Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the screening rates for prostate cancer in men aged over 50; and if he will take steps to increase the level of funding available to help screen more men over 50 for prostate cancer.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Screening for prostate cancer is currently not recommended by the UK National Screening Committees (UK NSC) due to the inaccuracy of the current best test called the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). A PSA-based screening programme could harm some men as many would be diagnosed with a cancer that would not have caused them problems during their life. This would lead to additional tests and treatments which can also have harmful side effects, for example, sexual dysfunction and incontinence.

That is why no steps have been taken to increase the screening rates and funding for prostate cancer screening for men over 50. However, the Government have invested £16 million into a trial seeking to find better methods of detecting prostate cancer.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of offering a single social tariff for water for customers on a low income.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

It is clear consumers are concerned about their bills. We are therefore continuing to work with water industry to explore options to improve affordability arrangements, including holding the sector accountable for their public commitment to end water poverty by 2030.

The Government is also committed to taking action to address water poverty and help vulnerable customers with their water bills. All water companies have measures in place for customers who struggle to pay for their water and wastewater services, including measures such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support.

Water companies should ensure that their customers know what support schemes are available and how to use them if they need help.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question HL2426 on Ministers: Official Cars, how many vehicles of the Government Car Service were available for senior official use in (a) 2023 and (b) in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government Car Service (GCS) does not determine the allocation of vehicles to senior officials, this is carried out by individual Departmental Private Offices. The arrangements relating to the use of vehicles from the Government Car Service are set out in the Civil Service Management Code. There has been no change in this policy since 2023.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question HL2426 on Ministers: Official Cars, how many of those cars in each year listed were electric cars.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The number of electric vehicles in the Government Car Service operational fleet for the specified years is:

1.2016: 4

2. 2023: 36

3.2024: 36

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Alistair Carmichael (Chair); Sarah Bool; Charlie Dewhirst; Helena

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Alistair Carmichael (Chair); Sarah Bool; Charlie Dewhirst; Sarah

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many ministerial cars are used by (a) him and (b) Ministers in his Department; and what is the model of those cars.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

I refer the hon Member to the answers I gave to the hon Member for Bridlington and The Wolds (Charlie Dewhirst) on 14 October to Question UIN 7001 and on 6 November to Question UIN 11759.

Found: Pack , 18 November 2024 7 PQs Prostate Cancer: Screening 15 Nov 2024 | 13978 Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst

The agricultural sector is experiencing a period of significant change as it transitions away from a legacy direct payments regime towards nation-specific farming schemes.