Written questions by Jogee.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to appoint a Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief.

The Government will champion freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. As the Deputy Prime Minister said in Parliament on 20 November, envoy roles are under Ministerial consideration and will be decided upon in due course. We continue to use the strength of our global diplomatic network, including dedicated staff within the FCDO, to promote and protect FoRB around the world.

If she will have discussions with representatives from Manchester Airport on the potential impact of the level of parking charges at Manchester Airport on passengers from (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) North Staffordshire.

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. Whilst the Department does engage regularly with airports on a range of operational issues, the provision and charging of car parking at airports is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business to manage and justify.

What recent discussions he has had with the School and Public Health Nurses Association on the number of school nurses in schools in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

We are committed to creating the healthiest generation of children ever. The child health workforce, including school nurses, who lead the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme for five to 19-year-olds, is central to how we support children, young people, and families.We are also committed to training the staff we need to ensure everyone receives care from the right professional, when and where they need it. We will need to do this in the context of the 10-Year Plan.Local authorities are best placed to determine local workforce needs, as they know their communities best. Determining the skills and workforce requirements should be underpinned by a local plan, and led by the area’s identified health needs.The Chief Public Health Nurse Office has established a programme of work which aims to improve the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme, which includes school nursing.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of a 21-day diagnosis-to-treatment pathway for people with pancreatic cancer.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale on 24 October 2024 to Question 10063.

What recent steps he has taken to ensure that people in Newcastle-under-Lyme can access the Warm Homes Plan.

The Government’s ambitious Warm Homes Plan will upgrade millions of homes across the country, including in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The plan will make homes cleaner and cheaper to run, from installing new insulation to rolling out solar and heat pumps. We will partner with combined authorities and local and devolved governments to roll out the Warm Homes Plan. Full details will be announced in due course.

What steps he plans to take to help improve men's health; and if he will use the upcoming Men's Health summit to commission a new men's health strategy consultation.

The Government's mission is getting the National Health Service back on its feet, so that it is there for everyone. The Government looks forward to its discussions with everyone interested in men’s health, to hear views and ideas on how to improve outcomes for men. We are developing a 10-Year Health Plan so that we are better able to meet the needs of the population, including men.The forthcoming men’s health summit will help inform the Department on future actions.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of palliative care services available to people in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.Additionally, NHS England has developed a palliative and end of life care dashboard, which brings together all relevant local data in one place. The dashboard helps commissioners understand the palliative and end of life care needs of those their local population, including the ability to filter the available information, such as by deprivation, thereby enabling ICBs to put plans in place to address and track the improvement of health inequalities.The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure that patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and palliative and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift.

What recent steps she has taken to support pensioners with the lowest incomes in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

The last Labour Government lifted more than 1 million pensioners out of poverty, and this Government remain absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. We are honouring our commitment to the Triple Lock with a 4.1% increase to the basic State Pension, the new State Pension, and to the standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit. As such, according to the latest OBR projections, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,900 over the course of this parliament whilst the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,500. We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we are urging pensioners to come forward and check their eligibility for Pension Credit to ensure as many people in need as possible have access to this support. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them. Low income pensioners and others struggling with the cost of living should contact their local council to see what support may be available to them, as they may be able to receive support from the Household Support Fund, Council Tax Reduction, or through energy support programmes such as the Homes Upgrade Grant and Energy Company Obligation.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of support for (a) children and (b) adults with cystic fibrosis in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (ii) Staffordshire.

No specific assessment has been made of the adequacy of support for children and adults with cystic fibrosis in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire.NHS England commissions 47 specialised cystic fibrosis centres for adults and children across England, in addition to supporting the optimal monitoring of patients with cystic fibrosis at home, and supporting best practice in remote consultations. Service specifications published by NHS England clearly define the standards of services, care, and outcomes that people can expect from these centres. Service specifications aim to deliver improvements to life expectancy and quality of life for adults and children with cystic fibrosis.Services for children and adults with cystic fibrosis in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire are provided by multi-disciplinary teams at the North West Midlands Cystic Fibrosis Centre. Further information is available at the following link:https://nwmcfc.nhs.uk/NHS England recently produced the RightCare Cystic Fibrosis Toolkit which is supporting service improvement and better care for patients with cystic fibrosis. The toolkit is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/rightcare-cystic-fibrosis-toolkit/The Midlands region will be undertaking a review of local services over the coming months, based on the recommendations in the toolkit.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with CAFOD.

I recently met with members of the Bond network, including CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development), to discuss the Autumn Budget. We value CAFOD's work internationally tackling poverty, humanitarian crises and global environmental challenges. We look forward to working with them in the future as we shape more modern partnerships with civil society.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the outcomes of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa focused on building shared resilience in the face of today's global challenges and aligned closely with the UK's Commonwealth priorities: catalysing economic growth, tackling the climate and nature crisis and creating opportunities for future generations. A package of measures to support these priorities was announced at CHOGM, including a new UK Trade Centre of Expertise and Commonwealth Investment Plan of Action, continued UK support to the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and an improved scholarship offer to empower Commonwealth youth with skills for the future.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the humanitarian situation in Tigray.

UK assistance is helping to alleviate humanitarian suffering in Tigray and has supported over 168,000 people in accessing primary healthcare, supplied micronutrient supplements for 450,000 malnourished children and women, and provided cash transfers to over 138,000 individuals. The UK also co-led a pledging conference in April that secured $610 million from international development partners, including a £100 million contribution from the UK. We continue to monitor humanitarian need and response plans in Tigray through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). We are also investing in improved data and evidence to enable the humanitarian community to make informed decisions on the humanitarian response.

What steps he is taking to tackle gambling-related suicide in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

The Government has committed to tackling suicide. We will recruit an additional 8,500 new mental health workers, and these new staff will be specially trained to support people at risk from suicide. The five-year Suicide Prevention Strategy for England identifies gambling as a common risk factor, lists actions to reduce suicides as a result of gambling, and will explore opportunities to go further.The Government is committed to reducing gambling-related harms through regulatory reform to strengthen protections. Through the Health Mission, we are supporting people to live healthier lives for longer, with a greater emphasis on the prevention of avoidable health harms. We continue to work closely with Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to consider how best to achieve this. The Department of Health and Social Care is focused on ensuring that those experiencing gambling-related harms can access the right care at the right time. We are working closely with NHS England to capitalise on opportunities to improve and expand treatment and support services.

Representing the Church Commissioners, if she will meet with the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss the condition of the Church estate in that constituency.

My responsibilities relate to the work of the seven National Church Institutions, and I can give best-practice advice about diocesan and parish activity. I would be happy to meet with the Hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss his constituency and any specific concerns he may have. However, he may find a discussion with the Bishop of Lichfield and the team in the Diocese of Lichfield, who are responsible for the condition of the church estate in Newcastle-under-Lyme, more productive. I will write to him to arrange an introduction.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with representatives from the Church Urban Fund since 5 July 2024.

My officials are in regular contact with the Church Urban Fund and I am pleased to say that my department has recently agreed to fund the Church Urban Fund up to £515,000 in this financial year to deliver the Near Neighbours programme. This funding is subject to clearance through the department’s internal finance and due diligence processes.

Whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to designate misogyny as a hate crime.

Tackling violence against women and girls is a top priority for this Government and we are committed to halving violence against women and girls in a decade.The Government is carefully considering how best to tackle hate crime. We will set out next steps in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of (a) people and (b) children living in temporary accommodation in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. Local authorities report their statutory homelessness statistics on a quarterly basis and these can be accessed: here.The Government is taking action by setting up a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) which the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) will chair, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy to put us back on track to ending homelessness.More widely, we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness, including:Delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and building 1.5 million new homes over the next parliament.Abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, preventing private renters being exploited and discriminated against, and empowering people to challenge unreasonable rent increases.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

The Department continues to closely monitor the implementation and impact of the grant scheme through the regular reporting of the grant administrator, EMB. Since 2010, the Government has returned over £350 million to listed churches, synagogues, mosques and temples through the grant scheme. This has helped protect our listed places of worship and enabled them to continue their work as centres of worship and community assets.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of allowing the people of Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands to elect Members to sit in the House of Commons.

The Government has made no assessment on allowing people of Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands to elect Members to sit in the House of Commons.

What discussions he has had with the (a) Prime Minister and (b) Northern Ireland Executive on appointing a new Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner.

The appointment of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner is a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Office officials worked with Whitehall colleagues on a recruitment process for a new Commissioner, which was launched on 16 October.