Steve Darling MP: written questions 2024
137 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Kinship CareDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10828More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to introduce (a) the right to paid employment leave and (b) legal safeguarding for kinship carers.
Answer: The Government greatly values kinship carers who care for children who cannot live with their parents. The Government has committed in the Plan to Make Work Pay to review the system of parental leave to ensure that it best supports all working families. W...
Answered 29 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSpeech and Language Therapy: ChildrenDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9635More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of providing auditory verbal therapy to deaf young children on (a) their employment prospects and (b) other outcomes.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Washington and Gateshead South on 14 October 2024 to Question 5963.
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHearing Impairment: ChildrenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 16 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she is will hold discussions with Auditory Verbal UK on tackling barriers to opportunities for deaf children.
Answer: There are no current plans to meet. However, I note that my colleague the Minister for Early Education has met with and visited Auditory Verbal UK to understand the work they are doing to improve the lives of deaf children.
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNHS: Long CovidDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9010More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of NHS employees who have (a) taken early retirement and (b) had their employment terminated as a result of long covid, by region.
Answer: No such estimate has been made by the Department.
Answered 18 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy: Supply ChainsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 9003More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish a regional breakdown of the supply chain issues with Creon.
Answer: The Department monitors and manages medicine supply at a national level so that stocks remain available to meet regional and local demand. Information is not collected on a local level.The Department has been working with suppliers to address current supp...
Answered 23 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 11 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's report into women’s State Pension age changes, published on 21 March 2024, what recent discussions she has had with the Leader of the H
Answer: In the course of conducting the business of her Department, the Secretary of State has many discussions with Cabinet colleagues. As stated on 07 October (Women’s State Pension Age: Compensation - Hansard - UK Parliament.) I am the first Minister in eight ...
Answered 24 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHospices: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8520More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the impact of hospice funding on people's experiences of death and dying.
Answer: We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families ...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHospices: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8519More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to reform the funding model for charitable hospices as part of the 10 year plan for health and care.
Answer: We have committed to develop a 10-Year Health Plan to deliver an NHS fit for the future, by driving three shifts in the way health care is delivered, specifically: moving healthcare from hospital to the community; from analogue to digital; and from sickne...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordHospices: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8518More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the level of variation in funding hospices receive across England.
Answer: We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure that patients and their fami...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNHS Trusts: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8517More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the flexibility NHS trusts have relating to capital departmental resource limit leases to allow trusts to support (a) local autho
Answer: The Government is supportive of the National Health Service considering wider benefits from health capital investment opportunities, including high street regeneration. NHS England provides ‘business as usual’ capital allocations to integrated care system...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordUniversal SupportDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 10 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8516More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Universal Support programme; and what steps she is taking to ensure that funding is targeted towards the areas of highest deprivation.
Answer: The Universal Support funding has supported the expansion of Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care and additional support through Work and Health Programme Pioneer. For Work and Health Programme Pioneer, between September 2023 and May 2024, the...
Answered 15 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordDatabasesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8272More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data banks will have to share under the Fraud, Error and Debt Bill.
Answer: The Fraud, Error and Debt Bill will introduce a range of measures that will interact with banks and Financial Institutions. Information shared will vary by each measure but will always be proportionate, and include strong safeguards being put in place for...
Answered 17 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordNHS: BuildingsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8271More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of NHS estates are rated condition A in each NHS estate in the South West.
Answer: As part of the management of their estate, National Health Service trusts regularly assess the physical condition of their estate. Facilities rated as category A are considered new and able to perform adequately throughout their full lifespan.The Estates ...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordGender Based ViolenceMinistry of JusticeTabled 9 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 8270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he plans to take through the criminal justice system to reduce levels of violence against women.
Answer: This Government was elected with the unprecedented ambition to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade, which is an integral part of the wider mission to take back our streets and raise confidence in the police and criminal justice syste...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSocial Security Benefits: FraudDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 8 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department plans to take to (a) protect and (b) support vulnerable people in relation to the new Fraud, Error and Debt Bill.
Answer: Safeguarding vulnerable claimants is always a priority. All the powers included in the Fraud, Error and Debt Bill will include strong safeguards to ensure they are only used appropriately and proportionately – including new oversight and reporting mechani...
Answered 16 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordSurgical Mesh ImplantsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 7 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 7602More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that her Department's assessors are aware of the symptoms of mesh injury.
Answer: The Personal Independence Payment and Work Capability Assessments are functional assessments that consider the impact of a person’s disability or health condition, rather than the condition itself. They have been developed considering the needs of people ...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordAccess to Work ProgrammeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6749More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Access to Work scheme applications are outstanding (a) nationally and (b) by regional.
Answer: The information requested about Access to Work applications that are outstanding by region is not readily available as it is a national service and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. As of 7th October 2024, there were around 55,500 applicati...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordRussia: ShippingForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6748More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to enhance targeted sanctions against vessels in Russia's shadow fleet; and whether he plans to align his Department's vessel designations
Answer: Since gaining the power to 'specify' individual vessels in May 2024, the UK has sanctioned 25 tankers transporting Russian oil as part of Putin's shadow fleet; a higher number than that undertaken by partners over the same period. This has disrupted Russi...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordTankers: Pollution ControlDepartment for TransportTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6747More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to introduce mandatory insurance cover and compliance with IMO heavy fuel standards for oil tankers entering UK territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone.
Answer: The government has implemented, and enforces, a range of mandatory environmental measures related to the use and carriage of oil, including heavy fuel oil, by sea. International standards are primarily set out in the International Convention for the Preve...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordShipping: RussiaTreasuryTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6746More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to ensure UK insurers and other maritime service providers verify compliance with the oil price cap for shipping contracts involving vessels potentially linked to Russia’s shadow fleet.
Answer: HM Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) supports industry in complying with the Oil Price Cap. On 16 February 2024, OFSI issued updated industry guidance (UK Maritime Services Ban and Oil Price Cap Industry Guidance). OFSI also c...
Answered 14 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordOil: ImportsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6745More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans he has to (a) stop the import of oil products refined from Russian-origin crude oil and (b) require proof of origin for such products entering the UK market.
Answer: The UK has worked closely with international partners to constrain Russian oil revenues while maintaining energy market security. The Government does not speculate on future sanctions measures as to do so could reduce their impact. We continue to monitor ...
Answered 10 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordCystic Fibrosis: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 6744More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will establish a Cystic Fibrosis task force within his Department to (a) investigate and (b) address supply chain vulnerabilities and ensure the supply of essential medicines.
Answer: While there are no plans to establish a cystic fibrosis task force, the Department has been working with suppliers to address current supply issues with Creon, which is an essential medicine for patients with cystic fibrosis. Supply issues with Creon are ...
Answered 11 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordProstate Cancer: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 5237More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to introduce national screening for prostate cancer by level of risk.
Answer: The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises ministers and the National Health Service on all aspects of population and targeted screening. Screening for prostate cancer is currently not recommended in the United Kingdom. This is because of the in...
Answered 13 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordBanking Hubs: DisabilityTreasuryTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3860More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure access to cash for disabled people through the roll-out of shared-banking hubs in local communities.
Answer: Access to financial services is key to ensuring all people, including those who are disabled and require in-person services, can participate fully in the economy and in society. This is why the Government is committed to protecting access to cash withdraw...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament recordFinancial Services: Learning DisabilityTreasuryTabled 2 Sept 2024AnsweredUIN 3859More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to help increase financial inclusion of people with learning disabilities.
Answer: Ensuring all individuals have access to the appropriate financial services and products they need is a key priority for Government and is vital to supporting people’s financial resilience and wellbeing. It is also an essential part of achieving inclusive ...
Answered 9 Sept 2024
Original Parliament record
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