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 (a) recognise and (b) address the increased risk of developing cancer associated with alcohol consumption.

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

Alcohol has been identified as a causal factor in more than 200 medical conditions, including mouth, throat, stomach, liver and breast cancers. The Government is committed to reversing the trend on alcohol-specific deaths and shortening the amount of time people spend in ill-health related to due to alcohol-related harm.

Under our Health Mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. The Department will continue to work across Government to better understand how we can best reduce alcohol-related harms. Furthermore, the National Cancer Plan will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care- as well as prevention and research and innovation. The plan will build on the shift from sickness to prevention set out by the 10-Year Health Plan and will seek to reduce risk factors.

The United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk drinking guidelines state: “The risk of developing a range of health problems (including cancers of the mouth, throat and breast) increases the more you drink on a regular basis” and that “To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis”. The low risk drinking guidelines are available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80b7ed40f0b623026951db/UK_CMOs__report.pdf

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the National Cancer Plan will place a priority on (a) recognising and (b) addressing the cancer risks associated with alcohol.

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

Alcohol has been identified as a causal factor in more than 200 medical conditions, including mouth, throat, stomach, liver and breast cancers. The Government is committed to reversing the trend on alcohol-specific deaths and shortening the amount of time people spend in ill-health related to due to alcohol-related harm.

Under our Health Mission, the Government is committed to prioritising preventative public health measures to support people to live longer, healthier lives. The Department will continue to work across Government to better understand how we can best reduce alcohol-related harms. Furthermore, the National Cancer Plan will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care- as well as prevention and research and innovation. The plan will build on the shift from sickness to prevention set out by the 10-Year Health Plan and will seek to reduce risk factors.

The United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk drinking guidelines state: “The risk of developing a range of health problems (including cancers of the mouth, throat and breast) increases the more you drink on a regular basis” and that “To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level it is safest not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis”. The low risk drinking guidelines are available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a80b7ed40f0b623026951db/UK_CMOs__report.pdf

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 support (a) GPs and (b) other healthcare professionals to distribute the pregnancy prevention program for people prescribed Sodium Valproate.

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

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), taking advice from the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM), has worked to raise awareness among healthcare professionals and patients of the risks of valproate when taken during pregnancy through several updates to the valproate Summary of Product Characteristics for healthcare professionals, as well as Patient Information Leaflets and educational materials. The magnitude and type of risks associated with valproate use in pregnancy have been communicated in articles in the MHRA’s bulletin, Drug Safety Update, and letters through the NHS Central Alerting System, supported by messages from professional bodies and reinforced through changes to clinical guidelines and improved alerts in general practitioner prescribing systems.

The valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme, implemented in 2018, is supported by educational materials for healthcare professionals and patients, and describes the neurodevelopmental disorders and major congenital malformations associated with the use of valproate in pregnancy, with information available electronically and in a hard copy format for healthcare professionals.

In January 2024, the MHRA communicated in an article in Drug Safety Update advice from the CHM that valproate must not be started in new patients, either male or female, younger than 55 years old unless two specialists independently consider and document that there is no other effective or tolerated treatment, or there are compelling reasons that the reproductive risks do not apply. It was advised that women and girls of childbearing potential already receiving valproate should have their treatment discussed by two specialists at their next annual review. The requirement for two specialists to review these patients is a one off, and subsequent annual reviews required under the Pregnancy Prevention Programme (PPP) are undertaken by a single specialist.

In May 2025, further updates to the PPP’s educational materials have been made available to all healthcare professionals and patients electronically, and these will be sent to healthcare professionals in a hard copy format that can provided to patients, to support the discussions between healthcare professionals and patients.

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 disabled children with a diagnosis of Foetal Valproate Syndrome between the ages of 16yrs old and 18 yrs old receive the full amount of care which was given during their paediatric years.

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

Everyone who has been harmed by sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies.

NHS England recognises that healthcare transition should be need and complexity based, not managed solely on diagnosis or what is routinely provided. Its Children and Young People’s Transformation Programme, along with key stakeholders, has developed a framework to aid the design of healthcare transition pathways that reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes for all young people.

The guidance outlines key principles and examples of models of care for those aged between zero and 25 years old, including clearer accountability and improved services for those aged 16 to 17 years old. NHS England is due to publish this guidance later this summer.

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 disabled children between the ages of 16 and 18 with a diagnosis of foetal valproate syndrome receive the full amount of care that was provided during their paediatric years.

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

Everyone who has been harmed by sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies.

NHS England recognises that healthcare transition should be need and complexity based, not managed solely on diagnosis or what is routinely provided. Its Children and Young People’s Transformation Programme, along with key stakeholders, has developed a framework to aid the design of healthcare transition pathways that reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes for all young people.

The guidance outlines key principles and examples of models of care for those aged between zero and 25 years old, including clearer accountability and improved services for those aged 16 to 17 years old. NHS England is due to publish this guidance later this summer.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in the debate of 27 March 2025 on Hughes Report: First Anniversary, Official Report, column 472WH, what his planned timetable is for considering the costs of the Patient Safety Commissioner's report on valproate.

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

The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of potential claimants for redress for valproate.

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

The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of providing interim payments for people avoidably harmed by Sodium Valproate.

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

The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has met with Sanofi to discuss the topic of redress for people affected by Sodium Valproate in pregnancy since July 2024.

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

The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps is he taking to ensure that people harmed by the drug Valproate in pregnancy will be fully compensated.

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

The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has allocated funding for Valproate (a) financial redress and (b) interim payments.

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

The Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the health-related findings in the Institute of Alcohol Studies report entitled Spin the Bottle: How the UK alcohol industry twists the facts on harm and responsibility; and what steps he is taking to ensure that engagement with industry stakeholders aligns with the Principles for Engaging with Industry Stakeholders published by Public Health England.

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

The Department has noted the publication of the Institute of Alcohol Studies’ report. It will consider its findings and reflect on the relevant policies, as necessary.

External engagement is a fundamental part of what United Kingdom ministerial Government departments do. We recognise the importance of promoting transparency through engagement and the need to take a balanced approach. Details of ministers’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on the GOV.UK website.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if (a) he and (b) the Minister for Public Health and Prevention will meet the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre to discuss further safety issues to prevent avoidable harm from Sodium Valproate in pregnancy.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is taking proactive steps to inform the public on the very latest safety issues relating to sodium valproate in pregnancy. The MHRA has, most recently in May 2025, approved updated safety and educational materials to support the implementation of the pregnancy prevention programme and the regulatory measures announced in the November 2023 National Patient Safety Alert, as well as the September 2024 Drug Safety Update. We would welcome the Hon. Member to write to the Department, where we can provide due consideration to any points raised.

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 the four out of 10 cases of cancer which are preventable.

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

The Government recognises the importance of primary and secondary prevention, to reduce the number of people with cancer.

There are significant national programmes across vaccination, screening, and education, which have the potential to support both reductions in cases of cancer, and increases in early diagnosis rates. For example, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has led to a substantial reduction in cervical cancer cases. All children aged 12 to 13 years old in England, those in Year 8, are offered the HPV vaccine, and NHS England is taking action to increase uptake, as outlined in the NHS Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan. In addition, the NHS Cervical Screening Programme provides all women between the ages of 25 and 64 years old with the opportunity to be screened routinely to detect certain types of HPV infection, which is the cause of 99.7% of cervical cancer.

Smoking is the cause of 72% of all lung cancers, and in response to this, the Government is committed to creating a smoke-free generation through the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which will gradually end the sale of tobacco products across the country.

The Government and the National Health Service also recognise that a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the biggest risk factors of certain cancers. To address risks related to overweight and obesity across the United Kingdom, the Government has laid secondary legislation to restrict advertisements of less healthy food and drink products, and is taking steps to ensure the Soft Drinks Industry Levy remains effective. In England, to promote physical activity, the NHS’s Better Health Campaign signposts people to digital support like the NHS Active 10 walking app. The Department will continue to work across the Government to understand how to reduce alcohol-related harms in England and the UK. The Government and the NHS recognise the importance of physical activity for the prevention and management of long-term health conditions.

The National Cancer Plan, planned for publication later this year, will set out how we will fight cancer on all fronts, from prevention to diagnosis, treatment, and research.

Cancer Prevention Action Week on alcohol and cancer

Safe Inside Prisons Charter

Import of goods from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Funding for British Transport Police

Prison education insourcing

Fairtrade tea campaign

UK Government recognition of the state of Palestine

Found: Jones X: Kirith Entwistle, Jas Athwal, Gurinder Singh Josan, Warinder Juss and Naushabah Khan XI: Cat Smith

Found: committee met in private with Meg Hillier, in her capacity as Chair of the Liaison Committee, and Cat Smith

Found: Mullane Jess Asato Lizzi Collinge Gill Furniss Katrina Murray Lillian Jones Mary Glindon Cat Smith

Found: Mullane Jess Asato Lizzi Collinge Gill Furniss Katrina Murray Lillian Jones Mary Glindon Cat Smith

Found: Darren Paffey Freddie van Mierlo Rebecca Paul Mr Louie French Andrew Rosindell Leigh Ingham Cat Smith

Found: Darren Paffey Freddie van Mierlo Rebecca Paul Mr Louie French Andrew Rosindell Leigh Ingham Cat Smith

Found: Darren Paffey Freddie van Mierlo Rebecca Paul Mr Louie French Andrew Rosindell Leigh Ingham Cat Smith

Found: Ellie Chowns Tonia Antoniazzi Anneliese Dodds Darren Paffey Freddie van Mierlo Leigh Ingham Cat Smith

Found: Ellie Chowns Tonia Antoniazzi Anneliese Dodds Darren Paffey Freddie van Mierlo Leigh Ingham Cat Smith

Found: Ellie Chowns Tonia Antoniazzi Anneliese Dodds Darren Paffey Freddie van Mierlo Leigh Ingham Cat Smith

Found: Gale Clive Efford Chi Onwurah Debbie Abrahams Patricia Ferguson Simon Hoare Bob Blackman Cat Smith