Written questions by Cane.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 80133 on Science: Research, when she plans to take steps with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on a coordinated approach for science centres.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 October 2025 to Question UIN 80133. The Government recognises the important role science and discovery centres play in engaging the public with science and inspiring young people. Minister Vallance has written to DCMS to explore a coordinated approach.

Food and Rural Affairs, what data her Department holds on levels of sewage discharges in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

The Environment Agency (EA) hold several data sets relating to discharges of sewage to the environment. Most publicly accessible data can be found at: Water Data Explorer | Engage Environment Agency. The majority of sewage discharges are permitted under the Environmental Permitting Regulations. Event Duration Monitoring data is available for all Storm Overflows. This provides data on the number of untreated sewage spills and the duration of each. The EA holds records of pollution incidents, including details of all non-permitted sewage discharges that are reported to them, or that they otherwise become aware of.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of leaving the ECHR on the Good Friday Agreement.

The ECHR underpins key international agreements on trade, security and migration, as well as the Good Friday Agreement. The UK Government has no plans to leave the ECHR, and will not therefore speculate on what such a policy would entail.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 80145 on Occupational Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with businesses on the adequacy of guidance on disclosures.

The Department recognises that disclosure is a personal decision and the Support with Employee Health and Disability service, developed with the involvement of employers from smaller businesses, and disability organisations, aims to support employers in creating environments where employees feel safe and supported to disclose health conditions or disabilities. In recognition of employers’ vital role, DWP and DBT commissioned Sir Charlie Mayfield to lead the Keep Britain Working independent review as part of the Government’s wider white paper plans to Get Britain Working. This has included engagement with businesses across the UK on all aspects of health and disability in the workplace. We are shortly expecting publication of Sir Charlie’s final report. Government is also awaiting the findings from the recent consultation on disability pay gap reporting, where reporting on disclosure rates was discussed.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 80142 on Farmers: Mental Health, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on expanding that support.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential. The department regularly meets with stakeholders as part of ongoing work to understand the causes behind poor mental health in farmers and what actions can be taken to assist those experiencing mental health challenges.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of removing the relevant target from the NHS Operational Planning Guidance 2025-6 on the dementia diagnosis rate.

The Darzi Investigation found that there are too many targets set for the National Health Service, which made it hard for local systems to prioritise their actions or to be held properly accountable.Our aim is to give more power to local systems and let them decide how they use local funding to best meet the needs of their local population.NHS Planning Guidance is not an exhaustive list of everything the NHS does, and the absence of a target does not mean it is not an area of focus. We remain committed to recovering the dementia diagnosis rate to the national ambition of 66.7%.We will deliver the first ever Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework to deliver rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.The Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia, and will set national standards for dementia care and redirect NHS priorities to provide the best possible care and support.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of dementia care provision in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

The Government is empowering local leaders with the autonomy they need to provide the best services to their local community, including for those with dementia.That is why we have published the D100: Assessment Tool Pathway programme, which brings together multiple resources into a single, consolidated tool. This will help simplify best practice for system leaders and help create communities and services where the best possible care and support is available to those with dementia. The tool is available at the following link:https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/improving-care/nccmh/service-design-and-development/dementia-100-pathway-assessment-toolWe will also deliver the first ever Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.The Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia, and will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 80143 on Farmers: Mental Health, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of farmers' mental health on levels of agricultural output.

Levels of agricultural output are measured in our statistical publications and can be affected by a range of factors including prices, disease and the weather. Although we have not attributed changes in output to changes in mental health, Defra recognises that poor mental health can affect agricultural productivity and profitability. International evidence has also highlighted a bidirectional relationship between mental health and agricultural output at the farm level.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77318 on Batteries: Storage, for what reason he does not plan to make fire services statutory consultees on planning applications involving battery energy storage sites.

Planning Practice Guidance strongly recommends that battery developers engage with fire services ahead of the submission of their planning application. However, further to dialogue with the National Fire Chiefs Council, government is of the view that making fire services statutory consultees would risk creating disproportionate administrative burdens for the fire services.

What progress she has made on the Ely Junction Upgrade Scheme.

The Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) programme was paused by the previous government in 2022. The Secretary of State updated Parliament on the 7th of July on which rail and road infrastructure projects will proceed following the 2025 Spending Review.At this stage, the EACE programme was not allocated funding. I fully recognise the strategic importance of the EACE programme. It has a strong case for future investment, and we are committed to working with stakeholders to support its place in the pipeline of future rail enhancements.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of progress on eel (a) management and (b) protection since the publication of the eel management plans.

Progress on eel management and protection was assessed in in the Implementation of UK Eel Management Plans (2020 – 2023) report, published in December 2024. The Environment Agency continues to implement the measures set out in the management plans aimed at the recovery and sustainable management of eel populations.

Media and Sport, whether she plans to take steps to increase the provision of (a) indoor and (b) covered tennis facilities in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. We are now working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other sports, to discuss this.The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport in England through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives in England that will benefit as many people as possible.

Media and Sport, further to the recent announcement of £400m UK Government funding for grassroots sports facilities, how much will go to (a) tennis and (b) padel facilities.

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. We are now working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other sports, to discuss this.The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport in England through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives in England that will benefit as many people as possible.

Media and Sport, whether she plans to take steps to increase access to padel courts in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. We are now working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other sports, to discuss this.The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport in England through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives in England that will benefit as many people as possible.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of providing funding for (a) tennis and (b) padel facilities.

The Government is determined to ensure that everyone has access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That is why we have committed another £400 million to transform facilities across the whole of the UK following the Spending Review. We are now working closely with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need and will then set out further plans. I have met with the Lawn Tennis Association, the National Governing Body for tennis and padel, along with representatives from other sports, to discuss this.The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport in England through Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. This includes long term investment in the Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years from 2022 to 2027 to invest in community tennis and padel initiatives in England that will benefit as many people as possible.

What steps he is taking to support research into (a) treatments and (b) a cure for postural tachycardia syndrome.

The Department funds health and care research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR funds clinical, public health, and social care research and works in partnership with the National Health Service, universities, local government, other research funders, patients, and the public. The NIHR welcomes proposals for research into a range of conditions, including postural tachycardia syndrome, at the following link: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/suggest-a-research-topic

What steps she is taking to strengthen retrospective rural-proofing of her Department's policies.

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.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the accessibility of sports facilities in rural communities.

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.

What steps she is taking to grow the economy in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

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.

Whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that communities have access to local pharmacies.

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.