Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Home Office about the operation of the Common Travel Area.
Answered by Hilary Benn
I have recently had discussions with the Home Office on immigration and the Common Travel Area following the recent public disorder in Northern Ireland in mid-June.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland joined the Minister of State for the Home Office at the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Tuesday 7 July to discuss the operation of the Common Travel Area.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the World Tourism Organisation on the work of her Department.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
DCMS maintains regular contact with UN Tourism (formerly known as the United Nations World Tourism Organisation) on issues of shared interest, including sustainable tourism growth, international visitor trends, and the recovery and resilience of the UK's tourism sector.
Officials in the Department also engage with the organisation through multilateral committees, including the G20 and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, contributing to discussions on global tourism policy, data standards, and best practice.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the financial support available to the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn
The Government recognises the financial pressures the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) faces. However, policing is largely a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the PSNI’s main budget is allocated by the Department of Justice from the Northern Ireland block grant.
The Government has provided Northern Ireland with a record settlement of £19.3 billion on average per year of the Spending Review – the largest settlement in real terms in the history of devolution. It is for the Northern Ireland Executive to make decisions on the allocation of resources in line with its identified priorities and for the Department of Justice to allocate funding to the PSNI.
In recognition of the security situation in Northern Ireland, the Government is providing the PSNI with £37.8 million in Additional Security Funding each financial year until 28/29. In addition, a further £4 million has been allocated to PSNI for this financial year to help with the costs incurred by the PSNI during the recent disorder.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to support community orchestras in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Through Arts Council England’s 2023–26 National Portfolio Investment Programme, more funding is reaching orchestral organisations in more parts of the country than ever before, with around £65 million of public investment each year supporting 139 music organisations.
In Staffordshire, since 2023, the Stoke-on-Trent Festival has received £186,000 through two grants to expand classical performances and music education. In addition, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, English Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra of the Swan, all supported by Arts Council England (ACE), tour in Staffordshire, while the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Music Education Hub supports young musicians. These investments benefit communities across both Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire.
ACE’s National Lottery Project Grants provide funding to support artists, cultural organisations and community groups to deliver creative and cultural activity. The programme is open to eligible organisations, including community orchestras in both Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire, providing opportunities to secure funding for performances, audience development, education and community engagement projects.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to support community choirs in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government supports the arts sector, including community choirs, through Arts Council England (ACE). In 2024/25, ACE allocated £1.83 million through its National Lottery Project Grants programme to projects classified as ‘Choral’.
In Staffordshire, ACE supports organisations such as The Phoenix Singers, who received £9,687 in July 2025 to perform as part of Stoke-on-Trent’s centenary celebrations, while LesFest received £10,348 to support local performers, including singers, through rehearsals, coaching and live performance opportunities. These investments demonstrate the support available to community choirs and singers across both Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire.
ACE’s National Lottery Project Grants provide funding to support artists, cultural organisations and community groups to deliver creative and cultural activity. The programme is open to eligible organisations, including community choirs in both Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire, providing opportunities to secure funding for performances, audience development, education and community engagement projects.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with her cabinet colleagues about the fiscal steps required to ensure the long-term sustainability of research funding in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme, B) England and c) the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Chancellor regularly discusses funding for R&D with Cabinet Colleagues
R&D was a priority at the last Spending Review, with the government allocating £22.6bn per year by 2029/30, including £500m over the period for the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, which is designed to stimulate growth across the UK. Alongside this fund, the government has strengthened UK Research and Innovation's objectives for place and clusters.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department has taken since 1 January 2026 to support research infrastructure that facilitates the advancement of key technologies.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The government’s Modern Industrial Strategy focuses on frontier technologies and eight key growth sectors. Since January, progress on research infrastructure has included:
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions she has had with His Majesty’s Treasury about the steps required to ensure the long-term sustainability of research funding in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme, B) England and c) the United Kingdom.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
DSIT Ministers and officials meet regularly with Treasury counterparts on research and development funding priorities. DSIT is investing a record £86 billion in research and development from 2026/27 to 2029/30. UK Research and Innovation support c. £36 million of active projects across Shropshire and Staffordshire, benefiting Newcastle-under-Lyme. We are working with funders, the Devolved Governments and the university sector to transition to sustainable research funding models, including improving research grant cost recovery and reforming Strategic Institutional Funding and research assessment. Through the Post‑16 Education and Skills White Paper, we are strengthening the long‑term sustainability of universities and the research base.