up to 4 month...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPlaygroundsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 28 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16766More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to renew play equipment in (a) parks and (b) public spaces.
Answer: The provision of playgrounds in parks and public spaces is primarily a matter for local authorities. We support local government and recognise the challenges that local authorities are facing as demand increases for critical services. We have listened to ...
Answered 6 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTorbay Hospital: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15875More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make a decision on the funding of Torbay Hospital under the New Hospital Programme before 31 December 2024.
Answer: The Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is currently developing their Strategic Outline Case for the new Torbay Hospital scheme. Following review and agreement of the Strategic Outline Case, the next step would be the development, review, and agre...
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFamily Hubs: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15873More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to make a decision on funding for the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme beyond 31 March 2025.
Answer: The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme is central to the Government’s commitments to give every baby the best start in life, and to deliver the healthiest generation of children ever.The Government recognises the importance of providing local author...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordHoliday Accommodation: RegistrationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15387More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when her Department plans to introduce a short-term let registration scheme.
Answer: Parliament legislated for a registration scheme for short-term lets in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, and we are committed to introducing such a scheme as soon as possible. We will soon publish the government’s response to the 2023 consultati...
Answered 29 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordAccess to Work ProgrammeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15295More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in each region are experiencing delays in processing their applications for Access to Work grants.
Answer: The information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordChild Poverty TaskforceDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15291More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including financial inclusion in the terms of reference of the Child Poverty Taskforce.
Answer: ‘Tackling Child Poverty: Developing our Policy’ describes the Government’s approach to developing the Child Poverty Strategy. This sets out how increasing financial resilience for low-income families is one of the four key themes where the Child Poverty T...
Answered 28 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPensioners: Social Security BenefitsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 15 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14521More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to increase the number of eligible older people claiming (a) Pension Credit and (b) other pension-aged benefits.
Answer: Our communications campaign to promote Pension Credit has been running since September. The latest phase of the campaign takes a new approach targeting friends and family - asking them to tell people they know about Pension Credit, encourage them to check...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordState Retirement PensionsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 15 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14519More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the State Pension.
Answer: Our system of state, private, and workplace pensions provides the basis for security in retirement. Our commitment to increase the State Pension by the Triple Lock is helping both today’s pensioners and the pensioners of tomorrow. Over the course of this ...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordEducation and Training: Coastal AreasDepartment for EducationTabled 15 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14503More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve access to (a) university and (b) other further education and training opportunities for people living in coastal resorts in (i) the South West and (ii) the rest of the countr
Answer: This new government will be mission-led, with the Opportunity Mission building opportunities for all by giving every child the best start in life, helping them achieve and thrive, build skills for opportunity and growth and ensure family security.Building...
Answered 25 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordDigital Technology: DisadvantagedDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 14 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 901345More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle digital exclusion.
Answer: Digital inclusion is a priority for this Government and we have already set up a Digital Inclusion and Skills Unit to ensure that everyone has the access, skills, support and confidence to engage in our modern digital society, whatever their circumstances...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordFisheriesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 14 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14402More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will ensure that all policies which potentially impact on fisheries are assessed by his Department in a holistic manner, considering their potential interactions with related pol
Answer: Development of all policies within Defra, including on fisheries, is undertaken holistically. We work across the public sector, private sector and society to make policy that works for citizens, and to help the Government achieve its missions and prioriti...
Answered 22 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPension Credit: VeteransDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 14156More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of disregarding military compensation payments when calculating pension credit eligibility and awards.
Answer: The first £10 of any War Pension payment or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) award made due to injury or disablement is disregarded in Pension Credit. Income is calculated on a weekly basis, so the disregard is £10 per week. Four additions to the W...
Answered 18 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordNirmatrelvir/ritonavirDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13849More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will have discussions with NICE on the potential merits of offering Paxlovid to people over the age of 50.
Answer: Decisions on whether licensed medicines should be recommended for routine National Health Service funding are made independently by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), on the basis of the evidence of the costs and benefits. The D...
Answered 19 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHome Education: Special Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13843More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure children with special educational needs and disabilities that are educated at home receive appropriate support.
Answer: The department has collected termly data from local authorities concerning their cohorts of home-educated children since autumn 2022.The most recent published data shows an estimated 92,000 children in home education in October 2023, a rise of around 12,0...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHome EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13841More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent trends in the number of families choosing elective home education for their children on (a) local authorities, (b) schools and (c) the wider educat
Answer: The department has collected termly data from local authorities concerning their cohorts of home-educated children since autumn 2022.The most recent published data shows an estimated 92,000 children in home education in October 2023, a rise of around 12,0...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordHome EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 12 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 13840More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure families that opt for elective home education have access to adequate (a) resources and (b) guidance to support the educational needs of their children.
Answer: The department has collected termly data from local authorities concerning their cohorts of home-educated children since autumn 2022.The most recent published data shows an estimated 92,000 children in home education in October 2023, a rise of around 12,0...
Answered 20 Nov 2024
Original Parliament record
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