Andrew Mitchell MP: written questions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to improve air quality in Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: Under the Environment Act 1995, local authorities are responsible for addressing areas where air quality objectives are exceeded and developing local action plans.

Answered 17 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what recent steps his Department has taken to support small high street retail businesses operating within Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: The Government recognises the important role that small high street retailers play in supporting local economies and communities, including in Royal Sutton Coldfield.We have introduced permanently lower business rates multipliers for eligible retail, hosp...

Answered 18 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of shoplifting in Royal Sutton Coldfield over the last three years.

Answer: The level of shop theft remains unacceptable. But our action to restore neighbourhood policing is making a difference – including delivering more than 3,100 additional police officers and PCSOs into neighbourhood roles since March 2025.There are signs the...

Answered 14 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of current measures to reduce fly-tipping in Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: Local councils are responsible for keeping their public land clear of litter and refuse and they have been given enforcement powers to help them tackle fly-tipping. This Government continues to work with partners to strengthen the national response to was...

Answered 14 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of gigabit-capable broadband for small businesses in Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring at least 99% of UK homes and businesses receive gigabit broadband coverage by 2032. As of January 2026, Ofcom reports 80% of commercial premises in the Sutton Coldfield constituency already have access to a gigabit-...

Answered 14 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support is available to households in Royal Sutton Coldfield seeking to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

Answer: The Government's Warm Homes Plan, published earlier this year, represents the biggest public investment in home upgrades in British history, rolling out cost-effective, clean energy technologies that reduce bills including solar, batteries, and heat pumps...

Answered 15 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of entry level employment opportunities for young people in Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: There are no published official statistics that specifically measures the number of entry level vacancies at the local level. With around one million young people not in education, employment and training, this Government will not leave an entire generati...

Answered 16 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of legal aid services for residents of Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: Legal aid is a vital part of the justice system and underpins our plans to build a justice system that works fairly for all parties.The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) continuously assesses the available supply of legal aid services throughout England and Wales ac...

Answered 14 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to eliminate rough sleeping in the Birmingham City Council area.

Answer: On his first day in office the Prime Minister launched an urgent national drive to end rough sleeping at the earliest opportunity. We are providing £442 million new funding to local areas through a new Rough Sleeping Programme to ensure that everyone who ...

Answered 10 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment she has made of the length of waiting times for access to mental health services for residents of Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: In Royal Sutton Coldfield, and across the country, too many people have been waiting too long to receive support for their mental health needs, and we are determined to make mental health services more accessible for everyone who needs them.As well as inv...

Answered 14 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of financial support available for first-time buyers in Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: No published answer in this record yet.

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking ahead of the winter to help relieve pressures on NHS services within the NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board area.

Answer: Preparations for winter are led locally by integrated care boards (ICBs) working with acute trusts, primary care, community services, mental health providers, local authorities and social care partners. On 17 July, NHS England wrote out to the system with...

Answered 9 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve the reliability and punctuality of rail services in (a) Royal Sutton Coldfield (b) the West Midlands.

Answer: The Government is working closely with the rail industry to improve the reliability and punctuality of services across all regions. Denise Wetton has recently been appointed as Integrated Managing Director for the West Midlands, leading the integration of...

Answered 8 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Prime Minister will make it his policy to distribute to the book entitled Everybody Loves our Dollars by Oliver Bullough to her Cabinet.

Answer: No.

Answered 8 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to release Family Court Statistics with a regional breakdown.

Answer: The Ministry of Justice already publishes Family Court Statistics with regional breakdowns. The Family Court Statistics Quarterly releases include CSV datasets containing regional-level information for a range of family justice measures across England and...

Answered 1 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the full time equivalent police officer workforce was on the most recent date for which data is available in West Midlands Police; and if she will forecast the expected numbers for the next 5 yea

Answer: The Home Office collects and publishes data on the size of the police workforce in England and Wales on a bi-annual basis in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-w...

Answered 1 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Birmingham City Council regarding local residential and nursing care capacity.

Answer: Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why, under the Care Act 2014, they are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes using...

Answered 1 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of young people that will benefit from the Youth Guarantee Gateway scheme in Royal Sutton Coldfield over the next 5 years.

Answer: With over one million young people not in education, employment and training, this Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. The Government is investing an additional £2.5 billion over the next three years into the Youth Guara...

Answered 1 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce congestion on key commuter routes in the West Midlands.

Answer: The Government is supporting improvements to public transport connectivity across the West Midlands through the £2.4 billion Transport for City Regions settlement allocated to the West Midlands Combined Authority through to 2031/32. This devolved funding ...

Answered 2 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support wildlife conservation sites in the West Midlands.

Answer: Defra published its updated protected sites Environment Act target delivery plan on the 16 July here to support the improvement of protected sites across the country, including the West Midlands. Natural England (NE) monitors protected sites to ensure the...

Answered 1 Sept 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions Home Office officials have had with West Midlands Police regarding increased anti social behaviour during school holidays.

Answer: The Government’s police reforms will protect and strengthen neighbourhood policing by freeing local forces, including West Midlands Police, from national responsibilities so they can focus on issues that matter most locally, like anti-social behaviour (AS...

Answered 20 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many long-term unemployed 18–21-year-olds have been enrolled on the new national Jobs Guarantee scheme in Birmingham.

Answer: Phase One of the Jobs Guarantee commenced in May and will be followed by national rollout from November 2026. The information requested is planned for future publication and will be made available in due course. Birmingham and Solihull is one of six Phase...

Answered 17 Aug 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the National Highways agency on improving lorry parking facilities in the Midlands.

Answer: The department engages regularly with National Highways on improving lorry parking provision and driver welfare facilities across England, including in the Midlands. Through the HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Match Funding Grant Scheme and National Highwa...

Answered 4 Aug 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions her Department has had with Birmingham City Council on preventative maintenance regarding potholes.

Answer: It is the Council’s responsibility to manage its local highways including with respects to preventive maintenance and repairing potholes. However, the Government is committed to working with the Council to achieve a smooth transition away from its PFI ar...

Answered 15 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support AI development in the West Midlands.

Answer: The Government recognises that artificial intelligence is one of the most significant opportunities of our time, and we are determined to ensure that its benefits are felt in every part of the country, including the West Midlands.In January 2025, the Gove...

Answered 17 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of mobile signal coverage gaps in the West Midlands.

Answer: Ofcom is responsible for reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK through their Connected Nations Reports and Map Your Mobile tool. Utilising the Connected Nations data, trends in how coverage has evolved over time can be determined. As of Janua...

Answered 17 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support biodiversity in Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: This Government has supported the West Midlands Combined Authority to develop the West Midlands Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), which covers Royal Sutton Coldfield. This brought local stakeholders together to agree priorities to help nature recover...

Answered 15 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of parents eligible for the Free Childcare for Working Parents scheme have accessed the scheme in Sutton Coldfield constituency.

Answer: The latest January 2026 statistics on funded early education and childcare were published on 2 July and can be found at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/funded-early-education-and-childcare/2026. These statistics show a...

Answered 3 Aug 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent estimate he has made of the number of households in fuel poverty in the Birmingham City Council area.

Answer: The latest sub-regional fuel poverty data were published in May 2026, these estimated the level of fuel poverty in 2024, under the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) metric. The Birmingham Local Authority had an estimated fuel poverty rate of 13.8% ...

Answered 17 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps her Department has taken to support the work of (a) emergency and (b) short term foster carers in Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: The department recognises the incredible work and commitment of emergency and short-term foster carers in providing stability and support for children.Foster carers play an essential role in children’s lives, and the department remains committed to streng...

Answered 15 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that older people can engage in community sports in Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, including older people, should have access to and benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities to stay fit and healthy. The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots...

Answered 14 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with (a) Swim England and (b) the Royal Life Saving Society UK on the potential merits of including additional water safety lessons in the PE national curriculum.

Answer: Following the Curriculum and Assessment Review, the government committed to reviewing the swimming and water safety content within the PE national curriculum to support more consistent, high-quality provision across schools. The department works closely w...

Answered 14 Jul 2026

Question: 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.

Answer: 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 ...

Answered 10 Jul 2026

Question: 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.

Answer: 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 ...

Answered 10 Jul 2026

Question: 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.

Answer: 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 an...

Answered 9 Jul 2026

Question: 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.

Answer: 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, ...

Answered 13 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to help increase economic growth in Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: We want people in all corners and nations of the UK to feel the benefits of economic growth so we can raise living standards and ensure opportunities are felt everywhere. We have the right economic plan to do exactly that, particularly through devolution,...

Answered 15 Jul 2026

Question: 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.

Answer: 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 Ac...

Answered 13 Jul 2026

Question: 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.

Answer: 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, a...

Answered 6 Jul 2026

Question: 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.

Answer: 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:YearActu...

Answered 9 Jul 2026

Question: 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.

Answer: 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.

Answered 6 Jul 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the current average processing time is for probate applications.

Answer: The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate grant volumes, timeliness and open caseload in our quarterly Family Court statistics bulletin: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK

Answered 29 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of the increase in (a) employer National Insurance contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on hospitality businesses in Royal Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: The Government recognises hospitality as a vital foundation sector, supporting millions of jobs, driving local economies (including in Royal Sutton Coldfield) and sustaining high streets and communities across the UK. The Government has taken a number of ...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much additional funding has been allocated to Birmingham City Council from the £7.3 billion the Government has announced to support local highways maintenance.

Answer: For this financial year, West Midlands Combined Authority will receive an additional £17 million in their Integrated Settlement to fund highways maintenance in Birmingham. This amount was calculated using the Department’s local highways maintenance fundin...

Answered 30 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the level of the demand on water resources in the West Midlands; and what are the principal contributors to that demand.

Answer: The level of demand on water resources is currently very high in the West Midlands. South Staffs Water and Severn Trent Water, whose supply areas both include the West Midlands, are classed as seriously water-stressed in the Environment Agency’s 2021 wate...

Answered 25 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps he has taken to encourage business investment in (a) Royal Sutton Coldfield and (b) the West Midlands.

Answer: The Government is supporting business investment in Royal Sutton Coldfield and the wider West Midlands region through close engagement with local partners, including the West Midlands Combined Authority, to promote investment opportunities and strengthen ...

Answered 23 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of people that will benefit from Sector-based Work Academy Programmes in Royal Sutton Coldfield over the next 5 years.

Answer: Sector Based Work Academy Programmes (SWAPs) are a successful employment support offer through which participants gain the skills and experience needed to move into work. Nearly 100,000 SWAPs were delivered in 2025/26, an increase of almost 15,000 on the ...

Answered 16 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether guidance has been provided to Birmingham City Council in relation to advertising the range of council tax reductions that are available to local residents.

Answer: While guidance has not been issued specifically to Birmingham City Council in relation to advertising council tax reductions to local residents, the government recently issued an information letter to councils (here) to remind of the need to make council ...

Answered 16 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent progress she has taken to assist Zimbabwe's return to the Commonwealth; and for what reason her Department vetoed the proposal that Zimbabwe should return at the

Answer: As I stated in my response of 2 February in response to the Rt Hon Member's Question 109061, the UK would welcome a Commonwealth assessment mission returning to Zimbabwe in due course to follow up on its recommendations from its last visit and the subsequ...

Answered 8 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of digital connectivity for businesses in the West Midlands.

Answer: The Government recognises that high quality digital connectivity is essential for businesses in the West Midlands and across the whole of the UK. Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030 and we have a ...

Answered 9 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many primary schools in Royal Sutton Coldfield have access to mental health support teams.

Answer: The department is providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school by expanding Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs). Rollout is delivered with the NHS through Integrated Care Systems, prioritising areas based on need, disadvantag...

Answered 9 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust will receive funding for new batteries and solar panels as part of the Clean Energy Upgrades for Hospitals and Military Sites sche

Answer: In 25/26 the Great British Energy Solar scheme invested £130m in solar and battery storage projects across NHS trusts in England. This included funding for two projects at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. In 2026/27, a further £25m is...

Answered 8 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of non-staffing costs on the sustainability of schools in Sutton Coldfield constituency.

Answer: The department has published the Schools’ Costs Technical Note, outlining its national-level affordability forecasts and including data on non-staff expenditure, such as energy. This year’s publication and historical editions are available at: https://www...

Answered 22 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason the conference on illicit finance has been postponed.

Answer: As confirmed in the statement below, published on 22 May, the Illicit Finance Summit has been rescheduled to December to enable the broadest possible participation.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-to-host-illicit-finance-summit-in-december.

Answered 1 Jun 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to promote (a) Royal Sutton Coldfield and (b) the West Midlands as destinations for British holidaymakers in summer 2026.

Answer: DCMS recognises the contribution of the West Midlands, and the constituency of Sutton Coldfield, to the visitor economy. The upcoming summer 2026 season represents a milestone moment for the region. Birmingham’s hosting of the 2026 European Athletics Cham...

Answered 28 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of unemployment in the under 25s in the West Midlands.

Answer: The ONS publish labour market statistics for 16–24-year-olds in the West Midlands. These can be found here: HI05 Regional labour market: headline indicators for the West Midlands - Office for National Statistics.This government will not leave an entire ge...

Answered 27 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to conclude the $100 million joint development deal between the UK and Qatar.

Answer: The UK is proud of its humanitarian and development partnership with the State of Qatar. Our ambition to deliver $100 million in joint humanitarian and development projects, announced in December 2024, is currently being implemented through programmes in ...

Answered 18 May 2026

Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of unemployment in the over 50s in the West Midlands.

Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Rt. Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 13th May is attached.

Answered 21 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the resilience of the national grid infrastructure in the West Midlands to withstand disruption.

Answer: Energy resilience is a top priority for Government. Government works continuously with industry to improve and maintain the resilience and security of energy infrastructure to a range of evolving risks and future system changes. The National Energy Syste...

Answered 22 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve access to freezing and storage capacity for tumour tissues for oncology services in the West Midlands, in order to improve outcomes for hard-to-t

Answer: The Department has taken steps to improve tissue freezing for oncology services for all cancers, including hard-to-treat cancers. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the fresh-freezing, or snap-freezing, of tissue samples have already been developed ...

Answered 26 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of patients waiting for more than (a) 1 month, (b) 3 months (c) 6 months and (d) 12 months to receive cognitive behavioural therapy for inso

Answer: It is for local integrated care boards to decide whether cognitive behavioural therapy should be offered to their populations as a treatment for insomnia.NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression offer low-intensity therapy which may include interv...

Answered 22 May 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the organic food sector in the Midlands

Answer: I met with representatives of the English Organic Forum at the Oxford Farming Conference in January this year. The English Organic Forum is a collection of organic-focused organisations that have come together to represent the organic sector across Englan...

Answered 23 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the number of women dying during pregnancy or in the weeks after giving birth in the Midlands.

Answer: The NHS England Midlands region is implementing the Maternal Care Bundle. The bundle includes guidance to tackle the leading causes of maternal death including thrombosis, mental health, epilepsy, and haemorrhage. Maternal medicine networks have also been...

Answered 27 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to urge the newly formed Government of Myanmar to release (a) Aung San Suu Kyi and (b) all other political prisoners.

Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 April in response to Question 126571.

Answered 21 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of sanctions on Myanmar.

Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 April in response to Question 126571.

Answered 21 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the (a) human rights and (b) humanitarian situation in Myanmar following the inauguration of General Min Aung Hlaing.

Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 April in response to Question 126571.

Answered 21 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, is she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the absence of Pupil Premium equivalent funding to support the attainment of disadvantaged students during their last two years of compulsory participat

Answer: The Pupil Premium is not payable for students in post-16 education but there is funding to help institutions support disadvantaged students available in 16-19 funding. The department has made significant increases to the average funding per student since ...

Answered 20 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 30 March to Question 123135 on Foreign Investment in UK: West Midlands, if he will set out inward investment into the West Midlands for each of the last 10 years.

Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt. Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 10th April is attached.

Answered 20 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to encourage foreign direct investment in the West Midlands.

Answer: The Department actively promotes FDI into the West Midlands through the Office for Investment (OfI), which works closely with the West Midlands Combined Authority and regional stakeholders to identify, shape, and market regional opportunities internationa...

Answered 30 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to community dental services for care home residents in the West Midlands.

Answer: We recognise that certain groups of patients may be particularly vulnerable to oral health problems and may find it difficult to access dental care. Specialised dental services are in place to provide dental treatment in several settings, including care h...

Answered 30 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support vulnerable low energy users who find switching energy suppliers difficult.

Answer: Vulnerable consumers who wish to switch energy supplier should contact their current supplier in the first instance who will be able to provide further information and support them through the process. Vulnerable consumers can also contact Citizens Advice...

Answered 1 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure resilience against future memory chip shortages.

Answer: The Government recognises the importance of memory chips to our economy and critical sectors. We regularly engage with industry to monitor supply chain vulnerabilities and understand potential risks across all chip types. Given the global nature of semico...

Answered 1 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support schools to recruit qualified physics teachers in the West Midlands.

Answer: The department’s Plan for Change commits us to recruiting an additional 6,500 new expert teachers across secondary and special schools and our colleges over the course of this Parliament.In 2023/24, just 17% of the postgraduate initial teacher training ta...

Answered 1 Apr 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of ambulance response times in the West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Answer: Ambulance response times data is collected and published monthly, including at a trust level, and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ambulance-quality-indicators/The most recent National Health ...

Answered 30 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to support tech start-up companies to scale up in the Midlands.

Answer: This Government is committed to removing barriers to growth for scaleups across the UK - ensuring the UK is one of the best places for tech to start, scale and stay.We are strengthening regional tech ecosystems through the Regional Tech Booster, a program...

Answered 23 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the identification of mental health needs among young people entering the criminal justice system for the first time in the West Midlands.

Answer: Within West Midlands police custody and court settings, Liaison and Diversion Teams, with consent, will assess a young person to identify their needs and vulnerabilities, and will provide information to the police and court to help inform criminal justice...

Answered 30 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to work with NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB to help reduce the number of patients that are waiting an extended period for podiatry services.

Answer: We have set a clear target for systems to work to reduce long waits in NHS England’s Medium Term Planning Framework. By 2028/29 at least 80% of community health service activity, including podiatry, should take place within 18 weeks. In addition, in 2025 ...

Answered 23 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support schools to recruit qualified modern languages teachers in the West Midlands.

Answer: High quality teaching is the in-school factor that has the biggest positive impact on a child’s outcomes. This is why the government’s Plan for Change is committed to recruiting an additional 6,500 new expert teachers across secondary and special schools,...

Answered 20 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to increase the number of apprenticeships in the West Midlands.

Answer: This government is transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy, which will deliver greater flexibility to employers and more opportunities for young people and support the industrial strategy across the country, including in th...

Answered 19 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure energy security in Sutton Coldfield constituency.

Answer: The Government is strengthening energy security by reducing dependency on volatile global fossil fuel markets and delivering a diverse, secure and clean energy system based on renewables and nuclear, backed up by a strategic reserve of gas supply to be us...

Answered 10 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the trend in patients waiting over 4 hours for admission transfer and discharge in emergency departments in the NHS Birmingham And Solihull Integrated Care Board area

Answer: No such assessment has been made.NHS England publishes data on the number of patients admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours in accident and emergency departments on a monthly basis. The information is available at the following link:https...

Answered 9 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the reduction in the level of Official Development Assistance funding on the Global Health Partnerships scheme.

Answer: The UK should be proud of the progress made in international development this century. But the world has changed, and so must we. With less money, we must make choices and focus on greater impactThe Global Health Workforce Programme, led by the Department...

Answered 3 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle cyber crime targeting older people in Sutton Coldfield constituency.

Answer: The Home Office directly funds a national to local network of specialist officers trained to investigate cyber crime and support local communities. This network includes funding, in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner, for a Local Cyber Cri...

Answered 4 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help support the wild bird population in the West Midlands.

Answer: We are committed to delivering our statutory biodiversity targets which will support the recovery and conservation of wild bird populations. At a local level Defra Group has supported the West Midlands Combined Authority to prepare their Local Nature Reco...

Answered 2 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he had had with Birmingham City Council on their best value duty.

Answer: My department regularly engages with Birmingham City Council as is normal for all Councils under intervention. The Secretary of State receives regular reports from Commissioners outlining the progress made by the Council in complying with the Best Value D...

Answered 16 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with the Chief Constable of the British Transport Police about increasing officer numbers serving the rail network in the West Midlands.

Answer: The British Transport Police has recently been given an increased budget - a 15% rise with an increase of £63 million over the three-year settlement, which will see over 200 additional officers over two years, improving coverage at key hubs across England...

Answered 13 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure eligible men take up prostate cancer screening in Sutton Coldfield constituency.

Answer: There is currently no national prostate cancer screening programme. The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) is an independent scientific advisory committee which advises ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries on all aspects o...

Answered 16 Mar 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that eligible women take up breast cancer screening in Sutton Coldfield constituency.

Answer: Through our National Health Service screening programmes, we can reduce mortality and morbidity from cancer in the population who appear healthy and have no symptoms, by detecting conditions at an earlier, more treatable stage. Each year, over 15 million ...

Answered 16 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department will provide £50 million per year, for the next two years, to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

Answer: The UK is a longstanding supporter of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), having contributed £1.4 billion since 1995. This has enabled GPEI to reduce wild poliovirus cases by over 99 per cent. The UK is also the largest sovereign donor to Gavi...

Answered 10 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support young people to pursue careers in tech start ups in the Midlands.

Answer: The Government is taking a range of steps to increase awareness among young people in the Midlands about the diverse and rewarding career opportunities available in the tech sector. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has developed partnerships wit...

Answered 11 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to work with NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB to reduce the number of patients that are waiting an extended period for a wheelchair.

Answer: Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision and commissioning of local wheelchair services, based on the needs of their local population.NHS England supports ICBs to reduce variation in the quality and provision of National Health Serv...

Answered 9 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 98739 on Biodiversity and Pollution: Sutton Park, what discussions she has had with Birmingham City Council on additional funds t

Answer: Natural England has discussed the following options for funding with Birmingham City Council to support biodiversity and pollution reduction; Severn Trent Water’s 5-year funded Asset Management Programme, future utilisation of agri-environment scheme fund...

Answered 5 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 98739 on Biodiversity and Pollution: Sutton Park, how many meetings have taken place between Natural England and Birmingham City

Answer: Natural England has had 12 face to face meetings since 1 January 2024 with Birmingham City Council, with ongoing dialogue in between meetings. Natural England would be happy to meet with the Rt Hon Member and discuss.

Answered 5 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to question 57617 on Zimbabwe: Commonwealth, what recent steps she has taken to support a further Commonwealth assessment mission.

Answer: The timing of any Commonwealth assessment mission is for the Secretary General and the Government of Zimbabwe to agree. Given the time passed since their last reports, we would welcome a Commonwealth assessment mission returning to Zimbabwe to follow up o...

Answered 2 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the number of young people entering the building and construction sector in the West Midlands.

Answer: The Government has also been working closely with the Mayor of the West Midlands and local authority leaders on a new £75 million construction skills package over the next three years to help meet rising sector demand. Alongside this, the Secretary of Sta...

Answered 4 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve the availability of clinical trials for dementia patients.

Answer: Government responsibility for delivering dementia research is shared between the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), with research delivered via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovatio...

Answered 2 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to provide further (a) financial and (b) other support to the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership in the West Midlands.

Answer: The department continues to work closely with The Arthur Terry Learning Partnership to ensure rapid and sustained improvement across its schools. This includes weekly meetings focused on stabilising learning and supporting both staff and pupils across the...

Answered 27 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 98739 on Biodiversity and Pollution: Sutton Park, whether additional monitoring is in place to ensure that the recommendations fr

Answer: Natural England is in regular dialogue with Birmingham City Council, Severn Trent Water and other partners to review progress with the implementation of its recommendations relating to the condition of Sutton Park SSSI. This is in addition to its conditio...

Answered 28 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 98739 on Biodiversity and Pollution: Sutton Park, what housing developments in the vicinity of Sutton Park have been discussed be

Answer: I am not aware of discussions between Defra officials and Birmingham City Council.

Answered 30 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking with her counterparts in the Commonwealth to help support Zimbabwe rejoin the Commonwealth.

Answer: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer he received on 23 June 2025 in response to Question 57617. We will update the House if there are any new developments.

Answered 27 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has set a target for the number of job starts to be offered to long-term unemployed 18–21-year-olds on Universal Credit in Birmingham and Solihull during the first 6 months of the Jobs Guaran

Answer: The government is investing over £1.5 billion in tackling youth unemployment and inactivity, including £820 million for the expanded Youth Guarantee and £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy. This will provide young people aged 16–24 with greater su...

Answered 25 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to reduce concentrations of fine particulate matter in the Birmingham City Council area.

Answer: Birmingham City Council is responsible for reviewing and assessing air quality in its area. The 2025 Birmingham Air Quality Annual Status Report notes continued action to reduce PM2.5 through implementation of the Birmingham Clean Air Zone, fleet renewal ...

Answered 27 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 98739 on Biodiversity and Pollution: Sutton Park, what recent discussions her Department has had with Severn Trent on how sewage

Answer: The most recent discussion Natural England has had with Severn Trent regarding how sewage infrastructure failures can be avoided in Sutton Park was a meeting on 13 November 2025 in conjunction with the Environment Agency. This discussion was part of ongoi...

Answered 21 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 98739 on Biodiversity and Pollution: Sutton Park, what official guidance has been issued by the Forestry Commission to Birmingham

Answer: The Forestry Commission has approved a Felling Licence based on a management plan, which includes permissions for both thinning and conditional felling, alongside 4.99 hectares of heathland restoration. This plan was approved for a 10-year period in Septe...

Answered 20 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 98739 on Biodiversity and Pollution: Sutton Park, what steps her Department has taken since the decline in the condition of the p

Answer: Natural England (NE) and the Forestry Commission are working with Birmingham City Council (BCC) to review on-site management to address the decline in habitat condition. This includes: improved grazing; addressing scrub and bracken encroachment; managemen...

Answered 14 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 98739 on Biodiversity and Pollution: Sutton Park, on what date a decline in the condition of the park’s woodland and heathland ha

Answer: The woodland feature has been recorded as unfavourable since 2012, and was first identified as declining in the condition assessment published in March 2025. The heathland feature has been unfavourable since 2000, and was first identified as declining in ...

Answered 14 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 97744 on Council Tax: Sutton Coldfield, if she will publish the evidential basis for the claim that the surcharge will raise £400m in revenue in 2028/29.

Answer: The policy costing note for the High Value Council Tax Surcharge is available on page 51 of the Budget 2025 policy costings document: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf

Answered 23 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps her Department has taken to support hoteliers in the West Midlands.

Answer: The Government is committed to supporting the hospitality sector as a valuable contributor to the UK economy. The Government recognises the significant pressures facing the hospitality industry, including hotels, and is providing support through various m...

Answered 22 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support growth within the creative industries in the West Midlands.

Answer: The Creative Industries Sector Plan is a new 10-year plan to tackle barriers to growth and maximise opportunities across the creative industries sector, with the aim of making the UK the number one destination for creativity and innovation by 2035.The Cre...

Answered 23 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support hedgehog conservation initiatives in the West Midlands.

Answer: Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) are being prepared by responsible authorities to agree on priorities that help nature recover and support species of local and national importance. Responsible authorities are required to consider national environme...

Answered 23 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to allocate additional police resources to tackle antisocial behaviour in the Birmingham City Council area.

Answer: Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.Under the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, we are putting neighbourhood officers back into communities. £200 million has been m...

Answered 23 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help tackle inequalities in (a) waiting times and (b) access to treatment for diabetes in the West Midlands.

Answer: Action is being taken across the West Midland integrated care boards (ICBs) to address inequalities in waiting times and access to treatment for diabetesThis action includes strengthening monitoring of data and to identify delays and variation, improving ...

Answered 14 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 70321 on Stop and Search: West Midlands, when she will publish the evaluation of the Serious Violence Reduction Orders pilot.

Answer: Serious Violence Reduction Orders (SVROs) were piloted for two years throughout Merseyside, Sussex, Thames Valley and West Midlands police force areas. The pilot took place between 19 April 2023 and 18 April 2025.The pilot has been independently evaluated...

Answered 9 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve breastfeeding support in the West Midlands.

Answer: The Government is committed to giving every child the best start in life and support for breastfeeding plays an important role in achieving this.Most families will receive breastfeeding information and support from midwives and health visitors. We are cur...

Answered 5 Jan 2026

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps his Department has taken to help reduce levels of reoffending in the West Midlands.

Answer: HMPPS Area Executive Directors (AEDs) are responsible for leading a joined-up approach to prisons and probation in their region, alongside working with criminal justice partners such as the police and local authorities to address the causes of offending a...

Answered 23 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help support community-based preventative services for older people in Sutton Coldfield constituency.

Answer: As part of a broader strategy to improve quality of care and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, the National Health Service is implementing various preventative services to support older people in maintaining their health and independence. For examp...

Answered 5 Feb 2026

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate she has made of the potential savings to the public purse of the closure of the online filing service to support small businesses with simple tax affairs.

Answer: I understand the impact the closure of this service for filing company accounts and tax returns may have on small, unrepresented businesses.The service is closing because Companies House is modernising its accounts filing requirements under the Economic C...

Answered 19 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with small business owners on the closure of the online filing service to support small, unrepresented businesses with simple tax affairs.

Answer: I understand the impact the closure of this service for filing company accounts and tax returns may have on small, unrepresented businesses.The service is closing because Companies House is modernising its accounts filing requirements under the Economic C...

Answered 19 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with Birmingham City Council on (a) pollution and (b) decreasing biodiversity in Sutton Park.

Answer: Sutton Park is both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a National Nature Reserve. Natural England (NE) has an ongoing constructive dialogue with Birmingham City Council (BCC), which manages the park, about its management of the park’s import...

Answered 18 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with Birmingham City Council on the devolution of the management of Sutton Park to the Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council.

Answer: Ministers meet regularly with external stakeholders. Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly on GOV.UK. MHCLG is working closely with Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council on the Pride in Place Pro...

Answered 19 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to improve public transport connections in the West Midlands.

Answer: The West Midlands Combined Authority will receive almost £2.4bn in Transport for City Region (TCR) funding up to 31/32. Enabling Mayors in recipient areas to deliver schemes that align with local priorities, the TCR programme provides unprecedented, multi...

Answered 11 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of neonatal nurses in University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

Answer: Decisions about recruitment are a matter for individual National Health Service employers, who manage this at a local level to ensure they have the staff they need to deliver safe and effective care. We will publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan which will cre...

Answered 15 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the number of houses in Sutton Coldfield constituency which will incur council tax surcharges from 2028.

Answer: I refer the member to the answer given to UIN 94638 on 26 November 2025. The Government has not estimated the number of homes in Sutton Coldfield that will be liable for the new HVCTS.

Answered 16 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will estimate the number of households with a non-working smart meter in the West Midlands.

Answer: The Department collects data on smart meters not operating in smart mode at a national level. The latest statistics on smart meters in operation across GB are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/smart-meters-in-great-britain-quarterly...

Answered 9 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much the Boiler Upgrade Scheme paid out for heat pumps in the West Midlands over the past year.

Answer: In the financial year 2024/25 the Boiler Upgrade Scheme paid out £14.44 million for heat pumps installed in the West Midlands. Further details on the number of applications by status, region and technology type, broken down by financial year, are provided...

Answered 9 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will estimate the number of houses in Sutton Coldfield which will incur council tax surcharges from 2028.

Answer: The High Value Council Tax Surcharge (HVCTS) will apply to owners of properties worth £2 million or above, ensuring those with the most valuable properties pay their fair share. The HVCTS will affect fewer than 1% of all properties across England.

Answered 5 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many additional people will be eligible for the Help to Save scheme in the West Midlands from 2028.

Answer: The government is expanding the Help to Save scheme to Universal Credit claimants who receive either the carer’s element or the child element. This will enable more low-income households to build savings, supported by a government bonus, to improve their ...

Answered 3 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many of the neighbourhood health centres announced in the Autumn Budget 2025 will be based in the West Midlands.

Answer: At the Autumn Budget, we announced our commitment to deliver 250 neighbourhood health centres (NHCs) through the NHS Neighbourhood Rebuild Programme. This will deliver NHCs through a mixture of refurbishments to expand and improve sites over the next thre...

Answered 2 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the minimum wage increase on the number of entry level positions that could be replaced by artificial intelligence and automation systems.

Answer: The Get Britain Working White Paper sets out how we will address key labour market challenges and spread opportunity in order to fix the foundations of our economy so we can make the most of the opportunities AI presents. The Government is supporting work...

Answered 5 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the minimum wage rise on the cost of care home places for (a) those that are self funding and (b) local authorities that fund residents in car

Answer: The Department regularly makes assessments of the cost pressures facing adult social care. These assessments take into account a wide range of factors, including changes to the National Minimum Wage and the impact that may have on local authorities fundin...

Answered 2 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps his Department has taken to support publicans in the West Midlands.

Answer: We recognise that pubs, including those in the West Midlands, are at the beating heart of communities, providing not just a place to socialise but essential services and local jobs. That’s why we’re investing £440,000 with Pub is The Hub to help rural pub...

Answered 1 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps her Department is taking to support pensioners with the cost of living in Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: We’re committed to helping pensioners with the cost of living and ensuring financial security in retirement. The State Pension is the foundation of income in retirement and will remain so. At Autumn Budget 2025 we announced that, in line with the governme...

Answered 2 Dec 2025

Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the number of pensioners who will need to pay back the Winter Fuel Payment through tax system in Sutton Coldfield constituency in the next 12 months.

Answer: The vast majority of pensioners, around 9 million individuals, will benefit from Winter Fuel Payments this winter. The Government has been clear that the Winter Fuel Payment should be means-tested on the basis of income. For higher income pensioners, thos...

Answered 25 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been released early from prisons in the West Midlands in 2025 due to overcapacity.

Answer: This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We have had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe.The Ministry of Justice has published SDS40 release data alongside the quarterly Offender Mana...

Answered 27 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to press the United Nations Security Council to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.

Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 12 November in response to Question HL11464, which has been reproduced below for ease of reference:The UK acknowledges the report and shares its concerns regarding human rights violati...

Answered 25 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure international justice for (a) past and (b) continuing atrocity crimes in Myanmar.

Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 12 November in response to Question HL11464, which has been reproduced below for ease of reference:The UK acknowledges the report and shares its concerns regarding human rights violati...

Answered 25 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the prevalence of airstrikes against civilian populations by the military regime in Myanmar.

Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 12 November in response to Question HL11464, which has been reproduced below for ease of reference:The UK acknowledges the report and shares its concerns regarding human rights violati...

Answered 25 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of unemployment in Sutton Coldfield constituency.

Answer: The information requested is published and available at:https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp Guidance for users can be found at:https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp The estimated unemployment levels can be found by selecting “Query data” on the N...

Answered 18 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with (a) large supermarket chains and (b) representatives of independent retailers on the illegal sale of fireworks.

Answer: The Government met with supermarkets and representatives of independent retails in July where the illegal sale of fireworks and what measures they could take in addressing illegal sale was discussed. This includes, but is not exclusive to, supermarkets an...

Answered 21 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the value for money of the contract to house asylum seekers in the Ramada hotel in Sutton Coldfield constituency.

Answer: For the safety and security of those we accommodate and our staff, the Home Office does not comment publicly on sites which may or may not be utilised to accommodate asylum seekers.This Government recognises that hotels are not a sustainable or cost-effec...

Answered 13 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department is providing to NHS trusts to increase (a) crisis support services in the local community (b) mental health inpatient beds in the West Midlands.

Answer: Local integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning National Health Service mental health crisis services and mental health inpatient beds to meet the needs of people across the West Midlands. Nationally, progress has been achieved in building ...

Answered 17 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to promote (a) Sutton Coldfield (b) the West Midlands as destinations for British holidaymakers.

Answer: DCMS recognises the contribution of the West Midlands, and the constituency of Sutton Coldfield, to the visitor economy. The region's attractions, from Sutton Park to the Black Country Living Museum, and its reputation in hosting major events, including t...

Answered 13 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether a date has been set for her planned international summit on future of aid; and when she plans to announce her objectives for that summit.

Answer: The Government continues to work with our partners overseas and international organisations to support sustainable development across the world. We have set out intentions to host a Conference on the Future of Development in collaboration with partners an...

Answered 11 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce incidences of gun crime in (a) the Birmingham City Council area and (b) Sutton Coldfield.

Answer: The Government recognises the significant and long-lasting impact that incidents of gun crime can have both on victims and within the local community. That is why we are work with the police and the National Crime Agency (NCA) to tackle the trafficking an...

Answered 5 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help support the retention of (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers in Sutton Coldfield constituency.

Answer: This government is committed to re-establishing teaching as an attractive profession, which is why the department announced a 4% pay award for teachers and leaders in maintained schools from September 2025, on top of a 5.5% pay award for 2024/25, resultin...

Answered 4 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of nursery availability on parents' ability to return to work in Sutton Coldfield constituency.

Answer: It is our ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. In 2025/26, we plan to provide over £8 billion for the ear...

Answered 11 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent steps his Department has taken to support small businesses in the retail sector in the West Midlands.

Answer: We’re creating a fairer business rates system that protects small retailers, including introducing permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties under £500,000 rateable value. The government has protected the smallest businesses f...

Answered 28 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the health outcomes of veterans in the West Midlands.

Answer: As well as being able to access all National Health Services across the United Kingdom, NHS England has introduced several bespoke services to improve the healthcare support available to veterans. These are: Op RESTORE which supports veterans with service...

Answered 6 Nov 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 20 October 2025 to Questions (a) 81257 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty and (b) 81258 on St Helena: British Nationals Abroad, what steps she is takin

Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is working together with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to address the complex considerations concerning the unfreezing of pensions for St Helena. I have recently met ministerial collea...

Answered 29 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent progress she has made in helping to tackle (a) TB (b) HIV/Aids and (c) Malaria.

Answer: The Government remains committed to work to meet Sustainable Development target 3.3, including to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, and supports several of the organisations at the forefront of the response including the Global Fun...

Answered 28 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to sanction (a) General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and (b) Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo; and whether she plans to request that the International Criminal Court

Answer: Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, the UK has frozen the assets of nine commercial entities linked to the parties involved in the conflict: five entities linked with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and four entities linked with the Sudanese Arme...

Answered 28 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average length of time is between receiving an expression of interest and receiving a formal application and the start of a training programme for a new recruit in the (a) Army and (b) Army Reserve.

Answer: In the 12 months ending 1 July 2025, the average time taken between application and untrained entry for UK/Irish Regular Other Ranks was 249 days. In regard to the average time taken between application and untrained entry for the Army Reserve, this is in...

Answered 20 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Chief Minister of Saint Helena on the unfreezing of pension benefits for entitled residents.

Answer: Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office officials are engaging closely with the new Government of St Helena on the issue of pensions, alongside other issues. I look forward to welcoming the new Chief Minister to the UK-Overseas Territories Joint Min...

Answered 20 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the full implementation of the British Indian Ocean Territory Partnership Agreement, signed in October 2024.

Answer: Further to the October 2024 Political Agreement, the UK/Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia was signed on 22 May. The UK is working closely with the US and Mauritius on the arrangements to implement this treaty.An ...

Answered 20 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding has been allocated from the Active Travel England fund to local authorities in the West Midlands.

Answer: From 2020/21 to 2025/26, Active Travel England has allocated a total of £101,488,475 to the West Midlands. Funding from 2025/26 for the combined authority has been provided through the Integrated Settlement.

Answered 17 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the prevalence of speeding in the West Midlands.

Answer: The Department for Transport has not conducted a specific assessment of prevalence of speeding in the West Midlands. The Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. The Departm...

Answered 14 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions she has had with (a) West Midlands Police and (b) Birmingham City Council on the forthcoming Road Safety Strategy.

Answer: The Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. My Department regularly engages with the police and local authorities. With regards to the West Midlands, my officials have held...

Answered 14 Oct 2025

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department is taking to support public awareness campaigns aimed at improving road safety in the West Midlands.

Answer: THINK! is the Government’s flagship road safety campaign, which aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads. It targets those most at risk, particularly male drivers aged 17–24, who are four times more likely to be killed or seriously injured ...

Answered 14 Oct 2025