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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what fiscal measures her Department has considered to promote domestic recycling in (a) Staffordshire and (b) England.

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

The provision of funding to Local Authorities to support timely and effective implementation of Simpler Recycling will increase recycling rates by ensuring the same materials can be recycled at home, at work or on the go. We have already provided over £340 million in transitional funding to LAs for weekly food waste collections, and from 2026 onwards, the Local Government Finance Settlement will include funding for local authorities to deliver Simpler Recycling as part of the Collection and Packaging waste reforms.

Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) provides funding to Local Authorities across the UK of c. £1.4 billion per annum and will incentivise a more efficient and effective services and higher rates of recycling.

The PRN system (Packaging Waste Recycling Note), used by producers to meet legal recycling obligations, provides a mechanism to drive investment by providing revenue to recyclers. My officials are currently considering options to incentivise domestic recycling over export through reforms to the PRN system.

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 promote domestic recycling.

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

The Simpler Recycling reforms will ensure that across England, people will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school.

Every household and workplace (businesses and relevant non-domestic premises like schools and hospitals) across England will be able to recycle the same materials in the following core waste streams: metal, glass, plastic (including cartons), paper and card, food waste, and garden waste (for households only).

These reforms will make recycling easier and ensure there is a comprehensive, consistent service across England. This will reduce confusion with recycling to improve recycling rates, ensuring there is more recycled material in the products we buy, and that the UK recycling industry will grow.

By 31 March 2026, local authorities will be required to collect the core recyclable waste streams from all households in England. This includes introducing weekly food waste collections for all homes, unless a transitional arrangement applies (a transitional arrangement is where a local authority has agreed a later implementation date set in regulations).

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the (a) humanitarian, (b) security and (c) political situation in Sudan.

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

I refer the Hon. Member to the response provided to the Urgent Question on Sudan: Protection of Civilians on 30 October.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department has provided for community health services in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire in the 2025-26 financial year.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

This data is only available at an integrated care board (ICB) level. Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB is planning to spend £51.9 million in 2025/26 for community health services. This includes planned community care, hospices and palliative care.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were (a) committed to prison and (b) given suspended committal orders for non-payment of council tax in 2024.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

In 2024, there were 0 people committed to prison, and 19 given suspended committal orders for non-payment of council tax.

Non-payment of council tax is not a criminal offence and cannot attract a custodial sentence. However, under the committal to prison process, a court order can provide for someone to be committed to prison for not paying a debt.

Committal to prison can only ever be the last resort for non-payment of council tax. Before a magistrates’ court commits someone to prison for failure to pay their council tax, it must have issued a “liability order” and the local authority must have (at least) tried and failed to take control of the debtor’s goods and sell them to recover the debt. Councils have additional powers of enforcement under a liability order, including deduction from earnings, deduction from benefit, charging orders on the property, and bankruptcy. If a council applies for committal to prison, the court must inquire into the debtor’s means, and the council must satisfy the court that there is no other effective method of collection and that failure to pay is due to wilful refusal or culpable neglect. This is to prevent persons who are genuinely unable to pay their council tax from being committed to prison. Where that is the case courts have the power to remit the debt.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with his South African counterpart on the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

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

The Secretary of State for Defence has not recently directly discussed the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) with any of his counterparts from other CWGC member nations.

The Secretary of State, as the de-facto Chair of the Commission, is usually represented by the Defence Services Secretary at the quarterly CWGC Commissioners meetings. These are attended by the High Commissioners of each of the CWGC’s member nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa. Their presence ensures a consistent link between the Commission and the Governments of its member nations. The next meeting is scheduled to held on 3 December 2025 where key aspects of the Commission’s ongoing and future work will be discussed.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with his Indian counterpart on the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

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

The Secretary of State for Defence has not recently directly discussed the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) with any of his counterparts from other CWGC member nations.

The Secretary of State, as the de-facto Chair of the Commission, is usually represented by the Defence Services Secretary at the quarterly CWGC Commissioners meetings. These are attended by the High Commissioners of each of the CWGC’s member nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa. Their presence ensures a consistent link between the Commission and the Governments of its member nations. The next meeting is scheduled to held on 3 December 2025 where key aspects of the Commission’s ongoing and future work will be discussed.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterparts in the African Union on the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

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

The Secretary of State for Defence has not recently directly discussed the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) with any of his counterparts from other CWGC member nations.

The Secretary of State, as the de-facto Chair of the Commission, is usually represented by the Defence Services Secretary at the quarterly CWGC Commissioners meetings. These are attended by the High Commissioners of each of the CWGC’s member nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa. Their presence ensures a consistent link between the Commission and the Governments of its member nations. The next meeting is scheduled to held on 3 December 2025 where key aspects of the Commission’s ongoing and future work will be discussed.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has had recent discussions with his Australian counterpart on the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

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

The Secretary of State for Defence has not recently directly discussed the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) with any of his counterparts from other CWGC member nations.

The Secretary of State, as the de-facto Chair of the Commission, is usually represented by the Defence Services Secretary at the quarterly CWGC Commissioners meetings. These are attended by the High Commissioners of each of the CWGC’s member nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa. Their presence ensures a consistent link between the Commission and the Governments of its member nations. The next meeting is scheduled to held on 3 December 2025 where key aspects of the Commission’s ongoing and future work will be discussed.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) adequacy of the her Department's support for farmers and (b) effectiveness of the work of the Rural Payments Agency since 5 September 2025.

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

The Government is backing British farming, prioritising investment that supports the Government’s Plan for Change and building on the Secretary of State’s work to reform Defra to drive growth while maintaining a steadfast commitment to farming, food security, and nature’s recovery.

We are investing more than £2.7bn a year in farming and nature recovery, with funding for the Environmental Land Management Schemes paid to farmers increasing by 150% from £800m in 2023/24 to £2bn by 2028/29.

The effectiveness of the RPA is a priority. Since 5 September the RPA has opened the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier Scheme and supported the recent announcement regarding extensions to Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreements, which the RPA will now operationalise. I have met the interim CEO and the newly appointed permanent CEO of the RPA and will ensure there is regular and effective Ministerial oversight of the Agency’s performance.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the impact of the plastic waste export regime on recycling figures in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme, b) Staffordshire and c) England.

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

Waste plastic can generally only be exported from the UK for recycling. Where the UK cannot currently recycle materials economically, including plastic waste collected in Newcastle Under-Lyme, Staffordshire, and the wider country, exports can help ensure those materials are recycled rather than landfilled. No specific assessment has been made of the adequacy of the impact of the plastic waste export regime on recycling figures in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire or England.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to take steps to help support the work of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.

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

Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme (FiPL) has supported Staffordshire Wildlife Trust through the Cannock Chase National Landscape, with several projects including wetland and river restoration, heathland restoration with volunteer engagement, and support for white clawed crayfish conservation.

The EA has long worked closely with the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust to help develop and deliver projects to improve rivers and watercourses. The EA supports this work through their Environment Programme. EA funding is helping to deliver projects across the Trent Headwaters, Stafford, and Cannock areas.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she had with the Association of Commonwealth Universities on her Departmental priorities since her appointment.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

No meetings have taken place with the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to provide consular support to UK nationals in Jamaica who are impacted by Hurricane Melissa.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The welfare and security of British nationals is our highest priority. We have 24/7 consular support in place for those affected by Hurricane Melissa, and the UK is in close contact with travel companies who are working to restore flights for holidaymakers and British nationals. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has chartered a limited number of flights from Jamaica for British nationals who are unable to fly home commercially. British nationals in Jamaica are encouraged to register their presence via the "Register Your Presence" link on our Travel Advice for Jamaica to allow the FCDO to share important updates, including information on UK government charter flights.

The UK has been steadfast in its commitment to provide support to Jamaica's recovery. We are mobilising emergency humanitarian assistance to support regional efforts to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.  This includes providing emergency supplies such as shelter kits, water filters, and blankets, and deploying a team of humanitarian specialists to ensure critical supplies reach the hardest-hit communities. The UK is working with the Jamaican authorities and its international partners, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and UN agencies, to ensure humanitarian assistance is delivered to the worst affected areas and meets the immediate needs of the most vulnerable.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to provide humanitarian support to the Government of Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The welfare and security of British nationals is our highest priority. We have 24/7 consular support in place for those affected by Hurricane Melissa, and the UK is in close contact with travel companies who are working to restore flights for holidaymakers and British nationals. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has chartered a limited number of flights from Jamaica for British nationals who are unable to fly home commercially. British nationals in Jamaica are encouraged to register their presence via the "Register Your Presence" link on our Travel Advice for Jamaica to allow the FCDO to share important updates, including information on UK government charter flights.

The UK has been steadfast in its commitment to provide support to Jamaica's recovery. We are mobilising emergency humanitarian assistance to support regional efforts to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.  This includes providing emergency supplies such as shelter kits, water filters, and blankets, and deploying a team of humanitarian specialists to ensure critical supplies reach the hardest-hit communities. The UK is working with the Jamaican authorities and its international partners, including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and UN agencies, to ensure humanitarian assistance is delivered to the worst affected areas and meets the immediate needs of the most vulnerable.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding she plans to allocate to (a) tennis, (b) padel and (c) other court-based sports, in the context of the £5 million allocated to basketball in 2026-27.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. This commitment includes a £5 million investment to grassroots basketball facilities in England in 2026/27. We are now working closely with other sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other court-based sports, to discuss this.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives in England that will benefit as many people as possible.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has to support the development of (a) affordable and (b) accessible padel courts in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (ii) England.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. This commitment includes a £5 million investment to grassroots basketball facilities in England in 2026/27. We are now working closely with other sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other court-based sports, to discuss this.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives in England that will benefit as many people as possible.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to increase the provision of (a) indoor and (b) covered tennis facilities in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. This commitment includes a £5 million investment to grassroots basketball facilities in England in 2026/27. We are now working closely with other sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other court-based sports, to discuss this.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives in England that will benefit as many people as possible.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has for funding (a) tennis and (b) padel facilities in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (ii) Staffordshire.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. This commitment includes a £5 million investment to grassroots basketball facilities in England in 2026/27. We are now working closely with other sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other court-based sports, to discuss this.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives in England that will benefit as many people as possible.

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 young people into employment, education or training in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire.

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

The Department of Work and Pensions Youth Offer provides individually tailored Work Coach support to young people aged 16 to 24 who are claiming Universal Credit. This support includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with additional barriers to finding work, and Youth Hubs across Great Britain.

The Chancellor has announced that the Youth Guarantee, currently being developed, will include a jobs guarantee, where every eligible young person who has been on Universal Credit for 18 months without earning or learning will be offered guaranteed paid work. Participants of the scheme will receive support to take advantage of available opportunities, with the aim of helping them transition into regular employment. Further details, including eligibility criteria and the structure of placements, will be confirmed at the Budget following further engagement including with employers and the Devolved Governments.

Newcastle-Under-Lyme work with alongside local stakeholders to support young people such as local authorities, colleges and universities as well as organisations such as The Kings Trust, Shaping Futures, YMCA, and New Avenues.

Staffordshire has much of the offer of Newcastle-Under-Lyme plus working with Shropshire Youth Support Trust, Acorn Training and Landau who is part of the YES (Youth Employment Skills) programme supporting all 16 to 24-year-olds across Stoke on Trent that are Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET), about to become NEET or long term Unemployed or Economically inactive. There is also support from The Mencap Training Academy for 16 to 24-year-olds, who have an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to help to secure a place on the supported internships or pre-internship programme in Staffordshire.

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 investment in businesses in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire.

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

The Department for Business and Trade supports regional growth by working with local areas to attract private investment, helping business to grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities in Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme. As part of the recent Office for Investment expansion, we work with local areas, leveraging public finance from institutions like the National Wealth Fund and the British Business Bank, to deliver strategic investments, aligned with the 10-year Infrastructure and Industrial strategies.

Carlsberg Britvic plans to invest £4 million in Staffordshire, supporting hundreds of jobs, and the approval, of the M54-M6 link road, will further boost the local economy.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to visit the job centre in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

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

Ministers regularly visit job centres across the country and look forward to continuing to do so.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps his Department has taken to improve the rights of older workers in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire.

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

The government’s Plan to Make Work Pay will strengthen employment rights for people, at all stages of their working lives, boosting fairness and equality in the workplace. Measures in the Employment Right’s Bill to make it easier to access flexible working may help older workers balance their work with changes in their personal circumstances. The existing right to one week of unpaid carer’s leave from day one may help older workers manage work and care commitments. The government is currently reviewing the implementation of unpaid Carer’s Leave, including examining the potential benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave, while being mindful of the cost and impact on small employers.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps he has taken to support (a) pubs, (b) publicans and (c) the pub industry in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency since his appointment; and what plans he has to visit a public house in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

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

The Government fully recognises the cultural and economic significance of pubs in communities, like Newcastle-under-Lyme and has taken a range of steps to support pubs and publicans.

We want planning and licensing systems to work fairly for businesses and residents and so we are creating a more balanced premises licensing system that not only safeguards communities but also supports responsible businesses. On 7 October the Government issued a Call for Evidence on Reforming the licensing system - GOV.UK (deadline: midday, 6 November 2025).

Additionally, we have cut alcohol duty on qualifying draught products, covering about 60% of pub sales saving pubs over £85m annually. We are also creating a fairer business rates system, including permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties under £500,000 rateable value

We continue to work closely with the sector, including through the Hospitality Sector Council, working together to address the challenges facing all hospitality businesses.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to develop a neurology-specific implementation plan to support the 10 year Health Plan for England.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England has established a Neurology Transformation Programme, a multi-year, clinically led programme, which has developed a new model of integrated care to support integrated care boards (ICBs) to deliver the right service, at the right time for all neurology patients. This programme is underway now and is due to conclude in March 2026.

The Neurology Transformation Programme focuses on providing access equitably across the country, care as close to home as possible, and early intervention to prevent illness and deterioration in patients with long-term neurological conditions. A toolkit is being developed to support ICBs to understand and implement this new model, which will include components on delivering acute neurology services, improving health equity in neurology, and improving community neurology services.

NHS England Specialised Commissioning published a revised National Neurology Service Specification in August 2025, which provides a detailed description of how patients can access specialised neurology care equitably wherever they are in England, particularly for specialised services that are not available in every part of the country.

There are currently no plans to develop a neurology-specific implementation plan to support the 10-Year Health Plan, although potential conditions and topics for the new modern service frameworks will be kept under review following the development of the first tranche of three referenced in the 10-Year Health Plan.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with publishers on the potential impact of free access overseas to UK-government funded educational resources from Oak National Academy on their exports.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is keeping the geo-restriction of Oak National Academy’s (Oak) resources under review. Oak does not promote or market its resources overseas.

The department recently completed a new market impact assessment (MIA) of Oak, which was published in September 2025, and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/oak-national-academy-independent-review-and-market-impact-assessment.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans her Department has to limit access to resources provided by Oak National Academy and funded by the Government through geo-blocking.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is keeping the geo-restriction of Oak National Academy’s (Oak) resources under review. Oak does not promote or market its resources overseas.

The department recently completed a new market impact assessment (MIA) of Oak, which was published in September 2025, and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/oak-national-academy-independent-review-and-market-impact-assessment.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make a comparative assessment of the adequacy of funding for research and innovation for (a) less survivable cancers and (b) other cancer types.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Cancer is one of the largest areas of spend at over £141.6 million in 2024/25, reflecting its high priority.

These investments are pivotal to informing efforts to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and outcomes. An example of this investment is the Imperial College London research on breath tests to detect less survivable cancers, with further information available at the following link:

https://imperialbrc.nihr.ac.uk/2023/06/05/imperial-led-uk-cancer-breath-tests-reach-final-stages/

Another example of Government investment was the launch of the NIHR’s national Brain Tumour Research Consortium in September 2024, which is bringing together researchers from a range of different disciplines and institutions with the aim of making scientific advances in how we prevent, detect, manage, and treat rare and less-survivable brain tumours in adults and children.

The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into less common cancers and other cancer types. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how the National Health Service will improve diagnosis and outcomes for all cancer patients in England, including for less common cancers, and other cancer types.

Farmer's shoe shop in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Future of the BBC

Tidy Randalstown

Held In Our Hearts

Drumchapel Against Racism campaign

100th anniversary of the Bangor Branch of the Royal British Legion

John Wilmott

Election of Clare McNaught as President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Suicide prevention on railways

David Rollo, Scottish Rugby Hall of Fame induction

Legacy of Professor Roland Paxton MBE, FICE, FRSE

Gold awards for Oswestry in Bloom, RHS Britain in Bloom 2025

Morrisons Christmas advert 2025

Blackness Bay Distillery and The Lobster Pot

Commemoration of Brian Hill’s service to Epsom Cycling Club

Peterhead Area Community Trust award by Scotland Loves Local

Lung Cancer Awareness Month

RAF Photographic Reconnaissance Units

Tobias Gutteridge

60th anniversary of Glasgow Council on Alcohol

Mission Marigold

Dr Thomas Henry Geddis OBE

Holt Crafters

Bengal Lounge in Linton award of Best Chef of the Year at the Euro Asia Curry Awards 2025

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Tonia Antoniazzi (Chair); Sorcha Eastwood; Adam Jogee; Katrina Murray