Every parliamentary written question tabled by Steve Darling this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 61–80 of 629 · this parliament
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.
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.
Whether the Government considered the potential merits of a cost capping order in the latest legal action brought by the WASPI campaign.
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...
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.
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.
What consideration she has given to provision of bleed kits in first aid kits in police cars.
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...
Which ICBs have chosen not to allow GPs to prescribe weight loss injections.
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...
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
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...
How many businesses will be impacted by changes to business rates (a) nationally and (b) in Torbay constituency.
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...
What plans the Government has to roll out Cafcass in Torbay.
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...
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.
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...
Whether he plans to mandate that all ICBs make provision of Aquablation as a procedure to treat enlarged prostates.
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...
How many ICBs have chosen to make provision of Aquablation to treat enlarged prostates.
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...
What steps he is taking to allow people to do their EU-UK youth mobility exchange in (a) EEA countries and (b) Switzerland.
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...
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.
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...
When her Department plans to reply to the correspondence of 20 March 2026 from the hon. Member for Torbay.
A response to the correspondence of 20 March 2026 from the hon. Member for Torbay was sent on 14 May 2026.
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
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...
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.
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 ...
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.
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 year, which will set out the actions it is taking to apply AI to the Clean Energy Superpower mission. The AI for Clean Energy Champion is also preparing a review of AI deployment in electricity networks, for publication in the summer.
(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 postgraduate qualifications; and (c.) what steps she is taking to ensure that the Lifelong Learning Entitlement is learner-led, including by reducing regulatory duplication for providers and enabling professional bodies and Growth and Skills Levy registered providers to deliver LLE funded courses alongside Office for Students regulated institutions.
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 lives. It will create opportunities for both young people and adults to develop the skills needed to succeed in life, contributing to growth across the country.The LLE will fund all courses currently funded through the Higher Education Student Finance system, including Level 7 integrated master’s and postgraduate certificate in education courses.Beyond this, we will continue to deliver a tailored loans package for postgraduate study. Postgraduate master’s loans provide up to £12,858 for tuition fees and living costs, and the Disabled Students’ Allowance is available to support with the extra study-related costs that may arise for students who have a disability.Learners will be able to use the LLE to fund individual modules as well as full courses at Levels 4 to 6, regardless of whether they are provided in colleges, universities or independent providers.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of age restrictions on Level 7 apprenticeships on (i.) the future skills needs of employers; (ii.) on learners both currently and in the future who plan to stair case up levels of apprenticeships to complete a L7 apprenticeship; and (iii.) access to professional services jobs.
I refer the hon. Member for Torbay to the answer of 16 March 2026 to Question 115133.
(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 of the combined impact of skills shortages and workforce capacity constraints in SMEs; and (c) what steps he is taking to ensure the skills system supports SMEs to train and grow their workforce.
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-levy paying employers, typically SMEs, that take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. Additionally, from August 2026 we will fully fund apprenticeship training for non-levy paying employers for eligible people aged 16-24.The new Business Growth Service is already promoting and signposting the government’s skills offer to SMEs.