Written questions by Jones.

How he plans to allocate the £100m of capital funding to upgrade 200 GP practices; and how GP practices will be able to apply for that funding.

The Department and NHS England are working with integrated care boards, including primary care representatives, to identify and prioritise high-impact projects where investment can unlock significant productivity gains and additional usable space from existing buildings. Further detail on this process will be published in forthcoming capital guidance, which is due to be published later this month.

With reference to the 2024/25 priorities and operational guidance, updated on 24 April 2024, what steps she is taking to hold NHS England accountable for implementing regular demand and capacity assessments of Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) services.

The Department continues to support the National Health Service in England to increase cancer treatment capacity. NHS England had previously established a task-and-finish group to gather, collate, and compile available information to establish Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) delivery capacity, and to generate recommendations for the short, medium, and longer term to alleviate identified pressures on service delivery.Recommendations have been shared with local systems and, working with Cancer Alliances, they are considering how to progress those that will best support the needs of their local populations. In support of this work, each Cancer Alliance should have a nominated lead for overseeing and supporting demand and capacity of SACT across its footprint, including the completion of a bi-annual evaluation of demand and capacity of SACT services, and should escalate any issues to the relevant integrated care board for resolution.Additionally, with support from Cancer Alliances, cancer pathway improvement work will focus on maximising the productivity of cancer diagnostic and treatment pathways by regularly assessing supply and demand for systemic anti-cancer therapy services.

How the additional funding announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 for the National Institute for Health and Care Research will be allocated.

The 2025/26 settlement for the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) will fund research into a range of health and care challenges facing the population. A key element of this investment is research to support the goals of the Government health and growth missions, including investment to maximise our potential to be a world leader and develop a more competitive, efficient, and accessible clinical research system. To allocate research funding, the NIHR employs a competitive and peer-reviewed process for applications to its research funding programmes, evaluating submissions based on scientific rigour, potential patient benefits, and alignment with population health and care priorities. Details of NIHR funding allocated to individual research awards are openly published and updated on an ongoing basis on the ‘Open Data’ site of the NIHR at the following link: https://nihr.opendatasoft.com/pages/homepage/

What steps his Department is taking to address the regional variation in (a) access and (b) uptake to timely treatments for blood cancer patients.

We will get the National Health Service diagnosing blood cancer earlier and treating it faster. We will start by delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week, as the first step to ensuring early diagnosis and faster treatment.The National Disease Registration Service, through the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Services, collects information on how many people in England have blood cancer, labelled as haematological neoplasms. This data supports service provision and commissioning in the NHS, clinical audits, and public health and epidemiological research, all of which contributes to improved outcomes and reduced treatment variation. Early cancer diagnosis is also a specific priority within the NHS’s wider Core20Plus5 approach to reducing healthcare inequalities.Professor Lord Darzi has undertaken an independent investigation into the state of the NHS, the findings of which will feed into the Government’s 10-year plan to build a health service that is fit for the future. Following publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, we will publish a new national cancer plan, which will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including blood cancer patients.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the ability of the NHS to adopt precision medicines with companion diagnostics at pace.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. To enable rapid access for NHS patients to effective new treatments, NICE aims wherever possible to issue recommendations on new medicines close to the point of licensing. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance.Where a companion diagnostic test is required, the costs will be built in to the NICE appraisal process. To enable the rapid implementation of these, planning for delivery of testing, including identifying appropriate testing technologies and where new testing populations need to be supported, must begin before NICE draft recommendations are published to ensure that appropriate genetic testing is available at the capacity required.

Innovation and Technology, when he plans to implement sections (a) 61 to 65, (b) 67 and (c) 70 to 74 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022.

The Government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 as soon as possible. These measures will help deliver the benefits of advanced digital connectivity.Most provisions have already been implemented. Those remaining are complex and technical. The Department will bring forward a consultation on the implementation of sections 61 to 64, including transitional provisions, as soon as possible.

Innovation and Technology, for what reason the remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 have not been implemented; and what steps he is taking to implement these provisions.

The Government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 as soon as possible. These measures will help deliver the benefits of advanced digital connectivity.Most provisions have already been implemented. Those remaining are complex and technical. The Department will bring forward a consultation on the implementation of sections 61 to 64, including transitional provisions, as soon as possible.

What assessment she has made of the number of cancer medicines used in the NHS compared to other European countries.

Whilst the Department has made no such assessment, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommends most new licensed cancer medicines for use in the treatment of National Health Service patients in England, with a current positive approval rate of 92% for cancer topics, excluding terminated appraisals, for 2024/25. This equates to 24 out of 26 appraisals.Analysis from the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations’ W.A.I.T Indicators compares availability of new medicines across European countries. The 2024 report showed that the availability in England of cancer medicines that received an European Union marketing authorisation between 2019 and 2022 was slightly higher than the European average.

Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the impact of the delay in implementing the final provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022 on (a) mobile connectivity, (b) data poverty and (c) regional digital inclusion.

The Government is committed to implementing all remaining provisions of the Product Security and Telecommunications Act 2022 as soon as possible. These measures will help deliver the benefits of advanced digital connectivity.Most provisions have already been implemented. Those remaining are complex and technical. The Department will bring forward a consultation on the implementation of sections 61 to 64, including transitional provisions, as soon as possible.

Which parts of the (a) UK-Australia and (b) UK-New Zealand trade agreements will be monitored as part of the biennial monitoring reports on those treaties.

The Department is currently considering our approach to FTA monitoring, and we will provide an update on this in due course to align with the Trade Strategy.

Which groups his Department will consult for its biennial monitoring reports on the (a) UK-Australia and (b) UK-New Zealand free trade agreements.

The Department for Business and Trade engages with and recognises the need to understand a range of stakeholder perspectives in its aims to monitor Free Trade Agreements, including Australia and New Zealand.

When the data on the number of general practitioners employed through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme will be available.

Information on the number of recently qualified general practitioners (GPs) for which primary care networks are claiming reimbursement via the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) is currently being collated. We are working to verify the data and establish its reliability, which is necessary before any dataset can be published. Between 31 July 2024 and 30 November 2024, the headcount of fully qualified GPs increased by 831.The Government has delivered an £82 million boost to the ARRS over 2024/25 to enable the recruitment of over 1,000 newly qualified GPs. My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has confirmed that recently qualified GPs who are employed via the ARRS will continue to be supported through the scheme in 2025/26.

What percentage of the increase in NHS England funding will be dedicated to staffing budgets.

Decisions on the allocation of resources for 2025/26 have not yet been finalised. NHS England will continue to prioritise the allocation of funding to support frontline services.

What her planned timetable is for publishing the Government's consultation on the zero emission vehicle mandate.

The consultation on Phasing out sales of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and supporting the ZEV transition launched on 24 December 2024 and is due to close on 18 February 2025. The Government is engaging intensively with interested stakeholders and a response will be published in due course.

How much and what proportion of the funding for NHS England announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 will be spent on (a) National Insurance contribution increases and (b) existing overspends by (i) NHS England and (ii) his Department.

We have taken necessary decisions to fix the foundations in the public finances at the Autumn Budget, and this enabled the Spending Review settlement of a £22.6 billion increase in resource spending for the Department, from 2023/24 outturn to 2025/26.The Department will set out further details on the allocation of funding for next year at the earliest opportunity, including through planning guidance. We are not planning for overspends in 2025/26 by either NHS England or the Department overall.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce the costs associated with children and young people travelling within the UK for cancer treatment.

NHS England and the integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning and ensuring the healthcare needs of local communities in England are met, including for children and young people with cancer. The National Health Service in England runs schemes to provide financial assistance for travel to a hospital, or other NHS premises, for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostics tests, when referred by a doctor or other primary healthcare professional. This includes the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS), which provides financial assistance to patients who do not have a medical need for transport, but who require assistance with the costs of travelling to receive certain NHS services. Patients who do not qualify for the HTCS and who are on a low income may be able to claim the costs from the Department for Work and Pensions through Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payment.

What steps her Department is taking to support (a) young cancer patients and (b) their families in into employment.

NHS England is committed to ensuring that all cancer patients are offered Holistic Needs Assessment and Personalised Care and Support Planning, ensuring care is focused on what matters most to each person. This is being delivered in line with the NHS Comprehensive Model for Personalised Care, empowering people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer and maximise the potential of digital and community-based support. The Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce will be relaunched in 2025 to identify ways to improve the experience and outcomes for children and young people with cancer. We will set out further details on next steps in due course. Access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key to supporting a successful return to work. We, therefore, have a range of specialist initiatives including support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres and Access to Work grants, as well as joining up health and employment support around the individual. Employers also play a key role in supporting people with health conditions to thrive as part of the workforce. Our support to employers includes increasing access to Occupational Health, Support with Employee Health and Disability service, a digital information service for employers, and the Disability Confident scheme. The Department’s Youth Offer also provides individually tailored Work Coach support to young people aged 16 to 24 who are claiming Universal Credit. This support includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with additional barriers to finding work, and Youth Hubs across Great Britain. To support unpaid carers to remain in work, DWP has launched Jobhelp, to provide advice and information, all in one place, to existing, new and potential unpaid carers to help them make informed decisions about combining work and care.

What steps her Department is taking through the welfare system to support children and young people diagnosed with cancer.

The extra costs disability benefits available to children and young people, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment (PIP), provide a contribution towards the additional costs that may arise from a long-term disability or health condition. These benefits are assessed on the basis of needs arising and not on the condition itself, so are available to those with cancer and other conditions. The extra costs benefits are non-contributory, non-means-tested and can be worth over £9,500 a year, tax free. Individuals or Parent/guardians for DLA child cases can choose how to use the benefit, in the light of their individual needs and preferences. The benefit also acts as a gateway to other financial support such as Carer’s Allowance, disability additions in Universal Credit, Motability Scheme, Blue Badge Scheme and exemption from the benefit cap.

What steps his Department is taking to provide employment protections for (a) young cancer patients and (b) their families.

It is important that people with cancer are supported to return to, or remain in work, if that is what they choose to do. Workers with cancer and their carers are protected from employment discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. Their family members or friends may also be entitled to up to a week of unpaid carer’s leave to support them. We are reviewing implementation of carer’s leave and are exploring whether additional support may be needed.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish an impact assessment of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations on the automotive industry.

Defra officials are in the process of engaging with the automotive industry in relation to the impacts of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulation 2024. Details of any further steps will be published in due course.