Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has the Department made of trends in seasonal variations in train reliability in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency, particularly during winter months.

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

The performance of the rail network is affected by the weather throughout the year. This is reflected both in actual performance and the targets the department sets train operators.

Operators are expected to mitigate the impacts of seasonal variations and Govia Thameslink Railway operates a winter preparedness plan to respond to specific challenges in the East Grinstead and Uckfield area.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how does the Department plan to monitor and improve passenger satisfaction following recent timetable changes in East Grinstead and Uckfield Constituency.

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

The December timetable change, which saw an increase in off-peak services between East Grinstead and London Victoria, is an example of the train operator planning services to meet passenger demand.

The Department regularly monitors passenger satisfaction and holds operators and Network Rail accountable for improvements to passenger satisfaction in East Grinstead and Uckfield.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps are being taken to ensure adequate staffing levels on GTR services during peak commuting hours.

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

Officials regularly engage with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to monitor staffing levels, including resources needed for peak commuting hours. All operators submit traincrew resourcing plans covering issues such as recruitment and training plans.

The Department has supported GTR’s ongoing Thameslink driver recruitment programme, which will increase driver numbers by nearly 100.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the impact of his Department’s requirement for opportunity cost neutrality in NICE’s severity modifier on investment in treatments for more severe conditions.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is responsible for the methods and processes that it uses in the development of its recommendations. The severity modifier was introduced in January 2022 as part of a number of changes intended to make NICE’s methods fairer, faster and more consistent.

The design of the NICE severity modifier was based on the principle of opportunity cost neutrality to ensure that introducing additional weighting for severe conditions did not increase overall National Health Service spending or displace more care than the previous end-of-life modifier. This approach protects the finite NHS budget by preventing inflationary effects on costs, ensuring that prioritising severe conditions does not reduce health benefits for other patients elsewhere in the system.

NICE carried out a review of the implementation of the severity modifier in September 2024 and found that it is operating as intended with a greater proportion of medicines recommended than under NICE’s previous methods. Since then, NICE has continued to monitor how the severity modifier is being applied. The latest figures include data from technology appraisals published up until the end of September 2025 and show that the proportion of positive decisions has increased since the severity modifier was implemented and since data was published in September 2024. 87.0% of decisions taken since the severity modifier was implemented, compared with 82.5% when the end-of-life modifier was being used.

NICE has commissioned research to gather further evidence on societal preferences that will inform future methods reviews.

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 ensure that people living with incurable secondary breast cancer have timely access to new and effective medicines, including treatments such as Enhertu and Trodelvy.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that makes recommendations on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the National Health Service based on an assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness.

NICE has recommended Enhertu, also named trastuzumab deruxtecan, for use in the Cancer Drugs Fund for the treatment of women with HER2-positive secondary breast cancer and it is now available for the treatment of eligible patients while further data on its effectiveness is being collected that will inform a NICE decision on routine funding. NICE did not recommend Enhertu for the treatment of HER-2 low metastatic and unresectable breast cancer as a clinically and cost-effective use of NHS resources.

NICE terminated its appraisal of Trodelvy, also named sacituzumab govitecan, for treating hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer after two or more treatments in August 2025, as the company, Gilead, did not provide an evidence submission.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Gatwick Runway expansion on noise levels in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.

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

On 21 September 2025 the Transport Secretary gave approval for Gatwick Airport’s application for a Development Consent Order to expand its operations through routine use of its existing northern runway.

The Transport Secretary’s consideration of the application for the development including impacts arising from it are set out in her decision letter of 21 September 2025 which is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Gatwick Runway expansion for the economic contribution of the airport to the East Grinstead and Uckfield Constituency.

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

On 21 September 2025 the Transport Secretary gave approval for Gatwick Airport’s application for a Development Consent Order to expand its operations through routine use of its existing northern runway.

The Transport Secretary’s consideration of the application for the development including impacts arising from it are set out in her decision letter of 21 September 2025 which is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of Gatwick Runway expansion on levels of emissions in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.

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

On 21 September 2025 the Transport Secretary gave approval for Gatwick Airport’s application for a Development Consent Order to expand its operations through routine use of its existing northern runway.

The Transport Secretary’s consideration of the application for the development including impacts arising from it are set out in her decision letter of 21 September 2025 which is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of Gatwick Runway expansion on the local economy and the need for workers accommodation in a) the build stage and b) on the operation of the new runway.

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

On 21 September 2025 the Transport Secretary gave approval for Gatwick Airport’s application for a Development Consent Order to expand its operations through routine use of its existing northern runway.

The Transport Secretary’s consideration of the application for the development including impacts arising from it are set out in her decision letter of 21 September 2025 which is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the level of mobile signal coverage gaps in East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Ofcom is responsible for reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK and their data provides Government with information on mobile coverage gaps.

Ofcom do not publish mobile coverage data on a regional basis such as for East Sussex and West Sussex. However, in their Connected Nations Annual Report 2025, published on 19 November 2025, it is reported that 1% of the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency has no 4G geographic coverage from any operator.

10% of premises in this constituency have no 5G (combined standalone and non-standalone) outside from any mobile operator, 68% of premises in the constituency do not have standalone 5G outside from any mobile operator.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the level of mobile signal coverage gaps in West Sussex.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Ofcom is responsible for reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK and their data provides Government with information on mobile coverage gaps.

Ofcom do not publish mobile coverage data on a regional basis such as for East Sussex and West Sussex. However, in their Connected Nations Annual Report 2025, published on 19 November 2025, it is reported that 1% of the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency has no 4G geographic coverage from any operator.

10% of premises in this constituency have no 5G (combined standalone and non-standalone) outside from any mobile operator, 68% of premises in the constituency do not have standalone 5G outside from any mobile operator.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the level of mobile signal coverage gaps in East Sussex.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Ofcom is responsible for reporting on mobile network coverage across the UK and their data provides Government with information on mobile coverage gaps.

Ofcom do not publish mobile coverage data on a regional basis such as for East Sussex and West Sussex. However, in their Connected Nations Annual Report 2025, published on 19 November 2025, it is reported that 1% of the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency has no 4G geographic coverage from any operator.

10% of premises in this constituency have no 5G (combined standalone and non-standalone) outside from any mobile operator, 68% of premises in the constituency do not have standalone 5G outside from any mobile operator.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether mobile signal improvements in West Sussex will contribute to the Government’s connectivity targets.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This is a UK wide ambition, coverage improvements in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency will therefore contribute to the achievement of this ambition.

Government wants to see high quality digital infrastructure available right across the UK, whether this is fixed or mobile, allowing people to participate in the modern digital economy.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to improve mobile phone and broadband access in East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030 and we have a target to deliver nationwide (99%) gigabit broadband coverage by 2032.

The Government continues to work closely with the mobile network operators to ensure their continued investment into the expansion and improvement of mobile networks and that investment translates into benefits for communities right across the UK.

To improve broadband coverage in the area CityFibre is delivering a Project Gigabit contract across East and West Sussex, which includes premises in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.

We are also working to identify and address barriers to deployment of both mobile and broadband infrastructure. This includes recently launching a call for evidence to help determine where planning rules could be relaxed to support the deployment of digital infrastructure.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether mobile signal improvements in East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency will contribute to the Government’s connectivity targets.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This is a UK wide ambition, coverage improvements in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency will therefore contribute to the achievement of this ambition.

Government wants to see high quality digital infrastructure available right across the UK, whether this is fixed or mobile, allowing people to participate in the modern digital economy.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether mobile signal improvements in East Sussex will contribute to the Government’s connectivity targets.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Government’s ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This is a UK wide ambition, coverage improvements in the East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency will therefore contribute to the achievement of this ambition.

Government wants to see high quality digital infrastructure available right across the UK, whether this is fixed or mobile, allowing people to participate in the modern digital economy.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that mobile operators improve signal reliability in rural and semi rural areas of West Sussex.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This ambition includes villages and rural communities as well as towns and cities.

Standalone 5G is a more reliable, secure, generation of technology which has the potential to deliver significant benefits to communities across the UK.

Government continues to work closely with the mobile network operators to ensure that continued investment into the expansion and improvement of mobile networks translates into benefits for communities right across the UK. We are also addressing barriers to deployment where they exist and recently launched a call for evidence to help determine where planning rules could be relaxed to support the deployment of digital infrastructure.

There are statutory obligations on communications providers to take appropriate and proportionate steps to ensure their networks and services remain available, and Ofcom has powers to investigate, rectify and penalise communications providers for any infringement of their duties. Ofcom is undertaking a review of the resilience of mobile services to power cuts and considering whether to update the expectations on mobile operators on the level of power back up required.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that mobile operators improve signal reliability in rural and semi rural areas of East Grinstead and Uckfield constituency.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This ambition includes villages and rural communities as well as towns and cities.

Standalone 5G is a more reliable, secure, generation of technology which has the potential to deliver significant benefits to communities across the UK.

Government continues to work closely with the mobile network operators to ensure that continued investment into the expansion and improvement of mobile networks translates into benefits for communities right across the UK. We are also addressing barriers to deployment where they exist and recently launched a call for evidence to help determine where planning rules could be relaxed to support the deployment of digital infrastructure.

There are statutory obligations on communications providers to take appropriate and proportionate steps to ensure their networks and services remain available, and Ofcom has powers to investigate, rectify and penalise communications providers for any infringement of their duties. Ofcom is undertaking a review of the resilience of mobile services to power cuts and considering whether to update the expectations on mobile operators on the level of power back up required.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that mobile operators improve signal reliability in rural and semi rural areas of East Sussex.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Our ambition is for all populated areas to have access to higher quality standalone 5G by 2030. This ambition includes villages and rural communities as well as towns and cities.

Standalone 5G is a more reliable, secure, generation of technology which has the potential to deliver significant benefits to communities across the UK.

Government continues to work closely with the mobile network operators to ensure that continued investment into the expansion and improvement of mobile networks translates into benefits for communities right across the UK. We are also addressing barriers to deployment where they exist and recently launched a call for evidence to help determine where planning rules could be relaxed to support the deployment of digital infrastructure.

There are statutory obligations on communications providers to take appropriate and proportionate steps to ensure their networks and services remain available, and Ofcom has powers to investigate, rectify and penalise communications providers for any infringement of their duties. Ofcom is undertaking a review of the resilience of mobile services to power cuts and considering whether to update the expectations on mobile operators on the level of power back up required.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for upgrading rail infrastructure on the Uckfield line.

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

A Strategic Outline Business Case was developed by Network Rail in 2021 which considered the potential benefits of upgrading rail infrastructure on the Uckfield line. This assessment concluded that the scheme would have positive impacts on train service performance and reliability, together with wider economic benefits. The scheme was paused by the previous government following Spending Review 2021; no development work has taken place since that point.

The Hon Member also may wish to contact Network Rail for information on their plans to maintain and renew rail infrastructure on the Uckfield line.

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 reduce delays caused by inadequate clinic capacity that prevent urgent breast referrals from meeting the 28 day Faster Diagnosis Standard.

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

The Department is supporting the National Health Service to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment in new magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. The Government is investing an extra £26 billion in the NHS over two years and is opening up community diagnostic centres at evening and weekends, to help catch cancer earlier, including breast cancer.

To ensure that those with signs and symptoms that may indicate breast cancer have cancer diagnosed or ruled out as quickly as possible, NHS England has published guidance for local systems on implementing a timed breast cancer diagnostic pathway. The guidance sets out how diagnosis within 28-days can be achieved for the suspected breast cancer pathway in line with Faster Diagnosis Standard.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when NHS England will publish the delayed breast screening uptake improvement plan.

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

NHS England will publish a Breast Screening Programme Uptake Improvement Review this year, to help improve uptake and address inequalities.

The review supports breast screening service providers with national solutions such as:

• introducing digital options for sending out invitations and managing appointments;
• raising awareness of the importance of screening through the media; and
• facilitating learning and gathering evidence to inform programme policy, pathway changes, and guidance.

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 ensure that 85 per cent of breast cancer patients start treatment within 62 days of urgent referral.

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

Cancer patients are waiting too long for diagnosis and treatment, and improving performance against cancer waiting time standards, including the 62-day standard, is a priority for the Government.

It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including breast cancer, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes for patients across England. The Department is committed to improving waiting times for cancer treatment so that people with cancer can access the care they need more quickly.

We are committed to transforming diagnostic services and will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet demand through investment in new diagnostic capacity, including magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners. As a first step towards earlier diagnosis and faster treatment, the NHS is now delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans and appointments each week.

In May 2025, NHS England announced the world’s first roll out of liquid biopsy testing, which is now available for all eligible breast cancer patients, and which aims to speed up diagnosis and inform better treatment options for those with breast cancer.

£70 million has been invested into new LINAC radiotherapy machines, to replace older, less efficient machines. This vital investment demonstrates our commitment to improving radiotherapy services, and will ensure that the most advanced treatments are available to patients who need it and will boost productivity, reducing waiting lists and ultimately improving outcomes.

The upcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment. It will ensure that patients have access to the latest treatments and technology and bring cancer care back into communities which need it the most. The plan will be published early this year.