Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will extend the upper age limit beyond 74 years for routine invitations under the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (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.
Asked by: Alison Bennett (Liberal Democrat - Mid Sussex)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is planning to take to inform each children's hospice of its share of NHS funding; and what his planned timetable is for this.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - 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.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department are taking to support people who have requested help and information on detransitioning.
Answered by Karin Smyth - 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.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consideration his Department has given to introducing transitional arrangements for the implementation of UK graduate prioritisation in medical specialty recruitment for the 2025–26 recruitment cycle; and whether he will review the decision to assess applicants’ immigration or settlement status at the point of application rather than at the point of job offer, in cases where applicants will have Indefinite Leave to Remain by the time offers are made.
Answered by Karin Smyth - 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.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on Microsoft software licenses in the last 12 months.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
DHSC spent £4.3m on Microsoft licensing for internal use for the period 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026.
All purchases are based upon a valid business requirement and utilise national pricing agreements negotiated by the Crown Commercial Service to ensure value for the taxpayer.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to increase awareness of naloxone as an effective emergency treatment among (a) people at risk of opioid overdose and (b) people who may witness an opioid overdose.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (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.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on treatment for people with pulmonary fibrosis.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Department ministers have regular discussions with their counterparts in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland on matters of cross border interest. There have been no specific meetings held recently on treatment for people with pulmonary fibrosis.
Asked by: Cat Eccles (Labour - Stourbridge)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the outcomes of the Extend medicines responsibilities for allied health professions consultation which closed in October 2025.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is currently analysing the large number of respondents received, and a Government response detailing next steps will be published in due course.
Asked by: Rachel Blake (Labour (Co-op) - Cities of London and Westminster)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, a) what data NHS England holds regarding children who have experienced iatrogenic harm caused by anti-seizure medications (ASMs), and b) what guidance is in place to prevent this harm within NHS England.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Disease Registration Service (NDRS) in NHS England collects and quality assures data about people with congenital conditions and rare conditions across the whole of England. Further information on the NDRS is available at the following link:
In the most recent official statistics on congenital conditions in England, which contains information on congenital conditions detected in babies delivered in England between 1 January and 31 December 2022, and in previous publications of this series back to inception in 2018, there were no foetuses or babies reported to have a diagnosis of foetal sodium valproate syndrome. No statistics are available for congenital conditions related to other anti-seizure medications. The most recent official statistics on congenital conditions in England, the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service Congenital Condition Official Statistics Report 2022, is available at the following link:
It is likely that while some of the individual conditions, for instance neural tube defects, cardiac, oro-facial clefts, and limb difference, that can be associated with this condition are recorded on the register, the overarching diagnosis of foetal sodium valproate syndrome may not yet be registered because foetal sodium valproate syndrome may take more than a year after birth to be confirmed as a diagnosis. The NDRS is assessing the feasibility and reliability of better ascertainment of foetal sodium valproate syndrome by linking the congenital condition register to primary care prescription data.
NHS England’s Medium Term Planning Guidance requires providers to address problematic polypharmacy. Structured Medication Review (SMR) is both general concept and also a defined clinical activity in general practice. SMRs are an evidence-based and comprehensive review of a patient’s medication, taking into consideration all aspects of their health. In SMRs, clinicians and patients work as equal partners to understand the balance between the benefits and risks of, and alternatives to, taking medicines. Further information on SMRs is available at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng5
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), continuously monitors the safety of medicines, including their use during pregnancy. MHRA updated the Summary of Product Characteristics, Patient Information Leaflets and educational materials to reflect the latest data for these medicines. The magnitude and type of risks associated with the use of antiseizure medication in pregnancy have been communicated in the MHRA Safety Roundup, Drug Safety Update, and letters through the NHS Central Alerting System. The MHRA, taking advice from the Commission on Human Medicines, has worked with professional bodies to raise awareness among healthcare professionals and patients of the risks of antiseizure medication, particularly valproate and topiramate when taken during pregnancy.
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with (a) the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, (b) the Children’s Commissioner, (c) the Local Government Association and (d) Adoption UK, on the waiting times faced by (i) looked-after children and (ii) previously looked-after children for neurodevelopmental assessment.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions on a wide range of matters including with stakeholders.
The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future and recognises the need for early intervention and support.
It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including children and their access to neurodevelopmental assessments.
NHS England issued advice to systems on ADHD service delivery and prioritisation on 7 October 2025. This advice includes guidance on managing service provision, reviewing waiting lists and providing support to patients waiting. The advice is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/adhd-service-delivery-and-prioritisation-advice-to-systems/
Through the Medium-Term Planning Framework, published 24 October, NHS England has set clear expectations for local ICBs and trusts to improve access, experience, and outcomes for autism and ADHD services over the next three years, focusing on improving quality and productivity.
NHS England established an ADHD taskforce which brought together those with lived experience with experts from the NHS, education, charity, and justice sector to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including timely and equitable access to services and support. The final report was published on 6 November 2025 and we are carefully considering its recommendations.
Building on the work of the Independent ADHD Taskforce, my Rt. Hon. Friend announced on 4 December 2025 the launch of an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. The review will inform our approach so that people with ADHD and autistic people have the right support in place to enable them to live well in their communities.