Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to paragraphs 7.16 and 7.17 of the Ministerial Code, on how many occasions have Ministers in her Department informed the Law Officers that they are the defendants in a libel action in (a) their personal capacity, (b) their official position and (c) both since 19 December 2019.

The Department is unable to confirm this information as any advice provided by the Law Officers and the content thereof cannot be disclosed without their authority.