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 15 September (HL10370), what assessment they made following engagement with logistics businesses of 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)

Defra continues to have regular engagement with border stakeholders including the logistics sector, to discuss operational aspects of the Border Target Operating Model implementation. Defra continues to use this engagement with stakeholders for review and improvement purposes

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the press release by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 4 February, Record investment to protect thousands of UK homes and businesses, how the pledge that homes will be better protected from flooding is being measured.

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

This Government is investing at least £10.5 billion until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

We are on track to protect more than 66,000 properties by March 2026 as announced on 4 February (see attached): 52,000 properties better protected through building new defences and an additional 14,500 properties better protected by reprioritising £108 million into maintenance. The metric used is properties better protected, which identifies the total number of properties with a reduced probability of flooding or coastal erosion.

We have developed new outcome and output metrics to drive the best FCERM outcomes and explain the benefits of the FCERM investment to different audiences. These metrics will be used for the new programme starting in April 2026. The outcome metrics are economic benefits and risk to properties. The output metrics are properties benefitting from different levels of risk reduction, and the condition of FCERM assets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the the3Million report The Digital Status Crisis, published on 10 November; and whether they plan to increase resources to fix the failures of the current eVisa system.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

We consistently monitor the transition to eVisas, and encourage people to report any issues so they can be addressed. We listen to feedback from visa holders, stakeholders and MPs and address concerns, such as introducing greater flexibility for carriers to accept BRPs that expired on 31 December 2024 until 1 June 2025, to smooth the transition for those travelling internationally without compromising on border security.

We have considered the3Million report ‘The Digital Status Crisis’. We welcome feedback, but do not recognise the picture that the3Million report presents regarding the eVisa transition or the figures they present. In total, we have issued over 10 million digital IDs in the form of eVisas. Over 4.5m online (UKVI) accounts were created between March 2024 and July 2025, enabling people to access their eVisa.

We recognise that some people will be anxious about switching to and navigating a digital system, or may encounter an issue. We are committed to ensuring that accessing and using eVisas is as straightforward as possible for all status holders. We are providing clear guidance and direct support for vulnerable, and less digitally confident people to help them.

The Home Office has a robust support model in place that strives to ensure that all people, including the most vulnerable, are properly supported to access their eVisa and use the View and Prove service. People who need support can contact the UKVI Resolution Centre, which provides support via email and webchat to those creating their UKVI account, and telephone support to those using the online immigration status services. This includes supporting users through the online journey by:

o helping them to access or recover their account

o helping them to update their personal details

o sharing status on behalf of users if they are unable to do so themselves

Employers and landlords in England can use the Employer Checking Service (ECS) and Landlord Checking Service (LCS) to check the status of people who cannot currently provide digital status evidence.

Status holders can also get help to access their eVisa from Grant Funded Organisations or Local Authorities, or through the Assisted Digital Service if they are digitally excluded.

We have increased the number of support services available to vulnerable people and have delivered £4m of grant funding to 72 voluntary and community sector organisations across the UK.

An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was completed on the first phase of the roll out of eVisas to EEA nationals on 9 November 2020, which built on the Policy Equality Statement (PES) for the EUSS which was produced in 2017 and published on the gov.uk website on 18 November 2020:

Policy equality statement: EU Settlement Scheme (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).(opens in a new tab)

A separate EIA considering equalities issues in relation to the use of digital only right to work and rent checks was published on gov.uk in June 2022:

Digital only right to work and rent checks: equality impact assessment (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)

We are also in the process of reviewing our eVisas EIA, setting out further analysis of the equalities issues to reflect the current stage in the roll out of eVisas, and we will continue to keep the issue under review.

The Department publishes a range of data on its digital status programme and will be, in due course, publishing management information on the volumes of eVisa error corrections webforms received.

All our digital status online services are designed to be compliant with relevant accessibility legislation. The design and development of the View and Prove service was completed and tested in line with accessibility standards within WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), and the accessibility statement is linked on the service. It is currently compliant in 53 of 57 categories, and work is ongoing to meet the remaining criteria early in 2026, whereupon the Accessibility Statement will also be refreshed. View and Prove itself is not assessed against the UK Digital Identity & Attributes Trust Framework, but the underlying services follow the principles of the framework.

The accessibility statements for the employer and landlord checking services are available here:

Accessibility statement for Employer’s Checking Service – Employer checking service – GOV.UK

Accessibility statement for Request a Home Office right to rent check – Request a right to rent check – GOV.UK

The View and Prove service is part of the wider delivery of the Government’s eVisa strategy within the Future Borders and Immigration System Programme. It is one of many Digital Status Services, and the Programme is still delivering significant new functionality in support of all these services, which is why it is currently in a Beta phase. We aim to move the View and Prove service from Beta into Live status once these enhancements have been delivered in mid/late 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans to conduct an independent review of the eVisa system; and whether they will increase transparency on the volume and range of errors of the eVisa system reported to the Home Office.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

We consistently monitor the transition to eVisas, and encourage people to report any issues so they can be addressed. We listen to feedback from visa holders, stakeholders and MPs and address concerns, such as introducing greater flexibility for carriers to accept BRPs that expired on 31 December 2024 until 1 June 2025, to smooth the transition for those travelling internationally without compromising on border security.

We have considered the3Million report ‘The Digital Status Crisis’. We welcome feedback, but do not recognise the picture that the3Million report presents regarding the eVisa transition or the figures they present. In total, we have issued over 10 million digital IDs in the form of eVisas. Over 4.5m online (UKVI) accounts were created between March 2024 and July 2025, enabling people to access their eVisa.

We recognise that some people will be anxious about switching to and navigating a digital system, or may encounter an issue. We are committed to ensuring that accessing and using eVisas is as straightforward as possible for all status holders. We are providing clear guidance and direct support for vulnerable, and less digitally confident people to help them.

The Home Office has a robust support model in place that strives to ensure that all people, including the most vulnerable, are properly supported to access their eVisa and use the View and Prove service. People who need support can contact the UKVI Resolution Centre, which provides support via email and webchat to those creating their UKVI account, and telephone support to those using the online immigration status services. This includes supporting users through the online journey by:

o helping them to access or recover their account

o helping them to update their personal details

o sharing status on behalf of users if they are unable to do so themselves

Employers and landlords in England can use the Employer Checking Service (ECS) and Landlord Checking Service (LCS) to check the status of people who cannot currently provide digital status evidence.

Status holders can also get help to access their eVisa from Grant Funded Organisations or Local Authorities, or through the Assisted Digital Service if they are digitally excluded.

We have increased the number of support services available to vulnerable people and have delivered £4m of grant funding to 72 voluntary and community sector organisations across the UK.

An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was completed on the first phase of the roll out of eVisas to EEA nationals on 9 November 2020, which built on the Policy Equality Statement (PES) for the EUSS which was produced in 2017 and published on the gov.uk website on 18 November 2020:

Policy equality statement: EU Settlement Scheme (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).(opens in a new tab)

A separate EIA considering equalities issues in relation to the use of digital only right to work and rent checks was published on gov.uk in June 2022:

Digital only right to work and rent checks: equality impact assessment (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)

We are also in the process of reviewing our eVisas EIA, setting out further analysis of the equalities issues to reflect the current stage in the roll out of eVisas, and we will continue to keep the issue under review.

The Department publishes a range of data on its digital status programme and will be, in due course, publishing management information on the volumes of eVisa error corrections webforms received.

All our digital status online services are designed to be compliant with relevant accessibility legislation. The design and development of the View and Prove service was completed and tested in line with accessibility standards within WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), and the accessibility statement is linked on the service. It is currently compliant in 53 of 57 categories, and work is ongoing to meet the remaining criteria early in 2026, whereupon the Accessibility Statement will also be refreshed. View and Prove itself is not assessed against the UK Digital Identity & Attributes Trust Framework, but the underlying services follow the principles of the framework.

The accessibility statements for the employer and landlord checking services are available here:

Accessibility statement for Employer’s Checking Service – Employer checking service – GOV.UK

Accessibility statement for Request a Home Office right to rent check – Request a right to rent check – GOV.UK

The View and Prove service is part of the wider delivery of the Government’s eVisa strategy within the Future Borders and Immigration System Programme. It is one of many Digital Status Services, and the Programme is still delivering significant new functionality in support of all these services, which is why it is currently in a Beta phase. We aim to move the View and Prove service from Beta into Live status once these enhancements have been delivered in mid/late 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what accessibility assessments have been conducted of the View and Prove immigration status service; whether they will publish those assessments; and whether those assessments meet the standards of the UK digital identity and attributes trust framework.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

We consistently monitor the transition to eVisas, and encourage people to report any issues so they can be addressed. We listen to feedback from visa holders, stakeholders and MPs and address concerns, such as introducing greater flexibility for carriers to accept BRPs that expired on 31 December 2024 until 1 June 2025, to smooth the transition for those travelling internationally without compromising on border security.

We have considered the3Million report ‘The Digital Status Crisis’. We welcome feedback, but do not recognise the picture that the3Million report presents regarding the eVisa transition or the figures they present. In total, we have issued over 10 million digital IDs in the form of eVisas. Over 4.5m online (UKVI) accounts were created between March 2024 and July 2025, enabling people to access their eVisa.

We recognise that some people will be anxious about switching to and navigating a digital system, or may encounter an issue. We are committed to ensuring that accessing and using eVisas is as straightforward as possible for all status holders. We are providing clear guidance and direct support for vulnerable, and less digitally confident people to help them.

The Home Office has a robust support model in place that strives to ensure that all people, including the most vulnerable, are properly supported to access their eVisa and use the View and Prove service. People who need support can contact the UKVI Resolution Centre, which provides support via email and webchat to those creating their UKVI account, and telephone support to those using the online immigration status services. This includes supporting users through the online journey by:

o helping them to access or recover their account

o helping them to update their personal details

o sharing status on behalf of users if they are unable to do so themselves

Employers and landlords in England can use the Employer Checking Service (ECS) and Landlord Checking Service (LCS) to check the status of people who cannot currently provide digital status evidence.

Status holders can also get help to access their eVisa from Grant Funded Organisations or Local Authorities, or through the Assisted Digital Service if they are digitally excluded.

We have increased the number of support services available to vulnerable people and have delivered £4m of grant funding to 72 voluntary and community sector organisations across the UK.

An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was completed on the first phase of the roll out of eVisas to EEA nationals on 9 November 2020, which built on the Policy Equality Statement (PES) for the EUSS which was produced in 2017 and published on the gov.uk website on 18 November 2020:

Policy equality statement: EU Settlement Scheme (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).(opens in a new tab)

A separate EIA considering equalities issues in relation to the use of digital only right to work and rent checks was published on gov.uk in June 2022:

Digital only right to work and rent checks: equality impact assessment (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)

We are also in the process of reviewing our eVisas EIA, setting out further analysis of the equalities issues to reflect the current stage in the roll out of eVisas, and we will continue to keep the issue under review.

The Department publishes a range of data on its digital status programme and will be, in due course, publishing management information on the volumes of eVisa error corrections webforms received.

All our digital status online services are designed to be compliant with relevant accessibility legislation. The design and development of the View and Prove service was completed and tested in line with accessibility standards within WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), and the accessibility statement is linked on the service. It is currently compliant in 53 of 57 categories, and work is ongoing to meet the remaining criteria early in 2026, whereupon the Accessibility Statement will also be refreshed. View and Prove itself is not assessed against the UK Digital Identity & Attributes Trust Framework, but the underlying services follow the principles of the framework.

The accessibility statements for the employer and landlord checking services are available here:

Accessibility statement for Employer’s Checking Service – Employer checking service – GOV.UK

Accessibility statement for Request a Home Office right to rent check – Request a right to rent check – GOV.UK

The View and Prove service is part of the wider delivery of the Government’s eVisa strategy within the Future Borders and Immigration System Programme. It is one of many Digital Status Services, and the Programme is still delivering significant new functionality in support of all these services, which is why it is currently in a Beta phase. We aim to move the View and Prove service from Beta into Live status once these enhancements have been delivered in mid/late 2026.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government why the View and Prove immigration status service is labelled as a beta service; and what is the timeline for that service to be in a fully live stage.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

We consistently monitor the transition to eVisas, and encourage people to report any issues so they can be addressed. We listen to feedback from visa holders, stakeholders and MPs and address concerns, such as introducing greater flexibility for carriers to accept BRPs that expired on 31 December 2024 until 1 June 2025, to smooth the transition for those travelling internationally without compromising on border security.

We have considered the3Million report ‘The Digital Status Crisis’. We welcome feedback, but do not recognise the picture that the3Million report presents regarding the eVisa transition or the figures they present. In total, we have issued over 10 million digital IDs in the form of eVisas. Over 4.5m online (UKVI) accounts were created between March 2024 and July 2025, enabling people to access their eVisa.

We recognise that some people will be anxious about switching to and navigating a digital system, or may encounter an issue. We are committed to ensuring that accessing and using eVisas is as straightforward as possible for all status holders. We are providing clear guidance and direct support for vulnerable, and less digitally confident people to help them.

The Home Office has a robust support model in place that strives to ensure that all people, including the most vulnerable, are properly supported to access their eVisa and use the View and Prove service. People who need support can contact the UKVI Resolution Centre, which provides support via email and webchat to those creating their UKVI account, and telephone support to those using the online immigration status services. This includes supporting users through the online journey by:

o helping them to access or recover their account

o helping them to update their personal details

o sharing status on behalf of users if they are unable to do so themselves

Employers and landlords in England can use the Employer Checking Service (ECS) and Landlord Checking Service (LCS) to check the status of people who cannot currently provide digital status evidence.

Status holders can also get help to access their eVisa from Grant Funded Organisations or Local Authorities, or through the Assisted Digital Service if they are digitally excluded.

We have increased the number of support services available to vulnerable people and have delivered £4m of grant funding to 72 voluntary and community sector organisations across the UK.

An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was completed on the first phase of the roll out of eVisas to EEA nationals on 9 November 2020, which built on the Policy Equality Statement (PES) for the EUSS which was produced in 2017 and published on the gov.uk website on 18 November 2020:

Policy equality statement: EU Settlement Scheme (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).(opens in a new tab)

A separate EIA considering equalities issues in relation to the use of digital only right to work and rent checks was published on gov.uk in June 2022:

Digital only right to work and rent checks: equality impact assessment (accessible) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab)

We are also in the process of reviewing our eVisas EIA, setting out further analysis of the equalities issues to reflect the current stage in the roll out of eVisas, and we will continue to keep the issue under review.

The Department publishes a range of data on its digital status programme and will be, in due course, publishing management information on the volumes of eVisa error corrections webforms received.

All our digital status online services are designed to be compliant with relevant accessibility legislation. The design and development of the View and Prove service was completed and tested in line with accessibility standards within WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), and the accessibility statement is linked on the service. It is currently compliant in 53 of 57 categories, and work is ongoing to meet the remaining criteria early in 2026, whereupon the Accessibility Statement will also be refreshed. View and Prove itself is not assessed against the UK Digital Identity & Attributes Trust Framework, but the underlying services follow the principles of the framework.

The accessibility statements for the employer and landlord checking services are available here:

Accessibility statement for Employer’s Checking Service – Employer checking service – GOV.UK

Accessibility statement for Request a Home Office right to rent check – Request a right to rent check – GOV.UK

The View and Prove service is part of the wider delivery of the Government’s eVisa strategy within the Future Borders and Immigration System Programme. It is one of many Digital Status Services, and the Programme is still delivering significant new functionality in support of all these services, which is why it is currently in a Beta phase. We aim to move the View and Prove service from Beta into Live status once these enhancements have been delivered in mid/late 2026.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government why the draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill has not yet been published; and when they plan to publish it.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Due to the current volume of legislation before Parliament, the draft Audit Reform and Corporate Governance Bill will not be published for pre-legislative scrutiny in this session. Both houses of Parliament were informed of this in July 2025. The Government’s plans for legislation in subsequent sessions will be set out in the usual way through the King’s Speech.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to update reimbursement and tariff arrangements for ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring, including introducing distinct tariffs for short-term Holter tests and extended-duration non-invasive monitoring, to support appropriate uptake of newer technologies in line with the 10 Year Health Plan for England.

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

Electrocardiogram monitoring or stress testing, including 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography and extended electrocardiographic recording, are priced as part of Healthcare Resource Group (HRG) EY51Z (Electrocardiogram Monitoring or Stress Testing).

The 2026/27 Payment Scheme, which sets national prices for most HRGs, is currently under consultation. The consultation closes on 16 December, and feedback will be considered on the proposed prices before the final payment scheme is issued.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with the devolved nations regarding treatments and care for children diagnosed with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

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

Orphanet estimates of the prevalence if alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency within Western Europe and the United States of America is between one in 1,600 and one in 5,000. No England specific estimates are available.

There have been no discussions specific to alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. The administrations of all four nations continue to work collaboratively to improve the lives of people living with genetic and rare conditions under the UK Rare Diseases Framework. The framework has recently been extended until January 2027.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prevalence of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency in England.

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

Orphanet estimates of the prevalence if alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency within Western Europe and the United States of America is between one in 1,600 and one in 5,000. No England specific estimates are available.

There have been no discussions specific to alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. The administrations of all four nations continue to work collaboratively to improve the lives of people living with genetic and rare conditions under the UK Rare Diseases Framework. The framework has recently been extended until January 2027.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they are giving, as part of the 10 Year Health Plan for England, to whether wider use of longer-duration, non-invasive ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring could (1) help reduce waits for arrhythmia diagnosis, and (2) support earlier detection of atrial fibrillation.

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

The 10-Year Health Plan recognises that there is more that can be done to improve timely diagnosis closer to the patient’s home. The plan’s commitment to the three big shifts, and the further development of facilities such as community diagnostic centres, are central to delivering the Government’s commitment to achieve a 25% reduction in premature mortality due to cardiovascular disease and stroke across England, including people with arrythmias. For further information, a copy of our plan Reforming elective care for patients is attached.

The use of novel digital health and technology, such as non-invasive ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring in the community, will facilitate the earlier diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as cardiac arrythmias and atrial fibrillation.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what training and guidance is provided to civil servants on how to fulfil the requirements of section 19 of the Environment Act 2021 when drafting proposals for secondary legislation.

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

Defra has been working closely with departments across Government to support them in the duty contained in section 19 of the Environment Act 2021 to have due regard to the Environmental Principles Policy Statement when making policy (which may include secondary legislation). Our ‘toolkit’ of resources was disseminated widely across government ahead of the duty coming into force. The toolkit includes advice notes and examples about the environmental principles to help understand the duty, and information about where to go for further help. We have also revised relevant cross-government guidance, including the Cabinet Office Guide to Making Legislation. The Environmental Principles Policy Statement training course on Civil Service Learning is available to all civil servants and provides an overview of the duty, the environmental principles and how to apply them. Some departments and arm’s length bodies have developed additional internal guidance and training. Defra recently published its “Environmental Principles Policy Statement (EPPS) Implementation - Early-Stage Review” (see attached) where the content of the toolkit and learning materials are discussed in more detail.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the research by the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors in its letter to Ofcom published on 1 August, what plans they have to issue regulatory guidance for telecoms companies on best practice governance and oversight.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government, working with Ofcom, closely monitors the financial health of the telecoms market. Ofcom have powers to request financial information from providers where appropriate.

We recently held a public consultation on proposed updates to the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice, which provides guidance on how public telecoms providers can meet their statutory requirements to secure their networks and services. These include requirements relating to reviews, governance and board responsibilities. Ofcom monitor and enforce these requirements.

In response to the consultation, the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors raised the matter of independent assurance arrangements. We are now carefully reviewing all feedback to the consultation to ensure that any updates to the Code of Practice are appropriate and proportionate.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of including guidance on internal audit for broadband providers as part of the update to the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government, working with Ofcom, closely monitors the financial health of the telecoms market. Ofcom have powers to request financial information from providers where appropriate.

We recently held a public consultation on proposed updates to the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice, which provides guidance on how public telecoms providers can meet their statutory requirements to secure their networks and services. These include requirements relating to reviews, governance and board responsibilities. Ofcom monitor and enforce these requirements.

In response to the consultation, the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors raised the matter of independent assurance arrangements. We are now carefully reviewing all feedback to the consultation to ensure that any updates to the Code of Practice are appropriate and proportionate.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential merits of requiring broadcast providers to maintain internal audit functions.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government, working with Ofcom, closely monitors the financial health of the telecoms market. Ofcom have powers to request financial information from providers where appropriate.

We recently held a public consultation on proposed updates to the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice, which provides guidance on how public telecoms providers can meet their statutory requirements to secure their networks and services. These include requirements relating to reviews, governance and board responsibilities. Ofcom monitor and enforce these requirements.

In response to the consultation, the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors raised the matter of independent assurance arrangements. We are now carefully reviewing all feedback to the consultation to ensure that any updates to the Code of Practice are appropriate and proportionate.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the evaluation framework of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation reflects the full economic and societal value of vaccination.

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

As an independent Departmental Expert Committee, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises the Department on matters related to vaccination and immunisation. The JCVI bases its advice and recommendations on evidence of the burden of disease, of vaccine safety and efficacy, and of the impact and cost-effectiveness of immunisation strategies.

The cost-effectiveness analysis which is presented to the JCVI for its consideration does not include broader socio-economic factors such as productivity costs from illness, improved educational attainment from reduced school absences, or out-of-pocket expenses and opportunity costs from attending a vaccination. However, these impacts may be highlighted by the JCVI or by officials who provide advice to ministers.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies for treatment for cancers; and whether new medicines using these therapies this will be approved.

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

NHS England funds the use of licensed medicines that have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), or the off-label use of licensed medicines that have been approved via the NHS England clinical policy process.

NICE has evaluated and recommended several CAR-T therapies for both high-grade and low-grade lymphomas, some of which are recommended for a period of managed access:

• Brexucabtagene autoleucel, which includes relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (managed access) and/or relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in people 26 years old and over (managed access);
• Tisagenlecleucel, which includes relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in people 25 years old and under;
• Axicabtagene ciloleucel, which includes diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma after two or more systemic therapies and/or relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after first-line chemoimmunotherapy;
• Lisocabtagene maraleucel, which includes relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma after first-line chemoimmunotherapy when a stem cell transplant is suitable;
• Obecabtagene autoleucel, which includes relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia; and
• relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

To support implementation of NICE recommendations, NHS England sets clinical treatment criteria to ensure that treatments are made available to those intended by the NICE guidance. Clinical input helps set the clinical and patient treatment criteria based on the NICE committee deliberations, how the treatment will be used within the treatment pathway, and the evidence base considered by NICE and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of access to new innovative therapies for cancers.

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

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes recommendations for the National Health Service in England on whether new licensed medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS based on an assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness. NICE aims wherever possible to issue guidance on new medicines close to the time of licensing to ensure that patients are able to benefit from rapid access to clinically and cost effective new medicines. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended in a NICE technology appraisal, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance.

NICE is able to recommend the most promising new cancer drugs for use through the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) where there is too much uncertainty for NICE to be able to recommend routine funding. NHS England funds NICE-recommended cancer medicines from the CDF from the point of positive draft NICE guidance, bringing forward patient access by approximately five months than would otherwise be the case.

In England in 2024/25, 93% of NICE recommendations for cancer treatments were positive. Positive includes recommended, optimised, recommended in the CDF, and optimised in the CDF. Where guidance is optimised, the treatment has been recommended for a subset of patients rather than the full cohort for which it is licensed.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to promote long-term fiscal devolution; and what assessment they have made of the potential of greater fiscal devolution to address regional inequalities and growth rates.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The United Kingdom Government regularly considers how fiscal devolution arrangements are working in practice, taking into account the views of a range of stakeholders.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to consider the learnings on fiscal devolution of each nation and region in Council of the Nations and Regions.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The United Kingdom Government regularly considers how fiscal devolution arrangements are working in practice, taking into account the views of a range of stakeholders.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to consider the learnings on fiscal devolution of each nation and region in the British–Irish Council.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The United Kingdom Government regularly considers how fiscal devolution arrangements are working in practice, taking into account the views of a range of stakeholders.