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 appraisal processes for (a) Freidrich’s Ataxia, (b) Neiman Pick’s disease and (c) other rare diseases for exceptional conditions.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) methods have been proven to be suitable for the evaluation of rare disease medicines, where companies are willing to price their medicines fairly. NICE’s approval rate for medicines for rare diseases is in line with its overall approval rate for new medicines, with 91% of medicines licensed for rare diseases recommended for some or all of the eligible patient population since April 2024.

NICE initiated an appraisal of Skyclarys (omaveloxolone) for the treatment of Friedrich’s Ataxia for people aged 16 years old and over but has had to terminate its appraisal as the company has withdrawn its evidence submission. NICE will review its decision if the company decides to make a new submission. Olipudase alfa for treating Niemann-Pick disease types B and AB was evaluated through NICE’s highly specialised technologies (HST) programme, which is reserved for a small number of medicines for very rare and very severe diseases. The HST programme uses a much higher cost-effectiveness threshold than a standard NICE appraisal that recognises the challenges of developing medicines for very small patient populations. NICE’s independent evaluation committee recognised that the evidence showed that the treatment improved lung function but found that there were uncertainties in the economic model. Even when taking into account the substantial clinical benefits of treatment and the higher threshold, it was unable to recommend it as a cost-effective use of National Health Service resources.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding has been allocated to football clubs in Northern Ireland through the Community Ownership Fund.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In total, the Community Ownership Fund has awarded over £11 million to 38 projects in Northern Ireland. Almost £2 million was awarded to eight sporting and leisure facilities, this includes projects supporting grassroots football such as Ballymacash Sports Academy and the Craigavon Leisure Centre Regeneration Project.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Timms Review plans to (a) hold discussions with (i) carers and (ii) disabled people from and (b) considers the potential impact of proposed changes in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Timms Review will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, and other experts, including carers. This means the Government will share ownership and responsibility for how the Review runs and what it recommends.

We recognise that unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting disabled people, which is why, in keeping with the commitments made in Parliament, we have explicitly included carers in the list of groups who will be involved in the co-production of the Review.

PIP is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland, but there is a long-standing principle of parity between the social security systems of the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK Government. It is therefore important that the Review hears from disabled people in Northern Ireland and the organisations that represent them.

As the Review progresses, we will continue to engage closely with officials and disability stakeholders from across the devolved governments, to ensure that its work is informed by the diverse approaches to disability support from across the United Kingdom.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her polices of reports that UK weapons are being used in the Sudanese conflict.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the responses provided in the Urgent Question debate on the Conflict in Sudan on 5 November 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will take diplomatic steps to secure guarantees that humanitarian (a) assistance will be delivered safely and (b) corridors will be opened for civilians in Sudan.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the responses provided in the Urgent Question debate on the Conflict in Sudan on 5 November 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to conduct due diligence when licensing arms transfers to the United Arab Emirates to prevent weapons being diverted to Sudan.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the responses provided in the Urgent Question debate on the Conflict in Sudan on 5 November 2025.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will take steps to support (a) hospitality, (b) consumers, (c) pubs and (d) breweries by (i) reducing (A) VAT and (B) draught beer and cider duty and (ii) introducing targeted relief for (1) energy and (2) employment costs through the Autumn Budget 2025.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the significant contribution made by hospitality businesses, including pubs, to economic growth and social life in the UK.

The Government keeps all areas of the tax system under review. Any changes to the tax system are announced as part of the annual Budget process.

On VAT, HMRC estimate that the cost of a 5 per cent reduced rate for accommodation, hospitality and tourist attractions would be around £13 billion this financial year. If the scope were also to include alcoholic beverages, the cost would be approximately £3 billion greater. VAT reliefs reduce the revenue available to fund public services and must be good value for the taxpayer.

The current duty system supports breweries through Draught Relief, which ensures products served on draught pay less duty, and Small Producer Relief, which permits smaller producers to pay reduced duty rates.

In recognition of the economic and cultural importance of pubs, as well as the wider ‘on trade’, at Autumn Budget 2024 the Government cut alcohol duty on qualifying draught products by 1.7% in cash terms. This duty reduction, worth over £85m a year, covers approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs and is equivalent to a 1p duty reduction on a typical pint.

As a Government we understand the importance to businesses of reducing their energy bills and reaching net zero and recognise the barriers businesses face trying to overcome these challenges. On energy costs, the Government has announced a new Zero Carbon Services Hospitality Trial, which aims to provide pubs, cafés, restaurants and hotels with free energy and carbon-cutting advice to slash their energy bills as part of the Government’s Plan for Change. This initiative is designed to help businesses reduce costs and support the transition to net zero.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the regulation of car insurance providers.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and firms are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules.

The FCA is an independent body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry across the United Kingdom and has robust powers to act against firms that fail to comply with its rules.

The government plans to publish the final report of the cross-government Motor Insurance Taskforce in the autumn. The Taskforce has a strategic remit to set the direction for UK Government policy, identifying short- and long-term actions for departments that may contribute to stabilising or reducing premiums, while maintaining appropriate levels of cover.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she had made of the potential impact of inheritance tax through secondary transfer charges on beneficiaries of estates relating to compensation from the infected blood scheme.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The suffering endured by all those impacted by infected blood is profound, and we remain committed to ensuring that justice is not only delivered but reflected in the way compensation is treated.

We recognise that this is a sensitive issue. We are considering whether further steps are needed in relation to IHT relief. However, it is important that we take the time to consider all aspects thoroughly to ensure any solution is both fair and effective.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to to clause 32 in the Windsor Framework relating to VAT and excise, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reducing the VAT rate in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies consistently across the UK to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

Phenylketonuria awareness and access to treatment

Professional integrity of BBC journalists

Palestine Action hunger strike

Israel’s use of cluster munitions

Safe and legal routes for Sudanese people to the UK

Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week 2025

Buying community energy locally

Conflict in Sudan

Sodium valproate and surgical mesh redress

Future of the BBC

Two-child limit

Strike action at the British Library

Found: Q345: Claire Hanna: This is not related to disclosure, but while I have you here, can I ask whether

Found: Q19 Claire Hanna: Robert, did you want to come in there?

Found: Q305 Claire Hanna: Alyson, I will put to you the same question.

Found: Chair: I would just like to say that Claire Hanna has been delayed and was not able to join us today

Found: Democratic Unionist Party Belfast North John Finucane MP Sinn Féin Belfast South & Mid Down Claire Hanna

Found: Democratic Unionist Party Belfast North John Finucane MP Sinn Féin Belfast South & Mid Down Claire Hanna