Written questions by Sabine.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce the length of time between diagnosis and the start of radiotherapy treatment.

We will get the National Health Service diagnosing cancer on time, diagnosing it earlier, and treating it faster, and we will improve patients’ experience across the system.Lord Darzi’s report has set out the scale of the challenges we face in fixing the NHS and the need to improve cancer waiting time performance and cancer survival. In particular, he has highlighted the need to improve the number of patients starting their treatment within 62 days of referral and to increase the number of patients diagnosed at an earlier stage.Improving 62-day performance and early diagnosis are already key priorities for NHS England. Lord Darzi’s report will inform our ten-year plan to reform the NHS, which include further details on how we will improve cancer diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make it her policy to increase the minimum level of shared amenity space on new housing developments.

The National Planning Policy Framework states that planning policies and decisions should plan positively for the provision and use of shared spaces, community facilities and other local services to enhance the sustainability of communities and residential environments. This is supported by guidance in the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code. Local planning authorities are responsible for applying this policy and guidance through their local plans and decisions on planning applications.

What steps her Department is taking to help support children with special educational needs and disabilities to receive an education, health and care plan.

The department knows that parents have struggled to get the right support for their children, particularly through long and difficult education, health and care plan processes. The department will work across the sector to provide support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or needing alternative provision and their families. The department is committed to taking a community-wide approach, improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools and alternative provision settings, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs.Where local authorities are failing to deliver consistent outcomes for children and young people with SEND, the department works with them using a range of support and challenge, improvement programmes and SEND specialist advisors to address identified weaknesses.

If he will make an estimate of the number of unpaid carers in Frome and East Somerset constituency.

The 2021 Census found that there are approximately 4.7 million people in England who said they provided unpaid care. In the Frome and East Somerset constituency, the Census data showed that there were 7,900 people who said they provided unpaid care.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage investment in natural capital projects in Frome and East Somerset constituency.

The Environment Agency (EA) is developing an initiative called Heart of Wessex that incorporates large parts of the Frome and East Somerset constituency. It is led by the EA and works across Natural England, The Forestry Commission, local eNGOs and community groups. It is designed to leverage natural capital and ecosystem services to draw in largescale sustainable finance across the boundaries of Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire. We have also been working with Wessex Water and the Bristol Avon Catchment Partnership to develop a partnership project in the Cam & Wellow Catchment under the Water Industry National Environment Programme. This project will help drive large amounts of investment into natural capital, delivering nature-based solutions, habitat creation and water quality improvements across the constituency. Other partnership projects in this constituency that we have supported, and which have invested in natural capital include:Natural Flood Management and farm advisory projects to tackle diffuse pollution in the Somerset Frome catchment.A project in Frome Town called Transforming Waterways in Somerset Towns.A river restoration scheme on the River Mells.A project in the Somer Valley which included creating green spaces and access to nature to promote improved health and wellbeing in the local communities.

What steps she is taking to support people not eligible for the Cycle to Work Scheme to buy a bicycle.

The Department is aware that many people are unable to access the Cycle to Work scheme, including the self-employed and those who are retired, on low incomes, or not in employment. The Department will continue to consider ways of addressing this as part of its future plans for active travel.