Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she is considering the potential merits of introducing an Essential Energy Guarantee to lower energy bills for households.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Tackling the cost of living is a priority for this Government. The measures announced at the Autumn Budget on 28 October provide breathing space for families and businesses, particularly with energy costs.
The Government is extending the VAT cut on qualifying domestic electricity supplies until July 2027, which is expected to ensure the annual Ofgem price in April 2027 remains around £50 lower than it would otherwise have been.
The Government is also launching a £2.6 billion Household Energy Payment, which will provide a £100 payment directly into bank accounts from January 2027 for households in England in council tax bands A-D, supporting up to 20 million households. Devolved Governments will receive their share of this additional funding through the Barnett formula.
These measures accompany other forms of support, such as the Warm Home Discount, which supports 5.7 million households.
The Government will continue to explore ways to support households with the cost of living. A key part of this is making better use of data across the public sector, allowing support to be better targeted to those who need it most. DESNZ is working with other Government departments to improve the use of data in targeting support.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of incentives to build mobile network infrastructure in rural areas.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Further to the answer given on 22 April 2026 by my Right Honourable Friend the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, to UIN 127285, the Government's ambition is for all populated areas of the UK, including rural communities, to benefit from higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This is being delivered by commercial investment by the UK's mobile network operators.
The Government's Mobile Market Review Call for Evidence, which is now closed, sought views as to whether the existing regulatory framework supports future investment, innovation and competition in mobile networks across the UK.
Alongside this commercial rollout, the Shared Rural Network programme continues to play an important role in improving 4G coverage in some of the most rural areas where there was little or no coverage prior to the programme.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the impact of increases in energy costs and fuel prices on rural households.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
The Government recognises that households are feeling the effect of the conflict in the Middle East, given the sharp increase in global prices this year.
That is why Budget 2026 is providing breathing space for households by supporting them with their energy costs. The Government is providing the £100 Household Energy Payment, extending the VAT cut to electricity until July 2027, suspending import tariffs on kerosene heating oil until December 2028, and reforming gas standard charges to give households more control over what they pay.
Budget 2026 is also helping communities, including rural households, with transport costs. The Government is: extending the temporary 5p per litre fuel duty cut for a further six months to 1 July 2027; extending the additional 3.7p duty cut to red diesel to 1 July 2027; and supporting employees and self-employed people across the UK who use their own vehicles for work by increasing tax-free mileage rates.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the forthcoming increase in the energy price cap on household finances.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The level of the price cap level for the period 1 January to 31 March has not yet been confirmed, and any forecast at this stage is uncertain. Ofgem will announce the level of the forthcoming price cap at the end of November in the usual way. We will continue to work closely with Ofgem to monitor wholesale energy prices.
That said, tackling the cost of living is a priority for this Government. The measures announced at the Autumn Budget on 28 October provide breathing space for families, particularly with energy costs.
The Government is launching a £2.6 billion Household Energy Payment, which will provide a £100 payment directly into bank accounts from January 2027 for households in England in council tax bands A-D, supporting up to 20 million households. The UK Government is allocating this additional funding to the devolved administrations using the Barnett formula. They will be responsible for deciding how best to use this funding based on local needs.
This is immediate relief to give low-income households breathing space this year, alongside the Government extending the temporary 0% rate of VAT on qualifying domestic electricity supplies until July 2027. This is expected to ensure the annual Ofgem price in April 2027 remains around £50 lower than it would otherwise have been.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of increases in household costs on families in rural areas.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
We recognise that many households, including in rural areas continue to face cost pressures, and the Government is committed to improving living standards and strengthening families' financial resilience.
The Budget included a package of cost-of-living measures to help ease pressure on household budgets, including a £100 Household Energy Payment, the removal of VAT on domestic electricity bills, the planned abolition of gas standing charges, the extension of the 5p fuel duty cut, lower bus fares, and the suspension of tariffs on more than 100 supermarket products.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average processing time was for claims submitted under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for mental health conditions in each of the last five years.
Answered by Calvin Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans and People)
The table below provides the median average clearance times, in working days, for initial mental health injury/illness claims cleared under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) by financial year.
Clearance times refer to the number of working days between when the Ministry of Defence (MOD) received a claim and when the claim was finalised and the decision notified.
Financial Year | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 |
Average1 Clearance Time (working days) | 101 | 118.5 | 208 | 210 | 186 |
Over the past three years, resource levels within the AFCS have generally declined, particularly in the last 12 to 18 months, placing additional pressure on service delivery. Since mid-2025, the MOD has stabilised the system and reversed this downward trend, with current resources now expected to consistently meet demand.
Since 1 October 2025, the MOD has operated under a recruitment freeze, allowing only limited increases in Medical Advisor (MA) and administrative roles. As headcount cannot be increased, current resources are optimised through multi-skilling and reprioritising essential operational tasks. Measures such as overtime and weekend working have also been introduced to accelerate the clearance of outstanding claims.
At every stage of the AFCS process, claims from the terminally ill are given priority. In addition, the MOD Veterans Services remains available to all veterans, Service personnel, and their families, offering dedicated assistance and support.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer on 19th May 2026 to question 1352, when her Department plans to complete its review on the inclusion of Battery Energy Storage Solutions within the Environmental Permitting Regulations; and when any resulting regulatory changes will come into force.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is continuing policy work on including Battery Energy Storage Systems as an activity under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. Officials are engaging with key stakeholders from industry and wider government as part of the policy process.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will approve funding for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement programme.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We recognise the strategic importance of the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement programme and the significant benefits it could deliver for passengers, freight and economic growth.
We will actively consider this scheme as further funding opportunities become available.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of arrangements for verifying the disciplinary and safeguarding records of applicants for employment in adult social care settings.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 23 October in response to Question 31174.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to improve the resilience of soil affected roads.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is aware of the challenges associated with soil affected roads. Under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, the statutory responsibility for maintaining the public highway rests with local highway authorities, who are best placed to make decisions based on their local knowledge and circumstances.
To support local highway authorities in the maintenance of their highway networks, the Government has confirmed a record investment of £7.3 billion for local highway maintenance over the next four years.
In addition, the Department has recently undertaken a comprehensive review of the Well-Managed Highway Infrastructure Code of Practice, a guidance document for local highways authorities. The updated code has strengthened guidance on resilience, climate adaptation and risk-based asset management.