Written questions by Mierlo.

Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on protecting maternity safety campaigners from Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).

Awaiting answer.

What steps are he is taking to procure meningococcal B vaccines.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is engaged in procurement activity to maintain sufficient stockpiles of meningococcal B vaccines to support the United Kingdom’s future routine immunisation programmes. This procurement process is in its final stages and is expected to conclude in the coming weeks. If a contract is awarded, a notice will be published in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.UKHSA has an existing contract for meningococcal B vaccines, with sufficient stock available to maintain the current immunisation programme and to meet any additional needs resulting from recent outbreaks.

If he has made an estimation of the cost of a meningococcal B vaccination programme for all young people.

As my rt. Hon. Friend, the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, told the House on 17 March 2026 in the context of the meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent, the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) has been asked to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines to assess, for example, an expanded offer to older children and/or young adults. The JCVI will provide updated advice to the Department this summer around whether, and to what extent, a vaccine programme for older children and/or young adults would be clinically effective. This will also include an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of such a vaccination programme. The JCVI is required to consider the cost-effectiveness of a vaccination programme as part of their Code of Practice, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation#code-of-practice-and-conflicts-of-interests.The JCVI gives advice to Ministers based on the best evidence, reflecting current good practice and/or expert opinion. This involves a robust, transparent, and systematic appraisal of the available evidence from a wide range of sources. The JCVI aims to work with key stakeholders while maintaining the independence of committee processes and considerations.The context of the recent meningococcal outbreak in Kent will be important to consider in any updated modelling which is considered by the JCVI going forward.

What conversations he has had with manufacturers on the procurement of the meningococcal B vaccine.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works closely with the Department, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and manufacturers to ensure the timely supply of effective vaccines. Strong working relationships and partnerships with vaccine manufacturers enable UKHSA to act quickly and efficiently to ensure sufficient stocks of product. The current supplier has an approved and licensed vaccine to meet the United Kingdom’s current routine immunisation programme needs and any additional needs resulting from recent outbreaks.UKHSA is now actively undertaking a procurement process for meningococcal B vaccines into the future. We engage with the wider market to encourage further competition where feasible and undertake horizon scanning activities to review data for approved products and track any promising products in development.

If he will make it his policy to produce a set of specific local recommendations for each trust included in the Amos review of maternity and neonatal care following the publication of the National recommendations.

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.

With reference to the response of 20 April 2026 to question 125947; what progress has been made on receiving independent expert advice from the JCVI on the meningococcal B vaccination programme, including whether this should be extended to young people who were not eligible for the routine infant immunisation programme introduced in 2015.

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.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the treatment of NHS staff employed on honorary contracts in recruitment processes during periods of hiring freezes; and whether such staff are classified as internal candidates for the purposes of those processes.

Awaiting answer.

Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on protecting maternity safety campaigners from Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).

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

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending eligibility for the meningococcal B vaccination to children and young people who were not eligible for the routine infant immunisation programme introduced in 2015.

Meningococcal disease is an uncommon but serious disease caused by meningococcal bacteria. The MenACWY vaccine offers good protection against several strains of meningococcal disease and is routinely offered to teenagers in school years 9 and 10. However, it does not protect against all strains. Other strains, such as Meningitis B (MenB), can circulate among young adults.Decisions on vaccination programmes follow independent expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI does not currently recommend a routine MenB booster vaccination for adolescents and young adults, however the JCVI routinely reviews new evidence as it emerges and my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has asked them to reexamine eligibility for meningitis vaccines.The importance of raising awareness in parents, teenagers, and other adults about the signs and symptoms of meningitis remains key. There are a range of resources developed by the UK Health Security Agency, co-branded with the National Health Service, that set out these key messages and their importance, such as the teenage guide to immunisation.

From what date the National Institute of Clinical Excellence will be authorised to apply an increased cost-effectiveness threshold of £25,000 - £35,000 per quality-adjusted life year.

The Government intends to direct the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to apply the new cost-effectiveness threshold increase from April.

What steps his Department is taking to improve the completeness and consistency of data recorded on people diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in NHS trusts.

Through the National Disease Registration Service’s Get Data Out programme, we will expand the data available to the public and researchers by publishing increased information on incidence, routes to diagnosis, treatments, and survival. We will use the Get Data Out programme to make data on rare cancers more granular, extending the publication of regular data to more individual rare and less common cancers by 2027. We will define and count recurrent cancers, starting with metastatic breast cancer. We will increase specificity of data to help us understand where interventions are needed, and how to make those interventions as effective as possible.Through these National Cancer Plan actions, we will ensure that every person with secondary breast cancer has faster diagnosis and treatment, access to the latest treatments and technology, and high-quality support throughout their journey, while we work to drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.

With reference to the Cancer Plan, what progress his Department has made on defining and counting recurrent breast cancers.

Through the National Disease Registration Service’s Get Data Out programme, we will expand the data available to the public and researchers by publishing increased information on incidence, routes to diagnosis, treatments, and survival. We will use the Get Data Out programme to make data on rare cancers more granular, extending the publication of regular data to more individual rare and less common cancers by 2027. We will define and count recurrent cancers, starting with metastatic breast cancer. We will increase specificity of data to help us understand where interventions are needed, and how to make those interventions as effective as possible.Through these National Cancer Plan actions, we will ensure that every person with secondary breast cancer has faster diagnosis and treatment, access to the latest treatments and technology, and high-quality support throughout their journey, while we work to drive up this country’s cancer survival rates.

What progress his Department has made on the review of early access to medicines.

The Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS), is an existing pathway across the regulatory and access system designed to support innovative treatments being available to patients who need them earlier in the development cycle, outside of a clinical trial. The Government is collaborating across the regulatory system to continuously review the effectiveness of these pathways.Pharmaceutical companies may also put in place arrangements to provide early access to medicines outside EAMS. Working with colleagues at NHS England, the Department is continuing to engage with companies and patient groups regarding early access schemes that are enabled by manufacturers providing free of charge medicines, in advance of any recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. We are presently working to get a fuller picture of the costs of, and barriers to, and opportunities for early access schemes being offered by National Health Service trusts.

What will the independent review of the prevalence of and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism be used for.

The terms of reference for the independent review into mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism state that the review will take three to six months and will provide a short report to Department ministers, setting out conclusions and recommendations.The review will examine the prevalence of these conditions, the factors driving recent increases in diagnoses, and the quality and consistency of support available. It will consider how people access assessment and treatment, the experiences of families and carers, and the support provided across education, health, and wider public services. It will also look at the role of diagnosis, early intervention, and prevention, and the wider social and cultural factors influencing demand for services.The 10-Year Health Plan set out an ambitious reform agenda to transform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future. We will go further by developing a new approach to mental health so that people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. This will be informed by the independent review into prevalence and support for mental health, autism, and ADHD.

To set out a timeline for the process and completion of the independent review of the prevalence of and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism announced on 4 December 2025.

The terms of reference for the independent review into mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism state that the review will take three to six months and will provide a short report to Department ministers, setting out conclusions and recommendations.The review will examine the prevalence of these conditions, the factors driving recent increases in diagnoses, and the quality and consistency of support available. It will consider how people access assessment and treatment, the experiences of families and carers, and the support provided across education, health, and wider public services. It will also look at the role of diagnosis, early intervention, and prevention, and the wider social and cultural factors influencing demand for services.The 10-Year Health Plan set out an ambitious reform agenda to transform the National Health Service and make it fit for the future. We will go further by developing a new approach to mental health so that people receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. This will be informed by the independent review into prevalence and support for mental health, autism, and ADHD.

What the average time taken was for Integrated Care Boards to respond to correspondence from hon. Members in the latest period for which data is available.

The information requested is not held centrally.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Early Access to Medicines Scheme in facilitating patient access to new treatments for neuromuscular diseases.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) supports access to treatments for people living with neuromuscular diseases. The majority of neuromuscular diseases are defined as rare diseases. On the 2 November 2025, the MHRA published a policy paper on rare therapies and United Kingdom regulatory considerations, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rare-therapies-and-uk-regulatory-considerations/rare-therapies-and-uk-regulatory-considerationsThe Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS), is an existing pathway across the regulatory and access system designed to support innovative treatments being available to patients earlier in the development cycle, outside of a clinical trial. This includes for those living with neuromuscular diseases. The Government is collaborating across the regulatory system to continuously review the effectiveness of these pathways for rare diseases. Further information on the EAMS is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-the-early-access-to-medicines-scheme-eams

When he expects NICE to publish the outcomes of the appeals on its final draft guidance on donanemab and lecanemab.

The appeals against the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommendations on donanemab and lecanemab for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease were heard by NICE’s independent appeal panel in January. The next steps of the appraisal will be subject to the outcome of the appeals, and NICE will update its stakeholders in due course.

Whether he has assessed the potential merits of introducing measures to accelerate the roll-out of new newborn screening programmes for genetic diseases.

NHS England is currently planning a large-scale in-service evaluation (ISE) of screening for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which is a genetic condition, in newborn screening services to start in January 2027. Over 400,000 babies would be offered screening as part of this ISE. The ISE will help inform a future UK NSC recommendation on whether screening for SMA should be added to the NHS Newborn Blood Spot Screening Programme (NBSP).An ISE for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), another genetic condition, was undertaken in some newborn screening services in England from 2021 and concluded in 2024. During this period, 900,000 babies were screened, and 10 babies were found to have SCID. NHS England is planning to continue the SCID ISE alongside the ISE for SMA.The Generation Study, which launched in 2024, is evaluating the effectiveness of using whole genome sequencing to test 100,000 newborns for genetic mutations associated with more than 200 rare genetic conditions. The sequencing of 100,000 newborns through the Generation Study will be completed by summer 2027.The evaluation part of the study will then be completed and shared with the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) which advises ministers on all screening matters. The UK NSC will assess the findings to determine whether any newborn genomic screening can be recommended or whether more research is required.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Amos Review interim report's findings regarding reports of racism and stereotyping in maternity and neonatal services; and what steps are being considered to respond to these issues.

The interim report of the national independent investigation into National Health Service maternity and neonatal care, chaired by Baroness Amos, underlines the unacceptable experiences of some women and their families due to racism and discrimination.The investigation aims to identify the drivers and impact of inequalities faced by women, babies and families from Black and Asian backgrounds as well as deprived and marginalised groups. A coherent single set of national recommendations will be published by the investigation in June, which the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce will address by developing a new action plan to drive improvements across maternity and neonatal care.We are not waiting for the investigation to report. We are taking immediate actions, including a programme in all trusts to tackle discrimination and racism, while local systems are all implementing their Equity and Equality action plans. We have also launched a ‘Maternal Care Bundle’ which includes best practice for clinical conditions that are the leading causes of death for women from Black and Asian backgrounds.