Steve Darling MP: written questions 2025
347 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Dangerous Dogs: InjuriesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will publish (a) transparent and (b) clear data on (i) hospital admissions and (ii) presentations to minor injury clinics due to dog bites in each healthcare trust in the most rec
Answer: NHS England already published data on hospital admissions due to dog bites. This data can be found at the following link:digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-admitted-patient-care-activity/2023-24.In 2023/24, in England, t...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPedestrian Areas and Public Transport: Visual ImpairmentDepartment for TransportTabled 8 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Sight Loss Council's report entitled MakeTransportAccessible - creating the perfect world for blind and partially sighted people, published on 1 November 2023, what steps her Department is
Answer: The government is committed to improving public transport services so they are more inclusive and enable blind and partially sighted people to travel safely, confidently and with dignity. On 17 December, the government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) B...
Answered 14 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 7 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 65671More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to respond to the correspondence of 2 June from the hon. Member for Torbay.
Answer: We have received the Hon. Member’s correspondence of 2 June and we will respond shortly.
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordGlaucoma: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64854More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of establishing a national glaucoma pathway, in the context of similar models in (a) Wales and (b) Scotland.
Answer: In England, integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning primary and secondary eye cares services to meet identified local needs. This can include commissioning enhanced services in the community such as glaucoma referral refinement and glauco...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordUnpaid Work: DisabilityDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 3 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64848More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effectiveness of (a) the Get Set Progress scheme and (b) paid internship programmes for disabled people; and what discussions he has had with Cab
Answer: Ministers have been encouraged by the briefing they have received on the ‘Get Set Progress’ scheme, but no assessment has been carried out by this department. Employers are crucial in enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and t...
Answered 11 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRed Arrows: FinanceMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64590More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much funding his Department has allocated to (a) the Red Arrows and (b) other military display teams in the Spending Review 2025.
Answer: The Spending Review has set the Ministry of Defence's Departmental Expenditure Limits until Financial Year 2028-29 for Resource and until 2029-30 for Capital. These are at high-level and do not specify all spend across the Department.Funding for individua...
Answered 9 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordHawk Aircraft: Red ArrowsMinistry of DefenceTabled 2 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64588More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to replace the Hawk T1 fleet used by the Red Arrows.
Answer: The Strategic Defence Review recommended that the Hawk T1 and T2 be replaced with a cost-effective advanced jet trainer. The future platform of the Royal Air Force aerobatic team is being considered at the same time, and a programme team is being establis...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordWork and Health ProgrammeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of replacing the Work and Health programme that last took applicants in September 2024.
Answer: The decision to end the Work and Health Programme was made by the previous Administration. The Government is committed to reducing the disability employment gap. We have a clear ambition to raise the overall employment rate to 80%. We are delivering the b...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many full time equivalent civil servants are working on animal welfare policy.
Answer: There are many civil servants across Defra that are responsible for multiple animal welfare policies, working flexibly according to business need. Civil Servants work across animal welfare, transforming farm animal health and welfare, wildlife and rural t...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been allocated to animal welfare in the Spending Review 2025.
Answer: This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year. The allocations for projects and ...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRented Housing: PetsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63708More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding her Department has allocated for the promotional campaign on pet-friendly tenancy rights following the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Answer: The successful implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill is contingent on landlords, letting agents, and tenants understanding their rights and responsibilities under the new legislation. Once the Bill has achieved Royal Assent, we intend to deliver a ca...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordRented Housing: PetsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many civil servants are working on the communications campaign relating to pet-friendly tenancies following the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Answer: The successful implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill is contingent on landlords, letting agents, and tenants understanding their rights and responsibilities under the new legislation. Once the Bill has achieved Royal Assent, we intend to deliver a ca...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDangerous Dogs: HousingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of rehoming banned breeds which have passed behavioural assessments.
Answer: In England and Wales, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 prohibits the ownership of five types of dog; the Pit Bull terrier, the Dogo Argentino, the Fila Brasileiro, the Japanese Tosa, and the XL Bully. It is a criminal offence to sell, abandon, give away or bre...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDangerous DogsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many dogs are exempt under the XL bully exemption scheme.
Answer: As of 17 June 2025, 56,346 XL Bully dogs are registered with a Certificate of Exemption.
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDangerous DogsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many FTE civil servants his Department has allocated to work on the exemption scheme for dogs initially classified as XL bullies.
Answer: There are many civil servants across Defra that are responsible for multiple animal welfare policies, working flexibly according to business need. Civil Servants work across animal welfare, transforming farm animal health and welfare, wildlife and rural t...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDangerous Dogs: CanadaDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the dangerous dogs control scheme in Calgary, Canada.
Answer: The Government has reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership Taskforce to explore measures to promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog. As part of this work, the taskforce may look at international models of dog control. We look forward t...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCats and Dogs: TaggingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many FTE civil servants his Department has allocated to work on developing a single point of search for the microchip database for (a) dogs and (b) cats.
Answer: There are many civil servants across Defra that are responsible for multiple animal welfare policies, working flexibly according to business need. Civil Servants work across animal welfare, transforming farm animal health and welfare, wildlife and rural t...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDisability and Neurodiversity: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62752More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to provide financial support to (a) Eat That Frog in Torbay and (b) other community organisations which are support hubs for those who are (i) disabled and (ii) neurodivergent to
Answer: The relationship between the department and Eat that Frog, as with all providers, is through the funding of learners through an agreed, published funding methodology. The department does not fund institutions/providers core costs, as the funding is driven...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordOffshore Industry: North SeaDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of refusing new (a) oil and (b) gas developments at (i) Rosebank, (ii) Jackdaw and (iii) other potential oil and gas fields.
Answer: Neither the Secretary of State nor I will be commenting on the specifics of individual projects such as Rosebank and Jackdaw in order to avoid potentially prejudicing any future regulatory decisions the Secretary of State is required to make in relation t...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEducation: Children in CareDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62723More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of collecting data on the (a) length and (b) frequency of gaps in education for children in care that are the result of placement moves.
Answer: The department recognises the need to improve the data available about children’s social care, including making it more relevant to the experience of children and young people during periods of change.A core part of this work includes understanding the da...
Answered 4 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordEducation: Children in CareDepartment for EducationTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62722More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the educational instability that children in care face.
Answer: The department is committed to ensuring that looked-after children are supported to succeed in education and achieve positive outcomes. We recognise the critical importance of continuity and stability throughout a looked-after child’s life.Under the Care ...
Answered 3 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordSouth Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust: Capital InvestmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether capital funding has been allocated to South Western Ambulance Service for the modernisation of their estate.
Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their local communities, including in the South West, as they are best placed to take those decisions. Integrated care systems in the South West have been provis...
Answered 1 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordCombe Pafford School: Learning DisabilityDepartment for EducationTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61848More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department took with Torbay Unitary Authority to help ensure the adequacy of consultation to reduce the number of moderate learning disability placements at Combe Pafford School Torquay.
Answer: As the relevant local authority, Torbay Council is responsible for keeping provision for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) in their area under review. They are also responsible for determining how many high needs places, funde...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHealth ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to ensure that specialist medical services are accessible outside London.
Answer: Specialised services are typically delivered on a scale that allows for some concentration of clinical expertise and for the management of relatively small caseloads. As such, it is more likely that some patients may need to travel further to access high-...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTourette's Syndrome: Health ProfessionsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61551More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to increase the number of specialist practitioners (a) researching and (b) treating Tourette’s Syndrome.
Answer: We will publish a new workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and to ensure the National Health Service has the right people, in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the care patients need...
Answered 16 Jul 2025
Original Parliament record
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