Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she is taking steps to increase funding for ongoing training in West Midlands Police to support career progression for local officers.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

This Government is committed to ensuring there are consistent, high standards in policing. That is why, since being elected, the government has increased funding to forces by £2 billion. West Midlands Police will receive up to £883.9 million in 2026-27, an increase of up to £36.9 million when compared to the 2025-26 police funding settlement.

The College of Policing sets national standards for leadership, training and development and supports forces and individuals at local level with career progression. However, Chief Constables are ultimately responsible for investment in their workforce at a local level, ensuring that officers are appropriately trained and equipped for their role on an ongoing basis.

As set out in the White Paper, ‘From local to national: a new model for policing’, we are committed to ensuring that officers and staff have the right skills and support to do their jobs. To support our ambitious programme of police reform, the Police Leadership Commission chaired by Lord Blunkett and Lord Herbert has been assessing how a culture of learning, support and development can be further embedded throughout the careers of officers and staff.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the availability of public electric vehicle charging infrastructure on consumer uptake of electric vehicles in Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

As of 1 April 2026, there were 102 public EV chargers in Sutton Coldfield. To build on this, the West Midlands Combined Authority has received over £18 million to deliver additional local charging infrastructure through the Local EV Infrastructure Fund.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to improve access to arts and culture for young people in the West Midlands.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people can access high-quality arts and culture.

Between 2023/24 and 2025/26, Arts Council England invested over £170 million in arts organisations and projects across the West Midlands, including almost £40 million supporting children and young people. This funding supports initiatives such as Powered by CAN in Sandwell, which develops creative opportunities and career pathways; Big Brum Theatre in Education, one of the most established Theatre in Education companies in the UK; and Wolverhampton’s City of Youth Culture programme, helping more young people engage with arts, culture and creative activities across the region.

Nationally, the government is committed to revitalising arts education through a reformed curriculum and support for teachers, including via the new National Centre for Arts and Music Education, due to be established by September 2026. To increase access to enrichment opportunities across culture, sport, and wider youth sectors for disadvantaged young people, the Every Child Can programme, backed by £132.5 million in dormant assets through the National Lottery Community Fund, will fund activities within schools and in communities at weekends and in the holidays, ensuring enrichment is a common entitlement for all.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether guidance has been issued to Birmingham City Council on maintaining non-digital access routes for digitally excluded residents.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)

Everybody should be able to access the public services they need with ease.

While local authorities – including Birmingham City Council – have autonomy for how they design and deliver services, all public bodies must comply with the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018, the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty, which require them to consider the needs of disabled people and ensure their websites and apps are accessible to all users.

Councils are encouraged to adopt the government Service Standard and Service Manual, as a framework and guidance for good, accessible and inclusive service design.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will provide additional funding for West Midlands Police to help address low level crime during the summer months.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

West Midlands Police will receive up to £883.9 million in 2026-27, an increase of up to £36.9 million when compared to 2025-26.

Decisions on how funding and resources are utilised are an operational matter for Chief Constables and locally elected Police and Crime Commissioners, who are best placed to make resourcing decisions within their communities based on their local knowledge and experience.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust spent on agency staff in each of the last five years.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The following table shows the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust’s spend on agency/contract staff since 2021/22, according to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust’s last five published annual reports and accounts:

Figures for 2025/26 are still subject to audit and will be finalised and published in due course.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with Birmingham City Council on improving water safety at Sutton Park.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Responsibility for water safety and drowning prevention is shared across a range of organisations, including local authorities, emergency services, regulators, education partners and landowners. Defra's role primarily relates to the water environment and oversight of relevant arm's-length bodies. Defra supports the Environment Agency and Canal and River Trust, which undertake risk assessments and public safety campaigns to help people stay safe around water.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help improve water safety measures at Sutton Park.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Responsibility for water safety and drowning prevention is shared across a range of organisations, including local authorities, emergency services, regulators, education partners and landowners. Defra's role primarily relates to the water environment and oversight of relevant arm's-length bodies. Defra supports the Environment Agency and Canal and River Trust, which undertake risk assessments and public safety campaigns to help people stay safe around water.

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