Written questions by Byrne.

What progress he has made on improving NHS infrastructure in areas with the highest health inequalities.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, this Government is clear that the National Health Service will be a service equipped to narrow health inequalities. We recognise the importance of safe, sustainable and accessible infrastructure in achieving this goal, which is why capital budgets will rise to £15.2 billion by the end of the Spending Review period in 2029/30.This includes our aim to establish a Neighbourhood Health Centre (NHC) in every community over the course of the plan, transforming healthcare access by bringing historically hospital-based services into communities and addressing wider determinants of health. Nationwide coverage will take time, but we will start in the areas of greatest need, targeting places where healthy life expectancy is lowest and delivering healthcare closer to home for those that need it the most.Beyond NHCs, we are empowering local systems to manage their capital budgets and deliver the right infrastructure in line with local need and strategic priorities. NHS England’s allocations policy aims to support equal opportunity of access for equal need as well as NHS England’s duties to reduce health inequalities that are amenable to healthcare.

What the average A&E capacity utilisation rate is for (a) Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, (b) University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust as a whole, and (c) England.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What the average ambulance handover time was at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital A&E in (a) 2024-25 and (b) the most recent quarter for which data is available.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What her planned timetable is for completion of the East Birmingham tram extension from Digbeth through Birmingham Heartlands Hospital and Tile Cross to Birmingham International Airport, the NEC and Arden Cross.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation

Whether she plans to allocate funding for the East Birmingham tram extension to Birmingham Airport in the next spending review.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What plans she has to ensure public transport connectivity between areas of high unemployment and employment sites created by HS2 in the West Midlands.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What the projected cost-benefit ratio is of completing the East Birmingham tram extension.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What estimate he has made of the number of A&E departments in England regularly treating patients in corridors; and what plans he has to end this practice.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What the status is of tram route designs between Digbeth and Birmingham International Airport.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues on the expected number of new jobs at (a) Birmingham Airport, (b) The NEC, Birmingham, (c) Arden Cross Interchange, and (d) Birmingham Curzon Street station following the completion of HS2.

It has not proved possible to respond to my Rt Hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

What assessment he has made of the impact of the age of A&E infrastructure on (a) staff retention and (b) clinical safety at hospitals operating above design capacity.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What assessment he has made of the implications for patient safety of A&E departments operating above 100% capacity; and what steps he is taking to address capacity issues at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital.

The Government takes patient safety seriously, including when accident and emergency departments are under severe pressure.Patients are clinically triaged on arrival and monitored at appropriate intervals, with decisions led locally through clinical judgement and governance. Where corridor care is taking place and cannot be avoided, the National Health Service has published updated guidance to ensure this care is delivered safely, with senior clinical oversight, appropriate monitoring, and that dignity and privacy are maintained.More broadly, the NHS Medium Term Planning Framework sets out clear action to improve urgent and emergency care performance year‑on‑year, including reducing long waits, improving patient flow, and ensuring that patients are treated in the right setting, the first time.At Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, pressures are being addressed through system‑wide actions, including investment in hospital‑based urgent treatment centres, improvements to reduce delayed discharges, and shifting care from hospital into communities.

What estimate his Department has made of the level of the tarrifs avoided on an annual basis as a result of the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal based on the following assumptions: (a) 100% tariffs removed on pharmaceuticals worth £6.6 billion; (b) a reduction in automotive tariffs from 25% to 10% applied to £9 billion of UK car exports, assuming full utilisation of the applicable quota; (c) 10% tariff removed on £2.2 billion of aerospace exports; and (d) 25% tariffs removed on £0.4 billion of steel and aluminium exports; using export values from the Office for National Statistics, and if not, what alternative assumptions and estimates the Department uses.

Negotiations on the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal are ongoing. Discussions include tariff and non‑tariff barriers, digital and services trade, and sectors under section 232 investigation.We will keep the House fully informed on these developments along with the expected economic outcomes of any final agreement.Impact assessments are completed at the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement.

Pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2026 to question 106487, what the value is of tariff duties the UK has not incurred through the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal.

Through EPD negotiations, the UK has agreed preferential trading terms with the US in a range of sectors. This includes locking in a 10% “reciprocal” tariff, 0% for aerospace and pharmaceuticals, and 10% for cars within quota. The UK is also the only country to have avoided 50% steel and aluminium tariffs. Discussions continue on a wider UK-US Economic Deal which will look at addressing specific tariff and non-tariff barriers and increasing digital and services trade. We will keep the House fully informed on these developments along with the expected economic outcomes of the final deal. Impact assessments are completed at the conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement.

What the increase in UK GDP will be from the upgraded UK-Republic of Korea agreement.

The upgraded UK-Republic of Korea (RoK) Free Trade Agreement (FTA) guarantees permanent tariff-free access to 98% of RoK’s lines, ensuring £2 billion of UK goods exports at risk of additional duties can continue to benefit from reduced tariffs. New services provisions could also help increase UK services exports by £400 million annually in the long term.Once the upgraded agreement is signed we will publish detailed analytical information, including trade impacts. As this is an upgraded FTA, we intend to use a New Quantitative Trade Model (NQTM) which will provide a more accurate overview of the upgraded FTA’s economic impact.

Innovation and Technology, whether the UK-US Technology Prosperity Deal has been suspended.

The United States is our close ally and tech partner, and we are committed to ensuring that bond delivers real benefits for hardworking people on both sides of the Atlantic.We look forward to resuming work on this partnership as quickly as we can to achieve that and working together to help shape the emerging technologies of the future.

What the value is of tariff duties the UK has avoided on its goods exports through the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal and any related updates to this agreement.

UK goods exports to the US amounted to £63 billion in the 12 months to the end of September 2025.Thanks to the Economic Prosperity Deal, the UK has secured 0% tariffs for the aerospace sector, preferential 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium and cut automotive tariffs to 10% within quota, protecting industries that export tens of billions to the US. The UK has also secured 0% tariffs for the pharmaceutical sector.

What his Department expects the impact to be on UK GDP from an upgraded UK-Republic of Turkey agreement.

It is too soon to presume on the final outcomes of FTA negotiations; we are making strong progress with a fourth negotiation round scheduled next month.Turkey is an important trading partner for the UK, with bilateral trade worth £28 billion in the 12 months to September 2025, doubling in current prices over the past decade. The current agreement ensures tariff free trade on over 99% of goods but does not include any services provisions. This new deal will focus on the UK’s strengths in services, which account for 81% of GDP.Once an upgraded UK–Turkey FTA is signed we will publish detailed information, alongside an impact assessment, including trade impacts.

Which (a) Department and (b) Minister have lead responsibility for the implementation of the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal; and what (i) cross-government structures and (ii) processes are in place to coordinate its delivery.

The Department for Business and Trade has lead responsibility for implementation of the General Terms of the UK‑US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD), which sits within my Trade Policy portfolio, with overall oversight from the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.Delivery of the EPD draws on expertise from across government. Coordination is led by the Department for Business and Trade, using established official and ministerial channels, supported by the Cabinet Office.

When he plans to reply to the letter from the Rt hon. Member for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North of 3 December 2025, reference LB49226.

The Department aims to respond to correspondence within 15 working days. I apologise for the delay in responding and can confirm a response was issued on 20 January 2026.