Written questions by Jones.

Whether his Department plans to introduce accountability mechanisms through the national cancer plan.

Mechanisms for accountability will be considered as part of the development of the National Cancer Plan.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12286 on Pension Credit: Uptake, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reducing the complexity of the Pension Credit application form.

As the Department continues to modernise the Pension Credit service, we review the user experience, balancing simplification of application with capturing the right information to ensure accuracy of award. A key objective of DWP’s Service Modernisation Programme is to utilise end user research to understand how the application process should operate in the future and consider the opportunities on how services can be more user friendly and easily accessible for citizens. To that end we are streamlining all Pension Credit application routes by using information held internally to reduce the number of questions the citizen must answer. Claims for Pension Credit can be made online, by telephone or by post. By far, the most popular way to claim is online where a claim can be made 24/7 with the help of a family member, a friend or a third party. The online claim form means it now takes just 16 minutes on average to complete, with 90 per cent of new customers applying using the simple online form, or over the phone. With the telephone service, the caller will be guided through the claim process. We will keep the Pension Credit application process under review.

What NHS England's functions are; and which (a) existing and (b) new Government bodies will take those functions on.

NHS England is being abolished as an arm’s length body and being brought back into the department. Ministers will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir James Mackey, to lead this transformation and return many of NHS England’s current functions to the Department.The functions of NHS England are set out in legislation, these include but are not limited to:- Commissioning services in the National Health Service;- The establishment, oversight and support of integrated care boards;- The oversight and support of NHS trusts and foundation trusts;- Designing, developing and operating national digital and technology products and services and disseminate data to support the health and care system;- Planning, recruiting, educating and training the health workforce; and- Overseeing and promoting the use of research and innovation within the health service.The team will be focussed on ensuring that layers of bureaucracy are cut and more resources flow to the frontline as well as grasping the untapped potential of the NHS as a single payer public service, to get cutting-edge technology and treatments into the hands of staff and patients much faster and secure a better deal for taxpayers.

What independent bodies are part of NHS England.

NHS England is currently an executive non-departmental public body which is sponsored by the Department. In the last 10 years, NHS England has taken on the functions of what were once separate arm’s length bodies, including NHS Improvement, NHS Digital and Health Education England.As announced on 13 March 2025, NHS England will be brought into the Department. This will be done in the first instance by administrative means and will be followed by legislation to abolish NHS England once Parliamentary time allows.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on the coordination of screening programmes.

Ministers will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by James Mackey, to lead this transformation. As we work to return many of NHS England’s current functions to the Department, we will ensure that we continue to evaluate impacts of all kinds.The abolition of NHS England will strip out the unnecessary bureaucracy and cut the duplication that comes from having two organisations doing the same job; we will empower staff to focus on delivering better care for patients, driving productivity up and getting waiting times down.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the abolition of NHS England on the timing of the publication of the NHS 10-year plan.

We do not envisage that the changes set out by the Prime Minister on 13 March 2025 will affect the publication of the 10-Year Health Plan. We still intend to publish the Plan later in spring 2025.The changes will set the National Health Service up to deliver on the three big shifts needed to make the service fit for the future: from hospital to community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention.

What are the criteria by which it would be determined whether any prospective trade treaty between the UK and the US that does not deal with substantially all trade would be subject to scrutiny under the Constitutional Reform and Government Act 2010.

Part 2 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 is the statutory framework for the parliamentary scrutiny of all legally binding international agreements, regardless of the extent to which the relevant international agreement deals with trade, either substantially or in part. The criteria for an international agreement being subject to the provisions of the Act is set out in sections 23 and 25 of the Act.

What (a) oversight and (b) governance procedures will prospective US-UK trade negotiations be subject to from (i) Parliament and (ii) external stakeholders.

Any treaty signed between the UK and the US that requires ratification will be subject to the scrutiny procedure under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The CRaG process requires that a treaty, along with an Explanatory Memorandum, be laid before Parliament for 21 joint sitting days before the treaty can be ratified.The Government will engage with external stakeholders, and it will also provide comprehensive information with Parliament, including negotiating objectives, in line with our commitment to a transparent trade policy.The Government will work with relevant select committees to ensure proper parliamentary scrutiny of any trade negotiations between the UK and the US.

Whether his Department plans to publish a Strategic Approach document for prospective US trade negotiations.

As the Prime Minister said on 27 February, we’ve decided to work with the United States on a new economic deal with advanced technology at its core. We will set out more details as discussions evolve.

What estimate the UK Statistics Authority has made of the number of life science businesses in Wokingham constituency in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021, (d) 2022, (e) 2023 and (f) 2024; and which constituency in (i) England, (ii) the South East and (iii) Berkshire has the most life science businesses.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman or lady Parliamentary Question of 12th March is attached.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the end of the US tariff rate quota on UK steel and aluminium exports from 12 March 2025 on (a) economic growth and (b) levels of exports in quarter (i) one and (ii) two of 2025.

My Department continues to engage closely with the industries affected by the US’ termination of its tariff rate quotas on steel and aluminium and to assess the potential impact on UK exports. We are resolute in our support for the UK steel and aluminium industry, which is vital to the UK economy. We have committed up to £2.5 billion to rebuild the steel sector. Our upcoming Steel Strategy will be published in the Spring. We will continue to make the case for a UK exemption to these tariffs.

If he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the implementation of the US reciprocal tariffs proposal on UK steel and aluminium exports from 12 March 2025 on (a) economic growth and (b) levels of exports.

My Department continues to engage closely with the industries affected by the implementation of the US’ reciprocal tariffs proposal. We are resolute in our support for the UK steel and aluminium industry, which is vital to the UK economy. We have committed up to £2.5 billion to rebuild the steel sector and our upcoming Steel Strategy will be published in the Spring. We will continue to make a strong case for a UK exemption to these tariffs.

What representations he has made to the (a) US Department of Commerce and (b) Office of the US Trade Representative on (i) digital services tax, (ii) value added tax and (iii) other regulatory issues relevant to the US proposals for reciprocal tariffs.

The Secretary of State has been having regular, constructive conversations with the US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, to make the case for stronger UK-US trade that benefits both our countries.We will continue to work with the US and highlight the importance of free and open trade, and we will always do what is in the national interest for our economy, businesses and the British people.

What recent discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on free trade negotiations with that country.

The Business and Trade Secretary travelled to New Delhi in February where he engaged closely with his counterpart, Minister Goyal, to relaunch and progress negotiations towards a deal that delivers on our mutual interests of economic growth.Following from this they are continuing to work together closely to direct negotiating teams, capitalise on the positive momentum, and secure a deal that strengthens our trade and investment relationship.

With reference to the Harrington Review of Foreign Direct Investment, published on 22 November 2023, what recent progress his Department has made on implementing (a) the recommendation on a concierge service for new investors and (b) other recommendations.

The Government is continuing to deliver on the recommendations set out in the Harrington Review. That includes launching our new, modern Industrial Strategy, that will set out our vision for growth. In parallel, we are expanding the Office for Investment (OfI) which will continue to provide a concierge service for strategically important businesses and investors, with additional commercial capability, and will have a presence across the country, to work with Mayors and Devolved Administrations so that investors have access to the most attractive and commercially credible opportunities in our nations and regions.

How much funding his Department plans to provide for Community Diagnostic Centres in the 2025-26 financial year; and if he will take steps to improve access to these centres in each region.

The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, committed to expanding existing community diagnostic centres (CDCs), as well as building up to five new ones in 25/26, to support the National Health Service to return to meeting the elective waiting time constitutional standard. The plan also commits to CDCs opening 12 hours a day, seven days a week, delivering more same-day tests and consultations, an expanded range of tests, with direct referral from primary and community care, new consulting rooms and at least 10 straight-to-test pathways by March 2026.NHS England will work with local NHS systems to identify the most appropriate locations for investments, including new CDCs, and expansions of existing CDCs. A key factor they will consider is that new CDCs are positioned in a location which addresses local need and will address health inequalities.The 2025/25 capital guidance confirmed that £1.65 billion of capital funding will be allocated to support NHS performance across secondary and emergency care across 2025/26 more broadly.This includes £450 million which has been provisionally allocated for diagnostics including CDCs. This includes funding to enable the completion of 2024/25 schemes; as well as to expand existing and build new CDCs. £20 million has also been allocated directly to relevant trusts via separate processes for CDC pathway productivity.As detailed in the 2025/26 capital guidance, published on 30 January 2025, NHS England has also provided systems with their operational capital envelopes. These allocations are managed locally, with systems prioritising investments in line with their clinical and operational needs.Future capital investment beyond 2025-26 will be considered as part of the next Spending Review.

What steps his Department is taking to help tackle potential barriers to investment for the life science industry; and whether his Department is taking steps to improve partnerships between the NHS and the life science industry in the context of cancer care.

The Government is committed to supporting the United Kingdom’s vibrant life sciences sector, which contributes £108 billion to the economy and approximately 300,000 jobs nationwide. A new Life Sciences Sector Plan, part of the upcoming Industrial Strategy, is due to be published in late spring 2025, and will set out a comprehensive plan for how we will drive up investment. In parallel, we continue to deliver our strategic partnership with BioNTech, which aims to provide up to 10,000 patients with personalised immunotherapies by 2030. BioNTech and its partners, supported by the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, are currently running 12 clinical trials in the UK, with over 50 trial sites covering the country. We have also co-funded £9 million to the MANIFEST cancer immunotherapy platform consortium composed of academia, the National Health Service and industry partners, to expand UK immunotherapy research and development capabilities and support better targeting and improved efficacy of treatments.

What estimate the UK Statistics Authority has made of the number of pubs in Wokingham constituency in January (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021, (d) 2022, (e) 2023, (f) 2024 and (g) 2025; and which constituency in (a) England, (b) the South East and (c) Berkshire has the most pubs.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 7th March is attached.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025 to Question 32470 on Radiotherapy: Medical Equipment, for what reason his Department has not published the full details of the funding allocation for replacing older radiotherapy machines.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 32470 on 5 March 2025.

With reference to the oral contribution by the Leader of The House of the 27 February 2025, Official Report, column 954, when he expects the NHS England ADHD taskforce to be ready to report with recommendations.

We are supportive of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) taskforce that NHS England has established, which is working to bring together those with lived experience, experts from the National Health Service, education, charity, and justice sectors. The taskforce is working to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including timely and equitable access to services and support, with the final report expected in the summer of 2025.