Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to prevent serum Clozapine blood samples from being lost in transit within the NHS.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No specific assessment has been made of the reliability of current systems for transporting and processing serum Clozapine blood samples across National Health Service providers. Operational responsibility for the collection, transport, and processing of clozapine blood samples lies with individual NHS providers and their commissioned pathology and courier services. Further information on sample type and transport stability is available via individual NHS trust laboratory webpages.
Testing for clozapine levels is carried out within the same accredited pathology framework used for other biochemical assays, with defined requirements for sample collection, labelling, storage and transport to maintain sample integrity. Laboratories providing clozapine assays hold UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation and are required to undertake internal quality control and participate in national External Quality Assessment schemes to ensure accuracy and reproducibility of results.
Samples are transported through contracted courier services operating temperature controlled logistics, chain of custody processes and turnaround time requirements. These arrangements form part of routine clinical governance, incident reporting and performance management across NHS pathology services to prevent sample loss and provide assurance on the reliability of testing. Detailed operational arrangements are managed locally by individual pathology providers.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 reliability of current systems for transporting and processing serum Clozapine blood samples across NHS providers.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No specific assessment has been made of the reliability of current systems for transporting and processing serum Clozapine blood samples across National Health Service providers. Operational responsibility for the collection, transport, and processing of clozapine blood samples lies with individual NHS providers and their commissioned pathology and courier services. Further information on sample type and transport stability is available via individual NHS trust laboratory webpages.
Testing for clozapine levels is carried out within the same accredited pathology framework used for other biochemical assays, with defined requirements for sample collection, labelling, storage and transport to maintain sample integrity. Laboratories providing clozapine assays hold UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation and are required to undertake internal quality control and participate in national External Quality Assessment schemes to ensure accuracy and reproducibility of results.
Samples are transported through contracted courier services operating temperature controlled logistics, chain of custody processes and turnaround time requirements. These arrangements form part of routine clinical governance, incident reporting and performance management across NHS pathology services to prevent sample loss and provide assurance on the reliability of testing. Detailed operational arrangements are managed locally by individual pathology providers.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of providing limited amounts of non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccines available for patients with clinical contraindications to mRNA vaccines, including through the importation of products already authorised by trusted international regulators.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - 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 Government has accepted the JCVI’s advice for autumn 2025 and in line with the advice, a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered to the following groups:
As for all vaccines, the JCVI keeps all vaccination programmes under review.
COVID-19 vaccines are procured by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in line with JCVI advice.
UKHSA advise that as with all vaccines there will be an extremely small proportion of people who cannot receive a particular COVID-19 vaccine due to an anaphylactic reaction, this includes mRNA vaccines. Advice published in the UKHSA Green Book recommends that anyone with a prior allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccines should be seen by an expert allergist and, after a review of the individual’s risks and benefits of vaccination, where it is indicated, they could then be vaccinated in hospital under clinical supervision. Information is not held centrally on how many people seen under this pathway are unable to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine even in a hospital setting. Where an allergist has advised that a vaccine is not suitable, and this is the only type of vaccine available in a particular campaign, the individual should be advised of other mitigations to reduce their risk of becoming infected and be provided with information on access to treatments should they test positive for infection.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
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 potential merits of establishing a national referral pathway or specialist hub for people who cannot receive mRNA vaccines to ensure equitable access to appropriate COVID-19 vaccinations.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - 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 Government has accepted the JCVI’s advice for autumn 2025 and in line with the advice, a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered to the following groups:
As for all vaccines, the JCVI keeps all vaccination programmes under review.
COVID-19 vaccines are procured by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in line with JCVI advice.
UKHSA advise that as with all vaccines there will be an extremely small proportion of people who cannot receive a particular COVID-19 vaccine due to an anaphylactic reaction, this includes mRNA vaccines. Advice published in the UKHSA Green Book recommends that anyone with a prior allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccines should be seen by an expert allergist and, after a review of the individual’s risks and benefits of vaccination, where it is indicated, they could then be vaccinated in hospital under clinical supervision. Information is not held centrally on how many people seen under this pathway are unable to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine even in a hospital setting. Where an allergist has advised that a vaccine is not suitable, and this is the only type of vaccine available in a particular campaign, the individual should be advised of other mitigations to reduce their risk of becoming infected and be provided with information on access to treatments should they test positive for infection.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people are clinically unable to receive mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines; and how this figure has been derived.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - 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 Government has accepted the JCVI’s advice for autumn 2025 and in line with the advice, a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered to the following groups:
As for all vaccines, the JCVI keeps all vaccination programmes under review.
COVID-19 vaccines are procured by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in line with JCVI advice.
UKHSA advise that as with all vaccines there will be an extremely small proportion of people who cannot receive a particular COVID-19 vaccine due to an anaphylactic reaction, this includes mRNA vaccines. Advice published in the UKHSA Green Book recommends that anyone with a prior allergic reaction to COVID-19 vaccines should be seen by an expert allergist and, after a review of the individual’s risks and benefits of vaccination, where it is indicated, they could then be vaccinated in hospital under clinical supervision. Information is not held centrally on how many people seen under this pathway are unable to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine even in a hospital setting. Where an allergist has advised that a vaccine is not suitable, and this is the only type of vaccine available in a particular campaign, the individual should be advised of other mitigations to reduce their risk of becoming infected and be provided with information on access to treatments should they test positive for infection.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to guarantee access to specialist therapeutic support services for child victims of sexual abuse, in the context of the recommendation of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Last April, we committed to ambitious proposals in response to recommendation 16 from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. As part of our response to delivering on that promise, we are investing up to £50 million to roll out the internationally recognised Child House model across all National Health Service regions in England.
The model brings health, justice, and social care professionals together under one roof to reduce trauma and deliver the care children deserve in a safe, child-centred environment. Too often, children are asked to retell their experiences to multiple professionals, reliving their trauma with each repetition. The Child House model changes this.
This investment sits alongside our wider work to transform children’s mental health services. We are committed to reducing waiting times for specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service support, as set out in our Medium-Term Planning Framework. We are accelerating the rollout of mental health support teams in schools and colleges, working towards full national coverage by 2029. And we are investing an additional £13 million to pilot enhanced training so school-based mental health teams can better support young people with complex needs, including trauma.
Together, these actions represent a fundamental shift by treating child sexual abuse as the healthcare priority it is and ensuring that victims and survivors receive the very best support to rebuild their lives.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of British industrial capacity on young people’s future employment and skills opportunities.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Our modern Industrial Strategy focuses on eight sectors with the greatest potential to raise national levels of investment and productivity, spread prosperity to all parts of the country, make us all more secure, and seize the opportunities of net zero. The Strategy sets out our plans to deliver more opportunities for people at all stages of life, including young people, to learn and earn in our high-growth sectors. Additionally, we are investing £820 million for the Youth Guarantee meaning young people aged 16-24 are set to benefit from further support into employment and learning, and also announced a £725 million investment to deliver more apprenticeships for young people and help match skills training with local job opportunities.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what criteria his Department applies when determining whether a local authority election should be cancelled or postponed; and whether those criteria are applied consistently across England.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders we have listened to councils telling us about the capacity constraints they are operating within and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. We have been transparent about this process and the Secretary of State considered the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received and other relevant matters.
I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January 2026. We are preparing the necessary order, which will be laid in both houses when parliamentary time allows. The order will use section 87 of the Local Government Act 2000 to change the years in which the ordinary elections of councillors of those specified local authorities are to be held.
The Secretary of State also has powers to implement proposals for local government reorganisation using the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. These allow him to legislate for electoral matters. These powers are used to replace elections to councils which are shortly to be abolished with elections to the new councils for the area. An order using these powers is currently before the House in relation to local government reorganisation in Surrey.
Councils communicate regularly with the public they serve and will issue information as appropriate.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of postponing local elections in England on democratic participation in those elections.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders we have listened to councils telling us about the capacity constraints they are operating within and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. We have been transparent about this process and the Secretary of State considered the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received and other relevant matters.
I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January 2026. We are preparing the necessary order, which will be laid in both houses when parliamentary time allows. The order will use section 87 of the Local Government Act 2000 to change the years in which the ordinary elections of councillors of those specified local authorities are to be held.
The Secretary of State also has powers to implement proposals for local government reorganisation using the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. These allow him to legislate for electoral matters. These powers are used to replace elections to councils which are shortly to be abolished with elections to the new councils for the area. An order using these powers is currently before the House in relation to local government reorganisation in Surrey.
Councils communicate regularly with the public they serve and will issue information as appropriate.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on informing electors when a scheduled local election is cancelled or postponed.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
In the spirit of devolution and trusting local leaders we have listened to councils telling us about the capacity constraints they are operating within and the work that reorganisation introduces on top of existing challenges. We have been transparent about this process and the Secretary of State considered the position of each council individually, weighing up the evidence received and other relevant matters.
I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State’s statement on 22 January 2026. We are preparing the necessary order, which will be laid in both houses when parliamentary time allows. The order will use section 87 of the Local Government Act 2000 to change the years in which the ordinary elections of councillors of those specified local authorities are to be held.
The Secretary of State also has powers to implement proposals for local government reorganisation using the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. These allow him to legislate for electoral matters. These powers are used to replace elections to councils which are shortly to be abolished with elections to the new councils for the area. An order using these powers is currently before the House in relation to local government reorganisation in Surrey.
Councils communicate regularly with the public they serve and will issue information as appropriate.