Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department holds on the (a) number and (b) availability of nursery places in (i) North Shropshire constituency and (ii) Shropshire.

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

It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. In 2025/26 alone, the department plans to provide over £8 billion for the early years entitlements.

The government has committed to working with the sector to better support parents in poorer and rural areas. We have awarded £37 million of capital funding in the first phase to 300 primary phase schools which we expect will deliver up to 6,000 nursery places, with schools reporting over 5,000 available from September 2025 to support the childcare expansion.

There are approximately 121 Ofsted registered nurseries listed in Shropshire.

The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking and, where needed, support them with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.

We also continue to help people discover rewarding early years careers through the ‘Do Something Big’ national recruitment campaign, building on our pilot of delivering financial incentives in 38 local authorities this year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of nursery places available for children in rural areas.

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

It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. In 2025/26 alone, the department plans to provide over £8 billion for the early years entitlements.

The government has committed to working with the sector to better support parents in poorer and rural areas. We have awarded £37 million of capital funding in the first phase to 300 primary phase schools which we expect will deliver up to 6,000 nursery places, with schools reporting over 5,000 available from September 2025 to support the childcare expansion.

There are approximately 121 Ofsted registered nurseries listed in Shropshire.

The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking and, where needed, support them with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.

We also continue to help people discover rewarding early years careers through the ‘Do Something Big’ national recruitment campaign, building on our pilot of delivering financial incentives in 38 local authorities this year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of nursery places available for children in rural areas.

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

It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. In 2025/26 alone, the department plans to provide over £8 billion for the early years entitlements.

The government has committed to working with the sector to better support parents in poorer and rural areas. We have awarded £37 million of capital funding in the first phase to 300 primary phase schools which we expect will deliver up to 6,000 nursery places, with schools reporting over 5,000 available from September 2025 to support the childcare expansion.

There are approximately 121 Ofsted registered nurseries listed in Shropshire.

The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking and, where needed, support them with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.

We also continue to help people discover rewarding early years careers through the ‘Do Something Big’ national recruitment campaign, building on our pilot of delivering financial incentives in 38 local authorities this year.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of staff working in nursery settings.

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

It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high-quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. In 2025/26 alone, the department plans to provide over £8 billion for the early years entitlements.

The government has committed to working with the sector to better support parents in poorer and rural areas. We have awarded £37 million of capital funding in the first phase to 300 primary phase schools which we expect will deliver up to 6,000 nursery places, with schools reporting over 5,000 available from September 2025 to support the childcare expansion.

There are approximately 121 Ofsted registered nurseries listed in Shropshire.

The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action they are taking and, where needed, support them with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.

We also continue to help people discover rewarding early years careers through the ‘Do Something Big’ national recruitment campaign, building on our pilot of delivering financial incentives in 38 local authorities this year.

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 encourage economic growth in market towns in North Shropshire constituency.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Economic growth and raising living standards is the number one mission of this government. Everywhere has an important role to play in driving growth and this government recognises the contribution that market towns, such as those in North Shropshire, make to the national economy and their surrounding communities.

Subject to consultation, we will fundamentally improve the way we fund local authorities, providing greater long-term certainty through the first multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement in 10 years, from 2026-27. This will enable local government to focus on its priorities, including driving growth.

With core funding provided by DBT and delivered in partnership with local government, the Marches Growth Hub provides local businesses across Shropshire with access to advice and support for any stage of their business journey and is part of a network of 41 Growth Hubs across England. We continue to work across government to support high streets, often the focal point of market towns, and we look forward to working with local partners to support continued momentum on economic development.

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 projects funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will continue to receive support when that programme ends.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The government is providing targeted, long-term local growth funding to support regional growth across the UK, completing the transition from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

This includes establishing a new local growth fund, for specific mayoral city regions in the North and Midlands; providing financial investments to capitalise a new recyclable mayoral growth fund for mayors in the North and Midlands with an integrated settlement; and launching the Pride in Place Programme, which represents one of the largest investments in deprived neighbourhoods for a generation - up to £5 billion over 10 years to support up to 250 places.

This is in addition to increases in council’s Core Spending Power and the upcoming reforms to the Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) moving to a more up-to-date assessment of each council’s needs and multi-year allocations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will he take steps to provide an interim pay increase for social care workers in advance of the implementation of fair pay agreement outcomes in 2028.

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

We want to get the process of establishing Fair Pay Agreements right to ensure meaningful reform for the adult social care sector. The public consultation launched recently is an important milestone and we encourage all interested parties to respond.

In the interim, the Plan to Make Work Pay is already delivering changes to the National Living Wage. A full-time care worker on the National Living Wage received an increase to their gross annual earnings of £1,400 a year from April 2025. The Spending Review 2025 allows for an increase of over £4 billion in additional funding available for ASC in 2028-29 compared to 2025-26. This includes other sources of income available to support adult social care, additional grant funding and an increase in the National Health Service’s contribution to adult social care via the Better Care Fund, in line with the Department’s Spending Review settlement.

Additionally, the Government has committed to reforms which will mitigate the growing pressures on local government services and achieve better value for money.

Finally, we are taking forward other significant reforms to the social care sector directly, including expanding the Care Workforce Pathway – the first ever national career structure for adult social care – and providing £12 million of funding for eligible care staff to complete courses and qualifications, such as the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the system used to alert volunteers when a defibrillator is used.

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

The Department has not made an assessment. The Circuit, the national defibrillator registry, is independently operated by the British Heart Foundation. The Circuit notifies the guardian of the defibrillator when it has been used and action to replace the pads is required.

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 support local authorities to ensure the sufficiency of their trading standards enforcement teams.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 80438 on 20 October 2025.

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 increase (a) awareness and (b) the availability of Naloxone in public locations.

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

Naloxone forms a key part of the Government’s plan to reduce drug related deaths, and we are committed to raising awareness of, and expanding access to, naloxone across the country.

To expand access to naloxone, in December 2024, the Department amended the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. This legislation enables more services and professionals to supply naloxone, which in turn makes it easier for people at risk to access it. The Department is continuing to work with the other UK nations and front-line services to ensure naloxone reaches all those who need it.

We also published guidance on GOV.UK earlier this year that sets out essential practical information such as who can supply naloxone, the products available, how to use naloxone and other basic lifesaving tools, and the training required. This guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supplying-take-home-naloxone-without-a-prescription

As naloxone is a prescription-only medication, only those that are listed in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 are able to supply naloxone without a prescription. However, the Department is currently considering options to do more in both expanding access to naloxone and raising awareness of the medication.

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 reduce the number of unoccupied shop buildings in North Shropshire.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is fully committed to revitalising our high streets and tackling vacancy, in North Shropshire and across the country. To help reduce the number of unoccupied shop units, the Government is empowering councils through High Street Rental Auctions, enabling them to bring long-term vacant properties back into use.

This is supported by wider national measures, including banning upwards-only rent reviews in commercial leases and introducing lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors from 2026. Additional powers such as the community right to buy and streamlined compulsory purchase orders will further support local revitalisation and help create more vibrant, accessible high streets.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to reduce the number of illegal tobacco and vaping products on sale in North Shropshire.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to reducing the number of illicit tobacco and vaping products on sale nationally.

For tobacco, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has a robust strategy to tackle the illicit tobacco trade. HMRC works closely with Trading Standards to disrupt the illicit tobacco trade at retail level – known as Operation CeCe. In its first three years, more than 46 million illegal cigarettes and 12,600kg of hand-rolling tobacco were seized.

In July 2023, HM Revenue and Customs introduced a strengthened sanctions regime for breaches of the UK Tobacco Track and Trace System to combat illicit tobacco sales. New powers were also given to Trading Standards to make referrals to HMRC where they find evidence of high street retailers selling tobacco products that do not comply with the UK Tobacco Track and Trace System.

In January 2024, HMRC and Border Force published their latest illicit tobacco strategy, ‘Stubbing Out the Problem’. This sets out the Governments’ continued commitment to restrict the trade in illicit tobacco with a focus on reducing demand, and to tackle and disrupt organised crime groups. This strategy is supported by £100 million of new smokefree funding allocated over 5 years to boost existing HMRC and Border Force enforcement capability.

As with tobacco, there is a cross-government approach to reducing the number of illegal vapes. The vaping equivalent of Operation CeCe, Operation Joseph, led to the seizure of over 1 million illegal vapes in 2023-24, the last full year for which statistics are available.

HMRC are also working closely with both Trading Standards and Border Force to develop a robust compliance approach for the introduction of Vaping Products Duty (VPD) on 1 October 2026.

VPD is a new excise duty on vaping products, which will introduce additional compliance powers and controls across the vaping supply chain. This includes the introduction of a Vaping Duty Stamps (VDS) scheme, which will require highly secure stamps to be placed on all duty paid goods, supporting enforcement agencies and customers to identify illegal products.

HMRC are recruiting over 300 staff to strengthen this compliance approach and deliver VPD.

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 (a) transparency and (b) accountability at parish council level.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Under the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015, parish councils are required to complete and publish an Annual Governance and Accountability Return (AGAR) to support transparency in council spending and enable the local electorate to hold them to account. To strengthen public confidence in parish council finances, the government committed to reviewing the AGAR process in its response to the Local Audit Strategy consultation published in April 2025.

In addition, parish councils with an annual turnover under £25,000 are subject to the Transparency Code for Smaller Authorities, which requires the publication of key financial and governance data to promote accountability. Councils with a gross income or expenditure over £200,000 must comply with the Local Government Transparency Code, which includes broader requirements for publishing information on spending, assets, organisational structure, and decision-making. These measures ensure that local residents can easily access information about how public money is used.

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 levels of employment in North Shropshire constituency.

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

From a JCP perspective, North Shropshire forms part of the Marches collective and we have been working with key stakeholders to develop the Marches Get Britain Working plan. This is currently going through final sign off before being presented to the SoS.

Three jobcentres support the North Shropshire region, as well as a youth hub, working alongside Shrewsbury Town FC Foundation, supporting Young People aged 16 -18 NEETS and 18 - 24 Universal Credit, along with Youth Employability Coaches who support young people with complex needs. The sites offer several initiatives, alongside key partners to support customers into work – WEX, MTW, Apprenticeships, SWAPs, Job Fairs.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will review the (a) age and (b) quality of school buildings in North Shropshire constituency.

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

Ensuring schools and colleges have the resources and buildings they need is a key part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every young person the best start in life.

The department collects consistent data on the condition of the school and college estate, which helps inform capital policy and programmes. The full set of Condition Data Collection (CDC) 1 data is presented at school or regional level and can be accessed here: https://depositedpapers.parliament.uk/depositedpaper/2285521/details. A summary of the CDC1 data can be accessed in the CDC1 key findings report, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/condition-data-collection-2-cdc2-programme. Individual reports are also shared with schools.

CDC1 ran from 2017 and 2019, covering government funded schools in England. The successor programme, CDC2, will provide an update on the condition of the government funded school buildings. It does not yet cover all schools in scope and is due to complete in 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to include Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust in the National maternity and neonatal investigation; and whether she plans to include bereaved families in Shropshire in the investigation.

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

The Chair of the Independent Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, Baroness Amos, has removed the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust from the list of local National Health Service trust investigations for the Independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation following recent discussions with West Mercia Police about the details and schedule of their ongoing investigation.

The call for evidence will launch in November, and families from Shrewsbury and Telford have been encouraged to participate.

Whitchurch station

Llynclys Crossroads

Family Business Week 2025

Britain’s canals and rivers

Cancer waiting times

Local Housing Allowance

Conduct of Sir Robbie Gibb and the independence of the BBC Board

Friends of Campsie Community Work

Conduct of Samir Zitouni and Stephen Crean on the 18.25 Doncaster to Kings Cross train on 1 November 2025

National Cancer Plan

Water bills

Impact of extreme weather on farming

Decarbonising refrigerated transport

Ukrainian Permission Extension Scheme

Protections for animals and people

Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

Local government and social care

Transparency and accountability in social media account closures

Government proposals for mandatory digital ID

Menopause Awareness Month

Warm Homes Plan

Contribution of legal immigrants