Asked by: Nigel Huddleston (Conservative - Droitwich and Evesham)
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 funding allocated to hospital rebuilding projects to meet increasing demand for NHS services; and what steps he is taking to ensure that investment in new and rebuilt hospitals is accompanied by funding for the supporting infrastructure required to serve growing populations, including primary care facilities, transport links and utilities.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government's 10 Year Capital Plan provides long-term funding certainty for the National Health Service estate, with annual health capital spending rising to £15 billion by 2029/30. This includes £6.75 billion to deliver vital repairs over the next nine years through the Estates Safety Fund, alongside long-term investment in the New Hospital Programme (NHP). NHP schemes can include funding for moving clinical services into community-based facilities, utilities upgrades, and improvements to local transport infrastructure as necessary and appropriate. We remain committed to delivering all schemes in the NHP.
We are also investing in the wider health infrastructure needed to support growing populations. As set out in our 10 Year Capital Plan, we have committed £200 million over the next four years to continue upgrading the general practice estate, alongside a further £200 million to support the development of neighbourhood health centres.
NHS organisations are expected to work with local planning authorities on healthcare requirements arising from population growth, seek developer contributions where appropriate, and coordinate transport and utility requirements with relevant infrastructure partners.
Asked by: Nigel Huddleston (Conservative - Droitwich and Evesham)
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 heating oil prices on off-grid households; and what support she plans to provide to ensure that rural communities reliant on heating oil are protected from rising energy costs this winter.
Answered by Polly Billington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the particular pressures faced by rural and off-gas-grid households, including bulk purchases and exposure to sudden price movements. Recent heating-oil price rises have largely reflected higher wholesale costs. Earlier this year, £53 million of targeted support was announced for low-income households affected by higher heating-oil costs. We continue to monitor supply and prices and engage with industry to support resilient supply and fair pricing. The Government published its response to the Competition and Markets Authority’s study on 13 October and will regulate the heating-oil market for the first time, strengthening fair treatment, transparency, protections for vulnerable households and routes to redress while preserving competition and security of supply.
Asked by: Nigel Huddleston (Conservative - Droitwich and Evesham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board has had with levy payers and businesses affected by the withdrawal of the horticulture levy; and what steps are being taken to ensure they are informed of alternative sources of support.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Following the horticulture sector’s vote to end the statutory levy, AHDB has confirmed that 1,260 levy payers paid levy in the final 2021/22 levy year. AHDB then needed to use the residual levy funds for the benefit of the horticulture sector. Following engagement with the industry and discussion with the British Growers Association and horticulture crop associations an industry-led proposal emerged to fund sector-led projects through 22 crop associations, with benefits available to all growers, including non-members. This approach has farming union support. As benefits are collective, the proportion of former levy payers who will benefit cannot be meaningfully calculated. Horticulture businesses can access wider Defra support, including the Farming Innovation Programme, subject to eligibility.
Asked by: Nigel Huddleston (Conservative - Droitwich and Evesham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the proportion of those affected by the withdrawal of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board horticulture levy who will receive support through the decision to fund 22 horticultural crop associations.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Following the horticulture sector’s vote to end the statutory levy, AHDB has confirmed that 1,260 levy payers paid levy in the final 2021/22 levy year. AHDB then needed to use the residual levy funds for the benefit of the horticulture sector. Following engagement with the industry and discussion with the British Growers Association and horticulture crop associations an industry-led proposal emerged to fund sector-led projects through 22 crop associations, with benefits available to all growers, including non-members. This approach has farming union support. As benefits are collective, the proportion of former levy payers who will benefit cannot be meaningfully calculated. Horticulture businesses can access wider Defra support, including the Farming Innovation Programme, subject to eligibility.
Asked by: Nigel Huddleston (Conservative - Droitwich and Evesham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many individuals, businesses and levy payers are affected by the withdrawal of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board horticulture levy and what support will be available to them in the levies absence.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Following the horticulture sector’s vote to end the statutory levy, AHDB has confirmed that 1,260 levy payers paid levy in the final 2021/22 levy year. AHDB then needed to use the residual levy funds for the benefit of the horticulture sector. Following engagement with the industry and discussion with the British Growers Association and horticulture crop associations an industry-led proposal emerged to fund sector-led projects through 22 crop associations, with benefits available to all growers, including non-members. This approach has farming union support. As benefits are collective, the proportion of former levy payers who will benefit cannot be meaningfully calculated. Horticulture businesses can access wider Defra support, including the Farming Innovation Programme, subject to eligibility.
Asked by: Nigel Huddleston (Conservative - Droitwich and Evesham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mechanisms are in place to identify and reassess patients previously considered ineligible for hereditary cancer genetic testing when clinical guidance, family history or genetic knowledge changes.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England is responsible for commissioning the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) in England. The NHS GMS delivers genomic testing for over 7,000 rare diseases and 200 cancers. Genomic testing for a range of inherited cancers is available on the National Genomic Test Directory (the Test Directory).
Individuals should discuss with their healthcare professional whether genomic testing is appropriate for them, including in circumstances where information about their family history has changed. Their healthcare professional will then review the latest clinical guidance and make a decision whether to refer the individual either directly or via an NHS Clinical Genomics Service or other relevant clinical speciality for genomic testing following clinical review of their and their family’s medical history if known, and the Test Directory eligibility criteria.
A robust and evidence-based process and policy is in place to routinely review the Test Directory and ensure that genomic testing continues to reflect the latest scientific evidence and is available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit, while delivering value for money for the National Health Service.
Asked by: Nigel Huddleston (Conservative - Droitwich and Evesham)
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 whether NHS genetic testing criteria adequately identify people with a close family history of early-onset breast cancer; and if he will consider routine follow-up for patients whose eligibility may change over time.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 3 July in response to Question 13681.
Asked by: Nigel Huddleston (Conservative - Droitwich and Evesham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the letter from her Department to the Rt hon. Member for Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge dated 11 February 2026, if she will publish data behind his department’s assessment that solar farms will provide “enormous potential to create good jobs, protect billpayers, ensure energy security”.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The evidence underpinning this assessment is already published.
The Solar Roadmap, published in June 2025, estimates that the solar sector could support around 35,000 jobs by 2030, double the number it supports today. The Clean Energy Jobs Plan, published in October 2025, sets out the workforce needed across clean energy sectors, including solar, alongside a technical annex and supplementary data.
The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan sets out the Government's analysis that increasing homegrown clean electricity strengthens energy security by reducing our exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets. Utility-scale solar is one of the cheapest forms of electricity generation to build and operate and is expected to help reduce costs in the electricity system over the long term.
Asked by: Nigel Huddleston (Conservative - Droitwich and Evesham)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his department plans to respond to my office’s correspondence of the 13 March 2026, with follow-ups of the 12 June 2026 and 22 July 2026, under the subject heading Constituent concerns about CMS and Pay, Not See.
Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
The Department recognises the importance of responding to correspondence from Honourable and Right Honourable Members in a timely manner.
The Hon. Member's letter of 13 March has been received and is being considered. I regret that a response has not yet been received and I apologise profusely for the delay. I will look into the cause of the delay and ensure a full response is issued as soon as possible, if it has not been already received.
Asked by: Nigel Huddleston (Conservative - Droitwich and Evesham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who the stakeholders were that they obtained evidence from during the call for Evidence Business Rates review, which closed on 18th Feb.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
We received responses to the Call for Evidence on Business Rates and Investment, from a range of organisations including Business Representative Organisations, Local Authorities, Retail, Hospitality and Leisure businesses and other sectors.
We are carefully considering representations we’ve received, and a Government response to the Call for Evidence will be published in due course.