Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
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 15 June to Question 6319 on Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, how much were the (a) assessment, (b) staff and (c) non-staff costs in each of those years.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
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: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 29 April 2026 to Question 119822 on Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme, for what reasons his Department was unable to answer the Question before 29 April 2026; and whether the information requested is now available.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
I would like to apologise for not being able to provide a substantive response to Question 119822 in the previous parliamentary session, which asked what the cost had been of assessing claims under the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme (VDPS) in each of the last four years for which information is available.
The VDPS is administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). In the last four years, data from NHSBSA shows that it has incurred the following costs to administer the scheme:
in the financial year 2022/23, the total cost of administering the scheme was £8,861,965.84;
in the financial year 2023/24, the total cost of administering the scheme was £16,170,563.53;
in the financial year 2024/25, the total cost of administering the scheme was £28,803,961.56; and
in the financial year 2025/26, the total cost of administering the scheme was £29,191,321.71.
These costs include assessment costs, and wider staff and non-staff costs. The primary reason for the increase in costs in the administration of the scheme is as a result of the increase in volume of VDPS applications received and the associated assessments required.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what has been the cost to his Department of assessing claims under the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme in each of the last four years for which information is available.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
I would like to apologise for not being able to provide a substantive response to Question 119822 in the previous parliamentary session, which asked what the cost had been of assessing claims under the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme (VDPS) in each of the last four years for which information is available.
The VDPS is administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). In the last four years, data from NHSBSA shows that it has incurred the following costs to administer the scheme:
in the financial year 2022/23, the total cost of administering the scheme was £8,861,965.84;
in the financial year 2023/24, the total cost of administering the scheme was £16,170,563.53;
in the financial year 2024/25, the total cost of administering the scheme was £28,803,961.56; and
in the financial year 2025/26, the total cost of administering the scheme was £29,191,321.71.
These costs include assessment costs, and wider staff and non-staff costs. The primary reason for the increase in costs in the administration of the scheme is as a result of the increase in volume of VDPS applications received and the associated assessments required.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government accepts the recommendations of the Covid-19 Inquiry (Module 4) published on 16 April 2026 in relation to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
As set out by the Prime Minister in his Written Ministerial Statement of 16 April responding to the publication of Module 4 of the COVID-19 Inquiry, the Government is carefully considering the findings of the inquiry, including the recommendations on reform of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), and will respond within six months of publication.
The Government is actively considering the recommendations of the inquiry on reform of the VDPS.
Asked by: Ian Roome (Liberal Democrat - North Devon)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government plans to publish the response to the Covid-19 Inquiry Module 4 recommendations on the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Inquiry published its report relating to the development of COVID-19 vaccines and the implementation of the vaccine deployment programme on 16 April 2026. The Government will consider the findings and recommendations in detail and will respond within six months of publication, by 16 October 2026. The Government remains committed to learning the lessons needed from the COVID-19 Inquiry to protect and prepare us for the future.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what has been the cost to his Department of assessing claims under the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme in each of the last four years for which information is available.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (Labour - South Shields)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme replacement.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
Our deepest sympathies are with those who have experienced harm following vaccination, as well as their families.
The Government recognises that concerns have been raised in relation to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), including during Module 4 of the COVID-19 inquiry. Following the publication of the COVID-19 Inquiry’s Module 4 report on vaccines and therapeutics on 16 April 2026, the Government will carefully consider its recommendations, including on the reform of the VDPS, and will respond formally in due course.
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 recent discussions he has had with the Chief Executive of the NHS Business Services Authority on the operation of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Department has been working with the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), the administrators of the scheme, to continue to take steps to improve the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), including through improving claimants’ experiences and supporting engagement with healthcare providers to allow claims to be progressed to medical assessment at a faster rate. Officials have regular discussions with the NHSBSA on the operation of the VDPS.
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 performance targets his Department has set for the processing of claims under the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
The Department works closely with the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), the administrators of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), to improve claimants’ experiences. While no specific performance targets have been set for the processing of claims, the Department and NHSBSA are committed to continuing to make improvements to the scheme, including by supporting engagement with healthcare providers to allow claims to be progressed to medical assessment at a faster rate.
Data from the NHSBSA shows as of 31 March 2026, there were 2,203 live VDPS claims, claims that are yet to receive an outcome. This is compared to 4,985 live claims as of 31 September 2025.
Asked by: Liz Jarvis (Liberal Democrat - Eastleigh)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's expected timetable is for completing consideration of reforms to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme; and when he expects to bring forward proposals for reform of that scheme.
Answered by Sharon Hodgson
We would like to reiterate our deepest sympathies to all those individuals who have experienced harm following vaccination, and to their families.
The Government recognises that concerns have been raised in relation to the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme. Ministers remain committed to looking at the issues raised and to considering a range of options. I will update the House in due course on progress, as appropriate.