Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether nicotine-containing vaping liquids imported into the United Kingdom in pre-filled pods or cartridges are subject to the same testing, notification, and compliance requirements under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 as those manufactured domestically; and what testing or evidence of conformity producers or importers are required to hold prior to placing such products on the UK market.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

All businesses placing nicotine vaping products on the United Kingdom market are required to notify the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA’s notification scheme for nicotine-containing vaping products, including pre-filled pods or cartridges, helps ensure that products are in line with the requirements set out by the Tobacco and Related Product Regulations 2016. Businesses are required to provide key product information before these products can be sold, including toxicology data, nicotine dose, and the name and contact details of the manufacturer, so the MHRA can review the data for compliance with the notification requirements. Where products fail to align with the notification data, Trading Standards have powers to remove the products from UK supply chains.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill provides the Government with regulation making powers to develop a new registration system for tobacco, vape and nicotine products that are sold on the UK market. Under this registration system, all producers and manufacturers will be required to provide relevant information before their product can be sold in the UK. Additionally, we are taking powers to establish a new testing regime for these products.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of sickle cell emergency bypass units in England.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as sickle cell disease. In 2024, NHS England commenced the roll out of seven Emergency Department Bypass Accelerator sites across England to provide services to persons requiring emergency care for uncomplicated vaso-occlusion crises. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the bypass units is currently being carried out by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The purpose of the evaluation is to provide an evidence-based report on the impact of the bypass units.

Preliminary findings from the NIHR evaluation were shared with NHS England in September 2025. The findings, which were based on qualitative feedback from patients and staff, highlighted that overall patient care and experience have improved since the launch of the bypass units compared to other hospital settings, with patients particularly benefiting from 24/7 access to dedicated triage lines and valuing the privacy and comfort of dedicated units. The next phase of the evaluation will review quantitative data and metrics, including patient time to receiving analgesia, length of hospital stays, and rates of readmissions. The final report is expected in 2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of evidence that women are significantly less likely than men to receive bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation during an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is aware of research that shows differences in bystander response in providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to men versus women. Research also shows that training is key to improving bystander confidence in providing CPR to women.

Local ambulance trusts, charities including St John’s Ambulance, the British Heart Foundation, and private providers deliver CPR training and the use of defibrillators both in the community and in schools, under the Restart a Heart programme. NHS England has worked in partnership with St John’s Ambulance and others to increase access to CPR training.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of concerns within the medical community about potential risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence chatbots by individuals seeking emotional support and companionship when experiencing loneliness.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

While no such assessment has been made, this Government recognises the importance of exploring innovative approaches to tackle loneliness, whilst protecting people's safety and wellbeing.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have considered permitting the term probiotic to be used in mandatory food labelling.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Under existing legislation, the Department considers the term ‘probiotic’ to constitute a health claim as it implies that consuming a food or food supplement containing these bacteria may provide a health benefit. Health claims may only be used if they have been scientifically substantiated and authorised in accordance with nutrition and health claims legislation.

There is an established process for authorising health claims, which requires industry to submit detailed scientific evidence for assessment. Since the exit of the European Union, the Department has not received any applications for new health claims relating to probiotics or specific bacterial strains. As no claims are authorised, ‘probiotics’ should not be used as a claim on food labels.

The term ‘probiotic’ could only be used on food labels if a specific authorised health claim existed for the particular strain of live bacteria used. The authorisation process remains available to industry, and any future applications would be considered in line with the requirements to ensure that health claims used on food are accurate, evidence‑based, and not misleading for consumers.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have considered the impact of the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the EU on additives in vitamins, including the Healthy Start Vitamins.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

We have begun negotiations with the EU on an SPS agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and removing barriers to trade for British producers and retailers. While negotiations with the EU on the SPS agreement are underway, we will not be providing a running commentary of discussions.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the introduction of a transition period for products with a shelf life of three to five years that will be affected by the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement with the EU to prevent waste.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is currently negotiating a Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers, and helping to reduce the pressure on prices and increase choice in the shops.

We are working closely with businesses to assess the implementation impacts of the Agreement.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of regional variation in breast cancer screening uptake, particularly in areas where uptake is significantly below the national average.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

This Government is committed to improving the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHS BSP) and addressing regional variation in uptake.

To improve uptake and address inequalities, this year, NHS England is planning to publish a Breast Screening Programme Uptake Improvement Review.

This will include a review of actions taken at a national level by the NHS BSP so far, as well as setting out where the focus will be going forward, to support local services to drive uptake even further.

The review supports breast screening service providers with national solutions such as:

• introducing digital options for sending out invitations and managing appointments;

• raising awareness of the importance of screening through the media; and

• facilitating learning and gathering evidence to inform programme policy, pathway changes and guidance.

In February 2025, NHS England launched the first ever National Health Service breast screening campaign nationally to widespread media attention. It ran across television, radio, social media, and outdoor advertising during February and March, targeting women of breast screening age, with a focus on those least likely to attend, including younger women, those in deprived areas, ethnic minorities, and disabled women.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the forthcoming national cancer plan for England will consider expanding access to non-genomic biomarker testing, in addition to genomic testing, to determine eligibility for cancer precision medicines.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is currently developing the National Cancer Plan for England, which will be published shortly. The plan will build on the commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to provide comprehensive molecular profiling of all cancers. Genomic testing is a key element of molecular profiling.

We also recognise the important role that nongenomic biomarkers play in identifying the most effective treatments for individual patients. The plan will consider how to ensure access to high-quality treatment, including access to testing that determines eligibility for precision testing.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government which organisations with instances and tenancies are included in the NHS England Federated Data Platform.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As of 13 January 2026, the NHS England Federated Data Platform (NHS FDP) includes live instances and tenancies across 149 National Health Service organisations. The following table shows these organisations sorted by organisation type:

The organisations listed in the document attached have an active NHS FDP instance or tenancy and are operating within the platform in line with their respective data controller responsibilities and the NHS FDP governance framework.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government which use cases or purposes are currently active in the national instances of the NHS England Federated Data Platform; and what is the number of users currently able to access each purpose, as defined by Palantir on 4 December 2020, Purpose-based Access Controls at Palantir.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The NHS Federated Data Platform, including the national instance, provides trusts and integrated care boards with a set of core capabilities and nationally commissioned locally developed products to support five key National Health Service priorities:

- Population Health and Person Insight;

- Care Coordination;

- Supply Chain;

- Vaccination and Immunisation; and

- Elective Recovery.

There are currently 28,732 active accounts on the Federated Data Platform's National tenant, and access to data is managed by dataset and product-specific access controls. This figure does not include the number of accounts across local tenants.

The information on the number of users currently able to access each purpose is not routinely collected, as user stats are aligned to products.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 18 December 2025 (HL12801), when they will publish the advice to ministers by David Lock KC on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

David Lock KC is providing expert policy advice on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence and how we can improve patients’ experience of claims. The review is ongoing, following initial advice to ministers and the recent National Audit Office report.

The results of David Lock’s work will inform future policy making in this area. No decisions on policy have been taken at this point, and the Government will provide an update on the work done and next steps, in due course.

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