Asked by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency provides on purchasing prescription-only medicines from overseas online providers for personal use.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) enforces the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 but it does not hold responsibility for regulating the prescribing or retail supply of medicines, which sits across various sector and professional regulators. Regulators have the powers to take action against any services putting patients in danger.
The regulations establish that a person may not, except in accordance with a licence, manufacture, assemble or import a medicinal product or possess a medicinal product for the purposes of manufacturing, assembling or importing a medicinal product. However, this does not apply to a person who imports a medicinal product for administration to themselves or to any other person who is a member of that person’s household. This is commonly referred to as “personal imports” and applies to any medicinal product. This activity is thus not regulated by the MHRA and as a result no specific guidance has been issued by the agency.
In order to sell medicines in the European Union, EU-based online sellers must register, comply with relevant requirements and display an EU common logo linked to the competent authority of the country in which they are based. From 1 January 2021, Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) based online sellers are no longer required to display the EU common logo (in the UK known as the Distance selling Logo).
Because of the Northern Ireland Protocol, anyone in Northern Ireland selling medicines to the public via a website must still comply with the requirement to apply the EU common logo. This means they must be registered with the MHRA and display a Distance Selling Logo on every page of the website offering medicines for sale. For Great Britain, the MHRA will be considering an alternative to the use of the Distance Selling Logo in the future. The MHRA is no longer processing new applications for the Distance Selling Logo in Great Britain.
Asked by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe)
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 on patients and NHS waiting lists of surgical operations being cancelled due to contaminated or defective sterile surgical instrument components; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure inspection protocols are in place to prevent theatre lists being assembled before defects in outsourced surgical parts are identified.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
No specific assessment has been made of the impact of cancelled operations due to contaminated or defective sterile surgical instrument components on National Health Service elective waiting lists. Quarterly cancelled elective operation statistics for non-clinical reasons is available online, but this information is not broken down by specialty or reason.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator in England with the responsibility to ensure that health and social care providers comply with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Regulation 15: Premises and Equipment require health and social care providers to ensure the equipment used to deliver care and treatment is clean, decontaminated and/or sterilised, and suitable for the intended purpose, maintained, and stored securely in line with current legislation and guidance. Where guidance cannot be met, the provider should have appropriate contingency plans and arrangements to mitigate the risks to people using the service.
Providers retain legal responsibility under this regulation to ensure they are compliant, including when they delegate responsibility through contracts or legal agreements to a third party, independent suppliers, professionals, supply chains, or contractors.
Asked by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the 26-week continuous employment threshold for eligibility for Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay under the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act 2018; and what steps they are taking to ensure that bereaved parents are able to access financial support during a period of bereavement leave, regardless of length of service with their current employer.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The 26-week continuous employment requirement is standard across parental pay entitlements. Where employees do not qualify, we encourage employers to provide additional support where possible.
Through the Parental Leave and Pay Review we are considering improvements to the system, including existing entitlements, to better support working families.
Bereaved parents may be able to get Universal Credit if on a low income or needing help with living costs. In some circumstances, a Universal Credit payment that would otherwise reduce or stop following bereavement, including the death of a child for whom an adult is responsible for, continues for a short time.
Asked by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is taking to regulate the practice of overseas online prescribers supplying medicines to UK residents.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
Asked by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe)
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 people purchasing medicines from overseas online pharmacies on patient safety.
Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In August 2025, the Department launched a United Kingdom-wide Call for Evidence (CfE) considering whether the existing regulation and monitoring of private, non-National Health Service prescribing remains fit for purpose, and to ensure that patients can continue to safely access high-quality medicines through all legal routes in the UK. Further information on the CfE is available at the following link:
The Department sought views on how it could continue to ensure that the medicines people need are available conveniently and promptly, whilst maintaining the UK's high standards of medicine regulation, prescribing, and use. The CfE gave the public, healthcare professionals and providers, and other interested parties the opportunity to share their views on private prescribing, including prescribing from European Economic Area based practitioners.
The CfE ran from 12 August to 4 November 2025. A total of 458 responses were received: 68 on behalf of an organisation; 168 as a healthcare professional responding in a personal capacity; and 222 from members of the public. The types of organisations who responded to the CfE included pharmaceutical companies, professional bodies and regulators, pharmacy organisations, advocacy groups, and healthcare providers. Healthcare professionals who responded were largely from pharmacy, general practice, and nursing.
Officials are analysing results to inform next steps. A Government response will be published in due course.
Asked by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reviewing the advisory status of Highway Code Rule 59 as it relates to the wearing of (a) helmets and (b) high visibility clothing by cyclists.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
There are no plans to make it a requirement for cyclists to wear a helmet or high visibility clothing when cycling.
Asked by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help reduce the number of driving test appointments wasted due to candidates failing to attend.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
To reduce missed appointments, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) issues text reminders to learners between 2 and 12 days beforehand to help learners plan for their test. Learners can also get email alerts, check their test details online, and find resources on the GOV.UK website.
Driving examiners will terminate a test on public safety grounds only where it is necessary to manage risk to the learner, the examiner or other road users. Through its "Ready to Pass?" campaign, DVSA encourages learners to make sure that they will be ready and able to take the test they have booked and to change or cancel their appointment in good time if they are not.
Asked by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of driving tests terminated on the grounds of public safety.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
To reduce missed appointments, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) issues text reminders to learners between 2 and 12 days beforehand to help learners plan for their test. Learners can also get email alerts, check their test details online, and find resources on the GOV.UK website.
Driving examiners will terminate a test on public safety grounds only where it is necessary to manage risk to the learner, the examiner or other road users. Through its "Ready to Pass?" campaign, DVSA encourages learners to make sure that they will be ready and able to take the test they have booked and to change or cancel their appointment in good time if they are not.
Asked by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to increase road safety.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
On 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. Alongside the strategy, 5 consultations were published, and they will be open until 11 May:
The Strategy sets ambitious targets to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on British roads by 65%, and 70% for children under 16, by 2035. Five consultations were launched alongside the Strategy addressing vulnerable road users, vehicle safety technologies and motoring offences.
The steps we take to improve road safety will be supported and monitored by a new Road Safety Board which I will chair as the Minister for Local Transport.
Road safety is a shared responsibility, and the new strategy reflects that. It considers action needed by government, local authorities, industry, emergency services and communities to tackle the causes of collisions and save lives. By investing in infrastructure, education, and enforcement, we are taking decisive steps to make our roads safer for everyone.
Asked by: Tony Vaughan (Labour - Folkestone and Hythe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will provide an update on the status of the Royal Mail Statutory Scheme Pension deficit.
Answered by Satvir Kaur - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The administration of the Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme (RMSPS) is the responsibility of the Cabinet Office.
The RMSPS was created in April 2012 when the UK government assumed responsibility for the historic liabilities (accrued before 2012) of the Royal Mail Pension Plan (RMPP).
The scheme is closed to new members and further benefit accrual. It will continue to operate until all members and their beneficiaries have received their entitlements. The scheme holds no investment assets. All liabilities are met by annual parliamentary votes for funding.
The RMSPS’ deficit at 31 March 2025 is £28.2 billion.
This information can be found in the annual report and accounts:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/royal-mail-statutory-pension-scheme-2024-2025
It should be noted that on 22 April 2026, the Government announced the termination of the new Royal Mail Statutory Pension Scheme (RMSPS) contract with Capita. This decision was taken following Capita’s failure to meet critical transition milestones and IT automation requirements over an 18-month planning period. To ensure no member is detrimentally impacted, service delivery will continue under the existing contract while the Government assesses a new delivery model.