Written questions by Jogee.

What steps she is taking to reduce the number of children in poverty in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

No child should be in poverty, and we are determined to ensure a better start for every child in Newcastle-under-Lyme, where nearly a quarter are in relative poverty. Ahead of our Child Poverty Strategy, we have tripled our investment in breakfast clubs to over £30 million in 2025/26, and I’m pleased that Langdale Primary School and The Meadows Primary were selected to take part in the early adopter programme. 4,760 children in Newcastle-under-Lyme will also benefit from our extension of Free School Meals. It’s my personal priority to reduce child poverty not just in Newcastle-under-Lyme but across the whole country.

What engagement he has had with the White Butterfly Foundation.

Northern Ireland Office ministers and officials regularly engage with charities and voluntary and community sector organisations in Northern Ireland on a wide range of issues. I have not met the White Butterfly Foundation.

What discussions she has had with the operators and management of each UK Airport on the increase in costs of passenger drop-offs and pick-ups; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of this on the livelihoods of people in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

Most airports in the UK are managed and operated as private businesses, and parking arrangements are subject to contractual agreements between airport operators and car parking companies covered by consumer laws. The provision and charging of car parking at airports (including drop off and pick charges) is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify. Officials regularly engage with commercial airports on a large number of matters such as surface access, which includes the use of drop off charges, to improve access to airports whilst taking into account associated environmental impacts.

How much he plans to save by stopping the use of wax seals on official documents; and whether he plans to implement this immediately.

The Government is considering legislation to scrap laws that get in the way of a modern and productive state. Any such legislation will be brought forward and announced in the usual way.

What steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that businesses in Northern Ireland will be eligible for support under the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.

The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will only be applicable to businesses within Great Britain. This is due to the energy market being devolved within Northern Ireland, where a Shared Energy Market is operated with the Republic of Ireland.We will continue to work in partnership with the Government of Northern Ireland to ensure the Industrial Strategy benefits people and businesses in Northern Ireland. This includes working with the Northern Ireland Executive to establish an Enhanced Investment Zone, as well as funding support for growth-driving sectors like advanced manufacturing and defence to further drive growth where Northern Ireland thrives.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK Commonwealth Envoy.

The UK Commonwealth Envoy acts as a link between the UK government and the wider Commonwealth community. The Envoy represents the UK on Commonwealth governance bodies, leads engagement with the Commonwealth Secretariat and other member states' representatives, and negotiates Commonwealth statements and communiques on behalf of the UK government.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of missed medication in hospitals on Parkinson’s patients in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

Hospital providers across England, including hospitals in the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) area, are responsible for ensuring that patients within hospital settings, including those with Parkinson’s disease, receive their appropriate medication on time. There are tools to support both patients and staff to achieve this. Electronic prescribing systems, currently in use in 85% of hospitals in England, enable in-depth monitoring and reporting on missed or delayed dosing of medications.As set out in the 10 Year Health Plan, we will support people with long-term conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, across England, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme and the wider Staffordshire area, to better manage their condition, including managing their medication. As part of the NHS App, the My Medicines section will enable patients to manage their prescriptions and remind them when to take their medications, and the My Health section will enable patients to monitor their symptoms and will bring all their data into one place. Patients will be able to decide whether their data is shared in real-time with care teams, so they can proactively monitor health and intervene when necessary.Guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on Parkinson’s disease in adults highlights the importance of patients getting Parkinson’s medicines on time to prevent harmful effects. The NICE guidance states that people with Parkinson’s disease who are admitted to hospital or care homes should be given their medicines at the appropriate times, which, in some cases, may mean allowing self-medication.Parkinson’s UK has produced resources as part of its Get It on Time campaign, which supports people with Parkinson's with medicine management in preparation for a hospital stay. These resources can also support hospital and care home staff to make sure that patients and residents get their medication on time, every time.NHS England has also published guidance, developed in partnership with charities, including Parkinson’s UK, to help local National Health Service staff take practical steps to improve the care for patients with progressive neurological conditions in hospitals, including hospitals in the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB area. The Right Care Toolkit for progressive neurological conditions provides advice on medicine optimisation, highlighting the importance of timely administration of specific drugs for Parkinson’s, such as Levodopa, in both acute and community health settings.

What (a) steps he is taking to support and (b) funding he has allocated to the rollout of AI-assisted stethoscope checks for heart murmurs in community pharmacies.

Artificial intelligence (AI) assisted stethoscope tools are currently being trialed in 200 general practices (GPs) across London and Wales, with trials set to end in December 2025. The AI in Health and Care Award and the National Institute for Health and Care Research provided £1.2 million in funding for these trials, known as the TRICORDER programme, which aims to assess whether providing the tool to GPs can increase the early detection of heart failure and reduce diagnosis through emergency hospital admission. Early results have shown these devices can test for heart failure with high levels of sensitivity, 91%, and specificity, 80%, compared to routine diagnostic tests that are invasive and expensive.

Whether his Department plans to introduce a cardiovascular disease strategy.

The Government is committed to ensuring that fewer lives are lost to the biggest killers, including cardiovascular disease (CVD).The 10-Year Health Plan, published on 3 July, outlines our commitment to publish a Modern Service Framework in 2026 that will identify the interventions with the best evidence, and set standards for and drive innovation in CVD.

Whether he plans to take steps to publish a women's health strategy.

The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health. We are turning the commitments in the existing Women's Health Strategy into tangible action, such as: providing emergency hormonal contraception free of charge at pharmacies on the National Health Service from October 2025; setting out how we will eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 through the new cervical cancer plan; and taking urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan. Through our 10-Year Health Plan, we are delivering our commitment that never again will women’s health be neglected. The three shifts will improve the care women receive. Hospital to community will mean women can access convenient, coordinated care closer to home through Neighbourhood Health Centres, building on best practice examples such as Tower Hamlets women’s health hub. Analogue to digital will put more power and data in women’s hands, which will make it easier to get more personalised support, book appointments, and stay healthy. Treatment to prevention will mean faster and fairer access to life-saving prevention through human papillomavirus (HPV) self-sampling kits, and access to the HPV vaccine through community pharmacies.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the article by The University of Manchester entitled Making headlines: Young people’s social media use and navigating media narratives, published on 9 June 2025.

The department notes the article published by the University of Manchester, and officials have recently discussed its content with the authors. Media literacy skills are embedded across the curriculum, including citizenship, computing, English and relationships, sex and health education, which together develop critical thinking, research skills, an understanding of the media in shaping opinion and how to be a discerning consumer of information online, including through social media.The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review’s interim report noted the rise of artificial intelligence and trends in digital information and that it is necessary that the curriculum keep pace with these changes, including a renewed focus on digital and media literacy and critical thinking skills. The Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in autumn with the government’s response.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of aligning the UK's PM2.5 air quality targets with the World Health Organisation’s 2021 guidelines.

The revised Environmental Improvement Plan is due to include further details on the PM2.5 air quality targets set under the Environment Act 2021. The World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines will continue to inform our evidence when considering future targets.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the Government’s approach to climate adaptation.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. Ministers and officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are working with departments on the issue of climate adaptation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of publishing a heat strategy.

The National Adaptation Programme, published in 2023, sets out in a single document the programme of actions that government is taking to address climate risk, including on overheating.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of PM2.5 exposure on children’s health outcomes.

Air pollution exposure can be harmful to everyone. Children are more vulnerable to the effects than adults due to their incomplete lung development, high physical activity and breathing rates, and lower height, which increases exposure to traffic pollution.The UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) assessment of children’s exposure to air pollution in outdoor school environments identified that, in 2017, one third of schools in England were in areas with PM2.5, exceeding the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) previous annual guideline of 10 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3).In 2021, WHO updated its guidelines for PM2.5 from 10 µg/m3 to an annual mean of five µg/m3.The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants published advice on the susceptibility to air pollution in March 2025. They concluded that, based on the latest evidence, advice for children with asthma should continue to be included in the Daily Air Quality Index.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) provides The Daily Air Quality Index (DAQI) which is available at the following link:https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/daqi?view=more-infoThis informs on the levels of air pollution and provides recommended actions and health advice. The index is numbered 1-10 and divided into four bands, low (1) to very high (10), to provide detail about air pollution levels in a simple way, similar to the sun index or pollen index.UKHSA contributed to the Royal College of Physician’s report on air pollution which explores the impacts of air pollution over the life course, including through childhood and adolescence. UKHSA has a Cleaner Air Programme which aims to reduce people’s exposure to air pollution, particularly the most vulnerable groups, including children.The Programme is described in UKHSA’s ‘Chemical Hazards and Poisons Report’ of June 2022, available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chemical-hazards-and-poisons-report-issue-28

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Pakistan on former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The UK Government consistently urge Pakistani authorities to act in line with their international obligations and respect fundamental freedoms and human rights. The Foreign Secretary raised these issues in meetings with Pakistan's Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister when he visited Pakistan in May. While judicial matters are for Pakistan's courts, we have consistently emphasised the need for due process, fair trials, and humane treatment for all, including Mr Imran Khan.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) political and (b) security situation in Pakistan.

Pakistan remains a valued bilateral partner. We closely follow political developments in Pakistan and continue to advocate for democratic principles and the rule of law. On security, we are concerned by the impact of militant violence in Pakistan and recent regional tensions. We welcome the 10th May cessation of hostilities following the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan. The Foreign Secretary discussed these issues with Pakistan's Prime Minister and Interior Minister on his recent visit to Islamabad in May, and more recently with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister. We advise British nationals to consult our travel advice regularly.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that schools in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) Staffordshire are able to offer high quality music education through (i) the national curriculum and (ii) in music education.

As part of the government’s Opportunity Mission, the department wants to widen access to music education.Music Hubs continue to play a vital role across England, with grant funding of £76 million for the 2025/26 academic year. This includes nearly £2.2 million for the Hub partnership led by The Music Partnership, covering Shropshire, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, and includes support for schools in Newcastle-under-Lyme and wider Staffordshire.The department is also investing £2 million to support the Music Opportunities Pilot over four years, helping disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs and disabilities learn to play instruments or sing to a high standard in schools across 12 pilot areas. This includes Sir Thomas Boughey Academy in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The government established the Curriculum and Assessment Review to seek to deliver a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum, including music. The final report and government response will be published this autumn. Following this, we will legislate so that academies will teach the reformed national curriculum, alongside maintained schools. This will ensure music is an entitlement for pupils in every state-funded school.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to include discussions on the future co-operation on chemical regulations in the annual UK-EU summits.

Co-operation with the EU on chemical regulations is provided for under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Whether she has had discussions with the Prudential Regulation Authority on the potential impact of reforming Solvency UK on the availability of annuity capital for investment in (a) housing, (b) transport and (c) infrastructure in (i) the UK and (ii) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

I have regular discussions with the Prudential Regulation Authority on a range of subjects, including the potential of recent reforms to the prudential requirements for insurers to have a positive impact on investment into productive UK assets, such as housing, transport, and infrastructure.