Written questions by Jogee.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of palliative care services available to people in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.Additionally, NHS England has developed a palliative and end of life care dashboard, which brings together all relevant local data in one place. The dashboard helps commissioners understand the palliative and end of life care needs of those their local population, including the ability to filter the available information, such as by deprivation, thereby enabling ICBs to put plans in place to address and track the improvement of health inequalities.The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure that patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and palliative and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift.

What recent steps she has taken to support pensioners with the lowest incomes in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

The last Labour Government lifted more than 1 million pensioners out of poverty, and this Government remain absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. We are honouring our commitment to the Triple Lock with a 4.1% increase to the basic State Pension, the new State Pension, and to the standard minimum guarantee in Pension Credit. As such, according to the latest OBR projections, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,900 over the course of this parliament whilst the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,500. We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we are urging pensioners to come forward and check their eligibility for Pension Credit to ensure as many people in need as possible have access to this support. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them. Low income pensioners and others struggling with the cost of living should contact their local council to see what support may be available to them, as they may be able to receive support from the Household Support Fund, Council Tax Reduction, or through energy support programmes such as the Homes Upgrade Grant and Energy Company Obligation.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of support for (a) children and (b) adults with cystic fibrosis in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (ii) Staffordshire.

No specific assessment has been made of the adequacy of support for children and adults with cystic fibrosis in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire.NHS England commissions 47 specialised cystic fibrosis centres for adults and children across England, in addition to supporting the optimal monitoring of patients with cystic fibrosis at home, and supporting best practice in remote consultations. Service specifications published by NHS England clearly define the standards of services, care, and outcomes that people can expect from these centres. Service specifications aim to deliver improvements to life expectancy and quality of life for adults and children with cystic fibrosis.Services for children and adults with cystic fibrosis in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire are provided by multi-disciplinary teams at the North West Midlands Cystic Fibrosis Centre. Further information is available at the following link:https://nwmcfc.nhs.uk/NHS England recently produced the RightCare Cystic Fibrosis Toolkit which is supporting service improvement and better care for patients with cystic fibrosis. The toolkit is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/rightcare-cystic-fibrosis-toolkit/The Midlands region will be undertaking a review of local services over the coming months, based on the recommendations in the toolkit.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the outcomes of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa focused on building shared resilience in the face of today's global challenges and aligned closely with the UK's Commonwealth priorities: catalysing economic growth, tackling the climate and nature crisis and creating opportunities for future generations. A package of measures to support these priorities was announced at CHOGM, including a new UK Trade Centre of Expertise and Commonwealth Investment Plan of Action, continued UK support to the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and an improved scholarship offer to empower Commonwealth youth with skills for the future.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with CAFOD.

I recently met with members of the Bond network, including CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development), to discuss the Autumn Budget. We value CAFOD's work internationally tackling poverty, humanitarian crises and global environmental challenges. We look forward to working with them in the future as we shape more modern partnerships with civil society.

What steps he is taking to tackle gambling-related suicide in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

The Government has committed to tackling suicide. We will recruit an additional 8,500 new mental health workers, and these new staff will be specially trained to support people at risk from suicide. The five-year Suicide Prevention Strategy for England identifies gambling as a common risk factor, lists actions to reduce suicides as a result of gambling, and will explore opportunities to go further.The Government is committed to reducing gambling-related harms through regulatory reform to strengthen protections. Through the Health Mission, we are supporting people to live healthier lives for longer, with a greater emphasis on the prevention of avoidable health harms. We continue to work closely with Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to consider how best to achieve this. The Department of Health and Social Care is focused on ensuring that those experiencing gambling-related harms can access the right care at the right time. We are working closely with NHS England to capitalise on opportunities to improve and expand treatment and support services.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the humanitarian situation in Tigray.

UK assistance is helping to alleviate humanitarian suffering in Tigray and has supported over 168,000 people in accessing primary healthcare, supplied micronutrient supplements for 450,000 malnourished children and women, and provided cash transfers to over 138,000 individuals. The UK also co-led a pledging conference in April that secured $610 million from international development partners, including a £100 million contribution from the UK. We continue to monitor humanitarian need and response plans in Tigray through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). We are also investing in improved data and evidence to enable the humanitarian community to make informed decisions on the humanitarian response.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with representatives from the Church Urban Fund since 5 July 2024.

My officials are in regular contact with the Church Urban Fund and I am pleased to say that my department has recently agreed to fund the Church Urban Fund up to £515,000 in this financial year to deliver the Near Neighbours programme. This funding is subject to clearance through the department’s internal finance and due diligence processes.

Representing the Church Commissioners, if she will meet with the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss the condition of the Church estate in that constituency.

My responsibilities relate to the work of the seven National Church Institutions, and I can give best-practice advice about diocesan and parish activity. I would be happy to meet with the Hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss his constituency and any specific concerns he may have. However, he may find a discussion with the Bishop of Lichfield and the team in the Diocese of Lichfield, who are responsible for the condition of the church estate in Newcastle-under-Lyme, more productive. I will write to him to arrange an introduction.

Whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to designate misogyny as a hate crime.

Tackling violence against women and girls is a top priority for this Government and we are committed to halving violence against women and girls in a decade.The Government is carefully considering how best to tackle hate crime. We will set out next steps in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of (a) people and (b) children living in temporary accommodation in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. Local authorities report their statutory homelessness statistics on a quarterly basis and these can be accessed: here.The Government is taking action by setting up a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) which the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) will chair, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy to put us back on track to ending homelessness.More widely, we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness, including:Delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and building 1.5 million new homes over the next parliament.Abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, preventing private renters being exploited and discriminated against, and empowering people to challenge unreasonable rent increases.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

The Department continues to closely monitor the implementation and impact of the grant scheme through the regular reporting of the grant administrator, EMB. Since 2010, the Government has returned over £350 million to listed churches, synagogues, mosques and temples through the grant scheme. This has helped protect our listed places of worship and enabled them to continue their work as centres of worship and community assets.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of allowing the people of Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands to elect Members to sit in the House of Commons.

The Government has made no assessment on allowing people of Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands to elect Members to sit in the House of Commons.

What data her Department holds on the number of crimes reported on West Coast Mainline trains between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly in each of the last five years.

The British Transport Police (BTP) are responsible for policing the rail network in Great Britain including the West Coast Mainline. They have provided the following figures, covering all types of crime, reported between London Euston and Manchester Piccadilly on Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Railway trains and stations operated by them on this route. 2020: 1,2482021: 1,3632022: 1,8942023: 2,2102024 (to August 31st): 1,590 It is important to note that for the reporting years 2020 and 2021, overall passenger numbers on the rail network were significantly reduced due to travel restrictions implemented in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Passenger numbers continue to increase across the entire rail network - in 2023/24, there was a 16% increase on the previous year. The BTP is committed to tackling crime across the rail network and they work closely with the Train Operating Companies to target offenders on a daily basis.

What discussions he has had with the (a) Prime Minister and (b) Northern Ireland Executive on appointing a new Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner.

The appointment of the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner is a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland Office officials worked with Whitehall colleagues on a recruitment process for a new Commissioner, which was launched on 16 October.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with domestic manufacturers on complying with dual labelling requirements for water efficiency in the UK and EU; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of aligning new labelling requirements with existing international standards.

On 5 September the Secretary of State reaffirmed the Government’s intention to rollout a Mandatory Water Efficiency Label (MWEL). We will introduce the MWEL in the UK via Secondary Legislation under Section 52 and Schedule 6 of the Environment Act 2021. The label will be informed by the international standard ISO’s 31600:2022. We are working with the Environment Agency to engage manufacturers and other stakeholders to keep them informed about the regulations as they develop.

What steps she is taking to reduce food waste in her Department.

HM Treasury’s buildings are managed by the Government Property Agency (GPA). The GPA are responsible for the provision of catering services across our sites and the disposal of food waste.

What steps she is taking to reduce food waste in her Department.

In line with the Greening Government Commitments the Home Office has committed to measure and report on food waste.Over the period 2017 to 2024, Home Office food waste arisings increased from 183 to 207 tonnes (13% increase) an increase primarily driven by an increase in food waste collection across the estate, from 7 facilities in 2017 to up to 20 facilities in 2023/24.

If she will meet the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme to discuss the release of HS2 compensation for residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The Rail Minister, Lord Hendy, would gladly meet the Honourable Member to discuss land and property related compensation for residents in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost to the public purse has been of developing a new water efficiency labelling scheme; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating the use of existing labels that comply with ISO31600 as an alternative.

On 5 September the Secretary of State reaffirmed the Government’s intention to rollout a Mandatory Water Efficiency Label (MWEL). We will introduce the MWEL in the UK via Secondary Legislation under Section 52 and Schedule 6 of the Environment Act 2021. The label will be informed by the international standard ISO’s 31600:2022. We are working with the Environment Agency to engage manufacturers and other stakeholders to keep them informed about the regulations as they develop.