Written questions by Jogee.

How many potholes in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England have been repaired since July 2024.

The Government’s road condition statistics consider a broader definition of road condition than numbers of potholes, and so official data on this aspect of road condition is not available for the time periods requested. However, as announced in March, local highway authorities must publish transparency reports about their maintenance activities to unlock their full share of the Government’s £500m uplift for local highways maintenance this year. While data is not required to be provided at a constituency level, Staffordshire have estimated that they have filled 37,308 potholes during the financial year of 2024-25. Reports are available on local highway authorities’ websites and officials are in the process of reviewing these.

What steps she is taking to tackle landfill tax fraud in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

In recent years, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has deployed additional resources to tackle landfill tax fraud and support the Joint Unit of Waste Crime (JUWC) and other agencies to identify and tackle wider waste crime. HMRC created a team to monitor high risk waste producers to deter misdescription at source and reduce non-compliance across the sector. It has increased compliance activity with landfill site operators to ensure they are complying with legislative requirements.The government set out in the Consultation on the reform of Landfill Tax that as part of its Landfill Tax Review it would consider options for structural changes to the tax and the potential impacts on Landfill Tax fraud. This is alongside wider environmental regulatory reforms designed to improve compliance and tackle waste crime.

What proportion of NHS funding was spent on dementia research in each year between 2019 and 2024.

The Department delivers research into dementia via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Funding allocated to the NIHR is separate from National Health Service funding and is not calculated as a proportion of NHS spend. However, research delivered within the NHS is often supported by the NIHR, including research facilities and workforce, known as NIHR infrastructure.The table below sets out a breakdown of NIHR spend for dementia research between financial years 2019/20 and 2023/24. Spend for dementia research is calculated retrospectively, with a time lag due to annual reporting cycles. Therefore, 2023/24 is the most recent year for which we have data.£m2019/202020/212021/222022/232023/24TotalNIHR2921.930.335.142.8159.1

What recent progress he has made on implementing the Child Health Action Plan.

The Government has committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever, ensuring that every child has a healthy, happy start to life, and giving mental health the same focus as physical health. This commitment was recently reaffirmed in the 10 Year Health Plan, which outlined the first steps we are taking to progress this goal.The Government has taken action already, including through:investing £11 million in a supervised toothbrushing scheme for children in our most deprived communities aged between three and five, to combat tooth decay.providing a £126 million funding boost to the joint Department for Health and Social Care and Department for Education’s Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme, to help set up every child for the best start in life; andlaunching a landmark consultation on 2 September to protect children from the harm caused by high-caffeine energy drinks under new proposals to ban their sale to under-16s.

What recent steps he has taken to ensure that the work of the National Army Museum is accessible to communities in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

I will answer the hon. Member's Question on behalf of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport as the National Army Museum (NAM) which is located in Chelsea, London is sponsored by the Ministry of Defence. The NAM works tirelessly to ensure the stories of soldiers and their service in the British Army throughout the centuries, here and around the world, are accessible to all, including the communities in Newcastle-under Lyme and Staffordshire. To ensure the story of the British Army is accessible to as many as possible, the entry to and exhibits within the museum are free. It also has a large variety of free digital resources from dedicated pages for different Regiments on its website including those with Staffordshire connections, social media channels which communicate stories and research to global audiences and extensive online collections of information, objects, archives, and artwork in which work is being conducted for it to be further expanded. The NAM also provides support to a network of Regimental and Corps museums around the country, including the Staffordshire Regiment Museum in Lichfield.

Whether the engagement on the development of a 10 Year Health Plan delivery strategy will include (a) a formal consultation and (b) stakeholder engagement with (i) health charities and (ii) other relevant stakeholders.

The 10 Year Health Plan will seize the opportunities provided by new technology, medicines, and innovation to deliver better care for all patients, no matter where they live or how much they earn, and better value for taxpayers.To develop the 10 Year Health Plan, we had the biggest ever conversation on the future of the National Health Service with over a quarter of a million contributions from the public, staff and partners including charities and patient groups.The Government and the NHS continue to work with the public, staff and partners to deliver the 10 Year Health Plan.

Media and Sport, what recent engagement she has had with the leadership of the National Army Museum.

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has had no recent engagement with the National Army Museum, an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body and sponsored by the Ministry of Defence. Officials meet regularly with the three service museums to share wider museum sector updates, and this includes the Director of the National Army Museum as well as officials from the Ministry of Defence.

What steps she is taking to ensure adequate (a) training and (b) guidance for PIP assessors on (i) arthritis and (ii) other chronic, fluctuating health conditions.

The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment evaluates how an individual’s condition affects their ability to live independently, rather than focusing solely on the nature or severity of their condition. The assessment considers whether a person can carry out specific activities safely, reliably, repeatedly, and within a reasonable time frame. The process does not assess individuals based on their ‘best days’; instead, it considers the overall impact of a condition over time, specifically considering functional limitations that occur on more than 50% of days within a given period. All health professionals (HPs) are fully qualified in their health discipline and have passed strict recruitment and experience criteria. They are also required to be registered with the appropriate regulatory body. The department authorises HPs to conduct assessments only after suppliers demonstrate that the HP has successfully completed a department approved training and appraisal programme. This process confirms that HPs possess a sound understanding of the clinical aspects and likely functional effects of a broad range of health conditions. As of September 2024, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) took over responsibility for the Core Training and Guidance Material (CTGM) used within the Health Assessment Advisory Service (HAAS). This material is provided by DWP to HAAS assessment suppliers, who are required to incorporate all relevant CTGM content related to specific conditions and assessment policies into their final training products. DWP has provided suppliers with specific CTGM on rheumatoid arthritis, alongside a broader suite of training materials covering a range of long-term, fluctuating health conditions. These contain clinical and functional information relevant to the condition and is quality assured to ensure its accuracy from both a clinical and policy perspective.

With which health charities has his Department engaged on the development of the NHS 10 Year Workforce Plan.

In the coming weeks, we will launch the formal engagement phase of the upcoming workforce plan, which will provide stakeholders with the opportunity to contribute directly to the plan’s development. The Government wants to hear from anyone with relevant evidence, including trade unions, royal colleges, employers, charities, and those with expertise by experience.

Whether the engagement on the development of the NHS 10 Year Workforce Plan will include (a) a formal consultation and (b) stakeholder engagement with (i) health charities and (ii) other relevant stakeholders.

In the coming weeks, we will launch the formal engagement phase of the upcoming workforce plan, which will provide stakeholders with the opportunity to contribute directly to the plan’s development. The Government wants to hear from anyone with relevant evidence, including trade unions, royal colleges, employers, charities, and those with expertise by experience.

What steps she will take to reintroduce citizenship education to schools in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

Citizenship education provides a framework to prepare pupils to be active, informed and responsible citizens. The national curriculum for citizenship is mandatory at key stages 3 and 4 and primary schools can choose to teach it. In secondary citizenship, pupils learn about democracy, politics, parliament and voting, as well as human rights, justice, media literacy, the law, and the need for mutual respect.The Oak National Academy (Oak) is providing optional, free, adaptable digital curriculum resources. Oak launched its curriculum sequences for secondary citizenship in November 2024, with the full package of curriculum resources expected by autumn 2025.The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which seeks to deliver a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum that equips young people with the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to thrive in life and work. The Review will publish its final report in autumn 2025.

What recent engagement he has had with communities in Downpatrick, Co Down on community (a) safety and (b) cohesion.

I speak regularly with people across Northern Ireland and am encouraged by the work of grassroots communities to support a safer, more cohesive and reconciled future for all. I have carried out over 100 visits to 16 constituencies across Northern Ireland since my appointment, including to South Down. I would welcome suggestions for future visits from Parliamentary colleagues.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing restrictions on serious (a) sexual and (b) violent criminals.

It is crucial that we have a justice system that punishes offenders and supports victims. That’s why increasing restriction on serious sexual and violent offenders is part of our Plan for Change to cut crime and make streets safer.For most sentences, we will introduce a new model inspired by Texas where offenders will serve at least one-third of their sentence in custody subject to their behaviour. However, certain serious violent and sexual offenders will still serve at least half their sentence before release and could serve up until the end of their sentence in custody if they do not comply with rules and restrictions.After prison, offenders will face tougher post-custody supervision – with a presumption that they will be tagged. We are introducing a new power which will allow probation to impose these restriction zones on offenders on licence and serving community sentences, where appropriate. These will restrict certain offenders to specific areas – so their victims know they are safe wherever else they want to go.Also, in November last year, we launched new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs) in selected areas. DAPOs bring together the strongest features from current protective orders into a single more comprehensive order that goes further to protect victims of domestic abuse.

What assessment he has made of the potential link between overheating homes and the risk of death.

DESNZ will publish the Warm Homes Plan in October to help people find ways to save money on energy bills and upgrade our buildings into comfortable, low-carbon buildings fit for the future.The Department has been carrying out research to respond to the relevant climate change adaptation risks from overheating to health and wellbeing and the energy system. This research is closing evidence gaps identifying the buildings most vulnerable to extreme heat and where these are located and groups of people most vulnerable to heat stress. We are continuing to undertake further research as well as appropriate adaptation solutions for these different building types. This work is informing the development of the Warm Homes Plan.

What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the importance of citizenship education in our schools.

Citizenship education provides a framework to prepare pupils to be active, informed and responsible citizens. The national curriculum for citizenship is mandatory at key stages 3 and 4 and primary schools can choose to teach it. In secondary citizenship, pupils learn about democracy, politics, parliament and voting, as well as human rights, justice, media literacy, the law, and the need for mutual respect.The Oak National Academy (Oak) is providing optional, free, adaptable digital curriculum resources. Oak launched its curriculum sequences for secondary citizenship in November 2024, with the full package of curriculum resources expected by autumn 2025.The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, which seeks to deliver a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum that equips young people with the knowledge, skills and attributes needed to thrive in life and work. The Review will publish its final report in autumn 2025.

What steps she is taking to help support young people into (a) employment, (b) education and (c) training in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

The Department is committed to ensuring young people have access to the support they need to move into sustainable employment. DWP currently provides young people aged 16-24 with labour market support through an extensive range of interventions at a national and local level. This includes flexible provision driven by local need, nationwide employment programmes and support delivered by work coaches based in our Jobcentres and in local communities, working alongside partners such as the Kings Trust, Local Authorities, National Careers Service/Career Wales, local colleges and Youth Trusts. In Newcastle-under-Lyme we are working closely with stakeholders through the Newcastle Employment and Skills Group – including Aspire Housing and Keele University – to connect young people with job opportunities and tailored support. Programmes such as Positive Directions and We Mean Business are providing fully funded five-week courses for 16–24-year-olds not in education, employment or training covering areas such as fitness instruction, customer service, and entrepreneurship. Also, Newcastle College is expanding its offer to include ESOL, functional skills, and employability courses, while Keele University is piloting new pathways to widen participation in higher education. Local initiatives are also delivering training in digital marketing, cyber security, and mental health first aid. In addition, Sector-based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) and collaboration with care leaver schemes are helping young people with complex barriers into sustained employment.

Media and Sport, what recent engagement she has had with the leadership of Sport England.

The Government believes that opportunities to play sport and get physically active should be available to everyone, including children and young people. Everyone, regardless of background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity. Every bit of physical activity counts and the greatest public health benefit is enabling people, currently less active, to move more and lead more active lives. This can help to reduce the risk of a range of chronic diseases, in line with the Government’s aims to prevent ill health as set out in the recent NHS 10 Year Plan.The Secretary of State and I engage regularly with the leadership of Sport England, including at quarterly meetings with the Chairs and CEOs of all DCMS public bodies. A large part of Sport England’s work focuses on bringing the health and sports sectors together at community level, including their place partnerships work which is working in a targeted way with local areas to understand and overcome the specific barriers in their communities. Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire is one of Sport England’s place partnerships.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential health impact of improved access to grassroots sport for young people in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

The Government believes that opportunities to play sport and get physically active should be available to everyone, including children and young people. Everyone, regardless of background, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity. Every bit of physical activity counts and the greatest public health benefit is enabling people, currently less active, to move more and lead more active lives. This can help to reduce the risk of a range of chronic diseases, in line with the Government’s aims to prevent ill health as set out in the recent NHS 10 Year Plan.The Secretary of State and I engage regularly with the leadership of Sport England, including at quarterly meetings with the Chairs and CEOs of all DCMS public bodies. A large part of Sport England’s work focuses on bringing the health and sports sectors together at community level, including their place partnerships work which is working in a targeted way with local areas to understand and overcome the specific barriers in their communities. Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire is one of Sport England’s place partnerships.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the steps necessary to protect communities from any potential increase in the likelihood of wildfires taking place in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England as a result of a warming planet.

The Government recognises that the impact of climate change is likely to increase and intensify fire incidents in England and Wales - further impacting fire and rescue service’s (FRS) resources, capacity, and strategical response. As the lead government department for wildfire, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) maintains regular engagement with other government departments including the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and Cabinet Office on this national risk. This is alongside the department’s work with national bodies including the National Fire Chiefs Council and England and Wales Wildfire Forum to monitor and review sector led improvements and mitigations. Since 2024 we have also funded a National Resilience Wildfire Advisor to assess what additional wildfire national capabilities might be needed to increase resilience to the wildfire risk and to ensure coordination of approaches across the sector.

What recent steps he has taken to improve access to NHS dentistry in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including National Health Service dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, this is Staffordshire and Stoke-on Trent ICB.We will deliver 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments per year, and ICBs have been making extra appointments available from 1 April 2025. Staffordshire and Stoke-on Trent ICB is expected to deliver 16,190 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.We are committed to reforming the dental contract, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.