Written questions by Myer.

What the ratio of nurses and doctors is in the (a) North and (b) South of England.

Awaiting answer.

How many children in the Tees Valley region were eligible for free school meals in 2023/24 and in 2025/26; how many are expected to be eligible in 2026/27; and what the estimated total value of support provided

Awaiting answer.

What estimate her Department has made of the total value of departmental expenditure on breakfast clubs in the Tees Valley region in each of the financial years (a) 2023/24, (b) 2024/25, and (c) 2025/26; and pr

The department is committed to delivering a free breakfast club in every state-funded school with primary-aged pupils in England. There are 34 schools already on the programme within the Tees Valley region.Early adopter schools opened free breakfast clubs...

Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and the Cabinet Office on the proposed acquisition of Electronic Arts by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Sil

As set out in the Creative Industries Sector Plan, the Government is committed to supporting the growth of the UK video games sector. In April this year we launched the £30 million Games Growth Package, doubling funding to invest in UK games businesses an...

What recent progress his Department has made on appointing a Chair to the statutory public inquiry into Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust; and what steps he is taking to ensure that t

The Department is fully committed to setting up the Statutory Public Inquiry into the serious harms that have taken place at the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.The Department has begun work to set up the inquiry, the Inquiry Secretary is ...

What assessment he has made of the potential role of low-carbon domestic ammonia production in improving the UK's energy security and industrial resilience.

Low carbon ammonia could play a role in reaching net zero as part of a diversified energy mix, as a flexible energy carrier or fuel. Ammonia can also be used as an industrial feedstock for essential products such as fertiliser. However, the scale of futur...

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential contribution of domestically produced polyhalite fertiliser to improving the resilience and security of fertiliser supplies for UK agricul

Polyhalite satisfies a proportion of the UK’s sulphur demand, but it is not a direct substitute for nitrogen or phosphate-based fertilisers. It can, however, be blended with other fertilisers to increase nutrient use efficiency and provide a balanced nutr...

What the timetable is for the completion of the Second Hydrogen Allocation Round and the announcement of successful projects.

The next stage of the Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 process is the Invite to Offer stage, and we are working hard across government to begin this as soon as possible. We will be in touch with projects when this commences. We understand that many projects ar...

What estimate the Department has made of the financial value to businesses in the Tees Valley of trade agreements since July 2024; how many businesses in the Tees Valley are expected to benefit and how

The Department does not produce such specific estimates. For new free trade agreements (FTAs), the Government publishes impact assessments to support the parliamentary scrutiny process of FTAs, which include an assessment of the UK’s regions and nations. ...

How many people are in receipt of Universal Credit in the Tees Valley region; what the total value of Universal Credit payments to claimants in the Tees Valley was in 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26; and w

Monthly statistics showing the number of people on Universal Credit by local authority, from November 2013 to February 2026, are published in the People on Universal Credit dataset on Stat-Xplore. The department regularly publishes benefit expenditure and...

Whether her Department collects data relating to children placed in households including a registered sex offender.

The department does not collect data on children placed in households where an individual is a registered sex offender.We collect data on children’s serious incidents that involve death or serious harm to a child where abuse or neglect is known or suspect...

Whether her Department is aware of any cases in the last five years where a child was placed in the primary care of an individual who is a registered sex offender.

The department does not collect data on children placed in households where an individual is a registered sex offender.We collect data on children’s serious incidents that involve death or serious harm to a child where abuse or neglect is known or suspect...

How many people receive the Minimum Wage or the National Living Wage in the Tees Valley region; what estimate the Department has made of the additional wage income received by workers in the Tees Valle

Estimates by local authority and parliamentary constituency are not always available due to data reliability constraints.Around 140,000 workers in the North East were expected to benefit from a direct pay rise following National Minimum Wage (NMW) and Nat...

What assessment his Department has made of the extent to which decisions on community hospital facilities take account of rural need, public transport accessibility and population growth in East Cl

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the planning and commissioning of National Health Service healthcare services. In doing so ICBs must take into account the needs of their local population, which includes meeting the healthcare needs of th...

Whether individuals previously deemed unsafe to foster can be reassessed, specifically in cases where they are registered sex offenders.

Awaiting answer.

What data her Department collects on children placed in households where an individual is a registered sex offender.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the trade deficit.

In the 12 months to February 2026, the UK trade deficit (excluding precious metals) was £14.8bn, comprising a £210.1bn trade in services surplus, and a £225.0bn trade in goods deficit. The UK trade deficit (excluding precious metals) has remained broadly similar year-on-year, and stood at £14.9bn in the 12 months to February 2025 (ONS, 2026).The Department for Business and Trade’s primary objective is to promote economic growth. As set out in Industrial and Trade Strategies published in 2025, we seek to improve UK productivity and competitiveness, strengthen our export capability, attract inward investment, and support resilient supply chains.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has analysed the responses to the consultation on enhanced protections for homeowners on freehold estates which closed on 12 March 2026; and when he plans to respond to that consultation.

We are currently analysing the feedback received to the consultation in question and will publish our response in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential health impacts of microplastic exposure.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is carrying out research to understand if there are potential health risks from exposure to micro and nano plastics through inhalational and oral routes. This work is in collaboration with Imperial College under the Health Protection Research Unit Environmental Exposures and Health. These research projects assist in the understanding of the potential risks from exposure to micro- and nano plastics through inhalational and oral routes and enhance UKHSA capability in understanding the risks from microplastics. The potential impact of microplastic materials on human health has been assessed by the UK Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. The most recent statement was published in 2024 and can be found at the following link: https://cot.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-02/Microplastics%20inhalation%20final%20draft%20statement%20Acc%20V%20SO.pdf In October 2025, the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants published a statement summarising the evidence for a potential risk to health from exposure to airborne nano- and microplastics, and the uncertainty and gaps in this evidence. This statement can be found on the GOV.UK website at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/comeap-statement-on-airborne-nano-and-microplastic-particles-and-fibres

What steps the Government is taking to ensure that veterans of the Iraq conflict are treated fairly and with respect in any investigations, while maintaining legal accountability.

The Government is committed to supporting its people who act reasonably and in good faith in the course of their duties. Legal advice and welfare support are available to all Serving and former members of the Armed Forces, where they face criminal or civil allegations that relate to their Service. Following the publication of the final Iraq Fatality Investigation Report in November 2025, there are no outstanding investigations into the actions of veterans during the Iraq Conflict.