Ministers Chart Next Steps on Cancer, Culture, SPS and Fuel

High-Level Summary

Westminster Hall held five debates covering health, local government reorganisation, culture, EU trade and rural living costs. MPs urged national standards for flash‑freezing brain tumour tissue, better consent, and freezer capacity; the Health Minister committed to explore changes, liaise with devolved Governments, write on NIHR funding access, and publish a cancer plan in early February. Worcestershire’s reorganisation was debated, with the Government confirming a seven‑week consultation starting in early February. Members promoted the new UK Town of Culture, with Ministers saying the competition will launch very shortly for a 2028 title. On meat exports to the EU, Ministers said SPS talks have begun; on rural fuel duty relief, Treasury Ministers set out current duty plans and a forthcoming fuel price transparency scheme.

Detailed Summary

Advanced Brain Cancer: Tissue Freezing (patient access, consent and research)

Chris Evans called for routine flash‑freezing of brain tumour tissue, sufficient freezer capacity, and informed consent, estimating “£250,000 to £400,000 to ensure that all NHS trusts have the necessary capacity and capabilities for flash freezing” [ref: a120.1/2], and criticised a “postcode lottery” in access to treatment [ref: a120.1/6]. Charlie Maynard urged extending freezing to all cancers and reforming the Human Tissue Act to improve research access [ref: a122.2/3; a122.2/4]. Siobhain McDonagh stressed clinical trials and clearer NIHR funding routes: “there is no route for an improvement in any of the rare cancers unless there are more trials” [ref: a124.2/1].

Health Minister Ashley Dalton said patients “must always be fully informed about their rights, options and choices regarding the storage and future use of their tissue samples” [ref: a134.0/4], agreed to meet Evans and Ellie James [ref: a134.0/2], to liaise with devolved Governments and “further explor[e] the current arrangements for freezing tissues and the options for change, particularly for brain tumour tissues” [ref: a135.1/8], and to write on funding access for trials [ref: a135.1/4]. She confirmed the national cancer plan “will be published in just a few short weeks, in early February… focus[ing] on rarer cancers, including brain cancer” [ref: a135.1/5], and undertook to have officials examine a Belfast pilot [ref: a136.1/1]. The motion was agreed and resolved [ref: a136.2/3; a136.2/5].

Bromsgrove: Local Government organisation (Worcestershire)

Bradley Thomas argued a single unitary authority best meets Worcestershire’s needs in value and services, warning two unitaries risk making north Worcestershire “an extension of Birmingham” [ref: a139.1/2], and stating only “one unitary authority—a single, united structure” meets local needs [ref: a138.1/4]. He highlighted the risks of cost, social care disaggregation and postcode lotteries in provision [ref: a140.1/9].

Minister Alison McGovern outlined process and timing: proposals were received on 28 November and “I expect to launch a consultation in early February on the final proposals… That consultation will run for seven weeks” [ref: a143.0/5]. She reiterated criteria and declined to prejudge outcomes [ref: a143.0/5; a143.0/6]. The question was agreed to; sitting suspended [ref: a143.0/7-8].

UK Town of Culture competition

Alex Ballinger said the award can be “a lever for investment, volunteering, skills and pride” [ref: a145.1/3], showcasing towns outside major cities. MPs from across the UK set out cultural assets and the benefits of culture‑led renewal and inclusion.

Minister Ian Murray confirmed the imminent launch and timeframe, saying “we will launch the competition very shortly” and “the first town of culture will be in 2028” [ref: a166.1/13]. He agreed to meet regarding Bradford’s legacy [ref: a166.1/1], and highlighted that “every place has a story worth telling” [ref: a166.1/3]. The motion was agreed and resolved [ref: a169.0/2-4].

Meat Exports to the EU (SPS arrangements)

David Chadwick described continuing post‑Brexit frictions—export health certificates, veterinary sign‑off and EU border checks—arguing that “intentions do not move meat across borders” [ref: a170.2/5] and that inspection rates are unbalanced, with UK exports facing higher checks [ref: a171.3/2]. He called for an SPS agreement to be concluded within this Parliament [ref: a171.3/5].

Trade Minister Kate Dearden stated “Negotiations on the [UK‑EU SPS] agreement have already begun” [ref: a173.2/3]. She said the deal aims at “scrapping export health certificates for most consignments… [and] ending routine SPS border control checks” and to reopen some product categories [ref: a173.2/3], while “We are not lowering standards” [ref: a173.2/4] and “We will stay outside the EU customs union” [ref: a173.2/5]. She undertook to follow up on Northern Ireland veterinary medicines issues [ref: a174.1/1]. The question was agreed; sitting suspended [ref: a174.1/6-7].

Rural Fuel Duty Relief scheme

Ian Roome urged uprating and expanding the 5p‑per‑litre relief, noting it “remains unchanged today in 2026, despite more than 30% of its purchasing power being eroded” [ref: a176.3/2], and highlighted rural transport cost pressures [ref: a176.3/3]. MPs called for wider coverage and better price transparency.

Treasury Minister Dan Tomlinson set out duty decisions and transparency measures: the 5p cut is extended “until the end of August, with rates then rising gradually, returning to March 2022 levels by March 2027” [ref: a187.0/4], and an open‑data “fuel finder” will launch “from spring 2026” [ref: a187.0/5]. He said the relief currently costs “about £5 million” with “about 165 fuel retailers” registered [ref: a187.0/6-7], invited representations on coverage [ref: a189.0/4], and noted HMRC requires evidence that the 5p saving is passed on to consumers [ref: a189.0/1]. The House agreed and resolved the motion [ref: a192.0/6-8].