Asked by: Johanna Baxter (Labour - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when his Department last issued guidance for clinicians on treating immunocompromised patients in health settings.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England Specialised Commissioning has recently updated the specialist immunology service specification for adults with deficient immune systems, named the Specialist immunology services for adults with deficient immune systems. This sets out the standards of care that providers of specialist immunology services are expected to meet, including with regards to treatment and monitoring. Further information on the service specification is available at the following link:
The clinical commissioning policy for the use of therapeutic immunoglobulin in England has also recently been updated. The updated document describes all conditions for which therapeutic immunoglobulin is commissioned, including autoimmune conditions, and provides details on the role, dose, and place of therapeutic immunoglobulin in the treatment pathway for individual indications, alongside possible alternative treatment options for use of therapeutic immunoglobulin in both adults and children. Further information on the policy is available at the following link:
Sub Regional Immunoglobulin Assessment Panels (SRIAPs) are in place to provide immunoglobulin stewardship and oversight in line with this policy. In April 2025, a new framework for the supply of immunoglobulin will begin. In March 2025, NHS England Specialised Commissioning provided advice to the SRIAPs regarding patient access to immunoglobulin products, with the introduction of the new framework.
Neither the Department nor NHS England hold data centrally on the exact numbers of those who are clinically defined as immunocompromised. However, a recently published paper in the Journal of Infection identified 477,335 immunocompromised individuals aged 12 years old and over in England. This research paper is available at the following link:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016344532500026X
NHS England Specialised Commissioning is developing a patient information sheet to outline the changes to the range of immunoglobulin products available on the National Health Service. It is intended to support patients who rely on immunoglobulin treatment and may be required to switch to a different immunoglobulin product. This will be shared with patient organisations and clinical teams in April 2025.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is committed to working with partners, including NHS England and the Department, to protect the health of immunocompromised patients in the context of infectious disease hazards. Engaging with the Immunocompromised Coalition and other charities supporting vulnerable individuals, in partnership with the Department and the NHS as part of pandemic preparedness, is an important activity for the UKHSA. It enables the prompt implementation of appropriate protective measures with relevant, scalable additional support in the event of a pandemic or another emergency.
The UKHSA has also published COVID-19 guidance, last updated in May 2024, for those individuals whose immune system means they are at higher risk. The guidance is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk
No assessment has been made of the potential merits of establishing a cross-departmental taskforce for immunocompromised patients.
Asked by: Johanna Baxter (Labour - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people in the United Kingdom are clinically defined as immunocompromised.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England Specialised Commissioning has recently updated the specialist immunology service specification for adults with deficient immune systems, named the Specialist immunology services for adults with deficient immune systems. This sets out the standards of care that providers of specialist immunology services are expected to meet, including with regards to treatment and monitoring. Further information on the service specification is available at the following link:
The clinical commissioning policy for the use of therapeutic immunoglobulin in England has also recently been updated. The updated document describes all conditions for which therapeutic immunoglobulin is commissioned, including autoimmune conditions, and provides details on the role, dose, and place of therapeutic immunoglobulin in the treatment pathway for individual indications, alongside possible alternative treatment options for use of therapeutic immunoglobulin in both adults and children. Further information on the policy is available at the following link:
Sub Regional Immunoglobulin Assessment Panels (SRIAPs) are in place to provide immunoglobulin stewardship and oversight in line with this policy. In April 2025, a new framework for the supply of immunoglobulin will begin. In March 2025, NHS England Specialised Commissioning provided advice to the SRIAPs regarding patient access to immunoglobulin products, with the introduction of the new framework.
Neither the Department nor NHS England hold data centrally on the exact numbers of those who are clinically defined as immunocompromised. However, a recently published paper in the Journal of Infection identified 477,335 immunocompromised individuals aged 12 years old and over in England. This research paper is available at the following link:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016344532500026X
NHS England Specialised Commissioning is developing a patient information sheet to outline the changes to the range of immunoglobulin products available on the National Health Service. It is intended to support patients who rely on immunoglobulin treatment and may be required to switch to a different immunoglobulin product. This will be shared with patient organisations and clinical teams in April 2025.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is committed to working with partners, including NHS England and the Department, to protect the health of immunocompromised patients in the context of infectious disease hazards. Engaging with the Immunocompromised Coalition and other charities supporting vulnerable individuals, in partnership with the Department and the NHS as part of pandemic preparedness, is an important activity for the UKHSA. It enables the prompt implementation of appropriate protective measures with relevant, scalable additional support in the event of a pandemic or another emergency.
The UKHSA has also published COVID-19 guidance, last updated in May 2024, for those individuals whose immune system means they are at higher risk. The guidance is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk
No assessment has been made of the potential merits of establishing a cross-departmental taskforce for immunocompromised patients.
Asked by: Johanna Baxter (Labour - Paisley and Renfrewshire South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when did his Department last issue guidance to patients that are immunocompromised.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England Specialised Commissioning has recently updated the specialist immunology service specification for adults with deficient immune systems, named the Specialist immunology services for adults with deficient immune systems. This sets out the standards of care that providers of specialist immunology services are expected to meet, including with regards to treatment and monitoring. Further information on the service specification is available at the following link:
The clinical commissioning policy for the use of therapeutic immunoglobulin in England has also recently been updated. The updated document describes all conditions for which therapeutic immunoglobulin is commissioned, including autoimmune conditions, and provides details on the role, dose, and place of therapeutic immunoglobulin in the treatment pathway for individual indications, alongside possible alternative treatment options for use of therapeutic immunoglobulin in both adults and children. Further information on the policy is available at the following link:
Sub Regional Immunoglobulin Assessment Panels (SRIAPs) are in place to provide immunoglobulin stewardship and oversight in line with this policy. In April 2025, a new framework for the supply of immunoglobulin will begin. In March 2025, NHS England Specialised Commissioning provided advice to the SRIAPs regarding patient access to immunoglobulin products, with the introduction of the new framework.
Neither the Department nor NHS England hold data centrally on the exact numbers of those who are clinically defined as immunocompromised. However, a recently published paper in the Journal of Infection identified 477,335 immunocompromised individuals aged 12 years old and over in England. This research paper is available at the following link:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016344532500026X
NHS England Specialised Commissioning is developing a patient information sheet to outline the changes to the range of immunoglobulin products available on the National Health Service. It is intended to support patients who rely on immunoglobulin treatment and may be required to switch to a different immunoglobulin product. This will be shared with patient organisations and clinical teams in April 2025.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is committed to working with partners, including NHS England and the Department, to protect the health of immunocompromised patients in the context of infectious disease hazards. Engaging with the Immunocompromised Coalition and other charities supporting vulnerable individuals, in partnership with the Department and the NHS as part of pandemic preparedness, is an important activity for the UKHSA. It enables the prompt implementation of appropriate protective measures with relevant, scalable additional support in the event of a pandemic or another emergency.
The UKHSA has also published COVID-19 guidance, last updated in May 2024, for those individuals whose immune system means they are at higher risk. The guidance is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk
No assessment has been made of the potential merits of establishing a cross-departmental taskforce for immunocompromised patients.
Asked by: Paul Holmes (Conservative - Hamble Valley)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 January 2025 to Question 20982 on Civil Servants: Recruitment, what the (a) job title, (b) unit or division and (c) grade is of each Civil Service job not advertised externally; and for what reason her Department is not advertising all jobs externally.
Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)
Further to Answer of 10 January 2025 to Question 20982, see table below detailing (a) job title, (b) unit and (c) grade of jobs not advertised externally for the period 4th July to 31st December 2024.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is moving towards an external by default approach to recruitment. In the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles 2018 there are exemptions to this approach for roles which require a niche skills set or experience which can only be found in the Civil Service. In addition, there are exemptions for short term/temporary roles for projects or areas with tight timescales, whereby current Civil Servants can join the department quickly on loan or fixed term agreements with the correct clearances.
Departmental group | Grade breakdown | Job title | Grade |
Corporate Group | 3x Grade 6 5x Grade 7 6x SEO | Careers and Development Lead | Grade 7 |
Physical Security Lead | SEO | ||
Workforce Team | Grade 6 | ||
Statistician | Grade 7 | ||
Ministerial Team Security Advisers | SEO | ||
Head of Programme Delivery | Grade 6 | ||
Deputy Head of Profession | Grade 7 | ||
Product Manager | SEO | ||
Assistant Departmental Records Officer | SEO | ||
Senior Product Manager | Grade 7 | ||
Private Secretary & Business Manager | SEO | ||
Live Services Manager | SEO | ||
Subject Matter Expert | Grade 7 | ||
Local Government and Public Services | 1x HEO | Communications Officer | HEO |
Local Growth, Communities and Devolution | 6x Grade 6 5x Grade 7 5x SEO 3x HEO | Delivery Manager | SEO |
Head of Unit | Grade 6 | ||
Head of Unit | Grade 6 | ||
Policy Lead | Grade 7 | ||
Head of Policy | Grade 7 | ||
Business Support Officer | HEO | ||
Head of Office | Grade 7 | ||
Programme Manager | Grade 6 | ||
Programme Management Office Manager | Grade 7 | ||
Senior Policy Advisor | SEO | ||
Risk and Issue Manager | SEO | ||
Strategy Policy Advisor | HEO | ||
Policy lead | Grade 6 | ||
Fund Evaluator | SEO | ||
Head of Elections Data | Grade 6 | ||
Policy & Funding Analysis | Grade 6 | ||
Policy Advisor | SEO | ||
Senior Strategy Advisor | Grade 7 | ||
Policy Advisor | HEO | ||
Regeneration, Housing and Planning | 4x Grade 6 7x Grade 7 4x SEO 1x HEO | Policy Team Lead | Grade 7 |
Head of Strategy | Grade 6 | ||
Senior Policy Advisor | Grade 7 | ||
Senior Policy and Strategy Advisors | Grade 7 | ||
Head of Housing Insights & Strategic Policy | Grade 6 | ||
Social Housing Directorate SEOs | SEO | ||
Property Technology Strategy Advisor | Grade 7 | ||
Policy Advisor | SEO | ||
Policy Officer | HEO | ||
Policy Advisor | SEO | ||
Senior Policy Advisor | Grade 7 | ||
Private Secretary | Grade 7 | ||
Head of Programme Management Office | Grade 6 | ||
Project Manager | SEO | ||
Head of Evaluation & Insight | Grade 7 | ||
Head of Economic Analysis | Grade 6 | ||
Senior Policy Adviser | SEO | ||
Safer and Greener Buildings | 1x Grade 6 3x SEO 1x HEO | Construction Products Policy Adviser | SEO |
Community Relationship Manager | SEO | ||
Policy Advisor | HEO | ||
Policy and Briefing Advisor | SEO | ||
Lead Technical Architect | Grade 6 | ||
Strategy and Communications | 1x Grade 6 1x Grade 7 1x HEO | Head of Data Science | Grade 6 |
Videographer | HEO | ||
Senior Private Secretary/Head of Office | Grade 7 |
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much funding his Department has provided for research into nutrition in the last 12 months; and whether he has had recent discussions with UK Research and Innovation on nutrition research.
Answered by Feryal Clark
Ministers and official meet regularly with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on a range of issues. UKRI funds a broad range of high-quality research relating to nutrition, spanning different research councils.
During the last 5 years UKRI has spent £251 million on nutrition research, with £65 million spent during the most recent financial year for which full data is available (2023-24).
In addition to this, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) funds research, including on nutrition, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
NIHR spent £11.8 million on nutrition research in the last year and £23.3 million in the last 5 years across a broad spectrum of areas related to nutrition to inform Government policy to improve patient care and help people stay well for longer.
Asked by: David Mundell (Conservative - Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much funding the Government has provided for nutrition research in each of the last five years.
Answered by Feryal Clark
Ministers and official meet regularly with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) on a range of issues. UKRI funds a broad range of high-quality research relating to nutrition, spanning different research councils.
During the last 5 years UKRI has spent £251 million on nutrition research, with £65 million spent during the most recent financial year for which full data is available (2023-24).
In addition to this, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) funds research, including on nutrition, through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
NIHR spent £11.8 million on nutrition research in the last year and £23.3 million in the last 5 years across a broad spectrum of areas related to nutrition to inform Government policy to improve patient care and help people stay well for longer.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK position on EU's Research and Innovation Framework Programme, published on 26 September 2024, what discussions he has had with the Economic and Social Research Council on the UK’s approach to the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme 10 since that paper was published.
Answered by Feryal Clark
In advance of the publication of the UK’s Position Paper on the European Union’s 10th Research and Innovation Framework Programme (FP10), the Government undertook extensive engagement with a range of stakeholders across Government including UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and its constituent councils, as well as with relevant representatives of business and university sectors. This engagement was used to inform the paper.
Since then, the Department has remained in regular contact with a wide range of stakeholders on our approach to EU Research and Innovation Programmes, including through regular stakeholder meetings and public-facing engagements such as the Horizon Europe roadshows in Belfast and Cardiff. Such engagement will continue as further detail on FP10 emerges from the EU.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Government is taking steps to encourage (a) social media and (b) search platforms to go beyond the requirements of the Online Safety Act 2023 in reducing access to harmful suicide and self-harm content.
Answered by Feryal Clark
The government engages regularly with social media and search services and is clear that they should be taking action now to make their services safe for users.
Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.
The government are committed to continuing to engage with those with lived experience and keeping online safety policy under review and will take whatever steps are needed to protect the public.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps the Government is taking to ensure people with lived experience of (a) self harm and (b) suicide are involved in the implementation of the Online Safety Act 2023.
Answered by Feryal Clark
The government engages regularly with social media and search services and is clear that they should be taking action now to make their services safe for users.
Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.
The government are committed to continuing to engage with those with lived experience and keeping online safety policy under review and will take whatever steps are needed to protect the public.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will take steps to encourage social media and search platforms to exceed the requirements of the Online Safety Act 2023 in reducing access to harmful suicide and self-harm content.
Answered by Feryal Clark
The government engages regularly with social media and search services and is clear that they should be taking action now to make their services safe for users.
Under the Online Safety Act, in-scope services must prevent all users from encountering illegal suicide and self-harm content, and children from legal content which encourages, promotes or provides instructions for suicide and self-harm.
The government are committed to continuing to engage with those with lived experience and keeping online safety policy under review and will take whatever steps are needed to protect the public.