Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if his Department will publish (a) a timeline for the completion of the implementation of UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 recommendations and (b) target dates for actions in progress.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare

The Government responded in full to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 1 report on 16 January 2025 and committed to providing regular updates on implementation of the commitments made in the response. The most recent update was published on 8 July, alongside a suite of key publications which demonstrate this government’s determination to build the UK’s resilience and pandemic preparedness for the future.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how the Government plans to (a) select and (b) appoint people to UK Resilience Academy independent panels on risk preparedness; what steps he plans to take to ensure that those panels can operate independently; and when he expects their findings to be published.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare

The Cabinet Office will instruct the UK Resilience Academy to convene independently-chaired panels dedicated to reviewing specific whole-system risks. The panels will draw on leading independent experts from across sectors outside government to ensure impartial and credible assurance. Terms of Reference will underpin the panels, and a pilot study will test and refine this approach.

The Government's updates on its actions to improve resilience, including in response to the findings of the independent expert panels, will be set out in the Annual Statement to Parliament on risk and resilience.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he plans to take to ensure that UK Resilience Academy expert panels on whole-system risks are available for parliamentary scrutiny; and how the Government plans to (a) respond to and (b) implement as necessary their recommendations.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare

The Cabinet Office will instruct the UK Resilience Academy to convene independently-chaired panels dedicated to reviewing specific whole-system risks. The panels will draw on leading independent experts from across sectors outside government to ensure impartial and credible assurance. Terms of Reference will underpin the panels, and a pilot study will test and refine this approach.

The Government's updates on its actions to improve resilience, including in response to the findings of the independent expert panels, will be set out in the Annual Statement to Parliament on risk and resilience.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which catastrophic risk boards are co-chaired by his Department; what the remit is for each board; which other Government departments are involved; and how frequently they meet.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare

As outlined in the Central Government Concept of Operations for Emergency Response and Recovery (the Amber Book), the Cabinet Office have taken a stronger and more directive role in planning for catastrophic risks. The Cabinet Office co-sponsors the planning phase of catastrophic risks with the Lead Government Department (LGD), including through co-chairing of catastrophic risk boards.

The Cabinet Office works with LGDs to agree which boards it would be appropriate to co-chair on a case by case basis. The Cabinet Office and LGDs work closely with representatives from the other relevant departments, agencies and, where appropriate, the Devolved Governments in preparing for catastrophic risks.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to publish central operational response plans developed for each identified potential catastrophic risk; and whether he plans to make (a) plans and (b) summaries available to Parliament.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare

The Government published the updated Central Government Concept of Operations for Emergency Response and Recovery (the Amber Book) in April 2025 which codifies the leadership role the Cabinet Office plays for responding to catastrophic risks. The Cabinet Office also co-sponsors the planning phase of catastrophic risks with the Lead Government Department which owns the risk. Part of this planning is to develop the concept of operations for each catastrophic risk. These plans are internal and operational in nature, and there is currently no intent to publish these documents.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to publish the animal welfare strategy.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner

This Government was elected on a mandate to improve animal welfare. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of statutory sick pay.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I know that my honourable friends will welcome the changes this Government is making to Statutory Sick Pay through the Employment Rights Bill, including extending eligibility to up to 1.3 million of the lowest paid employees and removing the waiting period.

We believe the current rate achieves the right balance between providing support for employees who are unable to work due to sickness whilst limiting the cost to employers.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Integrated Care Boards in England provide Covid Medicines Delivery Units.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department and NHS England do not collect or hold this information centrally. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for making funding available and for arranging access to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommended COVID-19 therapeutics, in line with its Rapid guideline: managing COVID-19, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng191

ICBs will establish services to meet the needs of their local populations, which might include COVID-19 Medicines Delivery Units, but could also include other access options such as primary and community care, or outreach services. Patients can find out about local services at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/treatments-for-covid-19/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance in May 2025 on supporting patients in accessing lateral flow tests for covid-19.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) updated its recommendations on the use of nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir for the treatment COVID‑19 in adults in May 2025. The update followed a decision by the company to set a new list price for nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir which meant that it is no longer a cost-effective treatment for people with diabetes, obesity, or heart failure, or for those aged 70 years old or over. Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir continues to be recommended by NICE for people who have an increased risk for progression to severe COVID‑19 as defined in NICE’s guidance, at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ta878/chapter/5-Supporting-information-on-risk-factors-for-progression-to-severe-COVID19

Rapid lateral flow tests for COVID-19 are available free of charge to people who are eligible for COVID-19 treatment as defined by NICE’s guidance.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the UN Commission for Human Rights report entitled They are hunting us: systematic drone attacks targeting civilians in Kherson, dated 28 May 2025.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are deeply concerned by this report by the UN Commission for Human Rights. The Commission concludes that Russian armed forces have committed the crime against humanity of murder and the war crime of attacking civilians, through a pattern of drone attacks on the right bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson province. The UK is focused on Ukraine's immediate defence in the face of relentless Russian attacks on civilians. We have been at the forefront of international efforts to develop Ukraine's capacity to investigate and prosecute atrocity crimes and to support survivors, including through the establishment of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group with US and EU partners.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support Ukraine in preventing Russian armed forces from carrying out drone attacks against civilians.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Supporting Ukraine to counter air attacks, including with drones, by Russian armed forces is a top priority for the UK. Working in partnership with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence the UK has provided a range of air defence/counter drone capabilities to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, to help defend their frontline and civilians from Russian attacks in the air.

This includes over 5,000 Lightweight Multi-Role Missiles, 350 ASRAAM air defence missiles, 15 GRAVEHAWK air defence systems, as well as drone interceptors.

In addition, the UK and Germany have partnered to invest more than 170 million Euros worth of funding to provide critical air defence ammunition to Ukraine over the coming months.

Found: Current membership Debbie Abrahams (Labour; Oldham East and Saddleworth) (Chair) Johanna Baxter (Labour

Found: Work and Pensions Committee members present: Debbie Abrahams (Chair); Johanna Baxter; Mr Peter Bedford

Found: Work and Pensions Committee members present: Debbie Abrahams (Chair); Johanna Baxter; Mr Peter Bedford

Found: Work and Pensions Committee members present: Debbie Abrahams (Chair); Johanna Baxter; Mr Peter Bedford

Found: Work and Pensions Committee members present: Debbie Abrahams (Chair); Johanna Baxter; Mr Peter Bedford

Found: Current membership Debbie Abrahams (Labour; Oldham East and Saddleworth) (Chair) Johanna Baxter (Labour