Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, since 2019 how many price concessions were offered to pharmacists who were not able to secure products at the price set out in the NHS list for repaying them, year-on-year.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The number of price concessions granted to pharmacy contractors in England from 2019 to 2025 is listed in the table below. Figures for the current year will follow in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK-US Pharmaceutical Trade Deal on the Scottish Medicines Consortium's assessments of the cost effectiveness of new medicines.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The changes to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence cost-effectiveness threshold and value set which were agreed in the United Kingdom and United States’ pharmaceuticals arrangement do not apply in Scotland, and there is no direct impact on the work of the Scottish Medicines Consortium.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will publish impact assessments, modelling and further detail on the UK-US pharmaceutical trade deal.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he received on 20 January in response to Question 106237.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, if he will make it his policy to review the eligibility criteria of the British Industry Supercharger Scheme to include the food and drink industry.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade officials intend to review the eligibility criteria for the British Industry Supercharger this year. I encourage relevant businesses, including in the food and drink industry, to engage with this review when the opportunity arises.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to respond to correspondence sent to his Department on 25 June with the reference number SL06987/dw regarding the campaign to stop the support of Israel's illegal settlements.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I apologise to the Honourable Member for the delay in responding. Responses have now been issued to these letters.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to respond to correspondence sent to his Department on 25th June, and followed up on 28th July and 31st August, with the reference number SL06989/dw, regarding genocide in Gaza.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I apologise to the Honourable Member for the delay in responding. Responses have now been issued to these letters.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many missed outpatient appointments there were in England in each year since 2022.

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

Data on missed outpatient appointments is available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/hospital-outpatient-activity

This refers to instances where a patient did not attend a scheduled appointment.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he will respond to correspondence sent to his Department on 12th May with the reference number SL06410/dw regarding the small boat flotilla with aid for Gaza.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I apologise to the Honourable Member for the delay in responding. Responses have now been issued to these letters.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether Project Gigabit is on track for 99% of UK premises to have access to gigabit-capable broadband by 2032; and whether Government-funded elements of the Shared Rural Network are on track to complete by January 2027.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Yes, we are on track to achieve this target.

As of January 2026, 88% of UK premises could access gigabit-capable broadband, while more than 1.46 million premises in hard-to-reach areas have been upgraded through government-funded programmes.

Delivery of the Government-funded elements of the Shared Rural Network remains on track for January 2027. This includes the upgrade and activation of the remaining 30 Home Office masts across Great Britain, alongside delivery of the 0.2% coverage obligation from new Total Not Spot (TNS) masts in Scotland.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the migration of the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network to digital Voice over Internet Protocol is on track to be completed by January 2027.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Through a combination of commercial market and government subsidised delivery, including via Project Gigabit, the Government is ensuring 99% of UK premises will have access to gigabit-capable broadband by 2032.

According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations Spring 2026 report, as of January 2026, 88% of UK premises can access gigabit-capable broadband.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to ensure Ofcom enforces the Universal Service Obligation.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government sets the legislative framework for universal service, and Ofcom as the independent regulator is responsible for implementing and enforcing the relevant regulatory obligations.

The Government can review and amend the statutory framework and where legislation provides for it, direct Ofcom to undertake reviews. We are currently working closely with Ofcom to commence a review of the Broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) shortly.

Through the Strategic Statement of Priorities for telecoms, spectrum and post, designated in April 2026, the Government outlined priorities for Ofcom relating to both the Postal and Broadband USOs.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, if he will review the eligibility criteria of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to include the food and drink industry.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

BICS is a targeted scheme designed to support a defined group of sectors within the Industrial Strategy, where electricity cost relief is expected to have the greatest impact on growth in its agreed cost envelope. There is no scope to amend the eligibility criteria of this scheme ahead of the scheme commencing in April 2027.

The Government remains committed to supporting the Food and Drink industry. This includes support through the Business Growth Service which brings together advice, guidance and support to help businesses grow. Additionally, the British Business Bank supports access to finance, including through the Growth Guarantee Scheme.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the challenges preventing people over State Pension age from claiming means-tested social security entitlements, including Pension Credit and Housing Benefit.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Research suggests that there are a range of reasons why some pensioners don’t claim Pension Credit. These include lack of awareness and uncertainty about eligibility. Some pensioners assume that they will not be entitled because they own their own home or have modest savings or other retirement income. Some may be put off by the mistaken belief that the claim process is complex or lengthy or be hesitant to provide personal or financial information. Pensioners in rural areas may face added barriers such as having limited access to local support services, social isolation or poor digital connectivity.

Maximising Pension Credit take-up is a key Government priority. That is why we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign across Great Britain to encourage pensioners and their families to check their eligibility, dispelling some of the myths that can stop people from claiming. We are building on this with the launch of our autumn campaign and a Pension Credit week of action from 12 October. The campaign includes new advertising across television, radio, print and social media, supported by media partnerships and social media influencers. We are also distributing some 660,000 leaflets to selected households across Great Britain and we continue to work closely with partners and Local Authorities to help support the campaign. And the Department’s work bringing together the administration of pensioner Housing Benefit and Pension Credit, aims to deliver a more joined-up service and improve access to financial support, helping to ensure more pensioners receive all the benefits to which they are entitled.

Jackdaw gas field

Arrests of Friends of Standing Together and British nationals in the West Bank

Pope Leo XIV

Cable Street 90th anniversary

Retaining the Triple Lock on pensions

Hospitality VAT reduction and the VAT Is The Problem campaign

Baby Loss Awareness Week (No. 2)

Ukrainian Day of Defenders

Support for off-grid homes

Road fuel prices

Contribution of cinemas to local communities

Garvaghy Road

Found: Connectivity in Scotland: Digital Connectivity Seamus Logan MP, John Lamont MP, Jamie Stone MP, John