Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the toxicology non-clinical studies for zapomeran, also called Kostaive, mRNA covid-19 vaccine following its approval for adults by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Whilst the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not publish non-clinical studies, in line with Section 64 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, the MHRA has published a public assessment report (PAR) for Kostaive. This PAR includes the MHRA’s assessment of the non-clinical data submitted. This PAR is accessible to the public on the MHRA’s products website at the following link:
https://mhraproducts4853.blob.core.windows.net/docs/0e710f66d3e04b6346f668178c02524de9248f57
This product was authorised via the International Recognition Procedure ‘Route B’ process, with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) acting as the reference regulator. Further information on the EMA’s assessment of Kostaive, including its own PAR, is accessible to the public on the EMA’s website at the following link:
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/kostaive
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2026 to Question 111118 on Coronavirus: Research, what is the definition of the word “routine” in this context.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In the context of the answer to Question 111118 of 13 February 2026, “routine” refers to the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority standard practice on publications of audit outcomes.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to question 98754, what his planned timetable is for publication of the packaging change report.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published an overview of the completion of the work by the expert working group (EWG) and subsequent advice from the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) in December 2025 on the MHRA website.
The MHRA has been working with healthcare partner organisations to take forward the recommendations of the EWG and the advice of the CHM. This includes seeking the views of patients with a range of mental health conditions on the proposed updates to the regulatory position for the 28 antidepressants involved in the review in relation to the warnings on suicidal behaviour. The MHRA is ensuring that those who take part receive appropriate safeguarding and signposting, which is required to support their involvement in this work. It is estimated that this user testing will be completed within three months.
It is not possible to confirm the timetable for the publication of the public assessment report until the regulatory position is finalised.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
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 mental health patients per caseworker across the country.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information is not held in the format requested.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the annual budget for each individual NHS care trust was in each of the last five years.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The trust accounts consolidation data publications for National Health Service trusts and NHS foundation trusts include total operating income and expenditure, and are available for the last five financial years. Data for 2024/25 is currently being finalised for publication. This information is publicly available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/financial-accounting-and-reporting/nhs-providers-tac-data-publications/
NHS England does not set annual budgets for individual trusts. Trusts earn income from their NHS commissioners for the clinical services they provide, as well as local authorities, private patient work, research, and other sources such as car parking. Trusts submit financial plans to NHS England for agreement that will reflect their planned income and expenditure, and performance against the plan is then monitored through the course of the financial year.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the bed capacity was in each NHS care trust in each of the last five years.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England publishes data on general and acute bed occupancy and capacity. The data can be found at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/bed-availability-and-occupancy/
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average cost was of an inquiry into (a) NHS trust and (b) care trusts in the last 12 months.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There were three statutory and non-statutory inquiries into National Health Service trusts and care trusts commissioned by the Department in the 2025/26 financial year. The average cost per inquiry over this period is approximately £4.3 million.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to The Bread and Flour (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2024, what steps he has taken to avoid harm to people unable to take folic acid.
Answered by Ashley Dalton
The Government laid legislation in England on 14 November 2024 to introduce the mandatory fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid. Similar legislation in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland has also been laid. The provisions will become mandatory in December 2026.
Non-wholemeal wheat flour is already the established vehicle for mandatory fortification, as it is currently fortified with calcium, iron, niacin, and thiamine. There was a United Kingdom-wide agreement to limit folic acid fortification to flour that is already fortified, so that individuals are able to avoid fortified flour if they choose to or need to. These individuals will continue to be able to consume wholemeal flour and other non-wheat products, including gluten-free products and soy and spelt flours.
To ensure people can easily identify products that are suitable for them, added vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, must be labelled in the flour’s ingredients list. This must also be declared when fortified flour is used as an ingredient. For individuals with specific dietary needs, personalised advice from a registered dietitian or healthcare professional is recommended to help manage intakes as part of a healthy, balanced diet. An impact assessment has been published alongside the legislation, and is available at the following link:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1162/resources
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2026 to Question 109089 on Coronavirus: Research, when the UK Health Security Agency requested the report.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Routine audit outcomes by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority are not generally published or otherwise required to be shared externally beyond the parties involved. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) requested this report from Moderna in January. Whilst this has yet to be received, the UKHSA is due to meet with Moderna in the coming weeks to further understand how they are considering the findings, beyond the responses they have already provided as part of the interim case report.
Once the follow-up audit has concluded, expected in late 2026 or early 2027, the final case report and any associated outcomes will be published in accordance with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Code of Practice.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2026 to Question 106102 on Coronavirus: Research, for what reason they have yet to receive a copy of the audit; and how the scope of the recommendations can be understood without it.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The UK Health Security Agency has requested this report and continues discussions with Moderna on their response to the audit’s recommendations. This is being considered and reviewed alongside the commercial management of the Moderna-United Kingdom Strategic Partnership.