Written questions by Cane.

Pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2026 to question 117027, whether her Department plans to review highways maintenance funding formulas alongside the review of highways maintenance best practice.

The government plans to review the funding formula that it uses to distribute capital funding to local highways authorities to see whether it can be adjusted to consider, for example, the conditions that affect the wear and tear of local roads. However, the government cannot commit to any changes to the allocation methodology until each option has been assessed for feasibility and deliverability, in line with the normal policy making process. The government would also expect to engage with local highway authorities about any methodology to understand how any changes might impact on their services. The Department’s review of the highways maintenance guidance it provides to local highway authorities in the Well Managed Highways Infrastructure Code of Practice will progress in addition to this and will be completed by the end of 2026.

What data her Department holds on the condition of roads in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

Official statistics on the condition of local roads in England are published annually: Road conditions in England to March 2025 - GOV.UK. Local authorities in England are required to provide the Department for Transport (DfT) with data on the condition of local roads annually under the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s single data list. DfT does not hold information on the condition of roads for Ely or East Cambridgeshire constituency but does hold information for Cambridgeshire. In the financial year ending March 2025, the percentage of local A road and motorway in Cambridgeshire where maintenance should have been considered was 7%, for B and C road this was 16% and for unclassified road was 22%. For the same period, in England, the percentage of local A road and motorway where maintenance should have been considered was 5%, for B and C road was 7% and for unclassified road was 17%.

What steps her Department is taking to assess the maintenance of soil affected roads.

Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 place a statutory duty on local highway authorities to maintain public highways, based upon their local knowledge and circumstances. The Department is aware of the challenges associated with peat soil. The Department is undertaking a comprehensive review of the highways maintenance guidance it provides to local highway authorities in the Well Managed Highways Infrastructure Code of Practice, which will incorporate and signpost best practice guidance for treating soil affected roads. This will be completed at the end of 2026. To support local highway authorities in the maintenance of their highway networks, the Government has confirmed a record investment of £7.3 billion for local highways maintenance over the next four years. This record investment builds on the investment of £1.6 billion this financial year, a £500 million increase compared to the previous financial year.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of peat soils on road maintenance.

Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 place a statutory duty on local highway authorities to maintain public highways, based upon their local knowledge and circumstances. The Department is aware of the challenges associated with peat soil. The Department is undertaking a comprehensive review of the highways maintenance guidance it provides to local highway authorities in the Well Managed Highways Infrastructure Code of Practice, which will incorporate and signpost best practice guidance for treating soil affected roads. This will be completed at the end of 2026. To support local highway authorities in the maintenance of their highway networks, the Government has confirmed a record investment of £7.3 billion for local highways maintenance over the next four years. This record investment builds on the investment of £1.6 billion this financial year, a £500 million increase compared to the previous financial year.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 90532 on Pharmacy: Pollution, what the public health impact is.

While the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) undertakes work to understand the health effects of exposure to chemicals, no incidents of pharmaceutical-related water pollution have been reported to the UKHSA. The Environment Agency routinely monitors inland water bodies, and if a chemical pollution incident occurs, the UKHSA may conduct an assessment of any potential public health impact.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Department's Answer to Question 89843 on Flood Control, answered on 19 November 2025, if the report mentioned has been taken into consideration when planning for flood risk this winter.

The Government continues to prioritise improving flood resilience to protect communities. In developing policy, we consider the findings of research from key external partners, and this includes those in the Building Future Communities report.

Pursuant to the Department's Answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 89133 on Railways: East of England, if she will make an estimate of the cost to the (a) freight sector and (b) economy of the pause in work on that programme since 2022.

We are focused on prioritising the schemes that will make the greatest difference for passengers and support economic growth as quickly as possible. The previous government had committed to a number of projects that were unfunded, including the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement scheme.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to permit (a) commercial companies and (b) property developers to offer collection and reuse of non-drinkable rainwater.

Defra are considering the recommendations set out in the Independent Water Commission including the ask for Government to work with regulators to develop a new policy and regulatory framework to drive the adoption of water re-use infrastructure in the household and non-household commercial market. The Government recognises the benefits of water reuse within domestic properties through rainwater harvesting with the additional benefit of reduced demand on the sewerage system through attenuation of water within the system. Opportunities to harness these benefits will be considered as part of our review of Part H of the Building Regulations including the use of dual pipe systems providing both potable and treated, non-potable water which has the capacity of supplying rainwater, greywater and stormwater. The treated reused water can be used for non-drinking purposes such as toilet flushing, outdoor use and washing machines. Potable water is still supplied for human consumption, as well as other domestic uses such as showering and sinks.

Communities and Local Government, (a) how many new social houses have been built in the Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency in each of the last three years, and (b) how many the Government intends to build in the constituency in the next three years.

The number of new social homes delivered, split by provider, geography and whether they are new build or acquisitions, can be found in the affordable housing supply statistics on gov.uk here.On 2 July, the government set out its five-point plan for kickstarting a decade of social and affordable housing renewal. Taken together, the grant funding support and regulatory certainty and stability that this government is providing will enable Registered Providers to quickly ramp up investment in existing and new stock. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on that day (HCWS771).

Whether she has had discussions with the ports sector on the potential merits of progressing the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement Scheme.

We are focused on prioritising the schemes that will make the greatest difference for passengers and support economic growth as quickly as possible. The previous government had committed to a number of projects that were unfunded, including the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement scheme.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 89316 on Railways: East of England, whether there are civil servants in her Department working on the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement Scheme.

The previous government had committed to a number of projects that were unfunded, including the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) scheme. EACE will be kept under review. It is a worthy scheme that will be considered for potential progression in the future as funding becomes available.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 77307, on Cancer: Health Services, how his Department intends to support businesses and organisations based in the Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency to develop cancer research programmes.

Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), with cancer research as one of the largest areas of spend, at over £141.6 million in 2024/25, signalling its high priority.The NIHR Research Support Service (RSS) provides expert support and advice to applied health, public health, and social care researchers on the design and delivery of research and the development of research funding applications. This is a national service and researchers based in the Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency who are applying to national, open and peer-reviewed research programmes, including all domestic NIHR funding programmes, UK Research Councils, and national health and care charities, can access this support. Further information on the RSS is available at the following link:https://www.nihr.ac.uk/support-and-services/research-support-serviceThe NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including all cancer types. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition.

What his Department's plans are for the future of the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

The Government is working on a comprehensive Warm Homes Plan for households to cut energy bills for good and will publish more details soon.On 18 November, the Government published the response to the recent consultation, which closed on 11 June. This provides detail on amendments to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme which will be implemented from next year. These changes are designed to increase access, stimulate further demand, and enhance existing consumer protections, making low carbon heating technologies more accessible to a wider range of property owners and small businesses.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of answered on 17 November 2025 to Question 88055, on Humanitarian Aid, how much funding has been provided through the Official Development Assistance budget for (a) immediate humanitarian needs and (b) crisis support in each of the last three years.

Data on Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend for the requested period is published in the Statistics on International Development on GOV.UK, and is broken down by sector, including for humanitarian aid. Further information and annual reviews on specific programmes can be found on GOV.UK's Development Tracker.

Pursuant to the Answer to Question 89265 on Legal Aid Scheme: Ely and East Cambridgeshire, how many of the providers in each procurement area are based in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

There are no legal aid providers with an office within the Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.However, that does not mean that your constituents do not have access to legal aid and legal aid services both locally within the wider constituency or via national services provided on a remote basis.As set out in the answer to Questions 86918 and 89265, the LAA does not commission services at constituency or individual town level. Services are commissioned and monitored at wider procurement area level. Constituents in Ely and East Cambridgeshire can access services locally within the wider procurement area which has more than the minimum number of contracts in each civil category. Additionally, the Cambridge Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service ensures that on the day emergency representation is available in respect of cases concerning eviction or loss of home is available to your constituents.Local civil legal aid services are supplemented by national remote services such as Civil Legal Advice which provides access to free confidential advice on housing, debt, education and discrimination matters throughout England and Wales.All duty slots on the Ely and East Cambridge duty solicitor scheme are covered. This means that anybody attending or arrested at a police station in your consituency will have access to a legally-aided solicitor.

Pursuant to the Department's Answer to Question 89264 on Railways: East of England, answered on 18 November 2025, if she will make an estimate of the funding required for Network Rail to undertake detailed planning for the Ely Area Capacity Enhancement Scheme.

The Secretary of State updated Parliament on the 8th of July regarding which rail and road infrastructure projects will progress following the completion of the 2025 Spending Review. The Ely Area Capacity Enhancement (EACE) was not among those projects funded at this time. The previous government had committed to a number of infrastructure projects that were unfunded, this included the EACE scheme.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November to Question 88055 on Humanitarian Aid, whether a specific proportion of the Official Development Assistance budget is ring-fenced for those purposes.

Data on Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend for the requested period is published in the Statistics on International Development on GOV.UK, and is broken down by sector, including for humanitarian aid. Further information and annual reviews on specific programmes can be found on GOV.UK's Development Tracker.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 88049 on Electoral Register: British Nationals Abroad, when he intends to introduce the package of measures.

Pursuant to the answer given to Question UIN 88049 on 17 November 2025 on electoral register, the government is clear that all legitimate electors should be able and encouraged to participate in democracy. This includes overseas electors, who should be able to exercise their vote without unnecessary barriers.As set out in the policy paper, Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections (17/07/2025), the government will introduce a package of measures intended to improve the resilience and capacity of the postal voting system overall.Legislation will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time allows during the lifetime of this Parliament.

Pursuant to the Answer to Question 88051 answered on 17th November 2025, if he will consider publishing interim data on this topic.

Fuel poverty statistics are based on the English Housing Survey which is collected annually. The department does not hold interim statistics or data on fuel poverty collected between English Housing Survey samples. The date for the next publication in 2026 will be pre-announced in line with the standards for official statistics.

Pursuant to the Answer to Question 88054 answered on 17th November 2025, how involve is defined with regard to consulting Fire and Rescue Services during public consultation.

The relevant part of the Planning Practice Guidance on expected interactions between local planning authorities and local fire and rescue services with respect to grid-scale batteries is at paragraph 35.