Written questions by Jogee.

What recent engagement he has had with the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland about the transport priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive.

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. Transport is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the responsibility of the Executive’s Infrastructure Minister.

What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Northern Ireland on the trade priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive.

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.

What recent engagement he has had with the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland about the environmental priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive.

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. The environment is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the responsibility of the Executive’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

What steps he is taking to reduce the use of skin lightening products.

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.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the British Council.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I provided on 28 October in response to question 906060, and to the oral evidence provided to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 9 December by the Permanent Under-Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and on 16 December by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, where this issue was addressed at length.

What recent engagement he has had with the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland about the trade priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive.

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.

What recent engagement he has had with his Canadian counterpart about the potential merits of increasing trade between the United Kingdom and Canada.

I am in regular contact with Minister Sidhu as we seek ways to grow bilateral trade – worth £31bn in the 12 months to September 2025 and up 17% on the previous 12 months .Last year, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026 to further grow trade and drive cooperation, including the review of the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin to make the agreement easier to use by businesses on both sides.My Department is also committed to the UK trading with Canada under CPTPP terms. Canada has commenced its legislative process for the UK’s ratification, with Entry into Force expected later this year.

What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Northern Ireland on the environmental priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive.

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. The environment is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the responsibility of the Executive’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.

What recent engagement he has had with businesses in Derry/Londonderry.

I have met with Alchemy Technology Services, Derry-Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and Foyle Port.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department has taken to ensure access to good quality, safe and secure youth provision in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire received Million Hours Funding, to enable local youth services to deliver more positive activities in anti-social behaviour hotspots, giving young people a place to go and reducing young people's involvement in crime. In December 2025, we launched Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy’ a 10 year plan to ensure every young person across the country has somewhere to go, someone who cares for them and a community they feel part of. This is backed by over £500 million of new youth funding over the next 3 years from DCMS, which complements a range of funding committed by other departments. The majority of the funding underpinning the first steps of the Strategy will be available from next the financial year 2026/27. We will share more information as our plans develop, including details on the eligible areas for funding.

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.

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.

How many serving Magistrates there are in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

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.

What fiscal steps she is taking to help reduce the number of unemployed young people in Staffordshire.

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.

Communities and Local Government, if he will meet the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss the work of Parish Councils in that constituency.

The government values the important work of town and parish councils in representing their communities and delivering local services.I would be happy to meet the honourable member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss the work of parish councils in that constituency.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth about improving trade links between Commonwealth member states.

Neither the Secretary of State nor I have held discussions with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth about anything.

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.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support a) Christian, b) Muslim and c) Jewish communities in i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and ii) Staffordshire; and if he will visit Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The government offers many sources of support to faith and belief groups.MHCLG has allocated £515,000 this year to fund the Near Neighbours programme in England, run by the Church Urban Fund, which connects diverse communities to build trust and collaborate on local projects.The government recognises the role and value of religious heritage buildings and the new £92 million Places of Worship Renewal Fund will bring support for these important buildings into line with other heritage assets.For security support, all faith communities can access the Home Office’s free Faith Security Training scheme, developed with police and faith leaders to strengthen security awareness and preparedness in England and Wales. The Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme will receive an additional £1.5 million, raising funding to £5 million for Christian, Hindu, Sikh, and other non-Jewish or Muslim faith sites.To support Muslim communities specifically, the government funds the British Muslim Trust to monitor anti-Muslim hatred and support victims. In 2026/27, up to £40 million will be available through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme for mosques, Muslim schools, and community centres.To support Jewish communities specifically, on 17 December 2025 the Government published a paper setting out recent actions to combat antisemitism. Further information is available here. In addition, up to £28.4 million will be available in 2026/27 through the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant, which is managed by the Community Security Trust (CST), for security measures at synagogues, Jewish schools and community centres.The Common Ground Resilience Fund is granting more than £3 million to support social cohesion and resilience in England. This includes the Common Ground Award which provides capital for infrastructure and equipment, and is open to voluntary groups and community organisations, including faith-based groups.The Secretary of State engages with communities across the country through a range of ministerial activity, including visits and meetings with local representatives.

How many schools in Newcastle-under-Lyme closed due to hydrogen sulphide from Walleys Quarry landfill site between 1 January 2021 and 28 November 2024; and how many days they were closed for.

The department does not hold the information requested.Where the department is notified of a significant safety issue with a school building that cannot be managed within local resources, we consider additional support on a case-by-case basis. We work closely with these responsible bodies and schools to minimise the impact of closures and ensure continuity of education for pupils.

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.

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.

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.

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.