Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with local employers in the West Midlands on tackling skills shortages.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

We recognise the important role that local employers have in addressing skills shortages, that is why Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) are increasing the voice and influence that employers directly have in their local skills systems. The West Midlands LSIP is led by Coventry Chamber of Commerce, working collaboratively with: other Chambers of Commerce in the region; the West Midlands Combined Authority and a range of local employers; further- and higher- education training providers; and other stakeholders – including Job Centre Plus. When the new LSIP is developed this summer, it will provide strategic direction to the West Midlands skills system and an invaluable source of intelligence to the newly established Skills England, which has recently joined my Department.

Additionally, through both its national Strategic Relationship Team (SRT) and Job Centre Plus teams in the West Midlands, the DWP is working to address the skills shortages in the area. This includes delivering Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs), which give people job specific training and guaranteed interviews and running employer led academies in areas like construction, manufacturing and food production. The department is working with: industry bodies; West Midlands Combined Authority; local employers; and with organisations such as the Construction Industry Training Board and Skills for Care, to design training that meets real employer needs.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help increase uptake of apprenticeships among young people in Aldridge-Brownhills constituency.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

This government is transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy that will give greater flexibility to employers and support young people, including those in the Aldridge-Brownhills constituency, at the beginning of their careers.

In August 2025, we introduced new foundation apprenticeships to give young people a route into careers in critical sectors, enabling them to earn a wage while developing vital skills. They are underpinned by additional funding for employers of up to £2,000 to contribute to the extra costs of supporting someone at the beginning of their career.

We are investing an additional £725 million to deliver the next phase of the growth and skills levy and meet our ambition to support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships. We will expand foundation apprenticeships into sectors that traditionally recruit young people, launch a pilot with Mayoral Strategic Authorities to better connect young people to local apprenticeship opportunities, and fully fund SME apprenticeships for eligible 16–24-year-olds from the next academic year.

The government also facilitates the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN), comprising around 2,500 employer and apprentice volunteers who go into schools and colleges to share their compelling stories and experiences of what apprenticeships can do for young people.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of ending the Memorial Grant Scheme on the preservation of local war memorials; how the new £2 million memorial fund compares in scope and accessibility to the previous scheme; and what steps she is taking to ensure that smaller community memorials are not neglected or lost.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Memorial Grant scheme rebates VAT on eligible works to memorials and had a budget of £150,000 in this financial year. No formal assessment has been made of the specific impact of closing the scheme. The new £2 million War Memorial Fund will support the conservation and repair of war memorials across the UK. We are currently working with the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the War Memorials Trust to develop scheme criteria and this will include how to proactively engage local communities with at-risk war memorials.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Written Statement of 22 January 2026 on Launch of new capital fund for places of worship, HCWS1268, what assessment she has made of the wider community role of places of worship when designing the new funding scheme; and if she will prioritise funding for buildings that provide essential community services beyond worship.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Many places of worship also provide essential community services beyond worship and will consider this as we develop criteria, however we also acknowledge that not all religions use places of worship in this way. We are currently designing the specific criteria for the new scheme.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Written Statement of 22 January 2026 on Launch of new capital fund for places of worship, HCWS1268, what reporting requirements will apply to Historic England in administering the Places of Worship Renewal Fund; if her Department will publish annual data on applications, approvals, refusals and regional allocation; and how Ministers will assess whether the scheme represents an improvement on the previous grant system.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Further details on the Places of Worship Renewal Fund specific criteria, application process and funding allocation will be announced in due course, along with details on monitoring and evaluation.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to HCWS1249, what estimate he has made of the number of legacy digital systems in use across government; what timetable exists for decommissioning the highest-risk systems, what resources are available to support “secure by design” requirements; and what assessment has been made of the impact of the government vulnerability scanning service.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The most recent assessment of the scale of legacy systems across the public sector was conducted as part of the State of Digital Government Review, which found that 28% of public sector systems were identified as legacy IT. Individual departments remain responsible for addressing their highest risk systems. While DSIT provides oversight, it does not hold central information on all these plans.

The Secure by Design approach provides delivery and project teams with clear principles and activities to follow to increase the cyber resilience and security of new and emerging systems, services and technology infrastructure. A central DSIT team supports them through a community of champions, nominated by their respective organisation.

Over 700 public sector organisations have now signed up to the vulnerability scanning service, with the service finding and helping fix over 100 critical vulnerabilities a month.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what interim arrangements are in place to manage border and entry for Gibraltar pending the implementation of the UK-EU Gibraltar treaty.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 June 2025 to Question 60853, and I look forward to going over the detail of the new arrangements with her when the final text of the treaty is brought before the House for scrutiny in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her (a) Spanish and (b) European Union counterparts on the application of Schengen entry rules to passengers travelling to Gibraltar.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 June 2025 to Question 60853, and I look forward to going over the detail of the new arrangements with her when the final text of the treaty is brought before the House for scrutiny in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether UK citizens will retain unrestricted access to Gibraltar once the UK-EU Gibraltar treaty and associated border arrangements are fully implemented.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 June 2025 to Question 60853, and I look forward to going over the detail of the new arrangements with her when the final text of the treaty is brought before the House for scrutiny in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has reviewed the legal and regulatory frameworks governing Gibraltar’s aviation, immigration and border arrangements.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 June 2025 to Question 60853, and I look forward to going over the detail of the new arrangements with her when the final text of the treaty is brought before the House for scrutiny in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which authorities are responsible for controlling Schengen entry checks at Gibraltar’s airport and ports, and how the Government ensures UK travellers are not subject to improper enforcement.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 June 2025 to Question 60853, and I look forward to going over the detail of the new arrangements with her when the final text of the treaty is brought before the House for scrutiny in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has issued guidance to (a) airlines and (b) British travellers on Schengen entry requirements for flights to Gibraltar that may be diverted into the Schengen zone.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 June 2025 to Question 60853, and I look forward to going over the detail of the new arrangements with her when the final text of the treaty is brought before the House for scrutiny in due course.

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 help protect British citizens from detention or refusal of entry following flight diversions into the Schengen area.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 June 2025 to Question 60853, and I look forward to going over the detail of the new arrangements with her when the final text of the treaty is brought before the House for scrutiny in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Government of Gibraltar on the functioning of border arrangements.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 June 2025 to Question 60853, and I look forward to going over the detail of the new arrangements with her when the final text of the treaty is brought before the House for scrutiny in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what arrangements are in place to support UK travellers and airlines when Gibraltar-bound flights are diverted to Schengen territory and passengers are refused entry.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 June 2025 to Question 60853, and I look forward to going over the detail of the new arrangements with her when the final text of the treaty is brought before the House for scrutiny in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to her Spanish counterpart on the detention and return of British nationals at Málaga Airport following flight diversions.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I am aware of a recent incident in which a flight to Gibraltar was diverted to Malaga due to bad weather and some passengers were subsequently returned to the UK. Border control in Spain, as in all Schengen states, is the responsibility of the national (in this case Spanish) authorities. Passengers who arrive in Malaga, Spain become subject to Schengen entry rules. For British citizens travelling on a full British passport, these rules include requirements on passport validity, the 90/180 day limit for visa‑free stays, and the checks applied under the Schengen Entry/Exit System. Travellers who do not hold a full British citizen passport, including those with other categories of British nationality, may require a Schengen visa to enter Spain.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to HCWS1271 on Improving Cancer Care and Early Diagnosis, when bowel cancer screening invitations will be issued via the NHS App; what proportion of eligible patients currently use the App; what steps he is taking to help ensure that digitally excluded groups will continue to be supported; what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the trend in the levels of uptake in digital screening; and what safeguards exist to help ensure no eligible patients miss screening invitations.

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

Whilst there is an increasing move towards digital National Health Service communications, NHS letters remain crucial for many patients, particularly those who may be digitally excluded, therefore, they will always be included in the screening offer. For bowel screening, NHS England currently uses NHS Notify which sends pre-invitations via the NHS App first, and if that message isn't read or the person doesn't have the app, a paper letter is sent. Everyone will still get sent a bowel cancer screening home testing kit through the post after pre-information, with information on completing the kit.

National roll out of digital pre-invitations is planned over the next couple of months, following a regional pilot last year. From that pilot, NHS England saw approximately 30% of people receive these communications via the NHS app. Based on other similar services, NHS England expects this to increase when other digital communications such as SMS are introduced.

National rollout has already been completed in cervical screening with positive results, where approximately 90% of invites are received via the NHS App or SMS.

Impact on the uptake of screening will be monitored over at least a six-month period to allow people time to take up their screening offer. To date, no negative impact has been indicated, but NHS England is monitoring closely to assess.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to HCWS1271, what metrics his Department uses to measure geographic inequalities in cancer diagnosis, treatment and survival; which regions perform worst on early diagnosis and cancer outcomes; whether he will bring forward interventions to targeted the worst performing areas; and how his Department monitors and reports steps it is taking to help reduce such geographic disparities.

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

The Department monitors geographic inequalities in cancer diagnosis and treatment through the NHS Cancer Waiting Time Standards, for which data is published at integrated care board and provider level. The NHS England Acute Provider Table for all 134 providers supports this transparency.

Early diagnosis is monitored through NHS England’s annual publication of early diagnosis data in England, the Case-mix Adjusted Percentage of Cancers Diagnosed at Stages 1 and 2. Early diagnosis data is published for England as a whole and for the integrated care boards. Survival data is monitored through NHS England's annual publication of cancer survival data in England. Cancer survival data is published for England as a whole, for the National Health Service regions, integrated care boards, and Cancer Alliances for 21 selected cancers. The index of cancer survival for all cancers is published for England, integrated care boards, and Cancer Alliances.

The Department recognises that outcomes remain poorest in some deprived, rural and coastal areas, where rates of early diagnosis and cancer survival are lower. To support improvement, the Government has provided £200 million of ring‑fenced funding for Cancer Alliances in 2026/27 to help the lowest‑performing trusts strengthen diagnostic pathways and reduce delays.

The Department monitors progress through regular oversight with NHS England, tracking improvements in early diagnosis and treatment standards across regions. These measures underpin our commitment to reducing geographic disparities so that a patient’s chances of survival do not depend on where they live.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what aspects of the implementation of the UK-EU Gibraltar treaty she considers non-negotiable; and how this negotiating position will protect UK citizens and Gibraltar residents.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 June 2025 to Question 60853, and I look forward to going over the detail of the new arrangements with her when the final text of the treaty is brought before the House for scrutiny in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to HCWS1271 of 26 January 2026t on Improving Cancer Care and Early Diagnosis, when the National Cancer Plan will be published; what interim milestones have been set ahead of publication; what engagement has taken place with NHS England, Cancer Alliances and patient groups; and what mechanisms will be used to ensure delivery against the Plan’s commitments.

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

The National Cancer Plan was published on the 4 February 2026.

The Department received more than 11,000 responses to a Call for Evidence alongside significant engagement with patients, families, carers, clinicians, researchers, cancer charities and voluntary groups.

Now that the National Cancer Plan is published, the Department, NHS England and the Cancer Alliances will continue to work together with partners across the healthcare landscape to ensure it is delivered, to transform cancer care and save lives.

The Government has committed to a clear accountability structure for the plan, where Cancer Alliances play a leading role to deliver it, working with local systems. A reformed National Cancer Board, jointly chaired by the Department and an independent representative, will track progress against the Plans commitments and provide regular updates to ministers. The plan includes tables at the end of each chapter, setting out when commitments should be delivered and which organisation will be responsible.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to HCWS1281 on reform to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, what plans she has to regulate veterinary and animal healthcare businesses; how price transparency and consumer protections will be enforced; what progress she has made in responding to the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into the veterinary sector.

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

Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is currently unable to regulate businesses. Defra’s consultation on reform of this Act, released on 28 January, proposes that all veterinary and animal health businesses (those owned by allied veterinary professionals) be licensed and regulated. This may include policies surrounding price transparency and consumer rights, in line with the outcomes and remedies of the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) market investigation into the household pet veterinary sector.

The CMA’s investigation is currently ongoing. Its final report is expected in the spring and Defra shall respond to it within 90 days of its publication.