Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2026 to question 117027, whether her Department plans to review highways maintenance funding formulas alongside the review of highways maintenance best practice.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The government plans to review the funding formula that it uses to distribute capital funding to local highways authorities to see whether it can be adjusted to consider, for example, the conditions that affect the wear and tear of local roads. However, the government cannot commit to any changes to the allocation methodology until each option has been assessed for feasibility and deliverability, in line with the normal policy making process. The government would also expect to engage with local highway authorities about any methodology to understand how any changes might impact on their services.
The Department’s review of the highways maintenance guidance it provides to local highway authorities in the Well Managed Highways Infrastructure Code of Practice will progress in addition to this and will be completed by the end of 2026.
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 estimate her Department has made of the annual cost of repairing and maintaining soil affected roads.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is aware of the challenges associated with maintaining peat 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. As such the Department has not undertaken an assessment of the annual cost of maintaining soil affected roads.
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 highways maintenance over the next four years. This record investment builds on the investment of £1.6 billion this financial year, a £500 million increase compared to the previous financial year.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what process Ofcom follows after receiving feedback on mobile coverage maps.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the concerns from members across the House that in some cases, the level of mobile coverage reported by Ofcom does not align with users’ experience. Improving the accuracy of coverage data and improving the information available to consumers on the performance of mobile networks in their area remains a priority for the Government.
Government has restated the importance of Ofcom continuing to improve its reporting of mobile coverage in the draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of spectrum and postal services. This includes building on the launch of Map Your Mobile tool in June 2025, by exploring more use of measured and crowdsourced data. It also includes Ofcom keeping under review its definitions of what constitutes “good” 4G and 5G and the signal strength thresholds it uses to measure this, so that these definitions continue to reflect consumer and business expectations as user requirements and behaviours evolve.
Ofcom introduced the feedback function in the Map Your Mobile tool to ensure that consumers who are dissatisfied with the results have a way to register concerns or observations about mobile coverage in their area.
It provides Ofcom with a qualitative source of consumer experience to complement existing data and monitor broad trends over time, such as recurring locations where issues are raised. This remains under review as the dataset grows, Ofcom continue to assess how it can most effectively support their work.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of Ofcom’s mobile coverage maps.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the concerns from members across the House that in some cases, the level of mobile coverage reported by Ofcom does not align with users’ experience. Improving the accuracy of coverage data and improving the information available to consumers on the performance of mobile networks in their area remains a priority for the Government.
Government has restated the importance of Ofcom continuing to improve its reporting of mobile coverage in the draft Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of spectrum and postal services. This includes building on the launch of Map Your Mobile tool in June 2025, by exploring more use of measured and crowdsourced data. It also includes Ofcom keeping under review its definitions of what constitutes “good” 4G and 5G and the signal strength thresholds it uses to measure this, so that these definitions continue to reflect consumer and business expectations as user requirements and behaviours evolve.
Ofcom introduced the feedback function in the Map Your Mobile tool to ensure that consumers who are dissatisfied with the results have a way to register concerns or observations about mobile coverage in their area.
It provides Ofcom with a qualitative source of consumer experience to complement existing data and monitor broad trends over time, such as recurring locations where issues are raised. This remains under review as the dataset grows, Ofcom continue to assess how it can most effectively support their work.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what data her Department uses to track progress on 4G and 5G coverage targets.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Through the Communications Act 2003, Ofcom, as the regulator, is responsible for reporting on the availability of electronic communications networks.
The Government uses Ofcom’s Connected Nations mobile coverage data to track mobile networks across the UK. This includes assessing progress against the Shared Rural Network’s 95% 4G geographic coverage target and statutory licence obligations, as well as the Government’s ambition for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G coverage by 2030.
The Shared Rural Network has already met its objective of delivering outdoor 4G mobile coverage to 95% of UK landmass a year ahead of schedule and the programme continues to deliver new coverage to rural areas that need it the most. Standalone 5G is available outside 83% of UK premises from at least one mobile network operator.
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 data her Department holds on the condition of roads in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Official statistics on the condition of local roads in England are published annually: Road conditions in England to March 2025 - GOV.UK. Local authorities in England are required to provide the Department for Transport (DfT) with data on the condition of local roads annually under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s single data list.
DfT does not hold information on the condition of roads for Ely or East Cambridgeshire constituency but does hold information for Cambridgeshire.
In the financial year ending March 2025, the percentage of local A road and motorway in Cambridgeshire where maintenance should have been considered was 7%, for B and C road this was 16% and for unclassified road was 22%. For the same period, in England, the percentage of local A road and motorway where maintenance should have been considered was 5%, for B and C road was 7% and for unclassified road was 17%.
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 assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of peat soils on road maintenance.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 place a statutory duty on local highway authorities to maintain public highways, based upon their local knowledge and circumstances.
The Department is aware of the challenges associated with peat soil. The Department is undertaking a comprehensive review of the highways maintenance guidance it provides to local highway authorities in the Well Managed Highways Infrastructure Code of Practice, which will incorporate and signpost best practice guidance for treating soil affected roads. This will be completed at the end of 2026.
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 highways maintenance over the next four years. This record investment builds on the investment of £1.6 billion this financial year, a £500 million increase compared to the previous financial year.
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 her Department is taking to assess the maintenance of soil affected roads.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 place a statutory duty on local highway authorities to maintain public highways, based upon their local knowledge and circumstances.
The Department is aware of the challenges associated with peat soil. The Department is undertaking a comprehensive review of the highways maintenance guidance it provides to local highway authorities in the Well Managed Highways Infrastructure Code of Practice, which will incorporate and signpost best practice guidance for treating soil affected roads. This will be completed at the end of 2026.
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 highways maintenance over the next four years. This record investment builds on the investment of £1.6 billion this financial year, a £500 million increase compared to the previous financial year.
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, how many civil servants in his Department are working on the Access to Work Scheme.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Full Time Equivalent number of staff working on the Access to Work Scheme is currently 540.
Notes:
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the document entitled School level underlying data 2025, published on 5 June 2025, what assessment she has conducted on the reasons why 625 pupils in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency who are eligible for free school meals are not accessing them.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty which is why we are introducing a new eligibility threshold for free school meals ensuring all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit will be eligible from September 2026. This will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 back in families’ pockets, supporting parents in decisive action to improve lives of as part of the Child Poverty Strategy published on 5 December. Under the expansion, over half a million additional pupils will become eligible for free school meals.
The department has not made a formal assessment of the situation in Ely, however, specific factors such as lack of knowledge, stigma, and language barriers may impact take-up of free school meals.
The department wants to make sure as many eligible pupils as possible are claiming their free school meals. Introducing a new eligibility threshold for free school meals so that all children from households in receipt of universal credit will be eligible for free school meals from September 2026 will make it easier for parents to know whether they are entitled to receive free meals.
To support take-up, we are also rolling out improvements to the checking system that is available to all local authorities to help verify eligibility for free meals.
We welcome local authorities taking action to ensure government support reaches families, subject to them meeting legal and data protection requirements.