Written questions by Morris.

How many primary care providers have joined the Pride in Practice programme in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle and (d) the North East.

This information is not held by the Department or NHS England. The LGBT Foundation runs Pride in Practice. Further information on Pride in Practice, including coverage, can be found on the LGBT Foundation’s website.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with relevant stakeholders following the closure of the consultation on Planning Reform Working Paper: Speeding Up Build Out.

My Department engages regularly with a range of stakeholders about our ongoing reforms to the planning system, including proposals to increase build out rates.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of Government funding provided to the Pub Is The Hub organisation on pubs in (a) Northumberland and (b) the North East.

Government recognises the important role rural pubs and those in deprived areas can play in supporting their communities and the work of Pub Is The Hub in helping them improve their resilience by providing additional community services. That is why the Government has provided £440,000 to help Pub Is The Hub continue this important work. In its 2025 report: PiTH-Social-Value-of-Pubsfinal.pdf, Pub Is The Hub highlighted over 40 diversification projects that could not be delivered due to a lack of funding. Pub Is The Hub operates across the UK and applications for funding are assessed using its criteria.

What steps his Department is taking to support SMEs to access skills funding in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

The government provides a range of financial support to help Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) in England access apprenticeships. To support non-levy paying employers, which are likely to be SMEs, to access apprenticeships, the government pays the full training costs for young apprentices aged 16-21, and for apprentices aged 22-24 who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan or have been in local authority care. For all other apprentices, employers that do not pay the levy are required to co-invest 5% towards apprentice training costs. For all employers, government also pays £1,000 to both employers and training providers for apprentices aged 16-18, or apprentices aged 19-24 who have an EHC plan or have been in local authority care. Employers also benefit from not being required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25 where they earn less than £967 a week (£50,270 a year). In addition we are investing in education and skills training for adults through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF). The ASF fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to support adults to gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. As of August 2025, 68% of the ASF is devolved to 12 Strategic Authorities and the Greater London Authority. These authorities are responsible for the provision of ASF-funded adult education for their residents and allocation of the ASF to learning providers. For learners in Hexham, Northumberland, and Newcastle, the North East Combined Authority (NECA) decides how to make best use of their ASF to meet their local needs beyond four statutory entitlements, including which courses are funded and the eligibility criteria. By honouring our commitments to combine and further devolve adult skills funding, we give those with local knowledge the power they need to make decisions that are best for their areas.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has had recent discussions with the local authority on inactive landlords in Northumberland.

My Department has had no recent discussions with Northumberland County Council, Hexham Town Council or relevant stakeholders regarding ‘inactive’ landlords in Northumberland or the wider North East.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 43740 on Animal Welfare: Trapping, what recent discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on ending the use of snare traps.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The Secretary of State has had no recent discussions with relevant stakeholders on ending the use of snare traps, but Defra Ministers and officials have regular meetings with organisations that have an interest in snare use. As outlined in our manifesto, we will bring an end to the use of snare traps. We are considering the most effective way to deliver this commitment and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with relevant stakeholders on solutions for inactive landlords in the North East.

My Department has had no recent discussions with Northumberland County Council, Hexham Town Council or relevant stakeholders regarding ‘inactive’ landlords in Northumberland or the wider North East.

Whether his Department has had discussions with relevant stakeholders on supporting businesses to create well-paid jobs in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

The Government’s Plan for Small Businesses, published in July, sets out the measures that Government is taking to support small businesses across the UK. This includes legislation to end the scourge of late payments which costs the UK economy £11bn annually and proposals to increase access to finance through the British Business Bank The development of this plan was informed by a wide range of consultations across England, including specific input from businesses across the North East, and engagement with officials from the North East Combined Authority, the North East Chamber of Commerce and the regional teams of the Confederation of British Industry and Federation of Small Business.

What steps his Department is taking to support the growth of small and medium businesses in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

The Government’s Plan for Small Businesses, published in July, sets out the measures that Government is taking to support small businesses across the UK. This includes legislation to end the scourge of late payments which costs the UK economy £11bn annually and proposals to increase access to finance through the British Business Bank. Businesses across the North-East, including those in Hexham constituency, Northumberland, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne can also access specialist advice on how to scale up, access new markets, and receive financial support to grow through the North-East Growth Hub, delivered in partnership with the North-East Combined Authority.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support alternative network providers to deploy broadband in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

The government is committed to ensuring 99% of UK premises receive gigabit coverage by 2032.In July, we published a consultation on a draft updated Statement of Strategic Priorities to Ofcom that sets out the government’s view on the importance of competition to promote investment in broadband deployment across the UK, including in rural areas. A pro-competition regulatory environment will allow alternative networks to continue to play a key role in the fibre roll-out. We are currently reviewing responses to the consultation and will publish our response in due course.In non-commercially viable, often rural, areas, more than £2.4 billion of Project Gigabit contracts have already been signed, including with alternative networks, to connect over one million more premises with gigabit-capable broadband.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support alternative network providers to deploy broadband in rural areas.

The government is committed to ensuring 99% of UK premises receive gigabit coverage by 2032.In July, we published a consultation on a draft updated Statement of Strategic Priorities to Ofcom that sets out the government’s view on the importance of competition to promote investment in broadband deployment across the UK, including in rural areas. A pro-competition regulatory environment will allow alternative networks to continue to play a key role in the fibre roll-out. We are currently reviewing responses to the consultation and will publish our response in due course.In non-commercially viable, often rural, areas, more than £2.4 billion of Project Gigabit contracts have already been signed, including with alternative networks, to connect over one million more premises with gigabit-capable broadband.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to publish a horticulture strategy.

The Government remains committed to our horticulture sector and the vital role it plays in strengthening food security through a reliable and sustainable supply of fresh home-grown produce. Horticulture is being considered as part of the Government Food Strategy.

What steps her Department is taking to support young people into education in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

On 20 October, we published the Post-16 education and skills white paper, outlining reforms to build a world-class skills system and support young people into education and training. This includes a target for two-thirds of young people to participate in higher-level learning (academic, technical, or apprenticeships) by age 25.A new Youth Guarantee will support young people to access to education, training, or provide help into work or an apprenticeship. Eight trailblazer areas are testing ways to help those at risk of becoming not in education, employment, or training.The department will invest nearly £800 million more in 16 to 19 education in 2026/27, helping support high quality teacher recruitment and retention. We will also pilot an automatic guaranteed provider place for all 16-year-olds.We will introduce targeted, means-tested maintenance grants before the end of this parliament to help students from low-income backgrounds progress onto higher education courses that support our missions and Industrial Strategy.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions her Department has had with Ofcom on the cost of the per-metre charging regime for rural network builders.

As the independent regulator for telecommunications, Ofcom is responsible for making regulatory decisions in the fixed telecoms sector, including on the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product.DSIT is engaging on this issue with Ofcom at an official level. In July, we published our draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum, and postal services that sets out the Government’s view on infrastructure sharing in the fixed telecoms sector, including asking Ofcom to demonstrate greater transparency in how they calculate and set PIA prices.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 52361 on Gender Based Violence: Prosecutions, whether her Department has had further discussions on the application of the Crown Prosecution Service Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan to rural areas.

Domestic abuse causes severe and lasting harm to victims. Bringing perpetrators of these crimes to justice, whether committed in our cities, towns or rural areas, is a core priority for this Government and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).In collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the CPS launched the Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan (DA JJP) to improve the collective response to the investigation and prosecution of domestic abuse cases across England and Wales.The DA JJP has strengthened joint working with policing – building stronger cases from the outset and increasing access to justice for victims nationally and locally. The work is already showing positive results – referrals volumes from Northumbria Police have increased by nearly 18.4% since the plan was launched, demonstrating that significant progress has been made.Recognising different local needs, the plan provides strategic direction rather than prescribing local activity. CPS Areas and police forces have worked together to tailor the plan to address local priorities and community needs – including those in rural areas.A key outcome of the DA JJP is building expertise across both the CPS and policing. To support this, there is a joint knowledge sharing event on ‘Domestic Abuse in Rural Areas’ planned for the new year. This coordinated approach is key to breaking cycles of abuse, securing prosecutions, and ensuring that victims are heard, protected, and supported throughout the justice process.

What steps his Department is taking to improve support for pubs in rural areas.

Pubs are the beating heart of their communities, providing not just a place to socialise but essential services and local jobs, especially in rural areas. That’s why we’re investing £440,000 with Pub is The Hub to help rural pubs diversify, aiming to support rural communities, create new jobs and services. We also want planning and licensing systems to work fairly for businesses and residents, we’re creating a more balanced premises licensing system that not only safeguards communities but also supports responsible businesses. On 7 October the Government issued a Call for Evidence on Reforming the licensing system - GOV.UK (deadline: midday, 6 November 2025) We are also planning to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties under £500,000 rateable value. We work closely with the Hospitality Sector Council to improve the productivity and resilience of hospitality businesses by co-creating solutions to the issues impacting business performance.

What steps her Department is taking to support the roll-out of youth hubs in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

We are expanding our network of Youth Hubs to over 200 locations across Great Britain within the next three years to provide more accessible and joined-up employment support for young people. This investment ensures that young claimants, particularly those on Universal Credit, can access tailored employment and skills services in their local communities. While employment and skills support remain central to the Youth Hubs offer, the expansion will also ensure a core minimum blueprint across all locations. This will connect young people to a wider range of services such as health, housing, and wellbeing support, based on local needs and partnerships. Hexham and Newcastle are already served by Youth Hubs. In Hexham, DWP works with the Northumberland Rural Employment Hub, which recently ran a successful session for 18–24-year-olds on job searching and CV building, with plans for future events. In Newcastle, the Newcastle United Foundation Youth Hub provides tailored employability support, including job fairs, mentoring, and access to DWP systems. It serves a wide area and works with partners to address skills and employment barriers. These hubs will continue to evolve and align with the Youth Hub blueprint, ensuring young people benefit from high-quality, locally tailored services. Across Northumberland and the North East, DWP is planning to expand Youth Hubs in areas of highest need over the next two years.

What steps his Department is taking to improve support for pubs in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

Pubs are the beating heart of their communities, providing not just a place to socialise but essential services and local jobs, especially in rural areas. That’s why we’re investing £440,000 with Pub is The Hub to help rural pubs diversify, aiming to support rural communities, create new jobs and services. We also want planning and licensing systems to work fairly for businesses and residents, we’re creating a more balanced premises licensing system that not only safeguards communities but also supports responsible businesses. On 7 October the Government issued a Call for Evidence on Reforming the licensing system - GOV.UK (deadline: midday, 6 November 2025) We are also planning to introduce permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties under £500,000 rateable value. We work closely with the Hospitality Sector Council to improve the productivity and resilience of hospitality businesses by co-creating solutions to the issues impacting business performance.

What discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders on opening Technical Excellence Colleges in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.

The department is introducing technical excellence colleges (TECs) to specialise in training skilled workforces which industry needs in growth-driving priority sectors. Ten construction TECs were appointed in August 2025, with one in each of the nine English regions and the tenth with a cross-regional remit. The department has engaged with North East Mayoral Combined Authority and Tees Valley Combined Authority throughout the process of appointing Sunderland College as the CTEC for the North East. Additionally, officials have engaged more widely with strategic authorities, trade bodies such as the Construction Industry Training Board, and membership organisations such as the Association of Colleges. The department will take a similar approach with the selection of the next wave of TECs in defence, clean energy, advanced manufacturing and digital and technologies.The selection process for these TECs will start by the end of 2025, with delivery planned to begin from April 2026. Further details will be published in due course.

What discussions his Department has had with relevant stakeholders on the Crisis and Resilience Fund and rural areas.

My Department have actively engaged with stakeholders on design for the new Crisis and Resilience Fund through a structured co-design process. This has involved a representative group of local authorities —including a mix of urban and rural areas, third-party organisations and academics. The process culminated in a concluding event on 22 October 2025, attended by over 750 stakeholders.