Alex Ballinger MP: written questions
159 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Gambling: AdvertisingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114516More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking in the context of the University of Sheffield’s findings that gambling advertisements during the 2022 FIFA World Cup significantly influenced betting behaviour
Answer: We consider a wide range of evidence when making policy and regulatory decisions. This includes consideration of Sheffield University’s recent report on World Cup advertising and its impact on gambling behaviour. All operators advertising in the UK must c...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHealthwatch DudleyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114488More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which organisations will replace Healthwatch Dudley; and how health and social care will be monitored in Dudley borough.
Answer: As set out in the Review of patient safety across the health and care landscape report published in July 2025, and in the 10-Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, the statutory functions of local Healthwatch bodies will be transferred to integ...
Answered 27 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordProperty Development: LandslipsMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 11 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112730More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, under what legislation developers are responsible for mitigating the risk of landslides in their property developments.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 46774 on 29 April 2025.
Answered 23 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordDudley Metropolitan Borough CouncilMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106776More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what (a) financial and (b) any other support (i) is and (ii) will be available to Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, in the context of improvement notice and auditor evaluation
Answer: My department continues to work closely with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council to ensure strong oversight of progress against the requirements of the best value notice issued in July 2025. The council is leading its own improvement journey and has secur...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCouncil TaxMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 19 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106775More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how he plans to support Councils with low council tax bases and entrenched deprivation.
Answer: Following extensive consultation and engagement, we are realigning funding distributed through the Local Government Finance Settlement with need and deprivation. We will target a greater proportion of grant funding towards the most deprived places which n...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordM6: TollsDepartment for TransportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105478More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of nationalising the M6 Toll road.
Answer: There are currently no discussions underway about nationalising the M6 Toll. The M6 Toll sits outside of the Strategic Road Network managed by National Highways and is owned and operated by private entity Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL).
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordGambling: AdvertisingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105449More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of gambling advertisements on children and young people; and whether she plans to introduce legislative measures to restrict or ban gambling m
Answer: All operators advertising in the UK must comply with robust advertising codes, which are enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) independently of Government. These codes are regularly reviewed and updated and include a wide range of provisio...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordEthicsDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 13 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 105448More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of financial penalties for social responsibility failings in acting as a deterrent.
Answer: Financial penalties are one element of the Gambling Commission’s regulatory toolkit. Action taken by the Gambling Commission is based on the need to gain compliance from gambling operators with the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice at the earliest ...
Answered 21 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordIndependent Commission for Reconciliation and Information RecoveryNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 6 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 103611More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many investigations are being carried out by the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery; and how many of those investigations relate to the deaths of (a) members of the Ar
Answer: We understand that there are currently 113 live investigations under the remit of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery. Within those 113 investigations, there were 35 victims who were military personnel and 16 police offi...
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordNHS: ResearchDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97683More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to expand protected research time for NHS clinicians contributing to research.
Answer: The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future highlights the opportunities for improved care and innovation that comes from research and life sciences in the National Health Service. The upcoming 10 Year Workforce Plan is considerin...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97682More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support research teams undertaking long-term cancer prevention and early-detection research.
Answer: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology invests approximately £200 million annually in cancer research via UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spent £141.6 million in 2024/25 via the Nationa...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCancer: ResearchDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97681More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of long-term, stable funding models for cancer research projects.
Answer: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)’s Medical Research Council (MRC) delivers a substantial portfolio of researcher-led projects, building on long-standing partnerships, including with Wellcome and CRUK, to fund investments such as the Francis Crick Institu...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordParking: FinesDepartment for TransportTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97679More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she is taking steps to improve grace periods for parking fines and transparency for the appeal and enforcement process.
Answer: A 10-minute grace period became mandatory for all councils in England on 6 April 2015. It applies at local authority owned or operated car parks and at the end of paid-for and free on-street parking in England. The grace period only applies at the end of ...
Answered 9 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordFood BanksDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure support is available for vulnerable people in poverty to have improved access to food banks.
Answer: Foodbanks are independent organisations and remain in control of who they provide support to and how people can access that support. However, our Work Coaches are adept at providing holistic support to customers, and use their knowledge of local provision...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: GamblingMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the NHS on improving prevention and treatment of gambling harms among Armed Forces personnel and veterans.
Answer: The Ministry of Defence takes problem-gambling very seriously and works closely with Armed Forces personnel and Veterans who require support. The comprehensive Defence Primary Health Care Gambling pathway within the Defence Medical Services, assesses and ...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordArmed Forces: GamblingMinistry of DefenceTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of gambling harms among serving members of the Armed Forces.
Answer: Defence recognises that gambling-related harms can have significant impacts on the health and wellbeing of Service personnel. In addition to the limits placed on gambling by Kings Regulations, active efforts are made to highlight both the harms of problem...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: West MidlandsTreasuryTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97675More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to support access to finance for SMEs in the West Midlands.
Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that businesses across the UK, including in the West Midlands, can access the capital they need to grow. Through the British Business Bank (BBB), we are delivering a range of targeted interventions, including loan g...
Answered 15 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGrowth and Skills Levy: West MidlandsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support SMEs in the West Midlands to access the Growth and Skills Levy.
Answer: To support SMEs to access apprenticeships, the government will fully fund apprenticeship training for non-levy paying employers (essentially SMEs) for all eligible people aged under 25 from the next academic year. This change will make it easier for those...
Answered 16 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCycling: PupilsDepartment for TransportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89964More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure more children are able to cycle safely to school.
Answer: Active Travel England provides funding to The Bikeability Trust to deliver Bikeability cycle training to children in England (outside London). In addition, active travel revenue funding can be used by local authorities to deliver cycle training and engage...
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGaming: DisadvantagedDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89874More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of adult gaming centres on trends in the level of gambling harms in deprived areas .
Answer: We do not hold official data on the relationship between deprivation and participation in gambling at adult gaming centres. As part of the Pride in Place Strategy, published on 25 September, the Government reaffirmed its commitment to introducing cumulati...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGamblingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89873More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she will assess the potential merits of reviewing the aim to permit duty under the Gambling Act 2005 to strengthen the ability of local authorities to limit gambling harms.
Answer: Local authorities are vital partners in the regulation of gambling and have a range of powers to influence the operation of gambling premises and limit gambling harm. These include site inspections, restrictions on opening hours, and suspending or revokin...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: LicensingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 11 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89872More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential merits of including public health officials in the gambling license process.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has not had discussions on this matter with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.There are several ways that public health officials at local authorities contribute to the gambling licensing...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMortgages: Individual Savings AccountsTreasuryTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89360More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing the maximum amount that can be added to a cash ISA on mortgage rates.
Answer: The pricing of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. However, mortgage rates are influenced by a range of factors, including Base Rate, which has been cut five times since this Government came to power....
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordBuilding Societies: Individual Savings AccountsTreasuryTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89359More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing the maximum amount that can be added to a cash ISA on small building societies.
Answer: The pricing of mortgages is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. However, mortgage rates are influenced by a range of factors, including Base Rate, which has been cut five times since this Government came to power....
Answered 17 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal Welfare: FireworksDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 89269More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of commissioning research into the impact of firework noise on animal welfare.
Answer: The Government is continuing to engage with animal welfare stakeholders, businesses, consumer groups and charities on the impacts of fireworks, to inform any future action.
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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