Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with cabinet colleagues to improve the a) safety and b) provision of playgrounds for young people in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Local authorities work locally to support adults and children to lead more active lives through access to nature, parks, and play spaces. We are investing in local government. The Spending Review 2025 provides over £5 billion of new grant funding over the next three years for local services that communities rely on. This includes £3.4 billion of new grant funding which will be delivered through the Settlement for 2026-27 to 2028-29.
Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, we consulted on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework. That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, included proposals relating to the provision of play space. The government has recently published a draft update to national design guidance, which emphasises that development proposals should maximise the potential for play in the layout, form and appearance of development. In terms of safety, owners and operators of playgrounds are required to comply with existing legal requirements as applicable.
Government also owns the Green Flag Award scheme, which helps to increase access to quality green spaces and parks; sets the standard for those spaces to meet the needs of the communities they serve and has helped to transform thousands of spaces across the country. This includes many parks across Newcastle-under-Lyme, such as Bathpool Park, Brampton Park and Lyme Valley Park.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help reduce the number of unemployed young people in Staffordshire.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
For many years our young people have not had the opportunity and support they deserve. Under the last government, between 2021 and 2024, the number of young people not in education, employment or training increased by 250,000.
The Government has recently announced a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking the total investment to £2.5 billion over the next three years though the Youth Guarantee and additional investment in the Growth and Skills Levy. This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.
This includes the delivery of eight Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expansion of Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introduction of a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres. The Gateway will provide 16-24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education.
This investment will also create around 300,000 more opportunities to gain workplace experience and training, including up to 150,000 work experience placements and up to 145,000 employer designed training opportunities, such as Sector based Work Academy Programmes, which offer participants a guaranteed job interview at the end.
In addition, the Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18–24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16–24-year-old, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds with a fully funded six month job.
The Government will also prioritise prevention, building on measures announced in the Skills White Paper. The Government will improve support in schools, monitor attendance, increase access to work experience and work with local authorities to pilot auto-enrolling young people in further education, if needed.
Together these measures demonstrate the Government’s commitment to backing young people, supporting employers, and working with partners across Great Britain to create clear pathways into employment and education for young people.
In Staffordshire, our DWP Schools Advisers have supported over 3,600 young people across in the 2024/25 academic year. This includes 220 students in Newcastle-under-Lyme at Orme Academy, St Peter's Academy, and Abbey Hill Special School. Young people have access to training in Digital Marketing, Cyber Security, Web Design, and Emergency First Aid for Mental Health through The Training Initiative.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to improve bilateral defence cooperation between the UK and Ireland.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
On 13 March 2026 the Secretary of State for Defence, and the Irish Minister for Defence, announced the signing of the refreshed UK-Ireland Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The updated MOU focuses on maritime cooperation, cyber defence, air domain information sharing, and increased joint procurement. This modernised MOU will improve bilateral defence cooperation between the UK and Ireland, providing a stronger, more agile foundation for cooperation, while respecting the distinct defence and security policies of both countries.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his department is taking to ensure that innovation in early detection and treatment technologies for heart valve disease is translated into timely and equitable patient access.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, wearables are one of the “big bets” for the future of the National Health Service. They are a powerful tool to support prevention, early intervention, and self-management of long-term conditions.
By 2028, we aim to make remote monitoring for cardiovascular disease using wearables and connected devices a standard part of care.
Our vision is for wearables to become routine in NHS care by 2035, from managing post-acute and chronic illness at home, to spotting early warning signs of disease.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to support a) airlines and b) travel agents in ensuring the return of British citizens in the Middle East.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
My Department and I have continued to engage with the aviation sector throughout the conflict to understand the impacts on their operations, plans for minimising disruption, and the support they are providing to their customers. This collaboration and engagement included Ministerial attendance at the Third Aviation Council meeting and direct engagement with all major UK airlines, airports and key foreign carriers. My Department and I have worked in tandem with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and airlines, to ensure that any British Nationals who wish to leave the region can, through both commercial routes and repatriation flights supported by the Government.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support he is giving to local authorities in Staffordshire to take enforcement action against the sale of a) tobacco b) fruit flavoured vapes and c) alcohol to under 18s.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is supporting local authorities to take enforcement action against the underage sales of tobacco, vapes, and alcohol.
On tobacco and vapes, the Government is providing up to £10 million annually until 2028/29 for Trading Standards, to support the enforcement of illicit and underage sales in England. This funding is being used to boost the Trading Standards workforce by recruiting 120 new apprentices, including one apprentice in Staffordshire, enabling more underage sales test purchases and swifter enforcement action against illicit activity.
Alongside this, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will introduce £200 fixed penalty notices in England and Wales for certain tobacco and vape offences, including underage sales, to empower Trading Standards to take swifter action to fine those who choose to break the law and sell to anyone underage, putting the public’s health at risk. The bill will also provide ministers in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland with regulation making powers to introduce a licensing scheme for the retail sale of tobacco, vapes, and nicotine products. This will strengthen enforcement against retailers who breach tobacco and vape age of sale regulations.
On alcohol, the Home Office supports local authorities through the Licensing Act 2003 and Section 182 guidance, which require licensed premises to operate a mandatory age verification policy at the point of sale. Enforcement of underage sales rests with local licensing authorities, Trading Standards, and the police, who can prosecute, including for persistent sales, and seek licence reviews or revocation to protect children from harm.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact the Heraeus bone cement supply delays will have on the elective waiting time targets.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is the responsibility of National Health Service systems to manage the bone cement supply delays in their local context. NHS England has been working closely with systems to manage the temporary supply disruption affecting certain Heraeus bone cement products. A letter was issued to systems in February 2026 and is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/heraeus-medical-bone-cement-products/
NHS trusts have reviewed and clinically prioritised their orthopaedic waiting lists to ensure available stock is safely and appropriately used, taking into account patient need, staff familiarity with alternative products, and local supply constraints. Where delays to planned joint procedures are unavoidable, trusts are expected to maintain transparent and timely communication with affected patients, so they remain fully informed about changes to their care treatment pathway.
NHS England has advised trusts to make best use of any freed-up clinical capacity, including focussing on new outpatient activity, and strengthening clinical triage for patients waiting more than 18 weeks. These steps are intended to reduce the risk of knock-on effects for elective waiting time performance. Every effort is being made to sustain progress on Referral to Treatment performance while this temporary supply issue is resolved.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to help keep patients informed of the delays to their joint surgeries due to Heraeus bone cement supply delays.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is the responsibility of National Health Service systems to manage the bone cement supply delays in their local context. NHS England has been working closely with systems to manage the temporary supply disruption affecting certain Heraeus bone cement products. A letter was issued to systems in February 2026 and is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/heraeus-medical-bone-cement-products/
NHS trusts have reviewed and clinically prioritised their orthopaedic waiting lists to ensure available stock is safely and appropriately used, taking into account patient need, staff familiarity with alternative products, and local supply constraints. Where delays to planned joint procedures are unavoidable, trusts are expected to maintain transparent and timely communication with affected patients, so they remain fully informed about changes to their care treatment pathway.
NHS England has advised trusts to make best use of any freed-up clinical capacity, including focussing on new outpatient activity, and strengthening clinical triage for patients waiting more than 18 weeks. These steps are intended to reduce the risk of knock-on effects for elective waiting time performance. Every effort is being made to sustain progress on Referral to Treatment performance while this temporary supply issue is resolved.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for decisions on Access to Work claims.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are committed to reducing waiting times in Access to Work so that people can access the support they need. We prioritise applications from customers who are due to start work within the next four weeks, as well as renewals for existing grants, to minimise disruption to employment.
The Pathways to Work Green Paper launched a consultation on the future of Access to Work which has now concluded. Following over 47,500 responses from individuals, charities and other stakeholders, as well as 18 consultation events, we published our summary of the responses to the Pathways to Work Green Paper consultation on 30 October 2025.
We are now considering the responses and will bring forward our proposals for reforming Access to Work as soon as we are able to.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill (Network and Information Systems) Bill, a) what estimate she had made of the shortage of the cybersecurity skills which will be necessary to implement and comply with the new regulations created by the Bill and b) what steps the department is taking to address skills gaps.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill was introduced in November 2025 to increase UK defences against cyber attacks. The Bill has been developed in close collaboration with regulators to ensure that they have the right information and tools they need to be supported and effective under the new framework.
This includes allowing regulators to recover all the costs of their activities under the regime so that they can be sufficiently resourced, enhancing their impact through clearer information gateways, and establishing a unified set of objectives so that regulators can better focus their resources. DSIT will also issue clear guidance to support regulators as they exercise their functions and will monitor and evaluate the new framework following its implementation to review the effectiveness of the regime, which could include regulator capability.
New regulated entities being brought into scope of the Bill are in highly technical, high skill sectors and will have guidance and support they can draw from Regulators, Government and NCSC to help them to drive up cyber maturity and effectively manage risks to the essential services they provide. To further support the development of cyber security skills, the £187 million TechFirst programme will fund up to 4,000 students, researchers and innovators entering frontier industries, and help local firms fill around 1,000 tech roles, including cyber security roles.