Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Government of Gibraltar about the processing of raw sewage in Gibraltar.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Ministers meet regularly with the Government of Gibraltar to discuss a range of environmental matters including wastewater management.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Office for Environmental Protection.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra and the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) share an ambition to protect and enhance the environment. Nature is at the very foundation of growth, as nature’s recovery is a prerequisite of prosperity, health and wellbeing. It is Defra’s urgent priority to secure better outcomes for nature while accelerating growth, including through sustainable infrastructure development. Defra welcomes the OEP’s engagement in this agenda and supports a constructive relationship with them.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that victims of crime have an adequate amount of time to challenge potentially unduly lenient sentences in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We listened to victims and legislated for a statutory duty to notify victims of the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, and an “out of time” route for victims and bereaved family members to refer sentences outside of the 28-day time limit, in the Victims and Courts Act.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support farmers whose livestock are affected by bovine tuberculosis outbreaks in a) Audley, b) Newcastle-under-Lyme and c) Staffordshire.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) has a devastating impact on farming communities. That is why the Government is working with farmers and scientists to co-design a new bovine TB strategy, expected in the coming weeks, to deliver the step change needed to achieve disease freedom by 2038.

I also refer to the reply given on 16 April, PQ UIN 125856, which sets out some of the further support available to farmers, including those in Audley, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire, experiencing a TB breakdown in their herd.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department has taken to support energy intensive businesses in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire with energy costs.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department for Business and Trade manages two energy cost support schemes, the British Industry Supercharger and the Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme, to support eligible energy-intensive industries with the indirect costs of emissions levies, and electricity policy and network costs. The Supercharger cuts electricity costs by approximately £65-87/MWh for around 550 businesses across the whole of Great Britain, including some of the most electricity-intensive firms in Staffordshire.

From April 2027 the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will benefit over 10,000 manufacturing businesses reducing electricity costs by up to £40/MWh. The Government also announced an additional payment in 2027 to reflect the support eligible businesses would have received had the scheme been in operation earlier.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support the advanced manufacturing sector in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is backing advanced manufacturing through our Modern Industrial Strategy and the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan, which supports innovation, skills, investment and the adoption of new technologies across the UK.

Businesses in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire can access national support on skills, finance, R&D and energy. Regional programmes include Made Smarter West Midlands, which helps manufacturing SMEs adopt digital tools and boost productivity, and the new specialist Advanced Manufacturing Technical Excellence College at Newcastle & Stafford College Group.

We will continue working with local partners to ensure businesses in these areas can access the support they need to invest, innovate and create good jobs.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many civil servants in her Department undertook work relating to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

The Wales Office routinely assesses the implications for Wales of UK Parliament Bills, including Private Members Bills. As a result, a small proportion of three officials’ time was spent in relation to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help businesses in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire to increase exports.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to supporting UK businesses, including those in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire, to grow and export. DBT has integrated its support for businesses in a single, accessible place – the Business Growth Service. From tailored market advice and free Business Academy training to our on-the-ground network around the world, we are making it easier for businesses to seize export opportunities.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) also has various products designed to support UK businesses. In December 2025, UKEF announced it had provided support to Staffordshire-based GE Vernova’s contract to supply equipment and services to construction of the Niğde Bor plant in Türkiye.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps she has taken to reduce factors that encourage migrants to arrive illegally.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is clear that there are no simple “pull factors” driving irregular migration; rather, flows are driven by complex global pressures including conflict, persecution and smuggling networks. Nonetheless, we are acting decisively to reduce incentives to travel illegally, including by accelerating asylum decision-making, ending the use of hotels, strengthening returns, and working with international partners to disrupt criminal gangs.

These measures are underpinned by wider reforms set out in the Government’s Restoring Order and Control programme, which will deliver a firm but fair asylum system, restore control of our borders, and ensure that protection is provided through safe and legal routes rather than dangerous crossings.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many a) letters, b) emails and c) written communications were received by her Department from Newcastle-under-Lyme District Borough Council between i) December 2019 and July 2024 and ii) July 2024 and May 2026.

Answered by Rachel Blake - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury does not hold centrally collated information on correspondence by specific external organisations across the department.

However, records held by the central correspondence team show that no correspondence was received from Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council between December 2019 and July 2024, and three items of correspondence were received between July 2024 and May 2026 via the Public Enquiries inbox.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many a) letters, b) emails and c) written communications were received by his Department from Newcastle-under-Lyme District Borough Council between i) December 2019 and July 2024 and ii) July 2024 and May 2026.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

This information is not held centrally and could only be collated at a disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to support farmers in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire to export British beef.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra has a global network of 16 agrifood attachés who work to expand market access and create new export opportunities for the UK’s high quality agri-food produce, including beef, delivering benefits to businesses in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire and across the UK. Defra works in partnership with industry to support access to new markets.

In March, the Secretary of State led a dedicated agri‑food trade mission to the United States, to promote UK beef exports, following the successful negotiation of an exclusive 13,000 tonne quota as part of the UK-US Economic prosperity deal. This included a beef promotion and showcase event and is the first of a programme of food and drink missions to priority export markets across the world.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the (a) development and (b) use of innovative technology in farming in Staffordshire.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Farming Innovation Programme is Defra’s programme for supporting research and innovation in farming. Its investment in innovative technology from concept to deployment aims to derisk adoption and widen access. Support was reinforced with the Modern Industrial Strategy, published last year, which committed to spend at least £200 million by 2030.

The Programme aims to benefit English farmers and growers, therefore, farmers based in Staffordshire are in scope. Funding opportunities are promoted through multiple channels, including Press Notices, The Programme website and Defra’s Farming Blog.

At the February NFU conference the Government announced £70 million to support agri-tech research and development investment from 2026 with £50 million for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund to help farmers adopt new technology, cut emissions and boost productivity.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the outbreak of Ebola in that country.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to my statement to the House on 21 May (HCWS60).

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking alongside Staffordshire County Council to ensure that more girls and young women take up sport at secondary schools in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Our focus is on ensuring that children and young people have equal opportunities to participate in high-quality PE, sports and physical activities and our new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network will be focused on engaging children who are less likely to be active, including girls.

The department held a market engagement event for the new Network on 7 May 2026, and will be releasing further details in due course prior to starting the procurement for a partner to deliver the new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network.

We know that PE kits and barriers around changing facilities can affect girls’ participation in physical education, particularly in teenage years. The department’s non-statutory guidance on school uniform has been updated to include new content on PE kits.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the Middle East conflict on energy security in the (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The UK benefits from a diverse and resilient fuel supply chain and remains well supplied across all fuel types, with strong and diverse sources of supply. Around 90% of crude oil refined in the UK is imported, and only a very small proportion, around 1%, comes from the Middle East. This significantly limits our exposure to regional disruption. We are also working closely with industry to monitor supply, demand, and market conditions to ensure continued stability.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many a) letters, b) emails and c) written communications were received by his Department from Newcastle-under-Lyme District Borough Council between i) December 2019 and July 2024 and ii) July 2024 and May 2026.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department of Business and Trade aims to respond to correspondence in 15 working days, but in some instances it can take longer. Upon searching, the Department for Business and Trade has received no correspondence from Newcastle-under-Lyme District Borough Council between the dates mentioned.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent progress she has made in strengthening national security.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what support he can provide Newcastle-under-Lyme District Borough Council in the development of a market strategy.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Markets make an important economic and social contribution to our high streets and towns. They help to grow their local economy, providing opportunities for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses, as well as social engagement and inclusion.

Local authorities are empowered to make decisions on running, supporting and investing in local markets in their areas. This government is also committed to extending devolution in England, as set out in the English Devolution White Paper, and strategic authorities will be empowered to drive economic development and regeneration in local areas.

In due course we will publish our High Streets Strategy, backed by £301 million of support, to help turn the tide on the high streets most in need.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what specific support he plans to provide market towns like Newcastle in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

Answered by Nesil Caliskan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Markets make an important economic and social contribution to our high streets and towns. They help to grow their local economy, providing opportunities for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses, as well as social engagement and inclusion.

Local authorities are empowered to make decisions on running, supporting and investing in local markets in their areas. This government is also committed to extending devolution in England, as set out in the English Devolution White Paper, and strategic authorities will be empowered to drive economic development and regeneration in local areas.

In due course we will publish our High Streets Strategy, backed by £301 million of support, to help turn the tide on the high streets most in need.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to promote active travel in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Staffordshire County Council has been allocated £5,420,018 in total from financial years 2026/27 to 2029/30 for active travel. It is one of 11 local authorities to receive funding to deliver an Active Travel Social Prescribing pilot, trialling ways in which walking, wheeling and cycling can be prescribed for health, well-being and to promote active travel for everyday journeys.

Staffordshire County Council also receives funding through the national Bikeability cycle training programme, with 9,227 children trained in 2024/25, and £78 million committed for delivery across England (outside London) for the next 3 financial years (2026/27 to 2028/9).

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help increase the (a) volume and (b) value of trade between the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Ireland is one of the UK’s closest and most important trading partners, with approximately £1.71 billion in bilateral trade each week. The UK Government is committed to strengthening this relationship further as demonstrated by the outcomes of the second UK-Ireland Summit held in March 2026. We announced over £900 million of Irish investment into the UK, and agreed an ambitious growth package including enhanced cooperation on infrastructure and renewed exchanges on economic security and SME policy with Irish counterparts. This will continue to unlock further opportunities for UK businesses and workers.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help increase the (a) volume and (b) value of trade between the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The United Kingdom is committed to strengthening trade with Zimbabwe as part of our wider approach to increasing UK–Africa trade. To improve market access and support economic growth, we have a range of trade agreements and preferential schemes in place across the region.

Zimbabwe benefits from the UK–Eastern and Southern Africa Economic Partnership Agreement, which provides duty‑free, quota‑free access for goods. We have also made it easier for Zimbabwe to participate in African regional supply chains by allowing its exporters to cumulate with other eligible countries under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help increase the (a) volume and (b) value of trade between the United Kingdom and Jamaica.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Government is taking steps to increase both the volume and value of UK–Jamaica trade through strengthened engagement and targeted programmes.

Recently, we supported the third UK-Caribbean Trade and Investment forum, where governments and businesses across the region and the UK met to promote commercial partnerships and identify investment opportunities. During his visit to London for this forum, I met my Jamaican counterpart to discuss opportunities to work together on economic growth and resilience.

HMG is also supporting UK exports to Jamaica, including through UK Export Finance which can help finance major projects by reducing risk.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the benefits to the youngest children in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire of learning through play.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The government recognises the important role of learning through play in supporting young children’s development and is investing £900 million to enable all local authorities, including Newcastle‑under‑Lyme and Staffordshire, to deliver Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies services. These hubs will be warm, welcoming, inclusive and play-friendly spaces that provide high‑quality home learning and parenting support, encouraging families with children aged 0 to 5 to chat, play and read together, alongside more targeted support where needed. Services include accessible stay‑and‑play sessions and play‑based early language activities, guided by statutory expectations published in March

Evidence shows that high‑quality early education improves outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged children. The Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure children learn and develop well and embeds play as central to children’s development.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help communities in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire restore nature.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra funds nature restoration across the country. This includes woodland creation grants such as England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) that provides financial support for tree planting, providing 100% of standard woodland creation capital costs; with additional payments for projects that contribute to nature restoration. The Government also supports woodland creation and tree planting across 15 Community Forests. In Staffordshire, the Forest of Merica planted over 230,000 trees in the last five years.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she has taken to help ensure Staffordshire County Council is able to effectively support children and young people with additional needs in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Our ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

Departmental officials hold regular meetings and correspond with Staffordshire County Council on SEND as part of monitoring progress against the areas for improvement identified by Ofsted/Care Quality Commission inspectors.

The areas for improvement were:

• Area 1: Co-production was weak. Parents felt that the local area did not listen to them or their child. The ‘tell it once’ approach was not embedded. The area’s relationships with schools and families were fragile.
• Area 2: The quality of education, health and care plans was poor. Health and care workers did not contribute to the process effectively. The targets and outcomes in plans were not aspirational enough. The annual reviews of EHC plans were often not completed on time or did not contribute effectively to the review of the children and young people’s needs or the support and help they received.

The department has appointed a SEND Adviser to support and work alongside the Local Area Partnership.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to help ensure Russia is held accountable for breaches of international law.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to ensuring accountability for atrocities committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including Ukraine's domestic accountability efforts, the International Criminal Court's investigations, and the establishment of a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression. On the latter, I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made on the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine on 14 May and the remarks of the Foreign Secretary during the recent Council of Europe Ministerial meeting in Chisinau on 15 May.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the (a) Southern African Development Community and (b) African Union on the political situation in Zimbabwe.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 23 March in response to Question HL15456.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the British financial contribution to the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he received on 9 January in response to Question 102125.

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 make an assessment of the impact of there being no approved Local Plan in Newcastle-under-Lyme on people living, learning and working in that area.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In the absence of an up-to-date local plan, there is a high likelihood that development will come forward on a piecemeal and speculative basis, with reduced public engagement and fewer guarantees that it will make the most of an area's potential.

It is for these reasons that this government has been clear that we expect all local planning authorities to make every effort to get up-to-date plans in place as soon as possible.

The Newcastle-under-Lyme Local Plan is currently subject to public examination by an independent Inspector. Updates on the progress of the examination are published on the Borough Council’s’ website here.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff will be working to the Armed Forces Commissioner.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

As the Armed Forces Commissioner organisation matures, staffing requirements will be kept under review, with the expectation that the Ministry of Defence will provide the appropriate funding and practical support needed.

A provisional organisational structure was agreed ahead of 1 April 2026 and is available on the Commissioner’s website: www.afcommissioner.org.uk/sites/default/files/2026-03/AFC%20Org%20Chart%20-%20Website.pdf

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan on the health and wellbeing of children in that country.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and it remains one of our largest humanitarian programmes. The £154 million we allocated to Afghanistan in the last financial year ensured continued access to health, nutrition and education programmes for vulnerable children. We continue to engage regularly with international and regional partners on the humanitarian situation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her counterparts in a) India and b) Pakistan about the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and it remains one of our largest humanitarian programmes. The £154 million we allocated to Afghanistan in the last financial year ensured continued access to health, nutrition and education programmes for vulnerable children. We continue to engage regularly with international and regional partners on the humanitarian situation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with the Crown Estate on the potential merits of using British-made bricks for the maintenance and renovation of the Crown Estate.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The Crown Estate is an independent commercial business, established by an Act of Parliament, and the Government is not involved in its day-to-day operational decision-making. Decisions on the materials used in the maintenance and renovation of The Crown Estate’s portfolio are operational matters for The Crown Estate.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps he has taken to increase the number of apprenticeships available to young people in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

This Government is prioritising young people’s futures and reversing the sharp decline in apprenticeship starts amongst young people, which have fallen by 40% over the last decade. This includes a record-breaking investment of £3.3 billion in the Growth and Skills Levy this year and over £1 billion of additional investment across the Spending Review period.

To support our ambition of 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships across England, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme, we have expanded foundation apprenticeships into hospitality and retail, will launch a new level 2 administrative assistant apprenticeship from August, and are introducing a new apprenticeship hiring payment of £2,000 for non-levy paying employers, typically SMEs, that take on 16-24 year old apprentices as new employees.

We will also fully fund non-levy paying employer apprenticeships for eligible 16–24-year-olds from August 2026 and launch a £140 million pilot, in conjunction with Mayoral Strategic Authorities, to better connect young people to local apprenticeship opportunities.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to help women from a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire access high-quality jobs in the tech sector.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

We established the Women in Tech Taskforce to identify and address the barriers preventing women from entering, staying in, and progressing in tech.

This is a matter of principle; it makes economic sense and is essential to ensure the tech and services of tomorrow work for all.

Informed by evidence, its work and recommendations will support more women in all parts of the UK to access high quality jobs in the tech sector.

Alongside this, the £187 million TechFirst programme is supporting thousands of people into tech careers, with a specific focus on increasing opportunities for women across the country. This includes the TechFirst Women's Programme, which will support 300 women into tech jobs across the country, regional funding connecting people to local tech jobs, and targeted competitions and scholarship opportunities to encourage more women and girls into the sector.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help reduce the number of children in poverty in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child.

Our Child Poverty Strategy sets out the steps we are taking to reduce child poverty in the short term, as well as putting in place the building blocks we need to change the course we are on and create long-term change. This includes the removal of the two child limit in Universal Credit, which will lift 450,000 children out of poverty. This could benefit around 1,770 children in the Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and 16,470 children in Staffordshire living in households affected by this policy. Alongside other measures, including extending Free School Meals to all children in households in receipt of Universal Credit, the strategy will reduce child poverty by 550,000 in the final year of this Parliament, the largest reduction over a Parliament since comparable records began.

This comes alongside tripling our investment in breakfast clubs to over £30 million, capping branded school uniform costs, introducing Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority, providing £600 million over three years for the Holiday Activities and Food programme and extending free childcare.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to increase skills and employment support for people receiving sickness benefit in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In the Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, we have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems such as Employment Advice in Talking Therapies programme, which combines the expertise of therapists and employment advisers to give those with mental health conditions the support they need to find work tailored to them.

Measures also include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) in the Newcastle-under-Lyme Jobcentre and Access to Work grants. Our Work Coaches in the constituency collaborate closely with DEAs to ensure a coordinated package of support. Together, they connect customers with suitable opportunities, including work experience placements and vacancies with Disability Confident employers. For those who are job-ready, we offer a weekly Job Club within the Jobcentre, supported by our Health Team, DEAs, and local partners such as Support Staffordshire.

Our national, voluntary Supported Employment Programme, Connect to Work, is supporting disabled people, people with health conditions and people with complex barriers to employment across England and Wales. In the Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, Connect to Work is being delivered through Staffordshire County Council, working in partnership with Stoke on Trent City Council. Staffordshire County Council has been awarded grant funding of up to £19 million, to support around 5,250 people by March 2030. You can direct interested constituents to the local Connect to Work website here: Connect to Work.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support people with health conditions (a) into work and (b) to stay in work in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

In the Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, we have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including those that join up employment and health systems such as Employment Advice in Talking Therapies programme, which combines the expertise of therapists and employment advisers to give those with mental health conditions the support they need to find work tailored to them.

Measures also include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) in the Newcastle-under-Lyme Jobcentre and Access to Work grants. Our Work Coaches in the constituency collaborate closely with DEAs to ensure a coordinated package of support. Together, they connect customers with suitable opportunities, including work experience placements and vacancies with Disability Confident employers. For those who are job-ready, we offer a weekly Job Club within the Jobcentre, supported by our Health Team, DEAs, and local partners such as Support Staffordshire.

Our national, voluntary Supported Employment Programme, Connect to Work, is supporting disabled people, people with health conditions and people with complex barriers to employment across England and Wales. In the Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, Connect to Work is being delivered through Staffordshire County Council, working in partnership with Stoke on Trent City Council. Staffordshire County Council has been awarded grant funding of up to £19 million, to support around 5,250 people by March 2030. You can direct interested constituents to the local Connect to Work website here: Connect to Work.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, a) what progress his Department has made in implementing the UK-India Free Trade Agreement and b) what benefits it will bring to families and businesses in i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and ii) Staffordshire.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Once in place, families and businesses across Staffordshire, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme, will benefit from reduced tariffs on 92% of UK goods exports, and iconic businesses such as JCB will be able to take advantage of lower tariffs on machinery, supporting exports and local jobs.

Our analysis also indicates the deal could boost GVA in the West Midlands by around £190 million, with households poised to benefit from greater choice and lower prices, helping to ease cost of living pressures.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her counterpart in the United States government regarding the development a of two-state solution to the war between Israel and Palestine.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 26 May in response to Question HL76.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help increase economic growth in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Department for Business and Trade is supporting economic growth across the UK, including in Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme, through the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, championing free trade agreements (including the recently announced Free Trade Agreement with India), supporting businesses to grow and export, and securing inward investment.

In addition, the Small Business Plan includes a package of legislative reforms to tackle late payments; unlocking finance to support start-ups and scale ups; revitalising the High Street; and delivering support for Digital and AI Adoption. The new Business Growth Service makes it easier for SMEs to access the right support.

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