Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department had with stakeholders in the horseracing industry prior to the Government's consultation on gambling tax simplification being launched.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

As part of the consultation process, the Government engaged with a wide range of stakeholders. We are working with representatives of the horseracing industry to identify any potential unintended consequences for the sector, and how they might be mitigated.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to improve cancer waiting times in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to improving outcomes for cancer patients across England, including in Ely and East Cambridgeshire.

The Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has a strong track record in delivering the cancer performance standards over the years. There is a comprehensive action plan to address the recent deterioration in the waiting times that patients are experiencing for cancer diagnostics and treatment. This includes the provision of additional consultant appointments and theatre lists, as well as recruitment to expand capacity across a number of treatment pathways, with breast, urology, and skin cancer services identified as specific priorities to meet local needs.

A new Cancer Operational Taskforce has been launched to drive the delivery of the actions required to improve cancer waiting times for patients, including those who reside within the Ely constituency area.

The Department will publish a National Cancer Plan which will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients across England, speed up diagnosis and treatment, and ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology.

Reducing inequalities is also a key priority for the National Cancer Plan. The plan will look at the targeted improvements needed across different cancer types to reduce disparities in cancer survival and will develop interventions to tackle these. This includes looking at protected characteristics, as well as inequalities related to socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and geographic location. We know that people living in deprived areas are less likely to have their cancers diagnosed at an early stage, when treatment can be more effective, and we want to reduce the gap in early diagnosis between those living in the richest and poorest areas through the National Cancer Plan.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of inequalities in cancer treatment access in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to improving outcomes for cancer patients across England, including in Ely and East Cambridgeshire.

The Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has a strong track record in delivering the cancer performance standards over the years. There is a comprehensive action plan to address the recent deterioration in the waiting times that patients are experiencing for cancer diagnostics and treatment. This includes the provision of additional consultant appointments and theatre lists, as well as recruitment to expand capacity across a number of treatment pathways, with breast, urology, and skin cancer services identified as specific priorities to meet local needs.

A new Cancer Operational Taskforce has been launched to drive the delivery of the actions required to improve cancer waiting times for patients, including those who reside within the Ely constituency area.

The Department will publish a National Cancer Plan which will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients across England, speed up diagnosis and treatment, and ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology.

Reducing inequalities is also a key priority for the National Cancer Plan. The plan will look at the targeted improvements needed across different cancer types to reduce disparities in cancer survival and will develop interventions to tackle these. This includes looking at protected characteristics, as well as inequalities related to socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and geographic location. We know that people living in deprived areas are less likely to have their cancers diagnosed at an early stage, when treatment can be more effective, and we want to reduce the gap in early diagnosis between those living in the richest and poorest areas through the National Cancer Plan.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of commencing the Ely junction upgrade project.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Secretary of State updated Parliament on 7 July regarding which rail and road infrastructure projects will progress following the completion of the Spending Review. The Ely junction scheme was not among those projects funded at this time.

The previous government had committed to a number of infrastructure projects that were unfunded, this included the Ely junction scheme.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of rail fares on the cost of living.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

As we reform fares and deliver Great British Railways, we must ensure passengers and taxpayers get a fair deal. Since the pandemic, the amount of taxpayer subsidy provided to the railway industry has increased from under a quarter in 2018/19 to almost half of total income in 2023/24. Our goal is to balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers, while ensuring the railway’s long-term financial sustainability.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Environment Agency on the adequacy of the level of flood preparedness in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency (EA) is supporting 26 flood groups across Cambridgeshire, alongside Cambridgeshire County Council, to be prepared for flooding by creating a flood plan and access to a flood kit. There are two active flood groups in the Ely and East Cambridgeshire area: Cottenham, and Little Downham and Pymoor.

Regarding the ongoing inspection, maintenance, and repair of the raised earth embankments river defences in the area, a risk-based approach has been adopted to ensure resources are directed to where they provide the most flood risk benefit.

To prepare better for the future, the EA has several strategic projects focused on improving long term flood resilience, these include Fens 2100+ and the Cranbrook/Counter Drain project. Fens 2100+ is developing a long-term plan to manage future flood risk in the Fens and the Cranbrook/Counter Drain project is working on water storage proposals through the restoration of sand and gravel workings.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with local authorities on flood preparedness.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Floods Resilience Taskforce meets quarterly to coordinate and drive forward work on national flood resilience by national and local government, including representatives from Local Resilience Forums, Mayoral Authorities and MHCLG. It met on 8 September and reviewed preparedness for flooding this autumn and winter.

The Taskforce discussed the risk of flooding and the improvements made by Taskforce members to prepare, respond and recover. They also discussed national flood modelling and forecasting, communication of flood warnings, exercising of the National Flood Response Centre and improving the awareness of flood schemes.

Lead local flood authorities (unitary and county authorities) are required to manage local flood risks from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. Local flood risks should be identified and managed as part of a local flood risk management strategy.

The Environment Agency and Defra will continue to work with their partners in local authorities to improve flood readiness, including Lead Local Flood Authorities.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Floods Resilience Taskforce is taking to prepare for potential floods in winter 2025-26.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Flood Resilience Taskforce, which brings together national and local government, emergency services and other partners, met on 8 September and reviewed preparedness for flooding this autumn and winter.

The Taskforce discussed the risk of flooding and the improvements made by Taskforce members to prepare, respond and recover, including improvements to national flood modelling and forecasting, communication of flood warnings, exercising of the National Flood Response Centre and improving the awareness of schemes to support those affected by flooding.

The Taskforce concluded that at local and national levels, preparedness for flooding has overall increased compared to September 2024. Taskforce members will continue to work throughout the autumn and winter to protect communities.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to mitigate the impact of flooding on households ahead of winter 2025-26.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We are investing a record £2.65 billion over two years for the construction of new flood schemes, and the maintenance and repair of existing ones. Around 1,000 projects will receive fresh funding in 24/25 and 25/26.

Flood Action Week, running from 13th of October, will inform the public how to understand their flood risk and the actions they can take. This will include raising awareness of the flood warning service, what to do when they receive a warning, and the benefits of taking property flood resilience measures.

The Flood Resilience Taskforce, which brings together national and local government, emergency services and other partners, met on 5 September and reviewed preparedness for flooding in autumn and winter, The Taskforce considered improvements to national flood modelling and forecasting, communication of flood warnings and improving awareness of schemes to support those affected by flooding.

The Taskforce concluded that at local and national levels, preparedness for flooding has overall increased compared to September 2024. Taskforce members will continue to work throughout the autumn and winter to protect communities.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to strengthen retrospective rural-proofing of her Department's policies.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department keeps the impact of its policies on rural communities up and down the country under continual review and has strengthened retrospective rural-proofing in three ways.

Firstly our Transport Appraisal framework is rigorous and provides structured guidance during the appraisal process. It ensures that local context is effectively captured and that place-based analysis is appropriately conducted, including within rural communities.

Secondly, the Department consistently considers the distributional impacts of its policies through the application of equalities impact assessments. These assessments include a thorough review of potential differential impacts on communities including rural communities, ensuring that Ministers are fully informed when making policy decisions.

Thirdly, we are commissioning and publishing independent evaluations of programmes with significant rural reach- such as Demand Responsive Transport pilots funded through the Rural Mobility Fund and the Tackling Loneliness with Transport pilots - and will publish further evaluation outputs in the coming months to inform future policy and guidance.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that communities have access to local pharmacies.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government recognises that pharmacies, including in Ely and East Cambridgeshire, are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible ‘front door’ to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals.

Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies and must keep these assessments under review. Integrated care boards (ICBs) give regard to the PNAs when reviewing applications from the new contractors. Contractors can also apply to open a new pharmacy to offer benefits to patients that were not foreseen by the PNA. If there is a need for a new local pharmacy to open and no contractors apply to open a pharmacy and fill the gap, ICBs can commission a new pharmacy to open outside of the market entry processes and can fund the contract from the ICBs’ budgets. In some rural areas where a pharmacy may not be viable, local general practices are permitted to dispense medicines to their patients. In addition, patients can choose to access medicines through any of the distance selling pharmacies that are required to deliver the medicines they dispense free of charge, and which also provide other pharmaceutical services remotely.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of pharmacy provision in rural areas.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government recognises that pharmacies, including in Ely and East Cambridgeshire, are an integral part of the fabric of our communities, as an easily accessible ‘front door’ to the National Health Service, staffed by highly trained and skilled healthcare professionals.

Local authorities are required to undertake a pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA) every three years to assess whether their population is adequately served by local pharmacies and must keep these assessments under review. Integrated care boards (ICBs) give regard to the PNAs when reviewing applications from the new contractors. Contractors can also apply to open a new pharmacy to offer benefits to patients that were not foreseen by the PNA. If there is a need for a new local pharmacy to open and no contractors apply to open a pharmacy and fill the gap, ICBs can commission a new pharmacy to open outside of the market entry processes and can fund the contract from the ICBs’ budgets. In some rural areas where a pharmacy may not be viable, local general practices are permitted to dispense medicines to their patients. In addition, patients can choose to access medicines through any of the distance selling pharmacies that are required to deliver the medicines they dispense free of charge, and which also provide other pharmaceutical services remotely.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to introduce a social tariff for energy.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

I know that more needs to be done to support vulnerable households that are struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power.

The Warm Home Discount provides a £150 rebate off winter energy bills for eligible low-income households. On 19 June we announced that we are expanding the Warm Home Discount to around an additional 2.7 million households. This means that from next winter, around 6 million low-income households will receive the £150 support to help with their energy bill costs.

On 25 September we published a consultation setting out our intention to continue support for those 6 million households. The consultation sets out proposals for the next scheme period (up to winter 2030/31), after current regulations expire on 31 March 2026. Government is gathering feedback from stakeholders on the design of the core elements of the scheme, options for delivery of the scheme in Scotland, proposals to change some elements of the scheme for suppliers, a call for evidence on Industry Initiatives, and a call for suggestions for future improvements during the next scheme period. The consultation closes on Thursday 20 November.

In the interim, I appreciate that one of the biggest practical barriers to providing help to households that need it, is the availability of the right data to target financial support and advice. The Department for Net Zero and Energy Security is working closely with other Government Departments to unlock the data that will enable us to target support more effectively to those who need help with their energy bills.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support he plans to provide to households in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency with energy bills in winter 2025-26.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently.

We recognise that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we delivered the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households last winter. On 19 June we announced that we are expanding the Warm Home Discount to around an additional 2.7 million households. This means that from this winter, around 6 million low-income households will receive the £150 support to help with their energy bills.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help reduce regional inequalities in energy bills.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Energy prices vary regionally due to differences in the costs of local electricity and gas distribution networks, which are influenced by factors like population density and infrastructure maintenance. The energy price cap accounts for these differences in regional network costs by adjusting unit rates and standing charges.

The Government knows that, for many consumers, too much of the burden of the bill is placed on standing charges. The Government is committed to reducing consumer bills and bearing down on the standing charges and have worked constructively with the regulator, Ofgem, on this issue.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she is taking to grow the economy in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government’s approach to regional growth will drive growth in city regions, towns and communities and make the most of the opportunities in each part of the country, to make everyone better off. There is excellence right across the country and this government is backing it: lifting living standards and putting more money in people’s pockets.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) will receive £37.9 million in Local Transport Grant funding enabling local authorities to deliver transport improvements including more zero emission buses, cycleways, accessibility and congestion improvement measures. This will deliver a four-fold increase in funding in 2029-30 compared to 2024-25.

Ely and East Cambridgeshire residents will also benefit from the Government’s commitment to growth in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor to accelerate infrastructure investment, unlock new housing and commercial space, and strengthen partnerships with both private sector and local leaders. This also includes £2.5 billion for continued delivery of East-West Rail, providing new connectivity and unlocking growth across the corridor.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of decoupling electricity prices from wholesale gas prices on household energy bills.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As unabated gas generation is displaced and transitions to a reserve role, wholesale electricity prices will increasingly decouple from the price of gas. Accelerating the deployment of renewable generation, as we are through our Clean Power 2030 Mission, will reduce the frequency with which gas sets the marginal price, helping to rapidly decouple electricity from gas prices without the need for more complex arrangements. This will in turn reduce consumer exposure to volatile international gas prices.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to make (a) local fire services and (b) the Environment Agency statutory consultees for battery energy storage sites.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

This government takes fire safety extremely seriously. In GB, fires at battery sites are rare and are mitigated by a regulatory framework overseen by the Health and Safety Executive. The latest available 5-year annual average fire incidence rate for GB batteries is 0.7% (2020/21 to 2024 to 2025), lower than for wider non-domestic building fires in England at 0.8% (2019/20 to 2023/24).

We do not intend to make fire authorities or the Environment Agency statutory consultees on planning applications involving Battery Energy Storage Solutions (BESS). However, DEFRA is currently consulting on the principle of including batteries under the scope of the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR). EPR requires sites to demonstrate to the Environment Agency that harms are avoided or controlled and would provide for ongoing regulatory inspections.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of safety regulations for battery energy storage sites.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In GB, battery fires are rare and are mitigated by a robust framework overseen by the Health and Safety Executive, requiring responsible parties to ensure safety throughout a battery’s deployment. The latest available 5-year annual average fire incidence rate for GB batteries is 0.7% (2020/21 to 2024 to 2025)¹, lower than for wider non-domestic building fires in England at 0.8% (2019/20 to 2023/24).²

To complement this regulation, DEFRA is consulting on including batteries within the Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR). EPR requires sites to demonstrate to the Environment Agency that harms are avoided or controlled and provides for ongoing regulatory inspections.

[1] https://modoenergy.com/indices/industry-metrics?r=gb&m=operationalSites

[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fire-statistics-monitor

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the accessibility of sports facilities in rural communities.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to sport and leisure facilities which are vital spaces for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy, and which play an important role within communities across the country.

The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level, with funding levels set as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement. The Government encourages local authorities to make investments which offer the right opportunities and facilities for the communities they serve, investing in sport and physical activity with a place-based approach, to meet the needs of individual communities.

We want to support more people to get involved in sport and physical activity wherever they live. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK over the next four years, supporting the Government's Plan for Change. We will ensure that this funding promotes health, wellbeing and community cohesion and helps to remove the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups. We are working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need, before setting out further plans on how future funding will be allocated across the UK.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to increase opportunities for women and girls to participate in grassroots sport.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is committed to supporting every aspect of women’s sport and ensuring all women and girls, no matter their background, are able to participate in sport and physical activity.

The This Girl Can campaign, run by our Arm’s Length Body Sport England, has inspired millions of women and girls to get active 1.6 million women are expected to be active as a result of the campaign by 2028.

The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup marks the beginning of a decade of women’s sporting moments. Since summer 2024, the Government has invested £6.7 million into the tournament's legacy programme Impact '25, reaching 37,000 women and girls in the year leading up to this World Cup alone. Funding from this programme has been used to make facilities more accessible for women, train new female coaches and match officials and provide sanitary packages to clubs nationwide.

Following the outstanding achievements of the Lionesses in recent major tournaments, we will ensure that the impact of these achievements is felt by future generations of aspiring Lionesses by doubling priority access to facilities we invest in, reserved peak-time slots and women and girls-only evenings.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to provide information to communities affected by battery energy storage sites on the safety of those sites.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Communities near potential grid-scale battery sites should be informed about them via planning law, which requires local planning authorities to notify neighbours regarding planning applications either by site notice or letter, and to publish information about the application on a website. This provides the local community the opportunity to make representations about the application

The government has published guidance on existing battery safety standards.[1] Separately, the Health and Safety Executive has published guidance[2] for battery duty-holders under health and safety law. While intended for developers, communities may find this information helpful in gaining assurance that appropriate standards are in place for batteries.

In GB, fires at battery sites are rare and are mitigated by a regulatory framework overseen by the Health and Safety Executive. The latest available 5-year annual average fire incidence rate for GB batteries is 0.7% (2020/21 to 2024 to 2025)[1], lower than for wider non-domestic building fires in England at 0.8% (2019/20 to 2023/24)[2].


[1] https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/661feca73771f5b3ee757fac/grid-scale-storage-health-safety-guidance.pdf
[2] https://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/battery-energy-storage-systems.htm

Impact of extreme weather on farming

Government proposals for mandatory digital ID

Transparency and accountability in social media account closures

National Cancer Plan

Administration of Sheffield Wednesday

Water bills

Conduct of the hon. Member for Runcorn and Helsby

Eligibility variations in access to IVF

Warm Homes Plan

Contribution of legal immigrants

Great Western Railway train cancellations

Menopause Awareness Month

Flying Nightingales

40th anniversary of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

National inquiry into child sexual exploitation

South Downs National Park

Farmgate milk price reduction

35 years of Macmillan Cancer Support’s Coffee Morning

Elon Musk at the Unite the Kingdom rally

Lynne Franks and London Fashion Week

Protect our hospices

Access to school and college transport for disabled young people

25th anniversary of the UN Women, Peace and Security agenda

Protection of the Climate Change Act

Protecting palliative care at Arthur Rank Hospice

Safety of British nationals aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla

Insect decline and pesticide reduction

Celebrating Organic September

Fly camping in the Lake District

Speeding in rural areas

Global Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day 2025

Renewable energy and coal

Air Ambulance employees and the Ambulance Service (Emergency Duties) Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

Flood Action Week 2025

Dyslexia Awareness Week

Parkrun’s 21st anniversary

Political donations

Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme

Winnersh Film Studios

CLN2 Batten disease

East Neuk Kilnhouse Great Taste recognition

Award of honorary posthumous England cap to Frank Soo

General Tarleton reopening and Jeopardy Hospitality

Edinburgh Kiltwalk 2025

Pavement parking consultation response

The Chilterns National Landscape boundary review

Emma Kennedy

Leasehold reform (No. 2)

Children of Ukraine

University of St Andrews and Guardian University Guide 2026

Fertility funding access for LGBTQIA+ people

Independence of Healthwatch England

University of St Andrews support for the Blue Carbon Action Plan

Neurodivergent children at school

Air Ambulance Week 2025 (No. 2)

Oversight of automated moderation by social media companies

40mph default speed limit on country lanes

Eating disorders and online harms

INtuition

Motor neurone disease

Equitable national prostate cancer screening

Shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy

Postural Tachycardia Syndrome

Found: Baker (Labour; Glenrothes and Mid Fife) Markus Campbell-Savours (Labour; Penrith and Solway) Charlotte Cane