First elected: 4th July 2024
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
Support the Ceramics Industry and protect British manufacturing jobs and skills
Sign this petition Gov Responded - 11 May 2026 Debated on - 6 Jul 2026 View Adam Jogee's petition debate contributionsApply energy intensive industry relief (Supercharger scheme) to the ceramics industry to help cut soaring industrial energy costs & support ceramics businesses, which are at the risk of imminent collapse without urgent intervention, as seen with Denby Pottery registering for administration support.
These initiatives were driven by Adam Jogee, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
A Bill to require local authorities in England to prepare and publish a road safety plan in respect of each school in their area; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to require the Secretary of State to publish proposals for measures to increase the use of British-made bricks in construction projects in the United Kingdom, including specific measures relating to the building of new homes; and for connected purposes.
Personal Data (Digital Twins) Bill 2026-27
Sponsor - Chi Onwurah (Lab)
Road Safety Plans Bill 2026-27
Sponsor - Adam Jogee (Lab)
Student Finance (Review of Payment Schedules) Bill 2024-26
Sponsor - Luke Charters (Lab)
Police and Crime Commissioners (Accountability and Review) Bill 2024-26
Sponsor - Matt Western (Lab)
Off-road Bikes (Police Powers) Bill 2024-26
Sponsor - Luke Akehurst (Lab)
Domestic Abuse (Pets) Bill 2024-26
Sponsor - Ruth Jones (Lab)
Regulation of Bailiffs (Assessment and Report) Bill 2024-26
Sponsor - Luke Charters (Lab)
Improving access to music education for children across England remains a priority, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire. The Government is actively breaking down barriers through several national initiatives.
The Music Hubs Programme, supported by £76 million for 2026/27, delivers expert tuition and instrument access across England. The £5.85 million Music Opportunities Pilot backed by DfE, Arts Council England and Youth Music offers free lessons to disadvantaged students and those with SEND.
Through the £12.5 million “Music in Libraries” initiative, as part of the Dormant Assets funded ‘Every Child Can’ programme, we will extend provision and increase participation by disadvantaged young people in music enrichment opportunities in public libraries.
The Government is grateful for the excellent work that the New Vic Theatre does for the local community in Newcastle-under-Lyme and the wider cultural sector. The Secretary of State and Baroness Mackenzie, Minister for the Arts, will ask officials to keep the New Vic and other organisations across Newcastle-under-Lyme in mind when planning future visits.
The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, across the country, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities, including cycling.
We provide the majority of support for grassroots sport through our arm’s length body, Sport England. The constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme has received a total of £59,241 of Sport England funding in 2025/2026. Staffordshire has received over £1.1 million of Sport England funding in 2025/2026.
Sport England has provided over £33 million of funding to the National Governing Body for cycling, British Cycling, for the period 2022-2029 to invest in grassroots cycling initiatives.
With less than one year remaining until the Grand Départs arrive in Great Britain for the first time, there is a significant opportunity to inspire participation in cycling. That is why as a Government we’re investing £32 million to not just deliver these iconic races, but also to support the new JOY social impact programme to ensure a lasting legacy from the event.
The UK has a world-class jazz scene, and the Government is committed to supporting its continued growth. In 2026, Arts Council England awarded £37,000 to the Creative Peaks Festival.
Individuals and organisations can access further support through ACE schemes such as National Lottery Project Grants and National Portfolio funding for key sector bodies.
The Government has recently published Turn It Up: Our Plan for Music, which sets out targeted government and industry action across ten areas to create the best conditions for our musical talent, entrepreneurs and businesses, including festivals, to succeed. As part of this, jazz and other music festivals are eligible for investment through the £45 million Music Growth Package programmes and we encourage organisers to apply for these funds.
DCMS is monitoring macro-economic conditions to understand impacts on relevant sectors, particularly the impact of the conflict in the Middle East and broader cost of living pressures. However, we have not specifically made an assessment of impacts in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.
DCMS continues to develop place-based policies to support local creative industries. The Government recognises the importance of arts and culture to national life, economic growth, and opportunity. The Government supports arts and culture via the Arts Council England (ACE). ACE has provided funding from 2023-27 for Newcastle-under-Lyme of £1,496,274 and for the wider Staffordshire area of £6,450,334 for the same period.
The relationship with the Roman Catholic Church is warm and one that has grown closer in recent decades, exemplified by the reciprocal attendance by both Archbishops at each other's Instillation in Westminster and Canterbury, followed by the pilgrimage to Rome of the Archbishop of Canterbury which included meetings and prayer with His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, reaffirming a shared commitment to Christian unity.
Within England the Church continues to engage regularly with the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales on areas of shared interest, while local clergy and parishes also work closely together with all denominations as part of Churches Together to support local ecumenical activity. Another example of the warm relations between the two communities can be found in the common witness during September 2025 where bishops and clergy of both Churches in Liverpool joined together for a service and pilgrimage walk between the two cathedrals. Dialogue between the two Churches also continues regularly through the meeting of the English and Welsh Anglican Roman Catholic dialogue group.
The Church delivers community projects across the country to support individuals and families with the cost of living. Across the country churches are delivering around 31,000 community projects, including 8,000 food banks, 4,000 parent and carer groups and 3,000 community cafes.
In Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire, the Newcastle Foodbank operates a network of distribution centres hosted in local churches, such as Newcastle Congregational Church, operating under the Trussell Trust. Many local churches across the Diocese also operate as Warm Spaces to help vulnerable individuals and families save on their domestic energy bills. Through its Transforming Communities Together initiative and partnerships with organisations like the Church Urban Fund, the diocese supports practical courses (such as Money Talks and debt-relief guidance) to help individuals manage their finances. More information is available here: https://lichfield.anglican.org/transforming_communities/
The Church of England is committed to improving accessibility so that all who wish to attend churches, whether for worship or community activities, are able to do so.
Parishes may apply to the Parish Accessibility Fund for up to £50,000 or a Small Grant of up to £5,000 for project proposals to improve the accessibility features covering structural alterations such as the installation of an accessible toilet, step-free access and production of large print texts. More information on the Parish Accessibility Fund is available here: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/barrier-free-belonging/parish-accessibility-fund
The Diocese of Lichfield’s ‘Enabling All initiative’ offers support for its 540 churches including those in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire to become more accessible.
'Enabling All' offers web pages, online training, open drop-ins for individual questions, a church officer who can advise and an award scheme, all of which support churches to increase their accessibility. More information is available here: https://www.lichfield.anglican.org/inclusion/enabling-all/
The Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion looks to support all victims of armed conflict, regardless of whether war crimes or crimes against humanity have been committed, through humanitarian support, pastoral care and advocacy work.
Support is primarily offered through its global mission agencies and development partners who help deliver essential aid, food, healthcare, education, shelter, and trauma-informed support to those affected by violence and displacement.
The Church also has observer status at the UN where it plays a role in peacebuilding and reconciliation programme and at a national and global level the Church and its bishops raise awareness of atrocities and the need for accountability.
The Church of England and the Anglican Communion continue to support the ministry of the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem and the Diocese of Jerusalem alongside the Anglican Mission agencies operating in the region who largely provide healthcare and education to all living in the local communities in the West Bank and Gaza. The Archbishop of Canterbury is currently on a pilgrimage to the region, where she is learning and witnessing the work of these agencies
The Bishops of Southwark, Gloucester, Norwich and Chelmsford continue to highlight their ongoing concerns about increased settler violence in the West Bank and called for an end to the use of roadblocks and movement restrictions. They have joined His Holiness the Pope and the local heads of Churches, who have called for the protection of innocent civilians, freedom of movement and freedom to worship. There remain considerable concerns in Gaza about the access to building materials and healthcare
More broadly the treatment of the Christian communities in the towns and villages in the south of Lebanon is also being closely monitored during the ongoing conflict where these communities are becoming cut off from their land, farms and homes as infrastructure, roads and the water supply around the city of Tyre are bombed, damaged and left beyond use. Damage is also being caused to cultural heritage, UNESCO sites and some of the oldest churches in the region which have been targeted. These concerns have also been shared with the UK Government as part of regular conversations between the Church and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and other relevant Departments of State.
The National Church Institutions of the Church of England are in regular contact with the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief. Since the publication of the Truro Review in 2019, the Archbishops’ Council has worked closely with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office across a range of areas, including improving religious literacy among civil servants and strengthening knowledge and understanding of faith communities. The treatment of Christian communities worldwide is widely recognised as a barometer for the treatment of other minority groups, and persecution based on faith remains widespread in a large number of countries.
The Church of England engages internationally primarily through its associated charities and global NGOs, as well as through the Anglican Communion and by supporting initiatives such as the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief. Through these channels, it works to support communities under pressure and to raise awareness at local, national and international levels. Bishops in the House of Lords also continue to raise these issues frequently. The Church is currently engaged in supporting communities affected by some of the world’s longest-running conflicts, including in Gaza and the West Bank, Iran, Sudan, India and Ukraine, and is closely monitoring developments in Nigeria
The General Synod of the Church Of England has recently approved the creation of a day in the liturgical calendar for the commemoration of the Twenty-One Martyrs of Libya, and the Church continues to support the Global Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, observed on the first Sunday of November each year. At a diocesan and parish level, the Church of England continues to provide financial and practical support to a range of national and international charities, who are often best placed to deliver assistance directly to those in need on the ground.
The National Church Institutions of the Church of England have engaged with the Church of Southern Africa and the Church of the Province of Central Africa regarding the historic safeguarding cases relating to John Smyth. The two provinces of the Anglican Communion are independent from the Church of England, and discussions with the Government of Zimbabwe would be a matter for the Province of Central Africa.
The Church of Southern Africa held its own review into the activity of John Smyth’s activities which was published on the 3rd February 2025 and can be found here: https://anglicanchurchsa.org/archbishops-panel-of-inquiry-pinpoints-churchs-failures-on-smyth-abuse-report/ and Archbishop Thabo published a statement, which can be read here: https://anglicanchurchsa.org/archbishop-thabo-apologises-for-churchs-failures-over-abuse/
There have also been extensive discussions with the Province of Central Africa, and Archbishop Chama has been encouraged to undertake a similar review to that held by the Church of Southern Africa.
The Church of England commissioned the Makin Review into the historic abuse surrounding John Smyth, which was published 7th November 2024 and can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/independent-review-churchs-handling-smyth-case-published
Following the publication of the Makin Review, a task and finish group was established, which most recently produced a progress report for the February meeting of the General Synod. https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2025-11/gs-misc-1433-makin-task-and-finish-interim-report_0_0.pdf
The work in this area remains a high priority and is regularly reviewed. It is expected to publish its next progress report ahead of the July 2026 sitting of the General Synod.
Parliament sources materials that are appropriate to the specific building, taking into account its listed status and any relevant heritage considerations. All sourcing decisions are guided by the building’s unique requirements, including material compatibility, conservation guidance, and availability. These decisions are informed by best conservation practices to ensure the closest possible match for repair materials. A good example is the recent brick repair of the Norman Shaw North façade, as part of the Norman Shaw North Refurbishment Project. Traditional handmade clay bricks were used, and the replacement bricks were sourced from the original British clay quarry.
The Restoration and Renewal Programme (R&R) is the longer-term programme of work to restore and renew the Palace of Westminster and work is underway to develop options for how to deliver the works. Regardless of the delivery approach, the R&R Programme will be one of the UK's biggest restoration projects. The legislation that created the R&R framework states that the Programme must have regard to “the need to ensure that opportunities to secure economic or other benefits of the Parliamentary building works are available in all areas of the United Kingdom.”
It is a Member’s responsibility to read and adhere to The Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members.
All new Members were offered a 1:1 meeting with the Registry Team in the first month after the General Election. Every Member who attended was given a hard copy of the Code of the Code and the Guide to the Rules.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards’ webpages contain information and Advice Notes on the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules.
Guidance on registering via the Registration Portal can be accessed via Parlinet.
The Committee on Standards has held a drop-in meeting where Members could discuss the Code, and further such drop-in sessions may be held as required.
Any Member who requires advice on the registration of interests or the rules relating to declaration and lobbying for reward or consideration should contact the Registrar of Members’ Financial Interests at [email protected].
We acknowledge the commitment of the organisers of the Age Without Limits Day and will follow it with interest. Ageism has no place in our society where we want to see and build inclusion, not exclusion.
Questions on Ageism have been likely used in the past to possibly probe a perceived void in Government for looking after the interests of older people, but we continue to monitor and support legislation to tackle ageism or age discrimination. The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against direct and indirect age discrimination in employment. These protections have been in place for some years and were most recently set out in Part 5 of the 2010 Act. The 2010 Act therefore makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee or a job applicant because of their age.
The National Church Institutions are supporting the dioceses of the Church of England with a variety of initiatives to assess vocations and recommend people for training. More information about this work can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/diocesan-resources/ministry-development/vocations
The Diocese of Lichfield has received £5,980,655 funding between 2022-2025 from the National Church Institutions via its Lowest Income Communities Fund, to support ministry in parishes which would otherwise not be able to maintain it. This is further to the Diocese of Lichfield being awarded £6,230,837 during 2020-2023, and £6,590,111 during 2017-2019
The Diocese recognises that, along with many dioceses across the Church of England, it is facing challenges recruiting clergy to vacant parishes. This has been exacerbated by a recent spike in retirements occurring at the same time as a reduction in the number of new ordinations.
The Diocese is taking action to address this by proactively taking steps to increase the number of those coming forward for licensed ministries, both lay and ordained. They are working hard with individual parishes through the recruitment process to help them assess vocations and attract the right candidates. For some parishes, finance is an issue. Where this is the case, the Diocese works with them to find the best way forward for both missional and financial sustainability. More details about the strategy of the Diocese of Lichfield are available here: https://www.lichfield.anglican.org/shaping-for-mission/#:~:text=From%202024%20to%202030%2C%20Lichfield%20diocese%20will%20be,overwhelmingly%20at%20the%20Diocesan%20Synod%20of%20March%202024
For further information do please contact the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Michael Ipgrave, or the Archdeacon of Stoke, the Venerable Megan Smith. Contact details are available on the Diocese of Lichfield website.
Following an extensive public consultation, which gathered input from over 11,000 individuals, the Church of England has made significant progress in the process of appointing the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
The full membership of the Crown Nomination Commission (CNC), including the local and global representatives, has now been published here: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/governance/archbishops/canterbury-crown-nominations-commission/members-canterbury-crown-nominations-commission and will soon hold its first meeting, with further meetings in July and September 2025.
The CNC members will first establish a ‘Role Profile’ and ‘Person Specification’ for the next Archbishop of Canterbury. They will also review a longlist of candidates, determine a shortlist and conduct interviews, before voting to submit a name to the Prime Minister and the Crown in the usual manner. The committee is expected to be in a position to make this recommendation to the Prime Minister in the autumn of this year.
The Church of England General Synod voted on this issue in 2012 and 2022 and on both occasions there was near-unanimous opposition to a change in the law. The position of the Church has always been grounded in a concern for the welfare of the most vulnerable and the theological principles set out in scripture to care for those in need, the widow, orphan and stranger. The precarious funding of palliative and end of life care means not everyone has full and equal access to the care that they need, which is one of the reasons why it is wrong to legislate for assisted suicide. Most recently, the Rt Revd Lord Bishop of London gave written evidence to the Bill Committee on behalf of the Church of England. This evidence can be found here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmpublic/TerminallyIllAdults/memo/TIAB28.htm
The House of Bishops and National Church Institutions are in regular dialogue with other churches and faiths in the UK. Leaders from a variety of faith traditions, including the Church of England, issued a joint statement in November 2024 against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill and expressed their shared concerns with the legislation. You can read their letter here: https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/faith-leaders-join-oppose-bill-legalise-assisted-suicide
In April 2025 the Bishops of London, Gloucester, Bristol, Dover, Stepney, Croydon and Aston issued a joint letter with 105 other senior women of faith to highlight the impact of the Terminally Ill Adults Bill on vulnerable women
Many churches across the Diocese of Lichfield are involved in initiatives to help those in poverty, including offering Warm Welcome Spaces, foodbanks, and school uniform banks. Such initiatives are developed according to locally identified needs and available resources in parishes.
St Thomas’ Church in Kidsgrove, St Luke’s Church in Clayton, and All Saints Church in Madeley are three of the six local distribution points for the Newcastle-Staffs Foodbank. These churches work with other denominations in Chesterton, Silverdale and Newcastle town centre to provide this service to the local community in Newcastle under Lyme. On the 22nd May, the Foodbank published data to show that in one year, it had provided 8,720 emergency food parcels to people in need. 3,018 of these parcels went to children across Newcastle under Lyme. More information is available here: https://newcastlestaffs.foodbank.org.uk/2025/05/22/end-of-year-stats-2/
The Diocese of Lichfield Strengthening Communities team works with communities and individuals, churches and other faiths across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, the Black Country and north Shropshire, to support community building and improve lives. More information about the work of the diocese can be found here: https://www.lichfield.anglican.org/about-us/strengthening-communities/ For further information do please contact the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Michael Ipgrave, or the Archdeacon of Stoke, the Venerable Megan Smith. Contact details are available on the Diocese of Lichfield website.
Nationally, the Church of England has committed to three priorities: to develop and grow more disciples, to develop a mixed ecology of churches and to grow a younger and more diverse congregation. More information about the national work is available here: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/vision-and-strategy
A key priority for the Diocese of Lichfield in its Diocesan Strategic Framework is to reduce the age profile of congregation members. Various work strands are being developed to achieve this, including building on already strong relationships between churches and schools. Across some parishes good work is taking place ecumenically on initiatives that support younger people in their explorations of faith and build their confidence within the church.
In 2024, the Diocese of Lichfield was awarded £837,608 grant funding from the National Church Institutions Strategic Mission and Ministry Board (SMMIB). The Diocese has recently been awarded further SMMIB funding for new work beyond 2025, specifically operating in Stoke to establish new worshipping communities focused on those aged under 40
For further information do please contact the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Michael Ipgrave, or the Archdeacon of Stoke, the Venerable Megan Smith. Contact details are available on the Diocese of Lichfield website.
The Diocese of Lichfield has licensed clergy ranging in age from 32 to 72 years. The most recent Ministry Statistics held by the National Church Institutions were published in 2024 and cover the years 2022-23. See: https://www.churchofengland.org/about/data-services/resources-publications-and-data#na The information can be found on sheet M in columns BA and BB of the 2022 data.
This data indicates that the Diocese of Lichfield has a total of 244 clergy in active ministry, including bishops, clergy, curates and non-parochial clergy. 17% of stipendiary clergy are under 40, with 50% being 40-59 and 33% being aged 60+. This is roughly comparable to the national landscape where 16% of stipendiary clergy are under 40, 55% are between 40-55 years old and 29% are aged 60+. It is not possible to say what age bracket the self-supporting clergy are, as this information is not held centrally.
For further information do please contact the Bishop of Lichfield, the Rt Revd Michael Ipgrave, or the Archdeacon of Stoke, the Venerable Megan Smith. Contact details are available on the Diocese of Lichfield website.
Thanks to the pioneering work of Dame Cicely Saunders, many modern hospices started off as church-affiliated institutions. The majority of these organisations and charities have now become affiliated to Hospice UK, which supports over 200 hospices across the UK. Adult hospices in the UK receive on average only a third of their funding from the state, and for the rest, many rely on charitable support.
Professional bodies in the hospice sector have given written and oral evidence to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Committee to highlight their concerns about the legislation.
The precarious funding of palliative and end of life care means not everyone has full and equal access to the care that they need, which is one of the reasons why it is wrong to legislate for assisted suicide. It is crucial that the public funding that hospices currently receive does not come into question in relation to the provision of assisted suicide, should the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill pass.
Most recently, the Rt Revd Lord Bishop of London gave written evidence to the Bill Committee on behalf of the Church of England. The evidence can be found here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmpublic/TerminallyIllAdults/memo/TIAB28.htm
The Speaker's Committee has made no formal recomendations to the Electoral Commission since 12 December 2019.
The Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission is a statutory body established in part to examine performance and to review and approve the Electoral Commission's annual estimates, and five-year plan. The Committee also recommends the appointments of the Chair of the Electoral Commission and Electoral Commissioners.
As part of this statutory role, the Committee has reported on Commissioner appointments and the Commission's annual estimates.
The Committee does not have the power to direct or intervene in the Commission's operational work, but there is regular engagement to keep the Committee informed about ongoing activity.
According to the most recent ONS assessment, the median gender pay gap for all UK employees is 13.1% in April 2024. We are committed to going further and faster to close the gender pay gap. There are a number of measures within our landmark Employment Rights Bill which will support us in this ambition, and which will have a positive impact on women across the country.
In relation to my Hon. Friend’s constituency, the most recent ONS assessment states that the median gender pay gap for all employees who live in the constituency in April 2024 is 9.4%, down from 19.8 last year*, and significantly lower than the national figure.
*ONS recommend comparing GPG figures over the longer term. ONS publish GPG data back to 1997 however, the home parliamentary constituency table was published later. Given the small number of people in any parliamentary constituency included in the GPG calculations, ONS also produces a rating of the quality of this data. 2004 was the earliest that Newcastle-under-Lyme's GPG data was published and considered of "reasonable quality."
According to the most recent ONS assessment, the median gender pay gap for all UK employees is 13.1% in April 2024. We are committed to going further and faster to close the gender pay gap. There are a number of measures within our landmark Employment Rights Bill which will support us in this ambition, and which will have a positive impact on women across the country.
In relation to my Hon. Friend’s constituency, the most recent ONS assessment states that the median gender pay gap for all employees who live in the constituency in April 2024 is 9.4%, down from 19.8 last year*, and significantly lower than the national figure.
*ONS recommend comparing GPG figures over the longer term. ONS publish GPG data back to 1997 however, the home parliamentary constituency table was published later. Given the small number of people in any parliamentary constituency included in the GPG calculations, ONS also produces a rating of the quality of this data. 2004 was the earliest that Newcastle-under-Lyme's GPG data was published and considered of "reasonable quality."
My responsibilities relate to the work of the seven National Church Institutions, and I can give best-practice advice about diocesan and parish activity. I would be happy to meet with the Hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss his constituency and any specific concerns he may have. However, he may find a discussion with the Bishop of Lichfield and the team in the Diocese of Lichfield, who are responsible for the condition of the church estate in Newcastle-under-Lyme, more productive. I will write to him to arrange an introduction.
Securing our borders and tackling the exploitative criminal gangs that are illegally smuggling migrants to our shores is a core priority for this Government.
The government is taking bold action to tackle the unscrupulous criminal gangs who put vulnerable lives at risk for profit, with a number of new offences introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act (2025). This includes the offence to criminalise the creation of material advertising unlawful immigration services online, as well as the endangerment offence and seizure of electronic devices
With offences having commenced in January, the CPS now has further tools with which to prosecute organised immigration crime and people smugglers. Since the law change the CPS has charged more than 30 migrants with endangerment
In June we saw the first sentences for endangering lives during a channel crossing. The two defendants were jailed for two years and two years and three months respectively.
The SFO investigates a small number of the most serious and complex cases of suspected fraud, bribery and corruption, often involving thousands of victims, multiple jurisdictions and international corporates.
Waste crime does not fall within this remit and therefore is not considered by the Attorney General’s Office in the course of superintending and sponsoring the work of the SFO.
These cases are typically investigated and prosecuted by the Environment Agency, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
This Government is committed to halving knife crime in the next decade through the Halving Knife Crime Plan.
The Crime and Policing Act 2026 has introduced measures to tackle knife crime including a new possession an offence, an increase in the maximum penalty from six months to two years imprisonment for some offences and new powers which enable the police to seize, retain and destroy dangerous knives.
Following a significant rise in knife-enabled robbery in the year to June 2024 across seven police forces, the Home Secretary established a dedicated police taskforce in October 2024. Taskforce data for the year ending March 2026 shows a 21% drop in KER offences.
The CPS is supporting the work of the taskforce and continues to improve joint working with the police. This includes ensuring the police are aware of the correct protocol for seeking Early Advice in complex knife crime cases and seeking earlier engagement with prosecutors to improve both timeliness and file quality.
The CPS Counter Terrorism Division (CTD) is a specialist unit responsible for advising upon, and prosecuting some of the most sensitive, serious and high-profile casework in the CPS, including cases involving state threat activity.
The Counter Terrorism Division prosecuted six cases involving state threat activity under Official Secrets Act legislation between 2019 – 2025 and has separately concluded four prosecutions relating to state threat activity under the National Security Act since it came into force in 2023.
The CPS’s focus on tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is driving an increase in charges across a range of offences, including rape and domestic abuse-flagged offences.
The CPS's Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy for 2025-2030 aims to ensure that prosecutors have the right skills and tools to prosecute VAWG offences effectively. It sets out the approach the CPS is taking to improve casework quality, increase public confidence, and support the Government’s ambition to halve violence against women and girls.
To improve the prosecution of rape and serious sexual offences, the CPS has delivered significant reforms, including the introduction of a National Operating Model for adult rape prosecution, strengthened joint working and governance with policing, updated prosecution guidance, and a Rape Action Plan focused on improving case quality and prosecutor capability.
The CPS has also introduced enhanced assurance activity through the Rape Case Strategy Improvement Programme to support high-quality and consistent legal decision-making. These measures are contributing to improved outcomes, with 3,754 suspects charged in adult rape-flagged cases in 2025 (the highest number since records began), alongside the highest ever volume of completed adult rape prosecutions.
Tackling VAWG demands coordinated action across government. The CPS works closely with policing and other criminal justice partners to strengthen the collective response to these offences and ensure that victims are protected. In collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and third sector partners, the CPS developed a national Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan (DA JJP) to strengthen the collective response to domestic abuse. Since the DA JJP launch in Q3 2024-25, referral volumes of DA flagged offences have seen quarter-on-quarter increases and the charge rate has remained above 80%.
Together with the Home Office and the NPCC, the CPS has hosted two national multi-agency ‘honour’-based abuse conferences and will host a further multi-agency conference on stalking on 10 September. These events bring together colleagues from across government, statutory partners, specialist organisations and those with lived experience to develop our understanding of and response to VAWG offending.
Joint protocols between the police and CPS help to establish a clear, shared understanding for police and prosecutors of how to recognise and respond to VAWG offending. The joint protocols on stalking, ‘honour’-based abuse and female genital mutilation (FGM) are being updated, to ensure they support the collective response to the evolving nature of these offences.
Effective training helps to ensure prosecutors are fully equipped to identify, charge and progress cases effectively, and refreshed training on strangulation or suffocation and ‘honour’-based abuse is currently in development. The CPS also recognises the growing role that technology plays in facilitating and amplifying VAWG offending, and a dedicated Technology-Facilitated VAWG Action Plan is being developed to strengthen the CPS response to this evolving form of offending (with publication expected by the end of the year).
This Government is dedicated to addressing female genital mutilation (FGM) and all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), aiming to halve VAWG in the next decade. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is actively working to increase FGM prosecutions.
The first conviction in England and Wales for conspiring to commit FGM was obtained in September 2024. In February 2025, I welcomed the Court of Appeal’s decision to increase the sentence under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme from four and a half years’ imprisonment to seven years’ imprisonment, reflecting the seriousness of the offender’s crimes.
Each CPS Area has a dedicated FGM lead with expertise in the prosecution of FGM cases to improve the CPS’ response to these cases.
The CPS provides early investigative advice to police in all FGM cases. Under the CPS and National Police Chiefs’ Council joint protocol on FGM, investigators are directed to consult with the CPS at the earliest possible stage. The protocol ensures a robust and consistent criminal justice response, and aims to improve the identification, investigation and prosecution of FGM cases.
The CPS’ prosecution guidance and specialist training on FGM support prosecutors to navigate the complexities and sensitivities of these cases.
This Government is committed to working with the police and other partners to address the blight of rural crime – broadly classified as any crime and anti-social behaviour occurring in rural areas. We are introducing tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, stronger neighbourhood policing, and robust laws to prevent farm theft and fly-tippers.
We are recruiting 13,000 more neighbourhood police and police community support officers across England and Wales.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council Wildlife and Rural Crime Strategy 2022-2025 provides a framework through which policing, and partner bodies, can work together to tackle the most prevalent threats and emerging issues which predominantly affect rural communities. Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutors work closely with local police officers to tackle farm equipment theft and other rural crime, alongside officers from the National Wildlife Crime Unit to tackle wildlife offences. Fly-tipping can be investigated by police but is usually prosecuted by the local authority rather than the CPS.
The CPS provides legal guidance on Wildlife, Rural and Heritage Crime which is available to all its prosecutors, to assist them in dealing with these cases. That guidance is available here: Wildlife, Rural and Heritage Crime | The Crown Prosecution Service. The CPS also provides specialist training to ensure that its prosecutors have the expert knowledge needed to prosecute these crimes.
West Midlands CPS, within which Newcastle-under-Lyme falls, has a dedicated prosecutor to lead on wildlife, heritage, and rural crime.
I refer the Hon Member to the Joint E3 Leaders’ Statement with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine from 7 June 2026, available on gov.uk.
Transparency data is published alongside each New Year Honours List and King’s Birthday Honours List, giving an individual breakdown of recipients' names, level of award, their short citation and the city and country in which their correspondence address was located. Transparency data for each Honours List in each of the past five years can be found on gov.uk using the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/honours-reform-and-operation#honours-lists
The Cabinet Office does not collect home or work addresses for honours recipients; the information published reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.
Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK in future honours lists.
Transparency data is published alongside each New Year Honours List and King’s Birthday Honours List, giving an individual breakdown of recipients' names, level of award, their short citation and the city and country in which their correspondence address was located. Transparency data for each Honours List in each of the past five years can be found on gov.uk using the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/honours-reform-and-operation#honours-lists
The Cabinet Office does not collect home or work addresses for honours recipients; the information published reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.
Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK in future honours lists.
Transparency data is published alongside each New Year Honours List and King’s Birthday Honours List, giving an individual breakdown of recipients' names, level of award, their short citation and the city and country in which their correspondence address was located. Transparency data for each Honours List in each of the past five years can be found on gov.uk using the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/honours-reform-and-operation#honours-lists
The Cabinet Office does not collect home or work addresses for honours recipients; the information published reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.
Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK in future honours lists.
Transparency data is published alongside each New Year Honours List and King’s Birthday Honours List, giving an individual breakdown of recipients' names, level of award, their short citation and the city and country in which their correspondence address was located. Transparency data for each Honours List in each of the past five years can be found on gov.uk using the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/honours-reform-and-operation#honours-lists
The Cabinet Office does not collect home or work addresses for honours recipients; the information published reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.
Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK in future honours lists.
Transparency data is published alongside each New Year Honours List and King’s Birthday Honours List, giving an individual breakdown of recipients' names, level of award, their short citation and the city and country in which their correspondence address was located. Transparency data for each Honours List in each of the past five years can be found on gov.uk using the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/honours-reform-and-operation#honours-lists
The Cabinet Office does not collect home or work addresses for honours recipients; the information published reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.
Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK in future honours lists.
Transparency data is published alongside each New Year Honours List and King’s Birthday Honours List, giving an individual breakdown of recipients' names, level of award, their short citation and the city and country in which their correspondence address was located. Transparency data for each Honours List in each of the past five years can be found on gov.uk using the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/honours-reform-and-operation#honours-lists
The Cabinet Office does not collect home or work addresses for honours recipients; the information published reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.
Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK in future honours lists.
Transparency data is published alongside each New Year Honours List and King’s Birthday Honours List, giving an individual breakdown of recipients' names, level of award, their short citation and the city and country in which their correspondence address was located. Transparency data for each Honours List in each of the past five years can be found on gov.uk using the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/honours-reform-and-operation#honours-lists
The Cabinet Office does not collect home or work addresses for honours recipients; the information published reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.
Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK in future honours lists.
Transparency data is published alongside each New Year Honours List and King’s Birthday Honours List, giving an individual breakdown of recipients' names, level of award, their short citation and the city and country in which their correspondence address was located. Transparency data for each Honours List in each of the past five years can be found on gov.uk using the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/honours-reform-and-operation#honours-lists
The Cabinet Office does not collect home or work addresses for honours recipients; the information published reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.
Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK in future honours lists.
Transparency data is published alongside each New Year Honours List and King’s Birthday Honours List, giving an individual breakdown of recipients' names, level of award, their short citation and the city and country in which their correspondence address was located. Transparency data for each Honours List in each of the past five years can be found on gov.uk using the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/honours-reform-and-operation#honours-lists
The Cabinet Office does not collect home or work addresses for honours recipients; the information published reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.
Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK in future honours lists.
Transparency data is published alongside each New Year Honours List and King’s Birthday Honours List, giving an individual breakdown of recipients' names, level of award, their short citation and the city and country in which their correspondence address was located. Transparency data for each Honours List in each of the past five years can be found on gov.uk using the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/honours-reform-and-operation#honours-lists
The Cabinet Office does not collect home or work addresses for honours recipients; the information published reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.
Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK in future honours lists.
Transparency data is published alongside each New Year Honours List and King’s Birthday Honours List, giving an individual breakdown of recipients' names, level of award, their short citation and the city and country in which their correspondence address was located. Transparency data for each Honours List in each of the past five years can be found on gov.uk using the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/honours-reform-and-operation#honours-lists
The Cabinet Office does not collect home or work addresses for honours recipients; the information published reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.
Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK in future honours lists.
Transparency data is published alongside each New Year Honours List and King’s Birthday Honours List, giving an individual breakdown of recipients' names, level of award, their short citation and the city and country in which their correspondence address was located. Transparency data for each Honours List in each of the past five years can be found on gov.uk using the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/honours-reform-and-operation#honours-lists
The Cabinet Office does not collect home or work addresses for honours recipients; the information published reflects the correspondence address provided by recipients. This data relates only to the main Prime Minister’s List and does not include data from the Defence List or the Overseas and International List, which are not administered by the Cabinet Office.
Honours are awarded on merit basis. A key aim of the honours system is to ensure that it is more representative of the country as a whole and we will continue to encourage more nominations from every corner of the UK in future honours lists.