Written questions by Farron.

Whether she plans to publish data on the (a) number of applications received and (b) outcomes of applications of people who have applied to come to the UK under UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys.

The Home Office publishes statistics on entry clearance visa applications and outcomes as part of the Immigration System Statistics quarterly release. Data for all visa types, including for those arriving via the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys, will be included within the entry clearance visas data tables.The Home Office is committed to publishing further data at the end of the pilot period in 2026.As of close of play on 20 October, 23 people have been transferred from France to the UK via the new safe, legal route. However, it is not appropriate to provide a continual update on each phase of the operation, not least as it involves sensitive information that could prove valuable to the organised immigration crime gangs that are behind small boats crossings.

How she communicates to migrants in France about the route to the UK under the Migration Treaty with France.

Information about applying to the scheme is available online at the following link: UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme - GOV.UK and applications continue to be received from migrants in France seeking to come to the UK. We continue to monitor engagement with the scheme to ensure it is being accessed by those wishing to consider making an application.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of cancer patients who will require radiotherapy as part of their treatment in each year to 2035.

The number of patients diagnosed with and receiving treatment for cancer is increasing. We expect that these numbers will continue to rise, and consequently that more patients will require radiotherapy as part of their treatment.The most recently available data shows that between 2021/22 and 2022/23 the number of attendances of patients attending hospital to receive radiotherapy treatment increased from 1,532,846 to 1,635,373, an increase of 6.7%.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of (a) international approaches to national cancer plans and (b) previous UK cancer plans, in the context of his planned national cancer plan.

As part of development for the National Cancer Plan, the Department has engaged with international counterparts to consider their approaches to national cancer strategies. This includes engagement with Denmark to discuss the lessons learned from their cancer plans.The Department has also considered previous UK cancer plans and submissions to the previous 10 Year Cancer Plan and Major Conditions Strategy call for evidence to inform the development of the upcoming National Cancer Plan.

Whether he has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on (a) the potential cost-effectiveness of expanding access to radiotherapy treatment and (b) other funding relating to radiotherapy cancer treatments.

There have not been any recent discussions relating to the cost-effectiveness and funding of radiotherapy. However, the Government remains committed to supporting the use of radiotherapy as a crucial cancer treatment. We have already invested £70 million in replacing outdated radiotherapy machines across the National Health Service with new, cutting-edge technology that will speed up treatment for thousands of patients.Additionally, the Government will also continue to support the NHS to deliver a wide range of cancer treatment services, as we work towards our aim of diagnosing and treating cancer more quickly.

What steps his Department has taken to deliver 50 new neighbourhood health centres by the end of this Parliament; and whether any will be built in Cumbria.

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future, and we recognise that delivering high quality NHS healthcare requires the right infrastructure in the right places.That is why over the course of our 10-Year Health Plan, we aim to establish a Neighbourhood Health Centre in every community, transforming healthcare access by bringing historically hospital-based services into communities and addressing wider determinants of health through services like debt advice, employment support, and obesity management programmes.Nationwide coverage will take time, but we are starting in the areas of greatest need where healthy life expectancy is lowest, including rural towns and communities with higher deprivation levels, using public capital to update and refurbish existing, under-used buildings.We recently announced the places that will form wave 1 of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP), after a rigorous assessment of applications against the core criteria. The first wave of the NNHIP covers 43 sites across England, from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the south-west to Sunderland in the north-east, ensuring that communities nationwide benefit from this new model of care.

What steps he has taken to train more GPs in Cumbria.

The Government has committed to training thousands more general practitioners (GPs) and has increased the number of available GP training places by an additional 250 from September 2025. This brings the total number of GP training places to 4,250 per year.As of 31 August 2025, there were 89.8 full-time equivalent GPs in training grades working in practices in Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness.We will publish a refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, to treat patients on time again.The 2018 to 2020 medical school expansion created new medical schools in regions where doctors were hard to recruit and where inequalities were high, and focussed on where there were medical specialty shortages, which includes GPs and psychiatry.Current and future expansions to post-graduate training, including foundation training and GP specialty training, have been planned on the basis of relative need, balanced with the ability of locations to support trainees.

What steps she is taking to increase bus provision for rural communities in Cumbria.

The Government knows how important, reliable bus services are enabling people to access education, work and vital services, and we are committed to delivering better bus services, including in Cumbria and rural areas right across the country. The Government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in rural areas. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services. As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26 and keep fares affordable. This includes £712 million for local authorities that can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Westmoreland and Furness Council has been allocated £4.2 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability. The Government recognises the importance of providing local authorities with the certainty they need to plan and provide effective bus services, which is why we have committed to delivering longer-term funding settlements. The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this Spending Review, confirming additional funding per year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027. We are currently reviewing the formula used to allocate the Local Authority Bus Grant for 2025/26 to ensure bus funding is allocated as fairly as possible in future years. Individual multi-year allocations for local authorities will be announced later this year. Cumbria has been allocated additional funding as one of the areas taking part in the bus franchising pilots. The pilots will test approximately 5 different franchising models to investigate how they can be implemented and deliver improved bus services for passengers, including in more rural locations. The pilots will provide funding, guidance, and practical resources to local transport authorities to identify the most suitable approach to bus franchising and wider bus reform measures.

What steps he is taking to help reduce travel times for cancer patients in rural areas requiring radiotherapy treatment.

We recognise that for those in rural communities, the particular treatment they need may not be available at their local hospital, which would mean that travel to a specialist centre or specialist centres would be required, in order to receive the best care possible. The Government aims to ensure that each radiotherapy treatment centre is accessible to the highest number of patients possible, as well as being easily reached by the staff who work there.The National Health Service 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, 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.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77309 on Cancer, when the Cancer Operational Taskforce was established; what its remit is; who the members of the Taskforce are; and who it reports to.

The Department does not hold the information requested as the Cancer Operational Taskforce is a local initiative.The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how the National Health Service will improve care for cancer patients in all parts of England. Having consulted with key stakeholders and patient groups, the plan will be published early in the new year.

If he will take steps help tackle retrofit older homes in Cumbria.

The government understands there is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach to tackle the UK’s diverse building stock, and as part of this we recognise the need to ensure older homes have the right measures for them. The government’s home retrofit tool, Find ways to save energy in your home - GOV.UK, provides tailored guidance to consumers. There is also a phoneline service on 0800 098 7950. There are a number of government schemes offering support for home retrofits and details can be found at the GOV.UK Clean Energy Homepage. The Warm Homes Plan, which will be published soon, will be a universal offer of support to upgrade up to 5 million homes across the country, including in Cumbria.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of allocating funding to Westmorland and Furness Council for buses in rural areas for funding periods of more than 12 months.

The Government knows how important, reliable bus services are enabling people to access education, work and vital services, and we are committed to delivering better bus services, including in Cumbria and rural areas right across the country. The Government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in rural areas. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services. As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26 and keep fares affordable. This includes £712 million for local authorities that can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. Westmoreland and Furness Council has been allocated £4.2 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability. The Government recognises the importance of providing local authorities with the certainty they need to plan and provide effective bus services, which is why we have committed to delivering longer-term funding settlements. The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this Spending Review, confirming additional funding per year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027. We are currently reviewing the formula used to allocate the Local Authority Bus Grant for 2025/26 to ensure bus funding is allocated as fairly as possible in future years. Individual multi-year allocations for local authorities will be announced later this year. Cumbria has been allocated additional funding as one of the areas taking part in the bus franchising pilots. The pilots will test approximately 5 different franchising models to investigate how they can be implemented and deliver improved bus services for passengers, including in more rural locations. The pilots will provide funding, guidance, and practical resources to local transport authorities to identify the most suitable approach to bus franchising and wider bus reform measures.

If he will allocate funding to Future Proof Cumbria to develop targeted solutions for insulation in rural homes.

The UK government is committed to ensuring that no-one is left behind in the transition to Net Zero, supplying solutions that work for all buildings. Therefore, research was commissioned by the Department to develop a definition for housing stock for which the presence, and combination, of attributes and contextual factors can add complexity to improving energy efficiency and utilising low carbon heating solutions. The government is currently carefully considering the findings of the research, which can be found at: (www.gov.uk/government/publications/defining-and-identifying-complex-to-decarbonise-homes.) These will inform any future funding decisions.

Whether he plans to change the eligibility criteria so that people living in older homes with non-cavity walls can access home insulation grants.

The government has several energy efficiency schemes offering a variety of insulation measures, including those suitable for older homes with non-cavity walls. Eligibility for these is based on factors such as the household income, vulnerability and the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of the property. Consumers can visit the government’s home retrofit tool on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency to get tailored recommendations for home improvements to make their property cheaper to heat. There is also a phoneline service available on 0900 098 7950.

If he will provide additional funding for social care services to help support patients to (a) leave hospitals and (b) be treated at home.

The Government is committed to ensuring that people can leave hospital promptly and receive care in their own homes where appropriate.For 2025/26 approximately £9 billion has been made available through the Better Care Fund (BCF) to enable integrated care boards and local authorities to deliver better joined-up care. One of the objectives of the BCF is to support the shift of services from hospital to home.From 2026/27, the BCF will be reformed to provide consistent joint funding for services that are essential for integrated health and social care, including rehabilitation and recovery support.

Care if he will bring forward proposals for reducing hospital waiting lists in Cumbria.

As set out in the Plan for Change, we will ensure that 92% of patients return to waiting no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015. The Government is clear that reforming elective care must be done equitably and inclusively for all adults, children, and young people across all regions, including Cumbria. Work to reduce waiting lists in Cumbria is already underway, with the National Health Service implementing the Elective Reform Plan to increase capacity and improve patient access as quickly as possible. The region of Cumbria is covered by two integrated care boards (ICBs). The NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB is reducing waiting times in the Cumbria region through a dedicated programme on referral and demand management. It is also transforming care pathways to ensure patients receive high-quality treatment in the most appropriate setting, prioritising community and neighbourhood care to reduce hospital pressures. The NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB is also implementing a range of demand management strategies to reduce waiting lists in Cumbria. These include redesigning outpatient pathways with community-based services, virtual clinics, straight-to-test models, and focusing on one-stop clinics. It is also prioritising workforce training to improve referral quality, and meeting regularly with the trust to monitor progress towards meeting the constitutional standard. As of August 2025, 18-week Referral-to-Treatment performance for the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB was 60.7% and for the NHS North East And North Cumbria ICB was 70.2%.

If his Department will allocate funding to ensure that every patient at the Royal Preston Hospital who requires radiotherapy treatment is able to access it.

Decisions about funding for radiotherapy treatment are taken at a local National Health Service level, rather than by the Department, and there are no plans to change this.All cancer patients have access to radiotherapy treatment. Decisions about cancer treatment are typically made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals.

Whether he plans to allocate additional funding to radiotherapy treatment in the North West of England.

Decisions about funding for radiotherapy treatment are taken at a local National Health Service level, rather than by the Department, and there are no plans to change this.All cancer patients have access to radiotherapy treatment. Decisions about cancer treatment are typically made by clinicians and multidisciplinary teams of healthcare professionals.

If he will take steps to reduce ward work in portacabins at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

National Health Service trusts make decisions locally on their use of temporary facilities, in line with delivering clinical services.Any temporary facility must meet the same Health Building Notice and Health Technical Memorandum safety, environmental, fire, clinical, and other standards as a permanent healthcare building.

What his Department’s budget is for funding the Royal Preston Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary in 2026-27.

The New Hospital Programme: plan for implementation was published on 20 January 2025 and sets out a credible, deliverable plan for the schemes in the New Hospital Programme (NHP). This plan will be delivered through five-year waves of investment and is backed by up to £15 billion over each consecutive five-year wave, averaging £3 billion a year from 2030. Further information on the plan for implementation is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome As wave 3 schemes, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and the Royal Preston Hospital have been paused. No further funding will be available from the NHP until pre-construction activity begins from 2030. The NHP is committed to ensuring both schemes are fully resourced when this time comes. The standard process for confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support planning, however these are commercially sensitive. An equality impact assessment was carried out for the review into the NHP and included assessing the extent to which service users might be impacted by these delivery proposals, with specific reference to the impact that these might have on relevant protected characteristics. This was laid in the House Library and published on 20 January 2025, and is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-hospital-programme-review-outcome/new-hospital-programme-equality-impact-assessment