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) support and (b) encourage Integrated Care Boards to prescribe semaglutide for weight management.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne

Obesity medicines can be effective for some patients living with obesity when prescribed alongside diet, physical activity, and behavioural support. Exactly what is most appropriate for an individual is down to health care professionals to advise, in discussion with patients, and considering relevant clinical guidance.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended semaglutide as an option for weight management, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, for adults that meet the eligibility criteria, and only if it is used within a specialist weight management service providing multidisciplinary management of overweight or obesity.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for arranging the provision of health services within their area in line with local priorities, considering population need and relevant guidance. This includes the commissioning of NHS specialist weight management services.

National Health Service organisations, including ICBs, are continuing to look at the best way to manage access to treatments for obesity.

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 increase the supply of semaglutide in Hazel Grove constituency.

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

The Department monitors and manages medicine supply at a national level so that stocks remain available to meet regional and local demand. Information on stock levels within individual constituencies is not held centrally.

The Department is not aware of any current supply issues for semaglutide. Ozempic and Wegovy, injectable forms of semaglutide, are currently available, and Rybelsus, an oral tablet containing semaglutide, is also available. The Department continues to monitor the situation, ensuring that medicines remain available for new patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as those unable to obtain their existing treatment.

The General Pharmaceutical Council, General Medical Council, Health and Care Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, and Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland have also issued a joint statement stressing the importance of health and care professionals meeting regulatory standards in relation to these medicines. The guidance is clear, that medications licensed to treat type 2 diabetes should not be prescribed for weight loss, except where specifically licenced for this use. Any patient who is worried about their condition, or access to these medications, should speak to their clinician in the first instance.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Article 13(b) of the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, what steps she is taking to ensure the definition in UK law of "grave risk of harm" includes domestic violence.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

There is no legal definition of “grave risk of harm” in England and Wales. In the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention court cases about the return of a child where one of the parties seeks to demonstrate there is a grave risk of harm under Article 13(b) in the specific case, evidence of domestic abuse can be put before the court. It is a matter for the independent court hearing a case under the 1980 Hague Convention to assess the evidence put before the court and to decide if a grave risk of harm is established.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to advocate reform of the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction to better protect victims of domestic violence.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The UK supports the work of the Hague Conference on Private International Law on their multilateral Conventions, including the 1980 Hague Child Abduction Convention, and works with other States Party to that Convention to improve its operation. The UK is taking a leading role in working with the Hague Conference to consider the impact of allegations and evidence of domestic abuse in judicial decision-making under the 1980 Hague Convention.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Minister for Health and Secondary Care plans to respond to the correspondence of 6 November 2024 from the hon. Member for Hazel Grove on funding for Stepping Hill Hospital.

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

I replied to the hon. Member on 29 January 2025.

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Found: _NC1 Munira Wilson Lisa Smart Caroline Voaden Wendy Chamberlain Manuela Perteghella Steff Aquarone

Found: _NC1 Munira Wilson Lisa Smart Caroline Voaden Wendy Chamberlain Manuela Perteghella Steff Aquarone

Found: Withdrawn after debate_NC1 Munira Wilson Lisa Smart Caroline Voaden Wendy Chamberlain Manuela Perteghella

Found: _NC1 Munira Wilson Lisa Smart Caroline Voaden Wendy Chamberlain Manuela Perteghella Steff Aquarone

Found: _NC1 Munira Wilson Lisa Smart Caroline Voaden Wendy Chamberlain Manuela Perteghella Steff Aquarone

Found: _NC1 Munira Wilson Lisa Smart Caroline Voaden Wendy Chamberlain Manuela Perteghella Steff Aquarone

Found: _NC1 Munira Wilson Lisa Smart Caroline Voaden Wendy Chamberlain Manuela Perteghella Steff Aquarone