Written questions by Jones.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the survival rates of people with (a) intrahepatic and (b) extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

The National Health Service is taking crucial steps to improve cancer outcomes for patients across England, including for intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.For stageable cancers, such as cholangiocarcinoma, there is a clear link between early staging and increased survival rates. Many of the actions we are implementing to improve the earlier staging of stageable cancers, such as improving awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, and increasing referral routes and the availability of diagnostics, have a positive impact on patient outcomes.To help achieve this, we will deliver an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week. We are also investing an additional £889 million in general practice (GP) to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing the total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade. The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients. It will focus on speeding up diagnosis and treatment and ensuring that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology. The overarching goal of the plan is to ultimately bring this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.

What steps he is taking to increase the prognosis rate for cholangiocarcinoma.

The National Health Service is taking crucial steps to improve cancer outcomes for patients across England, including for intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.For stageable cancers, such as cholangiocarcinoma, there is a clear link between early staging and increased survival rates. Many of the actions we are implementing to improve the earlier staging of stageable cancers, such as improving awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, and increasing referral routes and the availability of diagnostics, have a positive impact on patient outcomes.To help achieve this, we will deliver an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week. We are also investing an additional £889 million in general practice (GP) to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing the total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade. The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients. It will focus on speeding up diagnosis and treatment and ensuring that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology. The overarching goal of the plan is to ultimately bring this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.

What steps he is taking to improve research into innovative screening methods; and if he will commit to rapidly (a) funding, (b) piloting and (c) implementing screening programmes recommended by the National Screening Committee.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has invested significant funding into the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which leads on research into screening programmes. For example, on 4 February 2025 the Department announced that nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier. The Early Detection using Information Technology in Health trial is backed by £11 million of Government support, via the NIHR.Another example is the TRANSFORM trial into prostate cancer research, which is a £42 million screening trial which aims to find ways of detecting prostate cancer earlier. Prostate Cancer UK is leading the development of the trial, with the Government contributing £16 million through the NIHR.With regards to funding, piloting, and implementing screening programmes, ministers will consider the UK National Screening Committee’s (UK NSC) recommendations on a case by case basis. To date, every UK NSC recommendation has been accepted by ministers. Where a recommendation has been accepted, and no piloting is required, the National Health Service is asked to implement it at a pace in line with its capabilities.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of existing cancer stages.

Earlier diagnosis remains a key priority for the Government for stageable and non-stageable cancer types. For stageable cancers, there is a clear link between early staging and increased survival rates. Earlier diagnosis is also linked to better outcomes for non-stageable cancers. Many of the actions we are implementing to improve the earlier staging of stageable cancers, such as improving awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, and increasing referral routes and the availability of diagnostics, also have a positive impact on non-stageable cancer outcomes.Furthermore, to support the early diagnosis of non-stageable cancer types, NHS England currently implements non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with non-specific symptoms, or combinations thereof, that can indicate several different cancers. From NHS England’s national evaluation, blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including those with non-stageable cancer types. It will aim to speed up diagnosis and treatment and will ensure that all patients have access to the latest treatments and technology.

What his planned timetable is for replacing Professor Sir Mike Richards as chair of the UK National Screening Committee.

Professor Sir Mike Richards was appointed as Chair of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) on 11 March 2022. Appointments to the UK NSC are made in line with the principles of public appointment as set out by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The first term of Professor Sir Mike Richards’ appointment is due to come to an end on the 10 March 2025 and a chair’s appraisal will be carried out by the English Chief Medical Officer to determine whether the appointment should be extended for a second term. The appointment can be extended up to three terms, not exceeding 10 years.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the French Government's decision to ban products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

The Government has recently completed a rapid review of the Environment Improvement Plan (EIP) 2023 and will introduce a revised EIP in 2025. The revised EIP will include the Government's approach to managing chemicals, including the risks posed by PFAS. Other work is continuing across the Government to help us assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources and potential risks to inform future measures. This includes the initiation of a UK REACH dossier investigating whether to restrict the use of PFAS in firefighting foams. We also monitor measures being taken in other jurisdictions such as France to inform possible approaches in the UK.

Whether his Department is taking steps to ensure the National Cancer Plan includes prevention measures to help tackle the wider modifiable risk factors of cancer beyond smoking.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has announced that a National Cancer Plan for England will be published this year.The Government recognises the importance of primary and secondary prevention within a holistic approach to improving cancer outcomes. With this aim, the plan will set out how we will fight cancer on all fronts, from prevention to diagnosis, treatment, and research, and we will look at a wide range of modifiable risk factors.

Whether he plans to strengthen (a) early intervention and (b) prevention strategies to reduce the number of people entering the cancer pathway.

To improve early intervention, NHS England is running the Help Us, Help You campaign, which was relaunched on 6 January 2025. The Help Us, Help You campaign seeks to address the barriers that are deterring patients from accessing the National Health Service.Furthermore, the Government recognises the importance of primary and secondary prevention within a holistic approach to improving cancer outcomes and reducing the number of people entering the cancer pathway. With this aim, the new National Cancer Plan will set out how we will fight cancer on all fronts, from prevention to diagnosis, treatment, and research.

If he will create an action plan to tackle shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy drugs.

The Department currently has no plans to convene a roundtable regarding the shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). The Department regularly engages with all suppliers of PERT to discuss the latest stock position and the steps that are being taken to boost production to mitigate the supply issue. Through work with suppliers, we have managed to secure additional volumes of PERT for 2025. The Department has also reached out to specialist importers who have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the gap in the market.The Department also has frequent conversations with representatives from the impacted patient groups so that they are informed on the supply situation and the mitigation actions being taken.In December 2024, the Department issued further management advice to healthcare professionals. This directs clinicians to consider these unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable, and includes actions for integrated care boards to ensure local mitigation plans are put in place and implemented. The Department, in collaboration with NHS England, has created a webpage to include the latest update on PERT availability and easily accessible advice on the prescribing and ordering of alternative PERT products.

If he will take steps to convene a roundtable of (a) pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) manufacturers, (b) patient advocacy groups, (c) Government stakeholders and (d) other relevant stakeholders on tackling shortages of PERT.

The Department currently has no plans to convene a roundtable regarding the shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). The Department regularly engages with all suppliers of PERT to discuss the latest stock position and the steps that are being taken to boost production to mitigate the supply issue. Through work with suppliers, we have managed to secure additional volumes of PERT for 2025. The Department has also reached out to specialist importers who have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the gap in the market.The Department also has frequent conversations with representatives from the impacted patient groups so that they are informed on the supply situation and the mitigation actions being taken.In December 2024, the Department issued further management advice to healthcare professionals. This directs clinicians to consider these unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable, and includes actions for integrated care boards to ensure local mitigation plans are put in place and implemented. The Department, in collaboration with NHS England, has created a webpage to include the latest update on PERT availability and easily accessible advice on the prescribing and ordering of alternative PERT products.

When he plans to respond to Question 31610 tabled by the hon. Member for Wokingham on 13 February 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 31610 on 12 March 2025.

When he plans to respond to Question 29832 tabled by the hon. Member for Wokingham on 6 February 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to Questions 29832 and 29833 on 11 March 2025.

When he plans to respond to Question 29833 tabled by the hon. Member for Wokingham on 6 February 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to Questions 29832 and 29833 on 11 March 2025.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the frequency of rail services for commuters between Wokingham and London.

Department officials are in regular conversation with South-Western Railway regarding its service provision in response to demand. When reviewing train services, the Department needs to assess business cases and balance demand with value for the taxpayer in its considerations. The Department believe this balance to be appropriate.

What steps her Department is taking with Wokingham Borough Council to promote the uptake of pension credit.

As part of our nationwide Pension Credit campaign, the Department has engaged with all councils in Great Britain, including Wokingham Borough Council, via the regular Local Authority Welfare Direct bulletins. In response to our call to action, 200 councils across Great Britain have supported our Pension Credit campaign either on social media, or by distributing the promotional material we have provided. Wokingham Borough Council requested printed materials to share locally and has shared our messages through their social media channels, successfully signposting local people to Pension Credit information and resources. DWP has developed an ongoing relationship with their Communications Team and engaged with them recently, including in January as part of the Energy Savers Week Pension Credit campaign.

Innovation and Technology, if he will make it his policy to conduct a lessons learned review following the negotiations with AstraZeneca for investment in Speke.

AstraZeneca’s decision not to invest in Speke is deeply disappointing. The Government regularly reviews it’s grant process and routinely seeks applicant feedback. The Government also continues to engage positively with AstraZeneca, including on the new Industrial Strategy and Life Sciences Sector Plan, due to be published in late Spring. This will set out a comprehensive plan of how the Government intends to drive growth in the sector. Support includes the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund, which will allocate up to £520 million to deliver economic growth and build health resilience.

What steps she is taking to improve the reliability of signalling on the Great Western Main Line out of Twyford.

Ministers have met with both Great Western Railway and Network Rail on operational performance which is the Secretary of State’s key focus for improvement. Recent performance for Network Rail has improved including the infrastructure on the mainline around Twyford. Improving signalling is part of an ongoing project between Network Rail western region and Great Western Railway.

If he will make it his policy to provide GPs with training to diagnose brain tumours.

The standard of medical training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC), which is an independent statutory body. The GMC has the general function of promoting high standards of education and co-ordinating all stages of education to ensure that medical students and newly qualified doctors are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for professional practice The curriculum for general practitioner (GP) specialty training is set by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), and has to meet the standards set by the GMC and be formally approved by them. Whilst the curriculum may not necessarily highlight a specific condition, it instead emphasises the skills and approaches a GP must develop to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients. This is assessed by the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners Examination.The RCGP provides several resources on cancer prevention, diagnosis and care for GPs, relevant for the primary care setting.

With reference to the oral contribution by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport in response to the question from the hon. Member for Wokingham of 17 December 2024, Official Report, column 87WH, when she intends to write regarding Twyford car park.

Network Rail is intending to resurface the station car park at Twyford as part of its renewals programme. This will be done in accordance with current standards, which will likely result in fewer parking spaces in the car park. Great Western Railway is working with Network Rail and local stakeholders on options to provide additional car parking spaces at Twyford.

If she will make an estimate of the number of eligible pensioners who were not claiming Pension Credit in Wokingham constituency on 31 January 2025.

Published DWP Pension Credit Take-up statistics estimate that up to 760,000 households who were entitled to receive Pension Credit did not claim the benefit. These statistics are only available at Great Britain level and cannot be broken down to smaller geographical areas. The latest available Pension Credit take-up statistics for Great Britain cover the financial year 2022 to 2023 and are available at: Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year ending 2023 - GOV.UKLatest caseload statistics show that as of August 2024, there were 1,359,773 people in receipt of Pension Credit in Great Britain, of which 798 were in Wokingham constituency. This data is available via DWP Stat-Xplore.