Written questions by Jones.

If he will take steps to include cholangiocarcinoma in the target group of 75% of cancers diagnosed at stage one or two by 2028.

Improving diagnosis rates and access to treatment are key priorities for the Government for all cancer types, including cholangiocarcinoma.To achieve this, we are improving public awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, streamlining referral routes, and increasing the availability of diagnostic capacity through the roll-out of more community diagnostic centres. We will continue to prioritise and improve early cancer diagnosis, including for cholangiocarcinoma, by delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, as the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and better access to treatment.Our forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and improving access to treatment.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the survival rates of people with (a) intrahepatic and (b) extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

The National Health Service is taking crucial steps to improve cancer outcomes for patients across England, including for intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.For stageable cancers, such as cholangiocarcinoma, there is a clear link between early staging and increased survival rates. Many of the actions we are implementing to improve the earlier staging of stageable cancers, such as improving awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, and increasing referral routes and the availability of diagnostics, have a positive impact on patient outcomes.To help achieve this, we will deliver an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week. We are also investing an additional £889 million in general practice (GP) to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing the total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade. The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients. It will focus on speeding up diagnosis and treatment and ensuring that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology. The overarching goal of the plan is to ultimately bring this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.

With reference to page 11 of Cancer52 and GRAIL's report on improving diagnosis for rare and less common cancers, published in February 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the finding that 37% of people with rare and less common cancer say they saw their GP three or more times before they were diagnosed, compared to the national average of 21.7%; and what steps he is taking to reduce disparities in cancer diagnosis.

The Government is committed to supporting the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including rare and less common cancers earlier and to treat them faster.We are improving public awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, streamlining referral routes, and increasing the availability of diagnostic capacity through the roll-out of more community diagnostic centres. We are also investing an additional £889 million in general practice (GP) to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade.We are committed to ensuring that GPs have the right training and systems to identify cancer. The Department will continue to look at opportunities to utilise artificial intelligence to transform diagnostic performance and ultimately bring down waiting times. The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including for rare and less common cancers. It will aim to speed up diagnosis and treatment and will ensure that all patients have access to the latest treatments and technology.

If he will take steps to ensure that GPs have access to clinical decision support tools for identifying rare or less common cancers.

Improving diagnosis rates and access to treatment are key priorities for the Government for all cancer types, including rare and less common cancers.We are improving public awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, streamlining referral routes, and increasing the availability of diagnostic capacity through the roll-out of more community diagnostic centres. We are also investing an additional £889 million in general practice (GP) to reinforce the front door of the National Health Service, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade.We are committed to ensuring that GPs have the right training and systems to identify cancer. Use of specific clinical decision support tools are agreed at a local level.The recently announced National Cancer Plan, which will complement the 10-Year Health Plan and support delivery of the Government’s Health Mission, will set out further actions to improve diagnosis, including for rare or less common cancers. The plan will also provide further details on how we will ensure patients have access to the latest treatments and technology and ultimately bringing this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.

What steps he is taking to increase the prognosis rate for cholangiocarcinoma.

The National Health Service is taking crucial steps to improve cancer outcomes for patients across England, including for intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.For stageable cancers, such as cholangiocarcinoma, there is a clear link between early staging and increased survival rates. Many of the actions we are implementing to improve the earlier staging of stageable cancers, such as improving awareness of cancer signs and symptoms, and increasing referral routes and the availability of diagnostics, have a positive impact on patient outcomes.To help achieve this, we will deliver an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week. We are also investing an additional £889 million in general practice (GP) to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing the total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade. The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients. It will focus on speeding up diagnosis and treatment and ensuring that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology. The overarching goal of the plan is to ultimately bring this country’s cancer survival rates back up to the standards of the best in the world.

What steps he is taking to improve research into innovative screening methods; and if he will commit to rapidly (a) funding, (b) piloting and (c) implementing screening programmes recommended by the National Screening Committee.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has invested significant funding into the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which leads on research into screening programmes. For example, on 4 February 2025 the Department announced that nearly 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier. The Early Detection using Information Technology in Health trial is backed by £11 million of Government support, via the NIHR.Another example is the TRANSFORM trial into prostate cancer research, which is a £42 million screening trial which aims to find ways of detecting prostate cancer earlier. Prostate Cancer UK is leading the development of the trial, with the Government contributing £16 million through the NIHR.With regards to funding, piloting, and implementing screening programmes, ministers will consider the UK National Screening Committee’s (UK NSC) recommendations on a case by case basis. To date, every UK NSC recommendation has been accepted by ministers. Where a recommendation has been accepted, and no piloting is required, the National Health Service is asked to implement it at a pace in line with its capabilities.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) increase public awareness of the (i) signs and (ii) symptoms of cancer and (b) encourage people to act on them.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to the Hon. Member for Strangford on 23 January 2025 to Question 24851.

What his planned timetable is for replacing Professor Sir Mike Richards as chair of the UK National Screening Committee.

Professor Sir Mike Richards was appointed as Chair of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) on 11 March 2022. Appointments to the UK NSC are made in line with the principles of public appointment as set out by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The first term of Professor Sir Mike Richards’ appointment is due to come to an end on the 10 March 2025 and a chair’s appraisal will be carried out by the English Chief Medical Officer to determine whether the appointment should be extended for a second term. The appointment can be extended up to three terms, not exceeding 10 years.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the French Government's decision to ban products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

The Government has recently completed a rapid review of the Environment Improvement Plan (EIP) 2023 and will introduce a revised EIP in 2025. The revised EIP will include the Government's approach to managing chemicals, including the risks posed by PFAS. Other work is continuing across the Government to help us assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources and potential risks to inform future measures. This includes the initiation of a UK REACH dossier investigating whether to restrict the use of PFAS in firefighting foams. We also monitor measures being taken in other jurisdictions such as France to inform possible approaches in the UK.

If he will create an action plan to tackle shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy drugs.

The Department currently has no plans to convene a roundtable regarding the shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). The Department regularly engages with all suppliers of PERT to discuss the latest stock position and the steps that are being taken to boost production to mitigate the supply issue. Through work with suppliers, we have managed to secure additional volumes of PERT for 2025. The Department has also reached out to specialist importers who have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the gap in the market.The Department also has frequent conversations with representatives from the impacted patient groups so that they are informed on the supply situation and the mitigation actions being taken.In December 2024, the Department issued further management advice to healthcare professionals. This directs clinicians to consider these unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable, and includes actions for integrated care boards to ensure local mitigation plans are put in place and implemented. The Department, in collaboration with NHS England, has created a webpage to include the latest update on PERT availability and easily accessible advice on the prescribing and ordering of alternative PERT products.

Whether he plans to strengthen (a) early intervention and (b) prevention strategies to reduce the number of people entering the cancer pathway.

To improve early intervention, NHS England is running the Help Us, Help You campaign, which was relaunched on 6 January 2025. The Help Us, Help You campaign seeks to address the barriers that are deterring patients from accessing the National Health Service.Furthermore, the Government recognises the importance of primary and secondary prevention within a holistic approach to improving cancer outcomes and reducing the number of people entering the cancer pathway. With this aim, the new National Cancer Plan will set out how we will fight cancer on all fronts, from prevention to diagnosis, treatment, and research.

Whether his Department is taking steps to ensure the National Cancer Plan includes prevention measures to help tackle the wider modifiable risk factors of cancer beyond smoking.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has announced that a National Cancer Plan for England will be published this year.The Government recognises the importance of primary and secondary prevention within a holistic approach to improving cancer outcomes. With this aim, the plan will set out how we will fight cancer on all fronts, from prevention to diagnosis, treatment, and research, and we will look at a wide range of modifiable risk factors.

If he will take steps to convene a roundtable of (a) pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) manufacturers, (b) patient advocacy groups, (c) Government stakeholders and (d) other relevant stakeholders on tackling shortages of PERT.

The Department currently has no plans to convene a roundtable regarding the shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). The Department regularly engages with all suppliers of PERT to discuss the latest stock position and the steps that are being taken to boost production to mitigate the supply issue. Through work with suppliers, we have managed to secure additional volumes of PERT for 2025. The Department has also reached out to specialist importers who have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the gap in the market.The Department also has frequent conversations with representatives from the impacted patient groups so that they are informed on the supply situation and the mitigation actions being taken.In December 2024, the Department issued further management advice to healthcare professionals. This directs clinicians to consider these unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable, and includes actions for integrated care boards to ensure local mitigation plans are put in place and implemented. The Department, in collaboration with NHS England, has created a webpage to include the latest update on PERT availability and easily accessible advice on the prescribing and ordering of alternative PERT products.

When he plans to respond to Question 29833 tabled by the hon. Member for Wokingham on 6 February 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to Questions 29832 and 29833 on 11 March 2025.

When he plans to respond to Question 29832 tabled by the hon. Member for Wokingham on 6 February 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to Questions 29832 and 29833 on 11 March 2025.

When he plans to respond to Question 31610 tabled by the hon. Member for Wokingham on 13 February 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 31610 on 12 March 2025.

What steps her Department is taking with Wokingham Borough Council to promote the uptake of pension credit.

As part of our nationwide Pension Credit campaign, the Department has engaged with all councils in Great Britain, including Wokingham Borough Council, via the regular Local Authority Welfare Direct bulletins. In response to our call to action, 200 councils across Great Britain have supported our Pension Credit campaign either on social media, or by distributing the promotional material we have provided. Wokingham Borough Council requested printed materials to share locally and has shared our messages through their social media channels, successfully signposting local people to Pension Credit information and resources. DWP has developed an ongoing relationship with their Communications Team and engaged with them recently, including in January as part of the Energy Savers Week Pension Credit campaign.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the frequency of rail services for commuters between Wokingham and London.

Department officials are in regular conversation with South-Western Railway regarding its service provision in response to demand. When reviewing train services, the Department needs to assess business cases and balance demand with value for the taxpayer in its considerations. The Department believe this balance to be appropriate.

With reference to the oral contribution by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport in response to the question from the hon. Member for Wokingham of 17 December 2024, Official Report, column 87WH, when she intends to write regarding Twyford car park.

Network Rail is intending to resurface the station car park at Twyford as part of its renewals programme. This will be done in accordance with current standards, which will likely result in fewer parking spaces in the car park. Great Western Railway is working with Network Rail and local stakeholders on options to provide additional car parking spaces at Twyford.

If he will make it his policy to provide GPs with training to diagnose brain tumours.

The standard of medical training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council (GMC), which is an independent statutory body. The GMC has the general function of promoting high standards of education and co-ordinating all stages of education to ensure that medical students and newly qualified doctors are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for professional practice The curriculum for general practitioner (GP) specialty training is set by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), and has to meet the standards set by the GMC and be formally approved by them. Whilst the curriculum may not necessarily highlight a specific condition, it instead emphasises the skills and approaches a GP must develop to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients. This is assessed by the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners Examination.The RCGP provides several resources on cancer prevention, diagnosis and care for GPs, relevant for the primary care setting.