Written questions by Frith.

What plans he has to publish a national strategy for palliative and end of life care.

The Government is developing a Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Modern Service Framework (MSF) for England, for publication later this year.The MSF will drive improvements in the services that patients and their families receive at the end of life and will enable integrated care boards to address challenges in access, quality, and sustainability through the delivery of high-quality, personalised care. This will be aligned with the ambitions set out in last year’s 10-Year Health Plan.Further information about the MSF is set out in my Written Statement HCWS1087, made on 24 November 2025.

Pursuant to Written Parliamentary Question 107115, how many people with a learning disability are recorded as beneficiaries of the NHS Low Income Scheme.

The NHS Low Income Scheme is administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) on behalf of the Department. The NHS BSA does not collect or record information on applicants’ medical or health conditions, including whether they have a learning disability. As such, no data is held on the number of people with a learning disability who are beneficiaries of the scheme.

What steps he is taking to help ensure that NHS England staff who have taken partial retirement receive fair redundancy payments..

The Voluntary Redundancy (VR) scheme being used by NHS England is the national ‘model Voluntary Redundancy’ scheme approved by HM Treasury for use across the National Health Service. The national ‘model VR scheme’ directs that voluntary redundancy payments should be made in accordance with Section 16 of the NHS Terms and Conditions Handbook. These terms and conditions ​are developed and maintained through the NHS Staff Council for staff covered by Agenda for Change. They include provisions about how redundancy pay should be calculated in instances where an individual has taken some, or all, of the pension. NHS England has completed an Equality Impact Assessment on the implementation of the national model VR scheme.

Whether he has made an estimate of the proportion of people with a learning disability of working age in England in receipt of a means tested benefit.

The Department has not made such an estimate.

If he will consider extending NHS sight test eligibility criteria by listing learning disability as a risk factor.

Whilst adults with a learning disability do not automatically qualify for free National Health Service sight tests, they may qualify under other categories of exemption, for example being in receipt of income-related benefits or through the NHS low-income scheme.To support children and young people with learning disabilities, free NHS sight tests are available within special educational settings across England, that choose to host a service.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential differential impact of the local government finance system on local authorities.

On 20 November the government published the Local Government Finance Policy Statement which sets out our plans for the 2026-27 to 2028-28 multi-year Local Government Finance Settlement. These plans represent a fairer system for all authorities which recognises the variation in demand and the cost of providing services in different places and the vast majority of social care authorities will receive a real terms increase.The government wants to move decisively to a reformed system, but we have heard clearly that we need to implement funding reform in 2026-27 with transitional arrangements to allow time to adjust. We will therefore phase in allocations over the multi-year Settlement and protect the income of authorities which would see losses from funding reform. We will use a range of funding floor levels appropriate to specific groups of authorities’ circumstances. Further details can be found here: Local government finance policy statement 2026-27 to 2028-29 - GOV.UK .These changes will not fix the challenges facing local government overnight. Tough decisions are required on all sides, but these proposals are a fundamental step to improving the sustainability of local government in the years to come and will allow councils to focus on service delivery and transformation.We will publish provisional local authority allocations at the upcoming provisional multi-year Settlement in December. Proposals and allocations will be subject to consultation and the usual Parliamentary process.

With reference to the Independent Expert Panel on Corporate Re-domiciliation report, published on 14 October 2024, whether he plans to consult on the proposed UK corporate re-domiciliation regime.

In a written statement on 14 October 2024, the Department welcomed the Independent Expert Panel’s report and committed to consulting on the design of a proposed corporate re-domiciliation regime for the UK, in due course, as part of wider company law reform.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of providing free prescriptions for inhalers to people with asthma who are moving into adulthood.

There are no plans to review the list of medical conditions that entitle someone to apply for a medical exemption certificate.There are extensive arrangements in place in England to ensure that prescriptions are affordable for everyone. Approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there are a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with asthma may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme, which provides help based on a comparison between a person’s income and their requirements.People who need to pay and who need many prescription items could save money with a prescription prepayment certificate (PPC). PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as needed for a set cost. An annual PPC costs £114.50 and will save money if they need 12 or more items in 12 months. To help spread the cost, people can pay for an annual PPC through 10 monthly direct debits, which works out as just over £2 per week. A three month PPC for £32.05 is also available.

Whether she plans to review the cut-off date of 22 September 2025 for people reaching the state pension age of 66 for Winter Fuel Payment.

It is longstanding policy that Winter Fuel Payments are paid only to people who have reached State Pension age on or before the end of the qualifying week (the week beginning the third Monday of September each year) and meet certain other entitlement conditions. For winter 2025/26, the qualifying week for Winter Fuel Payments will be 15 to 21 September 2025, and the person needs to have reached State Pension age by the end of the qualifying week to be eligible (that is, they need to have been born before 22 September 1959). There are no plans to change or review this policy.

What steps his Department is taking to support the use of evidence-based off-label medicines where there is no commercial incentive for a pharmaceutical company to seek a marketing authorisation.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care and regulates medicine, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK. The MHRA is responsible for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.In the UK, off-label prescribing refers to the use of a licensed medicine outside the terms of its marketing authorisation, such as for a different condition, dose, or age group. The MHRA regulates the licensing, safety and quality of medicines and monitors adverse effects but does not control medical practice. Responsibility for off-label prescribing lies with the prescriber, who must ensure it is in the patient’s best interests, supported by evidence, and discussed with the patient.The General Medical Council (GMC) provides professional standards, while NHS trusts and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) may set local or national policies to guide safe and appropriate use.Where there is no commercial incentive for a pharmaceutical company to seek a marketing authorisation, the use of independent, evidence-based guidelines (such as those developed by NICE, professional bodies, or specialist societies) can support clinical decision-making and standardise safe practice. Published research, systematic reviews, and expert consensus also provide a foundation for justifying off-label use in areas such as paediatrics, oncology, and rare diseases.Thus, the MHRA oversees the medicine itself, while prescribers, the GMC, and the NHS govern how off-label prescribing is carried out in practice, supported by independent clinical evidence and guidelines when licensing is not pursued.The MHRA encourages Marketing Authorisation Holders to vary their licences when there is sufficient evidence to change the indication approved. The MHRA will reach out to ask companies to assess when appropriate. This does not indicate that the MHRA will approve the licence, but are prepared to assess the evidence provided.

What steps his Department is taking to engage with the pharmaceutical industry on price negotiations relating to Enhertu; and if he will take steps to help ensure that Enhertu becomes an (a) affordable and (b) accessible treatment option for patients with HER-2 low (i) metastatic and (ii) unresectable breast cancer.

Decisions on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS in England are made on the basis of recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) following an evaluation of a treatment’s costs and benefits. These are very difficult decisions to make, and it is important that they are made independently and on the basis of the available evidence.NICE has been able to recommend Enhertu in advanced breast cancer for treating HER2-positive unresectable or metastatic breast cancer after one or more anti-HER2 treatments, and for treating HER2-positive unresectable or metastatic breast cancer after two or more anti-HER2 therapies.On 29 July 2024, NICE published final guidance on Enhertu for use in the treatment of HER2-low metastatic breast cancer, and it was unable to recommend this life-extending treatment. The only obstacle to access for NHS patients to Enhertu is price, and the Secretary of State met the manufacturers of Enhertu, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, to encourage them to re-enter discussions with NHS England with a view to reaching a price at which NICE would be able to recommend Enhertu. However, despite NICE and NHS England offering unprecedented flexibility, the companies were unable to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price. NICE’s guidance will therefore remain unchanged, however, the door remains open for the companies to enter into a new NICE appraisal if they are willing to offer Enhertu at a cost-effective price.

Media and Sport, whether her Department attaches provisions on (a) mentoring and (b) role modelling in its funding of UK sports bodies.

The Department does not attach provisions on mentoring and role modelling in its funding of UK sports bodies. All DCMS funds to sports bodies go through UK Sport and Sport England.

Media and Sport, what funding she has allocated to paternity leave for each professional tier of each sport.

The Government does not allocate funding to the staffing of professional sport. UK Sport does fund the performance programmes of Olympic and Paralympic sport, but does not allocate specific funding for paternity or maternity leave. Funding is delegated to National Governing Bodies (NGBs) to manage in line with the needs of their programmes.

Media and Sport, whether her Department attaches provisions on paternity and parental leave when allocating grants to organisations.

The Department does not include clauses within grant offer letters requiring organisations to adopt specific policies related to paternity or other forms of parental leave as such a requirement would likely go beyond the obligations which can be enforced by the terms and conditions of a grant. Grants are an investment in a specific project which is being run by the grant recipient rather than for the wider operation of an organisation.The Department also does not require organisations to have specific paternity or other forms of parental leave policies in place when bidding for grants.In the event that it became apparent that a grant recipient was not operating within its legal obligations in regard to paternity or other forms of leave then the Department could consider terminating the relevant grant agreement under clause 54 of the standard grant agreement which includes illegal activity as an event of default and therefore a reason for grant termination.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of animal import standards on (a) animal welfare and (b) British farmers.

As set out in the trade strategy, we recognise concerns about methods of production, such as sow stalls and battery cages, which are not permitted in the UK. While methods vary in line with different climates, diseases and other contextual reasons, we will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, we will be prepared to use the full range of powers at our disposal to protect our most sensitive sectors including permanent quotas, exclusions and safeguards. We will always maintain UK levels of statutory protection in relation to human, animal or plant life or health, animal welfare, and the environment.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is planning to take to keep Parliament informed of the progress of the expert working groups on (a) transparency, (b) licensing and (c) other technical standards.

The Government has committed to establishing expert stakeholder working groups to inform the development of policy on copyright and AI.The Secretaries of State for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport convened the first meeting of these stakeholder working groups on 16th July. Information relating to this group will be published on GOV.UK, which will include further details and a list of working group members.The Government has also committed to set up a Parliamentary working group for members to engage with and feed views into this process.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to keep industry stakeholders informed of the progress of the working groups on (a) transparency, (b) licensing and (c) other technical standards.

The Government has established expert stakeholder working groups to inform the development of policy on copyright and AI.The Government convened the first meeting of these stakeholder working groups on 16th July. Information relating to this group will be published on GOV.UK, which will include further details and a list of working group members.

What her planned timetable is for updating her Department's website with information on the (a) 12-month State Pension arrears payment and (b) State Pension Claims Form.

Work to publish new guidance is well underway and we aim to have it published as soon as we can, subject to competing priorities. With regards to the paper claim form changes, we are working to understand the value of updating given how few paper claims we now receive for State Pension.

What his Department's planned timetable is for distributing interim payments for people affected by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh.

The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex issue involving input from different Government departments. The Government will provide a further update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report.

What information her Department holds on the number of children withdrawn from mainstream education due to allergy-related safety concerns in schools in the last five years.

The department does not hold this data.