Written questions by Davies.

How does the Department plan to monitor and improve passenger satisfaction following recent timetable changes in East Grinstead and Uckfield Constituency.

The December timetable change, which saw an increase in off-peak services between East Grinstead and London Victoria, is an example of the train operator planning services to meet passenger demand.The Department regularly monitors passenger satisfaction and holds operators and Network Rail accountable for improvements to passenger satisfaction in East Grinstead and Uckfield.

What assessment has the Department made of trends in seasonal variations in train reliability in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency, particularly during winter months.

The performance of the rail network is affected by the weather throughout the year. This is reflected both in actual performance and the targets the department sets train operators.Operators are expected to mitigate the impacts of seasonal variations and Govia Thameslink Railway operates a winter preparedness plan to respond to specific challenges in the East Grinstead and Uckfield area.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of Gatwick Runway expansion on noise levels in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.

On 21 September 2025 the Transport Secretary gave approval for Gatwick Airport’s application for a Development Consent Order to expand its operations through routine use of its existing northern runway.The Transport Secretary’s consideration of the application for the development including impacts arising from it are set out in her decision letter of 21 September 2025 which is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce delays caused by inadequate clinic capacity that prevent urgent breast referrals from meeting the 28 day Faster Diagnosis Standard.

The Department is supporting the National Health Service to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. The Government is investing an extra £26 billion in the NHS over two years and is opening up community diagnostic centres at evening and weekends, to help catch cancer earlier, including breast cancer.To ensure that those with signs and symptoms that may indicate breast cancer have cancer diagnosed or ruled out as quickly as possible, NHS England has published guidance for local systems on implementing a timed breast cancer diagnostic pathway. The guidance sets out how diagnosis within 28-days can be achieved for the suspected breast cancer pathway in line with Faster Diagnosis Standard.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to improve mobile phone and broadband access in East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030 and we have a target to deliver nationwide (99%) gigabit broadband coverage by 2032.The Government continues to work closely with the mobile network operators to ensure their continued investment into the expansion and improvement of mobile networks and that investment translates into benefits for communities right across the UK.To improve broadband coverage in the area CityFibre is delivering a Project Gigabit contract across East and West Sussex, which includes premises in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.We are also working to identify and address barriers to deployment of both mobile and broadband infrastructure. This includes recently launching a call for evidence to help determine where planning rules could be relaxed to support the deployment of digital infrastructure.

Innovation and Technology, whether mobile signal improvements in East Sussex will contribute to the Government’s connectivity targets.

Government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This is a UK wide ambition, coverage improvements in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency will therefore contribute to the achievement of this ambition.Government wants to see high quality digital infrastructure available right across the UK, whether this is fixed or mobile, allowing people to participate in the modern digital economy.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that mobile operators improve signal reliability in rural and semi rural areas of West Sussex.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This ambition includes villages and rural communities as well as towns and cities.Standalone 5G is a more reliable, secure, generation of technology which has the potential to deliver significant benefits to communities across the UK.Government continues to work closely with the mobile network operators to ensure that continued investment into the expansion and improvement of mobile networks translates into benefits for communities right across the UK. We are also addressing barriers to deployment where they exist and recently launched a call for evidence to help determine where planning rules could be relaxed to support the deployment of digital infrastructure.There are statutory obligations on communications providers to take appropriate and proportionate steps to ensure their networks and services remain available, and Ofcom has powers to investigate, rectify and penalise communications providers for any infringement of their duties. Ofcom is undertaking a review of the resilience of mobile services to power cuts and considering whether to update the expectations on mobile operators on the level of power back up required.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the level of mobile signal coverage gaps in East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.

Ofcom is responsible for reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK and their data provides Government with information on mobile coverage gaps.Ofcom do not publish mobile coverage data on a regional basis such as for East Sussex and West Sussex. However, in their Connected Nations Annual Report 2025, published on 19 November 2025, it is reported that 1% of the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency has no 4G geographic coverage from any operator.10% of premises in this constituency have no 5G (combined standalone and non-standalone) outside from any mobile operator, 68% of premises in the constituency do not have standalone 5G outside from any mobile operator.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that mobile operators improve signal reliability in rural and semi rural areas of East Sussex.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This ambition includes villages and rural communities as well as towns and cities.Standalone 5G is a more reliable, secure, generation of technology which has the potential to deliver significant benefits to communities across the UK.Government continues to work closely with the mobile network operators to ensure that continued investment into the expansion and improvement of mobile networks translates into benefits for communities right across the UK. We are also addressing barriers to deployment where they exist and recently launched a call for evidence to help determine where planning rules could be relaxed to support the deployment of digital infrastructure.There are statutory obligations on communications providers to take appropriate and proportionate steps to ensure their networks and services remain available, and Ofcom has powers to investigate, rectify and penalise communications providers for any infringement of their duties. Ofcom is undertaking a review of the resilience of mobile services to power cuts and considering whether to update the expectations on mobile operators on the level of power back up required.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of Gatwick Runway expansion for the economic contribution of the airport to the East Grinstead and Uckfield Constituency.

On 21 September 2025 the Transport Secretary gave approval for Gatwick Airport’s application for a Development Consent Order to expand its operations through routine use of its existing northern runway.The Transport Secretary’s consideration of the application for the development including impacts arising from it are set out in her decision letter of 21 September 2025 which is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the level of mobile signal coverage gaps in West Sussex.

Ofcom is responsible for reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK and their data provides Government with information on mobile coverage gaps.Ofcom do not publish mobile coverage data on a regional basis such as for East Sussex and West Sussex. However, in their Connected Nations Annual Report 2025, published on 19 November 2025, it is reported that 1% of the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency has no 4G geographic coverage from any operator.10% of premises in this constituency have no 5G (combined standalone and non-standalone) outside from any mobile operator, 68% of premises in the constituency do not have standalone 5G outside from any mobile operator.

When NHS England will publish the delayed breast screening uptake improvement plan.

NHS England will publish a Breast Screening Programme Uptake Improvement Review this year, to help improve uptake and address inequalities.The review supports breast screening service providers with national solutions such as:introducing digital options for sending out invitations and managing appointments;raising awareness of the importance of screening through the media; andfacilitating learning and gathering evidence to inform programme policy, pathway changes, and guidance.

Innovation and Technology, whether mobile signal improvements in West Sussex will contribute to the Government’s connectivity targets.

Government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This is a UK wide ambition, coverage improvements in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency will therefore contribute to the achievement of this ambition.Government wants to see high quality digital infrastructure available right across the UK, whether this is fixed or mobile, allowing people to participate in the modern digital economy.

What the timetable is for upgrading rail infrastructure on the Uckfield line.

A Strategic Outline Business Case was developed by Network Rail in 2021 which considered the potential benefits of upgrading rail infrastructure on the Uckfield line. This assessment concluded that the scheme would have positive impacts on train service performance and reliability, together with wider economic benefits. The scheme was paused by the previous government following Spending Review 2021; no development work has taken place since that point. The Hon Member also may wish to contact Network Rail for information on their plans to maintain and renew rail infrastructure on the Uckfield line.

Innovation and Technology, whether mobile signal improvements in East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency will contribute to the Government’s connectivity targets.

Government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This is a UK wide ambition, coverage improvements in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency will therefore contribute to the achievement of this ambition.Government wants to see high quality digital infrastructure available right across the UK, whether this is fixed or mobile, allowing people to participate in the modern digital economy.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of Gatwick Runway expansion on levels of emissions in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.

On 21 September 2025 the Transport Secretary gave approval for Gatwick Airport’s application for a Development Consent Order to expand its operations through routine use of its existing northern runway.The Transport Secretary’s consideration of the application for the development including impacts arising from it are set out in her decision letter of 21 September 2025 which is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that mobile operators improve signal reliability in rural and semi rural areas of East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This ambition includes villages and rural communities as well as towns and cities.Standalone 5G is a more reliable, secure, generation of technology which has the potential to deliver significant benefits to communities across the UK.Government continues to work closely with the mobile network operators to ensure that continued investment into the expansion and improvement of mobile networks translates into benefits for communities right across the UK. We are also addressing barriers to deployment where they exist and recently launched a call for evidence to help determine where planning rules could be relaxed to support the deployment of digital infrastructure.There are statutory obligations on communications providers to take appropriate and proportionate steps to ensure their networks and services remain available, and Ofcom has powers to investigate, rectify and penalise communications providers for any infringement of their duties. Ofcom is undertaking a review of the resilience of mobile services to power cuts and considering whether to update the expectations on mobile operators on the level of power back up required.

What assessment has she made of the potential impact of Gatwick Runway expansion on the local economy and the need for workers accommodation in a) the build stage and b) on the operation of the new runway.

On 21 September 2025 the Transport Secretary gave approval for Gatwick Airport’s application for a Development Consent Order to expand its operations through routine use of its existing northern runway.The Transport Secretary’s consideration of the application for the development including impacts arising from it are set out in her decision letter of 21 September 2025 which is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the level of mobile signal coverage gaps in East Sussex.

Ofcom is responsible for reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK and their data provides Government with information on mobile coverage gaps.Ofcom do not publish mobile coverage data on a regional basis such as for East Sussex and West Sussex. However, in their Connected Nations Annual Report 2025, published on 19 November 2025, it is reported that 1% of the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency has no 4G geographic coverage from any operator.10% of premises in this constituency have no 5G (combined standalone and non-standalone) outside from any mobile operator, 68% of premises in the constituency do not have standalone 5G outside from any mobile operator.

On what date the Home Office received the legal action submitted by Crowborough Shield; when the Department plans to respond to that legal action; which Minister will be responsible for responding.

The Home Office takes its legal obligations seriously. The Department can confirm that it has received a claim for judicial review from Crowborough Shield. As legal proceedings are ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the timing of any response or which Minister will respond.