Written questions by Cane.

Pursuant to the Answers of 29 October 2025 to Question 84015 on Legal Aid Scheme: Ely and East Cambridgeshire and of 17 November 2025 to Question 88053 on Legal Aid Scheme: Ely and East Cambridgeshire, what criteria the Legal Aid Agency uses to assess the adequacy of access to legal aid services in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 November to Question 86918 which sets out methodology used to assess supply of legal aid services. As set out in that response civil legal aid services are commissioned and monitored at procurement area level and the basic criteria used is whether each category of law has at least the minimum number of contracts. Criminal legal aid services are commissioned at a national level but as set out in the response to question 86918 the Legal Aid Agency ensures demand under the local duty scheme is met i.e. there is cover for all available slots on the duty solicitor rota.

What steps he is taking to support women in the hospitality sector.

The Government is taking important steps through its Employment Rights Bill to protect workers from misconduct in the workplace, including women in the hospitality sector.We are introducing measures that will restrict the use of non-disclosure agreements in cases of harassment and discrimination and strengthen protections for workers who ‘blow the whistle’ on sexual harassment.The Bill will also require employers to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment of their employees and introduce an obligation on employers not to permit the harassment of their employees by third parties.

When his Department intends to respond to correspondence of 7 October 2025 from the hon. Member for Ely and East Cambridgeshire on supporting neurodivergent people into employment.

I replied to the Hon. Member on 25 November.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 80174, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of that policy on (a) the Traveller community and (b) park home residents.

My Department has made no such assessment.

With reference to the document entitled School level underlying data 2025, published on 5 June 2025, what assessment she has conducted on the reasons why 625 pupils in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency who are eligible for free school meals are not accessing them.

​This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty which is why we are introducing a new eligibility threshold for free school meals ensuring all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit will be eligible from September 2026. This will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty and put £500 back in families’ pockets, supporting parents in decisive action to improve lives of as part of the Child Poverty Strategy published on 5 December. Under the expansion, over half a million additional pupils will become eligible for free school meals. The department has not made a formal assessment of the situation in Ely, however, specific factors such as lack of knowledge, stigma, and language barriers may impact take-up of free school meals. The department wants to make sure as many eligible pupils as possible are claiming their free school meals. Introducing a new eligibility threshold for free school meals so that all children from households in receipt of universal credit will be eligible for free school meals from September 2026 will make it easier for parents to know whether they are entitled to receive free meals. To support take-up, we are also rolling out improvements to the checking system that is available to all local authorities to help verify eligibility for free meals. We welcome local authorities taking action to ensure government support reaches families, subject to them meeting legal and data protection requirements.

What data he holds on cancer (a) diagnosis wait times and (b) treatment commencement wait times in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

Data on waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment commencement are publicly available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/The figures are broken down by NHS trust rather than by constituency.The two main NHS trusts in Ely and East Cambridgeshire are the Cambridge University Hospitals Trust and the North West Anglia Trust.

What steps he plans to take to ensure local communities are consulted on the safety of proposed battery storage sites.

Developers of standalone grid-scale batteries must seek planning approval as outlined in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. This requires local planning authorities to undertake a formal period of public consultation for at least 21 days. Those living near to the proposed site may offer views or detailed information relevant to the application, including on safety measures. Planning Practice Guidance recommends that developers should also engage with local fire services ahead of submitting their planning application.

What the average A&E wait time in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency was in each of the last five years.

The Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency has a Type 3 Accident and Emergency (A&E), the Princess of Wales Hospital, in Ely. A&E data is not published at hospital level for this hospital.The Princess of Wales Hospital is part of the NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board (ICB). NHS England publishes performance data by acute trust and ICB and is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ae-waiting-times-and-activity/ae-attendances-and-emergency-admissions-2025-26/

What the average wait time for a GP appointment was in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency in each of the last five years.

This information is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/appointments-in-general-practiceThe time between booking and the appointment is not a proxy for “waiting times,” as patients may prefer to book routine appointments, for example regular tests or medicine reviews, further in advance.

What steps her Department is taking to make public transport affordable for young people.

The Government knows how important affordable public transport services are in enabling young people to get to education, work and access vital services. The Government has taken action to keep the cost of bus travel lower by introducing a £3 cap on single fares in England outside London, and confirmed at the Spending Review that this would be extended until March 2027. At present, the majority of bus services operate on a commercial basis by private operators, and any decisions regarding the level at which fares are set outside the scope of the Government’s £3 bus fare cap are commercial decisions for operators. Bus operators can choose to offer discounted fares for young people, and in the year ending March 2025, youth discounts were offered by at least one commercial bus operator in 73 out of 85 local authority areas in England outside London.As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26. This includes £712 million for local authorities, which can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has been allocated £10.6 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, which could include introducing new fares initiatives to reduce the cost of bus travel for young people. With regard to rail, under-16s receive 50 per cent off all adult rail fares, and the 16-17 Saver railcard extends this discount to 16 and 17-year-olds. Season tickets purchased with a valid 16-17 Saver can be used for an additional 4 months after the railcard expires, to help make rail travel more affordable for young people who remain in education past their 18th birthday.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November to Question 88050 on Farmers: Mental Health and Productivity, whether her Department plans to explore the possibility of commissioning this research alongside stakeholders.

Defra has no current plans to explore commissioning this research alongside stakeholders. We talk with farming charity stakeholders on a regular basis.

If he will commission a Neighbourhood Health Centre for Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our vision for a Neighbourhood Health Service. Neighbourhood health centres will provide easier, more convenient access to a full range of health and care services in each community and on people’s doorsteps, joining up National Health Service, local authority, and voluntary services in one building to help create a holistic offer that meets the needs of local populations.We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations. While the focus on personalised, coordinated care will be consistent, that will mean the service will look different in rural communities, coastal towns, and deprived inner cities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what data her Department holds on the number of cases of illegal dumping of waste in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency in each of the last five years.

Local authorities in England are required to report fly-tipping incidents and enforcement action to Defra, which the department have published annually since 2012, at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england. This data is not available at a constituency level and excludes the majority of private-land incidents. Data for the 2024/25 reporting year is still being collected. The Environment Agency (EA) investigates fly tipping where the waste is more than 20 tonnes, a specified amount of hazardous waste, or is suspected to be linked to organised crime. From quarter 1 of 2020/21 to present there have been 9 cases of Illegal dumping which fall under the EA’s remit in the Ely and East Cambridgeshire Constituency Area.For each year, they are as follows:2020/21 – 12021/22 – 02022/23 – 02023/24 – 32024/25 – 42025/26 – 1 (to date) Please note that these reports of illegal waste dumping exclude those which may be reported to the EA but fall within the remit of local authorities (East Cambridgeshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council). Those are deemed as local cases of ‘fly-tipping’.

What steps his Department is taking to support small and medium sized enterprises in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.

Government published its Small Business Plan (Backing your Business) in July 2025, delivering comprehensive support for small and medium sized businesses. The plan outlines five ambitious actions: fixing fundamentals by ending late payments; unlocking finance through a stronger British Business Bank; backing the everyday economy by revitalising high streets, opening international trade opportunities and future proofing business skills through digital technologies and AI.We are committed to providing core funding to a network of Growth Hubs across England. All businesses in Ely and East Cambridgeshire can visit their local Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority Growth Hub for free, tailored advice.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the suitability of the examination system for dyslexic pupils.

Ofqual, as independent regulator of qualifications, is responsible for ensuring the exams system is fair and accessible for all students. Under the Equality Act 2010, awarding organisations are required to make reasonable adjustments where a disabled person would be at a substantial disadvantage in undertaking exams and assessments. A range of access arrangements are also available for all national curriculum tests, and guidance is provided by the Standards and Testing Agency. In line with the recommendations made by the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, we will work with Ofqual and awarding organisations to ensure that accessibility implications are fully considered for all young people throughout the qualification development process, including for those with special educational needs and disabilities, such as dyslexia.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the postal voting system.

Between October 2024 and April 2025, the Government undertook a strategic review of electoral registration and conduct processes, which considered the key stages in and resilience of election delivery, working in partnership with the Electoral Commission, electoral practitioners and key local authority representatives including the Association of Electoral Administrators and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers and Returning Officers and their teams. Issues relating to postal voting were considered as part of the review and the Government will be bringing forward changes to strengthen the postal voting system to make it more resilient and responsive for electors and electoral administrators.A full list of outcomes of the review and the changes which the Government proposes to bring forward as a result were set out in the policy paper, ‘Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections’ published on 17 July 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase the number of prosecutions for sewage dumping.

The Water (Special Measures) Act provides the most significant increase in enforcement powers in a decade, giving regulators the teeth they need to take tougher action against water companies. The Act ensures courts can include imprisonment for any individual in cases where the regulators’ investigations have been obstructed. The Environment Agency already has powers to prosecute company directors and other senior officers under Regulation 41 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016, whilst courts have powers to fine individuals within companies who are convicted of polluting our waterways. The Environment Agency has also increased water company inspections to 10,000 per year from April 2025, as part of the government’s wider focus to hold companies to account and improve our water environment. Since July 2024, the Environment Agency has launched 87 investigations and 6 prosecutions against water companies, with fines totalling over £2 million. It has also accepted 24 Enforcement Undertakings since the election, with financial contributions totalling over £8.5 million.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to take steps to support (a) households, (b) businesses and (c) developers to increase the re-use of greywater.

A consultation launched on 23 September 2025 proposes tightening Building Regulations to see new homes fitted with Water Saving features, such as aerated taps and showerheads, and dual flush toilets. Strengthened Water Efficiency Standards through updated Building Regulations will boost housebuilding and keep more money in families’ pockets. Updated standards will bolster drought resilience and unblock developments in water scarce areas. Future innovations such as using recycled greywater in homes, is also being considered in a call for evidence running alongside the consultation. The Independent Water Commission Report published in summer recommended that Government work with regulators to develop a new policy and regulatory framework to drive the adoption of reuse infrastructure in the household and non-household space. The Government will respond to the commission’s recommendations through a White Paper and new water reform Bill. Government is also working with Ofwat to encourage higher levels of water and wastewater efficiency in new developments through environmental incentives.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88050 on Farmers: Mental Health and Productivity, if her Department will make an estimate of the cost of producing such research.

It is impossible to calculate costs of potential research without specifying the exact parameters of what is being researched in detail. Engagement with charities and wider stakeholders has not indicated an immediate need for commissioning of research in this area; however, we will continue to bring together evidence on farmer mental health collected in other ways.

When his Department plans to respond to Question 77307 on Cancer: Health Services, tabled on 15 September 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 November 2025 to Question 77307.