Written questions by Malthouse.

What assessment he has made of the progress of the New Hospital Programme.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the level of resilience of UK donor animal blood supply for diagnostic use across the NHS and the need for continuous supply.

The Department recognises that animal blood-enriched agar is a critical component in microbiological diagnostics, and we recognise the importance of a sustainable and secure supply of such materials.There are a number of suppliers on NHS Supply Chain’s current framework which offer donor animal blood supply for diagnostic use which support a level of resilience across England. To date there has been no issues with supply.Where challenges in the supply of key products arise, these would be escalated to the Department’s National Supply Disruption Response, which works collaboratively with suppliers, manufacturers, and system partners to understand the nature of the disruption and to support appropriate mitigations.The Department does not routinely centrally collect detailed information on the source of the licensed donor animal blood used in the manufacture of blood-enriched agar.

What information his Department holds on where licenced donor animal blood is sourced from to develop animal blood-enriched agar for use across the NHS; and if he will make a statement about the importance of sustainable national supply of this material

The Department recognises that animal blood-enriched agar is a critical component in microbiological diagnostics, and we recognise the importance of a sustainable and secure supply of such materials.There are a number of suppliers on NHS Supply Chain’s current framework which offer donor animal blood supply for diagnostic use which support a level of resilience across England. To date there has been no issues with supply.Where challenges in the supply of key products arise, these would be escalated to the Department’s National Supply Disruption Response, which works collaboratively with suppliers, manufacturers, and system partners to understand the nature of the disruption and to support appropriate mitigations.The Department does not routinely centrally collect detailed information on the source of the licensed donor animal blood used in the manufacture of blood-enriched agar.

What role animal blood-enriched agar plays in (a) bacterial culture, (b) antimicrobial susceptibility testing, (c) AMR surveillance and (d) the recent meningitis outbreak.

The Department supports the use of validated laboratory methods to ensure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and robust surveillance, while encouraging the development and adoption of suitable alternatives where these can be used safely and effectively. These methods and alternatives include: - bacterial culture, in which animal blood‑enriched agar is commonly used in clinical laboratories to help bacteria grow so that infections can be identified accurately. Some bacteria require enriched growth conditions, and the appearance of the growth on these media can help distinguish between different types of bacteria;- antimicrobial susceptibility testing, where, in certain cases, blood‑enriched agar is required to test whether specific bacteria remain sensitive to particular antibiotics. This ensures that test results are reliable and supports clinicians in choosing the most effective treatment for patients;- antimicrobial resistance surveillance, where laboratory results are generated using established culture and susceptibility testing methods, including blood‑enriched agar where clinically appropriate, contribute to national antimicrobial resistance surveillance. This information helps monitor resistance trends and informs public health policy and clinical guidance; and- the recent meningitis outbreak, during which blood‑enriched agar was used, as a standard laboratory medium, in the identification of bacteria that can cause meningitis. It forms part of routine diagnostic and public health laboratory practice and supports the timely confirmation and investigation of cases during outbreaks. During the recent outbreak, such media formed part of the standard range of laboratory methods available to support diagnosis where clinically appropriate.

Whether his Department plans to align medicines spending growth with NHS budget growth in real terms.

The allowed rate of growth for branded medicines is established by the 2024 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access and Growth (VPAG).The VPAG plays an important role in delivering improved health gains from medicines in the National Health Service across the United Kingdom, by securing rapid access to new medicines, supporting economic growth, and contributing to a financially sustainable health service.We are taking decisive action to review the scheme to unlock innovation and drive investment in the UK's world-class pharmaceutical sector.This review is ongoing, demonstrating our commitment to creating an environment where this innovative sector can thrive.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the (a) voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth and (b) statutory scheme payment rates on attracting pharmaceutical companies to invest in (i) clinical trials, (ii) research and development and (iii) manufacturing.

Life sciences is a key growth-driving sector and is a core part of our modern Industrial Strategy. The 2024 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAG) introduced, for the first time, an approximately £400 million industry-funded VPAG Investment Programme. Funding from the VPAG Investment Programme is used to accelerate work across the United Kingdom on clinical trials, manufacturing, and health technology assessments. This is encouraging the United Kingdom’s economic growth, collaboration, and innovation in the health and life sciences sector.In recognition of the concerns raised by industry regarding the higher than expected headline payment percentage rates in the VPAG this year, the Department brought forward an expedited scheme review. The conclusion to this review will be communicated in due course.Any company that chooses not to be part of the VPAG will automatically be subject to the statutory scheme, which was recently subject to amendments, which will come into force on 1 July 2025. The purpose of these amendments is to restore broad commercial equivalence with the VPAG, to ensure that the schemes can continue to work together to meet our objectives of acting in the best interests of industry, patients, the National Health Service, and the broader economy. An impact assessment was conducted and published alongside the amending statutory instrument for this most recent update, which included consideration of the impact on clinical trials and manufacturing.Additionally, the Government is developing the Life Sciences Sector Plan and 10-Year Health Plan to make the UK the premier destination for life sciences investment, by fostering an environment where innovation thrives.