Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Melton and Syston)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential for asymptomatic (a) transmission and (b) infection with hantavirus.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Pre-symptomatic transmission in Andes hantavirus has not been documented. However, as a precautionary principal it should be assumed that there is potential for presymptomatic transmission from two days prior to symptom onset, including early, prodromal symptoms.
From the limited published studies on Andes hantavirus, there is no evidence of asymptomatic transmission or infection. United Kingdom contacts are undergoing serial testing to detect any subclinical infections.
The risk remains very low for members of the general public. Most hantaviruses do not spread between humans, although person-to-person transmission has happened with the Andes hantavirus strain in rare cases.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Melton and Syston)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of which therapeutics are effective for treating the symptoms of hantavirus.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There is currently no vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for most hantavirus infections. Treatment is supportive and based on symptoms, such as hospital care and respiratory support.
Favipiravir is an antiviral medicine which is not licensed in the United Kingdom but has been recommended by clinical advisers as an appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis for the current hantavirus incident. Favipiravir is being offered as post-exposure prophylaxis to eligible high-risk contacts.
In the event of symptoms and a positive test, the patient will be transferred to relevant high consequence infectious disease facilities, in accordance with NHS guidance.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Melton and Syston)
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 average mortality rate of each strain of hantavirus.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The mortality rate of hantaviruses varies considerably depending on the strain and the quality of care available. For the Andes hantavirus, it has been estimated at up to 30 to 50%, however the upper end of that estimate is from data published around 30 years ago and has since declined. With prompt hospital treatment and respiratory support, outcomes may be significantly better.
The United Kingdom’s response to this complex incident is being led by the UK Health Security Agency working closely with the World Health Organization, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Home Office, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Ministry of Defence, the UK Devolved Governments and international partners. Collectively, they are doing everything possible to protect the safety and well-being of British nationals, and to provide reassurance to UK citizens.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Melton and Syston)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the level of human-to-human transmission of hantavirus.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Most hantaviruses do not spread between humans, although person-to-person transmission has happened with the Andes virus strain in rare cases. The risk from the recent outbreak remains very low for members of the general public.
The United Kingdom’s response to this complex incident is being led by the UK Health Security Agency working closely with the World Health Organization, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Home Office, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Ministry of Defence, the UK Devolved Governments and international partners. Collectively, they are doing everything possible to protect the safety and well-being of British nationals, and to provide reassurance to UK citizens.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Melton and Syston)
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 prevalence of hantavirus in the UK.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The risk to the United Kingdom general population remains very low. The Andes virus, the virus associated with the outbreak linked to the MV Hondius, is typically associated with South American rodent species that are not found in the UK.
The UK’s response to this complex incident is being led by the UK Health Security Agency working closely with the World Health Organization, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Home Office, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Ministry of Defence, the UK Devolved Governments and international partners. Collectively, they are doing everything possible to protect the safety and well-being of British nationals, and to provide reassurance to UK citizens.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Melton and Syston)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of (a) Named day and (b) Ordinary written parliamentary questions were answered within the required timescale in each month between November 2025 and April 2026.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department recognises the importance of the effective and timely handling of written Parliamentary Questions (PQs).
Data on response times to PQs is published following the end of every session by the House of Commons Procedure Committee as part of their continued monitoring and reporting of departmental PQ performance. The next report will be released in due course.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Melton and Syston)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of (a) named day questions, and (b) ordinary written questions were responded to by his Department within the required timescale in (i) May 2025, (ii) June 2025, (iii) July 2025, (iv) August 2025, (v) September 2025 and (vi) October 2025.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The following table shows the information requested:
Month | Named Day | Ordinary Written |
May 2025 | 55.3% | 73.8% |
June 2025 | 44.4% | 53.3% |
July 2025 | 45.2% | 60.7% |
August 2025 | N/A | N/A |
September 2025 | 36.9% | 53.3% |
October 2025 | 52.3% | 46.0% |
Source: Department of Health and Social Care
Note: there were no written parliamentary questions due for answer in August 2025 as Parliament was in recess for that entire month.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Melton and Syston)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total budget was for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board in (a) 2023-24, (b) 2024-2025 and (c) 2025-6 financial years.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care board revenue allocations are available here:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/allocations/
The total revenue allocations for consecutive years are not comparable as the scope of services covered changes. For instance, some specialised services were delegated for the first time in 2025/26.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Melton and Syston)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total full FTE headcount employed by Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland ICS was in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025 as at 1st January of each year.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England publishes monthly Hospital and Community Health Services workforce statistics for England. These include staff employed by hospital trusts and integrated care boards but excludes staff working for other providers such as in primary care or social care. This data is drawn from the Electronic Staff Record, the Human Resources system for the National Health Service, and is available at the following link:
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics
The most recent published data can be found within the July 2025 (Including selected preliminary statistics for August 2025) section of the publication, within the file “NHS Workforce Statistics, July 2025 England and Organisation”. Within this file, the full time equivalent (FTE) staffing levels for NHS organisations can be found in worksheet 5 and the headcount data can be found in worksheet 4. Published figures are taken from the last day of each month.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Melton and Syston)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with the Mayor of Leicester on local government reorganisation; and on what dates since 1 January 2025.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No discussions have been held between ministers of the Department of Health and Social Care and the Mayor of Leicester on local government reorganisation since 1 January 2025.
Local government reorganisation is led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The Department of Health and Social Care engages with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the implications of local government reorganisation for health and care services.