Written questions by McVey.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2024 to Question 9445 on Department of Health and Social Care: Public Appointments, what interests Alan Milburn has declared since being appointed as a Lead Non-Executive Board Member.

The usual process of declarations of interest and agreement of appropriate mitigations for non-executive board member (NEBM) appointments was carried out, overseen by the Permanent Secretary. He is content that the process has been carried out, that appropriate declarations have been made, and that appropriate mitigations for any conflicts arising have been put in place. NEBMs are contracted to work for two to three days a month and therefore it is not unusual for them to hold multiple other positions and interests. Their declarations of interest are published each year in the Register of Interests in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts, and will also be published on GOV.UK website as per the new guidance on NEBM declarations of interest, that will be published soon. These declarations will be published at the earliest opportunity.

What businesses have made representations to her about the Autumn Budget 2024.

Ahead of the Autumn Budget, the Treasury received 633 written representations from stakeholders. Ministers and officials also met with a broad range of businesses and representative bodies. This includes meetings that the Chancellor and Financial Secretary had with Heads of the Federation of Small Businesses, Confederation of British Industry, Institute of Directors, British Chambers of Commerce and Make UK.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2024 to Question 11248 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, what discussions the MHRA has had with industry safety regulators on the potential implications of the Pfizer study abstract entitled Post Conditional Approval Active Surveillance Study Among Individuals in Europe Receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine dated 12 March 2024 on an assessment of individuals’ medical fitness to operate safety critical systems.

The study abstract has been reviewed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), as part of its continuous post approval safety monitoring procedures for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (Comirnaty). The abstract is available at the following link:https://catalogues.ema.europa.eu/system/files/2024-06/C4591021%20Interim%205%20Study%20Report%20Abstract%20_0.pdfThe MHRA does not consider that any regulatory action is warranted at this time, therefore has not discussed this study abstract with industry safety regulators. The MHRA will review the final study report, when it is made available by Pfizer, as part of safety monitoring procedures.The MHRA continues to closely monitor the safety of all COVID-19 vaccines and will take any regulatory action necessary should any new safety concerns be identified.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 September 2024 to Question 4203 on Primodos: Research, when he expects the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to complete that review; and what steps he is taking to (a) manage potential conflicts of interest and (b) ensure transparency during the review process.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), together with the wider Government, are committed to reviewing any new scientific evidence since the conclusions of the 2017 independent Expert Working Group, convened by the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM).As per the commitment to reviewing any new scientific evidence, the MHRA has reviewed the publication by Danielsson et al. For full transparency, the MHRA will present their review at the November 2024 CHM meeting. The meeting will have a number of invited experts, including the papers authors, who are invited to give a presentation on their paper and address any questions from the CHM. Mrs Marie Lyon has also been invited to participate as an expert patient, as a representative of the Association For Children Damaged by Hormone Pregnancy Tests. The CHM will give their opinion, and the MHRA will then act upon the CHM’s advice if required. Both the MHRA and the CHM have codes of conduct in order to manage potential conflicts of interest.The MHRA have a Dealing with Staff Conflicts of Interest Policy, where staff must declare all relevant interests on appointment, when they arise and annually, so that they can be discussed, mitigated, or disposed of, or both, as required. Staff cannot hold direct financial interests in the pharmaceutical industry or healthcare, specifically medical device, industries.The CHM has a Code of Practice on conflicts of interest which applies to chairs, members, co-opted members, and invited observers and experts. The annual declaration of interests made by all chairs and members are published on GOV.UK website. Declarations from members for the day, invited experts, and patient experts are published in the same way as permanent members of the CHM, on the GOV.UK website, and in the committee minutes for transparency reasons. Further information is available on the GOV.UK website, at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/human-medicines-regulations-2012-advisory-bodies-annual-report-2023The minutes and outcome of the November CHM discussion will be communicated and made publicly available through the GOV.UK website, at the earliest opportunity.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6194 on Coronavirus: Vaccination, whether the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has made an assessment of the potential implications for future medical decisions of the Pfizer study abstract entitled, Post Conditional Approval Active Surveillance Study Among Individuals in Europe Receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine, dated 12 March 2024; and when he plans to publish the full study.

The study abstract has been reviewed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), as part of its continuous post approval safety monitoring procedures for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (Comirnaty). The abstract is available at the following link:https://catalogues.ema.europa.eu/system/files/2024-06/C4591021%20Interim%205%20Study%20Report%20Abstract%20_0.pdfThe MHRA does not consider that any regulatory action is warranted at this time and will review the final study report, when it’s made available by Pfizer, as part of safety monitoring procedures.The MHRA does not publish study reports for company studies, and further publications of results are the responsibility of Pfizer-BioNTech. The MHRA continues to closely monitor the safety of all COVID-19 vaccines and will take any regulatory action necessary should any new safety concerns be identified.

Whether he plans to produce a feasibility study on tidal power.

The UK possesses tremendous tidal resource and could play a role in balancing the intermittency of wind and solar generation as we transition towards clean power. The UK remains the world leader in tidal stream generation technologies, with around half of the world's operational deployment of this situated in UK waters. On 3rd September 2024, the Government announced that six tidal stream contracts were secured with a joint capacity of 28MW in Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 6. The UK is on track to have over 130 MW of tidal stream capacity deployed by 2029. The Government is also open to considering well-developed proposals for harnessing the tidal range energy in the bays and estuaries around our coastlines, including barrage schemes and other alternatives.

What plans he has to invest in tidal power.

The UK possesses tremendous tidal resource and could play a role in balancing the intermittency of wind and solar generation as we transition towards a carbon-neutral power sector. The UK remains the world leader in tidal stream generation technologies, with around half of the world's operational deployment of this situated in UK waters. On 3rd September 2024, the Government announced that six tidal stream contracts were secured with a joint capacity of 28MW in Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 6. The UK is on track to have over 130 MW of tidal stream capacity deployed by 2029. The Government is also open to considering well-developed proposals for harnessing the tidal range energy in the bays and estuaries around our coastlines, including barrage schemes and other alternatives.

What his policy is on allowing people with financial interests in the private healthcare sector to be (a) employed in and (b) non executive directors at his Department.

All Department employees are subject to the Department’s policy on the Declaration and Management of Outside Interests. The policy is in alignment with the model Cabinet Office guidance in this area for Civil Servants, published on the GOV.UK website, which sets out how staff can identify when a perceived, potential, or actual conflict of interest arises, and what action must be taken in those circumstances. This includes a discussion between the employee and manager to determine whether there is a conflict of interest in the first instance, or perceived conflict of interest, such that the employee should be excluded from the activity, or that the employee may continue with the activity but must implement actions to mitigate any risk. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/declaration-and-management-of-outside-interests-in-the-civil-service/declaration-and-management-of-outside-interests-in-the-civil-servicePrior to appointment and throughout their term of office, non-executive board members are required to declare all relevant interests, and for any areas where a potential conflict of interest could be seen to arise, mitigations are required to be put in place and approved by the Department. Declarations of interest are published each year in the Register of Interests in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts.

On what dates Alan Milburn has attended Departmental meetings.

Central Government Corporate Transparency Commitments require Government Departments to publish details of Ministers and Senior Officials meetings with external individuals or organisations on a quarterly basis. We will be publishing the meetings that Alan Milburn attended, in accordance with the transparency guidelines.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to establish a Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief on a statutory footing.

The Government will champion freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. Envoy roles will be decided upon in due course. There are currently no plans to legislate on Envoy roles during this parliamentary session. We continue to use the strength of our global diplomatic network, including dedicated staff within the FCDO, to promote and protect FoRB around the world.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it is his policy to support the establishment of an international commission of inquiry by the UN on religious persecution in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The UK continues to champion freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, including in Sub-Saharan Africa. No one should live in fear because of what they do, or do not believe in. We work to uphold the right to FoRB multilaterally, including through our position at the UN, and bilaterally. The UK Government remains committed to supporting Nigeria to address ongoing security challenges, including violent extremism and intercommunal violence, which continue to impinge on the rights of Nigerians to FoRB.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of calls to establish an international commission of inquiry into religious persecution and violence in (a) Nigeria and (b) other severely affected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The UK continues to champion freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, including in Sub-Saharan Africa. No one should live in fear because of what they do, or do not believe in. We work to uphold the right to FoRB multilaterally, including through our position at the UN, and bilaterally. The UK Government remains committed to supporting Nigeria to address ongoing security challenges, including violent extremism and intercommunal violence, which continue to impinge on the rights of Nigerians to FoRB.

What steps her Department is taking in response to concerns of former employees of Atomic Energy Agency Technology regarding a redress of their pension.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) published a report on the AEAT Pension case in June 2023, which made several recommendations for the government. This work was halted due to the general election and the new government will now consider it.

What information his Department holds on the cost to the public purse for hospital food in each of the last five years.

The following table shows the cost of inpatient food services, as well as other patient food services, in England over the last five years:YearInpatient food service costsOther patient food service costs2022/23£750,600,000£126,000,0002021/22£660,200,000£89,700,0002020/21£617,800,000£35,300,0002019/20£630,500,000N/A2018/19£633,800,000N/ASource: the NHS Digital Estates Return Information Collection, published December 2023, available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/england-2022-23

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the study entitled Risk of all-cause and cardiac-related mortality after vaccination against COVID-19: A meta-analysis of self-controlled case series studies, published on 3 August 2023.

All vaccines used in the United Kingdom are only authorised once they have met the robust standards of effectiveness, safety, and quality set by the UK’s independent regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).The monitoring of vaccine safety does not stop once a vaccine has been approved. Whilst no specific assessment has been made of this study, the MHRA continuously monitors safety data from a range of sources including Yellow Card reports, interim and final study reports for clinical trials, post-authorisation safety studies, and data from scientific literature.

What steps she is taking to ensure that the Child Maintenance Service enforces parent (a) compliance and (b) payment.

Where a paying parent fails to pay on time or in full, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) aims to take immediate action to recover the debt and re-establish compliance. If this is unsuccessful and the paying parent is employed, the CMS will use a Deductions from Earnings Order (DEO) to take payment directly from their wages. The CMS also has a range of strong enforcement powers that can be used against those who consistently refuse to meet their obligations to provide financial support to their children. The Department plans to enhance effectiveness in collecting arrears payments by delivering changes via regulations to streamline the enforcement process. This will remove the requirement to obtain a court issued liability order, and instead allow the Secretary of State to issue an administrative liability order. Introducing this simpler administrative process will enable the CMS to take faster action against those paying parents who actively avoid their responsibilities.