Written questions by McVey.

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2026 to Question 106102 on Coronavirus: Research, for what reason they have yet to receive a copy of the audit; and how the scope of the recommendations can be understood without it.

The UK Health Security Agency has requested this report and continues discussions with Moderna on their response to the audit’s recommendations. This is being considered and reviewed alongside the commercial management of the Moderna-United Kingdom Strategic Partnership.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 59379 on Coronavirus: Research, and with reference to FOI 15/11/25/IR/575, when the UKHSA expects to receive the report from (a) Moderna and (b) PMCPA to review.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has yet to receive a copy of the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) audit report. However, as part of the United Kingdom’s Strategic Partnership with Moderna, the UKHSA is working to understand the scope of the audit's recommendations and how Moderna is addressing them. This includes any corrective actions they are putting in place ahead of a further audit, which the PMCPA have indicated they will carry out in late 2026, early 2027.

Pursuant to the answer of 4 July 2025 to question 63299, when he plans to publish the report on packaging changes to Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, as discussed at the Commission on Human Medicines Antidepressant Risk Minimisation Expert Working Group on 1 May.

The Commission on Human Medicines Antidepressant Risk Minimisation Expert Working Group met in May and July 2025 and their recommendations were subsequently considered by the Commission on Human Medicines in September 2025. A public assessment report summarising the data considered and the recommendations will be published by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as soon as the regulatory position is finalised with the 105 marketing authorisation holders of the 28 antidepressants involved in the review. An exact date for publication of the public assessment report cannot be confirmed yet. The MHRA will issue a Drug Safety Update to inform healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom of the new regulatory position for all antidepressants, not only selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and publication of the public assessment report.

Pursuant to the Answer 1 December 2025 to Question HL12274 on Visual Snow Syndrome: Yellow Card Scheme, if he will confirm whether official UK drug labels or patient information leaflets warn about the possibility of this condition occurring.

Visual snow syndrome (VSS) was officially recognized in 2025 with a unique code in the eleventh edition of the International Classification of Diseases by the World Health Organization. Very few cases of VSS have been reported with 22 individual drugs or vaccines through the Yellow Card scheme.VSS is a rare disorder and the underlying cause currently unknown. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) keeps all licensed medicines and vaccines under close monitoring and any potential signal of an association between a medicine or vaccine exposure and development of VSS will be rigorously assessed through the MHRA’s multidisciplinary signal review process and added to individual product information when there is data available to support regulatory action.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 64393 on Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme: Coronavirus, what steps he is taking to improve the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme.

I would like to reiterate my profound and sincere sympathies to all those individuals who have experienced harm following vaccination, and to their families.The Department has been working with the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), the administrators of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), to take steps to improve the scheme and process claims at a faster rate. Building on work to scale up and modernise operations through the digitisation of the claims process and increasing administrative staff working on the VDPS, the NHSBSA is engaging with healthcare providers to improve the return rate of medical records, essential to assessing claims, including through submitting subject access requests.In parallel, Ministers continue to actively consider a range of options for further reforming the VDPS.

With reference to FOI request 24/015 to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, if he will publish the responses received from the Swedish Medical Products Agency following their offer to contact (a) children and (b) teenager psychiatrists.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have confirmed that the response received from the Swedish Medical Products Agency in relation to the 2008 assessment of preclinical data published within FOI 24/015 did not contain an offer to contact psychiatrists responsible for the care of children and teenagers.

How much funding his department allocated to the indemnity schemes in place for Covid-19 vaccinations.

We are unable to provide full information as requested regarding the valuation of the COVID-19 vaccine indemnities due to their commercial sensitivity.The existence of the COVID-19 vaccination indemnities is disclosed in the contingent liabilities note within the Department’s group annual report and accounts (ARA). The value of the contingent liabilities was not disclosed due to their sensitive nature. There is also a provision for a COVID-19 vaccination indemnity included in the ARA as part of ‘other’ in the provisions note.The most recently published ARA is available at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/676150ef26a2d1ff18253415/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-2024-web-accessible.pdf

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2025 to Question 34608 on Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme: Appeals, whether past tribunal decisions are used to support assessments.

Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS) appeal cases are overseen by His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service and processed through the First-tier Tribunal. Upon conclusion of an appeal, the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) receives a Statement of Reasons from the presiding judge. This document is reviewed by NHSBSA and used to inform and support continuous improvement initiatives within the organisation.

If his Department will consider reviewing the Allied Healthcare Professional status list to include chiropractors as part of the government’s wider review of the NHS.

Integrated care boards are able to make independent decisions on which health professionals they employ and may commission a limited amount of chiropractic treatment.There are no plans by either the Department or NHS England to review the health and care professions that are classified as an allied health profession.

If his Department will (a) support further integration of chiropractic care into NHS services across Tatton and (b) give chiropractors Allied Healthcare Professional status.

Integrated care boards are able to make independent decisions on which health professionals they employ and may commission a limited amount of chiropractic treatment.There are no plans by either the Department or NHS England to review the health and care professions that are classified as an allied health profession.

What litigation costs his Department incurred in Wilson and others v Bayer Pharma and others, [2023] EWHC 1282 (QB); and how many representatives of his Department attended the Royal Courts of Justice for that hearing.

A total of £469,613.30 in legal costs, as of the end of May 2025, excluding VAT, has been incurred by the Department of Health and Social Care via the Government Legal Department representing them on the Wilson and others v Bayer Pharma and others case. Another matter, Forshaw, was litigated at the same time where the costs were included within the billing for Wilson, but it is not possible to split the costs on these cases because that data is not available in that format.Four legal representatives on behalf of the Department and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) attended the hearing in May 2023 at the Royal Courts of Justice, namely a senior Government Legal Department lawyer accompanied by a legal executive, and two Counsel, a King's Counsel and a barrister. There were no attendees from the Department of Health and Social Care or the MHRA.

With reference to the FOI request 2024/00205, when the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency plans to publish (a) details of its investigation into the advertising activities of the company Zoe and (b) for what reason the conclusion of the investigation has been delayed.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) investigates allegations of non-compliance with medical device regulations. Where appropriate, they can use their enforcement powers to ensure action is taken against devices that pose a serious risk to public health. All investigations are handled in a timely manner.Information about allegations of non-compliance, investigations, and outcomes are generally exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, therefore the MHRA does not routinely publish the outcomes of their investigations, including those within the Freedom of Information request referenced. However, where there are concerns about the safety of a medical device, the MHRA will warn the public, for example through National Patient Safety Alerts.

With reference to page 94 of his Department's policy paper entitled Fit for the future: 10 year health plan for England, published in July 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of transferring the hosting arrangement for the Patient Safety Commissioner to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency on the level of independence of that post.

Dr Dash’s review of patient safety across the health and care landscape was published in July 2025. The review sets out a broad aim to streamline, simplify, and consolidate functions across the patient safety landscape. Dr Dash made nine recommendations which the Government has accepted in full and fed into the 10-Year Health Plan.The review specifically recommends that the patient safety commissioner is hosted by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. The office of the patient safety commissioner remains accountable to the Department, as it is now.The Patient Safety Commissioner will play an important role in holding the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to account for its work on patient safety and in ensuring that patient safety and the voice of patients remains a core priority in the agency’s work.

When he plans to publish the report on packaging changes to Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, as discussed at the Commission on Human Medicines Antidepressant Risk Minimisation Expert Working Group on 1 May.

A public assessment report will be published by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) after the completion of the review. The advice of the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) will be sought after the next meeting of the Antidepressant Risk Minimisation Expert Working Group (EWG) in July 2025.The public assessment report will contain the minutes of all EWG meetings and the CHM’s advice on any regulatory action required. It is anticipated that the public assessment report will be published by the MHRA in Autumn 2025.

If he will publish the dates of the consultation period with pharmaceutical companies, as agreed at the Commission on Human Medicines Antidepressant Risk Minimisation Expert Working Group meeting on 1 May.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will seek the advice of the independent Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) on the final recommendations of the Antidepressant Risk Minimisation Expert Working Group, following the next meeting in July 2025.If the CHM advises the MHRA to request changes to the antidepressant product information, the MHRA will write to all of the pharmaceutical companies affected in accordance with standard timelines and procedures for requesting variations to product information.

When he plans to publish the (a) minutes and (b) outcome of the Commission on Human Medicines Antidepressant Risk Minimisation Expert Working Group meeting which took place on 1 May.

A public assessment report will be published following the advice of the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) after the next meeting of the Antidepressant Risk Minimisation Expert Working Group (EWG) in July 2025. The public assessment report will contain the minutes of all EWG meetings and the outcome of the CHM’s advice. It is anticipated that the public assessment report will be published by the MHRA in Autumn 2025.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of new antimicrobial therapeutics developed by SMEs.

The United Kingdom’s 2024 to 2029 national action plan (NAP) to confront antimicrobial resistance (AMR) includes a commitment to work across sectors to develop new antimicrobials. The NAP also acknowledges the potential of alternative therapies, such as bacteriophage, also known as phage, therapy, in combating AMR. NHS England launched the UK-wide subscription model for antimicrobial products in August 2024, which incentivises the development of new antibiotics through de-linking payments for products from the volumes used. This aims to provide sufficient sale revenues to make it commercially viable for a company, including small and medium sized enterprises, to bring new products to market. Furthermore, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency is committed to working with organisations to support innovation in antimicrobial therapeutics.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 53036 on Coronavirus: Research, when he plans to publish the audit; whether he plans to publish his Department's initial assessment of the PMCPA’s ruling; and if has made an assessment of the level of breach of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Code that would impact the delivery of the Moderna-United Kingdom Strategic Partnership.

The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) is a non-governmental, self-regulatory body, which independently administers the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry.The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) will review the PMCPA's audit of Moderna once the report is available. This review will include consideration of the audit findings, any impacts for delivery of the Moderna-UK Strategic Partnership and next steps if required.

How many staff network events took place in his Department in May 2025; and what the names of those events were.

Staff networks are collaborative volunteer networks, organised by staff themselves rather than the Department.The Department had a total of seven staff network events that took place in May 2025. This number represents events led by the networks and does not include any scheduled meetings that are normally restricted to their members. The names of the events are listed as follows:- Mental Health Awareness week: lived experiences panel event (Women’s Network);- Tom Riordan in Conversation with the Men’s Health Network (Men’s Health Network);- Women’s healthcare: ‘Ask the historians’ session (History Network);- Reflections from clinician and social worker network members on working as mental health professionals (Social Worker Network and Clinicians Network);- ADHD at work: How it affects us and what helps us (ADHD Staff Network);- Mental Health Awareness Week – Higher Executive Officer-Senior Executive Officer Network Event (Higher Executive Officer-Senior Executive Officer Network); and- From Higher Executive Officer to Senior Executive Officer: How to progress across grades (Higher Executive Officer-Senior Executive Officer Network).

Whether his Department has updated guidance on the use of single-sex facilities in response to the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025.

We will review and update policy wherever necessary to ensure it complies with the latest legal requirements. We aim to ensure appropriate facilities are available for all staff.