Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help improve the health of children and young people in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever, as highlighted in the 10-Year Health Plan for England. Delivery will be underpinned by the three shifts, from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention, with children and young people identified as a high-priority cohort for neighbourhood health. NHS England is also developing a Modern Service Framework for Children and Young People to improve care and support integrated pathways across child health services.

A range of national policy initiatives and service improvement programmes are already underway, including work on a smoke free generation, immunisations, health visiting services, mental health services, obesity, oral health, child sexual abuse, and care leavers.

Staffordshire’s local Best Start in Life plan and Best Start Family Hubs are helping to improve the support provided to families in communities, promote maternal and infant health, and strengthen access to high quality, inclusive early years education and childcare. Online resources such as the Family Hubs Home Zone and Family Hubs School Readiness are also available.

In addition, Staffordshire has launched Better Health Staffordshire, a whole systems approach across the local authority, the National Health Service, and the voluntary and community sector to help children achieve a healthy weight. A strengthened, system-wide Infant Mortality Prevention Programme is also underway.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the World Bank.

Answered by Rachel Blake

The Chancellor regularly engages with representatives of the World Bank Group, including during the IMF and World Bank Annual and Spring Meetings, and in other multilateral forums.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of mandatory suicide prevention training for emergency service workers.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

Significant work is underway to strengthen the quality and consistency of training across the system.

On 4 April, NHS England published Staying safe from suicide: Best practice guidance for safety assessment, formulation and management to support the Government’s work to reduce the number of lives lost to suicide and improve mental health services. The guidance requires all mental health practitioners to align their practice to the latest evidence in suicide prevention, and it is available at the following link:

www.england.nhs.uk/publication/staying-safe-from-suicide

The NHS England Medium Term Planning Framework states that in 2026/27, all integrated care boards must ensure mental health practitioners across all providers undertake training and deliver care in line with the Staying safe from suicide guidance.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Universal Postal Union on the work of his Department.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is fully engaged with Universal Postal Union (UPU). This has included participation in the 28^th UPU Congress in September 2025, where agreements were reached on international remuneration and transit rates for letters, bulky letters and parcels.

In partnership with UK postal operators, DBT also actively participates in the UPU standing and working groups, representing UK interests.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps he has taken to help ensure (a) accessible and (b) sufficient fertility support for women experiencing breast cancer in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (ii)Staffordshire and (iii) England.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

To ensure accessible and sufficient fertility support for women experiencing breast cancer in England, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) fertility guidelines set clinical standards for the current National Health Service offer to people with cancer who wish to preserve their fertility.

NICE has recently updated its guideline on fertility problems to ensure that advice for clinicians reflects the latest evidence about diagnosing and treating fertility problems. The guideline includes updates to extend fertility preservation services, for instance freezing eggs, sperm, or embryos, to anyone facing medical treatments or conditions that could harm their fertility, including breast cancer. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng257

NHS commissioners are expected to take NICE guidelines fully into account in ensuring that local services meet the needs of their local populations. The Department is currently working to assess current provision of NHS-commissioned fertility services as a baseline to inform supporting material for every integrated care board to implement the new NICE guideline in full.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of a cross-governmental strategy for musculoskeletal health.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

The Government is taking action to improve outcomes for people with MSK conditions. This includes through working to deliver the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) MSK Community Delivery Programme. GIRFT teams are working with health system leaders to reduce community MSK waiting lists, which are the highest of all community waiting lists in England, and transform community services to support people with MSK conditions.

As part of a major transformation of the National Health Service under the 10-Year Health Plan, patients with MSK conditions will also soon be able to directly access community services, including physiotherapy, pain management, and orthopaedics, in the NHS App. The landmark change will deliver faster treatment for the flare up of existing conditions including arthritis, backpain, and joint pain, while enabling general practitioners (GPs) to focus on more complex cases, reducing pressure on hospitals, and freeing up GPs.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation on his Departmental priorities.

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

DESNZ leads the UK’s engagement with UNIDO and is responding as the policy lead. My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has not held any recent formal meetings with UNIDO, but DESNZ officials have held multiple meetings with UNIDO officials, particularly in relation to the UK's accession to UNIDO, DESNZ-led International Climate Finance programmes, country partnerships and coordinated international action on green industrial transitions.

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 the International Telecommunication Union on the work of her Department.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

The UK regularly engages with the International Telecommunication Union. We actively participate in its work, and we are an elected member of its governing body, the ITU Council.

Most recently, on 7 July, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Feltham and Heston (Seema Malhotra), met with the ITU Secretary-General in Geneva and discussed a range of issues relating to the ITU’s important agenda.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to widen access to technical education for young people in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

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

The government provides over £18 billion a year for post-16 education and skills, representing record investment this Parliament. This supports young people across the country, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire, to access education and training opportunities.

Support includes additional funding for disadvantaged learners, recognising the extra resources needed to help them engage, progress and succeed. Total 16 to 19 funding will increase to around £9 billion in 2026/27. Financial support through bursaries and adult learner support funding helps students overcome barriers such as travel, equipment and childcare costs.

We are also ensuring a broad range of high-quality academic, technical and vocational pathways, investing up to £1.7 billion in modern college facilities by 2030 and a further £485 million over two years to help colleges address staffing pressures.

In addition, 29 Technical Excellence Colleges (TECs) will receive £295 million this Parliament. Newcastle and Stafford College Group has been selected as one of four Advanced Manufacturing TECs, helping develop specialist skills and support learners into well-paid jobs.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure people are able to access a timely diagnosis for arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson

To support healthcare professionals in the early diagnosis and management of arthritis, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published expert guidance for both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, which are available at the following links:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng100

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226

The Royal College of General Practitioners also has a range of e-learning materials to support general practitioners (GPs) and other primary care professionals in the diagnosis and management of arthritis, including a rheumatoid arthritis hub and an osteoarthritis hub.

We are supporting better care for patients with arthritis through the Getting It Right First Time Programme (GIRFT) for Rheumatology. The GIRFT rheumatology programme is supporting the National Health Service to deliver care more equitably across England and closer to patients’ homes, and improve services nationally.

To support people with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, we are working to deliver the GIRFT MSK Community Delivery Programme. GIRFT teams are working directly with health system leaders to reduce MSK community waiting lists, including for people with arthritis, and support the recovery, long-term transformation and ongoing delivery of high-quality accessible community MSK services.

As part of a major transformation of the NHS under the 10-Year Health Plan, patients with MSK conditions will also soon be able to directly access community services, including physiotherapy, pain management and orthopaedics, in the NHS App. The landmark change will deliver faster treatment for the flare up of existing conditions including arthritis, backpain and joint pain, while enabling GPs to focus on more complex cases, reducing pressure on hospitals and freeing up GP practices.

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 International Fund for Agricultural Development.

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

The UK is a longstanding partner and engages regularly with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on issues relating to improving food and nutrition security, and resilient agriculture and food systems investment.

The Minister for International Development and Africa most recently met the President of IFAD in Rome in June and in London in April to discuss the impacts of the situation in the Middle East on fertiliser markets and food security.

The UK Special Representative for Nature also attended the IFAD Governing Council in February to call for increased rural finance to support farmers on the frontline of the interconnected climate, nature and food crises.

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 British cement producers with their energy costs.

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

Some cement businesses currently receive support under the British Industry Supercharger, which provides relief to eligible energy-intensive industries for some electricity policy and network costs. These cement businesses also benefitted from the uplift of the Network Charging Compensation Scheme, an element of the British Industry Supercharger, and now receive 90% compensation for their electricity network charges. The Government understands the pressure of high energy costs and regularly engages with the cement sector’s main trade association, the Mineral Products Association, to understand the sector’s challenges and explore how best to support it.

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.

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:

• Up to £250 million to expand access to cloud through the AI Research Resource (AIRR).
• Launch of the Zenith AI supercomputer at the University of Cambridge, supported by £36 million of joint DSIT and UK Research and Innovation investment.
• A £51.2 million investment for a new National Cryogenics Facility in Daresbury which will support quantum computing scale up.
• A further £110 million for the UK Telecoms Lab, dedicated to national security testing and research of advanced connectivity technologies.

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.

Bell ringing in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Local government reorganisation in Newcastle-under-Lyme

The King's Award for Enterprise in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Newcastle-under-Lyme and the 70th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Work of the Dove Service in Newcastle-under-Lyme

Madeley Carnival 2026

Keele Business School, Higher Education Provider of the Year at the Midlands Education Awards 2026

2026 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year

Death of Jim Hampton

St Mary’s Primary School’s Speech Fest 2026

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Tonia Antoniazzi (Chair); Chris Bloore; Claire Hanna; Adam Jogee;

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Tonia Antoniazzi (Chair); Chris Bloore; Claire Hanna; Adam Jogee;