Written questions by Jogee.

How many a) letters, b) emails and c) written communications were received by his Department from Newcastle-under-Lyme District Borough Council between i) December 2019 and July 2024 and ii) July 2024 and May 2026.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to increase the number of health visitors in England.

The child health workforce, including health visiting teams, is central to how we support families to give their children the best start in life. Health visitors’ contact with parents, carers, and children of all ages is a source of vital advice and support, helping to ensure that health, development, and safeguarding needs are identified early. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan and Best Start in Life Strategy, the Government has committed to strengthening health visiting services to ensure that all families have access to high-quality, personalised support.In the 10-Year Health Plan, we committed to a Professional Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery. Due for publication following the 10 Year Workforce Plan, this strategy will set out a professional direction of travel, up to 2040, for all nurses, including health visitors, midwives, and nursing associates in England.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to health visitors for families in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Families in England must receive at least five health visits, with additional support provided according to need. Health visiting service delivery data is available, and published annually, for upper tiers of local government, such as the Staffordshire County Council, but not lower tiers, such as the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council.The relevant dataset and statistical commentary for Staffordshire is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/health-visitor-service-delivery-data-for-2024-to-2025In line with the Government’s commitment to strengthening health visiting, we have recently refreshed the guidance for the Healthy Child Programme, which specifies requirements for health visiting services, to promote national consistency in service delivery. We are working closely with regional colleagues to support the implementation of this guidance across the country.

What assessment his Department has made of the effect of Pramipexole on people living with Parkinson's.

Pramipexole is one of a range of medicines that help manage the symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for ensuring that medicines and healthcare products meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and effectiveness, and are supported by detailed product information, via the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) and the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). Both the PIL and the SmPC are designed to support safe use of the medicine by providing essential information for patients, and more detailed prescribing guidance for healthcare professionals via the SmPC. Any changes to these documents must be reviewed and approved by the MHRA.The MHRA continuously reviews the safety information for all licensed medicines, including pramipexole, to ensure that warnings and side-effects listed in the product information accurately reflect the available data. No effective medicine is completely free of risk and regulatory decisions on risks and benefits of a medicine are based on data from a number of different sources including the Yellow Card Scheme, scientific literature, pharmaceutical companies, and worldwide regulatory authorities, with regulatory action taken promptly as and when necessary.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is responsible for producing useful and usable guidance for the National Health Service and wider health and care system. The NICE guideline NG71 covers diagnosing and managing Parkinson's disease in people aged 18 years old and over. It aims to improve care from the time of diagnosis, including monitoring and managing symptoms, providing information and support, and palliative care. This guidance is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng71/chapter/Recommendations

What steps is his department taking to ensure that people with Huntington’s disease in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire have a named healthcare professional who coordinates their care.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Huntington’s Disease, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire. Better coordination of care is a priority under the UK Rare Diseases Framework.On 26 February, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published an evidence-based new quality standard for rare diseases, which includes a named healthcare professional to coordinate care. It sets out priority areas for quality improvement and NHS England and my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, are required to have regard to quality standards as they discharge their quality improvement duties. Local National Health Service commissioners are expected to take them fully into account in the design of services that meet the needs of their local populations.The revised NHS England Specialised Neurology Services (adults) specification 2025 also outlines expectations of a system-wide approach, incorporating end-to-end pathways within an integrated neurology system, supporting more equitable and efficient care for people with long-term neurological diseases, including Huntington’s disease.Dedicated care co-ordinators for Huntington’s disease are not centrally commissioned. Integrated care boards are responsible for working with their local communities to understand the needs of the local populations and to make decisions about how best to commission services, including for those with Huntington’s disease.

What steps his department is taking to ensure neighbourhood health centres meet the needs of people with Huntington's disease.

The Neighbourhood Health Service will ensure that people can better access care that is joined up, personalised, and designed to proactively meet their needs. It will improve access by making it easier to speak to a general practitioner (GP), providing more care closer to where people live, including in neighbourhood health centres, and will move us towards a fully digitally enabled health service.Integrated neighbourhood teams will support people with conditions like Huntington’s disease that require specialist care by considering their needs holistically, with reference to health, care, and wider needs.In the Autumn budget, the Government announced its commitment to deliver 250 neighbourhood health centres, with 120 delivered by 2030, through a mix of public private partnership and public capital. On 26 March 2026, we announced Wave 1 of the neighbourhood health centre schemes, with 27 sites across England selected to bring care closer to home 12 hours a day, six days a week, backed by £50 million.Neighbourhood health centres will be the place to go for most health needs in every community. These centres bring together GPs, with a mix of community, local authority, and voluntary sector services. Integrated care boards and local authorities will determine the particular mix of services shaped by local population needs. These will be designed to reflect the priorities and requirements of each community, including the needs of people with Huntington’s disease where appropriate. In March 2026, we published the Neighbourhood Health Framework to support this service planning, and we are shortly due to publish additional guidance on neighbourhood health centres.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of his department’s requirement for opportunity cost neutrality in NICE’s severity modifier on investment in treatments for more severe conditions.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for East Grinstead and Uckfield on 13 January 2026 to Question 103809.

If his Department will publish the analysis of responses to the 2018 consultation on the Nutrient Profiling Model before any decision to adopt that model; and if he will make a statement.

The Government published responses to the 2018 consultation on 27 January 2026 alongside the Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) 2018 Review and Consultation Outcome and the associated NPM technical guidance.The Government launched the consultation on applying the new NPM to the advertising and promotions restrictions on 25 March 2026.

What steps his Department will take to mitigate the risk of supply delays of bone cement, and other medical supplies.

The Government has very well-established processes in place to help manage disruption to the supply of medical products when it occurs, always very seriously considering the needs of individual patients.The Department’s National Supply Disruption Response acts as the single point of contact for the medical supply industry, and has been supporting the bone cement shortage since early February this year. Together with NHS England and NHS Supply Chain we have organised a formal coordinated national incident response, including daily meetings with operational colleagues, development of clinical guidance, and close engagement with suppliers, professional bodies, and the devolved administrations.The incident management group was able to secure additional supplies from alternative, clinically assured suppliers, which are now being actively used. Elective orthopaedic activities have resumed.These measures ensured that trauma and urgent care continued safely during the shortage, with orthopaedic waiting lists prioritised according to clinical needs.The Department continues to hold regular discussions with NHS England on the supply position, operational impact, and alternative products, using well-established incident coordination arrangements.

What steps are being taken to help keep patients informed of the delays to their joint surgeries due to Heraeus bone cement supply delays.

It is the responsibility of National Health Service systems to manage the bone cement supply delays in their local context. NHS England has been working closely with systems to manage the temporary supply disruption affecting certain Heraeus bone cement products. A letter was issued to systems in February 2026 and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/heraeus-medical-bone-cement-products/NHS trusts have reviewed and clinically prioritised their orthopaedic waiting lists to ensure available stock is safely and appropriately used, taking into account patient need, staff familiarity with alternative products, and local supply constraints. Where delays to planned joint procedures are unavoidable, trusts are expected to maintain transparent and timely communication with affected patients, so they remain fully informed about changes to their care treatment pathway.NHS England has advised trusts to make best use of any freed-up clinical capacity, including focussing on new outpatient activity, and strengthening clinical triage for patients waiting more than 18 weeks. These steps are intended to reduce the risk of knock-on effects for elective waiting time performance. Every effort is being made to sustain progress on Referral to Treatment performance while this temporary supply issue is resolved.

What steps his department is taking to ensure that innovation in early detection and treatment technologies for heart valve disease is translated into timely and equitable patient access.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, wearables are one of the “big bets” for the future of the National Health Service. They are a powerful tool to support prevention, early intervention, and self-management of long-term conditions.By 2028, we aim to make remote monitoring for cardiovascular disease using wearables and connected devices a standard part of care.Our vision is for wearables to become routine in NHS care by 2035, from managing post-acute and chronic illness at home, to spotting early warning signs of disease.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact the Heraeus bone cement supply delays will have on the elective waiting time targets.

It is the responsibility of National Health Service systems to manage the bone cement supply delays in their local context. NHS England has been working closely with systems to manage the temporary supply disruption affecting certain Heraeus bone cement products. A letter was issued to systems in February 2026 and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/heraeus-medical-bone-cement-products/NHS trusts have reviewed and clinically prioritised their orthopaedic waiting lists to ensure available stock is safely and appropriately used, taking into account patient need, staff familiarity with alternative products, and local supply constraints. Where delays to planned joint procedures are unavoidable, trusts are expected to maintain transparent and timely communication with affected patients, so they remain fully informed about changes to their care treatment pathway.NHS England has advised trusts to make best use of any freed-up clinical capacity, including focussing on new outpatient activity, and strengthening clinical triage for patients waiting more than 18 weeks. These steps are intended to reduce the risk of knock-on effects for elective waiting time performance. Every effort is being made to sustain progress on Referral to Treatment performance while this temporary supply issue is resolved.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of adopting the revised Nutrient Profiling Model on (a) product reformulation, (b) healthier product innovation and (c) investment in the UK food and drink sector.

As set out in our Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever. As part of this, the Government committed to updating the standards behind the restrictions on advertising ‘less healthy’ food or drink products on television before 9:00pm and online at any time, as well as the restrictions on the promotion of ‘less healthy’ food and drink products by location and volume price by applying the new Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM).The advertising and promotions restrictions currently rely on the outdated NPM 2004/05. The new NPM has been updated in line with the latest dietary advice from the United Kingdom’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, particularly in relation to free sugar and fibre. Applying it to the restrictions will strengthen these policies by bringing more products of concern for children’s health into scope.The Government published the new NPM on 27 January and launched a 12-week consultation on its proposed application to the advertising and promotions restrictions on 25 March. A consultation-stage impact assessment of the direct costs to businesses and intended health outcomes was published alongside. A final impact assessment would be published prior to amending the advertising and promotions restrictions legislation.

What progress has been made towards achieving universal access to Fracture Liaison Services by 2030, and what milestones his Department has set for Integrated Care Boards to reach this commitment.

Fracture liaison services are commissioned by integrated care boards, which are well-placed to make decisions according to local need.Our 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out fracture liaison services across every part of the country by 2030.Officials continue to work closely with NHS England to explore a range of options to provide better quality and access to these important preventative services.

What assessment he has made of the risk that the revised Nutrient Profiling Model could reduce the availability of credible, lower-calorie alternatives within popular categories; and if he will set out safeguards to prevent that outcome.

The Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) is a tool that determines whether foods or drinks are ‘healthier’ and not high in saturated fat, free sugars, or salt, or foods and drinks that are ‘less healthy’ and high in saturated fat, free sugars, or salt. The new NPM, published on 27 January, more closely reflects United Kingdom dietary recommendations. Our analysis shows that it better identifies healthier products.The NPM is not about banning the sale of food and drink products or restricting reformulation. The aim is to stop the targeting of 'less healthy’ food and drink marketing to children and encourage further reformulation and the promotion of healthier options.We recognise the efforts business have made to provide healthier alternatives within popular food and drink categories. We consider that these can be built upon to cater for the increasing demand from consumers for healthier products. We are confident that industry can continue this journey and we will continue our engagement to support businesses to do this.

Whether he will commission technical guidance for industry on consistent measurement of free sugars to ensure compliance and enforcement can be undertaken fairly.

On 27 January, the Government published the new nutrient profiling model (NPM). This included associated NPM technical guidance to support businesses to understand the new NPM and apply it to their products and worked examples on how to calculate free sugars and NPM scores in a range of products.Since publication of the new NPM in January, we have been engaging closely with industry to address technical points relating to the new NPM and calculating free sugars. On 25 February, we participated in the development of the Institute of Grocery Distribution free sugars calculation roundtable, ahead of launching the consultation on applying the new NPM to the advertising and promotions restrictions on 25 March 2026.

What support he is giving to local authorities in Staffordshire to take enforcement action against the sale of a) tobacco b) fruit flavoured vapes and c) alcohol to under 18s.

The Government is supporting local authorities to take enforcement action against the underage sales of tobacco, vapes, and alcohol.On tobacco and vapes, the Government is providing up to £10 million annually until 2028/29 for Trading Standards, to support the enforcement of illicit and underage sales in England. This funding is being used to boost the Trading Standards workforce by recruiting 120 new apprentices, including one apprentice in Staffordshire, enabling more underage sales test purchases and swifter enforcement action against illicit activity.Alongside this, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will introduce £200 fixed penalty notices in England and Wales for certain tobacco and vape offences, including underage sales, to empower Trading Standards to take swifter action to fine those who choose to break the law and sell to anyone underage, putting the public’s health at risk. The bill will also provide ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland with regulation making powers to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products. This will strengthen enforcement against retailers who breach tobacco and vape age of sale regulations.On alcohol, the Home Office supports local authorities through the Licensing Act 2003 and Section 182 guidance, which require licensed premises to operate a mandatory age verification policy at the point of sale. Enforcement of underage sales rests with local licensing authorities, Trading Standards, and the police, who can prosecute, including for persistent sales, and seek licence reviews or revocation to protect children from harm.

What steps he is taking to ensure that people in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme, b) Staffordshire and c) England with Huntington's disease are able to access hyoscine hydrobromide.

We are aware that hyoscine hydrobromide 1.5 milligram patches are currently out of stock and we are in dialogue with the manufacturer. We do not hold information on stock availability locally, however, this product is currently unavailable across the United Kingdom.The resupply date has yet to be confirmed by the supplier, however, to minimise the impact on patients, we have issued comprehensive management guidance to the National Health Service, including all general practitioners (GPs) and community pharmacists, on alternative products, including unlicensed hyoscine hydrobromide. The decision on whether to prescribe an unlicensed medicine rests with the prescriber.Patients/patient representatives should speak to their GP or specialist on the most appropriate treatment option, taking into account the licensed and unlicensed alternatives available.We continue to work with the supplier and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, as appropriate, to resolve the issue as soon as possible.The vast majority of the UK’s licensed medicines are in good supply and to make sure this remains the case, we are investing more in the domestic medicine manufacturing industry.

What steps he is taking to help prevent measles outbreaks in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

The Department, the National Health Service, the UK Health Security Agency and local partners are working together at the national, regional and local level to improve uptake of measles vaccination, with an aim of preventing future measles outbreaks.Actions at the national level, which would therefore apply to Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire, include incentivising general practitioners (GPs) to administer childhood vaccinations with additional £2 supplemental fee for each routine childhood immunisation, and also bringing forward the second dose of measles, mumps, and rubella containing vaccine to 18 months from three years and four months, following evidence that this earlier touchpoint would improve uptake and provide earlier protection against measles. Additionally, a national communication campaigns was launched on 16 February, encouraging parents to get their children vaccinated against diseases including measles.More locally, the Midlands regional NHS England team is working with Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) to undertake a comprehensive and data‑driven approach to improving measles vaccination uptake. Uptake levels are monitored through a quarterly regional dashboard, and projects are underway to improve data quality so that interventions can be accurately targeted.To support primary care, the team has produced a regional GP measles vaccination toolkit setting out best‑practice approaches for following up children who miss appointments and for reaching underserved communities. To reach children who miss GP appointments, continued close working is underway with School Age Immunisation Service providers to ensure high‑quality provision in schools.In complement, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB is campaigning to promote vaccination to the public as the most effective way of preventing measles via community engagement, paid and organic social media activity, local media releases, and radio interviews.For example, the ICB is working with community leaders, voluntary and community sector organisations, and wider local partners to cascade key information and campaign materials directly into communities. The aim is to reach families and groups most at risk, supporting efforts to reduce inequalities in immunisation coverage across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, and reduce the risk of outbreaks.

What recent steps his Department has taken to reduce the number of women waiting for gynaecological treatment in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

We are committed to returning to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients are treated within 18 weeks of referral to consultant-led care, including in gynaecology, by March 2029.The Department only holds data at a trust and integrated care board level. Newcastle-under-Lyme is served by the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNB), and Staffordshire is served by the NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (SSOT ICB). Performance against this standard at the UHNB’s gynaecology service has improved by 7.6% since the Government came into office, to 55.5%, with a 16% reduction in the waiting list. At the SSOT ICB, performance for gynaecology services has improved by 6.9% to 55.2% over the same period, with a 15% reduction in waiting list size.Our Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the reforms we are making to improve gynaecology waiting times, across England. This includes innovative models of care that offer care closer to home and in the community, piloting gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding, and increasing the relative funding available to incentivise providers to take on more gynaecology procedures.Wider elective reforms will help cut waiting times for gynaecology services in Staffordshire and across England. These include more consistent clinical triage, tackling missed appointments, delivering new and expanded surgical hubs, and scaling up remote monitoring and use of patient-initiated follow ups.We also provided new funding for general practices (GPs) to expand Advice and Guidance (A&G) services. A&G helps to keep patients out of hospital and delivers more care closer to home, saving time, protecting capacity, and improving care experience. A&G for gynaecology is available in all GPs within the SSOT ICB.We are also introducing an “online hospital” via NHS Online. From 2027, people on certain pathways, including severe menopause symptoms and menstrual problems that may be a sign of endometriosis or fibroids, will have the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home, providing additional appointments to cut waiting times.