Written questions by Jogee.

What recent discussions he has had with the Minister of Health for Northern Ireland on the work of the NHS in Northern Ireland.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive, including the First Minister and deputy First Minister, on a wide range of priorities.While health is a devolved matter, the Government is committed to supporting the Executive to deliver sustainable, high-quality, and accessible public services for the people of Northern Ireland. I welcome the progress made under the Health Minister's Reset Plan, which has already produced some tangible results, including significant reductions in waiting lists and the successful rollout of the Encompass digital record system.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many diplomatic postings on the African continent are waiting for a permanent Head of Mission to be appointed.

There are two diplomatic missions on the African continent currently waiting for a permanent Head of Mission to be appointed, in Monrovia and Nairobi.

What recent discussions he has had with the board of InterTrade UK.

I met with the Chair of Intertrade UK, Baroness Foster, last month at the East-West Council to hear an update on the Board’s work to date and its future plans. I have also engaged directly with Intertrade UK on the advice they have submitted to me on issues affecting UK internal market trade. This has included the Windsor Framework, veterinary medicines, vehicle type approvals and customs arrangements. I look forward to engaging with the Board further as they continue to implement their work programme.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the British Council.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I provided on 28 October in response to question 906060, and to the oral evidence provided to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 9 December by the Permanent Under-Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and on 16 December by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, where this issue was addressed at length.

What recent engagement he has had with businesses in Co Armagh.

I have met with Wilson’s Country in Portadown.

What recent engagement he has had with businesses in Co Down.

I have met with Eakin Healthcare in Comber, The Exact Group in Newry and Lakeland Dairies in Newtownards.

What recent engagement he has had with his Canadian counterpart about the potential merits of increasing trade between the United Kingdom and Canada.

I am in regular contact with Minister Sidhu as we seek ways to grow bilateral trade – worth £31bn in the 12 months to September 2025 and up 17% on the previous 12 months .Last year, the UK-Canada Economic and Trade Working Group identified a number of priority bilateral workstreams for 2026 to further grow trade and drive cooperation, including the review of the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin to make the agreement easier to use by businesses on both sides.My Department is also committed to the UK trading with Canada under CPTPP terms. Canada has commenced its legislative process for the UK’s ratification, with Entry into Force expected later this year.

What recent engagement he has had with businesses in Co Tyrone.

Minister Patrick has met with Mallaghan Engineering in Dungannon to discuss their apprenticeship programme.

What recent engagement he has had with businesses in Country Antrim.

I have met with Deloitte, Belfast Harbour, Leckey, Camlin, as well as PRM Group, Thales, Studio Ulster, and Stena Line. Additionally, I have regular engagement with Institute of Directors NI, Federation of Small Businesses NI, NI Chamber, Belfast Chamber and NIBBWG on matters relating to business across Northern Ireland.

What recent engagement he has had with the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland about the transport priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I have regular discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive, including the First Minister and deputy First Minister, on a wide range of priorities. Transport is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the responsibility of the Executive’s Infrastructure Minister.

What recent discussions he has had with the First Minister of Northern Ireland on the trade priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive.

I meet regularly with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to discuss a range of issues, including trade. I also chaired the East-West Council on 22 January 2026, attended by both the First Minister and deputy First Minister, which included a discussion of the £16.6 million provided to Northern Ireland via the Internal Market Package, to support East-West trade; and, an update on the work of Intertrade UK and the £2.25 million funding it received in the budget.

What steps he is taking to reduce the use of skin lightening products.

As product safety regulator, OPSS is responsible for ensuring that consumer products are safe. The UK Cosmetic Regulation requires that a safety assessment be completed by a qualified assessor to demonstrate the safety of a cosmetic product before it can be sold on our market.OPSS also provides funding to the Chartered Trading Standards Institute to highlight the dangers to consumers of using illegal cosmetics, including skin lighteners, through its “Cost Of Beauty” Campaign. The campaign includes social media, outreach with targeted groups and working with traditional media, with the aim of raising attention to the risks of these products.

What recent engagement he has had with the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland about the trade priorities of the Northern Ireland Executive.

I meet regularly with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to discuss a range of issues, including trade. I also chaired the East-West Council on 22 January 2026, attended by both the First Minister and deputy First Minister, which included a discussion of the £16.6 million provided to Northern Ireland via the Internal Market Package, to support East-West trade; and, an update on the work of Intertrade UK and the £2.25 million funding it received in the budget.

What recent engagement he has had with businesses in Derry/Londonderry.

I have met with Alchemy Technology Services, Derry-Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and Foyle Port.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department has taken to ensure access to good quality, safe and secure youth provision in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire received Million Hours Funding, to enable local youth services to deliver more positive activities in anti-social behaviour hotspots, giving young people a place to go and reducing young people's involvement in crime. In December 2025, we launched Youth Matters: Your National Youth Strategy’ a 10 year plan to ensure every young person across the country has somewhere to go, someone who cares for them and a community they feel part of. This is backed by over £500 million of new youth funding over the next 3 years from DCMS, which complements a range of funding committed by other departments. The majority of the funding underpinning the first steps of the Strategy will be available from next the financial year 2026/27. We will share more information as our plans develop, including details on the eligible areas for funding.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth about improving trade links between Commonwealth member states.

Neither the Secretary of State nor I have held discussions with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth about anything.

How many serving Magistrates there are in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

Magistrates are appointed to a Local Justice Area (LJA). Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire both fall under the Staffordshire LJA, and we are unable to separate them as Magistrates are able to sit across all courts within this area. As of 01 April 2025, the number of serving magistrates in the Staffordshire Local Justice Area was 217.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many a) letters and b) emails about Walleys Quarry Landfill Site her Department received from the i) Leader and ii) Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme District Borough Council between 1 January 2020 and 4 July 2024.

To determine the total number of items of correspondence (including letters and emails) between Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council and Defra would incur disproportionate cost. I am able to say that six letters from the Leader or Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council concerning Walleys Quarry have been identified as having been received within the specified time period, but this is not exhaustive. Records are not held centrally for all of the time period specified, or at all in the case of emails.

How many schools in Newcastle-under-Lyme closed due to hydrogen sulphide from Walleys Quarry landfill site between 1 January 2021 and 28 November 2024; and how many days they were closed for.

The department does not hold the information requested.Where the department is notified of a significant safety issue with a school building that cannot be managed within local resources, we consider additional support on a case-by-case basis. We work closely with these responsible bodies and schools to minimise the impact of closures and ensure continuity of education for pupils.

What fiscal steps she is taking to help reduce the number of unemployed young people in Staffordshire.

This Government is committed to tackling youth unemployment by investing in young people’s futures. At the Budget we announced over £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, including £820 million for the expanded Youth Guarantee to help young people earn or learn, and £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy to support apprenticeships for young people. Through the expanded Youth Guarantee, young people aged 16 to 24 across Great Britain, including in Staffordshire, will receive enhanced support to move into work or training.