Written questions by McVey.

If he will publish full citations for the peer-reviewed population-level studies from the UK, France, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden mentioned by the MHRA’s Chief Safety Officer in the quote that appeared on GB News online, dated 27 March 2026.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) considers a wide range of safety data as part of post-authorisation safety monitoring. One source of this data is academic literature. References for the studies mentioned by the MHRA’s Chief Safety Officer in the article in question, namely for France and for Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, are available, respectively, at the following two links:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12679329/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39935358/Whilst there have been no United Kingdom based, population wide studies performed that investigate COVID-19 vaccines and cancer incidence rates specifically, the MHRA’s Chief Safety Officer was referencing a population-based study reviewing COVID-19 vaccine uptake in individuals with haematological malignancy, as well as a population-based study reviewing COVID-19 vaccine efficacy in patients with cancer. These studies are accessible, respectively, via the following links:https://www.ejcancer.com/article/S0959-8049(23)00059-X/fulltexthttps://europepmc.org/article/MED/35617989Neither of these studies identified any adverse safety signals, and both suggest vaccination is in the interest of individuals with cancer.

How much carbon dioxide the Peak Cluster project will store each year.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Of the jobs created by the Peak Cluster project, how may of these will be a) permanent, b) temporary, c) local and d) UK jobs.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

If he will publish any of the pre-clinical data, study reports or assessments made by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) that the MHRA’s Chief Safety Officer relied upon when quoted in a GB News online article, dated 27 March 2026, that the available evidence does not support an association between COVID-19 vaccination and an increased risk of cancer.

The GB News article in question, dated 27 March 2026, does not appear to reference any specific pre-clinical data, safety reports, or assessments. As part of its statutory functions, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for continuously monitoring all medicines, including vaccines, post-authorisation to ensure their benefits continue to outweigh any risks. This continuous, proactive safety surveillance draws upon a wide range of sources of safety data, including analysis of large healthcare datasets, review of international safety data, emerging research, data provided by academia, Yellow Card reports, and ongoing review by independent scientific experts.There are currently no plans to publish any additional pre-clinical data, study reports, or assessments, beyond what is routinely published. For suspected side effects being reported for medicines and vaccines, the MHRA publishes Yellow card data which can be accessed at the following link:https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/idapsThe MHRA also published a summary of Yellow Card reporting, which can be accessed at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccine-adverse-reactions/coronavirus-vaccine-summary-of-yellow-card-reporting

What is the projected cost of the Peak Cluster project.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What the estimated carbon emissions are from the full Peak Cluster project.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

If he will publish the most recent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) pharmacovigilance assessment or signal evaluation report that specifically addresses potential cancer/neoplasm signals in relation to COVID-19 vaccines.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has not performed a signal assessment of ‘potential cancer/neoplasm’ in relation to COVID-19 vaccines authorised for use in the United Kingdom as there have not been any signals of this nature. The MHRA keeps emerging safety information under close review and will take appropriate actions should any new safety concerns be confirmed, communicating to healthcare professionals and the public as appropriate.

What consideration he has given to the importing of CO2 from international sources for the Peak Cluster project.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What is the breakdown of where the funding for the peak cluster project will come from.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

How much cement will be used to build the Peak Cluster project, including the pipeline, onshore storage facility, pipeline to the sea, in-sea storage facility and any other associated construction work.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

How many people will be directly employed by the Peak Cluster project and what will those jobs be made up of.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What scientific evidence is the Government using to underpin the implementation of the 2018 Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) and what evidence is the Government using that the 2018 NPM will lead to healthier choices, as defined by the Government, being made by consumers.

The Government has committed to updating the standards behind the restrictions on advertising ‘less healthy’ food or drink.The advertising and promotions restrictions currently rely on the outdated Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) 2004/05. The new NPM has been updated in line with the latest dietary advice from the United Kingdom’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, particularly in relation to free sugar and fibre. The Government published the new NPM on 27 January. Applying it to the restrictions will strengthen these policies by bringing more products of concern for children’s health into scope.On 25 March, we launched a 12-week consultation on the proposed application of the new NPM to the advertising and promotions restrictions. A consultation-stage impact assessment of the direct costs to businesses and intended health outcomes was published alongside. Evidence shows that children’s food preferences and consumption can be influenced by advertising and that the shopping environment can encourage impulse purchasing of ‘less healthy’ food and drinks products. The impact assessment indicates that if the calorie reductions from applying the new NPM to the advertising and promotions restrictions are achieved, it could reduce cases of childhood obesity by over 110,000 and adult obesity by almost 520,000.We will use evidence from the consultation to inform final policy decisions and the final impact assessment which, subject to the outcome of the consultation, would be published prior to amending the advertising and promotions restrictions legislation.

Whether his Department holds information on how many Care Quality Commission inspections of (a) hospitals, (b) nursing and care homes, (c) GP practices, (d) dentists, (e) hospitals and (f) local authorities took place (i) in person and (ii) remotely in each of the last three years.

The table attached shows how many Care Quality Commission inspections of hospitals, dental practices, general practices, nursing and residential care homes, and local authorities took place from 2023 to the year to date in 2026. The data cannot accurately be broken down by ‘in person’ or ‘remotely’ so figures may combine both types of regulatory activity.

Pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2026 to question 113071, whether he plans to bring forward legislation to strip Lord Mandelson of his peerage.

The Government is committed to introducing legislation to enable the removal of peerages from disgraced peers. We will announce further details in due course.

If the Government will introduce secondary legislation building on section 95 of the Health and Care Act 2022 to mandate the disclosure of payments made by the medicines and medical devices industries to the healthcare sector.

The Government recognises the importance of transparency and public trust in the health system. In line with Recommendation 8b of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, the Government consulted in 2023 on proposals to improve transparency of payments made by the medicines and medical devices industries to the healthcare sector.Following consideration of the consultation responses, the Government has decided to implement guidance, rather than introduce secondary legislation under section 95 of the Health and Care Act 2022, in the first instance. The forthcoming guidance, which is expected to be published this year, will set out how and where payment information should be disclosed to ensure it is publicly accessible. Legislation remains an option for the future.

Where data on payments made by the medicines and medical devices industries to the healthcare sector will be published, following the publication of the Government’s forthcoming guidance on payment disclosure for industry.

The Government recognises the importance of transparency and public trust in the health system. In line with Recommendation 8b of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, the Government consulted in 2023 on proposals to improve transparency of payments made by the medicines and medical devices industries to the healthcare sector.Following consideration of the consultation responses, the Government has decided to implement guidance, rather than introduce secondary legislation under section 95 of the Health and Care Act 2022, in the first instance. The forthcoming guidance, which is expected to be published this year, will set out how and where payment information should be disclosed to ensure it is publicly accessible. Legislation remains an option for the future.

Pursuant to the answer on 12 March 2026 to question 117273, if she will provide financial assistance to schools to accommodate pupils from nearby private schools that have closed.

School funding is increasing by £1.7 billion in 2026/27, meaning that core school budgets will total £67 billion, an increase on the £65.3 billion provided in 2025/26.In 2026/27, the most deprived schools have, on average, attracted the largest per pupil funding amounts through the schools National Funding Formula.

If he will publish the toxicology non-clinical studies for zapomeran, also called Kostaive, mRNA covid-19 vaccine following its approval for adults by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

Whilst the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) does not publish non-clinical studies, in line with Section 64 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, the MHRA has published a public assessment report (PAR) for Kostaive. This PAR includes the MHRA’s assessment of the non-clinical data submitted. This PAR is accessible to the public on the MHRA’s products website at the following link:https://mhraproducts4853.blob.core.windows.net/docs/0e710f66d3e04b6346f668178c02524de9248f57This product was authorised via the International Recognition Procedure ‘Route B’ process, with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) acting as the reference regulator. Further information on the EMA’s assessment of Kostaive, including its own PAR, is accessible to the public on the EMA’s website at the following link:https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/kostaive

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2026 to Question 113069 on Folic Acid, what steps will be taken to stop wholemeal flour and other non-wheat products being voluntarily fortified with folic acid.

The Government introduced legislation in England on 14 November 2024 to mandate the fortification of non-wholemeal wheat flour with folic acid based on strong scientific assessment and modelling. The policy is estimated to prevent approximately 200 babies being born with neural tube defects each year.Voluntary fortification of other foods with folic acid has existed for many years, mainly in products such as breakfast cereals and the Government has no plans to restrict it.The fortification level for non-wholemeal flour was set using extensive modelling that accounted for existing voluntary fortification. This work showed that voluntary fortification makes only a small contribution to the number of people exceeding the recommended upper level for folic acid intake. On this basis, introducing limits on voluntary fortification was not considered necessary and would add regulatory complexity for businesses.The level of folic acid fortification will be kept under review as part of the evaluation of this policy.

What assistance her Department will offer to parents at independent schools that are closing to help them take over the running of the school.

It is for private schools, as private businesses, to manage their operations and take decisions on closure. All children of compulsory school age are entitled to a state-funded school place, should they need one. The department continues to support local authorities to ensure sufficient places for pupils.