Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of current arrangements for cancer patients to receive a Covid-19 vaccination prior to the start of chemotherapy, in cases where the Green Book advises that vaccination should ideally be planned around upcoming immunosuppressive treatment and administered during periods of minimal immunosuppression to maximise immune response.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19.

The COVID-19 chapter of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Green Book on vaccination and immunisation sets out details of who may be vaccinated, including cases where a patient has upcoming immunosuppressive treatment, including chemotherapy. In these instances, it will be for their treating clinician to recommend whether a COVID-19 vaccine will be appropriate and when it should be given on a case-by-case basis. They will have the best knowledge of the patient and will need to be content that any prescriptions or treatments, including vaccinations, are clinically appropriate for the individual. Year-round pathways are in place locally to enable these vaccinations to be given when clinically indicated, including during or ahead of a course of chemotherapy.

The JCVI continues to keep the COVID-19 vaccination programme under review, and the Government will respond to any additional JCVI advice in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to review Covid-19 vaccination eligibility and delivery arrangements for patients with confirmed upcoming immunosuppressive treatment, including chemotherapy.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19.

The COVID-19 chapter of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Green Book on vaccination and immunisation sets out details of who may be vaccinated, including cases where a patient has upcoming immunosuppressive treatment, including chemotherapy. In these instances, it will be for their treating clinician to recommend whether a COVID-19 vaccine will be appropriate and when it should be given on a case-by-case basis. They will have the best knowledge of the patient and will need to be content that any prescriptions or treatments, including vaccinations, are clinically appropriate for the individual. Year-round pathways are in place locally to enable these vaccinations to be given when clinically indicated, including during or ahead of a course of chemotherapy.

The JCVI continues to keep the COVID-19 vaccination programme under review, and the Government will respond to any additional JCVI advice in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which body is responsible for ensuring that community pharmacy delivery rules for Covid-19 vaccination are aligned with the clinical guidance set out in the Green Book.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is an independent expert committee which reviews the latest data on COVID-19 risks, vaccine safety, and effectiveness and advises the Government on eligibility for vaccination and immunisation programmes.

Vaccination eligibility criteria are agreed by the Government in line with advice from the JCVI. Which groups are eligible for vaccination is communicated to commissioners and providers, including community pharmacies, by NHS England through operational guidance. The guidance issued for the recent autumn 2025 campaign is available at the following link:

www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/flu-and-covid-19-seasonal-vaccination-programme-autumn-winter-2025-26/

This guidance reflects the eligibility and clinical guidance set out in the COVID-19 Chapter of the UK Health Security Green Book on vaccination and immunisation, which is available at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-the-green-book-chapter-14a

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will ensure that the requirements of rural households are addressed in policies aimed at tackling potential increases in energy prices.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises that families and businesses across the country will see the recent global events and once again be concerned about the impact on their energy bills. We continue to monitor the situation closely and we are looking at what further support may be needed.

The measures taken in the Autumn Budget reduce the cost of electricity and therefore benefit all households with a domestic electricity meter, including those not on the gas grid. In addition, on 30 January, we announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme until 2030/31, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills each winter.

The Government understands that many households, particularly in rural and off gas grid areas, rely on heating oil as their primary source of heat. DESNZ is working closely with other Government Departments on the National Data Library (NDL) energy bill support ‘Kickstarter’ project to test how public sector data can be better joined up to improve access to Government programmes.

The Kickstarter project will pave the way for better targeted help, ensuring those who are struggling to pay their bills get the support they need.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment the Government has made of the differential impact of increases in energy prices on households in (a) rural and (b) urban areas.

Answered by Martin McCluskey - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises that families and businesses across the country will see the recent global events and once again be concerned about the impact on their energy bills. We continue to monitor the situation closely and we are looking at what further support may be needed.

The measures taken in the Autumn Budget reduce the cost of electricity and therefore benefit all households with a domestic electricity meter, including those not on the gas grid. In addition, on 30 January, we announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme until 2030/31, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills each winter.

The Government understands that many households, particularly in rural and off gas grid areas, rely on heating oil as their primary source of heat. DESNZ is working closely with other Government Departments on the National Data Library (NDL) energy bill support ‘Kickstarter’ project to test how public sector data can be better joined up to improve access to Government programmes.

The Kickstarter project will pave the way for better targeted help, ensuring those who are struggling to pay their bills get the support they need.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Written Statement HCWS1471 of 26 March 2026 on Energy Infrastructure Planning – Botley West Solar Farm, what in his assessment of the Planning Inspectorate Examining Authority’s recommendation led him to seek further information from the applicant.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Under Section 53 of the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of State may require further information from an applicant where this is considered necessary to inform the planning decision.

Given the Secretary of State’s quasi-judicial role in taking decisions on applications for development consent for energy infrastructure proposals, it would not be appropriate for a Minister in this department to comment on specific matters related to the proposals, as this could be seen as prejudicing the decision-making process. All requests for further information, and responses to those requests, will be published on the Planning Inspectorate website for this case in the usual way.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Written Statement HCWS1471 of 26 March 2026 on Energy Infrastructure Planning – Botley West Solar Farm, if he will publish the Planning Inspectorate Examining Authority’s report and recommendation in relation to that application.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

In line with normal procedure under the 2008 Planning Act, the Planning Inspectorate Examining Authority’s report and recommendation of the proposed Botley West Solar Farm will be published after the conclusion of the decision-making phase of the development consent process.

Once the decision has been taken, the report and its recommendation will then be published alongside the Secretary of State’s decision documentation on the Planning Inspectorate website.

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