Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will commission an independent review of the Report of the Commission on Human Medicines’ Expert Working Group on Hormone Pregnancy Tests, published on 15 November 2017.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are hugely sympathetic to the families who believe that they or their children have suffered following the use of hormone pregnancy tests. It is not currently the Government’s intention to review the Report of the Commission on Human Medicines; however we are committed to reviewing any new scientific evidence which may come to light.

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 support those impacted by Primodos.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Primodos is one of three areas Baroness Cumberlege was asked to look into as part of her Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Review, which reported in 2020. Since the report was published, action has been taken to address the issues identified, including appointing the first Patient Safety Commissioner to champion patient voice in relation to the safety of medicines and medical devices.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much capital funding he plans to provide to expand dental school estates to accommodate the increased number of dental students from September 2026.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department for Education is responsible for capital investment in Higher Education Institutions, including dental schools, and we will work closely with them on this matter. Specific programmes of capital funding to support dental school expansion are subject to the upcoming spending review.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the cost of training for new dental academic staff to support the expansion of dental school places in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan is fully funded.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Higher Education Institutions are responsible for training their members of staff, and ensuring they have adequate staffing levels to teach their courses.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the regulation of sales of weight loss injections by online pharmacies.

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

When used appropriately, online prescribing provides a valuable route for patient access, taking pressure off general practices. We are concerned, however, about some online prescribing, including the prescribing of weight loss medicines by online businesses. These are prescription only medicines (POMs), licensed for use in the United Kingdom by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and should be prescribed according to the terms of the MHRA’s marketing authorisation. Prescribing outside of these terms, known as off-label prescribing, should only take place when the prescriber doing so judges it to be in the best interest of the patient, on the basis of the available evidence.

Rules regarding the advertising and promotion of medicines in the UK are set out under Part 14 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. The MHRA works closely with other regulators to help ensure that the public is protected from the advertising of POMs. A joint enforcement operation is in place with the Advertising Standards Authority to take targeted action against weight-loss treatment providers who use social media to promote POMs. In England, online prescribing is regulated by the Care Quality Commission and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). The GPhC regulates the supply of medicines against prescriptions in pharmacies. Regulators are able to take action when a provider does not comply with the standards.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to help reduce waiting times for SEND services in schools.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

For too long the education and care system has not met the needs of all children, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Parents and carers have struggled to get their children the support they need, with many children and young people having to wait far longer than they should for the services they need.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with SEND, or in alternative provision, receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department will be focusing on a community-wide approach, improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, and ensuring that special schools cater to those with the most complex needs.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a tenancy support duty for possessions proceedings for the private rented sector.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Renters’ Rights Bill will support quicker, cheaper resolution when there are disputes, preventing them escalating to court. A new ombudsman service for the private rented sector will provide fair, impartial and binding resolution to both landlords and tenants.

My department will continue to work alongside the Ministry of Justice to explore options for pre-action resolution, to help ensure that only cases which need adjudication come to court.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to support international partners with ceasefire discussions on Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary and I have stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire in our conversations with Israeli, Arab and regional leaders. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this message during visits to the region on 14-15 July and 31 July - 1 August and during his recent joint visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories with his French counterpart on 16 August. The Prime Minister has also joined international leaders in this call.

There has been a renewed push for a diplomatic solution and the Foreign Secretary has joined statements by the G7, and with the United States, France, Germany, and Italy, reinforcing the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the discussions to bring it about. Such a deal is absolutely critical. The UK welcomes the tireless mediation efforts of our partners in Qatar, Egypt and the United States, towards an agreement on a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the (a) capacity of (i) hospitals and (ii) primary health care centres and (b) availability of (A) medicine and (B) basic medical supplies in Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The FCDO is closely monitoring the impact of the conflict in Gaza on health. We collect information from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners based in Gaza.

According to the WHO, no hospitals in Gaza are fully functional. 16 hospitals out of 36 are partially functioning. Of primary health care facilities, only an estimated 30-35 percent are functional compared to pre-conflict levels. This has fallen sharply as a result of recent evacuation orders in the Deir el Balah area. We are also aware of significant constraints on the availability and delivery of medicine and medical supplies to health care facilities. The UK continues to call on Israel to facilitate unfettered aid into Gaza, to address this serious issue.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of funding for the planned extension of Dental Foundation Training places after 2031.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan has made up to £2.4 billion available to support the additional education and training expansion across the plan up to 2028/29. This settlement pre-empted the next spending review. Revenue funding for the increase of undergraduate dental training places up to 2028/29 is provided within this. Decisions about funding beyond 2028/29, will be considered at a later date.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the plans to increase dental training places by 40% by 2031-32 outlined in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan are fully funded.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan has made up to £2.4 billion available to support the additional education and training expansion across the plan up to 2028/29. This settlement pre-empted the next spending review. Revenue funding for the increase of undergraduate dental training places up to 2028/29 is provided within this. Decisions about funding beyond 2028/29, will be considered at a later date.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the plans to increase dental training places by 40% by 2031-32 outlined in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan are fully funded.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan has made up to £2.4 billion available to support the additional education and training expansion across the plan up to 2028/29. This settlement pre-empted the next spending review. Revenue funding for the increase of undergraduate dental training places up to 2028/29 is provided within this. Decisions about funding beyond 2028/29, will be considered at a later date.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will introduce Magnitsky-style sanctions against Chinese officials involved in human rights abuses in Tibet.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This Government will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must. We will stand firm on human rights, including China's repression of the people of Tibet.

On sanctions, the FCDO keeps all evidence and potential listings under close review. It is not appropriate to speculate on who may be designated in the future, as to do so could reduce the impact of the designations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of adding medications for (a) chronic kidney disease and (b) recipients of kidney transplants to the NHS prescription charge exemption list.

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

There are no current plans to review the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there are a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with chronic kidney disease or in receipt of a kidney transplant may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.

People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) are also available. PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three month and 12-month certificates available. The 12-month PPC can be paid for in instalments.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) it remains his policy to double the number of cancer scanners in the NHS and (b) that includes doubling the number of positron emission tomography scanners.

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

We are working towards our commitment of doubling cancer scanners to address the challenges in diagnostic waiting times. Our commitment is related to magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography (CT) but of course we are also considering what increase in PET Computed Tomography (PET-CT) capacity is needed to accelerate cancer diagnosis and build a National Health Service fit for the future.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Written Statement of 1 February 2024 on Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy Scheme Update, HCWS233, whether he plans to investigate the reasons for the inconsistent application of ARAP criteria for members of (a) CF333 and (b) ATF444.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

I am deeply concerned that many members of CF333 and ATF444 (the Triples) - our friends and allies - who should be eligible for ARAP remain in grave circumstances. As such, my clear focus is getting the Triples Review back on track and bringing all those individuals receiving overturned decisions to safety in the UK.

I have been working closely with officials since my Ministerial appointment to put in place the necessary conditions to get this right and ensure that the ARAP criteria are applied consistently across all applications in scope.

I fully intend to update the House on the review as soon as possible.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the decision by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on 22 August 2024 to licence lecanemab for patients with early stage Alzheimer's disease, what discussions he has had with NHS England on plans to make (a) lecanemab and (b) other anti-amyloid therapies available to patients.

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

Department officials have had a number of conversations with colleagues in NHS England about their plans to support the adoption of any licensed and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

The NICE is currently developing guidance for the National Health Service on the use of several potential new medicines for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, and is currently consulting on its draft guidance for the use of lecanemab. These are very difficult decisions to make, and it is right that they are taken independently, on the basis of the available evidence of costs and benefits. We understand how disappointing the NICE’s draft guidance will be to all those affected, but we need to make sure that the resources of the NHS are spent in a way that provides the most health benefit to society. The NICE’s draft recommendations are now open to consultation, and the NICE will take the comments received fully into account when developing its final guidance.