Steve Darling MP: written questions 2026
167 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Physician Assistants: UnemploymentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6637More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many qualified physician associates and anaesthesia associates are not in employment.
Answer: The independent Leng Review involved the College of Medical Associate Professionals, the United Medical Associate Professionals, and the Association of Anaesthesia Associates, as well as professional bodies representing doctors, in the development of its ...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPhysician and Anaesthesia Associate Professions Independent ReviewDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6635More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to consider the viewpoints of physician associates and anaesthesia associates in ongoing regulatory consultations since the Leng Review.
Answer: The independent Leng Review involved the College of Medical Associate Professionals, the United Medical Associate Professionals, and the Association of Anaesthesia Associates, as well as professional bodies representing doctors, in the development of its ...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPhysician and Anaesthesia Associate Professions Independent ReviewDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department involved the professional bodies UMAPs and CMAPs before its acceptance of the Leng Review recommendations; and whether it has consulted them since.
Answer: The independent Leng Review involved the College of Medical Associate Professionals, the United Medical Associate Professionals, and the Association of Anaesthesia Associates, as well as professional bodies representing doctors, in the development of its ...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordGender Based ViolenceHome OfficeTabled 2 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6294More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the positive role advanced technology can play in the reporting and prevention of violence against women and girls.
Answer: Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for this Government. In our ‘Freedom from Violence and Abuse: a cross-government Strategy’, we committed to use every tool available – including advanced technology – to protect women and ...
Answered 10 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: TechnologyHome OfficeTabled 2 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6293More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to encourage police forces to adopt advanced technological innovations.
Answer: Modernising policing to respond to increasingly digital and complex crime means equipping officers with the latest technology and access to accurate data. We are working with forces to understand barriers to technology adoption and we are providing suppor...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: TechnologyHome OfficeTabled 2 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6292More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of barriers to innovation and technology adoption across police forces; and what steps she is taking to break down those barriers to support crime prevention and pr
Answer: Modernising policing to respond to increasingly digital and complex crime means equipping officers with the latest technology and access to accurate data. We are working with forces to understand barriers to technology adoption and we are providing suppor...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6290More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to the public purse was of opposing the WASPI campaign's application for a costs capping order in their previous legal action.
Answer: As part of the previous legal action, a costs capping order was agreed between the Government and WASPI, through their lawyers. The Government did not oppose the order that the court issued in line with that agreement.
Answered 15 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordState Retirement Pensions: WomenDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 6289More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government considered the potential merits of a cost capping order in the latest legal action brought by the WASPI campaign.
Answer: On 29 January 2026, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced the Government’s new response to the Ombudsman’s investigation, he apologised for the delay in sending out letters and committed to learning lessons from this. However, he conclude...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordIsrael: DetaineesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 21 May 2026AnsweredUIN 3901More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to provide support to (a) Elliott Michael Roberts and (b) other detained British nationals in Israel.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to my statement to the House on 21 May, and to the answer provided on 1 June in response to Question 2817.
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordObesity: DrugsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2205More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which ICBs have chosen not to allow GPs to prescribe weight loss injections.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are legally required to make funding available for medicines recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), including tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro, for the management of obesity through prim...
Answered 2 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPolice: First AidHome OfficeTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2162More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration she has given to provision of bleed kits in first aid kits in police cars.
Answer: Bleed kits can play a valuable role in saving lives in emergency situations. Decisions on the placement of bleed kits in first aid kits in police vehicles are an operational matter for Chief Officers to decide. Their assessment should be based on local ri...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordCAFCASS: TorbayMinistry of JusticeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1534More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans the Government has to roll out Cafcass in Torbay.
Answer: The Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) is a national service operating across England, rather than locally commissioned provision. The service already covers all areas of the country, including Torbay, through a regional oper...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordYouth Mobility Scheme: EU CountriesCabinet OfficeTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1518More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Minister will discuss routes for British citizens to be employed in the EU in the longer term with his EU counterpart; for example, whether it would be possible for youth mobility participants to tra
Answer: UK nationals who wish to work in the EU are subject to the immigration requirements of the relevant Member States. This Government is committed to ensuring opportunities for British citizens to live, work, study, and travel across the European Union. That...
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesTreasuryTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1512More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses will be impacted by changes to business rates (a) nationally and (b) in Torbay constituency.
Answer: At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation was the first since the pandemic, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To resp...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: DevolutionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1510More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will ensure that areas without mayors are entitled to the same funding and devolved powers as authorities with mayors.
Answer: The Government has made clear that the deepest powers and funding arrangements will be available to Mayoral Strategic Authorities and Established Mayoral Strategic Authorities.The new devolution framework for England sets out the functions and funding arr...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBenign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1508More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many ICBs have chosen to make provision of Aquablation to treat enlarged prostates.
Answer: There is currently no mandate for aquablation to integrated care boards (ICBs), in line with the ICB responsibility to ensure high-quality care for their populations. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance provides information on aquab...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordBenign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 14 May 2026AnsweredUIN 1507More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to mandate that all ICBs make provision of Aquablation as a procedure to treat enlarged prostates.
Answer: There is currently no mandate for aquablation to integrated care boards (ICBs), in line with the ICB responsibility to ensure high-quality care for their populations. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance provides information on aquab...
Answered 8 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment for EducationTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department plans to reply to the correspondence of 20 March 2026 from the hon. Member for Torbay.
Answer: A response to the correspondence of 20 March 2026 from the hon. Member for Torbay was sent on 14 May 2026.
Answered 19 May 2026
Original Parliament recordYouth Mobility Scheme: European Economic Area and SwitzerlandCabinet OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 933More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to allow people to do their EU-UK youth mobility exchange in (a) EEA countries and (b) Switzerland.
Answer: We are negotiating an ambitious youth experience scheme with the EU. This will provide a valuable form of cultural exchange for young Brits to travel, experience other cultures and learn languages, as well as work and study abroad in Member States. We hav...
Answered 18 May 2026
Original Parliament recordYouth Mobility Scheme: EU CountriesCabinet OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 932More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had discussions with his European Commission counterpart on allowing British citizens participating in the proposed Youth Mobility Scheme.to move between EU Member States.
Answer: We are negotiating an ambitious youth experience scheme with the EU. This will provide a valuable form of cultural exchange for young Brits to travel, experience other cultures and learn languages, as well as work and study abroad in Member States. We hav...
Answered 18 May 2026
Original Parliament recordYouth Mobility Scheme: EU CountriesCabinet OfficeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 931More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had discussions with his European Commission counterpart on pathways for British citizens to be employed in the EU for a limited time if they come off the proposed Youth Mobility Scheme and prior
Answer: We are negotiating an ambitious youth experience scheme with the EU. This will provide a valuable form of cultural exchange for young Brits to travel, experience other cultures and learn languages, as well as work and study abroad in Member States. We hav...
Answered 18 May 2026
Original Parliament recordHousing Benefit and Pension CreditDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 858More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the implementation of his policy to merge Housing Benefit for pensioners with Pension Credit will require Primary Legislation, and when he expects the new system to be in operation.
Answer: Through bringing together the administration of pensioner Housing Benefit and Pension Credit, we are working to ensure more pensioners receive all the benefits to which they are entitled. This work will deliver a simplified joined-up service that is more ...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: Artificial IntelligenceDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129553More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of artificial intelligence on supporting lower energy consumption and access to lower tariffs for low-income households.
Answer: Recent analysis at global level, including by the International Energy Agency, has highlighted the extensive potential for AI applications in energy to cut costs and lower consumer bills. Government will publish an AI Strategy for Energy in Autumn this ye...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Skilled WorkersDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129539More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, (a) what action the Government is taking to address skills shortages in small and medium sized enterprises; (b) what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies o
Answer: The government is committed to addressing skills shortages in small and medium sized enterprises. To support employers to take on apprentices, the government provides a range of financial support. We are introducing a new hiring grant of £2,000 for non-le...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordLifelong Learning EntitlementDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129537More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, (a.) if she will review the scope of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement to ensure it does not create a ceiling at Levels 4–6; (b.) what consideration has been given to including Level 7 professional and postgrad
Answer: The lifelong learning entitlement (LLE) will transform the student finance system in England, broadening access to high-quality, flexible education and training.When launched, it will support individuals to learn, upskill and retrain across their working ...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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