Written questions by Maguire.

What assessment she has made of the environmental benefits of decarbonising refrigerated transport.

Delivering greener transport is a priority for the Department for Transport and why we are developing an Off-Road Machinery Decarbonisation Strategy with the Departments for Energy Security and Net Zero and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Diesel-powered transport refrigeration units (TRUs) remain a significant source of greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions, including nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Clean solutions will remove these harmful emissions and improve air quality and reduce noise pollution.

What quantity of plutonium was added to the civil plutonium stockpile in the last year.

The UK is no longer adding to the inventory of separated civil plutonium through reprocessing spent fuel. The Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP) at Sellafield is now closed, having ceased reprocessing operations in November 2018 and the Magnox reprocessing facility ceased reprocessing operations in 2022.

What the current volume is of the civil plutonium stockpile in tonnes.

As of 31 December 2023, the total holding of separated civil plutonium in the UK was 140.9 tonnes. The Office for Nuclear Regulation publishes annual figures on the UK's separated plutonium inventory. The most recently published data can be found at the following link: 2023 annual figures for holdings of civil unirradiated plutonium | Office for Nuclear Regulation

What support his Department is offering to people affected by alleged sexual abuse relating to medical checks carried out between the 1970s and 2016 British Army recruitment processes.

There is no place in Defence for sexual abuse or misconduct, and we are fully supporting Wiltshire Police’s investigation. I urge anyone who has more information to contact Wiltshire Police as soon as possible, we will stand with the survivors. For those personnel still serving, every unit has a comprehensive welfare system, ready to support them. . The network of agencies includes Unit Welfare Officers, Welfare Services, chaplains, Equality and Diversity Advisers, and Women’s Royal Voluntary Service. Personnel also have access to the Army confidential helpline, SpeakOut, and the Samaritans helpline, Combat Stress 24-hour mental health helpline (0800 138 1619) for serving personnel and veterans. For veterans, the MOD provides an MOD Veterans Service, which offers bespoke advice and assistance following a holistic assessment of needs tailored to each individual's specific circumstances. Welfare Managers provide free and confidential advice and work closely with voluntary organisations, local authorities and all areas of the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure veterans and their families are offered the best possible help and advice. Further information on this service can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/veterans-welfare-service Victims and survivors of sexual assault can access information and support via the Government’s site https://sexualabusesupport.campaign.gov.uk/

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the (a) National Cancer Plan and (b) 10 Year Workforce Plan on the capacity for cancer diagnostic services to meet the (i) current workforce shortfall, (ii) level of demand from an increase in cancer cases and (iii) the expansion of screening programmes to include national targeted lung screening.

This Government is committed to ensuring our workforce is fit for purpose, including to diagnose and treat cancer. As of August 2025, there are almost 70% more staff in the key cancer professions of clinical oncology, gastro-enterology, medical oncology, histopathology, clinical radiology, diagnostic and therapeutic radiography than in 2010. There are also more doctors working in clinical oncology and more radiology doctors compared to last year.We will work with the university sector and colleagues across Government to ensure that we train the doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals that we need and maximise the contribution that our great research institutions make to the country. Over the next three years, we will create 1,000 new specialty training posts with a focus on specialties where there is greatest need.The 10-Year Health Plan sets out that to deliver a workforce fit for the future we need a new, sustainable approach to workforce planning. Our 10 Year Workforce Plan will set out action to how we will create a workforce ready to deliver a transformed service for patients when and where they need it.Furthermore, the National Cancer Plan will look at how we can reform the current workforce to utilise it as effectively as possible and to provide a workforce able to meet cancer demand of the future. The National Cancer Plan will align with the 10 Year Workforce Plan to take into consideration expected demand for cancer over the next ten years. By ensuring we have the necessary staff with the right skills, we will support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer earlier and treat it faster and improve patients’ experience across the system.

What plans his Department has to support the development of (a) accredited training routes and (b) apprenticeships for advice and information roles.

At present nine awarding organisations offer 18 different knowledge only qualifications at levels 2 to 5 in information, advice and guidance (IAG) and careers advice. They are listed on Ofqual’s register of regulated qualifications: Find a regulated qualification - GOV.UK Regarding apprenticeships, there are four apprenticeship standards relating to information and advice roles, including Level 3 Learning and Development Practitioner and Level 4 Employability Practitioner. Where there is a genuine occupational gap not met by an existing apprenticeship standard and there will be sufficient demand for apprentices, employers are able to work with Skills England to develop an apprenticeship standard which meets their need.

How many vehicles which passed their MOT in (a) 2022-2023, (b) 2023-2024 and (c) 2024-2025 were assessed for exhaust noise as per section 8.1.1. of the MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles.

It is a mandatory requirement for all MOT centres in England to assess for exhaust noise when conducting an MOT. During the emissions test the tester is required to use their judgement to assess the exhaust noise, either as part of the emissions test or by raising the engine speed to around 2,500rpm or half the maximum engine speed. The numbers below show how many active MOT testing stations there are in England, who have carried out MOTs. This would include being assessed for exhaust noise. 2022 to 2023 there were 22,701 active MOT testing stations testing car, private bus and light commercial vehicles (classes 3,4,5 and 7);2023 to 2024 there were 22,526 active MOT testing stations for classes 3,4,5 and 7 and;2024 to 2025 there were 22,448 active MOT testing stations for classes 3,4,5 and 7 vehicles. The numbers below show how many vehicles passed their MOT in (a) 2022-2023 (b) 2023-2024 and (c) 2024-2025. This would include being assessed for exhaust noise. 2022 to 2023 there were 30,843,492 normal tests carried out for classes 4, 5 and 7;2023 to 2024 there were 31,084,949 normal tests carried out for classes 4, 5 and 7 and;2024 to 2025 there were 31,615,467 normal tests carried out for classes 4, 5 and 7 vehicles.

How many MOT centres in England in (a) 2022-2023, (b)2023-2024 and (c)2024-2025 assessed for exhaust noise as per section 8.1.1. of the MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles.

It is a mandatory requirement for all MOT centres in England to assess for exhaust noise when conducting an MOT. During the emissions test the tester is required to use their judgement to assess the exhaust noise, either as part of the emissions test or by raising the engine speed to around 2,500rpm or half the maximum engine speed. The numbers below show how many active MOT testing stations there are in England, who have carried out MOTs. This would include being assessed for exhaust noise. 2022 to 2023 there were 22,701 active MOT testing stations testing car, private bus and light commercial vehicles (classes 3,4,5 and 7);2023 to 2024 there were 22,526 active MOT testing stations for classes 3,4,5 and 7 and;2024 to 2025 there were 22,448 active MOT testing stations for classes 3,4,5 and 7 vehicles. The numbers below show how many vehicles passed their MOT in (a) 2022-2023 (b) 2023-2024 and (c) 2024-2025. This would include being assessed for exhaust noise. 2022 to 2023 there were 30,843,492 normal tests carried out for classes 4, 5 and 7;2023 to 2024 there were 31,084,949 normal tests carried out for classes 4, 5 and 7 and;2024 to 2025 there were 31,615,467 normal tests carried out for classes 4, 5 and 7 vehicles.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of updating section 8.1.1 of her Department's guidance entitled MOT inspection manual: cars and passenger vehicles, updated on 11 August 2025, to make it mandatory for MOT test centres to assess for exhaust noise.

Excessive vehicle noise can be a serious disruption to people’s lives. This is why it is included in the MOT as an inspection of exhaust silencers and noise deafening material as well as a subjective assessment of excessive noise upon revving the vehicle. The MOT tester will fail the vehicle if they deem the exhaust noise is unreasonably above the level expected from a similar vehicle in average condition. The Department and the DVSA included a question about noise testing using decibel meters in a 2023 call for evidence about updating the MOT. Responses highlighted both the benefits of identifying excessively noisy vehicles and the difficulty of testing with decibel meters in a noisy garage environment.

How many refrigerator vehicles are currently used in the UK.

The Department for Transport does not hold this information.

What the UK’s cancer survival rate was in (a) 2021-2022, (b) 2022-2023, (c) 2023-2024 and (d) 2024-2025.

The most recent statistics for cancer survival are for cancer diagnosed from 2016 to 2020 and followed up to 2021. They can be found at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/cancer-survival-in-england/cancers-diagnosed-2016-to-2020-followed-up-to-2021Furthermore, the publication Cancer survival: Index for sub-Integrated Care Boards, 2005 to 2020 summarises the one-year cancer survival by sub-integrated care boards for all cancers combined from 2005 to 2020 and followed up to 2021. This publication is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/cancer-survival-in-england/index-for-sub-integrated-care-boards-2005-to-2020The latest cancer survival statistics are due to be published on 13 November 2025. The published data will provide information on cancer survival in England for cancers diagnosed 2018 to 2022 and followed up to 2023.

How many e-bikes have been imported from China in (a) 2022, (b) 2023, (c) 2024 and (d) 2025.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK which includes data on imports of e-bikes. HMRC releases this information monthly, as an Accredited Official Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com).From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria.Classification codes (according to the Harmonised System) are available to assist you in accessing published trade statistics data in the UK Global Tariff. Goods moving to and from the UK are identified by commodity codes. These are publicly available from the UK Trade Tariff at https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff. E-bikes are classified within commodity codes 87116010 and 87116090. However, these commodity codes will also include similar types of electric transportation such as e-scooters.If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the relationship between deprivation and lung cancer diagnosis.

We know that some cancers disproportionately impact those living in deprived areas, notably lung cancer. The Lung Cancer Screening Programme is designed to identify cancer at an earlier stage and is aimed at high-risk individuals or people with a history of smoking between the ages of 55 to 74 years old. The National Health Service is currently rolling out the National Lung Cancer Screening Programme to people with a history of smoking.Additionally, reducing inequalities is a key priority for the National Cancer Plan, which will look at the targeted improvements needed across different cancer types to reduce disparities in cancer survival. This includes looking at protected characteristics, such as ethnicity, as well as inequalities related to socioeconomic status, and geographic location.

What steps he is staking to increase survival rates amongst lung cancer patients.

We know that some cancers disproportionately impact those living in deprived areas, notably lung cancer. The Lung Cancer Screening Programme is designed to identify cancer at an earlier stage and is aimed at high-risk individuals or people with a history of smoking between the ages of 55 to 74 years old. The National Health Service is currently rolling out the National Lung Cancer Screening Programme to people with a history of smoking.Additionally, reducing inequalities is a key priority for the National Cancer Plan, which will look at the targeted improvements needed across different cancer types to reduce disparities in cancer survival. This includes looking at protected characteristics, such as ethnicity, as well as inequalities related to socioeconomic status, and geographic location.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the link between access to independent advice and improved health and wellbeing outcomes.

Our 10-Year Health Plan sets out a range of proposals to help patients get the advice they need, ranging from building artificial intelligence-powered online advice into the NHS App to co-locating National Health Service, local authority, and voluntary sector services within Neighbourhood Health Centres so they can also offer services like debt advice, employment support, and smoking cessation or weight management services. Within acute hospital settings we are rolling out Martha’s Rule, which gives in-patients in acute provider sites who are concerned about physiological deterioration the right to initiate a rapid review of their case from someone outside of their immediate care team. Taken together, these measures will help to ensure that patients receive the support and advice they need to improve their health and wellbeing.

How much and what proportion of UK emissions came from refrigerated transport in the latest period for which data is available.

The Government’s UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions statistics include emissions from refrigerated transport. However, not all of these emissions are identified separately as some are aggregated with other emissions. For example, emissions where refrigeration is powered by the main engine of a vehicle are included with other goods vehicles.Emissions are identifiable in two cases:emissions of fluorinated gases from refrigerated transport, which were 0.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2023 (0.1% of the UK total).emissions from fuel combustion in auxiliary engines powering refrigerated transport, which were 0.3 MtCO2e in 2023 (0.1% of the UK total).

How many concessionary bus journeys were available in (a) 2018-19, (b) 2023-24 and (c) 2024-25.

The Department publishes statistics on concessionary travel in England in the Concessionary Travel Statistics release, which are based on survey data collected from Travel Concession Authorities (TCAs). Concessionary travel relates to when eligible people travel on reduced (or free) fares. The latest concessionary travel statistics, including figures on concessionary bus passenger journeys in England for the year ending March 2019 to the year ending March 2024 for older and disabled people are provided in the table below: Table: Older and Disabled Concessionary Bus Journeys, millionsYear ending MarchEnglandEngland outside LondonLondonEnglish metropolitan areasEnglish non-metropolitan areas2019861592269226366202080255025220934020212701799276103202249132216912919320235703721981412312024604389215144245 More information can be found in the Department’s Concessionary Travel Statistics release, which is available on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/concessionary-travel-statistics-year-ending-march-2024 The Department does not currently hold data separately for elderly and disabled concessionary passenger journeys. Data for the year ending March 2025 is not currently available but is scheduled for publication on GOV.UK on 26 November 2025.

What steps he is taking to increase awareness amongst (a) GPs and (b) NHS clinicians of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

A primary goal of the Complex Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Service, which is commissioned by NHS England, is to educate clinicians about the diagnosis, investigation, and management of patients with complex and atypical forms of EDS. While the service focuses on rare types and accepts referrals from secondary and tertiary care, its development of guidelines and educational initiatives also benefits general practitioners (GPs), who are on the front line of patient care.Additionally, the Royal College of General Practitioners and Ehlers-Danlos Support UK have developed the EDS GP Toolkit, which is specifically designed to provide information and guidance to GPs.

How many e-scooters have been imported from China in (a) 2022, (b) 2023, (c) 2024 and (d) 2025.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK which includes data on imports of e-scooters. HMRC releases this information monthly, as an Accredited Official Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. Classification codes (according to the Harmonised System) are available to assist you in accessing published trade statistics data in the UK Global Tariff. Goods moving to and from the UK are identified by commodity codes. These are publicly available from the UK Trade Tariff at https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff. E-scooters are classified within commodity codes 87116010 and 87116090. However, these commodity codes will also include similar types of electric transportation such as e-bikes. If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk

How many cancer drugs have been approved for use in (a) 2021-2022, (b) 2022-2023, (c) 2023-2024 and (d) 2024-2025.

The following table shows the number of cancer medicines that have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in each of the last four full business years:YearNumber of recommendations2021/22362022/23362023/24282024/2537 The information provided includes all medicines recommended for routine use for some or all of the eligible patient population, and medicines recommended for managed access through the Cancer Drugs Fund.