Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the press release about the UK–US pharmaceuticals deal issued on 1 December 2025, what was the specific basis on which the 25 per cent increase in medicine pricing was calculated; and what proportion of that increase corresponds to (1) a change to the cost effectiveness thresholds, and (2) the introduction of a new value set for judging health states.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The United Kingdom and United States’ pharmaceutical deal included a commitment to raise spending on innovative medicines, as a proportion of gross domestic product, from approximately 0.3% to 0.35% by the end of 2028 and to 0.6% over a 10-year period. This represents approximate rises of 0.05% by 2028 and 0.3% over a 10-year period respectively, versus the starting position estimated. Further detail, including data sources, will be confirmed in due course.
As part of the US and UK trade agreement, NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produced joint analysis to estimate the cost impact of implementing two potential measures into the pricing environment, specifically an increase of NICE’s standard threshold range to £25,000 to £35,000 per Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALYs), and the introduction of the EQ5D-5L value set for estimating QALYs.
NICE’s analysis estimated the expected price impacts for new medicine launches based on a retrospective analysis of previous recommendations, including assumptions around the potential for an increase in the number of positive recommendations. NHS England applied these assumptions to a generalised projection of spend on new medicines and new indications over the next three years. The analysis assumes that the profile of spend associated with medicines expected to launch in future will follow the same average growth profile as has been observed historically.
The analysis suggests that the majority of the price increase will result from the change to the cost effectiveness thresholds, but the exact contribution of each will depend on which medicines NICE recommends for National Health Service use. This is not something that we can predict at this time as it depends on which drugs come to market and which are assessed as approved for use on the NHS accordingly.
Asked by: Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the UK–US pharmaceuticals deal, by what percentage of GDP the UK will increase spending on medicines; when that increase will be in place; and whether that increase applies to both private and public sources of spending.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The United Kingdom and United States’ pharmaceutical deal included a commitment to raise spending on innovative medicines, as a proportion of gross domestic product, from approximately 0.3% to 0.35% by the end of 2028 and to 0.6% over a 10-year period. This represents approximate rises of 0.05% by 2028 and 0.3% over a 10-year period respectively, versus the starting position estimated. Further detail, including data sources, will be confirmed in due course.
As part of the US and UK trade agreement, NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produced joint analysis to estimate the cost impact of implementing two potential measures into the pricing environment, specifically an increase of NICE’s standard threshold range to £25,000 to £35,000 per Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALYs), and the introduction of the EQ5D-5L value set for estimating QALYs.
NICE’s analysis estimated the expected price impacts for new medicine launches based on a retrospective analysis of previous recommendations, including assumptions around the potential for an increase in the number of positive recommendations. NHS England applied these assumptions to a generalised projection of spend on new medicines and new indications over the next three years. The analysis assumes that the profile of spend associated with medicines expected to launch in future will follow the same average growth profile as has been observed historically.
The analysis suggests that the majority of the price increase will result from the change to the cost effectiveness thresholds, but the exact contribution of each will depend on which medicines NICE recommends for National Health Service use. This is not something that we can predict at this time as it depends on which drugs come to market and which are assessed as approved for use on the NHS accordingly.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase funding for cardiovascular disease research.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department invests over £1.6 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
The Department, through the NIHR, funds research into cardiovascular disease (CVD) that is aligned with the Government’s Health Mission, embracing digital transformation, prioritising prevention over treatment, and bringing care closer to communities to tackle health inequalities and reduce the number of lives lost to the biggest killers.
For example, in 2025 the NIHR launched a new funding opportunity to invest £50 million into innovative new research in CVD, aiming to tackle preventable causes of heart disease and its complications, save lives, and reduce inequalities in this area across the United Kingdom.
In addition, our wider investments in NIHR infrastructure, strengthening specialist facilities, the workforce, and support services to enable research in the health and care system, have enabled significant CVD funded by other funders to take place.
The NIHR continues to welcome high quality applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including CVD. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to the public and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a list of all (a) UK and (b) overseas sites currently used for long-range kinetic drone testing broken down by the maximum range of each location.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Defence uses various sites within the United Kingdom and overseas to test and evaluate operational capabilities. Capabilities are aligned to range standing orders, Training Danger Area limitations and the operational range of the system being evaluated. Given the geographical constraints of the United Kingdom, some capabilities are better evaluated overseas alongside our allies and partners.
I am unable to provide further details due to operational sensitivities.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) UK and (b) international long-range kinetic drone testing sites will be operational in each remaining financial year of the current Parliament.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Defence uses various sites within the United Kingdom and overseas to test and evaluate operational capabilities. Capabilities are aligned to range standing orders, Training Danger Area limitations and the operational range of the system being evaluated. Given the geographical constraints of the United Kingdom, some capabilities are better evaluated overseas alongside our allies and partners.
I am unable to provide further details due to operational sensitivities.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a list of all (a) UK and (b) overseas sites currently used for long-range kinetic drone testing.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Defence uses various sites within the United Kingdom and overseas to test and evaluate operational capabilities. Capabilities are aligned to range standing orders, Training Danger Area limitations and the operational range of the system being evaluated. Given the geographical constraints of the United Kingdom, some capabilities are better evaluated overseas alongside our allies and partners.
I am unable to provide further details due to operational sensitivities.
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there is a maximum range at which long-range kinetic drones can be tested.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
Defence uses various sites within the United Kingdom and overseas to test and evaluate operational capabilities. Capabilities are aligned to range standing orders, Training Danger Area limitations and the operational range of the system being evaluated. Given the geographical constraints of the United Kingdom, some capabilities are better evaluated overseas alongside our allies and partners.
I am unable to provide further details due to operational sensitivities.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the extent to which exclusions from the BN(O) visa route for Hong Kong born-persons born after 1 Just 1997 and without BN(O) status, contribute to HKSAR passport holders claiming asylum in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The BN(O) route reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to those people of Hong Kong who chose to retain their ties to the UK by taking up BN(O) status at the point of Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997. To be eligible for the BN(O) route, applicants must have BN(O) status, or be the eligible family member of someone with BN(O) status. Adult children of BN(O) status holders who were born after 1 July 1997 are eligible for the route.
The route is focused on those with BN(O) status and is already available to a significant proportion of the Hong Kong population. However, we understand concerns about the current scope of the route and so continue to keep this policy under review.
We have not made an assessment of the number of Hong Kongers born on or after 1 July 1997 who are not eligible for the BN(O) route, or of the extent to which ineligibility for the BN(O) route may contribute to asylum claims. Asylum and the BN(O) route serve different purposes and operate independently.
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many migrants have been brought into the United Kingdom under the "one in, one out" agreement with France since the scheme began.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
As of 27 January 2026, 350 individuals have been brought to the UK via the new safe and legal route.
Asked by: Jim Allister (Traditional Unionist Voice - North Antrim)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent steps he has taken to help support (a) safeguarding reform in Northern Ireland and (b) cross‑border learning with safeguarding regulators in England, Scotland and Wales under the Four Nations Memorandum of Understanding.
Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Safeguarding is a devolved matter and the development of safeguarding policy and legislation is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.
This Government remains committed to working with partners across the UK to ensure the safety and protection of children and adults at risk. It is right that the four nations continue to collaborate to share best practices and maintain professional alignment across the United Kingdom.