Written questions by Fox.

What the average length of time has been for a repurposed medicine to be granted an MHRA licence from the point of application in the last two years.

In the last two years, there has been one medicine to date, namely Anastrozole, coming through the Repurposed Medicines Programme, with more information available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines-2/medicines-repurposing-programme/As only one medicine has been through the Repurposed Medicines programme so far, there is no meaningful 'average time' at this point, but the review times are being monitored.

Whether his Department is taking steps to decrease the amount of time it takes for a repurposed medicine to be granted an MHRA licence.

The Medicines and products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reviews the efficacy, safety and quality of a repurposed medicine in a similar way to other medicinal applications. This review is part of the activities which MHRA contributes to under the Medicines Repurposing Programme. Once sufficient evidence is available, MHRA will consider the applications within the statutory timelines which can be expedited if company dossiers contain all required information. Timelines for assessment vary and depend on the nature of the application. MHRA continuously reviews processes for the assessment of applications to determine whether any efficiencies and improved timelines are feasible.

How many people convicted of causing a death have been granted parole before the halfway point in their original sentences in the last year.

No prisoners are eligible to be considered for release by the Parole Board before the half-way point in their sentence.

Whether he has agreed to meet with the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme Trustees.

Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.

If he will publish the minutes from the recent Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition horizon scan meeting of 9 October 2024 on ultra-processed foods.

United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on independent advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). The SACN publishes minutes for all its meetings on its GOV.UK webpages.On 9 October 2024, the SACN held a horizon scan meeting, at which the committee discussed the topic of processed foods and health. Papers for these meetings are available on the SACN webpage, at the following link:https://app.box.com/s/yuxmdx4jfxmgxycjj08mc5hw51plu942Draft minutes of this meeting will be published on the SACN webpage early in 2025. The SACN webpage is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/scientific-advisory-committee-on-nutrition#sacn-meetingsThe SACN is planning to publish an update review on processed foods and health in 2025.

How many Probation Service staff are assigned to work in each office in London; and how many desks are there in each office.

Information on staff numbers at London Probation Delivery Units (PDUs) as at 30 September 2024 can be found in table 16, lines 91-108 (broken down by grade), of the HMPPS workforce statistics bulletin: September 2024 tables at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/673de4672ff787d4e01b0886/hmpps-workforce-statistics-tables-sep-2024.ods.The methodology used to calculate occupancy at Probation Buildings in London Offices does not take into account individual desk usage over specific time periods.

What discussions the recent UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition meeting had on (a) ultra-processed foods and (b) future policies to reduce consumption of those foods.

Dietary recommendations for the United Kingdom are based on independent advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).In July 2023, the SACN published a position statement on processed foods and health, summarising a scoping review of the evidence on food processing and health. The SACN concluded that observed associations between ultra-processed foods and health are concerning, but it is unclear whether these foods are inherently unhealthy due to processing or due to their nutritional content. Given the SACN’s concerns, the committee agreed to consider the issue again at its horizon scan in October 2024. At the meeting, the SACN considered a draft update review on this topic which considers more recently published evidence. It also considered the draft update review at its meeting in November 2024. Papers for these meetings are available on the SACN’s webpages. The SACN is planning to publish the update review on processed foods in 2025.The SACN has only a dietary risk assessment remit. The SACN is not involved in policy development, and therefore has not had discussions on policies to reduce consumption of processed foods.

How many departmental staff, expressed as a numeric headcount, assigned to 102 Petty France, occupied a desk in 102 Petty France, on average, in the last week for which figures are available.

The new Government has recently committed to keep to the current guidance on civil service office attendance. Office occupancy data for the period July - September has been published, with further publications to now happen on a quarterly basis. The data is published at: Civil Service HQ occupancy data - GOV.UK.

How many desks in 102 Petty France offices are made available for (a) HMCTS and (b) Ministry of Justice staff.

The new Government has recently committed to keep to the current guidance on civil service office attendance. Office occupancy data for the period July - September has been published, with further publications to now happen on a quarterly basis. The data is published at: Civil Service HQ occupancy data - GOV.UK.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of alternatives to Fixed Recoverable Costs for lower-value clinical negligence claims.

Currently, the Government is considering the way forward on a wide range of matters, including clinical negligence costs reform, and we will announce our position in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2024 to Question 13970 on Wales Office: Buildings, how many staff attended the Department's HQ building in that period; and how many staff are assigned to that workplace.

The average number of staff attending the Department's HQ building in that period for which figures are available is 15. The Office currently has 24 civil servants assigned to its London Office.

Whether his Department has taken recent steps to reform the fixed recoverable costs for lower-value clinical negligence claims.

Currently, the Government is considering the way forward on a wide range of matters, including clinical negligence costs reform, and we will announce our position in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 13145 on DWP: Buildings, how many staff were in attendance in Caxton House on average in the last week for which figures are available.

We have the data that you have requested for week commencing 2nd December 2024 (02/12/24 – 06/12/24). The average attendance per day for Caxton House this week is 623.

What assessment he has made of the impact of introducing Fixed Recoverable Costs in clinical negligence on vulnerable people’s ability to access justice.

Currently, the Government is considering the way forward on a wide range of matters, including clinical negligence costs reform, and we will announce our position in due course.

How many HMCTS staff, expressed as a numeric headcount, assigned to 102 Petty France, occupied a desk in 102 Petty France, on average, in the last week for which figures are available.

The new Government has recently committed to keep to the current guidance on civil service office attendance. Office occupancy data for the period July - September has been published, with further publications to now happen on a quarterly basis. The data is published at: Civil Service HQ occupancy data - GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, how many civil servants are assigned to work in the Land Registry’s London office; and how many desks there are for those civil servants.

HM Land Registry’s Head Office is in Croydon and it does not have any other London-based offices. It had 416 staff based in the Croydon office on 13 December 2024 with 280 desks available for HM Land Registry’s use.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2024, to Question 12889 on Ministry of Justice: Ministers’ Private Offices, if he will provide a breakdown of the (a) goods and services purchased and (b) cost of each.

As outlined in PQ 9269, the Ministry of Justice’s total cost spent on refurbishments to Ministerial Private Offices, including new furniture and fittings, was £13,314.73, during the period requested.The following table provides details of furniture purchased as part of the refurbishment of Ministerial offices:Item purchasedCost (£)3 x large mirrors installed in the offices of the Minister of State and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State212.261 x freezer for kitchen area193.322 x wooden bookcases for Minister’s office64.86The following table provides a breakdown of refurbishment and redecoration works to Ministerial offices and surrounding areas. “Miscellaneous renovation works” refers to multiple works that cannot be disclosed individually, due to commercial sensitivity around pricing, but includes works such as hanging pictures on walls, and affixing blanking plates to where wires were removed from the wall.Goods or services providedCost (£)Electrical works and cabling4,107.52Addressing wear and tear to Ministerial offices7,240.66Reconfiguring furniture on the Ministerial floor651.02Miscellaneous renovation works579.11

Whether she has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the proposed increase in the number of Senedd members.

I have had no discussions with the Welsh Government on this matter in my capacity as Secretary of State, as the Bill became law prior to the General Election.As would be expected, this government respects devolution and the powers of the Senedd to determine its representation and elections.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 12890 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Ministers’ Private Offices, if she will published an itemised breakdown of that spending.

All furniture and AV equipment has been, and must be, sourced from the GPA's Approved Supplier's catalogue.An itemised breakdown of spending is as follows (all costs are excluding VAT unless otherwise specified):Furniture for existing Ministerial Offices:Chairs x 6 - £7,384Two of the chairs are in use within the Secretary of State's office and the other four are used in other areas of the office. Furniture for new Ministerial Offices:Height adjustable desk - £1,566Armchair - £1,033Meeting Chairs x 14 - £12,964Furniture to house AudioAV equipment - £4,158.42Delivery, installation and dismantling and re-positioning of existing furniture - £1602.07 (including VAT) The number of Ministers in DESNZ increased by one following the general election, the result of which was a higher than usual spend to facilitate the creation of an additional office. Cost of Other Refurbishment of Ministerial Offices including moves:Porterage for over 5 days and rental of crates for 90 days - £13,387.93Floor power alterations within the Ministerial Office, their Private Office and Waiting Room - £2,241.24 Porterage was carried out between 5-15 July. All other work was commissioned on, or after, 15 July and completed by, or before, 19 October. The Floor Power Alterations were to install additional power boxes within the floor due to the increased space utilisation. Please note this item was not correctly identified and included in the response to PQ UIN 12890.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 12890 on Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Ministers’ Private Offices, what items were purchased to equip the office of the additional Minister.

All furniture and AV equipment has been, and must be, sourced from the GPA's Approved Supplier's catalogue.An itemised breakdown of spending is as follows (all costs are excluding VAT unless otherwise specified):Furniture for existing Ministerial Offices:Chairs x 6 - £7,384Two of the chairs are in use within the Secretary of State's office and the other four are used in other areas of the office. Furniture for new Ministerial Offices:Height adjustable desk - £1,566Armchair - £1,033Meeting Chairs x 14 - £12,964Furniture to house AudioAV equipment - £4,158.42Delivery, installation and dismantling and re-positioning of existing furniture - £1602.07 (including VAT) The number of Ministers in DESNZ increased by one following the general election, the result of which was a higher than usual spend to facilitate the creation of an additional office. Cost of Other Refurbishment of Ministerial Offices including moves:Porterage for over 5 days and rental of crates for 90 days - £13,387.93Floor power alterations within the Ministerial Office, their Private Office and Waiting Room - £2,241.24 Porterage was carried out between 5-15 July. All other work was commissioned on, or after, 15 July and completed by, or before, 19 October. The Floor Power Alterations were to install additional power boxes within the floor due to the increased space utilisation. Please note this item was not correctly identified and included in the response to PQ UIN 12890.