Steve Darling MP: written questions
356 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Children in Care: LocationDepartment for EducationTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48602More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure children in care are not moved during (a) exam periods and (b) other critical periods in their education.
Answer: The government recognises the critical importance of continuity and stability throughout a looked-after child’s life. Under the ‘Care planning, placement and case review’ guidance and regulations, the child’s allocated social worker should do everything p...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: CorrespondenceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 25 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when her Department plans to respond to the correspondence from Councillor David Thomas, leader of Torbay Council of 10 February 2025.
Answer: I thank the hon. Member for Torbay for drawing my attention to this correspondence. I have instructed officials to expedite a reply to Cllr Thomas.
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSeas and Oceans: InfrastructureDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47876More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Minister has made an assessment of the merits of adopting a Nature Inclusive Design as a standard requirement for offshore projects to (a) boost marine biodiversity and (b)
Answer: Defra recognises the potential for nature-inclusive design (NID) to have a positive environmental benefit when used in suitable areas of the marine environment. However, we are developing Marine Net Gain policy to deliver further positive environmental en...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDomestic AbuseTreasuryTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47875More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to include sustainable funding for domestic abuse perpetrator intervention programmes in the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Answer: The Home Office is the lead department responsible for domestic abuse funding. The allocation of funding across departmental budgetary responsibilities will be confirmed through the upcoming Spending Review.
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDomestic Abuse: RehabilitationHome OfficeTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47874More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding is available to local authorities for community-based behaviour change programmes for (a) high-risk and (b) medium-risk perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Answer: Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for this government, and we have committed to use every government tool available to target perpetrators and address the root causes of abuse and violence. The Home Office Domestic Abuse a...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordDomestic Abuse: RehabilitationHome OfficeTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47873More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding her Department makes available to local authorities for community-based behaviour change programmes for (a) high risk and (b) medium risk perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Answer: Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for this government, and we have committed to use every government tool available to target perpetrators and address the root causes of abuse and violence. The Home Office Domestic Abuse a...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordInnovate UK: FinanceDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47872More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of changing the Innovate UK technology awards to allow successful applicants to access the funds earlier in the process.
Answer: Making innovation support accessible and agile is a key goal for Innovate UK, and they will continue to experiment with new ways to improve their product offering for businesses. They deliver technology funding awards through grants, contracts, and loans....
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSemiconductors: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47871More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to provide capital funding to manufacturing companies in the semiconductor sector.
Answer: This government recognises the strategic importance of semiconductors as a critical technology and a significant enabler of our growth and clean energy missions. We recently secured a £250 million investment from one of the world’s largest manufacturers o...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordInnovate UK: Capital InvestmentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47870More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of changing the Innovate UK technology awards to focus more on capital funding.
Answer: Making innovation support accessible and agile is a key goal for Innovate UK, and they will continue to experiment with new ways to improve their product offering for businesses. They deliver technology funding awards through grants, contracts, and loans....
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordWind Power: Seas and OceansDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47380More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the steps wind energy developers are taking to incorporate nature-inclusive design as standard in offshore wind infrastructure.
Answer: Defra recognises the potential for nature-inclusive design (NID) to have a positive environmental benefit when used in suitable areas of the marine environment. Developers must already follow the mitigation hierarchy to avoid, minimise, mitigate, and comp...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47379More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many working-age people are in receipt of the PIP daily living component at (a) regional, (b) constituency and (c) local authority level by primary health condition; and what proportion of those cla
Answer: Table 1 in the attached excel file contains data, at the regional level, of claimants in receipt of the Daily Living award for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) by primary health condition and the proportion of those claims which were awarded less than ...
Answered 9 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence PaymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47378More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many working-age people are in receipt of the PIP daily living component at (a) regional, (b) constituency and (c) local authority level; whether those people receive the (i) standard and (ii) enhan
Answer: Table 1 in the attached excel file contains data, at the regional level, of claimants in receipt of the Enhanced or Standard Daily Living award for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the proportion of those claims which were awarded less than four po...
Answered 9 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSchools: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47377More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress she has made on split site funding for schools.
Answer: The split sites factor in the schools national funding formula (NFF) allocates additional funding for schools operating across multiple sites. The split sites factor was formularised in 2024/25, ensuring that funding is allocated consistently and fairly a...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRowcroft HospiceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47376More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing funding for the Lavender Square project in Devon; and if he will hold discussions with representatives of that project.
Answer: Provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). We would expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence g...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46931More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 44062 on Members: correspondence, if she will meet with the hon. Member for Torbay to discuss the potential impact of local gov
Answer: We are happy to meet with the member on local government reorganisation and will be in touch to arrange this.
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46930More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that local government reorganisation will not undermine progress made in improving healthcare outcomes in (a) Torbay and (b) other areas.
Answer: The Government is committed to building a fairer Britain, to ensure people can live well for longer, and spend less time in ill health, regardless of where they are born or their financial circumstances. As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, g...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordIntegrated Care Systems: Local GovernmentMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46929More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she is having with the Secretary of Health and Social Care to ensure that successful integrated care organisations (a) in Torbay and (b) in England are (i) prese
Answer: The Government is committed to building a fairer Britain, to ensure people can live well for longer, and spend less time in ill health, regardless of where they are born or their financial circumstances. As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, g...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordPlan for Neighbourhoods: TorbayMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46928More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether funding allocated to Torbay to help tackle deprivation will be (a) protected and (b) ringfenced following local government reorganisation.
Answer: We remain committed to supporting the 75 places announced as part of the Plan for Neighbourhoods, including Torbay, throughout the reorganisation of local government.
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: ReorganisationMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46927More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to ensure that the specific needs of (a) Torbay and (b) other deprived areas are considered following mergers into larger sub-regional authorities as
Answer: On 5 February I formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. As set ou...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: Business RatesTreasuryTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46926More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of reductions in the level of relief through the Business Rates Relief scheme on small businesses.
Answer: We are creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century. As set out at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government is committed to protecting the smallest properties by freezing the small b...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHoliday Activities and Food Programme: Low IncomesDepartment for EducationTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reductions in the level of funding for holiday activities and food programmes on children from lower-income backgrounds.
Answer: The department invests in free holiday club places for children in low-income families, with all 153 local authorities in England delivering in the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays.The holiday activities and food (HAF) programme is delivered by local...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Prescribing: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to provide additional funding to ensure the sustainability of social prescribing in (a) the UK and (b) Torbay.
Answer: As part of our Mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future, the Government has underlined its commitment to taking a preventive approach to addressing health inequalities.We are determined to improve people’s physical and mental ...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordAllergies: LabellingDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46923More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Food Standards Agency on its plans to publish its response to the consultation entitled Best Practice Guidance - Allergen Information for Non-Prepacked Foods; a
Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has policy responsibility for food safety, including food allergen labelling, in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and is working to improve the availability and accuracy of allergen information for non-prepacked foods....
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMeans-tested Benefits: Armed ForcesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46001More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 3854 on Pension Credit: Armed Forces, if her Department will review the treatment of Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments in means-tested bene
Answer: The receipt of War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) awards is already fully ignored when calculating eligibility for Universal Credit. The first £10 per week of a War Pension or AFCS award is disregarded in: income-related Employment a...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordMeans-tested Benefits: Armed ForcesDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46000More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 5 September 2024 to Question 3854 on Pension Credit: Armed Forces, if she will review the treatment of Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments in means-tested welfare benefit
Answer: The receipt of War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) awards is already fully ignored when calculating eligibility for Universal Credit. The first £10 per week of a War Pension or AFCS award is disregarded in: income-related Employment a...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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