Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that a brownfield first approach does not lead to loss of green open spaces in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that substantial weight should be given to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements to meet the need for homes and other uses.
The revised Framework published on 12 December 2024 broadened the definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved, and made clear that plans should promote an uplift in density in urban areas. The definition in question can be found in the NPPF glossary on gov.uk here.
The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation includes proposals relating to the provision of new or improved open space. For further details about the proposed changes to national planning policy and wider funding and support, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 16 December 2025 (HCWS1187). The consultation can be found on gov.uk here and will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that people with a) eyesight impairment and b) poor technology skills are able to access government services online.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Government services must work for everyone who needs to use them, including people who are visually impaired and those with poor digital skills.
Public sector organisations have a legal duty to consider everyone’s needs when they’re designing and delivering services. The Service Standard sets out that to support people with visual impairment, online government services must ensure their service works with assistive technology, including screen readers, screen magnifiers and speech recognition software across common browsers.
Inclusive, accessible services are better for everyone. For example, using simple words helps people who are in a hurry as well as people who lack the skills or confidence to use online services.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many serving Magistrates there are in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Magistrates are appointed to a Local Justice Area (LJA). Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire both fall under the Staffordshire LJA, and we are unable to separate them as Magistrates are able to sit across all courts within this area. As of 01 April 2025, the number of serving magistrates in the Staffordshire Local Justice Area was 217.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many a) letters and b) emails about Walleys Quarry Landfill Site her Department received from the i) Leader and ii) Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme District Borough Council between 1 January 2020 and 4 July 2024.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
To determine the total number of items of correspondence (including letters and emails) between Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council and Defra would incur disproportionate cost. I am able to say that six letters from the Leader or Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council concerning Walleys Quarry have been identified as having been received within the specified time period, but this is not exhaustive. Records are not held centrally for all of the time period specified, or at all in the case of emails.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps she is taking to help reduce the number of unemployed young people in Staffordshire.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
This Government is committed to tackling youth unemployment by investing in young people’s futures. At the Budget we announced over £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, including £820 million for the expanded Youth Guarantee to help young people earn or learn, and £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy to support apprenticeships for young people.
Through the expanded Youth Guarantee, young people aged 16 to 24 across Great Britain, including in Staffordshire, will receive enhanced support to move into work or training.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to reduce the use of skin lightening products.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
As product safety regulator, OPSS is responsible for ensuring that consumer products are safe. The UK Cosmetic Regulation requires that a safety assessment be completed by a qualified assessor to demonstrate the safety of a cosmetic product before it can be sold on our market.
OPSS also provides funding to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute to highlight the dangers to consumers of using illegal cosmetics, including skin lighteners, through its “Cost Of Beauty” Campaign. The campaign includes social media, outreach with targeted groups and working with traditional media, with the aim of raising attention to the risks of these products.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent engagement he has had with the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland about the trade priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I meet regularly with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to discuss a range of issues, including trade.
I also chaired the East-West Council on 22 January 2026, attended by both the First Minister and deputy First Minister, which included a discussion of the £16.6 million provided to Northern Ireland via the Internal Market Package, to support East-West trade; and, an update on the work of Intertrade UK and the £2.25 million funding it received in the budget.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Northern Ireland on the trade priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
I meet regularly with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to discuss a range of issues, including trade.
I also chaired the East-West Council on 22 January 2026, attended by both the First Minister and deputy First Minister, which included a discussion of the £16.6 million provided to Northern Ireland via the Internal Market Package, to support East-West trade; and, an update on the work of Intertrade UK and the £2.25 million funding it received in the budget.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Minister of Health for Northern Ireland on the work of the NHS in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive, including the First Minister and deputy First Minister, on a wide range of priorities.
While health is a devolved matter, the Government is committed to supporting the Executive to deliver sustainable, high-quality, and accessible public services for the people of Northern Ireland. I welcome the progress made under the Health Minister's Reset Plan, which has already produced some tangible results, including significant reductions in waiting lists and the successful rollout of the Encompass digital record system.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Northern Ireland on the health priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive, including the First Minister and deputy First Minister, on a wide range of priorities.
While health is a devolved matter, the Government is committed to supporting the Executive to deliver sustainable, high-quality, and accessible public services for the people of Northern Ireland. I welcome the progress made under the Health Minister's Reset Plan, which has already produced some tangible results, including significant reductions in waiting lists and the successful rollout of the Encompass digital record system.