Written questions by Jogee.

What steps he is taking to help increase the (a) volume and (b) value of trade between the UK and Malawi.

The Department for Business and Trade, and UK Export Finance, has officials throughout our Embassy network in Africa to support businesses where there are commercial opportunities. Additionally, the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which entered into force in June 2023, makes it simpler and more beneficial for African countries (including Tanzania and Malawi) to export goods to the UK. The UK-Southern African Customs Union and Mozambique (SACUM) and UK-Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) are development-focused free trade agreements that underpin UK goods trade with Botswana, Namibia (SACUM) and Zimbabwe (ESA).

What steps he is taking to help increase the (a) volume and (b) value of trade between the UK and Japan.

We continue to discuss with Japan how to improve our bilateral trade, including through implementation and utilisation of the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). For example, last year we secured Geographical Indication status protection for 76 additional British food and drink products in Japan.At the G20 Summit last November, the UK and Japan Prime Ministers also announced a new ministerial level Economic 2+2 dialogue to advance bilateral trade and discuss geopolitical issues which are vital to economic growth in both countries.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the support given to people who have experienced a (a) severe adverse reaction and (b) bereavement after receiving a vaccine on levels of vacc

The United Kingdom has one of the most extensive immunisation programmes in the world, with uptake rates amongst the highest globally.No specific assessment has been made of the impact of the support given to people who have experienced a severe adverse r...

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of using digitisation to speed up the conveyancing process.

The government recognises that the current home buying and selling process in England is slow, costly and stressful, and that conveyancing is one reason for this.Digitalisation can make the home buying and selling process more transparent and efficient fo...

Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to improve outcomes in the conveyancing process.

The government recognises that the current home buying and selling process in England is slow, costly and stressful, and that conveyancing is one reason for this.Digitalisation can make the home buying and selling process more transparent and efficient fo...

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with the Land Registry on digitising the conveyancing process.

The government recognises that the current home buying and selling process in England is slow, costly and stressful, and that conveyancing is one reason for this.Digitalisation can make the home buying and selling process more transparent and efficient fo...

If he will make an assessment of the the adequacy of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.

The Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) continues to process a significant number of claims, with 11,251 claims related to COVID-19, adult flu, and other diseases processed between 1 November 2021 and 13 December 2024.The Department is working with the N...

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a home education register.

The government is committed to the introduction of statutory children not in school registers, maintained by each local authority in England. These registers will include those children who are being educated at home, and parents will have a duty to provi...

What recent steps she has taken to help ensure the effective prosecution of (a) wildlife, (b) heritage, (c) rural and (d) waste crime in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

This Government is committed to working with the police and other partners to address the blight of rural crime – broadly classified as any crime and anti-social behaviour occurring in rural areas. We are introducing tougher measures to clamp down on anti...

What the average staff to student ratio was in secondary schools in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire in each year since 2010.

Information on the school workforce, including the pupil to adult and pupil to teacher ratios at national, regional, local authority and individual school level, is published in the ‘School Workforce in England’ statistical publication here: https://explo...

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of research and development on the Government's growth agenda.

R&D is fundamental to achieving the Government’s mission of kickstarting economic growth and we know businesses grow faster because of science and innovation. In the 6 years after receiving their first R&D grant funding, employment increases in th...

Whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of a cross-Government strategy to close the gender pay gap.

According to the most recent ONS assessment, the median gender pay gap for all UK employees is 13.1% in April 2024. We are committed to going further and faster to close the gender pay gap. There are a number of measures within our landmark Employment Rig...

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of closing the gender pay gap on women who (a) live, (b) learn and (c) work in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

According to the most recent ONS assessment, the median gender pay gap for all UK employees is 13.1% in April 2024. We are committed to going further and faster to close the gender pay gap. There are a number of measures within our landmark Employment Rig...

Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of science and innovation on job creation in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Science and innovation are vital to our mission to kickstart economic growth and create jobs in every part of the country.For example, Research England invested £5 million into the HyDEX programme, which Keele University leads on behalf of the Midlands-ba...

Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the role of science and innovation in the defence sector.

Cutting-edge science, innovation and technology are central to modern defence and UK national security. DSIT is working closely with MOD to input into its Strategic Defence Review, to help MOD leverage the strengths of the UK S&T ecosystem to achieve ...

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of science and innovation on regional inequalities.

Increasing productivity right across the UK is fundamental to our mission to kickstart economic growth. We know businesses grow faster because of science and innovation. In the 6 years after receiving their first R&D grant funding, the average busines...

Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on (a) science and innovation and (b) research and development.

The Secretary of State met with each of his ministerial counterparts in the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive.These discussions have been highly constructive, in keeping with the Prime Minister’s reset in relations with ...

Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of an international strategy for science and innovation.

Science and innovation are fundamentally international endeavours, and the Government has an open-arms approach to international science. The Government’s strategy is to strengthen ties with international partners and rebuild the UK’s reputation as a stro...

What recent discussions he has had with the School and Public Health Nurses Association on the number of school nurses in schools in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency, (b) Staffordshire and (c)

We are committed to creating the healthiest generation of children ever. The child health workforce, including school nurses, who lead the delivery of the Healthy Child Programme for five to 19-year-olds, is central to how we support children, young peopl...

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the implementation of existing free trade agreements.

I refer my Hon. Friend to my response to Question 6963 on 5 November 2024: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-10-04/6963