Written questions by Morrissey.

What steps his Department is taking to improve equitable access to clinical trials for brain tumour patients; and what plans his Department has to help eligible brain tumour patients to access treatments through clinical trials.

The Department is committed to working with the pharmaceutical industry to develop a more efficient, more competitive, and more accessible clinical research system in the United Kingdom, ensuring that all patients, including those with brain tumours, have access to cutting-edge clinical research and innovative, lifesaving treatments. Research is crucial in tackling brain cancer, which is why the Department spends £1.5 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), with cancer being one of the largest areas of investment, at over £121.8 million in 2022/23, reflecting its high priority. The Department is committed to ensuring that clinical trials are people-centred and more accessible, including for brain tumour patients. For example, the NIHR provides an online service called Be Part of Research which promotes participation in health and care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies and register their interest.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that all brain tumour centres have equitable access to (a) funding, (b) resources and (c) recognition within national frameworks.

The Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM) is an independent organisation funded by 11 charities as well as by Government. The Centre of Excellence programme is community led, being designed and delivered by a committee of National Health Service professionals and scientists from centres across the United Kingdom. The centres that participate in the TJBCM Centre of Excellence initiative do so voluntarily.All UK neuro-oncology centres are invited to apply for Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence status, which is the main “national framework” in neuro-oncology, beyond the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines that apply to all hospitals treating brain tumours. Centres that are not awarded Centre of Excellence designation can also access support from TJBCM and through the Tessa Jowell Network, so all centres and their patients nationally can benefit from this standard-setting. The TJBCM works with every centre in the UK who seeks its support.The TJBCM welcomes applications from any centre which provides treatment and care for patients with a brain tumour who can demonstrate how they meet the Tessa Jowell Standards of Excellence, to achieve the same high standards of treatment, care, and research. The mission works with every centre in the UK who seeks its support to develop its service, both in England and the devolved nations.

What criteria his Department uses to determine the inclusion of tumour centres in the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access for all centres regardless of onsite surgical capacity.

The Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM) is an independent organisation funded by 11 charities as well as by Government. The Centre of Excellence programme is community led, being designed and delivered by a committee of National Health Service professionals and scientists from centres across the United Kingdom. The centres that participate in the TJBCM Centre of Excellence initiative do so voluntarily.All UK neuro-oncology centres are invited to apply for Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence status, which is the main “national framework” in neuro-oncology, beyond the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines that apply to all hospitals treating brain tumours. Centres that are not awarded Centre of Excellence designation can also access support from TJBCM and through the Tessa Jowell Network, so all centres and their patients nationally can benefit from this standard-setting. The TJBCM works with every centre in the UK who seeks its support.The TJBCM welcomes applications from any centre which provides treatment and care for patients with a brain tumour who can demonstrate how they meet the Tessa Jowell Standards of Excellence, to achieve the same high standards of treatment, care, and research. The mission works with every centre in the UK who seeks its support to develop its service, both in England and the devolved nations.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of family businesses that may be required to (a) sell and (b) downsize as a result of the reduction in Business Property Relief; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the behavioural responses on the public finances.

The value of an ownership of a business, or share of a business, is included in an estate for inheritance tax purposes. Business property relief reduces the value of the interest in the business or its assets when calculating how much inheritance tax is due on the value of the estate. Excluding claims by estates only holding shares designed as “not listed” on recognised stock exchanges, the Government has set out that around 500 estates claiming business property relief only in 2026-27 are expected to pay more inheritance tax as a result of the reforms announced at Autumn Budget 2024. Any potential impact on businesses will depend on the individual circumstances, including the size of the inheritance tax liability, the ownership structure, and the value of non-business assets in an estate available to pay a liability. Furthermore, where any inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can in most circumstances pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) does not expect the reforms to have any significant macroeconomic impacts. The behavioural impact of policies is accounted for in the normal way in the costings certified by the independent OBR. The OBR recently published more detail on the costings for the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief, including the potential behavioural responses, at https://obr.uk/download/october-2024-economic-and-fiscal-outlook-costing-of-changes-to-agricultural-and-business-property-relief/?tmstv=1739194105.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to provide funding for the ongoing (a) preservation and (a) repair of listed places of worship.

There is a range of funding available via DCMS and the Department’s Arm’s-Length Bodies that supports places of worship. These include the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme; the National Lottery Heritage Fund, who have committed to investing around £100m between 2023 and 2026 to support places of worship; the Churches Conservation Trust, which funds repairs and maintenance of over 350 churches in the CCT portfolio; and Historic England's Heritage At Risk grants, funding £9 million worth of repairs to buildings on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register between April 2024 and March 2025.On the 22nd of January, I was pleased to announce that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme would continue from March 2025 to March 2026 with a budget of £23m. Further details can be found in this Written Statement.

If she will make it her policy not to amend the (a) status of existing grammar schools and (b) right of local areas to operate academic selection.

There are 163 grammar schools in England that are located across 35 local authority areas. The government does not plan to allow any new grammar schools to open nor to legislate to remove the right of existing grammar schools to select by ability.

Whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have met (i) Dale Vince and (ii) representatives of Ecotricity since 5 July 2024.

Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisat...

How many and what proportion of violent disorder cases were heard by (a) district judges and (b) lay magistrates in August.

The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Whether her Department will take steps to support children who receive bursaries and scholarships at independent schools who are adversely affected by the introduction of VAT on such schools.

The department is not expecting these changes to have a significant effect on bursaries across the private school sector as a whole. The department expects that charitable schools across the UK will want to continue to demonstrate wider public benefit thr...

With reference to the decision to stop implementation of the Higher Education (Free Speech) Act 2023, whether she received representations that informed that decision (a) on the potential impact of that Act on

The decision to pause the implementation of the Higher Education (Free Speech) Act 2023 took account of views from across the higher education (HE) sector, including universities and academics, who felt that the Act is disproportionate, burdensome and dam...

Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the percentage of designated Green Belt in each constituency to be re-classified Grey Belt under the changes proposed to the National Pla

In our consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system, it was suggested that grey belt land be defined as Green Belt land which makes a limited contribution to the Green Belt’s purposes,...

Whether he consulted (a) Unite the Union, (b) GMB and (c) other trade unions on the potential closure of oil and gas refineries in the North Sea.

Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. This Government will ensure a phased and responsible North Sea transition. We will manage the North Sea in a way that does not jeopard...

What his policy is on the potential creation of new unabated gas power plants.

To ensure security of supply, the electricity system requires generating capacity that can dispatch power in the event of high peak demand, unexpected outage or during periods of low renewable output. As we transition to clean power the government will wo...

Whether he plans to provide trade unions with a role on the board of GB Energy.

As stated in Great British Energy’s Founding Statement, trade unions will have a voice and representation within Great British Energy. When deciding upon the composition of the board, GBE will follow best practice in its governance and structures, includi...

What plans his Department has to consult local residents prior to the approval of (a) solar farms and (b) onshore wind farms.

There are established routes in the planning system which enable communities to raise concerns about solar and onshore wind developments in their area. The level and quality of community engagement, amongst other factors, will be taken into account by decision-makers. We want both solar and onshore wind developers to continue to engage with local communities as we increase renewable deployment to meet net zero. That is why we are retaining important checks and balances in relation to community engagement and consultation.

Whether the new chair of Great British Energy was appointed through open competition; what his remuneration is; and what provisions have been put in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest.

I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 2492.

Whether new unabated gas power stations will be required to maintain energy security.

To ensure security of supply, the electricity system requires generating capacity that can dispatch power in the event of high peak demand, unexpected outage or during periods of low renewable output. As we transition to clean power the government will work with the private sector to ensure flexible technologies such as hydrogen, long duration electricity storage and power with carbon capture and storage are deployed. We will continue to utilise unabated gas generating capacity, which will increasingly move to a backup role as low carbon alternatives deploy. TheGovernment is considering the policies required to maintain security of supply.

Whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have met with the owners of the Grangemouth oil refinery.

Details of Ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Whether he plans to extend the lifetime of existing unabated gas power stations.

To ensure security of supply, the electricity system requires generating capacity that can dispatch power in the event of high peak demand, unexpected outage or during periods of low renewable output. As we transition to clean power the government will work with the private sector to ensure flexible technologies such as hydrogen, long duration electricity storage and power with carbon capture and storage are deployed. We will continue to utilise unabated gas generating capacity, which will increasingly move to a backup role as low carbon alternatives deploy. TheGovernment is considering the policies required to maintain security of supply.

If he will commission the ESO to make an estimate of the additional number of kilometres of transmission network that will be added to the electricity grid.

The Secretary of State and Head of Mission Control wrote to the ESO on 23rd August to formally commission advice regarding the key requirements for the Government to meet its clean power commitment by 2030. This includes the transmission network https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66cda5c1e39a8536eac0532e/sos-chris-stark-letter-clean-power-2030.pdf More detail will be provided in the autumn.