Asked by: Jim Dickson (Labour - Dartford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken in the Autumn Budget 2026 to promote growth across the UK.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The UK saw the joint-fastest growth in the G7 in the first half of this year, and this Budget doubles down on that.
Last week, the Chancellor set out the most ambitious package of devolution and regional growth reforms in a generation. This includes breaking Westminster’s grip on taxation in England, by embracing a new of model of fiscal devolution - because local leaders know what is best for growth in their areas.
Asked by: Jim Dickson (Labour - Dartford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of access to bevacizumab for women with recurrent ovarian cancer who have previously received the treatment and whether consideration has been given to making bevacizumab available off license for such patients where clinically appropriate.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no current plans to routinely fund the off-label use of bevacizumab for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who have already received treatment with this agent. If there is strong clinical evidence for its use, an application for off-label prescribing could be made through the established NHS England process for developing clinical commissioning policies, including consideration by the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group.
Asked by: Jim Dickson (Labour - Dartford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the answer of 5 January 2026 to Question 99290 on Food: Nutrition if she could provide an updated timeline for a) the publication of a government consultation regarding the health reporting requirements under the healthy food standard policy, b) the implementation of the mandatory reporting for large food businesses announced and c) the implementation of the mandatory health targets for large food businesses all announced as part of the 10-year health plan for England.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 July in response to Question 18395.
Asked by: Jim Dickson (Labour - Dartford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to inform (a) general practitioners of the current prostate cancer testing guidance for asymptomatic men (b) men at highest risk of prostate cancer to seek testing if they have concerns.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 September in response to Question 21341.
Asked by: Jim Dickson (Labour - Dartford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the extent to which cigarette filters are used to circumvent the ban on menthol and other characterising flavours in tobacco products.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Members to the Government's consultations, and accompanying consultation stage impact assessments, on smoke-free, heated tobacco-free, and vape-free places, and on the packaging, device appearance, and display of tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products. The Government will carefully consider the responses before taking decisions on future regulations.
I refer the Hon. Members to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill House of Lords debate on 24 February 2026 in relation to filters. Evidence is still developing and there are no current plans to consult on plain packaging and promotions restrictions. No assessment has been taken on filters being used to circumvent the current flavours ban.
Asked by: Jim Dickson (Labour - Dartford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if her Department will consult on requiring cigarette filters to be sold in plain packaging and restrict their promotion.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon. Members to the Government's consultations, and accompanying consultation stage impact assessments, on smoke-free, heated tobacco-free, and vape-free places, and on the packaging, device appearance, and display of tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products. The Government will carefully consider the responses before taking decisions on future regulations.
I refer the Hon. Members to the Tobacco and Vapes Bill House of Lords debate on 24 February 2026 in relation to filters. Evidence is still developing and there are no current plans to consult on plain packaging and promotions restrictions. No assessment has been taken on filters being used to circumvent the current flavours ban.
Asked by: Jim Dickson (Labour - Dartford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what her planned timeline is for the procurement and roll out of Southeastern Metro rolling stock.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Southeastern is currently engaged in a live rolling stock procurement. Their full business case, with a recommended solution, is currently being taken through Department for Transport governance approvals required for investment decisions. I am not able to provide details on timescales until the procurement has concluded. Southeastern will ensure stakeholders and customers are informed accordingly as and when more information is available.
Asked by: Jim Dickson (Labour - Dartford)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the scope of the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan being developed by her Department will cover legumes such as peas, lentils and fava beans.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Horticulture Sector Growth Plan is sector-led, using sector expertise to create evidence-based plans that set out a clear vision and pathway to deliver growth. Sector expert groups have determined the remit of the Horticulture plan based on their industry expertise.
Fresh peas and beans grown as horticultural crops are within the scope of the Plan. Legumes and pulses cultivated as arable crops, requiring processing or not for direct human consumption, are more aligned with the arable sector, and their interests will be considered through work with the arable sector.
Asked by: Jim Dickson (Labour - Dartford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will publish figures on the number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children arriving in Kent each month since January 2024.
Answered by Alex Norris - Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
The Home Office publishes data on the number of unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. This data is published on a quarterly basis and is not broken down by location. As such, figures on the number of UASC arriving specifically in Kent each month are not routinely published.
Published data does show:
Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data. These reviews allow us to balance the production of our regular statistics whilst developing new statistics for future release.
Asked by: Jim Dickson (Labour - Dartford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his department has to assess the effectiveness of NHS health checks to ensure a) they are targeted at the right patients and b) checking for the correct conditions.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The NHS Health Check is designed to assess the top risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and refer people to further support through behavioural interventions, for example weight management, clinical assessment, and treatment where appropriate.
Programme guidance encourages commissioners and their providers to adopt a proportionate universalist approach, to ensure that checks are delivered in a way that prioritises resources and effort towards engaging people at higher risk of CVD.
A 2021 review found that the NHS Health Check programme had largely achieved its aims, reaching two in five eligible people, including those at higher risk of CVD, and delivering better outcomes for attendees.
In response to the review recommendations, the Department has prioritised improving access to and uptake of the programme through the ongoing development of the NHS Health Check Online and the piloting of CVD checks in workplace settings during 2025.