Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 9 April (HL6370), what progress have they made towards establishing a timeline for implementing the recommended shingles vaccination expansion; and, if a timeline is not yet in place, what factors are under review; and when a decision on the implementation timeline is expected.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department continues to consider the advice provided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on eligibility for the shingles vaccination programme for adults aged 80 years old and over. Factors under review include, and are not limited to, supply, financial considerations including cost-effectiveness and affordability, and clinical considerations including vaccine effectiveness. Currently, there are no further updates to share on timelines.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what support or mitigations they are providing to assist businesses in implementing phase three food labelling requirements under the Windsor Framework, in the light of the UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has fully considered the impacts on business of phase three labelling requirements, including on costs. Those requirements are considered to be a proportionate and necessary way of enabling smooth movement of food and drink products between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. We meet regularly with affected businesses and their representatives in the interests of supporting them in meeting the requirements of the Windsor Framework.

The Government is currently negotiating an UK-EU SPS Agreement, which would remove a broad set of requirements for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Under that agreement the need to label goods as ‘not for EU’ is expected to diminish significantly. Achieving these benefits relies on the UK continuing in the interim to meet its existing commitments under the Windsor Framework.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the costs incurred by private sector organisations in preparing for the cancelled EU fruit and vegetable import checks under the Border Target Operating Model.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Work to bring forward the end to fruit and vegetable easements (i.e. implementing BTOM checks on fruit and veg) paused earlier this year reflecting the decision not to implement the full BTOM check regime in the context of an SPS agreement with the EU. Accordingly, analysis of the business impacts of the BTOM checks on fruit and veg paused earlier this year and finalised cost impacts are not available.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the costs to the private sector of preparing for and complying with the phase three food labelling requirements under the Windsor Framework.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has fully considered the impacts on business of phase three labelling requirements, including on costs. Those requirements are considered to be a proportionate and necessary way of enabling smooth movement of food and drink products between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. We meet regularly with affected businesses and their representatives in the interests of supporting them in meeting the requirements of the Windsor Framework.

The Government is currently negotiating an UK-EU SPS Agreement, which would remove a broad set of requirements for goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Under that agreement the need to label goods as ‘not for EU’ is expected to diminish significantly. Achieving these benefits relies on the UK continuing in the interim to meet its existing commitments under the Windsor Framework.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the planned Border Target Operating Model checks on imports to Great Britain from the Republic of Ireland via west coast ports will proceed following the proposed UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In light of the plans set out at the UK-EU summit on 19 May, the United Kingdom and devolved governments have decided to pause implementation of further import controls on imports of EU and EFTA live animals, and non-qualifying Northern Ireland goods arriving from Ireland and Northern Ireland. We will keep this pause under review as negotiations progress. We have been clear that compliance with existing Border Target Operating Model controls must continue until further notice because the UK’s biosecurity and public health must continue to be protected.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the findings of the EFPIA Patients W.A.I.T. Indicator 2024; and (2) the case for health technology assessment reform at NICE to improve the availability of innovative therapies on the NHS.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is able to recommend the vast majority of medicines for use in the National Health Service. Analysis from the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations’ waiting to access innovative therapies indicators, published in May, showed that England’s ranking had improved from 9th to 6th for the total rate of availability of innovative medicines compared to last year’s report.

NICE keeps the methods and processes it uses to develop its recommendations under review to ensure that they are appropriate to emerging technologies and represent best practice. The Life Sciences Sector Plan, published in July, states that any future changes through NICE’s modular updates can be considered where they are evidence based, financially sustainable, and represent value to the taxpayer. This ensures that new medicines do not displace funding for other more effective treatments and services that are so important to delivering high-quality care for patients.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with devolved administrations to develop a shared nationwide research strategy for rare and less common cancers, including sarcoma, to overcome barriers including market failure in the development of new drugs and underfunding, and to promote clinical trials and patients' equitable access to them and speed up the development of new treatments.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

There are no plans to work with the devolved administrations to develop a nationwide research strategy for rare and less common cancers. However, both the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which is the Department’s research delivery arm, and the Medical Research Council (MRC) are members of the UK Cancer Research Strategy Forum, which brings together funders and other stakeholders from across the United Kingdom to share information and identify areas for collaboration where beneficial. Similarly, we acknowledge the importance of a UK-wide data focus, and that health and care data can be accessed safely and effectively across the UK to support individual care and to improve outcomes.

The Department is proud to invest £1.6 billion each year on research through the NIHR. NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority.

The NIHR is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with rare cancers, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments, by working to fast-track clinical trials to drive global investment into life sciences, improve health outcomes, and accelerate the development of the medicines and therapies of the future, including for rare cancers.

The Government supports the Rare Cancers Bill and its ambitions to incentivise clinical trials and increase access to innovative treatments for rare cancers, such as sarcoma. As such, the Department has been closely engaging with the devolved administrations who are supportive of the ambitions of the bill.

The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients across England. It will ensure that more patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, and to clinical trials.

The Government recognises the crucial need for research into all forms of cancer, including rare and less common cancers. It remains committed to the role of research to improve outcomes for patients.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the increase in the number of terminated NICE appraisals in the 2019–24 period, compared to the preceding five-year period.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) data on terminated appraisals shows that terminated appraisals increased from 2019 to 2021 and stabilised thereafter.

There is no overall increasing trend, in fact the percentage of terminated appraisals has fallen in the last three years, and was 18% in 2024/25.

NICE’s appraisals may be terminated for a number of reasons, including a delay in the evidence provided by the manufacturer being ready.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with devolved administrations to improve data collection on sarcoma to ensure accuracy of data and timeliness of reporting; and to commission a nationwide sarcoma audit based on the National Cancer Audit model to provide data about delivery against guidelines, highlight variations in outcomes, and give healthcare providers, commissioners and regulators data to improve care for patients.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We have received Sarcoma UK’s report reviewing sarcoma care across the United Kingdom and it is currently being considered. The National Cancer Plan will drive improvements on all fronts, including research, innovation, diagnosis, treatment, and care, in order to improve the experiences and outcomes for patients with rare cancers, including sarcoma patients.

Reducing barriers of entry to care and improving the efficiency of patient pathways are essential to improving cancer outcomes and experiences. The plan will explore how we can improve data collection, sharing, and analysis, to help identify variation and blockages in the pathway and develop solutions with the National Health Service. The Department is working with the National Disease Registration Service and NHS England to address data as a cross-cutting issue for cancer, ensuring that improvements in data collection and integration underpin our efforts to drive clinical quality improvement.

National Disease Registration Service analysts attend quarterly meetings with United Kingdom and Ireland Association of Cancer Registries analysts to discuss any differences in the reporting of cancer data and how these can be made analogous. We will continue the work of the national clinical audits to reduce unwarranted variation.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to respond to Sarcoma UK’s recent report, Unique Among Cancers: a state of the nation review of sarcoma treatment and services across the UK, and its recommendations for how to improve sarcoma care and treatment.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We have received Sarcoma UK’s report reviewing sarcoma care across the United Kingdom and it is currently being considered. The National Cancer Plan will drive improvements on all fronts, including research, innovation, diagnosis, treatment, and care, in order to improve the experiences and outcomes for patients with rare cancers, including sarcoma patients.

Reducing barriers of entry to care and improving the efficiency of patient pathways are essential to improving cancer outcomes and experiences. The plan will explore how we can improve data collection, sharing, and analysis, to help identify variation and blockages in the pathway and develop solutions with the National Health Service. The Department is working with the National Disease Registration Service and NHS England to address data as a cross-cutting issue for cancer, ensuring that improvements in data collection and integration underpin our efforts to drive clinical quality improvement.

National Disease Registration Service analysts attend quarterly meetings with United Kingdom and Ireland Association of Cancer Registries analysts to discuss any differences in the reporting of cancer data and how these can be made analogous. We will continue the work of the national clinical audits to reduce unwarranted variation.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 20 May (HL7268), what engagement they have had with logistics businesses about the current system that is used to notify drivers of physical checks of their vehicle under the Border Target Operating Model without specifying which consignment is affected.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Border Target Operating model (BTOM) was developed following extensive engagement with businesses (including the logistics sector) across the UK, points of entry, enforcement agencies and with the Scottish and Welsh Governments.

Defra continues to have regular engagement with border stakeholders including the logistics sector, to discuss operational aspects of the BTOM implementation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the objectives of the G7 Kananaskis Wildfire Charter, what steps they are taking to ensure direct funding to indigenous peoples and forest peoples provides the flexibility needed to prevent and mitigate wildfires.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

Wildfires drove record-breaking levels of forest loss globally in 2024 and overtook agriculture as the leading cause of tropical primary forest loss. The G7 Kananaskis Wildfire Charter recognised the scale of the challenge posed by wildfires and resolved to support efforts to prevent and mitigate their occurrence internationally. Effective responses will be grounded in a whole of society approach, which, depending on the local context, will include governments, civil society, academia, private sector and Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs).

The UK will engage with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Global Fire Management Hub working groups, including on Community-Based Fire Management, to support the wider understanding of the challenges and requirements of IPLCs in responding to wildfires globally. The UK is also working internationally to support efforts to strengthen land and forest tenure rights and forest governance systems, including direct support to IPLC groups. For example, the Amazon Catalyst for Forest Communities (AMCAT) programme supports IPLC-led solutions by providing direct, flexible funding, recognising that local knowledge and tenure rights are critical to effective forest management and wildfire prevention.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the annual cost savings to the food and logistics sectors resulting from the cancellation of new checks on EU fruit and vegetable imports under the Border Target Operating Model.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Work to bring forwards the end to fruit and veg easements (i.e., implementing Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) checks on fruit and veg) paused earlier this year. This reflects the decision not to implement the full BTOM check regime in the context of an SPS agreement with the EU. Accordingly, analysis of the business impacts of the BTOM checks on fruit and veg paused earlier this year and finalised cost impacts are not available.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to ensure that the standards-based market detailed in the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan will consider legal rather than voluntary standards.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK is working with G7 partners to identify the outline of a proposed voluntary Standards Based Market to ensure the secure supply of responsibly produced critical minerals. We expect G7 Energy Ministers will discuss a clear articulation of this outline in late October. The UK's priority is to ensure that critical mineral markets operate in accordance with relevant international law and to standards that are rigorous and context sensitive.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the apheresis working group plans to consult external stakeholders, including patient organisations and the life sciences industry, prior to publishing the apheresis review.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The apheresis working group was established in 2024 to provide independent advice to the Department on issues around apheresis capacity and the resilience of the United Kingdom’s stem cell supply. Membership includes the UK aligned stem cell registry, health professionals, and service providers. Stakeholder views have been captured through member organisations, including the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult and blood cancer charities, and industry representatives have also been invited to present at meetings of the group.

There are no plans to consult external stakeholders prior to the publication of the group’s review of apheresis capacity. The group will look at options for formalising feedback following publication.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish the findings of the review undertaken by the apheresis working group.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The apheresis working group was established in 2024 to provide independent advice to the Department on issues around apheresis capacity and the resilience of the United Kingdom’s stem cell supply. The group has submitted an internal, interim report to ministers for consideration and is currently working to gather additional data to strengthen the evidence base of this report, before proceeding to publication.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to introduce for minimum age restrictions for social media platforms to be enforced by Ofcom.

Answered by Lord Leong - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Keeping children safe online is a priority for the government.

The Online Safety Act’s child safety duties are now in force and in scope services must provide age-appropriate experiences for children, including using highly effective age assurance to stop children encountering the most harmful content. Ofcom, the regulator of the Act, has set out measures for services to take to comply with the child safety duties and will look to strengthen its codes in future iterations as online harms, technology and the evidence evolves.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to deliver a single trade window.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to minimising administrative burdens and frictions experienced by businesses trading internationally. While delivery of the single trade window (STW) was paused at the end of 2024, it remains the Government’s intention to deliver an STW, and we will use the pause to further engage with key border stakeholders to better understand their needs.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide teachers with training in media literacy and guidance on the use of generative artificial intelligence during their teacher training courses.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The department is supporting teachers and leaders to use generative artificial intelligence (AI) safely and effectively to help improve outcomes and reduce workload. We have published free online materials, developed with sector experts, to support staff to use AI safely and effectively in their settings.

In October 2024, Ofcom published its three-year Media Literacy Strategy, which commits to supporting teachers through continuing professional development (CPD), evaluation of training outcomes and stronger collaboration with regional partners to share learnings and effective practices.

In addition, the department funds the National Centre for Computing Education, which provides teachers with free CPD and resources to support the teaching of computing, including media literacy, and AI topics.

As AI and educational technology develop, we will continue to explore how we can drive the safety and efficacy of technology used in education.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to encourage teachers to use generative artificial intelligence as a teaching and lesson planning resource.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

From our research and engagement with the sector, the department has learnt that generative artificial intelligence (AI) could be used for a range of purposes including lesson and curriculum planning and supporting personalised learning.

The department is supporting teachers and leaders to use generative AI safely and effectively to help improve outcomes and reduce workload, including publishing free online materials, developed with sector experts. Oak National Academy’s AI lesson assistant is already helping teachers save time on planning, with reported savings of around three hours per week. Initiatives such as the AI tools for education competition and the Education Content Store pilot are encouraging innovation and evidence-based development of AI tools for marking and feedback. As AI and educational technology develop, we will continue to explore how we can drive the safety and efficacy of technology used in education.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the National Literacy Trust’s recent report, Young people and teachers’ use of generative AI to support literacy in 2025.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government's Opportunity Mission aims to remove barriers and ensure every child achieves and thrives by providing the best start in life. We are building the evidence base on the impact of technology in education through the EdTech Evidence Board, the Testbed programme, and research into technology and cognitive development.

In its interim report, the Curriculum and Assessment Review noted the importance of the curriculum keeping pace with the rise of artificial intelligence and trends in digital information. The Curriculum and Assessment Review’s final report and recommendations will be published in the autumn, at which point the government will respond.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that children develop the strong media literacy skills needed to navigate an increasingly digital world, including the skills to use generative artificial intelligence safely and effectively, to recognise credible sources of information, and to identify misinformation.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

I refer my noble Friend to the answer of 22 July 2025 to Question HL9295.