Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help ensure that an accurate record exists of which homes are reliant on Home Heating Oil for heating.
Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Information on the heating fuels used by households is published by the Office for National Statistics and the Devolved Administrations. For more information, please see here - Constituency data: Households off the gas grid - House of Commons Library
The Government has made £53 million of additional support available to help low-come households who use heating oil. In England this has been allocated to Local Authorities via the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF). Households should apply to their local authority and provide any evidence that is requested.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 5.60 of the policy paper entitled Explanatory memorandum to the statement of changes in the Immigration Rules: HC 1691, published on 5 March 2026, whether B2 level English language is required for applicants on the British National (Overseas) route.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The increase in the English language requirement in the statement of changes in Immigration Rules (HC 1691) does not apply to those on the BN(O) route.
The Government is continuing to consider whether the B2 standard should be extended more widely and future decisions will take into account responses to the consultation on earned settlement.
In the meantime, the current B1 English language requirement for settlement under the BN(O) route continues to apply.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much of the £70 million allocated in the Autumn Budget 2024 for new linear accelerator (LINAC) machines has been spent to date; how many new LINAC machines have been procured with that funding; what is the location of those new LINAC machines; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of those deployments on the level of patient care.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The £70 million investment is in the process of being spent, machines have been ordered, and they are being rolled out across the country, with some treating patients already. These 28 new, cutting-edge machines will reduce waiting times and provide 15% more treatments allowing 27,500 extra patients to be treated every year. This means more equal access and better outcomes for cancer patients across England.
The new radiotherapy machines are located at: Addenbrooke’s Hospital; Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital; Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre at Bristol Royal Infirmary; Charing Cross Hospital; The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, in the Withington Site; Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, in the Liverpool Site; Colchester General Hospital; Derriford Hospital; Freeman Hospital; Guy’s Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital; Hereford County Hospital; James Cook University Hospital; Kent and Canterbury Hospital; Lincoln County Hospital; North Middlesex University Hospital; Northampton General Hospital; Nottingham City Hospital; Royal Berkshire Hospital; Royal Cornwall Hospital; Royal Derby Hospital; Royal Marsden Hospital, in Sutton, Surrey; Royal Preston Hospital; Royal Surrey Hospital; Southend University Hospital; St Bartholomew’s Hospital; University College Hospital; Weston Park Cancer Centre; and Worcestershire Royal Hospital. In addition, four trusts, namely University Hospitals Birmingham, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells, Southend, and Hereford and Gloucestershire, have received a contribution towards the cost of bunker refurbishment.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to a) abolish, or b) otherwise amend the 10% sales commission on residential park homes.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government recognise that there are longstanding concerns about the requirement to pay site owners a commission upon sale of a park home.
The previous government published a report in June 2022 on the impact of a change in the maximum park home sale commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.
On 5 March 2026, my Department published a 12-week call for evidence regarding the rationale for the payment of a commission. It can be found on gov.uk here.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the joint accelerated approvals pathway operated by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency will enable tumour-agnostic licensing and other NHS access routes to ensure that patients with rare cancers can receive genomically-matched treatments on the NHS.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are working to deliver the Government’s ambitions, as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan for England and the Life Sciences Sector Plan, to streamline regulation and market access. This closer collaboration will enable parallel decisions on licensing and value, reducing time to patient access by three to six months.
NICE’s established health technology appraisal processes allow a range of evidence to be considered, and tumour‑agnostic therapies such as pembrolizumab, reference code TA914, have already been licensed and recommended for National Health Service patients. Further treatments are expected to progress through aligned MHRA and NICE pathways.
The Department has commissioned the Royal College of Radiologists to review multidisciplinary team (MDT) working, focusing on practical actions to improve efficiency and speed access to treatment. The review will report in summer 2026, with new guidance to follow in spring 2027.
To improve outcomes for people with rare cancers, Cancer Alliances will assess variation in treatment pathways, including access to specialist MDTs, to support more consistent care and greater use of expertise in centres of excellence. Prescribers remain responsible for treatment decisions, working with patients and using relevant evidence and guidance. Clinicians may prescribe medicines off‑label where this is in the patient’s best interests and subject to local NHS funding arrangements.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help support access to genomically-matched targeted therapies for patients with rare cancers, where genomic testing identifies a suitable option but large-scale clinical trial evidence is unlikely to be generated.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are working to deliver the Government’s ambitions, as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan for England and the Life Sciences Sector Plan, to streamline regulation and market access. This closer collaboration will enable parallel decisions on licensing and value, reducing time to patient access by three to six months.
NICE’s established health technology appraisal processes allow a range of evidence to be considered, and tumour‑agnostic therapies such as pembrolizumab, reference code TA914, have already been licensed and recommended for National Health Service patients. Further treatments are expected to progress through aligned MHRA and NICE pathways.
The Department has commissioned the Royal College of Radiologists to review multidisciplinary team (MDT) working, focusing on practical actions to improve efficiency and speed access to treatment. The review will report in summer 2026, with new guidance to follow in spring 2027.
To improve outcomes for people with rare cancers, Cancer Alliances will assess variation in treatment pathways, including access to specialist MDTs, to support more consistent care and greater use of expertise in centres of excellence. Prescribers remain responsible for treatment decisions, working with patients and using relevant evidence and guidance. Clinicians may prescribe medicines off‑label where this is in the patient’s best interests and subject to local NHS funding arrangements.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether specialist multidisciplinary teams and designated centres of excellence will be given clear guidance and authority to prescribe off-label treatments supported by genomic evidence and aligned with patient preference for patients with rare cancers.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) are working to deliver the Government’s ambitions, as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan for England and the Life Sciences Sector Plan, to streamline regulation and market access. This closer collaboration will enable parallel decisions on licensing and value, reducing time to patient access by three to six months.
NICE’s established health technology appraisal processes allow a range of evidence to be considered, and tumour‑agnostic therapies such as pembrolizumab, reference code TA914, have already been licensed and recommended for National Health Service patients. Further treatments are expected to progress through aligned MHRA and NICE pathways.
The Department has commissioned the Royal College of Radiologists to review multidisciplinary team (MDT) working, focusing on practical actions to improve efficiency and speed access to treatment. The review will report in summer 2026, with new guidance to follow in spring 2027.
To improve outcomes for people with rare cancers, Cancer Alliances will assess variation in treatment pathways, including access to specialist MDTs, to support more consistent care and greater use of expertise in centres of excellence. Prescribers remain responsible for treatment decisions, working with patients and using relevant evidence and guidance. Clinicians may prescribe medicines off‑label where this is in the patient’s best interests and subject to local NHS funding arrangements.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Action 21 of the National Cancer Plan, what appointment process will be used to select the independent representative who will co chair the reformed National Cancer Board.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Cancer Plan, published on the 4 February 2026, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next 10 years. The role of the reformed National Cancer Board will be to support and monitor the delivery of the commitments and ambitions and provide regular updates to ministers.
The board will be co-chaired by the Director General for Planned Care in the Department and an independent representative.
It is important to choose the most suitable appointment process for selecting an independent representative to co-chair the board. Officials from NHS England and the Department are carefully following the required public appointments procedures.
The reformed National Cancer Board will be established once a co-chair is appointed.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Action 21 of the National Cancer Plan, when his Department expects the reformed National Cancer Board to be established.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Cancer Plan, published on the 4 February 2026, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next 10 years. The role of the reformed National Cancer Board will be to support and monitor the delivery of the commitments and ambitions and provide regular updates to ministers.
The board will be co-chaired by the Director General for Planned Care in the Department and an independent representative.
It is important to choose the most suitable appointment process for selecting an independent representative to co-chair the board. Officials from NHS England and the Department are carefully following the required public appointments procedures.
The reformed National Cancer Board will be established once a co-chair is appointed.
Asked by: Clive Jones (Liberal Democrat - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on energy independence.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government is committed to delivering on our Mission to make the UK a Clean Energy Superpower. Where necessary, and subject to parliamentary time, we intend to pursue the primary legislative changes needed to deliver on this Mission. We will set out our plans in due course.