Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which NHS Trusts are currently seeking redundancies from clinical staff.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department does not hold a central list of real-time information on which National Health Service trusts are taking forward redundancies. Decisions about workforce change, including any redundancy proposals, are matters for individual NHS employers, who must follow employment law and nationally agreed contractual arrangements. This includes appropriate engagement with trade unions and staff affected. Where organisations are reducing their workforce numbers and costs, they should take all reasonable steps to avoid compulsory redundancies, including restricting recruitment, managing vacancies and considering suitable alternative employment, to ensure any changes do not compromise patient safety or access to services. NHS England continues to work with integrated care boards and NHS trusts to support safe staffing and the delivery of patient services.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, (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.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
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.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, (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.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
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.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, 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.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
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.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, 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.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the hon. Member for Torbay to the answer of 16 March 2026 to Question 115133.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department expects to publish the findings of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Higher Penalty Charge Notice trial; and whether she will make a statement on the timetable for reporting its outcomes.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) has published a report on its month‑long trial of higher PCNs. The Department is reviewing the findings of this trial which will be carefully considered before any decisions are taken.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress he has made on the review into market access for small breweries announced in the Autumn Budget 2024.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government recognises that local breweries and pubs make an important contribution to the UK's economy and communities, supporting jobs, innovation and diversity within the pub sector.
I am currently considering the findings of this review alongside hearing evidence directly from industry stakeholders and representative bodies with whom I am meeting over the next month. This includes meeting with small brewery owners and representatives from the Society of Independent Brewers.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will provide guidance for combined county authorities on the next steps to transition to mayoral authorities.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The Government remains firmly committed to mayoral devolution and is forging ahead with it, including through the Devolution Priority Programme, but we have been clear that this model works best when built on firm foundations. That is why we have issued an invitation to all areas in England that do not have devolution to bring forward, with their neighbours, a proposal for a (non-mayoral) Foundation Strategic Authority. Existing non-mayoral Combined County Authorities will automatically be classed as Foundation Strategic Authorities on Royal Assent of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.
Foundation Strategic Authorities will have a strong remit for driving growth, as well as key tools to do so in areas such as skills and transport. They will also help build institutional capability and partnerships at the regional level, as a stepping stone towards mayoral devolution in the future.
The process for an area moving from a Foundation Strategic Authority to a Mayoral Strategic Authority is being amended through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, subject to Royal Assent, and requires a proposal, a consultation, a decision on whether the necessary statutory tests have been met, and consent from the relevant authorities. Government will continue to work closely with areas as part of our ambition to widen and deepen devolution in England.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to provide financial compensation to the recreational charter boat sector following the implementation of the three-fish recreational pollack bag limit.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The latest scientific advice from ICES indicates pollack remains vulnerable and recreational fishing accounts for a significant share of total removals. It is therefore important, and fair, that all fishers play their part in transitioning towards a sustainable fishery. The three‑fish recreational bag limit supports the long‑term recovery of the stock while continuing to allow recreational fishers to target and retain pollack.
Defra continues to support the development of evidence. The recently re-launched Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, funded from the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, can support partnership projects between fishers and scientists, which could include long-term data collection and research on pollack fisheries. Cefas is also working with the recreational sector to strengthen participation and governance of the Sea Angling Diaries to improve the evidence base.
Defra has no plans to provide financial compensation. Social and economic impacts are considered as part of the impact assessment process for the Statutory Instrument introducing the measure, including impacts across all affected parts of the sector.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to (a) continue and (b) expand data collection in the pollack fishery in the (i) commercial and (ii) recreational sectors.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The latest scientific advice from ICES indicates pollack remains vulnerable and recreational fishing accounts for a significant share of total removals. It is therefore important, and fair, that all fishers play their part in transitioning towards a sustainable fishery. The three‑fish recreational bag limit supports the long‑term recovery of the stock while continuing to allow recreational fishers to target and retain pollack.
Defra continues to support the development of evidence. The recently re-launched Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, funded from the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, can support partnership projects between fishers and scientists, which could include long-term data collection and research on pollack fisheries. Cefas is also working with the recreational sector to strengthen participation and governance of the Sea Angling Diaries to improve the evidence base.
Defra has no plans to provide financial compensation. Social and economic impacts are considered as part of the impact assessment process for the Statutory Instrument introducing the measure, including impacts across all affected parts of the sector.