Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the next meeting of the Hammersmith Bridge task force will be.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government intends to convene a further meeting of the Hammersmith Bridge Taskforce in the near future.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps her Department will take to demonstrate that expansion at Heathrow will not undermine the UK's climate commitments.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The government has been clear that any airport expansion proposals need to demonstrate that they can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding climate change commitments.

On 22 October, the Government formally commenced the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which provides the primary basis for decision-making on whether to grant development consent for a new runway at Heathrow. The review will reflect changes in legislation, policy, and data and will set out how any scheme must meet the Government’s four tests on economic growth, climate, air quality and noise.

The Government also remains committed to engaging the Climate Change Committee on the ANPS review and will be seeking their independent advice on the relevant sections of the revised ANPS in due course.

We expect to publish any revisions to the ANPS for consultation by summer 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when her Department will publish updated aviation forecasts.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Updated aviation forecasts are being developed to support the review of the ANPS and will be published alongside the outcome of the review.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what metrics will be included in the four tests on Heathrow expansion and how these will be applied to the proposal.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

As part of the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) the government will consider how any proposed scheme for Heathrow Expansion will meet the four clear tests on economic growth, climate, air quality, and noise and whether any metrics are needed to measure if these tests are being met.

To do this, during the review of the ANPS the Government will analyse the economic and environmental impacts of expansion at Heathrow, which will inform whether amendments are needed to the ANPS to meet the four tests. We expect any draft amendments to the ANPS will be ready for consultation by summer 2026.

It will be for promoters to apply for a development consent order. Applications for development consent will be examined by the Planning Inspectorate, and the Secretary of State for Transport will make a decision in line with the ANPS on whether to grant a development consent order.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his department has made of the potential merits of a national rollout of community diagnostic centres to improve access to primary care services for people with pancreatic cancer.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department remains committed to improving access to cancer diagnostic services and treatment, including for harder to diagnose tumour types such as pancreatic cancer.

The Government’s continued investment in community diagnostic centres (CDCs) enables the National Health Service to now deliver additional checks, tests, and scans at 170 CDCs, all of which deliver services 12 hours a day, seven days a week. This will enable the NHS to diagnose cancer faster and ensure that cancer patients, including those with pancreatic cancer, have timely access to primary care services.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what economic analysis her Department has undertaken on expansion at Heathrow.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The current Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) and its supporting documents provide an economic assessment of a new northwest runway at Heathrow.

On 22 October, the Secretary of State for Transport launched a review of the ANPS. As part of the review, the Department for Transport will develop updated analysis on the economic impacts of expansion at Heathrow, and the outputs will be published alongside any amends to the ANPS for consultation by summer 2026. Any promoter will then need to prepare and submit a development consent order, including their own analysis, for expansion for consideration by the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State for Transport.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what is the estimated cost of road and rail upgrades required to facilitate Heathrow expansion.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The cost of any rail and road infrastructure associated with Heathrow Expansion will be developed and funded by the promoters of the scheme.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has undertaken on the potential impact on air pollution as a result of the expansion of Heathrow.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

As part of the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) the Government will develop updated assessments of the noise and air quality impacts of expansion at Heathrow and will review and update the existing appraisal of sustainability and health impact analysis in line with any amendments made to the ANPS.

We expect to publish any revisions to the ANPS for consultation by summer 2026, together with supporting assessments.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of how many people will be exposed to noise pollution from aircraft above 51 decibels as a result of expansion at Heathrow.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

As part of the review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS) the Government will develop updated assessments of the noise and air quality impacts of expansion at Heathrow and will review and update the existing appraisal of sustainability and health impact analysis in line with any amendments made to the ANPS.

We expect to publish any revisions to the ANPS for consultation by summer 2026, together with supporting assessments.

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 expand the roll out surveillance programmes to (a) identify people at highest risk of pancreatic cancer and (b) support earlier diagnosis.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Earlier diagnosis of cancers, including pancreatic cancer, is a priority for the Government. NHS England is working on case-finding approaches for less survivable cancers, where the evidence suggests this is appropriate. This includes a public-facing Family History Checker, which enables people, and their families, affected by pancreatic cancer to self-assess if they may inherit risk. Individuals identified as being at risk are referred directly to the European Registry of Hereditary Pancreatic Diseases research trial, which aims to understand inherited conditions of the pancreas. Referrals to the trial can be made by any healthcare professional across all health sectors or by individuals via self-referral, contributing to a centralised approach to case-finding.

The National Disease Registration Service has developed the National Inherited Cancer Predisposition Register (NICPR), which launched on 30 June. The NICPR looks at a wide range of cancers for which there is an increased inherited risk, including for less survivable cancers. It aims to identify high-risk individuals who are eligible for targeted screening and surveillance and will act as an electronic referral route into national screening programmes, where these exist.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reports of animal welfare breaches at Cranswick farms on the appointment of Tim Smith to the Food Strategy Advisory Board.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is committed to upholding high standards across the food system, including in relation to animal welfare.

I was extremely concerned to see allegations and footage of animal welfare and environmental abuse at Cranswick farms. The film taken and shared by animal justice groups showed animal welfare treatment that was clearly unacceptable.

As such, I met with Tim Smith, chairman of Cranswick plc, to discuss these matters. I was reassured that Cranswick has taken swift and comprehensive remedial action in response to these incidents, including implementation of recommendations in an independent review into animal welfare and husbandry practices led by a senior veterinarian.

The Food Strategy Advisory Board is a small group of senior leaders who represent a wealth of experience and important elements within the food system and reflect the diversity of the sector. Members do not represent their business interests. Membership is kept under review.

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Emily Thornberry (Chair); Fleur Anderson; Aphra Brandreth; Phil Brickell