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 impact of levels of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, including Creon, on patient health outcomes.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has made no formal assessment of the potential impact of levels of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) on health outcomes. However, the Department engages routinely with a range of representatives including local and regional pharmacy leads and patient charities to ensure that management strategies are improving access to PERT.

The Department is aware of ongoing intermittent supply issues with PERT, including Creon capsules. Supplies of Creon and other licensed alternatives have improved in the past year, and specialist importers have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the remaining gap in the market. We continue to work closely with the manufacturers to resolve the issues as soon as possible and to ensure patients have continuous access to medicines.

We have widely disseminated comprehensive guidance to healthcare professionals about these supply issues, which provide advice on how to manage patients whilst there is disruption to supply. This includes serious shortage protocols to limit prescriptions to one month’s supply to ensure equitable distribution of available supplies and that Creon remains available for those patients who need it. The Department has issued additional management advice to healthcare professionals which directs clinicians to consider the unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable and includes actions for integrated care boards to have local mitigation plans in place and implemented to ensure that no patient is left without PERT.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when she plans to update Parliament on future expansions of the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, including whether refined petroleum products are under consideration for inclusion.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

For the introduction of Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in January 2027, the UK has focused on the sectors most at risk of carbon leakage within scope of the UK ETS, and where it is technically feasible to include products in scope.

As announced at Budget 2025, the government is considering the feasibility and impacts of including refined products in the CBAM in future.

The sectoral scope of the CBAM will be kept under review beyond 2027 as new evidence comes to light to reflect methodological and technological advances.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make a comparative assessment of Vehicle Excise Duty rates for motorcycles with cars; and whether she has plans to review the Vehicle Excise Duty framework for motorcycles.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), sometimes known as 'road tax' or 'car tax', is a tax on vehicles used or kept on public roads. Different rates apply to cars, vans, and motorcycles, and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, weight, or CO2 emissions.

VED for motorcycles is currently based on engine size. There are four engine size ranges, with the lowest rate applying to zero emission motorcycles and the smallest engines sized 150cc or less (currently £26, and increasing to £27 from 1 April 2026 in line with RPI).The highest rate applies to engines sized 600cc and above (currently £121, and increasing to £125 from 1 April 2026 in line with RPI).

The Government annually reviews the rates and thresholds of taxes and reliefs to ensure that they are appropriate and reflect the current state of the economy. The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the public finances.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of digital connectivity for businesses operating in ports, docks and coastal industrial zones.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Network coverage data published by Ofcom does not include specific datasets for ports, docks or coastal industrial zones.

The Government recognises that high quality digital connectivity is essential for businesses in the UK, including those operating in ports, docks and coastal industrial zones. This is why our ambition is for all populated areas to have higher quality standalone 5G by 2030, and we have a target to deliver nationwide (99%) gigabit broadband coverage by 2032.

Through Project Gigabit, we are delivering fast, reliable broadband to UK premises not included in suppliers' commercial plans.

We are also investing in projects across the UK through the 5G Innovation Regions Programme, which aims to increase investment in 5G networks and encourage the adoption of advanced connectivity services in key sectors, including ports and industrial zones.

Found: PRO0116 92 Ma, Dr Huanjia (Research Fellow, City-REDI, University of Birmingham) PRO0132 93 Melanie Onn

Found: Q335 Melanie Onn: Do we have the selection criteria yet?

Found: Q335 Melanie Onn: Do we have the selection criteria yet?

Found: (Chair); Ms Polly Billington; Lizzi Collinge; Torcuil Crichton; Graeme Downie; Wera Hobhouse; Melanie Onn

Found: (Chair); Ms Polly Billington; Lizzi Collinge; Torcuil Crichton; Graeme Downie; Wera Hobhouse; Melanie Onn

Submit Evidence (by 27 Mar 2026)

The Committee is inquiring into what reforms are needed to the UK electricity market to enable the transition to clean, lower cost energy by 2023.