Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 29 May 2026 to Question 4096 on Radiotherapy, how many radiotherapy machines were purchased from the investment; and whether the investment is part of an annually available fund.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to the Hon Member for Wells and Mendip Hills on 19 May 2025 to Question 52230.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to expand the evidence base for the effectiveness of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in treating prostate cancer.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In June 2026 the Government announced that it would expand access to focal therapy, including high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy, by investing up to £2.8 million. Access to focal therapies will be expanded in line with the expansion of TRANSFORM trial.
Focal therapies are still under research and assessment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and are not currently a standard part of the prostate cancer treatment pathway. NICE’s guidelines recommend that HIFU should not be offered to people with localised or locally advanced prostate cancer, other than in the context of controlled clinical trials comparing their use with established interventions. Further information is available in the response to the Hon Member for Gosport of 12 June 2025, to Question 56192.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of recovery rates from High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In June 2026 the Government announced that it would expand access to focal therapy, including high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy, by investing up to £2.8 million. Access to focal therapies will be expanded in line with the expansion of TRANSFORM trial.
Focal therapies are still under research and assessment by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and are not currently a standard part of the prostate cancer treatment pathway. NICE’s guidelines recommend that HIFU should not be offered to people with localised or locally advanced prostate cancer, other than in the context of controlled clinical trials comparing their use with established interventions. Further information is available in the response to the Hon Member for Gosport of 12 June 2025, to Question 56192.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 Report: Government Interim Update on Progress, when he plans to respond to recommendations 29, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 69, 71 and 72.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on 1 September, available at the following link:
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-09-01/hcws295
We will provide further updates in due course, including on progress in implementing the recommendations in the Fuller Inquiry Phase 2 report.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of driving tests within (a) half an hour, (b) an hour and (c) two hours travel of the Gosport peninsula.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Waiting time data for the driving test centres, as listed in Answer to Question 70415, within (a) half an hour, (b) an hour and (c) two hours travel of the Gosport peninsula, is now published regularly online. More information on the data now being published and a link to this can be found on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on setting a disposal date for Fort Blockhouse.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence, of which the Defence Infrastructure Organisation is part, has recently appointed and commissioned specialist advice on the future development potential of Fort Blockhouse 1 aligned with Gosport Borough Council’s emerging Local Plan.
As the Department’s clear intention is to move to war fighting readiness, I have directed that we examine non-core assets that could be disposed of to support our primary mission.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on the disposal of Fort Blockhouse in Gosport.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence, of which the Defence Infrastructure Organisation is part, has recently appointed and commissioned specialist advice on the future development potential of Fort Blockhouse 1 aligned with Gosport Borough Council’s emerging Local Plan.
As the Department’s clear intention is to move to war fighting readiness, I have directed that we examine non-core assets that could be disposed of to support our primary mission.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to 8028, whether she has made an assessment of the EU's recent guidance on the removal of the De Minimis; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of this policy on the zero-rating for printed products agreed in the UK-EU Trade Agreement.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
The Government have been following the development of the EU’s customs reforms closely, including the removal of the €150 customs duty relief for imports into the EU and related guidance. These changes do not impact the preferential rates of duty agreed in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The UK has engaged the European Commission on their reforms through forums including the UK-EU Trade Specialised Committee on Customs Co-operation and Rules of Origin. More broadly, the Government is working closely with the EU at all levels to support UK businesses’ trade in and with the EU.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions Treasury ministers have had with the Flexible Space Association on the reclassification of flexible workspaces by the Valuation Office Agency.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
HM Treasury Ministers and officials have regular discussions with representatives from the Flexible Space Association and the wider serviced office sector to understand the impact of business rates on the sector.
The Valuation Office (VO) is responsible for valuing non-domestic property for business rates purposes. They are required to maintain accurate rating lists in England and to carry out valuations impartially and in line with relevant legislation and caselaw.
At this time, there is no sector-wide review of serviced office assessments underway. The VO is addressing properties where they have received legal advice, or where unit of assessment issues are brought to its attention.
Where the VO is required to determine the unit of assessment, it does so on a case-by-case basis, with all facts being considered. Reviewing a small number of cases will help clarify the application of legislation on serviced offices and the VO will continue to monitor legal developments and update its approach as needed.
Asked by: Caroline Dinenage (Conservative - Gosport)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Valuation Office Agency has made of the potential impact on small businesses of reclassifying flexible workspaces as single hereditaments for business rates purposes; and whether this assessment included the effect on eligibility for Small Business Rates Relief.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
HM Treasury Ministers and officials have regular discussions with representatives from the Flexible Space Association and the wider serviced office sector to understand the impact of business rates on the sector.
The Valuation Office (VO) is responsible for valuing non-domestic property for business rates purposes. They are required to maintain accurate rating lists in England and to carry out valuations impartially and in line with relevant legislation and caselaw.
At this time, there is no sector-wide review of serviced office assessments underway. The VO is addressing properties where they have received legal advice, or where unit of assessment issues are brought to its attention.
Where the VO is required to determine the unit of assessment, it does so on a case-by-case basis, with all facts being considered. Reviewing a small number of cases will help clarify the application of legislation on serviced offices and the VO will continue to monitor legal developments and update its approach as needed.