Alex Ballinger MP: written questions
66 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Carer's Allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 2 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 64623More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Carer’s Allowance overpayments on individuals in receipt of the benefit; and what steps her Department is taking to support carers in r
Answer: This Government recognises and values the vital contribution made by unpaid carers every day in providing significant care and continuity of support to family and friends with disabilities. When we came into government, it became clear that there were far...
Answered 10 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordLebanon: Armed ForcesMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63943More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support the (a) capacity and (b) operational readiness of the Lebanese Armed Forces, in the context of (i) disarmament initiatives and (ii) regional stability in southern Le
Answer: For more than a decade, the UK has been a trusted partner of the Lebanese Armed Forces, providing £106 million of financial support and offering training, infrastructure, and equipment. In collaboration with international partners, we continue to work clo...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordLebanon: Military AidMinistry of DefenceTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63941More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the UK military support to Lebanon.
Answer: For more than a decade, the UK has been a trusted partner of the Lebanese Armed Forces, providing £106 million of financial support and offering training, infrastructure, and equipment. In collaboration with international partners, we continue to work clo...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordDefence: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 30 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63748More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing support with energy costs to defence manufacturers engaged in energy-intensive steel casting.
Answer: For Energy Intensive Industries overall, our Clean Power 2030 target is the key to long-term sustainable price reductions. From 2027, the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour for over 7...
Answered 8 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordElectric Vehicles: Pedestrian Areas and RoadsDepartment for TransportTabled 16 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60342More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to introduce further legislative measures to enhance road and pedestrian safety in relation to (a) electrically assisted pedal cycles and (b) electric scooters.
Answer: This Government takes road safety very seriously and reducing those killed and injured on our roads is a key priority. There are already strict laws in place for e-cyclists and e-scooter users, and police have the power to prosecute if these laws are brok...
Answered 24 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordImports: Occupied TerritoriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56517More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what investigations his Department is conducting into goods originating from Israeli settlements within the Occupied Palestinian Territories being labelled as originating from within Israel’s pre-1967
Answer: The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK’s ...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordImports: Occupied TerritoriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56515More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the amount of goods originating from Israeli settlements within the Occupied Palestinian Territories that are being labelled as originating from within Israel’s
Answer: HMRC are responsible for the conduct of origin verification checks on imported goods. Where there are doubts about the declared origin of goods, HMRC undertakes checks to verify the origin of those goods to ensure fiscal compliance. Data on imports from I...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: BricksMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55972More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 22080 on Housing: Bricks, what steps her Department is taking to increase the rate of swift brick installation in new build
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 22080 on 15 January 2025.
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDementia: Clinical TrialsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54158More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the UK’s capacity to attract investment in dementia clinical trials, in the context of the availability of disease-modifying treatments in other countries
Answer: No particular assessment has been made.The Department is committed to turbocharging medical research and delivering better patient care, to make the United Kingdom a world-leading destination for clinical research. We are working to fast-track clinical tr...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMortgage Guarantee SchemeTreasuryTabled 21 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54150More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the mortgage guarantee scheme beyond 30 June 2025.
Answer: The Government recognises the difficulties some prospective first-time buyers face in buying a home, and is committed to helping them get on the housing ladder.We committed in our manifesto to introduce a permanent and comprehensive mortgage guarantee sch...
Answered 5 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChildcareDepartment for EducationTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49635More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of permitting people to undertake government-funded childcare to children they are related to, but are not the parents of.
Answer: It is the department’s ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.Funding made available in the dedicated school...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordDelivery Services: Fast FoodDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49634More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to help tackle the use of (a) fraudulent and (b) substitute insurance by fast food delivery drivers.
Answer: The Government takes uninsured driving seriously. This is achieved through Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE), a scheme where the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency collaborate to identify uninsured drivers and police enfor...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordVehicle Number PlatesDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49633More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to increase the penalties for (a) failing to display a front registration plate and (b) using a plate that does not meet the legal requirements on a car.
Answer: The Government keeps the motoring offences under review, and is considering possible interventions.
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor Insurance: Older PeopleDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49632More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to ban car insurance companies from using age to determine insurance premiums for older drivers.
Answer: The Government takes uninsured driving seriously. This is achieved through Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE), a scheme where the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency collaborate to identify uninsured drivers and police enfor...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMotor InsuranceDepartment for TransportTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49631More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will take legislative steps to ensure that car insurance renewal quotes are equitable for existing and new customers.
Answer: The Government takes uninsured driving seriously. This is achieved through Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE), a scheme where the Motor Insurers’ Bureau and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency collaborate to identify uninsured drivers and police enfor...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAmbulance ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49630More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will introduce legislation to (a) protect and (b) guide the ambulance service on a statutory footing.
Answer: National Health Service ambulance services have already been placed on a statutory footing through existing legislation.NHS England will publish further guidance to support integrated care boards in their commissioning of ambulance services in 2025/26, an...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordProcessed Food: Public HealthDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49629More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) seed oils, (b) added gluten and (c) processed food standards on public health.
Answer: Government advice on a healthy, balanced diet is encapsulated in the United Kingdom’s Eatwell Guide. This is underpinned by the robust independent risk assessments and recommendations of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).SACN has not u...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordHospitals: FoodDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49628More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that (a) hospitals offer (i) gluten and (i) dairy free food that is not high in added sugars and (b) people with restricted diets have access to (A)
Answer: NHS England has published their Food and Drink Standards, which set out the expectations for National Health Service trusts regarding the food they provide to patients and staff. Emphasis is placed on providing healthy, nutritious food options. The standa...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: InternetDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48754More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to improve the effectiveness of measures to prevent consumers from accessing unlicensed online gambling operators.
Answer: We are committed to working closely with the Gambling Commission to ensure that illegal gambling, in all its forms, is addressed. The Gambling Commission assesses information gathered from multiple sources and works closely with partner agencies to preven...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Government: WomenMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46460More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking with local government to tackle abuse faced by women working in local government.
Answer: This government is clear there is no place in local government for bullying, intimidation or harassment, including abuse faced by women. Such behaviour causes great personal distress to those affected, particularly as the current local government standard...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHousing: ConstructionMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46459More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that open spaces and the green belt are protected during house building.
Answer: The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the government’s policies for safeguarding the Green Belt from inappropriate development. The Framework also allows local areas to identify local green space which is protected in a similar manner to the Gre...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren: ProtectionDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the threshold for intervention from children's services to protect children.
Answer: Keeping children safe from multiple forms of abuse and harm is the foundation of giving every child the best start in life, ensuring they can achieve and thrive as they grow up. In our Plan for Change, this government set out its ambition to ensure every ...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSocial Services: Labour Turnover and RecruitmentDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46457More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve (a) recruitment and (b) retention in local government children's services.
Answer: Local government children’s services provide vital support and protection to society’s most vulnerable children. The department is grateful for the work that children’s social care workforces do every day.In November, we published ‘Keeping children safe, ...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: Waste DisposalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46456More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the (a) value for money and (b) effectiveness of weekly food waste recycling collections by local authorities.
Answer: A value for money assessment was made in the Simpler Recycling impact assessment available here: The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025, published in December 2024. The effectiveness of weekly food waste recycling collections by local authorit...
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordChildren and Young People: GamblingDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46455More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to improve the education of children and young people on risks associated with online gambling.
Answer: Children and young people are taught about the importance of online safety and the risks associated with it as part of the statutory relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) curriculum.The statutory RSHE guidance sets out that that young people shou...
Answered 29 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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