Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data he holds on cancer (a) diagnosis wait times and (b) treatment commencement wait times in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Data on waiting times for cancer diagnosis and treatment commencement are publicly available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancer-waiting-times/
The figures are broken down by NHS trust rather than by constituency.
The two main NHS trusts in Ely and East Cambridgeshire are the Cambridge University Hospitals Trust and the North West Anglia Trust.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the postal voting system.
Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Between October 2024 and April 2025, the Government undertook a strategic review of electoral registration and conduct processes, which considered the key stages in and resilience of election delivery, working in partnership with the Electoral Commission, electoral practitioners and key local authority representatives including the Association of Electoral Administrators and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers and Returning Officers and their teams. Issues relating to postal voting were considered as part of the review and the Government will be bringing forward changes to strengthen the postal voting system to make it more resilient and responsive for electors and electoral administrators.
A full list of outcomes of the review and the changes which the Government proposes to bring forward as a result were set out in the policy paper, ‘Restoring trust in our democracy: Our strategy for modern and secure elections’ published on 17 July 2025.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will commission data on the number of school-age pupils with dyslexia.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
The department is committed to improving support for all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with dyslexia. The SEND code of practice makes it clear that meeting the needs of a child with SEN does not require a diagnostic label. Instead, we expect teachers to monitor the progress of all pupils and put support in place where needed.
Currently, the department commissions data on the number of school-age pupils whose primary SEN is Specific Learning Disabilities, which includes dyslexia.
There are several assessments in place which measure progress and help teachers identify where pupils may require additional support with literacy. These include the Phonics Screening Check and end of KS1 non-statutory and KS2 statutory assessments.
The department will introduce a mandatory reading test for all pupils in Year 8 so we can ensure children who are struggling do not fall through the cracks, or that those doing well at the end of primary maintain their standard.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commission a Neighbourhood Health Centre for Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our vision for a Neighbourhood Health Service. Neighbourhood health centres will provide easier, more convenient access to a full range of health and care services in each community and on people’s doorsteps, joining up National Health Service, local authority, and voluntary services in one building to help create a holistic offer that meets the needs of local populations.
We expect neighbourhood teams and services to be designed in a way that reflects the specific needs of local populations. While the focus on personalised, coordinated care will be consistent, that will mean the service will look different in rural communities, coastal towns, and deprived inner cities.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the suitability of the examination system for dyslexic pupils.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)
Ofqual, as independent regulator of qualifications, is responsible for ensuring the exams system is fair and accessible for all students. Under the Equality Act 2010, awarding organisations are required to make reasonable adjustments where a disabled person would be at a substantial disadvantage in undertaking exams and assessments. A range of access arrangements are also available for all national curriculum tests, and guidance is provided by the Standards and Testing Agency.
In line with the recommendations made by the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, we will work with Ofqual and awarding organisations to ensure that accessibility implications are fully considered for all young people throughout the qualification development process, including for those with special educational needs and disabilities, such as dyslexia.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to take steps to support (a) households, (b) businesses and (c) developers to increase the re-use of greywater.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A consultation launched on 23 September 2025 proposes tightening Building Regulations to see new homes fitted with Water Saving features, such as aerated taps and showerheads, and dual flush toilets. Strengthened Water Efficiency Standards through updated Building Regulations will boost housebuilding and keep more money in families’ pockets. Updated standards will bolster drought resilience and unblock developments in water scarce areas. Future innovations such as using recycled greywater in homes, is also being considered in a call for evidence running alongside the consultation.
The Independent Water Commission Report published in summer recommended that Government work with regulators to develop a new policy and regulatory framework to drive the adoption of reuse infrastructure in the household and non-household space. The Government will respond to the commission’s recommendations through a White Paper and new water reform Bill.
Government is also working with Ofwat to encourage higher levels of water and wastewater efficiency in new developments through environmental incentives.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department plans to respond to Question 77307 on Cancer: Health Services, tabled on 15 September 2025.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help maintain the Fens.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Over 600,000 people live in the Fens, the region generates over £58 billion of benefits. Sustaining the system is getting more challenging in the face of a changing climate.
Through Fens 2100+ the Environment Agency (EA) aims to transform how it maintains its assets and invest in flood and coastal resilience.
The EA has invested £7.6m million in asset maintenance in 25-26 but is aware that a long-term investment plan is needed to ensure the Fens continues to thrive.
In Spring 2026, Fens 2100+ will be launching a strategic case and 15-point Partnership action plan for continued investment and maintenance in the Fens.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase the number of prosecutions for sewage dumping.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Water (Special Measures) Act provides the most significant increase in enforcement powers in a decade, giving regulators the teeth they need to take tougher action against water companies. The Act ensures courts can include imprisonment for any individual in cases where the regulators’ investigations have been obstructed.
The Environment Agency already has powers to prosecute company directors and other senior officers under Regulation 41 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016, whilst courts have powers to fine individuals within companies who are convicted of polluting our waterways.
The Environment Agency has also increased water company inspections to 10,000 per year from April 2025, as part of the government’s wider focus to hold companies to account and improve our water environment.
Since July 2024, the Environment Agency has launched 87 investigations and 6 prosecutions against water companies, with fines totalling over £2 million. It has also accepted 24 Enforcement Undertakings since the election, with financial contributions totalling over £8.5 million.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data her Department holds on the number of cases of illegal dumping of waste in Ely and East Cambridgeshire constituency in each of the last five years.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Local authorities in England are required to report fly-tipping incidents and enforcement action to Defra, which the department have published annually since 2012, at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england. This data is not available at a constituency level and excludes the majority of private-land incidents. Data for the 2024/25 reporting year is still being collected.
The Environment Agency (EA) investigates fly tipping where the waste is more than 20 tonnes, a specified amount of hazardous waste, or is suspected to be linked to organised crime. From quarter 1 of 2020/21 to present there have been 9 cases of Illegal dumping which fall under the EA’s remit in the Ely and East Cambridgeshire Constituency Area.
For each year, they are as follows:
Please note that these reports of illegal waste dumping exclude those which may be reported to the EA but fall within the remit of local authorities (East Cambridgeshire District Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council). Those are deemed as local cases of ‘fly-tipping’.