Asked by: Derek Twigg (Labour - Widnes and Halewood)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of whether the Early Access to Medicines Scheme, Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway and Innovative Medicines Fund providing an interim route for Friedreich’s ataxia patients.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Further to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 19 October in response to Question HL3794, Biogen must confirm that it is willing to re-engage with the evaluation process before further action on access to Omaveloxolone for National Health Service patients can be considered.
The Early Access to Medicines Scheme and Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway exist to support the development of medicines before they are licensed, which is not applicable in this case. Nor can NHS England consider providing funding through the Innovative Medicines Fund, in a situation where a company has failed to engage with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, as doing so would circumvent and undermine the established and independent appraisal process in a damaging way.
Health is devolved, and decisions on access to medicines in Scotland and Wales are matters for the respective devolved administrations.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, for each designated AI Growth Zone, what capacity in megawatts (a) has a firm grid connection offer with a date, (b) has planning consent, (c) is under construction and (d) is operational as at the latest date for which figures are available; and how much of that capacity pre-dates designation.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
AIGZ sites must be capable of delivering at least 500 MW of power for AI workloads by 2030, offer at least 100 acres of land by 2028, and demonstrate credible plans for delivery and local benefit, amongst other key criteria. Specific grid connection offers and site-level capacity figures are commercially sensitive and are not published by government.
Of the five announced AI Growth Zones, three have relevant planning consents in place with construction underway. We are working to bring the remaining sites to the same position by the end of the year. New AI compute is expected to come online from 2027.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what is the current timetable for (a) site selection, (b) contract award, (c) Phase 1 operation and (d) Phase 2 operation of the heterogeneous AI supercomputer; and which sites have submitted expressions of interest.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
We are progressing plans for a heterogeneous AI supercomputer to expand UK public AI compute capacity and introduce novel hardware supporting a range of AI workloads. Subject to ongoing procurement processes, Phase 1 is expected to be operational in 2028 and Phase 2 financial year 2029-30.
An Expression of Interest for potential host sites launched in June 2026. The formal selection process will commence shortly. Further detail on grant or associated funding arrangements will be published when the formal competition opens. All potential applicants will receive information at the same time, ensuring the integrity of the competition process.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what outputs each AI Sector Champion has produced since appointment; and on what dates the champions have met Ministers.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
The AI Champions have produced plans setting out proposals to drive adoption in their respective sectors. AI Champions joined Ministers at the AI Adoption Summit on 8th June 2026 to drive AI Adoption while creating new opportunities for workers. Government officials are now working with the Champions to implement their most promising AI adoption proposals. This includes the Early Careers Job Alliance, originally proposed in the Digital and Technologies AI Adoption Plan, backed by £20million of Government funding, to understand how AI is affecting entry-level work and deliver pilot programmes aimed at sustaining high-quality entry-level opportunities in the sector.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West)
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 (a) contribution of teeth replacement to healthy eating and wellbeing, (b) adequacy of the affordability of teeth replacement procedures and (c) contribution of research and development to reducing the cost of teeth replacement.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No specific assessment has been made. Tooth replacement treatment options should always be determined by clinicians according to individual patient need.
Through the 2026 National Health Service dental contract reforms, the Government increased payments for denture repairs and adjustments to support access where clinically required. We continue to review NHS dental services and support research and evidence that can improve oral health outcomes and inform future provision.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how public engagement and transparency are maintained regarding non-classified aspects of national security preparedness.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The UK Government Resilience Action Plan, available on GOV.UK, outlines the approach the Government is taking to enable the whole of society to increase their resilience. A July 2026 implementation report set out our progress and next steps. These include an updated National Risk Register, the public-facing version of the UK Government’s classified assessment of risks facing the UK.
The Government launched beready.campaign.gov.uk on Thursday 22 October and a Written Ministerial Statement was delivered by the Security Minister. The launch of new guidance marks the first phase of the gradual roll out of a three-year campaign designed to increase household resilience across the country.
The ‘Be Ready’ campaign has been built in collaboration with numerous charities and campaigners to ensure accessibility, including people with insecure housing and people who use foodbanks, as well as with Local Resilience Forums and officials from the Welsh and Scottish Governments and the Northern Ireland Executive Office.
Asked by: Ben Spencer (Conservative - Runnymede and Weybridge)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how many people are currently employed by the Sovereign AI Fund.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason was an RAF Protector RG-1 tasked to support the Home Office in the English Channel on 14 October 2026.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The Ministry of Defence regularly and routinely monitors our waters to protect UK interests, contribute to domestic maritime security, and act as a deterrent against potentially malign activities.
The deployment the hon. Member refers to was conducted in support of Defence aims, not in support of the Home Office
Asked by: Peter Dowd (Labour - Bootle)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans the Government has to secure long-term funding and commissioning for community liver health checks beyond the current funding period.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 July in response to Question 17757.
Asked by: Sarah Russell (Labour - Congleton)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government expects to publish guidance for Integrated Care Boards on the implementation of Women's Integrated Neighbourhood Services.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.