Steve Darling MP: written questions
651 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Employment Schemes: CarersDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many unpaid carers have been supported into work through his Department's employment support programmes in the last 12 months.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting carers to balance unpaid care with paid work where this is feasible. Eligible carers may still receive benefits while working, allowing them to increase their overall income. The information requested is currently...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordEmployment Schemes: CarersDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83457More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of introducing specialist support measures to support unpaid carers into employment.
Answer: Unpaid carers play a vital role in our communities, and we all owe them a debt of gratitude. We know that for the vast majority of people, care begins at home with their families. Many people wish to play a role in caring for their friends and family, and...
Answered 28 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCarers: EmploymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83456More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of supporting unpaid carers into employment on the economy.
Answer: Unpaid carers play a vital role in our communities, and we all owe them a debt of gratitude. We know that for the vast majority of people, care begins at home with their families. Many people wish to play a role in caring for their friends and family, and...
Answered 29 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordCarers: EmploymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83455More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support unpaid carers into paid employment.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting carers to balance unpaid care with paid work where this is feasible. Eligible carers may still receive benefits while working, allowing them to increase their overall income. Support includes identifying skills ga...
Answered 28 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordLocal Authority Housing FundMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled 20 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83403More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when he plans to announce the prospectus for round 4 of the local authority housing fund.
Answer: We aim to publish the prospectus for Round 4 by the end of this year, to allow local authorities sufficient time to prepare for delivery to begin in April 2026.The £950 million fourth round of Local Authority Housing Fund will primarily support local auth...
Answered 23 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Baccalaureate: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83038More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the potential number of redundancies as a result of changes in the level of funding for the International Baccalaureate in the state sector.
Answer: The department has made very significant investments into 16 to 19 education funding. The base rate of funding per student has increased to £5,105 in 2025/26, up over 5% on last year. We must make this funding work hard, tilting it towards key priorities....
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Baccalaureate: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83037More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the funding for the International Baccalaureate on (a) school culture and (b) the retention of teaching staff.
Answer: The department has made very significant investments into 16 to 19 education funding. The base rate of funding per student has increased to £5,105 in 2025/26, up over 5% on last year. We must make this funding work hard, tilting it towards key priorities....
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Baccalaureate: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83036More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the funding of the International Baccalaureate on (a) staffing levels and (b) curriculum breadth in state schools.
Answer: The department has made significant investments into 16 to 19 education funding. The base rate of funding per student has increased to £5,105 in 2025/26, up over 5% in comparison to last year. But we must make this funding work hard, tilting it towards ke...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Baccalaureate: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83035More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has considered the potential impact for reducing funding for the International Baccalaureate on (a) the number of university admissions and (b) the representation of state-educated studen
Answer: The department has made very significant investments into 16 to 19 education funding. The base rate of funding per student has increased to £5,105 in 2025/26, up over 5% on last year. We must make this funding work hard, tilting it towards key priorities....
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Baccalaureate: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83034More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with the International Baccalaureate Organisation on the withdrawal of state funding support.
Answer: The department has made very significant investments into 16 to 19 education funding. The base rate of funding per student has increased to £5,105 in 2025/26, up over 5% on last year. We must make this funding work hard, tilting it towards key priorities....
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Baccalaureate: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83033More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes in the level of funding for the International Baccalaureate on the number of students learning foreign languages in state schools.
Answer: The department has made very significant investments into 16 to 19 education funding. The base rate of funding per student has increased to £5,105 in 2025/26, up over 5% on last year. We must make this funding work hard, tilting it towards key priorities....
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Baccalaureate: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83032More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reducing funding for International Baccalaureate qualifications on trends in the difference in academic results between state and private schoo
Answer: The department has made significant investments into 16 to 19 education funding. The base rate of funding per student has increased to £5,105 in 2025/26, up over 5% in comparison to last year. But we must make this funding work hard, tilting it towards ke...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Baccalaureate: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83031More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reducing funding for International Baccalaureate qualifications on social mobility for (a) students in state schools seeking (i) international
Answer: The department has made significant investments into 16 to 19 education funding. The base rate of funding per student has increased to £5,105 in 2025/26, up over 5% in comparison to last year. But we must make this funding work hard, tilting it towards ke...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Baccalaureate: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83030More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to issue guidance to affected schools on managing the planned reduction in funding for the International Baccalaureate.
Answer: The department has made very significant investments into 16 to 19 education funding. The base rate of funding per student has increased to £5,105 in 2025/26, up over 5% on last year. We must make this funding work hard, tilting it towards key priorities....
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Baccalaureate: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83029More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an estimate of the average reduction in funding to each state school affected by the planned reduction in funding for the International Baccalaureate.
Answer: The department has made very significant investments into 16 to 19 education funding. The base rate of funding per student has increased to £5,105 in 2025/26, up over 5% on last year. We must make this funding work hard, tilting it towards key priorities....
Answered 13 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordInternational Baccalaureate: FinanceDepartment for EducationTabled 17 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 83028More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason it is her policy to reduce state school funding for the International Baccalaureate from 2026.
Answer: The department has made significant investments into 16 to 19 education funding. The base rate of funding per student has increased to £5,105 in 2025/26, up over 5% in comparison to last year. But we must make this funding work hard, tilting it towards ke...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAccess to Work ProgrammeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82762More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish all changes to guidance for civil servants issuing Access to Work grants issued since 2020.
Answer: Minor changes to guidance have been made to increase readability and operational understanding for civil servants issuing Access to Work grants. More significantly, existing guidance has been applied more consistently. No changes have been made to Access ...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAccess to Work ProgrammeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 16 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82761More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the average savings per claimant to his Department from passing costs previously covered by Access to Work to employers.
Answer: No such transfer has been made. No changes have been made to Access to Work policy, and we will announce any changes prior to them being implemented. We will be reviewing all aspects of the Scheme now that the consultation on the Pathways to Work Green Pa...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82425More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she plans to convene a roundtable with animal protection groups prior to the publication of the alternative methods to animal testing strategy.
Answer: The government has engaged with animal welfare organisations in developing a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods, which will be published by the end of the year. The Government hosted a roundtable on 14 May wi...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82424More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her planned strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of non-animal methods will contain a timeline to phase out animal experimentation.
Answer: The Government is committed to reducing the use of animals in scientific research and is developing a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods. At present, the strategy does not include a fixed timeline for the com...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAnimal ExperimentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 15 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 82423More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of taking legislative steps to (a) set a goal for phasing out animal experiments in medical research over the next decade and (b) wo
Answer: The legal framework in the UK already requires that animals are only ever used in science where there are no validated alternatives available. The government currently has no plans to legislate further on this matter. The Government is working in close pa...
Answered 24 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness RatesTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79007More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the higher business rates multiplier for larger premises on the (a) prices of essential goods, (b) shop closures, (c) regional employment leve
Answer: The Government is 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 will introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospital...
Answered 16 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordFood: PricesTreasuryTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79006More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps she is taking to help support businesses affected by food inflation.
Answer: The Government prioritises sound public finances, which are essential to economic and financial stability, and delivering economic growth. We are living within our means, reducing our levels of borrowing in the years ahead and supporting the Bank of Engla...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAccident and Emergency DepartmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79005More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a national A&E Appreciation Week.
Answer: The Government highly values hardworking National Health Service staff who go above and beyond to provide rapid and critical care. Local NHS trusts have in place their own approaches to recognising and rewarding staff, supported by advice and guidance set...
Answered 20 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordAccident and Emergency DepartmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Oct 2025AnsweredUIN 79004More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) level and (b) nature of the challenges faced by A&E staff; and what additional support he is providing to boost A&E staff morale.
Answer: As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government is committed to making the National Health Service the best place to work, by supporting and retaining our hardworking and dedicated healthcare professionals, including those working in accident and em...
Answered 22 Oct 2025
Original Parliament record
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