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 cost to the public purse of providing the covid-19 vaccination to pensioners under 75; and how he made that estimate.

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

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Population immunity to COVID-19 has been increasing due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity following recovery from infection and vaccine-derived immunity. COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people, though it can still be unpleasant, with rates of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 having reduced significantly since COVID-19 first emerged.

The focus of the JCVI advised national programme has therefore moved towards targeted vaccination of those who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease, including mortality. In line with JCVI advice, in autumn 2025 a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered to:

- adults aged 75 years old and over;

- residents in care homes for older adults; and

- individuals aged six months old and over who are immunosuppressed.

The JCVI’s advice for COVID-19 for autumn 2025 was informed by a standard cost-effectiveness assessment, in line with other routine vaccinations in the national immunisation programme, and the JCVI Code of Practice. The JCVI operates within a framework similar to that used by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to support optimal use of health service resources.

The JCVI’s advice for autumn 2025, including the rationale and approach to cost effectiveness, is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason Jared Taylor was permitted to attend the Patriotic Alternative Conference in October 2025.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

In accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018, I am unable to comment on the immigration status of individuals.

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 make treatment available to people with Irritable bowel syndrome.

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

We recognise the significant impact that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can have on a person’s quality of life. We want a society where every person, including those with one or more long-term conditions like IBS, receives high-quality, compassionate care.

To support the early diagnosis and effective management of IBS, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced guidance, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg61

NICE has also produced guidance specifically on the use of faecal calprotectin tests as a way of diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This is a non-invasive, inexpensive method for assessing patients, which has a 90% sensitivity for distinguishing between IBD and IBS.

The Royal College of General Practitioners has produced an e-learning module on the IBS pathway. The course covers the investigation of patients who present with lower gastrointestinal symptoms that are likely to be IBS, the red flags to look out for, how to make a confident diagnosis in primary care, and how to manage patients in line with NICE guidance.

Found: the meeting Members present: Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair); Mr Bayo Alaba; Vicky Foxcroft; Dr Rupa Huq

Found: Members present: Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair); Bayo Alaba; Vicky Foxcroft; Damian Hinds; Dr Rupa Huq

Found: Members present: Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair); Mr Bayo Alaba; Vicky Foxcroft; Damian Hinds; Dr Rupa Huq

Found: Members present: Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair); Mr Bayo Alaba; Vicky Foxcroft; Damian Hinds; Dr Rupa Huq

Found: Members present: Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair); Mr Bayo Alaba; Vicky Foxcroft; Damian Hinds; Dr Rupa Huq

Found: Samantha Dixon (Labour; Chester North and Neston) Zöe Franklin (Liberal Democrat; Guildford) Dr Rupa Huq

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Dame Caroline Dinenage (Chair); Mr Bayo Alaba; Zöe Franklin; Dr Rupa Huq