Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has plans to confiscate the passports of suspects accused of serious crimes to prevent them fleeing the United Kingdom.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Secretary of State for the Home Department issues passports in accordance with the Royal Prerogative. The circumstances in which passports can be issued, refused and withdraw were set out in a Written Ministerial Statement published in 2013.

Under this Written Ministerial Statement, the Home Secretary may consider the refusal or withdrawal of a passport for those who:

• have been issued with an arrest warrant in the United Kingdom
• are wanted by United Kingdom police on suspicion of a serious crime
• are the subject of a court order, made by a court in the United Kingdom, or any other order made pursuant to a statutory power, which imposes travel restrictions or restrictions on the possession of a valid United Kingdom passport; or
• are subject to bail conditions imposed by a police officer or a court in the United Kingdom, which include travel restrictions or restrictions on the possession of a valid United Kingdom passport.

The Government keeps its powers in this are under review.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what steps he plans to take alongside cabinet colleagues to ensure the long-term sustainability of research funding in the United Kingdom.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The government is committed to the long-term sustainability of the UK research system, backed by a record £86 billion investment in research and development between 2026/27 and 2029/30, including a £38.6 billion settlement for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The government is also providing greater long-term certainty through ten-year budgets for a range of major research programmes and institutions such as the Laboratory of Molecular Biology and the National Quantum Computing Centre.

Alongside this, the government is working with UKRI, universities and other partners to improve the financial sustainability of the research system, and ensuring public investment is focused on areas that will deliver the greatest long-term economic and societal benefit for the UK.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she plans to take to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Both in the Hon Member’s local region, and all across the country, the Department is working closely with NHS England to drive progress on a number of the issues raised in their questions, and for many of those issues, we have published strategies that we are working towards. The Hon Member can find details of those strategies, and regular updates on our work in other areas, via the Department’s publications on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the time taken for cancer diagnoses for people in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Both in the Hon Member’s local region, and all across the country, the Department is working closely with NHS England to drive progress on a number of the issues raised in their questions, and for many of those issues, we have published strategies that we are working towards. The Hon Member can find details of those strategies, and regular updates on our work in other areas, via the Department’s publications on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to tackle building maintenance backlogs in the NHS estate in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Both in the Hon Member’s local region, and all across the country, the Department is working closely with NHS England to drive progress on a number of the issues raised in their questions, and for many of those issues, we have published strategies that we are working towards. The Hon Member can find details of those strategies, and regular updates on our work in other areas, via the Department’s publications on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps plans she plans to take to improve the health and wellbeing of women in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Both in the Hon Member’s local region, and all across the country, the Department is working closely with NHS England to drive progress on a number of the issues raised in their questions, and for many of those issues, we have published strategies that we are working towards. The Hon Member can find details of those strategies, and regular updates on our work in other areas, via the Department’s publications on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to support NHS staff in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Both in the Hon Member’s local region, and all across the country, the Department is working closely with NHS England to drive progress on a number of the issues raised in their questions, and for many of those issues, we have published strategies that we are working towards. The Hon Member can find details of those strategies, and regular updates on our work in other areas, via the Department’s publications on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to support GPs in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire to spend more time with their patients.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Both in the Hon Member’s local region, and all across the country, the Department is working closely with NHS England to drive progress on a number of the issues raised in their questions, and for many of those issues, we have published strategies that we are working towards. The Hon Member can find details of those strategies, and regular updates on our work in other areas, via the Department’s publications on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the support available to people with Osteoporosis in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Both in the Hon Member’s local region, and all across the country, the Department is working closely with NHS England to drive progress on a number of the issues raised in their questions, and for many of those issues, we have published strategies that we are working towards. The Hon Member can find details of those strategies, and regular updates on our work in other areas, via the Department’s publications on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the number of people waiting for NHS treatment in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Both in the Hon Member’s local region, and all across the country, the Department is working closely with NHS England to drive progress on a number of the issues raised in their questions, and for many of those issues, we have published strategies that we are working towards. The Hon Member can find details of those strategies, and regular updates on our work in other areas, via the Department’s publications on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to help reduce hospital backlogs in Staffordshire.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Both in the Hon Member’s local region, and all across the country, the Department is working closely with NHS England to drive progress on a number of the issues raised in their questions, and for many of those issues, we have published strategies that we are working towards. The Hon Member can find details of those strategies, and regular updates on our work in other areas, via the Department’s publications on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what engagement his officials have had with the UK Space Agency since his appointment.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Following the Government's review of arms-length bodies, the UK Space Agency (UKSA) is now an integral part of the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. Its staff are departmental officials and engage with ministers in the same way as others in the department.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will make representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on increasing the level of financial support for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Answered by Sarah Owen - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Northern Ireland Office)

The Government recognises the financial pressures the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) faces. Responsibility for policing is devolved and it is for the Northern Ireland Executive to make decisions on the allocation of funding to the PSNI. Existing mechanisms are in place to raise issues around funding and any requests for additional support can be made in the usual way through the Department of Justice and Department of Finance.

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.

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 to this, a further £4 million has been allocated to PSNI for this financial year to help with the costs incurred by the PSNI during the disorder in June.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with (a) private road operators, (b) freight and logistics industry representatives and (c) regional transport bodies in the development of the proposed Highways (Finance) Bill.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

During development of the Highways (Financing) Bill, my Department has engaged with a range of stakeholders, including representatives of major businesses, road haulage and logistics companies, local authorities, and other relevant groups. This was to assist with policy development. My officials will continue to engage with key stakeholders during Bill passage.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the security threats posed to British people by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

We have long said that the state threats posed by Iran are persistent and unacceptable. We take these threats incredibly seriously, and our first priority is protecting British interests and lives.

These threats stem from the activities of the Iranian Intelligence Services, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Ministry of Intelligence and Security, and the criminal proxies and enablers they use to carry out their work.

The Iranian regime targets dissidents, Persian-language media organisations and journalists. There is also a long-standing pattern of targeting Jewish and Israeli people internationally by the Iranian Intelligence Services.

The Home Office works closely with other government departments as well as relevant agencies and law enforcement to protect those identified as being at risk. The National Protective Security Authority and Counter Terrorism Policing continue to provide protective security advice and support to individuals and organisations threatened by the Iranian regime and its criminal proxies.

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 has taken through trade deals to support food exporters in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

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

Defra is supporting British food and farming through new trade agreements, including those agreed recently with India, the Gulf Cooperation Council and Switzerland. These provide opportunities for Staffordshire producers such as those making high-quality dairy, oatcakes and beer. The Government is progressing negotiations with the EU on an SPS Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier. Our global network of agri-food attachés work to expand market access and create new export opportunities for the UK’s agri-food produce, 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.

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 plans to take to encourage public bodies to prioritise the purchase of British produce from (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

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

In 2025, the Government published a new national procurement policy statement, which sets expectations for government contracts to favour products certified to high environmental standards that British producers, including those in Newcastle-under-Lyme, and Staffordshire more broadly, are well-placed to meet. Defra is considering the policy options available to deliver further on its ambitions for public sector food.

His late Majesty King Harald V

Dolly Parton

Found: Democratic & Labour Party; Belfast South and Mid Down) Simon Hoare (Conservative; North Dorset) Adam Jogee