Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 4 August 2025 to Question 65738 on Foetal Valproate Spectrum Disorder, if he will make interim payments to valproate families following the end of the pilot project.

The NHS England-commissioned Fetal Exposure to Medicine Pilot project covers assessment, expert advice, and treatment planning for people impacted by sodium valproate and other anti-seizure medications.

On the question of interim payments to valproate families, the Government is carefully considering the work by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh, including a recommendation for a two-stage financial redress scheme, comprising of an interim scheme and a main scheme.

This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments, including the Cabinet Office. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.