Written questions by Betts.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2026 to Question 89382 on Social Services: Investment, what assessment his Department has made of the main barriers to (a) public sector funding and (b) private sector capital investment in social care; and what regional variations are there.

The Government assesses the funding required for adult social care, which considers a wide range of factors. This assessment is considered alongside other Government priorities through the Spending Review process to inform decisions about how available public sector funding is distributed. Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care markets to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes commissioning a diverse range of care and support services that enable people to access quality care. Conditions in local care markets can vary across the country and local authorities are best placed to understand and respond to these local market conditions. The Department has not carried out a specific assessment on the barriers to private sector capital investment in social care and any regional variations. While private adult social care providers are individual businesses and the Government does not intervene in their operations, we have been clear that the expectation is for adult social care providers to behave responsibly, including through sustainable financial arrangements that support the sector and meet needs as required.

With reference to the NHS 10 Year Plan, what steps his Department is taking to to double the level of CT and MRI scanner capacity; and what plans he has to develop stronger and more structured partnerships with industry to tackle barriers to modernisation and to accelerate diagnostic innovation.

We are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity to bring down the size of the list and reduce waiting times, including investment in new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scanners. Speeding up waiting times for diagnostic tests is a crucial part of reducing overall waiting times and returning to the referral to treatment 18-week standard.The 2025 Spending Review confirmed over £6 billion of additional capital investment over five years across new diagnostic, elective, and urgent care capacity. This includes £600 million in capital funding for diagnostics in 2025/26 to support delivery of the NHS performance standards. This funding will deliver new community diagnostic centres, including new MRI and CT scanners, new scanners in acute hospital settings, as well as replacements of the oldest CT and MRI scanners. Further details and allocations will be set out in due course.The Health Innovation Network (HIN) fosters partnerships with industry and the NHS to accelerate the evaluation, adoption, and spread of health innovations, including diagnostics. This is why the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan and the Life Sciences Sector Plan make explicit commitments to continue funding and empowering the HIN.

What plans he has to ensure equitable cancer research funding across the country.

The Department invests £1.6 billion each year on research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Cancer is a major area of NIHR spending at £141.6 million in 2024/25, reflecting its high priority.NIHR research infrastructure has national coverage for the whole of England. Our infrastructure schemes aim to build research capacity and capability across all geographies, settings, and disease areas, including understanding disease biology, patient access to novel treatments, and dedicated spaces for medicine studies.In addition, through the NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN), the NIHR supports 100% of National Health Service trusts in England to deliver research, operating across 12 regions throughout the country. The RDN also provides health research delivery investment that better enables trial access across wider care settings, including primary care, community-based, and residential research delivery organisations. In 2024/25 the RDN supported over 1,200 cancer studies, including the recruitment of almost 100,000 patients to cancer studies.The NIHR continues to encourage and welcome applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including all cancer types.

Whether he plans to develop the universal, digital‑first prehabilitation offer for people with cancer in the National Cancer Plan into a fully structured, personalised, community‑based offer of both prehabilitation and rehabilitation for all people with cancer.

The National Cancer Plan will redesign cancer services around people’s lives, not just around hospitals, recognising that more people are living for longer with and beyond cancer and need ongoing, coordinated support. To achieve this aim, the plan committed to the development of new standards for both prehabilitation and rehabilitation through cancer manuals by 2028.Through the National Cancer Plan’s implementation, more cancer care and support will be delivered closer to home, including a universal digital-first prehabilitation offer, expanded supportive oncology, greater use of virtual monitoring, and growing opportunities for treatment and follow-up in community settings where safe and appropriate.For patients who have more extensive needs and who will require more support to live well, the National Health Service will deliver an enhanced level of care during and after treatment, known as supportive oncology. This will include enhanced rehabilitation, psychological support, and preventative interventions, such as physical activity and smoking cessation. Additionally, it will include acute oncology, support for severe and sometimes sudden symptoms, that means people can get rapid access to the right care in their home or community where appropriate.

Whether he plans to set out national quality standards for rehabilitation for all people with cancer within cancer manuals, alongside those for prehabilitation announced in the National Cancer Plan.

The National Cancer Plan will redesign cancer services around people’s lives, not just around hospitals, recognising that more people are living for longer with and beyond cancer and need ongoing, coordinated support. To achieve this aim, the plan committed to the development of new standards for both prehabilitation and rehabilitation through cancer manuals by 2028.Through the National Cancer Plan’s implementation, more cancer care and support will be delivered closer to home, including a universal digital-first prehabilitation offer, expanded supportive oncology, greater use of virtual monitoring, and growing opportunities for treatment and follow-up in community settings where safe and appropriate.For patients who have more extensive needs and who will require more support to live well, the National Health Service will deliver an enhanced level of care during and after treatment, known as supportive oncology. This will include enhanced rehabilitation, psychological support, and preventative interventions, such as physical activity and smoking cessation. Additionally, it will include acute oncology, support for severe and sometimes sudden symptoms, that means people can get rapid access to the right care in their home or community where appropriate.

Whether the funding for local authority stop smoking services announced in the National Cancer Plan is a one‑off allocation for 2026-27.

To help people quit, the Government has invested an additional £70 million in both 2024/25 and 2025/26 to support local authority led Stop Smoking Services in England. We are already seeing the impact this has made, as the first year of additional funding, 2024/25, resulted in a 23% increase in the number of people supported to quit compared to the previous year, 2023/24.From April, we are investing an additional £260 million over three years, from 2026/27 to 2028/29, in Stop Smoking Services within the Public Health Grant, meaning at least £150 million per year will be ringfenced for these services. This will give local authorities greater certainty on their funding for the next three years.

Whether she plans to mandate public electric car charging providers to display the price of electricity clearly at the service station.

The Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 require charge point operators to clearly display the maximum price a consumer could be charged during a charging session, either on the charge point or through a separate device. The regulations stipulate that consumers do not have to enter a contract with the charge point operator to view the information.

What steps his Department is taking to help protect private renters from rent increases after landlords invest to improve the energy efficiency of homes in line with the new energy efficiency standards.

The government is standing up for renters through new minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector, and proposed standard for the social rented sector, which will lift around 650,000 households out of fuel poverty. Landlords should provide clear communications about any changes, and government will provide guidance for landlords and tenants so that tenants know what to expect. There is also support available for landlords, including financing options. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 delivers stronger protections for tenants, including the right to appeal above‑market rents, the removal of Section 21 ‘no‑fault’ evictions, and a simplified tenancy structure. These measures increase security for renters and support them to challenge poor practice, and unfair rent rises without risking eviction.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for (a) Defence and (b) Energy Security and Net Zero on the development of a coordinated supply chain and training opportunities for defence and civil nuclear.

As part of our Industrial Strategy, we are delivering this government’s vision for a Nuclear Nation – with £14.2 billion for Sizewell C, over £2.5 billion for the Small Modular Reactor programme across the Spending Review period, and the largest defence nuclear infrastructure programme in a generation. We will continue to increase alignment between civil and defence nuclear sectors to maximise the benefits for our advanced nuclear nation. DBT, MOD, DESNZ and all relevant departments continue to work together with industry, including through the Nuclear Skills plan, to grow a robust nuclear skills base.

Communities and Local Government, what impact assessment has been done for the removal of Sports England as a statutory consultee for the planning application involving playing fields.

I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to Question UIN 103087 on 13 January 2026.

What representations she has had from (a) pubs and licensed premises, (b) leisure arenas, (c) community sports clubs and (d) music venues on business rates increases in the next financial year.

The Government has engaged with a range of stakeholders on business rates in advance of the Budget and continues to do so.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues, Football authorities and the Football Association on the potential visa requirements of the US government to provide information about their social media activity in the last 5 years for people travelling to watch the world cup.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working across Government and with sporting bodies to support UK fans travelling to matches for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. The FCDO is in contact with US authorities to ensure we have the latest information on immigration rules, and we encourage those travelling to the US to consult our USA (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements) and World Cup (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/world-cup-2026) travel advice pages before making travel arrangements.

What discussions the Government have had with Science Based Targets Initiative through the formulation of the Electric Car Grant.

A Science Based Target validated by the Science Based Target Initiative is an eligibility requirement for the Electric Car Grant. Further details are included in the grant application guidance. The Science Based Target Initiative is independent of Government and was not involved in the grant's creation to avoid potential market distortion. All grants are kept under continuous monitoring and reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to deliver value for money.

Whether her officials have produced an impact assessment on the market of the existing Electric Car Grant criteria; and whether she will publish it.

The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers to access affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 40,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money and eligibility criteria may evolve over time.Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact as the market responds.

If she will set out how the electric car grant criteria were determined, including what discussions she had with the car sector.

The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers to access affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 40,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money and eligibility criteria may evolve over time.Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact as the market responds.

What assessment her Department has made of the compatibility of the government’s new ECG scheme with the principle of market competition.

The Electric Car Grant is fully compatible with the principle of market competition.

Whether the Electric Car Grant criteria will change when the review of the Science Based Target Initiative is complete; and what time opportunity will her department offer to industry regarding the implementation of the new target.

A Science Based Target validated by the Science Based Target Initiative is an eligibility requirement for the Electric Car Grant. Further details are included in the grant application guidance. The Science Based Target Initiative is independent of Government and was not involved in the grant's creation to avoid potential market distortion. All grants are kept under continuous monitoring and reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to deliver value for money.

If she will consider expanding the eligibility criteria of the Electric Car Grant.

The Electric Car Grant criteria were designed to support British drivers to access affordable, sustainably manufactured electric vehicles. Over 40,000 drivers have benefited from this scheme to date. The grant's design was not discussed with industry during its development to avoid market distortion.Following launch, the Department has engaged closely with vehicle manufacturers and will continue to do so as the grant develops. All grants are regularly reviewed to ensure value for money and eligibility criteria may evolve over time.Officials continue to monitor the grant and assess its impact as the market responds.

Whether manufacturers are required to have Science Based Targets to be eligible for the Electric Car Grant.

A Science Based Target validated by the Science Based Target Initiative is an eligibility requirement for the Electric Car Grant. Further details are included in the grant application guidance. The Science Based Target Initiative is independent of Government and was not involved in the grant's creation to avoid potential market distortion. All grants are kept under continuous monitoring and reviewed regularly to ensure they continue to deliver value for money.

Whether her Department had any role in the development of the electric car grant.

I refer the Member to the answer given to UIN 90404 on 21st November 2025.